Midlife Magic: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel

Not Too Late, Book 1

By: Victoria Danann

Narrated by: Michella Moss

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

For all no-mercy heroines over 40!

From the five time winner of Best Paranormal Romance Series (Knights of Black Swan), a hot and humorous new series by New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Victoria Danann.

The day after my 43rd birthday, my husband announced he was trading me in - his words, not mine. The news was unwelcome at the time, but honestly? I needed a good goosing to get up and find my way to the door.

So I was freed from the giant manual of expectations authored by my ex. That was the good news. The flip side was less happy. Due to living in a state not friendly to discarded wives, I was also relieved of the financial "security" I'd spent a lifetime accruing.

Starting over? I didn't plan on it. Didn't see it coming. But pulling a sheet over my head and waiting for the end didn't seem like my style. Granted. I wasn't sure what my style was because I hadn't thought about freedom of expression since I was twenty.

I'd never been a fan of optimistic adages like "it's not too late", but that was before my life was divided into two parts; everything that came before the shoes and everything after. The red shoes shot me with a lightning bolt of attitude adjustment and thrust me head first into an adventure that was unforeseeable to say the least. If you'd told me what my life was going to be like, I would have used every synonym for crazy you've ever heard.

On an ordinary day, should I ever experience one again, I manage the curious goods and antiques shop I "inherited" in a tiny, picturesque English village in Cumbria, where the world of magic lives side by side with the mundane. But eight times a year, I spend a week mediating the disputes of magic kind. Dignitaries and lowborn alike. Odd or not, two of the most attractive males imaginable are finding me and my magical authority sexy.

It may be too late for super shiny hair, going without a bra, or sleeping eight hours without a potty break. But it seems that it's not too late for navigating magical politics, expatriating, romance, and saving the world.

Perfect for fans of KF Breene, Shannon Mayer, Elizabeth Hunter, Darynda Jones, and Lucia Ashta.

©2020 Victoria Danann (P)2020 7th House Publishing, Imprint of Andromeda LLC

If only this story happened to me

After Rita Hayworth's husband decides he was leaving her for a younger woman - the story starts Rita on her own journey. Rita's character is skeptical with her new found fortune and family but who wouldn't be? Rita finds out she's inherited a small fortune and estate in England but it comes with a catch -

Eight times a year, Rita convenes over a court as a human with no power of her own, on magic folk and their disputes.

This story was like a warm cuppa tea at the end of a day - it was fun, creative in a paranormal way, and leaves you feeling satisfied.

While I didn't find Michella Moss put a lot of tonal changes in her voice (deeper mens voice from women) from character to character, she was articulate and narrated the story with the right lilt so you knew what the characters were feeling and could empathize with them.

good story,only so-so narration

The story is pretty good,Definately entertaining but the narrator needs to practice. She got her accents down but not the voices. She did the main characters ok but I really couldn't tell the difference (male or female even!) with the rest.

Midlife magic

Fun story but I had to finish it reading. The narrator seems flat to me and did nothing to separate the characters from one another.

Not great, very slow

Very slow story, struggled to finish, no big plot problems other than her struggle to accept something that seemed to good to be true and move on from an ex she hadn't cared about for years anyway.. Maybe following books would be faster now that the initial baseline story has been established, however I won't be listening for fear they'll be dull too. It was also distracting to listen to narrator supposedly as the main American character say a few words with a Canadian or UK inflection (i.e. such as how she pronounced the words process and sorry). She didn't say them all the time, but when she did it's enough to doubt the main character as someone who really grew up in America.

Great idea, but needed more

I love this idea, I think it ended at a wrong place. it was kinda like getting a banana split without toppings. I'm going to get the next book and hope it makes up the difference.

Mostly clean romance

Nice book this book is really 3.5 stars. I had to struggle to get past the first few chapters then the story picked up.

Vanilla with a few sprinkles

There will be possible spoilers in this review...
I don't know any woman in her right mind that would hop a plane to another country after getting a letter from a stranger. There was a huge buildup to Rita being Magistrate and Court Week, but the book ends abruptly with no court and no excitement.
It was almost laughable that the author threw in 3-4 F-bombs as the only curse word in the book, close to the end of the book, like as almost an after thought. It was quite jarring and unexpected, especially when the author seemed almost scared to say sex and there were no gratuitous sex scenes, which a couple of the F-words were referring to. Instead, the author used words like copulation which was eye rolling.
There were other words the author sprinkled throughout the book that were an obvious overuse of a thesaurus.
No one found out who, what, where, why the hobnobbit was sent to the store. It seemed like a big deal but was just left unsolved and an honorable mention a few times.
The Murder Mystery Dinner was a let down. There was such buildup of the event and description of Rita's and other's clothes, jewelry, John David's house, dinnerware, food, beverages, etc., then who the players were for the mystery and the person who was missing and then it was over. No word on whether the person was found, what the mystery was, who solved it, nothing. I am wondering if I missed something.
I found myself filled with anticipation for what would happen during court week and then the disappointingly abrupt end. I was so surprised I was asking myself what is happening here?
It seemed the author had several good ideas for story lines but didn't know how to wrap them up so they were just not dealt with at all.
So many questions, no answers, not even a spoiler ending.

A good read

I loved the storyline and concept, however I prefer a strong lead who isn't so self deprecating. having said that, I'll probably keep reading😁

Loved this book

This was an excellent story that kept me engaged and wanting to know more. Looking guard to reading the next book in the series.

A world to visit

his series is a bit different than the others which is good. I enjoyed the humor and characters. A world filled with a little magic or a lot and ever fantastical beast you could think of. So far a vampire and fae to name a few. I love Rita and how she takes a chance on a new beginning and a new world. Love Keir! I enjoyed this story very much and hope to read more of the series and see what happens next! I got to listen to a new narrator as well and she did incredible with the accents. Even her deep voice for the men were well done. Thank you V for writing! xo

Needs refining

The story's not bad, although the "romance" element is leaning heavily of the usual sickening overused tropes (he's devastatingly handsome, incredibly powerful, and couldn't possibly be interested in her... could he? - {GACK!})

The author needs to research English terminology/phrasing and use of language better so English characters aren't referring to cars as "automobiles" and "autos" and don't use lines like, "Chatting me up," in the American meaning rather than the English meaning.

Also, some her character naming could use work - for example, "Brad" is a very American name. Yes, no doubt it IS used in the UK, but it's not common and it SOUNDS so all-American. Also, he managed to get himself listed among the attendees of the housewarming party that happened some time after he had died, so continuity could be better.

The narrator needs to check the pronunciation of names like Aisling ("ASH" is the first part, not "Ayes" ask a genuine Irish Aisling, or look it up online), although I only cringed at the accents in a few places.

Not bad but could do with refining.

Rita Hayworth Comes to England

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read/listened to a few of the Fab13 Midlife books and although they all seem to start in a similar way (a woman in her 40’s divorced or separated and starting her life over again), I’m amazed at how each of the Fab13 authors create a totally different adventure. This is no exception and I enjoyed meeting Rita, her talking car and watching her accept the role of magistrate whilst also bringing the town’s people together. There wasn’t really any action in this book, it set the scene and the world building. I did love that this was set in England but there were a few minor issues in the description of food (things we don’t say in England like broiled fish) and I enjoyed the easy listening voice of Michelle Moss. However, her English accents were a little distracting at times and weren’t very authentic which is why I gave this 4 stars! It will be interesting to see where Rita goes from here!

half a book

this book is way too short and leaves one feeling like it is only just starting when it ends. having bought it with a token I am left feeling conned