Dual post: Witch Is When Life Got Complicated and The Chase

The Chase (Brides of Beadwell) - Sara Portman Witch Is When Life Got Complicated (A Witch P.I. Mystery Book 2) - Adele Abbott

For some reason BL wants to post the review for The Chase under Witch is When (WIWLGC).  When I change it, the WIWLGC review appears under The Chase....and on and on.  I tried to do a completely separate post, but it still did it.  So, dual post it is.  I'm going to outside and scream now.  Star review is for The Chase.

 

WIWLGC:  2 stars

Jill Gooder (yes, that's her last name) is a PI and a witch. She's new at the witch thing. I liked the first book. But what I like about the first (quirky, fun) was overshadowed by the other issues I had. This, like the first, was very light on the mystery. Jill is a decent main character. What annoyed me, is I wish she would stand up for herself more and be less of a doormat. Just. Say. No. I didn't like the secondary characters as much. I thought they (mainly Jill's sister and cousins) were rude, immature, and just plain annoying. It sucks that a book with so many (human) characters, the one I liked the best was Winky, a cat.

 

 

The Chase:  3.5 stars

Juliana is on the run from her abusive father. She possesses a photographic memory. She found a letter when she was around 12 that mentioned an inheritance when she reached her majority (25). This is the main reason she runs when she does. She sees Michael and asks him (mainly because of her cane and limp) for help in getting to London. 
Michael is on his way to London to answer his father's summons. His father has decided it is time for Michael to get married. His bride has been picked out.
I did like both Michael and Juliana. Michael comes across as a good person already; mainly because of the way he treats Gelert (his dog). Juliana is a little harder to like at first. I believe it's because of her background. She doesn't trust that once Michael finds out he won't return her to her father. (The whole property thing, what good girl leaves her father's protection- on purpose?)
I both liked and didn't like the resolution with Juliana's father. Yes, he got what he deserved, but it was too quick and the whole issue with Juliana's mother could have been more. Michael was pleasantly surprised with how his family viewed him (that was nice). I also liked that Juliana's inheritance seemed to be hers to do what she wanted with it (at least with how I interpreted the epilogue). 
3.5* rounded up for GR since GR doesn't "do" 1/2 stars.

eARC courtesy or Kensington Books/Lyrical Press and NetGalley.
Publication date: Nov 21st