2 Bloggers 1 Series - WE DID IT! (Magic Triumphs Review)

It's time to celebrate guys!  Stormi and I actually read the entire Kate Daniels series (as well as two companion novels) this year.  I'm so glad we coordinated this challenge and it was a wonderful series to knock out of the way.  I love so many of the books so much and can't wait to start a new series in 2020!  There were times I didn't know I had it in me (I'm looking at you Hugh) but Stormi managed to keep me going.  So read on to see what I thought of the last book in the series, Magic Triumphs.  And then make sure you're checking out Stormi's thoughts over @  Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

WARNING:  Spoilers ahead.  What do you expect - it's book 10!

TITLE: Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10)
AUTHOR: Ilona Andrews 

PUBLISHER: Ace

PUBLISHING DATE: August 28, 2018

FROM GOODREADS: 

Mercenary Kate Daniels must risk all to protect everything she holds dear in this epic, can't-miss entry in the thrilling #1 New York Times bestselling urban-fantasy series. 

Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She's made friends and enemies. She's found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be. 

Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate's doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows her time is up. 

Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try. 

For her child. 

For Atlanta.

For the world.  

MY THOUGHTS: So I did it!  I finally finished this series.  And I feel like the last few books having definitely been setting up for a final battle between Kate and her father Roland.  Although I must admit that while the reader knew it was headed there, there was additional focuses as well in this novel.

So this book skips ahead about 13 months after the last one.  I also want to thank the bloggers who urged Stormi and myself to read Iron & Magic before this.  I definitely see now where it filled in some important data.  We are FINALLY introduced to Conlan, Kate and Curran's son and man, this needs to be adapted to television because I need to see baby Conlan in his shifter mode.  We are also visited by some familiar faces - including Hugh and his new wife, Elara.  And yes, brace yourself, I will finally admit that I am starting to like Hugh and he has redeemed himself.  And gee, I never thought that was possible which just goes to show how talented this husband/wife writing duo is. 

So yes, this book has battles, and yes, it has deaths.  I expected them both and was saddened by the outcomes for several aspects.  Curran does something really stupid this time around which turns out to be very smart.  I should have never doubted him.  But then again, Kate doubted him as well and he's her husband so there. 

If you are on the fence about this series, don't be.  I can honestly say that every installment has gotten at least 4/5 from me and many 5/5.  It's hard to find fault with this last one as well.  The ending left some things hanging and I'm hoping to see Erra and Julie appear in the future Iron Covenant books.  And speaking of, those can't come fast enough!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER WARNING:  NONE!  Grendel the giant attack poodle survived the entire series!  YAY GRENDEL!!!!!

Christmas By the Sea - I Could Get on Board With That

TITLE: Christmas Secrets by the Sea (Seasons by the Sea #1)
AUTHOR: Jane Lovering
PUBLISHER: Farrago
PUBLISHING DATE: December 13, 2018

FROM GOODREADS: Sometimes you don’t get the Christmas presents you imagined…

Tansy Merriweather is down on her luck. She’s lost her business and her relationship, and instead of a glamorous London apartment, her home is now a campervan on a Dorset beach. And as if things couldn’t get any worse, a scruffy dog called Brian with a taste for sardines has adopted her as his owner.

When Tansy’s new-found friends at the cafe in the bay help her find a job as a location scout for a new TV show, things start looking up. However, she soon discovers that the show’s glamorous star, Davin O’Riordan, is as grouchy as he is handsome – and just as Brian starts forging a touching romance with Davin’s elegant whippet Seelie, Tansy begins to wonder exactly what Davin’s fans see in him.

As Christmas approaches, Tansy and Davin discover each other’s secrets, and a new bond begins to grow between them. But how will they cope with the storms headed their way – and can they save the cafe from closing?

MY THOUGHTS:  "Christmas Secrets by the Sea" is just the kind of book I like to read during the holiday season.  Christmas is present but it isn't  thrown in your face and there is a lot going on besides just cute romance.  In the beginning of the book, the reader is introduced to Tansy and a scraggly stray she eventually names Brian.  We know that Tansy is down on her luck, just recently losing her business, her home and her boyfriend.  She has chosen to park her caravan on Dorset Beach and wait out the holidays.  What she doesn't plan on is meeting new people and learning that sometimes you really can chose your own family.

There's lots to love about this book.  There is a wonderful small town feel and as Tansy discovers a new job scouting filming locations for a local production company, she meets many new, wonderful and nerve-racking individuals.  There is also a great puppy love story between Brian and a whippet named Seelie - talk about odd couples.  There is some romance thrown into this book so if that turns you off, then you won't want to give it a go.  But it's not over-the-top and it's actually a love-to-hate trope which I am finding I enjoy quite a bit.  And there are some pretty dark secrets which are exposed by the end and it only made me love Tansy and Davin even more.

I probably wouldn't pick a book like this up to read most of the year but it was a perfect fit for the holiday season.  And come on, with Brian and Seelie, you pretty much know it's going to be something I enjoy.  I'm curious about the rest of the series when it releases because if it focuses on some of the characters we've already met, I'm anxious to see where it's headed.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS 

Oh No I'm Late!

I knew all along I was going to participate in this challenge I just didn't think it started so early.  This is hosted by Katie @ Just Another Girl and Her Books.  Check out her post and the rules are down below.

The Rules

This is supposed to be a fun, light-hearted challenge, so the rules will be minimal. 

1. Tell everybody about the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge (#12BooksOfXmas). 
2. Build a blog post or create a Goodreads shelf of the books you intend to read for the challenge (you can see mine here.) You can read outside your list, this is just a starting point. Then come back and add your name to the link-up. (Be sure to visit the other bloggers to see what they'll be reading.) Bloggers, please link back to this page so others can find the sign-up if they wish to join. 
3. Reviews must be posted between November 22 and December 24. The review link-up will open on November 22th. Bookmark this page to add your reviews as you get them posted. 
4. Any winter holiday themed books count (i.e.: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa etc.) Check out the books we read and reviewed last year by clicking here.
5. There are four achievement levels for this challenge, so read as few or as many books as you want. 
6. Have fun!

There are 4 different levels and I believe I'm going for Elf Status.

Be sure to check out my December Contenders post for the books that might qualify and thank heavens I still have time!