REVIEW: Crystals and Corpses by Jacki James & Lori Ames (Magical Misfit Murders #1)

-

 


CRYSTALS AND CORPSES

Magical Misfit Murders - Book One

by Jacki James & Lori Ames

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Review

This is a fun and cozy start to a warm and quirky new series by Jacki and Lori. The paranormal side of Ravenstone is living in plain sight, but hidden from the unknowing humans.


Declan was one of those humans until he came to stay with his grandfather for a break from life. Suddenly, all those ‘tales’ his grandfather told him are true! Including the wolf shifter (who can’t shift), who happens to be gorgeous, kind, and caring.


As bodies drop, this unlikely duo - Declan with his flair for the dramatics, and Gideon the steady, calm Alpha (who isn’t an alpha, but also kind of is - it’s complicated!) - find themselves investigating a death that’s a little too close to home.


It’s found family vibes of misfit paranormals living the small town life!


Add to your TBR List

GOODREADS LINK

Synopsis

Magic, murder, and a whole lot of coffee—welcome to Ravenstone!

Declan Hawthorne is just your average caffeine-addicted guy—until a visit to his grandfather reveals: magic is real, witches exist, and apparently, Declan’s one of them.

Now he’s getting to know Ravenstone, a supernatural small town where the coffee is strong, the monsters are quirky, and someone just murdered a vampire at the first annual Magic Festival.

His ally? Gideon Blackwood—a gorgeous wolf shifter who can’t shift but still manages to growl in all the right ways. He knows he can’t be Alpha, but that doesn’t stop him from protecting everyone else… including one reckless new witch who doesn’t know when to quit.

Between magical cookies and cakes, a bunch of meddling misfit monsters, and a lot of spilled coffee, Declan and Gideon have their hands full. But if they want to catch a killer—and maybe fall a little in love—they’ll have to trust their instincts and maybe their magic.

Because in Ravenstone, coffee solves most problems. The rest? Magic and a hot wolf usually do the trick.

Tags: MM paranormal mystery romance, cozy mystery vibes with a bit of heat, an alpha without a wolf, a guy who’s just discovered he’s a witch, some magical cakes and cookies, supernatural small town creatures, low angst, lots and lots of coffee, a misfit monster support group with a heartbroken mermaid, a murder-board-creating shadow imp, a matronly spider lady, a grumpy demon, an extroverted sprite, a shy bigfoot, and Declan’s hippie grandfather.

About Jacki James

Jacki James has been saying she was going to write a book since she was sixteen and wrote fanfiction (before fanfiction had a name) about her favorite Rockstar. She is a believer in love of all kinds but MM romance is her favorite by far. She has a romantic heart and a dirty mind and likes to write stories that let both shine.


When she isn’t writing she is either creating beautiful pieces of glass art or reading. She is an animal lover and dreams of having a small hobby farm where she can raise goats, chickens and organic veggies. In the meantime, she lives in town with her two cats, awesome husband, and two college-aged kids.


Where to find them:


Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | BookBub | Facebook Group | Newsletter 




About Lori Ames

When Lori was in elementary school, she wrote a very compelling story about a girl with a prickly personality who turned into a rose. (Sounds amazing, right? She knew you'd agree.) Then she discovered romances in her teens and, well, she knew she wanted to write romances. It took her a little longer to find MM romances, but once she did, she was addicted. She lives in a small town in Alberta with her husband and an elderly black cat. She also writes MF and MFM romance under a different pen name.

Lori Ames writes MM romance with touch of magic!

Where to find them:


Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | BookBub | Facebook Group | Newsletter 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

REVIEW: Resting Beach Face by DJ Jamison (Swallow Cove #4)

-
Image
  RESTING BEACH FACE Swallow Cove - Book Four by DJ Jamison Release Date: February 20, 2025 Review Declan is so beautiful. Quiet, a little grumpy, a little withdrawn, and maybe a little lost and lonely. Then there’s Cash - outgoing, sexual, and completely obsessed with Declan.  It’s a slow burn. One that requires both of them to shift their understanding of each other, and time to truly learn and understand both themselves and the other. I love both the trajectory of the relationship as well as the life and home they build.  It’s a truly wonderful pairing that may be my favourite in the series. Sure I see a bit of myself in Declan, but I also just adore the way Cash grew and how they balanced each other. Add to your TBR List GOODREADS LINK Synopsis He could have anyone he wants...so why is he so interested in me? Cash is a gorgeous chaotic bi guy with a reputation for getting around. And me? I'm the antisocial grump, closed off and lonely. We should be like oil and water....
Read more

REVIEW: All I Fear by Abrianna Denae (All's Fair #2)

-
Image
  ALL I FEAR All’s Fair - Book Two by Abrianna Denae Release Date: September 19, 2023 Review protective, possessive and violent men.  Tennant and Hollis are an incredible pair. Kinky in the wildest way, they are everything and I adored them (even if slightly disturbed too).   Roman is heir to the Amato family and Tennant, as second in command, must shape him into the man he needs to be to one day takeover. Roman is a bit bratty and wild. Truthfully I don’t really care for him, but he certainly makes for an interesting dynamic to both Tennent and Hollis’ lives. I also love the addition of the odd chapter by other people’s view points, it adds a really interesting dynamic and keeps you tied to all the characters in the series. Add to your TBR List GOODREADS LINK Synopsis Tennant Mason is the Amato Family’s Second in Command. He’s calculating and lethal, his antisocial personality disorder provides him with the perfect tools for the Amatos to turn him into their deadlie...
Read more

REVIEW: Percolation Play by Katherine McIntyre (Leather and Lattes #3)

-
Image
  PERCOLATION PLAY Leather and Lattes - Book Three by Katherine McIntyre Release Date: March 25, 2025 Review Kai is starting over. Leaving Colliers Creek behind, and all the people who know him possibly too well. It’s a chance to explore things that weren’t previously possible. Namely his bisexuality and interest in kink. Through his exploration, he meets Ezra and Sloan, two men who carry a common trauma. All three of them are missing that feeling of being seen and loved for who they are in the here and now. It’s a touching story of three men finding themselves with each other, mixed with a bit of danger and suspense. Which is a great way to highlight the incredible family that Whipped has created. Add to your TBR List GOODREADS LINK Synopsis Kai’s new to bisexuality, new to the area, and new to the scene, but when he stumbles onto wild chemistry with not one man but two…he’s in for the ride of a lifetime. When Kai signs up for a class at Whipped, he never expected attraction to fl...
Read more