Serpent and Dove

I kept seeing this title in my Insta feed. So why not? It has all the makings of a page turner- witches fighting the church, a marriage of convenience, questionable parentage and motherly love. Of course none of those are cut and dried. Lou is on the run. Not only is she a witch, but she is being hunted by her own coven for nefarious purposes. Reid has been sworn to find and burn witches at the stake. He was brought up by the Archbishop so he has been taught to hate the witches. But circumstances being what they are, Reid and Lou wind up in a marriage that will save both of them from some extreme trouble. Lou must keep her true nature from Reid so he doesn't turn her and her friends in. Reid must learn to question his belief system when he finds Lou more than meets the eye. As the two of them join forces, they find out more about each other than they bargained for and it will turn both their lives upside down. I really liked the characters in this book, I was surprised how quickly the love story took hold, none of that will they or won't they. Of course, as the book unfolded, they are going to have plenty to get in the way of their romance. I think the students in my class will like this book. It has just enough of everything, but be aware there are some racy scenes and language, so not for a younger reader. That being said- two thumbs up. Happy reading my friends!

Iron Flower

The sequel to Black Witch did not disappoint. So if you haven't read that yet, stop now and proceed to the bookstore. (yes, they still exist) Elloren and her gang of oppressed friends are trying to fight the government that would like to see most of them dead. The wolves, the selkies, the icarals, the fae, you name it, the government want them dead. But Ren and her friends will not be going down without a fight. I mean, they have a dragon on their side for goodness sake. And maybe, just maybe, each of them is more than they appear. Especially the granddaughter of the Black Witch, who may just have a wand up her sleeve. As terrible things happen to her friends, she is fighting her growing attraction to Yvan as her aunt pushes her to wand fast to Lukas Grey. Nothing in Elloren's upbringing has prepared her for the events she faces, but she is becoming her own person, determined to save those she loves. I love this series, it has many adult themes but the underlying societal messages are relevant today. I liken it to a more adult and diverse Harry Potter world, where good fights evil and those who are not fitting societies norms find each other. What are you waiting for- get to the store and buy this series or stay on the couch and download it... Happy reading my friends.