Category: Books

Review: A Holiday to Sustain Us (The Magi Accounts Companion Novellas) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 4.5🌈

If you’re not familiar with The Magi Accounts series, this isn’t the book for you. A reader has to have read all the preceding books, in the order that they were written, in order to understand the people and relationships talked about here.

But if you have, then you are in for a heartwarming read, rare for this series and universe.

It starts off as a series of interludes, some of which have already occurred in the previous book, A Purpose That Restores Us (The Magi Accounts 3) . But this time the perspective is through the eyes of mage Ash and lion shifter, Charlie.

This is their story or series of events that lead to their bonding.

It starts off a bit fragmented but it steadily grows together as it leaves the known scenes behind and starts to build its own narrative based around the Ono-Nai pack’s first holiday together under one roof with all its new members.

It’s a scary, fragile, and wonderful time for everyone, each in a different way, as the tale unveils.

Ash, a compound born mage, with all the horrors and damage that entails, is a character we’ve slowly gotten to know. Here we begin a deeper journey with him through his first memories of Jude and Mads to becoming part of the pack , then the true story which is his relationship with Charlie, a lion shifter.

Charlie has always been a series favorite due to his kindness, his open heart , and his willingness to accept his differences while others won’t. His love of makeup, and sparkly clothing. Images that clash with that of the lion shifter norm.

Notaro slowly builds a deep bond between Ash and Charlie, one of trust, friendship which then becomes something greater.

All done through the trappings of two holidays celebrated by the pack as they decorate, shop, and prepare together.

It’s heartwarming, not without its brutal reminders of the world outside and what members of the pack have gone through in their pasts, but it is also about found family, friends, and love in all facets.

Whatever the next full book holds , Notaro is giving her readers two companion stories as gifts.

This wonderful heartwarming romantic holiday tale for Charlie and Ash. The next , An Embrace To Hearten Me, will be for Jude, River, and Kulani. That’s a story guaranteed to be heartbreaking and tissue worthy. The brutality and horror they have endured makes any happiness they find indescribably sweeter. I can’t wait to read it.

I’m highly recommending A Holiday to Sustain Us (The Magi Accounts Companion Novellas) by Michele Notaro to all readers of this series and the series to all lovers of dark urban fantasy fiction.

The Magi Accounts:

🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1

🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2

🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5

🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3

🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday

🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5 – 8/29/2023

🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4 – TBD 2023

https://www.amazon.com › Holiday…A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday: Notaro, Michele

Description:

One kiss under the mistletoe and now I’m hooked. I can’t get him out of my head… and I think I might like it.

Convincing my pride to have a holiday celebration was supposed to be a fun way to bring everyone together. But my plan went awry when my younger pride mate convinced everyone I needed a kiss. I hadn’t expected Ash to volunteer. And I certainly hadn’t expected him to kiss me on the lips and… linger.

Now, all I can think about is feeling his lips on mine again. Instead of planning gift giving and parties, I’m planning how to win Ash over. And what better way to convince him to spend time with me than to have him help me with my holiday plans?

The holidays are coming to the Ono-Nai house, and I only have one thing I’m wishing for this year—Ash.

A Holiday To Sustain Us is a fun 70K word MM urban fantasy companion story meant to be read AFTER A Purpose That Restores Us (The Magi Accounts 3). It’s from Charlie’s perspective and takes place between books 3 and 4 of the main series. This is a companion novel, NOT a standalone.

*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: This Is Real by Barbara Elsbourg

Rating: 3.75🌈

I like Barbara Elsborg, so I didn’t want to pass up her latest holiday romance, This Is Real.

A contemporary romance, it’s got a late coming out element, a snarky Englishman, a closeted American actor and a holiday movie set that brings them together.

I found it entertaining and sweet with characters that engaged me with their different backgrounds . Pasts that included aspects to their histories that were painful and believably difficult so they felt realistic .

Murdo Jenkins is a maths lecturer at Harvard. He’s got a vacation booked to see his bestie who’s also an Assistant Producer on a holiday film. He’s English with a painful history as an orphan whose adolescence was one of torment and neglect. Christmas is not his thing for reasons that will be revealed.

I liked the character of Murdo, feisty and highly intelligent. He had a welcome depth and interest to his personality that kept me involved in his life.

Lukas Olsen, actor and deeply closeted gay man, was a bit harder to get into. Not that he wasn’t understandable but at first I simply didn’t like his character. That changes as the story progresses and we get more of the background that made him into the man he’s become.

Their relationship and developing romance is fun, the dialogue is lively, personable and charming. It pulls us into their lives with a warm immediacy. The pitfalls to trying anything with a closeted partner is out front in both men’s minds. It won’t work.

Obviously the obstacles and drama will occur to change that. It happens towards the end of the story and I suppose that’s where my issues set in.

I realize this and others like it are holiday stories. That they come with a certain amount of glow and holiday spirit that sometimes glosses over some of life’s harsher realities.

But maybe it’s a bit of the Scrooge in me that thinks a holiday spirit shouldn’t be the panacea for all the things the bad people do or troublesome events that occur in these stories. That there’s another way to work through these elements realistically without having to do the whole “ let’s forgive the incredibly stupid or highly irresponsible/illegal acts that happened “ in order to have that golden moment(s) at the end.

Spoiler Alert. If someone in a position of authority takes advantage of a severely wounded person to then use that to a monetary advantage to potentially inflict great emotional harm as well as huge damage in other avenues? Then it’s , aww , it’s the holidays, and his excuse, well , doesn’t hold water either. So no, please stop with this type of narrative nonsense. Just because it’s a holiday story doesn’t excuse this behavior. Let’s be real.

So you had me almost to the end. I liked the epilogue. It’s just that bit towards the end. Eliminate that or change how it’s handled, and my overall opinion would be different.

Maybe you will find that aspect not as off putting as I do and will love this.

I will leave it up to you. I did enjoy the majority of the story.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThis Is Real by Barbara Elsborg

Description:

A snarky English nerd. A hot American actor. When Christmas brings them together, they have more in common than they know…

Murdo doesn’t do Christmas, but this year, he’s looking forward to spending time with an old friend. Elodie’s working on a film starring Murdo’s Biggest Crush, the gorgeous Lukas Olsen. When Elodie asks him to give Lukas a lift from Logan International, Murdo can’t believe his luck. Lukas might be straight, but ogling’s acceptable—right?
Lukas arrives at the airport to find a gaggle of fans but no driver waiting and when he does turn up, the snarky Englishman can’t even remember where he’s parked. When they finally reach their destination, Lukas tries to tip him and Murdo makes his current opinion of Lukas very clear. His crush is over.

Things move from bad to worse when Murdo tells the director that Lukas’s English accent isn’t authentic. But a pang of guilt, and maybe a remnant of lust, has Murdo offering to give dialect lessons to a resentful Lukas. Only once they’re in Lukas’s house, annoyance turns into something far more dangerous, because Lukas isn’t out and never will be. He has too much to lose: career, fans, family and friends.

Yet something about Murdo makes Lukas want to risk it all…

Review: Screwing With A Ghost ( Haunted Love #3) by Morgan Mason

Rating: 4.5🌈

Screwing With A Ghost is the first book I read by Morgan Mason and also the first I picked out of the Haunted Love collection. The description intrigued me and I love the chance to explore a new author.

This paranormal romance has so much to recommend it. A haunting back story for the ghost, a charming personality and engaging character for the young, very much alive man who has returned home to see his mother through yet another failed marriage and emotional struggles.

I’m never sure how an author will handle a love affair that involves a ghost as part of the romantic equation. There’s a certain bittersweet element that’s built into such a relationship seeing as one person is alive and another is dead, physically removed from the other. For them to realistically be fully together, they both should share the same plane.

How Mason resolves this aspect of her story isn’t revealed until almost the very end.

Until then we are treated to an unlikely friendship between a ghost with a well known horrifying past, Andrew Blackwell, and a young artist, Miguel, who buys at a huge discount, the infamous haunted Blackwell farm. Back to take care of his mother, he’s left his friends and a prodigious art studio invitation behind, for a farm that needs lots of work to live in and a barn he wants for his studio.

A two person POV gives us a wonderful introduction to both men, their backgrounds, and in Andrew’s case, his ideas of masculinity and his era’s thoughts on homosexuality, all of which were toxic in the extreme. He gets a shock when he sees Miguel, who loves color and dresses gender free.

Their relationship is woven slowly through wisps of swirling air and leaves, the briefest of chilly touches, and the sheer need to communicate. It’s moving and heartbreaking as they begin a relationship that has become increasingly difficult yet so important to each other.

I wished there was more to the ending and all that was happening there. It wasn’t as layered as the rest of the story but felt a bit rushed.

Still , this is a really interesting and compelling romance and I’m happy to have found a new author to look forward to.

I’m recommending Screwing With A Ghost ( Haunted Love #3) by Morgan Mason and will be diving into the other books.

Haunted Love collection with various authors:

◦ Stargazing With A Ghost by K. L. Hiers #1

◦ Sexting With A Ghost by Ashlynn Mills #2

✓ Screwing With A Ghost by Morgan Mason #3

◦ Gardening With A Ghost by Amanda Meuwissen #4

◦ Baking With A Ghost by R.M. Neill #5

◦ Necromancing With A Ghost by Cari Z #6

◦ Dancing With A Ghost by Alex J. Adams #7

◦ Haunting With A Ghost by B. Ripley #8

◦ Flunking With A Ghost by Baylin Crow #9

These don’t seem to have any order to be read in.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showScrewing with a Ghost by Morgan Mason

Description:

When Miguel decides to move back to his hometown to help his mom and sister, the only home in his budget is the abandoned and haunted estate he used to vandalize in his youth. He’s not exactly worried, but meeting the resident ghost isn’t high on his list of priorities. As Miguel sets about cleaning and converting the old barn into his new art studio, his ghostly housemate demonstrates strong opinions on Miguel’s life choices.

As far as new landlords go, Edward is pleased Miguel plans to restore his deteriorating ancestral home. Miguel’s ludicrous notion that men can wear dresses and sew, however, has Edward rethinking his ex-pastime in hauntings. But as Edward learns more about Miguel and his nontraditional lifestyle, plus the strange connection they seem to share, he can’t suppress his increasingly inquisitive nature or his burgeoning feelings for the one man who truly sees him, despite being invisible.

What starts out as a tentative truce, turns into something more as indignation melts into curiosity, then flirty teasing. Is it totally crazy that Miguel might have the tiniest crush on a ghost? Would it be even crazier to hope his ghost might have a crush on him back?

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: From The Noblest Motives (Varient Configurations Book 2) by Angel Martinez

Rating: 4.75🌈

From The Noblest Motives picks up directly after the events that happened in Rarely Pure and Never Simple, the first in Angel Martinez’s complex and utterly unique series. It’s world is one where , accidentally, a new type of human, a Varient, has been created. Now human Variants, each with their own unique abilities and talents, are multiplying, to the consternation of the normal population who immediately start to fear those they neither know nor understand.

As different governments react in various ways to the Varients in their countries, from protection laws to increasingly authoritarian policies to control the Varients, it’s a increasingly unfriendly, harsh reality for Varients and their allies.

The first book introduces our main complicated characters, the vast organizations and employees they interact with, and those people who are determined to make the Varients suffer and disappear.

Shudder McKenzie, Varient activist , Blaze Emerson, tracker and ex lover of Shudder, and Damien Hazelwood finder of people, are our main focus. Each had intimate moments with each other under extremely intense circumstances but at the end, they went their separate ways.

Now events bring them together again and force them to be honest with each other about their shared feelings.

It’s hard to describe the convoluted storylines and fascinating tormented characters that are at the heart of this story and series. Especially Damien with his abusive past and struggles in the present. Now Shudder is caught up in the government crackdown and conservative hysteria surrounding Variants.

Martinez writes with a gritty realism about Shudder’s experiences as he passes through a mockery of a judicial system and into a nightmare of a prison. His time there will leave him traumatized in a manner that only Damian can best understand.

Standing close is Blaze Emerson, tracker and one man army to loves them both and desires to see them safe despite unknown enemies and a conspiracy that deeply affects everyone and everything around them.

This is one of those stories that you can’t put down. It’s high action, deeply emotional, full of twists and suspense.

And the author ramps up the stakes with every event and new discovery to make the dangers our group is facing feel more real and ever increasingly powerful.

At the end I wanted to reach for the next book, knowing it’s not yet available.

Two books in and I’m addicted. Tightly plotted, beautifully written, with characters so well crafted they are believable and raw with depth and complexity. I’m highly recommending both books but they absolutely must be read in the order they are written.

Varient Configurations series:

✓ Rarely Pure and Never Simple #1

✓ From The Noblest Motives #2

Fantastic covers btw.

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Noblest-…From the Noblest Motives (Variant Configurations Book 2) eBook : Martinez …

Description:

The Fredamine Project was just the beginning. Shadow dealings and conspiracies regarding variants intertwine until Damien and his cohorts can no longer tell who the bad guys are.

Several months have passed since Blaze and the infamous Variant activist Shudder McKenzie helped Damien rescue the captives of the sinister Fredamine Project. Professionally, everything’s great. He’s back to working with Damien again and they have a new lead on the three kids who are still missing. Personally, not so much. Blaze has made his peace with Shudder, though nothing between them has even been easy, but his relationship with Damien has taken several steps back. Blaze no longer has any idea where he stands. Adding to the tense atmosphere are the anti-Variant members of legislature who have been slowly gaining popular approval, and the cryptic messages Damien receives from an unknown source.

Shudder’s back to his old haunts and his old tricks, trying to raise public awareness of imperiled Variant rights—such as the draconic Horace Act that strips due process during Variant trials—and to rescue Variant kids in trouble. His almost mythical luck runs out though when he’s arrested for murder only three days after the passage of the Horace Act and a whirlwind trial and sentencing lands him in the most notorious maximum security facility for Variants—San Judas Tadeo.

With too many conspirators on both sides of the aisle, Damien, Blaze and Shudder no longer know whom to trust. Peeling through the layers of deceit and half-truths puts them on shakier ground with every discovery and in greater danger than ever before.

Variant Configurations takes place in a future Earth where humanity is reclaiming its spot in a gradually healing world. This book contains mentions of past abuse, action-adventure style mayhem, and the sparks of a slow burn, series-spanning relationship.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: Cowboy Protection (Merry Everything Book 2) by Jodi Payne and B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 3🌈

Cowboy Protection is a terrific story that suffers from being a tale that’s only 1/2 to 2/3’s finished. You get to the ending and feel that there’s multiple chapters missing. So many storylines left dangling or completely neglected. So frustrating that it takes away from the great elements that went before.

First to the things I really loved about this romance.

The rodeo universe and bull riders. B.A. Tortuga and Jodi Payne capture this world in all its gritty, rawness. From the moment we meet the bullfighting team led by “Mackey” Keyes, we’re right in the heart of the game. The dust of the area, the roar of the crowds, the snorting, stomping rage of the bulls and the clanging of the gates swinging wide open as the bulls bust out! It’s vividly alive, scary and terrifyingly memorable.

Just as the men fighting to keep the bull riders safe and the bulls distracted until they can be lead away. These men, this team, from the young rowdy twin brothers to the older scarred veterans, are believable and so realistic that it’s hard to pull our attention away from them to focus on the other second main character.

Maverick “Mackey” Keyes, an older, heavily scarred bullfighter who lives for his team and the sport but now suffers from the consequences of his near constant concussions and other injuries. He’s a charismatic figure and a realistic character. However there’s aspects to his personality and character that deserve greater exploration than the authors deed to him. More on that later.

Sidney Scott, the new TV producer, doesn’t have the layers that the bullfighters have to his character but he’s still plenty interesting. A believable backstory, and a strong personality helps keep Sidney from fading when next to the magnetic bullfighters, their energy, that swoops off the page, even when they are puking their guts out in a bathroom.

Everything about the rodeo world jumps with a vitality and passion that pulls the reader in and makes us commit to the characters and story.

Which is why the less than stellar aspects of the story are so bothersome. Some spoilers below.

1. Bullfighter Injuries. Specifically Traumatic brain injury(craniocerebral trauma) . McKay suffered from a number of concussions. He’s just had another serious injury to the head. Yet this is barely a point of discussion. For a man with a need to protect his team and it’s members going forward, not taking proper care of his body seems counterproductive to that goal and endangering their contracts. Instead it’s puke your guts out, hide your symptoms and continue. Even in the relationship, this aspect is never addressed as a part of their future it is in other books with athletes who play sports (hockey, football) associated with this trauma.

I found this a missed opportunity, a relationship mistake, and unrealistic element for someone who wants a long term relationship but isn’t willing to discuss the issues he’s having with his future partner.

2. Brad. The member of the board who’s made out by the authors to be an important part of the storyline. He’s a malevolent figure, determined to ruin McKay and his bullfighters by any means. This element is built up throughout the novel, as Brad appears to keep approaching people to get dirt or ask them to slander the team to break the event contract. What happens to this dramatic story development? Nothing. Like a deflated balloon or false advertising, it vanishes without a conclusion. What a letdown.

3. Finally, under major narrative flaws, there’s Jack. One of the older bullfighters and McKay’s best friends with benefits before meeting Sidney. Spoiler alert. At the end, Jack, a interesting personality, appears without notice, frazzled and emotionally disturbed, at McKay’s ranch at Christmas time. He’s been in a car crash where there’s been a death and he needs a place to rest up.

Now as a team leader , does McKay gets any details? See if the fact that one of a fairly famous team of bullfighters was involved in a crash that caused a fatality would have caused any other ramifications? Endanger his friend or that ever present contract? Does any of the number of expected responses? No. It’s a matter of no questions and then let Jack walk away when he needed to be alone.

Then that’s it for Jack and that storyline.

There’s other less developed or dropped parts of this story but those are the main ones. And they are so obvious that they take away from the outstanding sections and elements of Cowboy Protection.

It leaves a reader, at least this one, wondering where the rest of the story is and why the authors didn’t follow up on the dropped threads. Especially when I know they are very capable of doing exactly that.

So if you are a fan of Tortuga and Payne, I’m sure this is already on your radar. If not, then consider if you are interested in reading this. I believe there’s better options out there from both authors.

Buy now!

Description:

Maverick “Mackey” Keyes keeps the rodeo cowboys safe on his watch and he knows how to make his bullfighting team walk the line. He might be starting to feel his years, but he’s a pro, and he’s not afraid of anything that might happen on the arena floor.

Sidney Scott knows how to go with the flow, so when his dream job passes him by, he grabs the chance to work the bull riding circuit as a TV producer. He’s going to do the job right, traveling with the show, even if he hears some rumbling from the riders.

Mackey and Sid butt heads more than once, but when it really counts, they manage to get on the same page. When Mackey is injured, Sid steps up to help, and things take a far more personal turn. They might have been able to ignore the growing attraction between them at work, but a long road trip over the Christmas holiday and time away from the other cowboys lets them find something together that neither of them expect, but both of them need.

Cowboy Protection is an opposites attract, rodeo romance featuring a bullfighter and a corporate suit, with a side of holiday magic.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 6 By A.J. Sherwood

Rating: 4.5🌈

Ah, the serial story has come to a satisfactory conclusion and all right with the infamous Black Sorcerer of Grimslock and First Knight of Goodwine. Or former First Knight of Goodwine. Hmmmm.

Our merry and bloodthirsty crew is all here at the end. Tan‘a siblings, Wells, Devan’s cutthroat family, all the people we’ve gotten to know through the previous stories.

At the end of the penultimate episode, Sherwood left our hero , Devan, in a shocking predicament. The princess and the King had used the latest crisis they’d created (and Devan and Tan had solved) to try and force a engagement with the princess. In front of a huge audience.

Including a raging Tan. Here we start up right where the story left off. It doesn’t go well for the princess or the King to our delight.

The rest of the tale revolves around the insanity the princess employing to have her revenge against the lovers and the challenges Tan, Devan, and crew face against her.

It’s gripping, funny, quickly paced, and ends way too soon for someone who’s so enjoyed the entertainment and drama the series has provided.

We needed a bit more beat down, more rescue of the mages for this to feel 100% deeply satisfying. But totally enjoyable? Absolutely.

If you love a bent fairytale, a princess romance gone very tilted in the most entertaining way, How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracles 1 to 6 By A.J. Sherwood is for you.

I’m definitely recommending it.

https://www.goodreads.com › showHow I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy: Miracle 6

Description:

What’s Devan to do when Serenity claims him as her lover? Run.

What’s Tan to do when Serenity claims Devan as her lover? Start a revolution.

All’s fair in love and war.

Tags:

the First Knight of Goodwine has officially quit, or at least he’s trying really hard to quit, problem is no one wants to let him go, Serenity’s going to be an extinct species at this rate, accidental revolt, Tan’s rocking his crown though, shenanigans shall now commence, mercenaries, kidnappings, rule one when dealing with black sorcerers, don’t piss them off, rule two is don’t touch their knight, just a little murder, it’s fine.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: Monstrous Intent (Monsters and Mischief Book 1) by Alice Winters

Rating: 4.5🌈

If you’re familiar with Alice Winters, you know her writing often grounds itself in dark topics like murder, assassination, torture, themes of mass destruction, whether it’s in a contemporary world or that of an alternate reality filled with the paranormal.

Blending snarky, sharp, irreverent humor with moments of serious reflection and empathy, however, brief, the author imbues her characters and storylines with a slightly demented vitality that goes well with her high action packed narrative.

Declan is a former monster hunter for the Department of Research and Defense (DRD). But he became disillusioned with the constant attacks and killings so he left to become a teacher. Now with an increase in Chimeras sightings and killings, the DRD wants its best hunter back and won’t stop until he’s part of the organization again.

Lake, an enigma, works for the DRD , but Declan is instantly aware Lake is much more.

Winters’ complex plot, increasing cast of characters, and series foundation that’s being laid out as the storyline deepens, is a tale guaranteed to hold the reader’s interest and keep them engaged with the characters growing relationships.

Plus there’s fish again. That’s a odd reoccurring trend that’s got me wondering about undercover fish goals and other weirdness. Sort a love it.

Anyway, I really enjoyed Monstrous Intent and the open threads it left in this story that will drive the next part of the series.

If you’re a fan of Alice Winters or if this sounds like a tale that’s your jam, it’s one I’m definitely recommending.

Alice Wintershttps://www.alicewintersauthor.com › …Monstrous Intent

Description:

Declan
It’s really hard to pretend like life is normal when you’re staring a monster in the eyes, though he’s both tempting and irritating in his human form. I put my days as a hunter behind me, unable to cope with the death and pain anymore, to become an upstanding citizen and for what? To assist Lake, a man who claims he’s not a monster but keeps talking about me like I’m edible and–even worse–wants to woo me? Between my old organization trying to pull me in and Lake proving that things aren’t quite what they seem, I’m dragged back into this world of fighting the things that humans fear the most.

Lake
The human is exquisite. The first moment he told me he was going to hunt me down, I felt my heart burst. He’s beautiful, sassy, angry, and going to be mine (even if he thinks he can refuse my charms). But what Declan doesn’t know about me is that there’s a reason I’m hiding as a human among monster hunters. And while he definitely doesn’t know why, he’s willing to work with me because the people around us strangely want Declan and me dead at the end of this (I mean, who would want to kill us? We’re amazing).
But honestly… what’s more fun than dragging a hunter off to the dark side?

Warning: This is a chaotic monster and a chaotic human. Stuff happens. People die (but they were bad, so it doesn’t matter, right?) and there’s plenty of humor alongside a budding romance.

AMAZON

GOODREADS

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Vow Maker (A Mixed Messages Novella) by Lily Morton

Rating: 4.75🌈

Vow Maker is the fourth and supposedly final book in Lily Morton’s Mixed Messages series. After 7 years together, Gabe and Dylan (Rule Breaker #1) , are finally getting married. If they can agree on a wedding planner.

In true Morton style, what ensues is a story that embraces all the aspects and emotional elements a complicated couple brings to the decision to get married. In turn, it’s downright hilarious, sobering and deep when their discussions turns to the past and the barriers that had come between them, warm-hearted, and sexy.

The Gabe and Dylan here have settled into their relationship with a deep love and understanding of each other. Mixed in with interactions with the close friends and family we’ve gotten to know through the previous books, it’s a joy to jump back into this universe like a old friend.

Morton’s beautiful writing and exquisite way with characters and relationship dynamics connects the reader immediately with the issues that have blocked the couple’s successful journey to marriage. Gabe’s old nightmares, his fears , become real to us as his past rises up to haunt him.

What he does and how he believably works through this damage pulls us emotionally even more into this couple and their future.

One of the greatest new elements and characters is their chosen wedding planner. To go further with any reveal on him is to spoil some truly guffaw inducing moments. He’s a gem and I’m hoping he gets his own romance.

It’s hard to believe that Vow Maker would bring an end to our journey with this charming, complicated crew of men. I’m hoping not. I not ready to let them go.

I am highly recommending this story but please read their beginnings in Rule Breaker to see how it all started. I’ve listed them out below.

Mixed Messages:

✓ Rule Breaker #1 – Gabe and Dylan

✓ Deal Maker #2 – Jude and Asa

✓ Risk Taker #3 – Henry and Ivo

✓ Vow Maker #4 – Gabe and Dylan & co.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showVow Maker (Mixed Messages, #4) by Lily Morton

Description:

Dylan Mitchell wants to get married.

However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.

Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour. He’s confounded an army of wedding professionals, and now Dylan, the man who knows and loves him better than anyone, has joined the ranks of the confused. Can anything please his fiancé and get them to the altar?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes the sequel to Rule Breaker. A romantic comedy novella full of family chaos, meddling friends, sexy bathroom encounters, and love. Always love.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Stuck With You (A Snowed Inn Romance) by Meredith Russell

Rating: 3🌈

Stuck With You is another story in the Snowed Inn romance collection of books by various authors that features a mountain resort called The Retreat, a avalanche that temporarily seals off the resort , and a group of people there for multiple events who find their HEA.

Stuck With You is a best friends to lovers trope that’s a sweet holiday romance. It’s a quick read with characters that aren’t memorable and a storyline that’s all too familiar.

The characters never seemed to have any chemistry with each other, and the dialogue (inner and outer) felt awkward and too young for the age group.

For myself, it was a nice romance but definitely not close to being a layered narrative with terrific storytelling .

Fan of this author? I’m sure this is on your TBR list. All others decide for yourselves.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showStuck With You by Meredith Russell

Description:

Brodie loves Gabriel. Gabriel loves Brodie. So why is it so difficult for them to be honest with each other?

Brodie Lewis has been in love with Gabriel, his best friend, for years. The problem? It’s an impossible love. After all, they’re practically family.

With his dad working long hours to make ends meet, Brodie had been lonely growing up, until the day a boy from his neighborhood invited him over for dinner. The boy’s house had been so different to his own, filled with people and warmth, and Brodie would be forever grateful for how the Conley family treated him as one of their own.

When feelings beyond friendship stirred in Brodie, he’d tried to ignore them. Gabriel and his family were everything to him. How could he ever confess? And so, looking to move on from his first love, Brodie attends the speed dating night at The Retreat Hotel. It was a good plan, if only Gabriel wasn’t the one to offer him a ride to the venue.

Gabriel Conley only wants Brodie to be happy, which is why he’s willing to lock away his feelings yet again and drive Brodie through the snow to the dating event. Brodie smiles the most when surrounded by Gabriel’s family, and Gabriel never wants to ruin that with a selfish love confession. So instead, he’ll stay at Brodie’s side as a friend.

When an avalanche cuts the hotel off from the outside world, and Gabriel and Brodie find themselves stuck together and closer than ever, it’s time for some truths to be revealed.

Can the oblivious childhood friends finally understand each other’s feelings, and confess their love for each other?

All the books in the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read in any order.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Snowed Inn story Collection:

All the books can be read as standalones and in any order and all are available to buy or pre-order

• RJ Scott – Stop the Wedding – https://books2read.com/StopTheWedding

• H.L Day – Five Night Stand – https://books2read.com/FiveNightStandHL

• V.L. Locey – Checking it Twice – https://books2read.com/CheckingItTwiceVL

• LC Chase – Breakfast Included – https://books2read.com/BreakfastIncludedLCC

• Xenia Melzer – The Real Kaimana – https://books2read.com/RealKaimanaXM

• Meredith Russell – Stuck With You- https://books2read.com/StuckWithYouMR

• Eli Easton – A Changeling Christmas – https://books2read.com/ChangelingChristmasE

Review: Find the Jinn (Wilde Contracts #1) by Maz Maddox

Rating: 4.5🌈

Maz Maddox’s latest book in their new series is a great bit of dark storytelling. Told in first person perspective by a assassin/ fish trainer who hunts vampires on the side, we know immediately that the universe is a off kilter one.

Dangerous, filled with beings of all types running a metropolis that swings from swanky to crime ridden and hopeless. Drugs, sex, business as usual.

Our narrator is Dallas Wilde. Sarcasm, dry humor, and an apparent lack of self control camouflage the anguished state that lies beneath a callous, self involved façade. Over time, through scattered memories and distraught scenes, we see a traumatized man, who’s brutal past has never left him and the PTSD that he’s never dealt with.

It’s left, at least in this story, for the readers to start to cobble together the facts that have lead to Dallas’ trauma. It impacts everything that happens here, all his interactions and reactions with the beings and in every event.

I actually enjoy that Maddox isn’t ready to fill in the blanks for us with Dallas’s past history. Especially with all the mysteries and magical plot lines that have their own rabbit holes to go mentally and emotionally down.

Honestly, there’s questions about so many elements here. Fish training? Kevin the beta? Plus those are minor details.

The massive narrative threads, especially those that have a dark turn or twist to them, come with a equal amount of puzzling aspects along with the foundation Maddox is establishing for her series.

I found the book, the characters, and the mind puzzles addictive. I was exceptionally surprised by each turn the story took and how quickly it ended.

It left several items unanswered, as I expected in such a convoluted story, and I’m anticipating the next novel in hopes of seeing the next stages the characters advance to.

There’s public sex, perhaps with a hint of noncon to it, after all moral ambiguities are status quo here. Murder is a job after all.

I’m highly recommending this . Read the warnings at the beginning. It’s dark fantasy or paranormal fiction.

Bring on book two!

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showFind the Jinn (Wilde Contracts #1) by Maz Maddox

Description:

Wilde Contract Killing and Fish Training, how can I help you?

Murder contract? Piece of cake.

Find a jinn? No problem.

New necromancy powers while being followed by an unwanted vampire bodyguard?

Not so much.

Trained to handle even the most fierce undead, Dallas Wilde took out a powerful necromancer without breaking a sweat. Okay, that’s a lie – there was tons of sweat, but he was victorious all the same.

Unfortunately, killing a necromancer comes with some repercussions.

Broody, annoying, vampire repercussions and new abilities to resurrect the dead.

Can Dallas navigate his blood-sucking bodyguard, new powers, feelings for his attractive client and still handle his contract in time to pay his very, very late rent – all while trying not to get super murdered in the process?

Let’s hope so.

Find the Jinn is the first contract in a trilogy of death, pining, dark magic and a grumpy fish named Kevin. 

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer