The second book in Cari Z’s excellent fantasy series, Luckless, about dragon rider Evan Luck , his mate/dragon Lee Caldwell, known in his dragon form as Ladon and his son Jason.
Dauntless builds on the foundation that the first novel laid out, but now the author has relationships and a mystery to explore further. There’s also Jason’s unique physiology that’s a major dramatic element here, for his family and the story. It’s superb as the boy’s struggles and deep pain for acceptance is relayed by the author’s scenes so beautifully.
There’s new monsters to fight and the action sequences are suspenseful and compelling. All the while, the Fortress City of Forge, formerly Denver, Co, the location for books 1 and 2, is a bigger presence. The author gives us more details, including possible dragon politics to how the very structures of the Forge, making it more a reality.
By the ending, a family struggles become a wider story, new insights into the world are added, new characters introduced and a mission launched. I’m even more invested than ever before.
What an amazing story and series. Highly recommended!
Evan Luck is a dragon rider who, after years of thinking he’d never bond with another one, now has a dragon again. His empathic connection with the powerful silver dragon Ladon, known in his human form as Lee Caldwell, has made them the most valuable defenders of the city of Forge against monstrous invaders. The fact that they love each other and dote on Lee’s ten-year-old son, Jason? Those are blessings Evan never saw coming. He knows life is good…even as he realizes that the world is becoming more dangerous by the day.
With monsters leaving the mountains of the Front Range to roam the plains for food and the influx of refugees to Forge increasing by the day, Evan has his hands more than full defending the city and training new recruits to fight. When Jason, desperate to bond with a dragon of his own but continually refused by the dragons of Forge, begins to lose control of himself, Evan and Lee make plans to do the unthinkable: leave Forge to fend for itself and take their son to Chicago, the nearest human and dragon stronghold to their own city.
But Chicago has its own terrors to deal with, and their last hope for Jason’s future might be lost before they can save it.
Riptide: a Super Bowl Year (The Riptide) by Beth Bolden was written by Bolden for her fans of her series, as a final way to say goodbye and to show that all important Super Bowl game from the many perspectives of the characters we have come to understand and love.
We see Sam Crawford and Heath Harris, settled into their respective roles and relationship. As well as all the other teammates from the series who have come to mean so much. It’s the Super Bowl. But more importantly it’s seeing the characters and the impact on their lives one last time.
It’s a fitting tribute and a wonderful addition to the finale story.
For all the fans, it’s a must read.
Riptide series:
The Rivalry #1
Rough Contact #2
The Red Zone #3
Bolden’s connected Football series in order they are written:
Deliciously demented! Alice Winters has another great book and character with A Simple Mistake, the first novel in her new Deadly Mistakes series.
Dark humor and psychopathic main characters are my jam. That makes Winters’ A Simple Mistake and Homicide Det Liam Paige, the psychopath who’s one delicious side of this two POV narrative definitely my new favorite. The other voice being the , shakes head, engagingly normal, law abiding Detective Gabriel Hyde and his cat,Lucille Pawl aka Lucy Fur.
Clearly you see what side I fall on.
Liam’s POV and dialogue, clearly non empathetic as it should be unless it relates to Gabriel, often had me cackling. My enjoyment ran deep. And Winters, while laying down the traumatic scenes and background for Liam, doesn’t ask us or Liam for remorse or for him to change his behavior or actions. He simply is what he is. It’s only from Gabriel that he’s slightly willing to make alterations.
I’ll be so fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as the series and their relationship develops.
The murderer and the investigations are complex, wonderfully detailed and constructed. Winters built so much suspense, intelligent psychological drama and horror into a story with equal amounts of gleeful dialogue and great action that it’s a must read!
Alice Winters is an auto buy and this fantastic book is just one more reason why. Highly recommended!
Great characters, fantastic writing, excellent story. Win, win, win.
Weirdly, people don’t react overly well when you’re caught standing over the dead body of a murderer who’d walked free.
It’s not that I thought my fellow homicide detective would rejoice when he saw what I’d done, but is a pat on the back too much to ask for? Maybe a gold star at the very least?
The problem is that the person who caught me is Gabriel, the only person I care for and adore… and he’s prepared to look the other way if I leave homicide and promise to never kill again. Yet when Gabriel gets taken by a serial killer, there’s absolutely no way I can sit back while this parasite takes what is mine.
But what the killer doesn’t know is that I’m coming for him and that I would destroy the world to keep Gabriel safe. After all, who could hunt a serial killer better than another one?
Gabriel
Drawing Liam back into homicide is the last thing I thought I’d ever do, but the killer is picking off my fellow detectives, and the only way we’re going to make it out of this is with Liam heading the case (even if there’s one—or five—coworkers he’d rather not save).
Liam is smart, sarcastic, and the most dangerous man I’ve ever met, and yet I can’t look away—even if he calls my adorable cat Lucy Fur. No one has any idea just how far Liam will go for me, especially not the killer, who won’t realize until too late that the prey he hunts is actually a predator.
George Hunt started out as a minor character in the popular Marshals series as a bodyguard to Sam and Jory’s daughter, Hannah. But as written by Calmes, there was just something special about George. Something extraordinary. The readers just wanted more.
The character developed as did his roles throughout various crossover stories, each redefining his history, his character and his heroic actions. And it brought him into the shared world, because of many traumatic events, with Hannah’s doctor, Dr Kurt Butler.
These are all fantastic novels that should be read, not just for the foundation knowledge but for the terrific storytelling.
But all those narrative paths led to George’s Big Day. A hilarious, sometimes poignant, action packed novel in which George tries to get married. Accompanied by many of the characters from his missions (and crossover novels) as well as the friends and co-workers from the Marshals series, it’s a law enforcement thriller, matrimonial circus, where hijinks ensue, love is pledged, there’s blood and casts, and a HFN with rings in sight.
Plus dogs and and a very mean kitty.
Did I say how much I love George and his stories? I absolutely adore George, and all his books. Especially this one. And while I’m not sure if this is the last, it’s ok if it is. What a wild ride it is.
Love it and it’s a total joy.
Great covers by Reese Dante.
With George:
Just George #1
Wintering with George #2
George’s Big Day #3
Connected Series:
A Matter of Time – 6 books
Marshals – 6 books
Standalone:
Again
🔹See the author’s notes for the entire list of crossover characters and the books/series they came from.
George Hunt wants to get married. The fact that he does is utterly amazing and a huge leap of faith for a man who’s always been certain that happily ever afters only happen in fairy tales. The thing is, though, ever since Christmas, when Dr. Kurt Butler, the man he loves, gave him a ring, he’s changed his mind about what’s possible. But between deployments and venues that have to be booked years in advance, matrimonial bliss seems persistently out of reach. Fortunately, George’s friends come through, offering the perfect setting.
Of course, when your life is full of heroes, there are always villains looking to even the score. When the day of the nuptials conflicts with murderous agendas, the only thing that really matters is being married at the end of the day. If George can keep his eye on the prize and everyone does what they do best, it might just all work out.
Sunrunner is the penultimate book in this fantastic fantasy series by Sam Burns, The Summertide Chronicles. A epic fantasy adventure that’s been focusing on the four main magical houses or families of this world, houses that have fallen into disrepute or aren’t functioning properly. And a huge ecological disaster is looming that threatens to end them all if the houses aren’t put to right and ready to go and meet the needs of the threat as a whole.
The stories so far have been the around the heirs and histories of the Gloombringers, the Dawnchasers, and now the Sunrunners. The most powerful and striking figures belong to the white-haired Moonstrikers. They are central characters in every story and they will also have the final word and finale novel.
The characters that are involved in this series are one that are introduced at the beginning and evolve into fully developed characters throughout this series, especially in their respective stories. That’s never more accurate than here with the Sunrunner family.
Sam Burns writing is so outstanding and the characters are all so different but compelling in how beautifully Burns created them. Layered, vibrant, and yet their depths of cultures and family dynamics are there . It allows for the reader to easily see the nuances the author is factoring into her characters. Just magnificent characterizations which are then laid out into an ever changing narrative, one which is exploring further the relationships and bonds of the sentient stone people, and the crisis on the horizon.
Sunrunner has some of the most interesting, potentially powerful characters of the series. There’s Kit Moonstriker, the duelist formerly known as Winter. His book is the last. He’s there along with their sister, Ember, and importantly, their brother, Frost, a highly intelligent, innocent man who rarely leaves the family house and territory.
It’s due to Caspian Sunrunner and Ember showing up to ask for help at the end of the last novel that’s set these events in motion. Caspian’s father, The Sunrunner, has disappeared and he needs to be found before the family summit on Mount Slate.
The storylines here are incredibly complex and full of emotional twists. What starts off as a great adventure with characters framed out in certain aspects soon becomes a very different story. One that’s unsurprisingly darker, more complicated and more intriguing. Also one that grabs the reader’s heart as well as the reader’s mind.
Both are completely invested in all the characters and all the various aspects of the emerging plots and new storylines. The different sentient stones that each family member is bonded to also is a major character with a distinct personality. Their relationships, with their bonded as well as each other, is another expanding storyline that I can’t get enough of. These stones have enormous power and influence, as well as unexplored abilities. I could read an entire series based on them and the history alone.
Sam Burns really has a masterpiece here. And Sunrunner is the best of a fabulous series. I can’t imagine what that fourth book will bring.
But Frost himself says it the best.
“The word you’re looking for is perfect. It’s perfect.”
My father is missing, and along with him, the Sunrunner family stone, Nausa. My aunt swears this is common for him, but I know different. Yes, my father is lost deep in his addictions, but he’s never disappeared before. If it weren’t up to me to handle the mess my family has made, I’d be a thousand miles away by now. But time is running out and the threatening eruption of Mount Slate keeps inching closer.
Now, Half the Moonstriker family has come to help me look for Nausa, including Kit, a freaking assassin, and his brother Frost, the most beautiful man ever born. Frost almost makes me want to stick around, for the first time in my life.
But suddenly, nothing can go right. From a near-miss in the car to an ugly realization about my entire childhood, not to mention the way Kit Moonstriker keeps looking at me like he’s deciding where to stab, saving the world isn’t as simple as it sounds.
Sunrunner is the third in a series of four books, starring one beautiful mathematician ingenue, one bad boy who isn’t so bad—he swears, and one overprotective brother who might be forced to teach him a lesson or two. It contains Caspian and Frost’s HFN, and continues the overall story arc of the series.
Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. That’s such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
There’s so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year I’m adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. I’m including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. That’s The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. That’s the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These aren’t in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. That’s the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
🔷Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
🔹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( I’m still working on the larger collections)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they weren’t available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. I’d lost track because I read so many.
It’s a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and author’s voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
I’m so thankful for the authors and books I’ve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
🫶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
K.M. Avery’s Beyond the Veil series is one of my favorites, not only because of its narrative complexity in terms of the themes, intensity of its layered paranormal characters, and the well crafted conceptual elements that Avery has created for the series and continues to explore as each new book releases.
It’s also the interesting way the author has formatted the series. Avery sections it into 3 book miniseries that revolve around a certain character or couple’s arduous emotional journey. Each one moves the many plot lines of mystery and drama of the series forward through the various lives of the couple and characters we are focusing on.
Currently, the one that we’re in is the one of the most emotionally charged and compelling segment of the series so far. Mostly due to the nature of the narrative and we see intimately and feel full connected to a person who has contracted the virus during the series. That’s huge in a group of brilliantly written storylines with full of memorable characters and oftentimes heartbreaking scenes.
It starts with the unforgettable events in The Turning of the Tables that lead to shattering changes to Seth Mays, and the beginning of his relationship with Elliott Crane, badger shifter and best friend of Hart.
The Badger in His Burrow follows Seth in his quest for new beginnings, including a job and control to the small Wisconsin town where Elliott Crane lives, Hart is from, and Seth has a tiny familiarity with because of his association with Hart’s investigation into the murder case involving Elliot’s father.
Avery picks up the storylines, characters and township from that previous story and weaves it into something deeper, different but still familiar. It’s now a mystery, a search for Seth for a new start, and for Elliot too.
All the emotions, physically charged elements in adapting to the new identity, the having to adjust to others judgements, it is all worked realistically into this world and Seth’s character.
There’s also more horror, more mystery and suspense to go with a developing relationship as the Arcanavirus continues to divide the populace. What makes Avery’s series so relevant and compelling is that the reactions and immediate responses to the Arcanavirus, for those it’s impacted in every aspect, can be viewed through the lenses of the current events today. Racism, sexism , highlighting the deep fears and hatred that is directed towards the LGBTQIA by some people, AIDS, all the experiences the pandemic’s produced are reflected in the ways the Arcanavirus has affected the world in the series.
The story is raw, moving, complicated and thoughtful. And there’s another story to come in Seth and Elliott’s 3-book group.
I highly recommend this entire series. They must be read in the order they are written in order to understand the events, the relationships and the developments in the series themes.
I’ll be reading the preceding book again as I want to go back to the beginning of Seth’s journey.
What an epic deeply rooted emotional experience this book turns out to be.
I moved halfway across the country for this guy—knowing that he wasn’t interested. And that’s probably not even the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
The stupidest thing I’ve ever done is seriously contemplate telling him that I’m falling in love with him. While also trying to find a job and keep my new coworkers from finding out that I’m a shifter. In a small town where everybody knows everybody else… except me.
The same small town where Elliot’s dad was murdered, where Elliot was almost murdered, and those people have family and friends who are still openly anti-shifter. The town is divided over whether it wants to embrace its shifter citizens or watch them literally be torn apart. I know which side has my vote, but I’m clearly the outsider here.
So here I am, in a tiny midwestern town with more cows than people, trying not to get fired, not to get outed, and not to get killed… all while hoping to somehow figure out a way to make Elliot Crane fall in love with me.
We’re at the penultimate book in Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic epic paranormal series of ancient Chinese vampires, terrifying Fae dynastic plots, realm invasions, dragons, fated mates , witches and paranormal beings of all sorts of magical mythology.
What a mesmerizing wild explosive fantasy romantic ride this series is. And with Two Thousand Shadows we get both answers to a series long puzzle and an agonizing cliffhanger to angst over until the finale is released.
Two Thousand Shadows has a lot of storylines and elements to it, particularly with Drake having to concentrate on pulling together the entire series dramatic plots and characters for huge battles and storyline climaxes that will resolve the majority of the series main crucial issues.
Does Drake pull it off? Absolutely!
With the addition of new characters, cat shifters with magical abilities that are slowly revealed throughout the narrative, and a new couple who are (already formed in the reader’s imagination) a more substantial force in both personalities and character growth.
Junjie, who’s a seer and warrior, has his own painful past revisited here through memories and conversations with his clan. The cat shifter is revealed to be Leo, the stray cat Junjie has been feeding a surprise that came at the end of the previous story.
Leo’s character and shifter background is rolled out as Leo decides what he wants to do with the clan and his affinity for Junjie. It’s interesting how Drake again is able to write Leo feelings and thoughts as a paranormal character with a different nature than a human being. Leo’s story feels very different from anything else that has come from before, that includes the dragon, who also acts as it should.
What or who is delightfully written is an orphan cat shifter who acts as a bridge between Leo and the clan, especially Junjie, pulling Leo into the found family in a relatable manner.
When it comes to the all important details and climatic moments, Drake has the power of the many magical beings and surprisingly great twists to make them so satisfying. Did I want more? Sure. But this is so complicated, so many elements and elaborate layers of storylines leading up the result that I probably wouldn’t be happy unless there was a couple more books.
These are fabulous characters and it’s hard to believe that with all their potential for growth and more importantly additional content, this is leading up to the end. Hopefully with a break, Drake will think about new stories.
There’s another story coming because as I said this ends on a cliffhanger. A unexpected twist.
Until that book drops, grab up this fantastic series. Read them in the order they were written and enjoy the journey into an incredible universe and amazing characters.
Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.
The Kings of Chaos :
Two Thousand Dreams #1
Two Thousand Tears #2
Two Thousand Blades #3
Two Thousand Shadows #4
Two Thousand Promises #5 – Feb 21,2025 – finale I think.
The “stray cat” Junjie has been feeding and cuddling for months is actually an extremely rare cat shifter.
Of course, Leo would have preferred to continue their arrangement of Junjie feeding him choice bits of fish and rubbing his belly, but he needs Junjie’s help and that means revealing his secret.
An orphaned kitten needs a home after the fae killed his parents, and Leo is the most irresponsible, feckless, lazy creature in existence.
In short, he’s a terrible choice for raising a two-year-old cat shifter.
No. The WORST choice.
Yet, even after the little boy is settled with Junjie and the rest of the Zhang clan, Leo can’t walk away.
There’s just something about that sweet, bashful vampire with the too-soft heart and sexy eyes. And that kid is stealing chunks of his heart, too.
The war with the fae is about to tear the world apart and an old dark shadow has fallen over the Zhang clan, threatening to destroy them all.
Leo must stay to protect his new family. Even if it means giving up all his secrets to the vampire who is steadily stealing away his heart.
Two Thousand Shadows is the fourth novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a gentle, shy vampire who will stop at nothing to protect those he loves, a shifter with a secret, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, cuddles, secrets, and an endless love.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees is one of my favorite unhinged series. Jennifer Cody’s fabulously eccentric characters and wildly imaginative
storylines that swing from the humorous to the horrifying to the absurd and adventurous and back are always captivating.
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch, the fifth book in the series, is another resounding hit. With one twist after another popping up in the story, the reader is still firmly centered on the growing relationship between otherworldly finder Darcy Hellspinner and very chill human Elijah Penn as they face numerous challenges and overcome attacks from villains unknown.
It’s a wildly chaotic journey that’s well constructed, layered with strange creatures and beings, and goes to unexpected places that even our main characters didn’t anticipate.
I believe that there is one more book in the series. There’s a wedding that still needs to happen for Arlington Fox and Romily, our original couple. That should be utter joy and a great universal celebration of the most unhinged storylines and these fabulous zany characters. I can’t wait.
I highly recommend this series and story. Read these in order, it does help. Great covers.
Cover Design by Tammy, Aspen Tree E.A.S.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees :
The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2
The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion #3
The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger #4
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch #5
The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest
Imagine coming home from an extended stay in a foreign country to find a letter from a house sitter you didn’t hire warning you to get a protection order against your ex and informing you that you’re a terrible plant dad.
I mean, I am a terrible plant dad, and I probably should get a protection order against Stalker Steve, but that letter isn’t the weirdest thing to happen to me today. I think the teleporting alien baby who’s decided to make me their perch probably takes the prize for Weirdest Thing in Elijah Penn’s Life.
Fortunately, the baby’s parents hired a bounty hunter to bring me and my new buddy back. Unfortunately, Darcy Hellspinner might be the sexiest man I’ve ever met in real life, and if it isn’t clear from the fact I call my ex Stalker Steve, I have terrible taste in men. I have the sneaking suspicion that Darcy’s going to be my next big mistake, but that’s ok—I’m probably going to be his too.
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch is a 87k paranormal romance with a little bit of sci-fi mixed in, two MCs who think this is just an extended hook up, and a baby alien with impeccable timing. The Foxily family is growing again. It’s Darcy’s turn to bring in a mate, but he’s lodging an official complaint because this isn’t what he signed up for.
Honestly only the promise of an equally warped, wonderfully dark new series has kept me from absolutely bewailing the ending of this series as it came to its fabulous finale.
Am I ready to say goodbye to the ancient incubus warrior, winged purple flamboyance himself, Zee? Or the magnificent vampire businessman, “Fancy Fangs” Victor? And, importantly ,their love, Adam Vex, “yes, sure I’m human”. No. No, I’m not. And not to Tom Collins, the murderous AI djinn bartender , and all the other otherworldly beings who have made an impact throughout the series are here now in the final showdown with the villain to save the world! And it’s everything I wanted it to be.
It’s sexy, sarcastic, explosive, funny, horrifying, over the top entertaining, emotional, and downright fabulous. And I never wanted it to end.
Coats were flared, buildings destroyed, sex was had, prophecy’s fulfilled, and love wins.
Let me spare a moment to wipe away a tear in sheer joy and appreciation for this absolutely amazing and zany world and series. I’ll probably need to go back and re-read this series and see what I missed in the final reading.
But seeing Adam, Vee, Victor, and the
SOS HOTEL as they were at the end of this book? So so satisfying. A grand finale. I wish I could rate it higher.
A must read for all lovers of this author and genre. Don’t miss out on all the notes beforehand and afterwards. As usual.
Cover design by Ariana Nash
SOS Hotel:
For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
Sleep with Us #3
Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
No Rest for the Wicked #5
Ho, Ho, No #5.5
Luxury To Die For #6
Your Final Resting Place #7 – tbd
Holiday release!
SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
An ex-adult movie star, a broke vampire daddy, and a boring human are about to try and save the world…
It’s probably our fault your world is doomed, if I’m honest. Sorry about that. Sticking with honesty, we’re not great at saving people, or ourselves. You should probably pack a bag and head for the hills.
You know, just in case…
My name is Adam Vex, and I’m definitely not the hero we all need, but along with Zee and Victor, a whole bunch of s*x demons, one shadow beast, a sassy AI bartender, and some uncontrollable gremlins, we’re all you’ve got.
Welcome to the end of the world at the SOS Hotel.
We hope you enjoy your final resting place.
*
Advisory: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable, including frogs. There will likely be a few instances of unaliving, a whole lot of swearing (Zee does not have a profanity filter), and Sebastien being Sebastien.
If you haven’t read the previous books, definitely do not start here. This is the final book in the series.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 