The Magical Midlife series is a popular book series that has gained a significant following among readers. It is a fantasy genre series that combines elements of magic, adventure, and midlife experiences. The series follows the life of main character, Jane, as she navigates through the challenges and surprises of her middle-aged years. The series begins with the first book, "Midlife Magic: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel." In this book, Jane discovers that she has magical powers and is drawn into a world she never knew existed. As she explores her new abilities, Jane also faces the everyday struggles of midlife, including career changes, relationship issues, and the search for self-discovery.
“I am not going to call you by your full name, I’ll tell you that right now. The lot of you are crazy. I’m not climbing aboard that train.” “And yet, you just debated on the merits of slitting a perfect stranger from neck to navel versus navel to neck, and decided on stabbing and ripping any way you chose.” “Yeah. That’s just logic.”
Now she s surrounded by grumpy old people the strange butler, gardener, and ancient neighbor who can drink her under the table and trying to deal with some strange goings-on in the town and the house. Jacinda, a 40 year old recent divorcee has come to the town as a caretaker for a lovely and slightly creepy Victorian mansion on the outskirts of town.
As she explores her new abilities, Jane also faces the everyday struggles of midlife, including career changes, relationship issues, and the search for self-discovery. Throughout the series, Jane encounters a wide range of magical creatures and beings. From shape-shifting werewolves to powerful witches, each book introduces new characters and expands the magical world in which Jane resides.
Review: Magical Midlife Madness by K.F. Breene
Reviewer: Holly
Magical Midlife Madness by K.F. Breene
Series: Leveling Up #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: February 16, 2020
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Point-of-View: Alternating First and Third Person
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler » Yes « Hide Spoiler
Content Warning: View Spoiler » Violence, Gore « Hide Spoiler
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 376
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Holly's 2020 Goodreads Challenge
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Series Rating:
"Happily Ever After" wasn't supposed to come with a do-over option. But when my husband of twenty years packs up and heads for greener pastures and my son leaves for college, that's exactly what my life becomes. Do-over.
This time, though, I plan to do things differently. Age is just a number, after all, and at forty I'm ready to carve my own path. Eager for a fresh start, I make a somewhat unorthodox decision and move to a tiny town in the Sierra foothills. I'll be taking care of a centuries-old house that called to me when I was a kid. It's just temporary, I tell myself. It'll just be for a while. That is until I learn what the house really is, something I never could've imagined.
Thankfully forty isn't too old to start an adventure, because that's exactly what I do. A very dangerous adventure that will change my life forever. I have a chance to start again, and this time, I make the rules.
Magical Midlife Madness is the first book in K.F. Breene’s Leveling Up series, which is women’s fiction rather than her traditional romance. I’m not sure why I haven’t picked this series up before now. I like KF Breene’s writing and always enjoy her stories. I think this one just wasn’t on my radar until recently.
Jacinta recently turned 40 and her whole life changed. Her son went away to college and her husband asked for a divorce – something she felt only relief about. She ends up moving in with her parents, but a single day there makes her realize that isn’t going to work. Lucky for her, her best friend’s aunt is looking for a caretaker for the family mansion, Ivy House. Everyone else finds it creepy and weird, but the one time Jacinta visited as a child she fell in love with it.
Now she’s surrounded by grumpy old people – the strange butler, gardener, and ancient neighbor who can drink her under the table – and trying to deal with some strange goings-on in the town and the house. Most shocking of all? Jacinta learns the house is actually magical and so are the townsfolk..and the house has chosen her as its new Mistress. She’ll have to decide if she’s willing to accept the house’s magic, or if it’s all too much for her.
“I am not going to call you by your full name, I’ll tell you that right now. The lot of you are crazy. I’m not climbing aboard that train.”
“And yet, you just debated on the merits of slitting a perfect stranger from neck to navel versus navel to neck, and decided on stabbing and ripping any way you chose.”
“Yeah. That’s just logic.”
It started a bit slow, but about 1/4 of the way through it picked up. I was really cracking up at some of the antics of Jessie (Jacinta). She was a strong woman who had fully accepted where she was at in her life and I loved that. I also loved how she managed her new life. She accepted that she wasn’t perfect and made mistakes, but she was comfortable with where she was now. She also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or call out others when needed. I really enjoyed the mature conversations she had with Austin Steele, the undeclared alpha. She makes him think, and he does the same for her. I appreciated that.
“I hear you,” he said softly. “I never put stock in any of that—the taunting about being ladies—but I didn’t see the bigger picture, either. Just like earlier tonight—no one has ever spelled out the dangers women face when a man asserts himself as I did. That blindsided me. So much of tonight has blindsided me. In my life, when it comes to this, I feel like I’ve been…blindfolded in a way. Not blind, because if I would’ve looked, I would’ve seen, but…” He shook his head. “I’m gobsmacked. Thank you. I’ll be more conscious of this going forward.”
There isn’t a romance in this book, which worked well for where Jessie is at in her life. She needs time to figure out other things, and I liked that Breene is giving us that. There could be something here for later books, but right now friendship is at the forefront.
I did think it got a little preachy for a minute with the whole ‘love yourself as you are’ and ‘middle-age is okay’ stuff. I don’t disagree with the sentiment at all, and in fact, love the message, but it came across a little heavy-handed at times. Not so much that I didn’t enjoy the book, but just enough that I noticed it.
“Raise your voice until you are heard. Look however you want, be whoever you want, and demand people pay attention to you. Stop taking what you’re given, and demand the space in life you want.”
If you’re looking for a fun read full of humor, with mature characters who are figuring out the next stage of their lives amidst unforeseen craziness, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The author, who has a knack for creating vivid and relatable characters, keeps readers hooked with unpredictable plot twists and plenty of humor. One notable aspect of the series is its focus on the experiences and challenges of women in their middle years. Jane, as the main character, experiences the unique journey of midlife while simultaneously navigating her newfound magical powers. The series explores themes such as self-acceptance, empowerment, and the importance of embracing change. Fans of the Magical Midlife series praise its engaging storytelling, well-developed characters, and relatable themes. Many readers appreciate how the series presents middle-aged women as strong and capable protagonists, defying stereotypes and challenging societal expectations. As the series progresses, Jane's adventures become increasingly complex and thrilling. Each book keeps readers eagerly turning the pages, wondering what challenges and discoveries await Jane next. With its clever blend of fantasy and midlife experiences, the Magical Midlife series has captured the hearts of readers around the world..
Reviews for "Immersing Yourself in the Magic of the Midlife Series"
- Sarah - 1 star - I really didn't like the Magical Midlife series at all. The plot was predictable and uninspiring, and I found the characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting. The writing style was also quite lackluster, with flat descriptions and repetitive dialogue. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this series and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
- John - 2 stars - I was expecting so much more from the Magical Midlife series, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The main character was difficult to connect with and made questionable decisions throughout the story. The world-building lacked depth and felt underdeveloped, leaving me feeling disconnected from the overall narrative. Additionally, the pacing was slow, and the plot twists were predictable. This series just didn't deliver the excitement and intrigue that I was hoping for.
- Emily - 2.5 stars - While the Magical Midlife series had an interesting concept, it failed to fully engage me. The protagonist lacked depth and often made irrational choices that didn't align with her established character traits. The romantic subplot also felt forced and lacked chemistry. Although there were glimpses of potential in the storyline, the execution fell short, leaving me underwhelmed. Overall, I found this series to be mediocre at best and wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a captivating fantasy read.
- Michael - 2 stars - I really wanted to enjoy the Magical Midlife series, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with slow and repetitive sections that made the story drag on. The writing style was also lackluster, lacking vivid descriptions and failing to create a truly immersive reading experience. The plot twists were predictable, leaving little room for excitement or surprise. Overall, I found this series to be a disappointment and wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.