I wish I was as excited over this book as I was about the description. Unfortunately I could not feel gripped nor fully immersed in the story. It was disjointed and not fir me personally. It was a little too random for me and predictable.

"Penny Angel" weaves a delightful tale of transformation and enchantment that left me spellbound from beginning to end. As Penny Angel's life takes a magical turn thanks to a mysterious ring, I was drawn into a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary in the most unexpected ways. From trading courtrooms for a pub to navigating the whims of witches and werewolves, Penny's journey is as charming as it is adventurous.

What I loved most about this book is the way it seamlessly blends elements of fantasy with everyday life, creating a captivating story that is both relatable and fantastical. As Penny navigates her newfound powers and encounters a colorful cast of characters, including witches and werewolves, I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what magical adventures awaited her next.

With its engaging plot, lovable characters, and a touch of whimsy, "Penny Angel" is a delightful read that will enchant readers of all ages. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or simply enjoy a heartwarming story of self-discovery, this book is sure to leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

Enjoyed this. Penny goes from a regular lass to a lady under the burden of ancient and dangerous magic. The last bit feels rushed and unfinished which is a bit of a shame.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley on behalf of BooksGoSocial
To be honest, I never grew out of my fantasy/paranormal phase. I grew up in the Harry Potter and Twilight eras, so whenever I have a book that brings all those themes together, I immediately pick it up. Fatal character flaw for myself? Maybe. At least I admit it lol.
When I read the basis of Penny Angel I was immediately intrigued, especially with the premise of her being suddenly introduced to a whole new world right beneath her. As I read more though I felt like I stumbled on each situation, which often left me confused and having to go back and read what was going on or who the story was focusing on. Even from the very start of the book I felt immediately lost, trying to already decipher what was happening.
There is a widespread list of characters that both revolve around Penny but also have their own side story. I am all for a heavy plot and cast of characters, but this time it felt like too much. Some characters had their own chapters and others only had parts of their lore sprinkled in with other characters. It was hard to distinguish between who was most important and who would become only a secondary character. The conversations and even internal dialogue felt jarring and very robotic. The emotions that were described felt forced and very singular. For how big of changes Penny went through I truly expected her emotions to ebb and flow with how the story progressed, but most of the time they felt stationary and only changed near the very end. The plot line was a unique twist on the genre, but it absolutely was lost between the 3 or 4 extra stories that were woven into Penny’s life. It wasn’t until the very end that things began to be put into place, which made it very hard to piece together up until them. I am all for figuring it out till the end, but this was so over the place it became very overwhelming to me.

What did I just read? A overly detailed synopsis? Or is the ARC actually missing full chapters? This feels like I am coming in at Season 14 of Criminal Minds. Sure, you can get some enjoyment of the weekly cases....but without the full backstory, you spend the whole season feeling like you're just not in on the joke.

The premise and story are not terrible but the pacing is almost frenetic, Penny's journey of "discovery" conversations with Belle are wooden and awkward. We are expected to believe this woman raised her and is who she goes to for advice but its just not believable. Ruby and Danaes story feels like it started 3 books ago. The Ivy character is the most ridiculous "henchman".
If fact, the most believable character is Sabine, until the end and then that goes to pieces too.

This book needs a really good developmental edit, about 6 more chapters and new Beta readers.
Not for me.

Rate - 4.5
Spice - 1

This book was beautifully written … it almost gives a little bit of Snow White vibes but with Witches.

Penny was an amazing character and her character development was nothing shy of phenomenal as she was soul searching and trying to figure out her past and ancestry.

I would totally recommend this book for any reader but it is a good entry level novel for the readers that do not like long books and chapters.

I totally loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed it i cannot wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC copy to review in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, can I say I really appreciate that the FMC, Penny Angel, is not a teenager or in her early 20s. She is a career woman in her 30s and that makes her much more relatable to me. Penny is a former L.A. attorney who returns home in the wake of a terrible car accident and the disappearance of her husband. Upon sorting through her late mother's belongings, she comes across a mysterious ring that opens her world to the paranormal. Unlike legal briefs and trials that are chock-full of tangible evidence, Penny must now grapple with magic, something that is not always tangible. This leads me to some things I struggled with when it came to her character. She had many internal monologues which served as her way of working through all of the new information surrounding her mother and magic. However, I didn't feel like she grew as a character. Most of the time, she was complaining and trying to distance herself from the reality before her and she never seemed to grow beyond that mindset.

Next, the writing is easy to read, but there are shifts from first person to third person depending on the character whose POV the chapter is in, and that interrupts the flow of the story. The book is short (less than 300 pages). However, the pace is too rushed, especially towards the end of the book. I found myself not understanding where things left off with some characters. There is a vast host of characters, some of which I'm not sure were completely necessary to the story as they were very developed/flushed out.

3/5 stars; 0/5 spice

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Penny Angels and the Black Diamond is a fantasy story following Penny who was a lawyer who has returned back to her hometown only to discover a world of magic.

The first thing that got my attention was the cover. In my opinion, it is simple but also very stunning and captivated me. The description had also piqued my interest into trying this book out. When I had started reading, I was instantly gripped into wanting to read on. The descriptions were really well and provided great imagery of the scenes. The dialogues were really well done too.

At the second chapter, I did remember thinking ‘can we get to the point’ as I felt the scene dragged a little too much but thankfully by the next chapter and onwards the story did pick up and made me want to keep reading on.

I also really liked the different/alternating point of views in each of the chapters. It actually was really refreshing and easy to follow. At no point did it ever seem confusing to me as I knew exactly whose headspace I was in. Each character was unique and easily identifiable.

This story was really well done as is and I did quite like it. I’d rate this a four out of five stars.

Penny Angel and the Black Diamond is a new supernatural series by Sherry Briscoe. Penny Angel follows a main character, Penny, after she leaves the corporate world to return home and claim her precious black diamond. The evolution of her character and the revelations of her magic powers pull the reader in.

Briscoe's writing style is light and flowy which easily carries the reader through the plot. While many of the characters are barren, I am optimistic Briscoe will fully flush them out as the series progresses.

I look forward to the next book of the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Books Go Social for this eARC!

Penny Angel is a story about an LA attorney whose life got flipped upside down when she got into a car accident with her husband, lost her job, and felt pulled back to her home in the PNW by her late mother. This is the start of her story of uncovering a hidden, magical familial history and the role she decides to play in it.

If you're looking for a short, cozy paranormal read that also has a PNW small-town, magical mystery feel, this will be a great read for you! Perfect for autumn.

Edgar was my favorite character! How could he not be?? I was excited when Penny received support from someone other than her brother, even if it was from a little old black cat, and of course her Godmother, Belle.

→ Penny talking to Edgar (her cat): "Are you a good listener?" The cat meowed with a quick and short response that almost sounded like a yes. He jumped up onto one of the bar stools, hunched down and pulled his crooked tail around his body and seemed to wait for me to speak again. Edgar Allan Purr was listening. 🥲🥰

The author did a beautiful job at describing the setting. There was a specific part where Ruby explained her felt connection with nature and I loved being able to relate to her alongside that. Made me want to go put my toes in the grass!

My biggest frustration was that Pennys internal battle always felt very similar throughout the story. Yes it's normal for someone to be hesitant about magic, witches, and werewolves, but there should be some nuance of emotions during that discovery process. She was constantly denying it saying things like, "I need to get a handle on my life and stop seeing things that aren't there because I'm a logical person," even when it was right in front of her.

I'm still rooting for Penny though! As we read in the cliffhanger, I have a feeling that she's going to do a complete 180 in the next book. 🔥

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Sherry Briscoe's "Penny Angel and the Black Diamond," the first in the Penny Briscoe saga, earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars from me. This enchanting story follows Penny Angel, a former lawyer from LA, who returns to her small hometown only to be thrust into a world where magic and myth become her new reality.

One of the book's standout features is Briscoe's writing style. Her descriptions are immersive, drawing you into Penny's world without overwhelming the narrative. As Penny grapples with the existence of witches, werewolves, and the supernatural, her journey from skepticism to acceptance is compelling and well-paced.

Penny's character, initially mundane, gradually unfolds into someone more intriguing. The slow evolution of her personality and the revelations about her powers and the magical ring make for an engaging read. The book particularly shines in its use of multiple points of view, allowing the reader to understand the story from different perspectives.

Briscoe masterfully sets up lore and future storylines, making this book a strong foundation for the rest of the series. While the ending leaves you hanging on a slight cliffhanger, it effectively builds anticipation for the next installment.

The narrative does require some attention due to its frequent jumps through time, which can occasionally be disorienting. Despite this, the overall story remains intriguing and leaves me excited to continue with the saga.

"Penny Angel and the Black Diamond" is a delightful read for those who enjoy a mix of magic, mystery, and character development. Briscoe's blend of the supernatural with a small-town setting creates a captivating tale that promises even more intrigue in the books to come.

I really enjoyed this story! It starts right in the middle of the action and kept my interest. The writing was strong and the FMC showed strength of character despite all she had been through. I'll be looking forward to the next book in this series.