Didn't work for me. I didn't care for the MC.

I appreciate the opportunity to review. Sorry for the long delay in feedback. I'm working on clearing out my Netgalley backlog. I am DNF'ing all books that just don't work within the first 50-100 pages. Trying to find the joy in reading again by going through the hundreds of abandoned books here.

2.75 stars for me. As there are no new stories under the sun, just individual ways of telling them, this just may not have been my cup of tea. I didn't really like the main characters. Kylie did stupid things [Yes, let's cover a protective pentacle drawn in chalk with a rug, thus smearing and disrupting the lines and rendering the protection null], was spectacularly indecisive about what she wanted from men, sometimes full of herself [and the abilities given her by her super powerful sentient crossbow] then whinging on about her inadequacies, and occasionally had self-control issues. [Sleeping with a random demon days after meeting him when the paranormal was so unreal to her that Wiccans are considered outre is just downright dumb]. Erasmus could have been most any "dark, angry, tortured, sexy male"(tm).

Basically, this was not the one for me, despite being minorly fun.

I received an eARC of this book in return for a fair review.
This book was not what I expected! Take your usual romance novel plot (girl moves to place, starts a buisness in a cool building), throw in some magic, some folklore, and some murder, and you have yourself Booke of the Hidden. This was a fun read that kept me guessing at every turn! I’ll def be looking for the next one!

I quite liked this book. I am looking forward to the story being fleshed out and the story unfolding.

In a big departure from her medieval Crispin Guest series, Jeri Westerson has written a highly entertaining paranormal new series pilot.

Kylie Strange, lately of California, has relocated to a small town in rural Maine to open her own tea and herb shop. During renovations, she discovers a book bricked up in the wall land opens it, inadvertently releasing all manner of evil magic beings. With the help of the demon Erasmus Dark and a local coven of Wiccans, Kylie has to hunt down the creatures that are killing the local townsfolk.

A super fun, light read.

I had some problems with loading the copy and lost part of the text...will have to try again when the print copy is available from my library.
I finally (Dec. 1) got to read The Booke of the Hidden. I was interested chiefly because I had read and enjoyed the author's Crispin Guest series. It's hard to believe this was written by the same person. I understand that authors sometimes chose to take an entirely different direction with a new book/series, but having read her medieval mysteries, I was somewhat taken aback by the paranormal romance/urban fiction turn Ms. Westerson has taken. The writing quality was not up to the standard of her previous books, either. However, setting aside all my complaints, the concept does have promise (and the author indicates this is the first of a projected six book series), so I'll keep an open mind and look for the next in the series.

Good story. I wish you to have access to the full book

This was a real change for me with a mix of witches and demons.
Unfortunately the story leaves many unanswered questions which lets the plot down.
A good start to the series though.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley*
The Booke of the Hidden was a good Halloween spooky read. It had an interesting enough main character and the other main character, Erasmus, was extremely intriguing,Also, I loved her sidekicks, jolene and doc,
And that plottwist!,
The one thing that bothered me was that clearly it was just an intro, but a bit more activity would have been nice.

Booke of the Hidden
Booke of the Hidden #1
Jeri Westerson
Diversion Books, October 2017
ISBN 978-1-63576-050-7
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

To get a fresh start away from a bad relationship, Kylie Strange moves across the country to open a shop in a seemingly quiet town in rural Maine. During renovations on Strange Herbs & Teas, she discovers a peculiar and ancient codex, The Booke of the Hidden, bricked into the wall. Every small town has its legends and unusual histories, and this artifact sends Kylie right into the center of Moody Bog’s biggest secret.

While puzzling over the tome’s oddly blank pages, Kylie gets an unexpected visitor―Erasmus Dark, an inscrutable stranger who claims to be a demon, knows she has the book, and warns her that she has opened a portal to the netherworld. Kylie brushes off this nonsense, until a series of bizarre murders put her, the newcomer, at the center. With the help of the demon and a coven of witches she befriends while dodging the handsome but sharp-eyed sheriff, Kylie hunts for a killer―that might not be human.

Generally speaking, I don’t gravitate towards witchy books but this one had a couple of things going for it before I even started—the description sounds awesome and I already knew I’d enjoy this because it’s written by Jeri Westerson. If you ask me, Ms. Westerson is one of those authors who is way under-recognized and I’ve been happy with everything by her I’ve ever read.

When Kylie finds that book, she does what anybody would do, she opens it. What follows—a coven of witches, a possible demon, murder and a bit of romance—turn this find into something quite out of the ordinary but Kylie keeps her cool, for the most part, and her interactions with Erasmus are often laugh out loud funny. Even the name of the town, Moody Bog, draws out a smile and, while the pacing is a little on the slow side, I chalk that up mostly to setting things up for the books to come. I came to feel really attached to the kind of creepy but appealing Moody Bog and its inhabitants and to the story that leads Kylie and her new “friends” down a most unlikely path on the way to solving the murder.

So, did Booke of the Hidden live up to its description? Yes, it certainly did and its essential differences from Ms. Westerson‘s other work make this a really fun departure from her straightforward historical mysteries. Despite my slight aversion to witch-related stories, I’ll definitely be back for the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2017.

I’m always in the mood for a fantastic Urban Fantasy, there’s something about that mix of magic, adventure and romance in a, normally, somewhat familiar setting that I love. However, it has been a while since I have found anything new that’s whetted by appetite, so I decided to go all Indiana Jones and explore and in the wilds of NetGalley I came across Booke of the Hidden. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the treasure that I was hoping for.

When I read UF I like something to be a little gritty, I want the heroine to have depth, strength (even if she doesn’t know it) and intelligence. I want the love interest to do more than decorate the book with his gorgeous abs and massive biceps. And lastly I want an interesting story set in world that is well thought out and full of potential. Unless it is a superb 5 star book you don’t always get these things all at once especially on book 1 of a series, but you get enough to get stuck in and encourage you to continue. However, Booke of the Hidden didn’t really have any of the things I love, it didn’t feel like an UF it had the feel of a trying-to-be-charming, yet ultimately shallow cozy mystery.

It’s mixture of cookie cutter “eccentric” secondary characters, a broody love interest with as much depth as a paddling pool and the clueless, yet plucky heroine made this predictable and shallow. There was nothing below the surface, the world although not really explained also didn’t leave me intrigued about what wasn’t said, mainly because I didn’t feel like there wasn’t anything further to learn. And the storyline of a demon on the loose I completely lost interest in. I read this book to get to the end rather than out of enjoyment.

Needless to say, I won’t be continuing reading this series it wasn’t quite what I expected and wasn’t to my taste. A book that I did love and the premises are kind of similar is Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z Martin, which I recommend you check out if you like the type of UF I do.

I was pretty consistently amused by everything in BOOKE OF THE HIDDEN which is one of my favorite feelings to have while reading. From the absolutely ridiculous plot, quirky small town characters, to the kind of random and weird but working for me romance between Kylie and Erasmus. I love books where the main character just randomly stumbles into a world and has to figure everything out before some doom befalls them or the world. This book is basically your classic example of that with an intriguingly mysterious book wrapped in a dark history and a burgeoning romance.

I loved Kylie right off the bat. She owns a tea shop (my favorite kind of shop) and is just trying to get start her life again after a bad break up. She's kind of sarcastic, quirky, and pretty open-minded for someone who just discovered witches and demons are real. I really enjoyed Erasmus's introduction as you don't know if he is supposed to be the antagonist or not so you are kind of left feeling persistently suspicious of him for a long time. That suspicion wanes as he ends up working closer with Kylie to clean up the mess that opening the Booke of the Hidden caused. While I enjoy some sexy flirty, I am wondering if they are going to continue with developing this relationship in future books. Their banter is really fun but they don't really click with me as a long term romance.

As I got to the end of BOOKE OF THE HIDDEN I began to get concerned that nothing was resolved and hoped this was the beginning of a series. Luckily, it is as per the author note at the end! The writing is engaging with a mystery plot that can easily be expanded into a few more books. I enjoyed spending time with Kylie and all of the other characters and am looking forward to what new paranormal creature they will meet in the next book.

With the debut of Booke of the Hidden, Jeri Westerson launches a new series with a new publisher. A blend of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, Booke of the Hidden also features elements of the historical, mystery, and thriller genres.

Jeri Westerson wastes no time before jumping into the crux of the novel. Kylie Strange has relocated to Maine after a recent breakup. She decides to open a tea shop in the quaint town and while doing some renovations stumbles upon a unique – and blank – book sealed behind the building’s wall. Almost instantly, ominous things begin to occur, including the appearance of a dark and brooding man who demands answers to questions Kylie does not understand.

Readers quickly discover that the Booke of the Hidden, much like Pandora’s Box, once held an array of ancient and dangerous creatures. Once, being the operative word here, because when Kylie opened the book(e) she released them back into the world. Oops. Unwittingly, this also made her responsible for capturing them once again – thereby forming the backbone of the series.

Genre fans will expect a strong female lead character, and with Kylie Strange, Jeri Westerson delivers. Readers will respond to Kylie’s attitude, intellect, and inquisitive nature. And it practically goes without saying, but when she can’t outwit or outsmart her opponents, she is more than capable of kicking ass – crossbow in hand. The romance elements are slower to take hold – reader’s have to explore the chemistry between Kylie and the men in her life – but future books in the series are sure to allow a natural evolution on that front. Certainly by the end of Booke of the Hidden it is clear that at least one of those men – Erasmus Dark – has secrets of his own.

Strong world-building rooted in the lore of the location adds authenticity without overpowering the fun nature of the read. Fans of this genre will be thoroughly entertained and left with just enough new questions to increase anticipation of future volumes in Kylie Strange’s story.

Beware of things unseen!

This was so not what I expected. It was a crazy, wild ride and such a departure for Westerson.
(And to think she dreamt about the major elements of the story--amazing--ah the subconscious!)
A new entry into the urban paranormal genre complete with a mild mannered Wiccan group, a woman escaping a bad relationship who flees from California to Maine. Was she summoned or was it all just coincidence? Right!
What do you do when you break down a brick wall in your new abode and find a musty old book. You open it and summon ... things that go beyond the wildest imagination for Kylie Strange.
I loved the magical cross bow.
I loved the demon (not quite the daemon lover of Scottish fame) or whatever Mr. Erasmus Dark might be. The quips Kylie directs at him are hilarious.
I'm not sure about Sheriff Bradbury.
I loved the Wicca coven including the teenager who is a cross between Wynona Rider and Julia Stiles.
Suddenly, for the coven and Kylie, fighting demons, incubus and such us becomes the norm.
Then there's the coven dedicated to dark, and a different demon.
And let's not forget the sector of town who once upon a time, in the past, would have happily burnt all of the above at the stake, of which one member has hereditary links to Kylie.
A great start to a new series.

A NetGalley ARC
(October 2017)

Here is the link to our review http://kingsriverlife.com/10/07/booke-of-the-hidden-by-jeri-westerson/

I was torn about how to rate this book for a while. It was a tie between 4 and 5 stars and I settled for 5 because I liked some aspects a lot and I'm already looking forward to possible future books in the series.

'Booke of the Hidden' had a bumpy start and I wasn't sure if I would like it for maybe the first 50 pages. Overused tropes and cringe-worthy dialogue made me anxious but it turned out to be an awesome read that I would recommend to fans of urban fantasy.

The story is set in the small Maine town of Moody Bog - one of those places where people can track their families back for generations. It's a small-town community that promises the calm, fresh start Kylie is looking for. After leaving her Californian life behind she just wants to look forward and focus on the opening of her very own tea and herb shop. Within days of the big day she comes across a mysterious book in the old house she bought and soon her life is filled with Wiccans, demons and much less calm days than expected. The book intertwines old family stories, demonology and a romance that isn't allowed to be.

What I expected when I started to read the book was an urban fantasy which was delivered. I'm just much more used to urban fantasy novels playing in big cities but honestly, the lovely Maine backdrop added its own add-on to the setting. Whenever I spot a Maine setting I always get excited because it reminds me of some of my favorite King novels which are mostly set in Maine. I haven't been there yet and I don't believe that a vacation will take me there but you'll never know. Needless to say, this was a big plus in my book.
The author did a good job showing some of the usual small-town aspects but I was missing something that would make the town of Moody Bog unique. Haven't found that yet but this seems to be the first novel in a series - maybe there'll be more about the place in later books. You could definitely tell that the town and its inhabitants are important.

First, I've got to say that I liked most of the characters - especially those side characters that played a huge part in progressing the story but - and this is a big one - ...
My biggest pet peeve is a main character I can't relate to because I get bored just reading about them. I know that with all the books that are published these days it's hard to come up with someone entirely new and intriguing but I at least expect an author to try. Somehow, I also felt reminded of Buffy The Vampire Slayer... To be honest, the bow is a big deus ex machina but I was willing to overlook it.
Kylie wasn't easy for me to relate to. Just leaving her 'old life' head-over-heels because of an ex-boyfriend and then starting anew where every guy falls for her is just something I'm not interested in. However, as the story progressed I started to see more in her character and I came to a point where I might enjoy to read more about her story.
Her relationship with Erasmus (let's not talk about the names in this book!) wasn't something I enjoyed reading about in the beginning. Seriously, I haven't seen that much cringe-worthy situations in a while. It got a lot better as the story progressed which is why even after finishing the book I still hope that the author would fix the beginning. It almost ruined the book for me.
And while I like the whole he's-a-demon-now-what issue, I can't stand love triangle. Why did I think that its golden age has come and gone? I never was a fan and probably never will be. It was kind of okay with this novel because there's a whole lot of philosophical discussion linked to it but I hope that the author will resolve it soon.

I was happy to see that there were tidbits of information about tea and herbs scattered throughout the story and I would love to see the author to add more of them in future books.
The fact that I already think about what to expect from future books shows you that despite the few annoying points I had a great time reading 'Booke of the Hidden'. The writing was entertaining and made me laugh occasionally and once I made it past the beginning of the novel I wasn't able to put it down again. Great read!

Although things happened it was still kind of a slow read for me. I really didn't care what happened to anyone. I think I expected a different edgier read, this wasn't it.

This book is the first in a new series. When Kylie moves all the way across the country for a fresh start, she didn’t know it would include demons, witches, and a mysterious book. But when her world is turned upside down, she has to use all of her knowledge to capture all of the demons let loose by the book she found. How will she also get her new tea shop off the ground and deal with the attentions of two men, one of whom is a demon? I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be well-written, and it moved along really well with great characters, plot, and action. The only tiny thing was I didn’t exactly feel the chemistry between Kylie and her two men, less between Kylie and Ed. However, I know that sometimes the first book in a series can have a few bumps, and I am definitely looking forward to more in the series to see where everything is going. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Kylie Strange up and moves to the town of Moody Bog to open a Tea and Herb Shop. When she arrives however, she's thrown into the supernatural after finding the Booke of the Hidden. With the help of the local Wiccans, and a demon she must hunt the monster that's escaped the Booke. 



Westerson mentions at the end of the book that this plot came to her as a dream. Which I think is great, but a lot more re-writing may have been needed. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the plotline of a chosen person need's to hunt the demons and write them away into the book. But the book as a whole suffered from tropes and cheesiness. 

First, the names. Kylie Strange and Erasmus Dark. Pretty sure Erasmus is the international exchange programme at university? No? Anyway... even the character points out that their names are weird. And you never get used to them throughout the book. Personally, this just grated on me throughout. 

It also fell into many tropes of Urban Fantasy. The chosen one moves to a new, often quaint town. Weird supernatural things start to happen and she realises she's the only one who can fix it. Love triangle occurs, oft between a good guy and a bad guy, but obviously the bad guy is much more attractive. Bad guy is also a massive jerk to the chosen one. Sound familiar? Yeah... too much trope.

The good thing is that the characters were often interesting. I really enjoyed the Wiccans and how different they all were. There's a plotline with other town people who will probably appear in future installments. It was nicely set up as a series and the town was written to be quite open for this. I just personally won't be reading it because I disliked the tropes. 

 I received Booke of the Hidden* by Jeri Westerson from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.

A wonderful, fun book full of great and interesting characters. The setting of rural Maine in autumn is a perfect backdrop for this story. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.