If youāre a fan of this author and the series, Blackhaven Manor, or if you just enjoy an entertaining paranormal mystery, then this is the book for you.
Itās a terrific otherworldly thriller with a fated mates romance that has characters from that connected universe and references dramatic events that saw the creation of Hunters Hollow.
Now that one of the three Maddock dragon siblings has established a town and new hotel called Hunters Hollow as a sanctuary for the otherworldly community, the author is set to place a new set of fated mates romances inside the warded township and hotel.
It starts with Angels and Anarchy and a serial killer on the loose. A dead vampire Councilman brings together human waiter/bartender Braeden Burke and nephilim Detective Zarrik Cox . One as a witness , the other as an investigator.
Steele does an excellent job in defining the characters, their personalities, the magical bond that makes them gravitate towards each other, and the messy investigation that follows the murder.
I normally have a issue with couples that donāt communicate but, as friends and family point out, on top of an immediate bond, thereās a serial killer racking up the body count thatās taking up most of Zarrikās time.
I wish that Braeden had been more open to the idea of therapy than he was, considering that as written, he comes across as severely traumatized by his experience. That was dropped as an element and not addressed again, a weak point here in an individual who has a number of great qualities.
In fact, Steele has potentially so many wonderful storylines threaded in here that not all could be fully realized or explored in the length given. I can only hope that the author will pick them up in the books to come.
The relationship ,once the communication ,begins is wonderful, the chemistry is warm and believable. They make a terrific couple.
The mystery, the dramatic finale, is exactly what you want to see and what the author delivers. With a bit of an unexpected twist.
I canāt wait for the next one in the series. Im definitely recommending Angels and Anarchy (Hunters Hollow, #1) by Arden Steele, itās a winner.
Slinging drinks in New Orleans’ French Quarter isnāt the most glamorous job, but Braeden Burke loves the lights, the music, and the excitement. As a long-time believerāeven before Otherlings had waltzed out of the paranormal closetāspending his nights flirting with gorgeous werewolves and smooth-talking vampires isnāt exactly a chore. His life is easy, colorful, and for the most part, free of drama.
Until fate throws him a curveball.
It was supposed to be his day off. Instead, Zarrik Cox is called in to investigate the murder of a high-ranking member of the Ministry of Otherling Affairs. Tracking down the only witness to the crime is easy. Discovering the vulnerable human is his mate is a complication he wasnāt expecting.
He might be a nephilim, but heās no angel, and heās damn sure no oneās savior. But with a killer on the loose, and Braeden caught in the crosshairs, there’s no limit to how far he’ll go to keep his new mate safe.
The blurb for the book is what drew my attention immediately. The subject matter and characters of L Evelandās series are so dark and detailed in their histories that my mind made a swift connection to another authorās terrific books that offer up the same type of murderous psychopaths (Onley Jamesā Necessary Evils series).
I was so excited to see what Eveland did with this terrifying type of character and found family, and how given the same traits and motivations, what twists this author took their story.
It doesnāt take long to see the differences and similarities. When you are writing a psychopath realistically, thereās defining characteristics built into the personality. That includes an inability to understand love as a normal person would. None of the characters in this book, and I expect, the series, will fall within the category of normal human emotional development.
Thereās a long list of trigger warnings at the beginning of this book and if a reader is even a tad squeamish, this isnāt the story and series for you. This is dark fiction about psychopaths killing people, and maybe eating them.
The family that forms the basis for the individuals is a very different and unique group of people. One, itās a polycule, the likes of which I havenāt read about in a story before. Those strong men and women ,who have big backgrounds of their own, are people who the reader will get to know more about over the series. From them comes the adult children , natural and adopted, who will get their own stories. Their legal business? A funeral home.
Wayward Sonsā Body Count begins with adopted son, mortician River Laskin on the prowl in a sketchy dive bar at the edge of town. One of the bookās two povās, his voice is telling the reader of his need for violence but not the a clear target until he spies a group of men and a collared youth cowering at their feet. Thatās our second main character, Theo of no last name.
Theo is a victim of child trafficking from a very early age, 5 years old. Heās been in the custody of the same trafficker since he was sold and his mental state is that of someone who has been broken down to the barest extent that even when River āfreesā him, Theo finds he canāt cope with his new situation and world thatās open to him.
Nor can River bring the person he is have the empathy to help him but he does have the support system.
Eveland does a remarkable job getting into the headspace of both men as they navigate through the process of their relationship and Theoās trauma. That it happens to include finding out that the murderous psychopath who rescued you is part of a larger group of people who exhibit a range of abnormal psychological disorders which are slowly revealed in the book. Thatās in addition to the mafia family connections they rely on heavily.
Iām actually astonished that Body Count moves along so quickly and isnāt weighted down by the author getting dragged into clinical details about the different disorders the brothers have been diagnosed with. Whether itās the tripletsā schizophrenia or Shepherdās DID, multiple personality disorder, itās folded into the narrative in such a way that itās natural for Theo to hear it, and not a info dump. Evelandās narrative flow is due to such great depth and writing choices in how these elements are handled.
Theo and Riverās relationship is rife with trigger potential for readers, however much it makes sense within the dynamics that Eveland is framing out for the couple. Does Theo understand the concept of consent? Maybe, itās a very gray area. Would River be able to let him go? Maybe not. So how free is he? Thereās pain play involved here but itās brought into the equation in a way that makes it easier to see how much trauma Theo is trying to process.
Towards the end I felt that Theoās ārecovery ā was more advanced than an actual traumatized person in this situation would be. Maybe not.
Theo became a member of a family of traumatized individuals who were able to support him and his unique relationship with River.
Eveland took a dark topic and even more twisted characters and is giving them a very interesting look in this series, complete with mushrooms with have a revolting starter. Word to the wise. Donāt eat anything with mushrooms from this family.
Iām so sorry that I have to wait until next Spring for the second installment in this series. I could have easily binged this had the books been written.
Itās an absolute recommendation. But only for those who want to read dark fiction and appreciate the more murderous of natures in the characters we read. The list of trigger warnings is at the beginning and itās appropriately long. Read them first before making your decision. It includes torture, child sexual abuse, murder, and hints of cannibalism.
Mortician River Laskin is a monster, a narcissistic sociopath with blood on his hands, but heās also my savior.
When he rescues me from a human trafficking ring, the last thing on my mind is vengeance. I need to pull my life together and figure out how to survive in a world where I donāt exist. Without someone to tell me what to do, Iām lost. River is all I have to cling to, the only thing that makes sense in this terrifying new world.
But he and his family of murderous psychopaths have other plans, mafia connections, and murder on their minds.
River Laskin
I knew from the moment I saw him that Theo was mine. Mine to protect, mine to break, mine to put back together again.
My favorite toy.
I will use every resource at my disposal to find the men who hurt him and make them pay, whether he wants me to or not. Itās not up to him.
Iāll burn every bridge, turn over every stone, dig up every body until I get what I want.
And what I want now is vengeance for Theo. The Devil himself couldnāt stop me. I dare him to try.
Body Count is the first novel in the Wayward Sons series, a series standalone of dark MM romances that follows the Laskin brothers as they battle their inner demons and find love.
Mayās Perfect Pixie series just took a decidedly darker turn in an already beautiful and layered world. Much like the vibrantly colored, glittery pixies the stories have been written about, Perfectly Charmed Pixie has at its heart, one Parsnip, a well known social pixie, as famous for his unusual aquamarine color as he is for his cable television series.
Yes, this story has a pixie dealing with his ongoing struggles with depression, PTSD, anxiety, and the very real consequences of his past. All by staring in a mirror. Plus Parsnip is fighting multiple internal and external battles here. With his fans and the Network over the expectations for his appearance, his insecurities, and his real fears for himself.
May has really outdone herself here. Because the series themes and world building just expanded in several quiet horrific ways.
Addiction to pixie dust has been mentioned before in the previous books but now we see the consequences. And worse . Because Parsley, Parsnipās brother, is running a recovery home for those pixies saved from trafficking operations. But thatās still a minor aspect of the narrative.
A huge one is the warlock, Vander Kines, a fantastic character. Guardian to a young brownie, Byx, Vander owns a small shop that makes magical charms and heās barely making ends meet. Mostly due to the fact heās got a strong moral compass and wonāt take jobs he feels is wrong or unlawful.
Vander and his ward, Byx, have a warm family relationship with a loss of a loved one that connects them. That beautiful dynamic carries over into the one that starts when Parsnips contacts Vander out of desperation.
Vander and Parsnips emotionally exist, at the beginning, outside of the circle of friends who form the basis of the strengths of the strange pairings here. But the subtle similarities in Parsnipās relationship and personality bring them together with pixies Phil and Peaches, along with their fated mates. I loved this journey and all the tiny elements that the author wove into it. Btw? Those hair clips of Byxās are incredible!
Mayās attention to detail, however, is never lost by the sheer texture and depth of the new storylines being added into the universe, the darkness that is now so much closer to the characters than we thought, and new awareness of old dangers brought to light.
The different Pixie relationships are loving and unusual, the many beings who are important to the inner circle are expanding their storyline, and a new realm has opened up.
Thereās so many key issues that May puts into play at various stages in the narrative that itās chilling watching how they slowly develop into something more complex and threatening than has ever been hinted at before. It happens with whispers and the occasional nod from the characters that something is definitely amiss and will need to be investigated. Or something even more serious.
I got delicious shivers and a whole new appreciation for this authorās style and craftsmanship in this book and series.
The fourth book has a title. Is it part of a new series or this one? Itās most definitely connected. I needs it now I do.
Not familiar with this author? This is a fabulous place to start, with this series. But they really must be read in the order they are written in because of the relationships and events that occur that are building the foundation.
If I could give higher ratings I would.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story (Perfect Pixie #3) by M. J. May is a must along with the prior stories!
Absolutely gorgeous covers!
Perfect Pixie:ā„ļø
ā Perfectly Imperfect Pixie #1
ā Perfectly Perfect Pixie #2
ā Perfectly Charmed Pixie #3
Next: and part of this series/universe
ā¦ Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendallās Story – late fall/winter 2023
Youthful arrogance and misplaced trust left Parsnipās once beautiful aqua colors little more than shades of muted gray. As a social pixie and host of a popular TV show, Parsnip desperately needs to fool everyone into believing heās that same, stunningly colorful creature. Warlock-made charms are all Parsnip needs to keep up the rouse. But the financial cost is high, and each activated charm steals more of his life force. Despite this, Parsnipās willing to pay any price. After all, who would want a faded pixie?
Everyone knows warlocks have no moral compass. But if thatās true, why does Vander Kines turn down more commissions than he accepts? Barely able to keep a roof over his head, his shop open, his brownie ward fed, and beer in the fridge, Vander should jump at the large sums of money clients are willing to throw in his direction. But no amount of cash is worth the cost of his soul, and his only true concern is keeping the young brownie safe.
When a magical mishap with Parsnipās warlock sends the pixie through Vanderās door, Vander refuses his request until he discovers Parsnip is his one and only. Now, he will go to any lengths to make Parsnip happyāeven trading his own life force in place of Parsnipās.
Unfortunately, Parsnip isnāt fooling everyone, and a witch with a vendetta is determined to expose his secret, and sheās willing to kill Vander and hand Parsnip over to his worst ogre nightmare to get what she wants.
True, unvarnished love is hard to find and sometimes even harder to accept. Having found it, Parsnipās willing to do anything to keep it safeā¦even if that means giving up his charmed life.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie is the third book in the Perfect Pixie series. It can be read as a stand alone but would be more enjoyable if the first two books in the series are read first.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie contains beautiful pixiesāno matter what their colors, an ornery yet clever brownie, a morally sound warlock, pixie dust addicted ogres, good and bad witches, a questionably reformed siren, more honeysuckle mead, magic, and finding your perfect, other half.
Possessive Love is a 15 multi-author book series about demons in love. I love to explore a collection like this because of the opportunities to revisit authors I already enjoy to finding new ones to discover.
In the case of Exercising a Demon (Possessive Love) by H. L. Day itās an author Iām happily familiar with. Day is on my auto read list and Exercising a Demon is a terrific sample for those readers not familiar with the author to get a feel for Dayās work.
Our main characters in this paranormal love story are a human named Jacob and a demon named Valvach. Jacob is sort of a human magpie when we meet him. He loves things sparkly and shiny, without looking like them too closely. Like the man he formed an immediate crush on and has decided he wants to become his boyfriend. All based on just seeing him.
Then thereās Valvach, a demon who doesnāt exactly fit in with the rest of his demonic family and their love for the family work in Hell. Valvach prefers reading, being helpful, and, adores animals. Not great characteristics for the lower realms.
The two meet cute and then everything becomes immediately more adorable as clueless bumps up against almost blind determination until reality and a family from hell wants to set things right.
The relationship is slow to develop but so cute. The characters are clueless but engaging, and their goals are so very important and rewarding that itās easy to cheer them on.
Exercising a Demon (Possessive Love) by H. L. Day is the second book Iāve read in this collection and itās another winner. Funny, with lovely characters. A definite recommendation.
Now to see what the next one has to offer!
Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors
ā¦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout
Love comes in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes it has horns and a tail.
Jacobās in love. Again. Only, his future husband likes muscular men, and Jacob, wellā¦ isnāt. A few sessions at the gym, and heāll have the leather-clad motorcycle courier eating out of his hand, though. And no, he wonāt switch his attentions to his hot new personal trainer. Honestly, he wonāt.
Valvachās not your typical demon, preferring books over torture. Which goes down about as well as youād expect in Hell. A move to the surface gives him the opportunity to start anew. To stay, heās going to need to make a friend, someone to help him blend in. And sweet, curly-haired Jacob is the perfect candidate. If he canāt lick him, he can at least spend time with him.
When friendship blossoms into a passion that knows no bounds, Jacob and Val believe theyāve found the perfect match in each other. However, Hell isnāt so accommodating, and they find themselves with a fight on their hands to prevent being torn apart and relegated to different planes of existence.
Exercising a Demon is a MM paranormal romantic comedy featuring a demon whoās more of a lover than a fighter, a human who might finally have found the man/demon of his dreams, steamy sexual liaisons involving a tail, and a sweet demon/human pairing who accept each other for who they are and embrace each otherās quirks.
When Iām not even at 15% and all Iāve done is laugh so hard Iām crying and my sides are in stitches, you bet Iām giving the book a 5 star rating. Clueless Puckboy is right. And probably my favorite novel to date out of a bunch of crazy hockey stories from this pair of authors.
Ayri Quinn is fighting an adductor injury and doesnāt want his team trainers to know heās not as recovered as he says he is. Quinn is a character so adorable and funny that his issues, which arenāt humorous at all, have this reader snorting in laughter, because the authors have set up this situation and created him just so perfectly.
I love Quinn. Heās ferlect. Thatās something youāll get if you read the book btw. Stumbling over his words, blushing, intense, in his head , practically ferlect in every way.
The man watching Quinn and determined to help him before Quinnās stubbornness in refusing help derails his career is one Vance Landon. Vance is one of the trainers with Quinnās NHL team in Buffalo, NY and a great character foil for the younger man. A bit older, athletic , gay, and empathetic, Vanceās personality plays off Quinnās endearing character in a manner that is made to have the reader fall for them both. As we do.
Starting from a basis of professional concern and knowledge, the switch to attraction and recognition of their mutual interest is natural and believable. Itās often awkward and funny too.
But James and Finley go the adult route, and thatās including a lot of discussion about what a relationship would mean for the team and their future in hockey. All that goes along with spectacular descriptions of a hockey season in play. Buffalo is fighting for the playoffs and Stanley Cup, and the authors make the race vivid in the on the ice physical scenes.
And of course, itās not a great story if some, if not all, of the NHL Queer Collective make appearances in very memorable moments.
So, do I adore this story and couple? Absolutely. It and them made my day and night as I picked it up and read it through in one sitting. Filled with joy, a ton of laughter, and yes, some sexy moments, this is a favorite of mine.
Pick it up and see why itās on my reread pile! Highly recommended!
Straining my groin is bad enough. It puts my hockey career, my future, but even worse, my dignity on the line.
Having to get massages in that area from Vance Landon, one of the team trainers, is mortifying.
Itās impossible to hide my feelings toward him. If my constant blushing and bumbling doesnāt give it away, my body does.
Itās getting to the point where I wonder if hockey is even worth the embarrassment.
Trying to avoid him only makes him seek me out more. Heās determined to rehab my injury, but all I want is for him to leave me alone.
Or fall for me.
One or the other.
VANCE
Ayri Quinn isnāt your typical jock ā¦ except for the fact he refuses to admit when heās injured.
Iāve seen more than enough professional sportsmen lose the career they love due to injury, and Iām not having it happen again.
Especially not when the guy in question happens to be the sweetest, most awkward, innocent jock Iāve ever met.
When a night out leads to Quinn reinjuring himself, I create a care plan that keeps me hands on, literally. Unfortunately, working with him in close proximity brings all those feelings Iāve been trying to ignore to the surface.
I just need to get him better so he can be back on the ice and out of my bed.
Ah, my massage bed.
Because if this goes on any longer, I might mean my actual bed.
Dump and Chase is such a sweet, low angst romance, that itās easy to overlook its beautiful moments and great qualities because itās so smoothly written.
This is a wonderful story of a young d-man from the Watkins Glen Gladiators and the widowed assistant pastor and single father of a small congregation who find themselves in a relationship thatās leads towards a HEA. To be honest, I avoid any novels that have religious content . Not my thing. But here it comes as a profession as well as the manās desire to serve his community. Loceyās portrait is that of a multidimensional person.
Gabriel Hansley is a single dad with a rambunctious young son, a widower who loved his wife, a overwhelmed assistant pastor trying to move his church forward and a lonely man whoās becomes attracted to a younger hockey player. Everything about Gabe makes him someone weād like to meet and connect with.
Deandre Jones, defensive man for the Watkins Glen Gladiators, is another of Loceyās gems when it comes to her hockey players. Young, talented, smart, trying to make a name for himself yet stay true to the upright, mannered person he was raised to be by his mother and close knit family. By dialogue and background, Deandre comes together with crystal clarity. That includes the issues he has of commitment that stem from a fatherās abandonment.
Dump and Chase layers in a series of serious issues and elements, gently taking an opportunity to inspect, address and then, if possible, resolve them with communication and kindness. Itās not just obstacles that arise between the main characters, although thatās often the case, but other things as well. Things get wider audience as all sorts of allies and friends are drawn together for dialogue and discussions about things that need a closer look.
Super angsty? Perhaps not. Grownup with a lovely optimistic voice of adult reason with its underlying sense of humor and self worth.
And while the adults are finding their way into a relationship, itās framed around Gabeās changing life at his small congregation and Deandreās role at the Gladiators. Change is happening, itās how each of them will be able to deal with it and decide what to do with the new paths that open up.
The supporting cast of characters is a joy. Whether itās Gabeās son or Deandreās teammates, Deandreās mother or the wealthy winemaker whoās been Gabeās biggest supporter at the church for changes, they are engaging and people Iām sure we will be seeing more of in future stories.
Dump and Chase (Watkins Glen Gladiators #3) by V. L. Locey is an engaging sweet romance and one of my favorites to date. I highly recommend it.
Watkins Glen Gladiators:
ā Between The Pipes #1
ā Defending The House #2
ā Dump and Chase #3
Buy Link:
Blurb:
Working side-by-side on a charity project might just prove to be the foundation of a new romance.
Deandre Jones is enjoying his single life quite nicely, thank you. Heās a defenseman on the Watkins Glen Gladiators, gets to travel, dates frequently, and isnāt tied down to anything other than his mom and brother back in the windy city. He has time to do the whole family and kids thing. Right now heās happy to be footloose, even if his mother has different ideas. As the playoffs near his focus should be on hockey, but for some reason, he canāt seem to give the sport its due. Ever since he volunteered to help the incredibly handsome assistant pastor of a local church work on an addition to the parish, his attention seems to be locked on curly hair and bright blue eyes instead of breakaways and body checks.
Gabriel Hansley has quite the full plate. Not only is he the first openly out bisexual assistant pastor for a small but highly active parish, but heās also got his son to tend to as well as his work at the church, which keeps him hopping all day long. And thatās a good thing as the nights alone are hard for the young widower. Just when heās about to give up on finding a person to share his life withāchaotic as it can beāhe finds himself hammering nails beside Deandre Jones. As they work side-by-side under the bright spring sun, heās getting warmer under the collar with each shared smile and terrible carpentry pun.
Dump and Chase is a low-angst, slow burn, age gap queer hockey romance with a not-quite-as-confirmed-as-he-thought bachelor, a harried single father, plenty of nosy but well-meaning parishioners and teammates, tons of joyous song, and a harmonious happily ending.
K Sterling has become a go to author for me and this book is an excellent example why. Nelson & MacIlwraith, the first in the Moon Murder Mysteries, is steeped in mythologies and cultural traditions. These myths and lores that enrich and at times horrify the characters and readers have been pulled from literary sources and the authorās incredible imagination.
To say the Celtic mythological tapestry Sterling has woven here works to enhance the themes, mysteries, and unique relationships is an understatement. It goes beyond that.
It starts with the unusual characters. FBI Agent Grady Nelson has been assigned the case of a missing girl, but told to āburyā the investigation by his superiors. Nelson, the son and grandson of famous agents, is a man out of favor with the FBI, a person they are looking to bury.
Weāve seen this type of character before but not Grady Nelson. Sterling has created in Nelson someone of unusual depths and qualities, submissive, unyielding in a hunt for the truth. Nelson is a dichotomy of traits and desires. And his growth here is unexpected and astonishing.
Nelson is paired with his complete opposite. Thatās the renowned and well connected Professor Lennox āNoxā MacIlwraith. Looking like a combination of goth musician, heās an archaeologist professor whoās consults in cases that have an occult or otherworldly nature. Which is what he has been working on. One exactly like the one Nelson isnāt supposed to investigate.
From a truly macabre starting point, Sterling launches a spectacular new series and couple. One missing girl becomes more, and the fact that each one is linked to local pagan communities and witchcraft just adds to the mystery.
Sterling builds on the menās hugely different lives and unusual interior mentalities to craft a relationship unlike any other. This overlays an increasingly horrifying investigation with a narrow timeline.
This story is amazing, terrifying, haunting, and extremely suspenseful. Itās no surprise that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.
I canāt wait to see how the next episode in the menās relationship and journey will go.
If you love a fantasy story with highly developed and compelling characters and a world thatās equally layered, this is for you.
Moon Murder Mysteries:
ā¦ Nelson & MacIlwraith #1
Buy Link :
Blurb:
No one wants a witch for a partner.
Time is running out, and the deck is stacked against Professor Lennox āNoxā MacIlwraith. Six girls have been abducted, but the FBI doesnāt realize theyāre connected. Thereās also the matter of the dead girl in New Castle. She was found tied to a tree and Nox suspects one serial kidnapper and killer is responsible. An unorthodox expert on the occult, Nox is rumored to be a psychic and a witch. And a crackpot. The wily young professor has to prove heās not battyāor possibly a vampireāand that the cases are linked before the next full moon. If not, he fears the remaining girls will be sacrificed to a mythical god-king.
Everyone in the FBI hates Agent Grady Nelson. Heās failed to live up to his legendary fatherās reputation within the bureau and is almost universally despised for being an uptight do-gooder. Nelsonās ready to kiss whatās left of his career goodbye when heās ordered to work with the āsketchy professorā on what should be a nuisance case. The investigation turns into a professional minefield when Nox claims itās connected to an ancient Celtic cult. Rules are broken and lines are crossed as Nelson falls under Noxās spell and begins to suspect his partner might be a real witch.
Nox is a little bit witchcraft. Nelson is a little bit Federal Bureau. Together, theyāre a wickedly good team, but can they find the missing girls before itās too late? Nox is prepared to sacrifice his own career and his life to save them. Heād also like to save Nelson, but is Nox ready to sacrifice his heart too?
Possessive Love is a 15 multi-author book series about demons in love. I love to explore a collection like this because of the opportunities to find a new author like Jax Stuart who wrote the wonderful My Demon Husband in this group.
Stuart begins by drawing us into the life of witch Toby and the small magical town heās growing up in. Itās not a happy life. Year after year, Toby is unable to summon a familiar on his birthday, his magic not working properly.
The manner in which Stuart cuts away from year to year, allowing the reader a window into the pain and frustration thatās been felt throughout Tobyās adolescence is remarkable. Heās become a real person to us and his suffering is now something we can connect with.
For Prince Zephyrin, the same can be said. The glimpses the author gives the reader into his life offers up much more insight into his own personal issues as well as his own familyās sufferings.
Two beings are about to be connected in the most unexpected way. This element of Stuartās narrative is such a powerful and compelling one. Itās a part of the overall mystery. How both are connected becomes a strength of the relationship and, imo, one of the book. Because it prompts one necessary discussion about consent, status, sexuality, equality , and dominance. All of these things could have been ignored or avoided in a lesser story.
The romance between Toby and Zeph really comes together as they fight for their bond and right to stay as a magical couple as they define it. It just feels so believable and engaging to read as they grow into their dynamic. I just love them.
The mystery behind Tobyās failures is not as well developed as most of the other storylines, and it has just as many questions left unanswered at the end of the novel.
The author fills up this book with so much detail and depth in the world building that it calls out for additional novels. The covens that appeared later on with their own fascinating characters, Zephyrinās Motherās āqueendomā and his family, and even the questions left behind as to what will happen to that village of Tobyās, it all seems to cry out for more storylines!
My Demon Husband: An MM Paranormal Romance by Jax Stuart is highly entertaining and well written. I throughly enjoyed the characters and the world built around them. I hope Stuart will revisit them someday to catch up on the loose ends and how this couple is faring.
This is a definite recommendation and for the rest in the collection, check out the list below.
Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors
ā¦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout
He was supposed to summon a familiar, not a husband!
After numerous failed attempts to summon a familiar necessary to guide his considerable magic, Toby was down to his very last try. They would never accept him as a full-fledged member of his birth coven without a familiar. He didnāt know which punishment was worse; exile or binding his powers forever. Everything was against him, including his abnormally powerful magic and an enemy hiding in plain sight. When the spell takes a dramatic turn, poor Toby is unprepared for the consequences.
Zephyrin is desperate to no longer be the screw up of the family. His parents have had enough on their plate dealing with a family curse. Even knowing that he could be lost to them forever, Zephyrin answers the surprising call for his summoning. After meeting his summoner, Toby, he’s positive that he is destined to be by his side as his husband. Maybe having a witch in his corner could break the curse, that is, if Toby lets him visit home.
Unfortunately, Toby has troubles of his own. Can they work together to find a solution to both their problems before the Witch Council tears them apart?
My Demon Husband is a standalone paranormal romance between an overpowered witch and a demon with control issues in the multi-author Possessive Love series.
Well, isnāt Monsters Hollow turning out to be the perfect place to be! After 3 stories (one in a charity anthology), Iām finding myself more and more enchanted with this paranormal world that Chloe Archer is creating and filling with fated mates pairings and their adventures in romance.
Already familiar the subject matter and anticipating this story, itās even better than expected. It was hinted at in The Bogeyman and the Schoolteacher, and we get to see both those terrific characters again here in their respective roles.
Well known interspecies historian, orc Targan Wildethorne has recently become the guardian of his sisterās two young children under tragic circumstances. A confirmed batchelor with no experience with youngsters, heās now faced with a household in turmoil, deadlines to meet, and everyone, including himself, struggling with grief over the grievous of his sister, their mother.
Archer dumps the reader into a house where chaos rules, emotions are high, and a great tragedy is still being dealt with. Itās vividly depicted and it feels so real, no matter that the kids are orcs, their pet an out of control Hellhound, and that one child is furiously chasing another with a mini ax. Itās the out of control situation that makes it recognizable. And thatās where we meet the second main and extraordinary person, the manny.
In Max MacLeod, Archer has created a truly memorable human being. Honestly, Max is hard to describe in one sentence. Heās so vibrant and that includes his amazing colorful clothes choices. Heās wildly enthusiastic about his profession and deeply knowledgeable. That means he comes across like a fabulous male femme Mary Poppins, complete with a bag full of everything he and each situation needs. But thereās more. Itās in his background as a foster child from Chicago that comes through with a fierceness born out of a tough adolescent that gives him depth that continues to surprise us.
This also includes Princess Peach, an older rescue Chihuahua whose wardrobe often matches Maxās and the kidsā three-headed Hellhound named Waffles.
Between the wonderful chemistry that the author builds between Max, Targan, and the kids as a family and the suspense in the drama element of the story, this is a book I couldnāt put down. Entertaining, highly imaginative, and just sexy as can be, this was a couple and family I loved and wanted more of.
Thereās a gargoyle uncle who runs a security agency and a best friend thatās a popular romance novelist. They have important roles here and are next up for a story.
Archer also leaves us with a few questions that I believe are important in the series overall thread. Either way, I know that this wonāt be the last we see of the family and I canāt wait for our next adventure together.
I highly recommend The Orc and the Manny (Monsters Hollow, #1) by Chloe Archer. Itās got fabulous characters, a great story, and an ever expanding universe I want to spend more time in. Check out the stories below.
Monsters Hollow:
ā The Bogeyman and the Schoolteacher # 0.1 (prequel)
ā The Demon and the Librarian (Fated Mates Charity Anthology)
ā The Orc and the Manny #1
ā¦ The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer #2 – Aug 2, 2024
Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no boundsāeven in a town full of monsters!
Targan Wildethorne
A confirmed bachelor, and a historian by training, I havenāt the faintest clue how to care for twin orclings when I unexpectedly become their guardian. Iād love to retreat into the comforting sanctuary of my study, surrounded by my books and papers, but first I need to hire someone to help me with the children. Someone who can teach me the ropes of this new role.
Thank the Light for the All-Species Specialized Employment Services! In my most dire hour of need, they find the perfect nannyāahem, mannyāto help me look after my young wards. Now I can finally get back to writing my history of orc folklore for a few hours a day.
Or so I thought.
Instead I find the captivating new man in my home far too distracting. Max is so much more than I had expected. Iāve never fallen for a human before, but I canāt get him out of my mind. Could he ever feel the same about an orc? Humans are usually too intimidated by our large size and outer appearance. Can Max look past my green skin and tusks to see a man with a heart that yearns for him? And if he does, when he learns the truth about the children will the danger on the horizon send him running?
Max MacLeod
Working with kids is totally my jam and Iām damn good at what I do. Just call me Maxy Frickinā Poppins! When a new job prospect comes my way, Iām intrigued. A chance to move to Mystic Hollow (aka Monsters Hollow) to be a well-paid manny for two adorable orclings? Talk about a dream position. Sold! But when I lock eyes with the seriously sexy orc whoās their guardianāand my new de facto bossāfor the first time, Iām a goner. Big, muscular, and green all overāheās giving me full-on Hulk meets stern professor vibesāand I like it.
As I get to know him, over meals with the kids during the day and soft-spoken conversations about history at night, I soon realize thereās so much more to Targan than the gorgeous orc who keeps starring in all my naughtiest dreams. Heās quite possibly the kindest, gentlest man Iāve ever met. And he accepts and appreciates every part of me and my flamboyant, full-figured fabulousness. I just want to feed and take care of himāand find out if heās so deliciously big everywhere. Before I know it, Iām dreaming of being part of a forever family with him and his adorable twins. But an unexpected threat looms in the shadows that could threaten the safety of us allā¦
The Orc and the Manny is a (94k words) cozy small town M/M monster romance featuring a Hulkalicious silver fox orc professor who’s better with books than kids, a flamboyant human manny with ALL the skills (think Nathan Lane in The Birdcage meets Mary Poppins), an age gap, a size difference, a three-headed hellhound and a feisty rescue Chihuahua, two adorable orcling twins, and copious amounts of orcā¦joy!
So close. Find Me Worthy was so close to being an absolutely 5-Star story when the author , imo, sabotaged it by adding on an epilogue that negatively changed my view about the book , it felt so unnecessary.
But first letās look at what Albert does remarkably well, and thatās everything that goes on beforehand.
Safe Harbor has dealt with a central question of a dead file mystery case was solved when it turned out that the local popular mother of the community who went missing years ago had been murdered by a serial killer. Her body was discovered in the nearby body of water by former police officer, brought up by a recovery diver, and the crime along with the discovery was part of an investigation led by a popular crime podcast.
All that information is part of the series themes and an integral part of the men involved in the investigation and as victims of the original crime itself. Some were once close friends and now others have become, through the investigation, partners of these men who live in Safe Harbor.
The reader , through the descriptions and memories of the men, become part of their journey to resolve the mystery and work through their own issues as well. Itās been a moving, and sometimes tearful journey. Albert has done a spectacular job with the town, the professions of each person, in some cases their disabilities, and the traits that make each man a unique individual.
Now we get to the finale. Thereās the two strong main characters. Sam Bookman, owner of Blessed Bean coffee shop, son of a pastor and a hearing impaired mother, a social worker whoās the heart of Safe Harbor.
Sam has always had a huge crush on older Worth Stapleton, whose mother was murdered by a serial killer and in whose family house Sam bought and now lives.
Worth always thought his father was guilty of his motherās death and told him so before he died. Heās been absent from Safe Harbor for decades, until a business scandal cost him everything and his motherās death was resolved. The Worth we meet is ill, highly depressed, with nothing but an incredibly expensive car to his name and an unexpected desire to return home.
Which he does. But that home is now owned by Sam, and thatās where the story begins. Where a man whoās lost everything ends back at his beginnings only to find that that house is now the beginnings of someone who has always been there for him.
Itās a haunting, emotional, fabulous moment. And , importantly, it includes a young sheltie whoās been abandoned and will become central to Worthās recovery and journey into a new life. Thatās Buttercup. Make note of this dog and his huge role as a support animal and loved companion.
As the men try to find a way to make this tenuous relationship theyāve begun work, sharing their past life experiences and new present struggles, we learn that depression has always been a part of Worthās life but that heās never really gotten the treatment and therapy that would have helped him cope with the trauma and stress that his life has offered up.
The raw pain, the guilt and trauma that heās felt and carried is powerfully portrayed by Albertās skillful handling of this manās emotional issues. And having and transferring some of those feelings of being left behind by his family over into the abandonment of a dog by its owners is a realistic element, making Buttercupās presence even more impactful.
Samās personality is no slouch against such a great character. Heās got so many qualities and outstanding personal traits here. Plus heās got a fabulous Siamese cat to balance Buttercup. Heās got Blessed Bean with all its diversity in its workers, and its issues. The house and its renovations along with its memories. And the community which is constantly circling around him.
So I did have a few questions about things within the main storyline, things that Iām still thinking about:
Spoiler Alert šØ:
1. When things were going financially wrong at the Bean (even with that expensive coffee machine) and the men were together, why was it never ever brought up for Worth to offer to sell his 6-figure āIve made itā high priced car to help with the expenses? Nope, that millionaire buggy isnāt mentioned except that they ride in it a couple of times later on.
2. What happens to the severe coffee competition? A big brand buys next door to try and squeeze the local coffee shop out. Stuff ensues. But logically?? What happens? We donāt know. The author doesnāt tell us, and from the drama thatās written, itās not enough to make any difference.
I have to admit itās great seeing Holden and Cal, and Monroe and Knox. Their roles here are perfect and made me want to read their stories all over again.
The way Find Me Worthy ended, with that wedding. It was perfect , and most importantly, that emotional support dog, Buttercup, being a part of the celebration and ceremony? Made it everything I wanted to read .
So why am I so unhappy?
Because the author doesnāt stop there. She should have. But then we get an epilogue. With a different voice, a foster kid. Which, ok, but now issues. Because guess whoās been wiped completely away? No dog or cat. We have two young adults, and itās two years later. But Albert has totally changed or forgotten that all important Buttercup or cat. Which would have been great in this scenario when all the people were gathering on this occasion. Kids and pets! But nope.
We donāt need animals if we got the kids? Or is this just another example of the missing animal character that the author drops without explanation? Because thatās a number one problem that has always bugged me so completely in a book. Make an animal an important factor in a characterās journey and personal growth, and then without a word, it disappears from the narrative.
Like Buttercup does here. So weird change of POV, missing important elements, and ,imo, unnecessary epilogue.
Either way, a complete fail.
Because now thatās all Iām thinking about. What happened to Buttercup. Not about the story or anything else. That missing dog.
Itās enough for me to want to kick this even further down another notch.
Most people will love this. Others? Skip the epilogue so you donāt fall down this narrative rabbit hole I have.
Until Sam found me. Iām back in Safe Harbor, where I havenāt belonged in over twenty years. Iām unsure how I ended up here, yet Iām certain Sam is the key to finally healing.
But itās complicated.
Samās had a crush on me since we were younger. To me, however, he was always the annoying kid tagging along. Now heās all grown-up and delightfully bossyāand sexyāas he encourages me to reclaim my health.
I enjoy pushing Samās buttons, but one button too many leads to a scorching kiss. Soon, weāre using Samās cushy bed for way more than sleeping. But I canāt imagine staying in Safe Harbor forever, and no way is Sam leaving.
Samās given me a place to stay, a job at his nonprofit coffee shop, and a sense of purpose when I had none. But can I give him my heart? And more importantly, can I overcome my past to make Safe Harbor my future?
FIND ME WORTHY is a hurt/comfort childhood crush-to-lovers MM romance. This unexpected roommate arrangement stars two mature heroes with a minor age gap, mental health representation, and plenty of first times and sexy discoveries for everyone. Deep feels, dual point-of-view, and big fluffy HEA guaranteed.
FIND ME WORTHY is book three and the thrilling conclusion to the Safe Harbor series from acclaimed author Annabeth Albert. This small historic Oregon town has a tight friend group, memorable secondary characters, quirky businesses, and long-held secrets. Each book stands alone with a fresh couple, but the background mystery of the townās secrets ties the series together, making reading in order more fun!
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 