Review: Alchemy With Benefits by Katalina Leon (Sorcery By The Sea 3)

Title: Alchemy With Benefits

          (Sorcery By The Sea)

Author: Katalina Leon

Release Date: January 9,2018 (?)

Publisher: Macmillan

Category: Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Type: Digital

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Katalina Leon Website

Blurb:

What happens when a wacky witch who casts spells that backfire, collides with a hunkalicious food wizard who practices alchemy from a food truck?

Alchemy With Benefits.

Estele “I meant to do well” Esposito is the worst witch in the San Buena enchantment community. When she casts a spell it goes batshit wacky with disastrous results.
Everything changes when a sexy brujo, who drives an enchanted taco truck, shows up with a mysterious warning that he is her new protector. Too bad Estele hates brujos, but when an evil djinn threatens the community, Estele has to put trust issues aside and enter an alliance with a brujo to save the city.

Want the perfect alchemical recipe for hilarious chaos? Mix romance with Estele’s brand of loopy spellcasting, hexed food, a ghostly sea captain with questionable vices, a priceless gem of infinite power, malicious djinn bent on world domination and thousands of innocent people trapped at a county fair—what could go wrong?

Favorite Line:

“They’re huge!” Griselda squealed. “I like packages that are long and thick. I’ll take one.”  ~ Griselda

Dialogue Highlight:

He lifted her face to his and kissed her lips. “Are you scared?”

“To kiss you? No.”

“I meant about tomorrow.”

Was she scared? Oddly, she had no fear for her own safety. “I’m scared my wacko style of magic might hurt someone else. I live in dread of it, actually.”

Smoothing her hair with his palm, he drew her closer. “Why?”

“Why? Gosh, you don’t know me very well. The enchantment community of San Buena knows me as ‘batshit wacky Estele.’The few people who actually like me call me ‘Estele I-meant-to-do-well Esposito.’”

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself.”His voice was rich and reverberated deep in his chest like the purr of a lion.

“I’m not. Trust me, I’ve earned my bad rep.”

“But you’re so powerful. You sent the smoke beast fleeing. When did all this start?”

Val thought she was powerful? Burrowing her face against his chest, she smiled.

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.

If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.

With a loud poof! Witch Griselda materialized within a cloud of mist at the end of the hallway. “Where’s everybody going?”Her scratchy voice was like the chirp of a cricket. She stooped, looking ancient in a tattered gray cloak, and clutched a gnarled staff with a ruby the size of a plum embedded on the tip.

Miss Dahlia appeared flustered. “Everything’s under control, Griselda dear. Wouldn’t you rather be at home enjoying a nice cup of tea and watching Wheel of Fortune?”

“No.” Griselda had a lazy eye that wandered. “I heard screaming and I thought there might be an opportunity to have a little fun.”

“Nothing fun here,” Miss Dahlia insisted. “Perhaps this would be a good time to feed the cats?”

Griselda snarled, showing crooked teeth. “The cats are blimps. Fat as toads. A ten-minute fast would do them good.” She pointed the jeweled staff at Estele. “Who’s the tattooed lady?”

She was used to daily reintroducing herself to the semi-senile headmistress. “Estele Esposito. I was Estele yesterday too.”

Griselda horse laughed and in the blink of an eye teleported from the end of the hallway, landing inches from Estele’s face. “Miss Esposito, the troublemaker? This is the same girl whose spell made everyone in the downtown business district walk backward, talk backward, and pull their pants down instead of up, am I right?”

Miss Dahlia looked defeated. “This is she.”

Griselda threw her arms into the air. “I may have drunk too much mercury in my tinctures over the years and gone mad as a badger, but why are we not recognizing this girl as Wiccan royalty? She’s fabulous! So creative. So unpredictable. Who else would turn a box of tampons into an army of little men?”

Jumping to her defense, Estele blurted, “I didn’t mean to—”

Miss Dahlia interrupted. “That incident and its embarrassing repercussions shall never be discussed again in polite company.”

Griselda elbowed her way closer. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not polite company! I’m a frigging old witch who’s seen it all. I went to the buttered toast races on Prince Bertie’s plump thighs, slipped the tongue to King Leopold, and played a naughty game of French postcards with Teddy Roosevelt. He loved it. That’s how long I’ve been around, and I say Miss Esposito has talent!”

Review:

Estele Esposito is a witch who has a problem focusing. She is notorious for screwing up. Not only does everyone else berate her, she is constantly berating herself as well as second-guessing every decision she makes. Terrified of hurting someone with her wacky spells, she tries to stay away from trouble – but trouble always finds her. When a brujo shows up telling her they are supposed to be partners and that together they will save their area from an evil storm rising, she thinks it must be a joke. How in the heck can the more unpredictable witch in history be anything but a possible threat?

Valentine Del Toro knows he is destined to be the sexy little witch’s protector. What he didn’t count on was her inability to believe in herself and her unreasonable hatred toward brujos. This is going to be much more challenging than he had anticipated. If they are going to have any chance of completing their task, he’ll have to convince her to believe in herself just as he believes in her.

This was a cute, quirky book that helped me pass a bit of time pleasantly. Estele is pretty cute. It is almost as if she doesn’t have an inner monologue to speak of – always speaking out loud whatever pops in her head. She and Val compliment each other nicely. Whatever one lacks in, the other more than makes up for. I haven’t read about a food alchemist before, but it sure is an intriguing idea. I supposed the right chef could make you believe he bewitched his food, but this guy actually does it. What a fun idea! I enjoyed seeing Estele change from having basically zero self-confidence, to knowing exactly what to do as a result of the help, guidance, and support of friends. The secondary characters are quite a fun encounter that I wouldn’t have minded reading more about. Fae, a parking fairy, genies … even the most hilarious ghost pirate ever! I found myself laughing several times. I think Griselda took the cake with best lines in the story, in case my favorite line wasn’t any indication. But I easily could have chosen several mre fabulous lines.

I wonder about the book because it says it doesn’t release until next year, but I know it is part of a boxed set that came out Aug.22 called MYTHS & MAGIC. Odd, that. This is the 3^rd in the series, Sorcery by the Sea, but according to the author’s note, it should actually be book 2 as it immediately follows the story of the characters in book 1. However, you can also read it as a stand alone. I read it without reading either of the first two books in the series and had no issue following along. As far as sexual content, it is virtually non-existent. The author warns of mild sexual situations, which is putting it way too strong in my estimation. A bit of kissing is all that occurs in this book. For those who shy away from strong sexual content, those who enjoy peculiar characters, and those who like a splash of humor within a book – you have come to the right place. Ms. Leon has built a paranormal world that coexists peacefully (for the most part) with the human realm. Her quirky characters journey of self-discovery and their sweet attraction, all intertwined with a sense of humor makes for an entertaining way to pass the time.

Kindle version provided by Paranormal Cravings Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.