The Forty Proof series includes the following books: Midlife Bounty Hunter, Midlife Fairy Hunter, Midlife Demon Hunter, Midlife Ghost Hunter, Midlife Zombie Hunter, Midlife Witch Hunter, Midlife Magic Hunter, Midlife Soul Hunter, Midlife Vampire Hunter
A sexy read for the 40+ ladies…
The Forty Proof series has been a tricky one to review. There are things I love and don’t like at all here- all within the same books! First off, this is a well written series. Without giving anything away I’ll say that the ending is very satisfying. There are multiple love interests and at times I was totally stumped, wondering who Bree would end up with.
There are also twists and turns throughout the story that completely surprised me. I love it when an author creates a happy ending to a story that is sometimes unpredictable. I enjoyed the characters- they felt like real people within a magical world. And, being a woman in my forties, I loved that the main character was finding herself at this stage in life.
Here is what you should consider when deciding to read this series. First, it’s pretty spicy. The author does this cool thing where she tells the reader that a spicy scene is coming and where to pick up reading if you want to skip it. Without that, I likely wouldn’t have gotten through the first book.
Also, if you’re a woman who has lived a while (like me) you’ll appreciate that the heroine gets achy after running or has the occasional hot flash. If you’re reading this in your twenties, she may not be very relatable and the story might not be that interesting.
I tend to like a sweeter heroine than this one, with maybe a more solid moral code. Breena is a good woman who strives to do the right thing and yet I never really got the sense that she has a set of values she sticks to. Maybe this is because at forty-one, she is finding herself. With the lousy marriage she had, perhaps this is just part of the process of becoming.
If you’ve ever been divorced you might better understand Bree’s conflicting feelings for her ex-husband and the emotional strength required to move forward. It’s also really cool to watch her opinion of herself shift throughout the series. In fact, that is probably my favorite element of the story!
In conclusion, this is a spicy series (although much of the spice is optional) with an interesting heroine. It’s well-written and interesting with a great plot and character development. She’s not strictly my favorite heroine but that’s really just preference- there’s lots here to enjoy!
Breena is starting over…
One day, Breena is married, living a quiet life in Seattle, knowing that magic isn’t real. The next, she finds herself divorced, living in the guest room of her ex-husband’s cousin in Savannah, and having conversations with an animated skeleton named Robert.
At forty-one, starting over wasn’t part of the plan, but she refuses to let her ex’s betrayal leave her defeated. Back in Georgia with Gran, Bree begins unraveling years worth of repressed ideas and desires. And without her stupid ex to hold her back- begins to establish a priceless circle of real friends.
When an unexpected job opportunity arises, offering her a chance to tap into the shadowy skills she was trained in as a child, she jumps at the chance. The pay is much more important than the comfort of not believing in the paranormal.
Along the way, she meets more than one man who makes her heart- and libido jump into overdrive. Could it be that her ex-husband was wrong? Does she have a second chance at a relationship and kick-butt career?
The work is dangerous. It forces her to confront the magic and darkness she thought she’d left behind. And it demands an endless supply of Advil just to keep her moving.
But she’s ready to prove herself. Because this new version of her is not someone to underestimate. She’s in town to reclaim her life, even if it means groaning every morning as she rolls out of bed.
What I love about the Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer:
This is a fun, action-packed read with plenty of romance and magic. I love that the heroine is older and in my own stage of life. The series is well written with lots of interesting characters who grapple with real problems.
What I didn’t love about it:
The story is spicier and the heroine’s moral code seems a little unclear.
Spice level:
This series has a medium to graphic level of spice. The author informs readers when an extra spicy scene is coming and which page to turn to in order to skip the scene without missing the story.
Language:
The language is medium. There is mild swearing throughout with several F-bombs as well.
Violence:
This story is mild to medium in terms of violence. Even as a violence wimp, nothing I read kept me up at night.
Length:
This is a long series, at nine books. Most of the books are medium length, right around 350 pages.
Where to get the Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer:
At the time I’m writing this review, the series is available for sale on Kindle or free with your Kindle Unlimited subscription. The series is also available in paperback form from Amazon and on Audible.
I hope you enjoy this cozy magical mystery as much as I do. Keep reading! -Eva
(Find it on Amazon)
Connect with the author: Shannon Mayer
