Book Review: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is a romance with a bit of a paranormal mystery on the side. Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired. Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even. Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.

Do Your Worst grabbed my attention from the beginning. I love an enemies to lover romance, and this gave me more than I expected. I liked the paranormal angle and that both Riley and Clark had their own emotional baggage to work out. I though the mystery surrounding the curse, and what happened in the past was well done- although I completely expected one more little twist in there. I thought the give and take between Riley and Clark was on point, and I loved both their banter and they way that had adult conversations about the important things. I loved that once they trusted each other and decided on a course of action they were both all in, regardless of outside forces and the family issues they each needed to unpack. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the author.

Do Your Worst is an engaging and entertaining read with potential to turn into a great series. 

Book Review: Pawsitively Cursed (Witch of Edgehill Mystery) by Melissa Erin Jackson

Pawsitively Cursed is the second Witch of Edgehill Mystery by Melissa Erin Jackson. While this mystery is unrelated to the first and can stand up well on its ow, from a character and world building standpoint I recommend reading this series in order for the fullest enjoyment. 

For the past fourteen years Amber Blackwood, has been haunted by her parents’ deaths. The whole town knows about the tragedy, but the details remain a mystery even to Amber. From her tiny studio apartment above her shop, The Quirky Whisker, Amber can see her partially rebuilt old house out on the edge of town. Although she now has a good life—delighting children with her magically infused toys, concocting healing tinctures for Edgehill’s residents, doting on her cats, Tom and Alley, and sitting on the committee for the town’s annual Here and Meow Festival—she feels stuck in the past. Amber suspects the fire that killed her parents was set deliberately by a witch from the cursed Penhallow clan, from whom no one has heard even a whisper since the night her parents died. The clan’s sudden disappearance is no coincidence to Amber, but her aunt Gretchen refuses to believe there’s a connection and urges Amber to stop looking for someone to blame. So Amber is shocked when Aunt Gretchen shows up unexpectedly, claiming the Penhallows have resurfaced and that one of them is heading for Edgehill with Amber in his sights. Aunt Gretchen knows more about the fabled clan than she’s letting on. Amber is determined to find out what her aunt is hiding, and what the Penhallow seeks, before the same treacherous force that took Amber’s parents’ lives claims her own.

Pawsitively Cursed is a wonderful continuation of Amber's story. This book is just as much about Amber's growth and fears as it is the actual mystery. She has insecurities, worries, and doubts that everyone can relate to on some level- and then there is the added worry about magic secrets that just might be the death of her and others. The unveiling of the mystery and the way her double life impacts her social life and the safety of the town was well paced and compelling. Getting to know more about Amber's past, and her remaining family was nice, and I think added a greater depth to her character. I like that wile Amber was putting herself out there and trying to date- and I enjoyed the honesty in the awkward moments- I was relieved that that part of the story never overwhelmed the mystery and magic that kept he story line moving forward. The mystery and danger aspects of the story were also well done. I was almost constantly on edge waiting for one character or another not to be who they appeared.  The tension was very well maintained. I really did expect an extra twist at the end, and was fairly pleased that the epilogue went in a completely (though not unexpected) way to tease for the next book.  I am very eager for that book, and will definitely be following this series onward. 

Pawsitively Cursed is even better than the first book in the series, and I am eager to see where the story, and its characters, go from here.