ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ SOMETHING WITCHY THIS WAY COMES BY H.P. MALLORY

Blurb from Goodreads

ARC provided by NetGalley



Expected Release Date: September 25, 2012



A witch’s work is never done, and in bestselling author H. P. Mallory’s mesmerizing new novel, Jolie Wilkins finds that the real magic is only just beginning.

For smart and sexy witch Jolie Wilkins, being Queen of the Underworld is a royal pain. Back from a round of time travel, Jolie must now protect her realm from the sinister Lurkers—a powerful breed of half-humans bent on conquering the undead. And if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that the supernatural never go down without a fight.

At least Jolie has her soul mate (and finally official boyfriend), warlock Rand Balfour, by her side. Honorable, brave, and unbelievably handsome, Rand is everything Jolie wants in a man. So why can’t she forget the dangerously alluring vampire, Sinjin Sinclair? With her private life heating up and a battle boiling over, Jolie sets out to prove that in matters of love and war, the fairer hex has its own set of charms.  

Caution: This review may contain a major spoiler--don't read if you want to be surprised.

I have been on the Joli/Rand/Sinjin love triangle train since the beginning. And man, has it been a ride.

The Jolie Wilkins series started out in small tarot shop where Jolie worked along side her bff, Christa.  In walks the sexy, dark haired Brit, Rand Balfour, who tells her not only is he a powerful warlock, but that Jolie is a witch. I was instanly hooked on this series, and I fell hard for that sexy man, Rand.

These two characters have been on one emotional roller coaster ride that I have loved and enjoyed immensely. Although I hoped that Jolie and Rand would end up together and have a beautiful HEA, I must admit that Sinjin made this decision rather difficult. That smexy vamp with the snarky mouth and incredible sexual chemistry between he and Jolie had me questioning my loyalty to Rand. He was just THAT sexy.

Books one and two ( Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble and Toil and Trouble) were a super fantastic read that had me on the edge of my seat. And I was (and still am) supremely stoked that H.P. got a major publishing deal for her books. She rocked my girly bits and did some serious vag blocking with Jolie and Rand. I mentally cursed and praised the woman for her teasing game.

What has me sadly disappointed is that I don't think this series lived up to its full potential--at least for me. I was foaming at the mouth when H.P. left the readers hanging on the proverbial cliff, when Sinjin traveled back in time (Book 4, The Witch Is Back) to win Jolie's heart. Yes, we know that isn't what he tells her, but that vamp has fallen hard. He just can't admit it.

And Something Witchy This Way Comes left me feeling slightly empty and wondering what happened to my beautiful characters.

After "returning" to the present, Jolie faces the hard decision of how she should punish Sinjin for his trickery. She flip flops back and forth until my head is literally spinning. The inner dialogue is a bit repetitive and Jolie never seems to truly make up her mind about anything--other than the fact that Rand is her soul mate, her love, and that they are truly bonded. 

The Lurkers are also in the forefront in this final book. And the ending isn't truly an ending-nothing is really 'wrapped up'. I know that according to H.P. Mallory's web page, she will be doing a spin-off of this series, so hopefully some questions that are never answered may be set to rights.

I hate to give spoilers in reviews, but some of the plot developments here were weak for me. And an epilogue would have been fantastic considering that Jolie has a certain sitch going on that will not be mentioned here **zips lips**.

I missed the quirky and sometimes laugh-out-loud moments that I had in books one and two. Overall, SWTWC left  me wanting something more.

Will I stop reading H.P.? Meh...I don't think so. She hooked me once, I'm sure she can do it again. I am looking forward to how she develops the spin-off to this witchy-entertaining series.