This was a fun book! I would say the idea is kinda silly, covid50 giving people magical powers… but it works!!!! I am a sucker for adults (and not teenagers) to have powers, or discover that they have powers and try to discover life.
There are some ideas that were not super developed or maybe they were just out there… like the soulmate idea in the almost end? Or vampires who can read mind? It doesn’t need to have all the tropes to be an interesting book!

I still enjoyed the book a lot, and I cannot wait to read the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

The novel is a fantasy set in the future, and the futuristic backdrop adds an intriguing element to the story. The incorporation of the COVID-19 pandemic was done in a unique and relevant manner. The romantic aspect was well-executed, with the characters displaying great chemistry. The vivid portrayal of the characters truly brought the story to life for me.

I was drawn to the cover design of this book, and was auto-approved on NetGalley, so I decided to take a look.

This was a fantasy novel set several years in the future, and I felt the futuristic setting made it interesting read. The COVID-19 pandemic was incorporated into the story in an interesting way, or at least, it was relevant, in an interesting way. There was some romance in the story, and while those involved had good chemistry with each other, I sometimes felt that they were a little too preoccupied with sex and relationships. The characters came to life vividly for me though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Besides the lack of proofreading and checking on grammar, this story unsettled me. I wasn't expecting what I just read.

With everything COVID-19 has brought to the world, this book writes about the future in 2125 when COVID-50 was created in 75 years before. This virus has damaged modern society and sent us back to almost the 1800s by riding horses in certain areas and the government controls almost everything, including electricity usage. Babies born during COVID-50 were born with magical abilities, although most don't know that.

There are two organizations that want the magical people, the FBI (who's actually the bad guys) and HAC--Hellfire and Chaos. HAC is the good guys, but you don't find that out until later on.

Elyse is being set up with Josh who's a double agent for both groups. At first it's a blind date set-up, until he tries to recruit her, betraying her trust in the process. Elyse turns out to be the great-great granddaughter of the man who helped create the virus unknowingly. Both groups want her for her incredible abilities. Josh just hands her over to the FBI even know he knew she wanted nothing to do with either agency.

This book ended so abruptly, it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

If I had to recommend this book, I sadly wouldn't.

Elyse was a really interesting main character to follow and I enjoyed getting to go on this journey with the characters. Elizabeth R. Jensen does a fantastic job in writing this type of book and was everything that I hoped for from the description. I was engaged with the story and going through this in the genre. I’m so glad I got to read this and look forward to more.

Really wanted to like this one, but honestly, so many names, places, makes you think you need to remember them all (you don't), and it was just not really my cup of tea. It seemed like this would be my kind of book from the description, but it wasn't...

DNF around 47%

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Unfortunately, I have to DNF this book after reading 5 chapters. I wasn’t gripped by the introduction to the plot. There was just too much happening in the book that didn’t quite make sense. It felt like I was thrust into the middle of a confusing plot, and the more I read, the more bewildered I became. The setting of the story’s “world” didn’t seem cohesive, and the main character, along with the other introduced characters, felt flat and one-dimensional. I’ve decided to set this book aside for now. I’m unsure if I’ll give it another chance in the future.

The cover pulled me in and was excited to read this book!

As I started to read it just fell short for me. The characters were not ones you would even get into as the story to me was boring and couldn't get into it.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

While the description seemed right up my alley, this wasn’t the book for me. I was intrigued and feel like the plot had a lot of potential, I didn’t connect with the characters. I feel like aspects were over explained, and I was hoping for more magic! I think the romance might have overshadowed the story.

I found the concept of this book amazing. The idea of multiple COVID’s that tailored the world was amazing and it could be a great addition for the genre. However, I figured out pretty soon that this book would not be for me. Since this book is categorized as Sci Fi & Fantasy and as Women's Fiction, I was not expecting the amount of romance. That in itself is not a problem for me, but I think it’s important to point that out. My problem with the book, that eventually led me to DNF it, was that I didn’t like the main character. I didn’t find her relatable and at the same time I felt like she was a bit of a contradiction: She went on and on how she was living two different worlds, how she is average but in the end of course she (and her family) are special… The entire book (at least until the part I read) was that and it just felt short for me.

I think this book has everything to be a success if you like those type of main characters and a lot of romance (or at least that’s what felt like to me), but I would have preferred if it was focused more on the world and if it had a clear plot line.

Thank you so much to BookBuzz.net and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.

Hoodwinked in Hotlanta is an electrifying rollercoaster ride through time and intrigue. Elyse Hutchinson’s journey, fueled by a mysterious box of journals, kept me glued to the pages. The blend of family secrets, magical talents, and a dash of romance had me turning each page with bated breath. As someone who devours books like a hungry wolf, I can confidently say this one left me spellbound. Kudos to the author for crafting a tale that transcends genres and keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Very rarely do I DNF a book but I sadly had to with Hoodwinked in Hotlanta. For context, I got to 38% percent and despite the description being completely up my alley.. I felt it fell short in a clear plot or story line. Personally I felt like there was an overuse of names/organizations with little context making you wonder if it is something you need to know/remember or if it was just a one time reference. I also found an almost strange use of commonly heard and repeated idioms.

I really wanted to like this book, again as mentioned the description made me feel this book was going to be a new favorite. I am sure there will be readers who do fall in love with the book and characters and I hope they give this book the love every book deserves. I am not closed off to the idea of coming back to the book at a later date, at which time I would of course update any public post with a further review.

when this book mentioned covid-50 on the first page, i was done already. this book was not that long compared to the length of books i usually read, but this just dragged on so much for me, and put me in a huge reading slump. from the description alone, this book had all the ingredients to make me like it, and i was really intrugued, but after having read it, i'm not quite sure who this book was written for, with some of the themes mentioned being very adult, but the writing felt more ya-ish. with a few revisions, i think this has potential for some, but unfortunately it was just not for me.

thank you to netgalley and bookbuzz.net for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hold onto your hats, fellow book lovers! Hoodwinked in Hotlanta isn’t your run-of-the-mill read—it’s a wild ride on a dragon’s back! From the get-go, Elyse’s discovery of those ancient journals had me fist-pumping like a rock concert crowd. And Josh? Oh, honey, he’s hotter than a jalapeño in a salsa contest! The FBI, Hellfire, and Chaos? Buckle up, buttercups, because this ain’t your grandma’s cozy mystery. It’s a magical showdown with more twists than a pretzel factory. So grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, kick back, and let this book whisk you away faster than a caffeinated squirrel on a sugar high! Trust me, you’ll finish it and scream, ‘More, please!’ 🌟🔥📚

As a north Georgia native, I thoroughly enjoyed this post-apocalyptic tale of my hometown area.

The story follows Elyse and Josh, and their blossoming romance, as they navigate a post COVID-50 world. Unbeknownst to Elyse, her family was critical in the fall of civilization, & both the good AND the bad guys know it! Josh has his own issues to deal with, but is really looking to make a connection, when suddenly that connection becomes his assignment.

My one issue with this novel is the ending. It’s a cliffhanger for sure!

I think this book could be a real hit, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me so I had to DNF it. I found it to be a bit too graphic for my taste, but I can see a heavy fantasy fan would enjoy this! I did like the way you described the world though and the idea of multiple COVID’s. The art at the beginning of the chapter too is beautiful as well! I was so surprised when I opened up the book and saw that! Overall for what I read, I’m going to give it a 3 stars 😊