LITERARY LUNACY / NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES (Bewitched Books 1 & 2) by HP Mallory -reviews

LITERARY LUNACY
Bewitched Books #1
by HP Mallory
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, mystery

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 11, 2024

Bewitched Books isn’t just any used bookstore—it’s one with a magical secret…

Starting over at forty-two was never part of my plan. But after a painful divorce, I needed a fresh start. So, here I am, returning to my hometown of Laurel Falls, TN, with my tail tucked firmly between my legs.

Luckily for me, I’ve got my best friend, Rox, with me and the two of us are determined to bring back to life the bookstore I revered as a child. Little do I know, this bookstore isn’t just a haven for beloved stories—it also holds a magical secret.

Imagine my surprise when I discover that certain books in my possession have literally come to life—or at least, the characters have. As if that isn’t enough to come to terms with, I soon find myself entangled with the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

Heath Waise is tall, dark and brooding, but he’s also got a secret, and it’s a secret he’s keeping at all costs. Not only that, but I’m pretty sure Heath wants something from me—I mean, what other reason would he have for his obvious interest and his determination to keep me close?

And that’s when the hauntings begin…

Soon I’m being targeted by a vengeful ghost, her intentions growing more menacing with each passing day. So, are you up for a wild ride? Then join me as I navigate this supernatural adventure where classic literature, magic, love and mystery intertwine in ways I never thought possible…

••••

REVIEW: LITERARY LUNACY is the first instalment in HP Mallory’s contemporary, adult. BEWITCHED BOOKS paranormal, romance series focusing on forty-two year old, Laurel Falls book store owner Eliot Gauthier.

Told from first person perspective (Eliot) LITERARY LUNACY follows Eliot Gauther as she, and her best friend Rox, return to their hometown of Laurel Falls, to take over a run down book store they will call Bewitched Books. From the outset Eliot finds herself facing strange happenings, angry ghosts, and the arrival of literary characters whose stories were once told in classic literature. From a questionable investor, landlord and handsome stranger Eliot must come to terms with the unreality of her current situation. With the help of her best friend and co-owner Rox, whose knowledge of Egyptian mythology and lore comes in handy, the duo must defend themselves against an angry ghost, while remaining friends with an ancient god, and a dark hero who has yet to let go of the past.

LITERARY LUNACY brings together several characters from some of history’s most famous classical stories. Someone is determined to take control of the bookstore but our heroine has been ‘blessed ‘ (or cursed) with the responsibility of protecting the books. The premise is enchanting ; the characters are familiar, determined, desperate and charismatic. LITERARY LUNACY ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger.

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NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES
Bewitched Books #2
by HP Mallory
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, mystery

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 21, 2025

ROMANTIC PERIL BETWEEN THE SHELVES…

When you’re caught between a brooding literary anti-hero and the most famous of the Romantic poets with centuries of seduction experience, trusting your heart becomes a supernatural nightmare…

I thought running my bookstore, Bewitched Books, was complicated enough. Between managing a bookstore with a magical shelf that brings literary characters to life and dealing with all the people who are after said magic, my hands were already full.

Then he walked in—Lord Byron himself, a man who’s beyond seductive, but I’m pretty sure he has a dark agenda and a smile that makes my heart forget to beat. As if that weren’t enough, blood-drained victims are turning up all over Laurel Falls with no memory of what happened to them.

I’d turn to Heath, my protective (and admittedly hot) business partner—yes, the Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights—but his jealousy is reaching dangerous levels. Not to mention Rox is falling hard for Byron’s exotic companion, making objective decisions nearly impossible.

Now I’m caught in a supernatural game spanning centuries, with Egyptian mythology, enchanted books, and danger swirling around me. And the worst part? I can’t tell if my attraction to Byron is real or if I’m just another pawn in his schemes.

One thing’s certain—some books are never meant to be opened, and some desires are never meant to be quenched. But telling the difference between safe and sorry might cost me everything.

•••••••

REVIEW:NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES is the second instalment in HP Mallory’s contemporary, adult BEWITCHED BOOKS paranormal, romance series focusing on forty-two year old, Laurel Falls book store owner Eliot Gauthier, and her best friend Rox. NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book one LITERARY LUNACY.

SOME BACKGROUND: Eliot Gauthier, and her best friend Rox, return to their hometown of Laurel Falls, to take over a run-down book store they will call Bewitched Books but from the outset Eliot finds herself facing strange happenings, angry ghosts, and the arrival of literary characters whose stories were once told in classic literature. From a questionable investor, a concerned landlord and a couple of handsome strangers, Eliot must come to terms with the unreality of her current situation. With the help of her best friend and co-owner Rox, whose knowledge of Egyptian mythology and lore comes in handy, the duo must defend themselves against an angry ghost, while remaining friends with an ancient god, and a dark hero who has yet to let go of the past.

Told from first person perspective (Eliot) NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES finds Eliot and Rox investigating the characters of classic literature, many of whom originated in the stories found at Bewitched Books but secrets and lies abound when a possible vampyre takes aim at Laurel Falls, a vampyre pulled from the classics. As Heathcliff begins a slow seduction of Eliot Gauthier, Lord Byron refuses to stand by and takes a chance with our story line heroine. Meanwhile, Eliot’s co-owner and best friend Rox is falling for Aliki Kaldun, an Egyptian woman who may or may not have an ulterior motive, a woman who is much more than she claims to be. Bewitched Books keeps it secrets buried within its’ books and its’ walls, and a hidden library that does not want to be found. Motives are dubious, and Eliot will discover how desperate the classic characters are willing to go to get what they want.

We are reintroduced to several classic characters including Heath Waise aka Heathcliff, the spirit of a very jealous Catherine Earnshaw, George (Lord Byron) Gordon, and his friend Aliki Kaldun, Dill Thomas, and his assistant Edgar, and Heath’s Irish Wolfhound Inpu, aka the Egyptian god Anubis who only speaks to our story line heroine, as well as Elliot’s landlord Mr. Guest, and Aubrey Greenwich. Not everyone is who or what they claim to be.

NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES is a detailed story blending Greek and Egyptian mythology, wrapped in classic literary characters all searching for something or someone in their lives. From ancient spells to hieroglyphics, teleportation, vampires, magical portals, jealousy and spiritual exorcisms, secrets and lies, NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES is a fanciful and enchanting tale with a little bit of romance aka love triangle, betrayal, mystery and obsession. NARRATIVE NIGHTMARES ends on a bit of cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy