For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

 

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing - 373 pages

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn't be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost

Wow, Teddy really takes it upon himself to "help" people.  I like how self-righteous the author makes him and the different POV of the characters throughout the chapters.  I really enjoyed this one and liked the ending....it leaves a bit to the imagination.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom -- 368 pages

Delia Merriweather does not believe in magic. But she does believe in family, and her family happens to identify as witches. Their lack of magic doesn’t dampen this heartfelt belief, because according to lore and legend, they’re hexed. Convenient? Yes. True? Probably not.

Thanks to a weird birthmark, the eccentric circle of Merriweather women believe that Delia is their blue witch. In other words, she’s supposedly the person capable of restoring magic to the Coven Merriweather. However, A) magic isn’t real and B) the spell is truly horrific and illegal in all fifty states. Who’s going to boil a baby, for crying out loud? So, they’re all completely blown away when Delia accidentally breaks the hex (sans baby-boiling obviously). Chaos and mayhem ensue, drawing the attention of the invisible witching world. And that includes the sexy, brooding, and excessively irritable Max Halifax who has recently moved in next door to settle his uncle’s estate.

Just when Max thinks he’s done with his endless tour of duty—keeping an eye on the bumbling Merriweather women—he discovers Delia Merriweather has somehow broken the hex placed by his great-great grandfather. He worries that beneath the Merriweathers’ seemingly harmless antics, lies the very real possibility that this gaggle of clueless witches will somehow stumble into their power and, like their ancestors, threaten to rule the witching world by controlling the hearts of men. Maybe it’s even starting already. Because Max’s heart beats erratically whenever Delia Merriweather is around.

William by Mason Coile

 

William by Mason Coile - 220 pages

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.

No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.

When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house—the smartest of smart homes—Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

I wasn't too sure about this one at first but it ended up being pretty good.  And the reveal at the end...mind blown (although I should've seen it coming).  Kind of creepy to think about with AI being so prevalent.

Mysterious World by Laura Knowles

Mysterious World by Laura Knowles -- 191 pages

I read this book in preparation for a homeschool class I'm teaching.  It was very interesting.  It contained information on various mysterious creatures, places, events, etc.  I've read several other similar books yet this one contained a lot of things I have not heard of before. I would definitely recommend this book to kids.

Absolute Batman, Vol. 3: Devil's Workshop by Scott Snyder

Absolute Batman, Vol. 3: Devil's Workshop by Scott Snyder

Absolute Batman (2024) #15-18, 208 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Batman won his explosive battle with Bane, but his friends will never be the same—and he might not be able to help them, even if he crosses worlds and enlists the help of a god to do it.

Meanwhile, another of Ark M's residents will be unleashed on Gotham. And the biggest question of all still remains…what is the true identity of the man behind everything? Legendary artist Jock reunites with writer Scott Snyder to tell one version of the story Alfred’s been chasing for years, and a one-shot explores the origins of Ark M!

The Fang Arrangement by Sarah Blue

The Fang Arrangement by Sarah Blue -- 328 pages

It was a stupid mix up. A string of bad decisions tethering me to one of the most powerful vampires in Louisiana. When I agreed to go out on a date with a wolf shifter, I didn’t think the night would end with me covered in vampire blood and accused of murder. My options were simple: make a deal to be Warin Auclair’s on call witch, or face the vampire council. Warin might be manipulative, scheming, and rude, but he promises me his protection.
Vampires and witches don’t mix. There’s no way any of this can end well.
Danger keeps lurking around every corner, from deadly vampire slayers to precarious secrets. Yet, he shockingly keeps his promise, ensuring my safety, and amid all the threats, showing me who he truly is. I shouldn’t be falling for the attractive vampire. He’s immortal and I’ll never abandon my coven. So why do I want him to sink his teeth into me and never let go?

The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue

The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue -- 305 pages

It was a stupid wish. One that’s come to haunt my doorstep fourteen years later. When I made a pact with my best friend to marry each other if we were both still single at thirty, I had no idea it would be magically bound… by me. Time and circumstance have separated us, and we’re no longer the naïve teenagers we once were. I’m thriving with my coven and Silas is the newly appointed Alpha of the local shifter pack. Which is why this marriage will never work.

The Celestial Coven and the Moon Walker Pack have had an ongoing feud that spans generations. My former best friend has now become my sworn enemy. Unfortunately, my magic hasn’t gotten that memo and my nemesis/husband is now living under my roof and walking around my house topless in gray sweatpants. I don’t want him. I shouldn’t want him. But why do I find myself stalling at figuring out a counter curse?