Book & Audio Review: Beguiled by Darynda Jones

Beguiled
Author: Darynda Jones
Narrator: Traci Odom
Series: Betwixt & Between (Book 3)
Publication: Self-Published (February 22, 2021); Tantor Audio (May 11, 2021)
Length: 370 p.; 10 hours and 10 minutes

Description: Newly indoctrinated witch, and a charmling to boot, Defiance Dayne discovers there's more to life after 40 than she'd ever imagined possible. Especially since one neighbor is trying to seduce her, another neighbor is trying to steal her house out from under her, and a third neighbor is trying to get her kicked off the planet. Oh for three, but things start to look up when a new witch moves to town, one who says she's been sent to thwart an attempt on the charmling's life.

Dephne decides she has three things to do before she can die. Find out who killed her beloved grandmother, teach her BFF, Annette, the finer points of spellcasting before she blows up the world, and figure out how serious her relationship with the Adonis living in her basement really is. If it's heading in the direction she's hoping for, she can die happy. Though, admittedly, she'd rather not.

None of that will matter, however, if she can't figure out how to foil the supernatural assassin who's been sent to kill her. Until then, it's business - and hopefully romance - as usual. Now if she can only figure out how to tame a lacuna wolf.

My Thoughts: The final book in the Betwixt & Between trilogy is filled with humor and action. Defiance Dane has managed to return her grandmother from the dead but still really wants to know who murdered her in the first place. Defiance is also the target of someone who wants her because she's a charmling. And she is concerned about her relationship with her basement neighbor who is a hottie wolf. 

Throw in a best friend who believes she's psychic and who wants Defiance to conduct a seance and who seems to be developing an ability to may deadly poisons and you have a lot of confusion going on. 

This story had a lot of characters who were all fascinating people and who all had issues that kept pulling Defiance in different directions. I was especially fond of the three-year-old ghost boy from Salem's pilgrim past. 

I enjoyed the quirky humor which mixed nicely with someone wanting Defiance dead and the tension that brought to the story. 

While this book wouldn't stand alone, it was a great conclusion for those who have read the first three books in the series. 

Favorite Quote:

Be the reason someone smiles today.

Or the reason they drink.

Whatever works.

I bought this one November 29, 2021. You can buy your copy here.