Category: Fantasy

Check Out the new release “You Can Save Me “ by R.M. Merrill (OWL tour and giveaway)

You Can Save Me - R.L. Merrill

R.L. Merrill has a new MM paranormal romance in the Carnival of Mysteries series, the sequel to You Can Do Magic: You Can Save Me.

Sixties folk singer Dane Donovan vanished from a desolate highway rest area in 1979. Forty years later, he’s found hitchhiking in the California desert on a cold winter’s night. He hasn’t aged a day, but the roadmap of scars he wears tells a chilling tale.

Veteran detective Walter Muse took over the case twenty years ago, but his haunting connection to Dane Donovan goes back to a peculiar run-in as a child with The Troubadour and his Talking Board at a traveling carnival. He receives a late-night call with Dane’s whereabouts and races to Laurel Canyon to see for himself whether Dane is real — or a ghost. Walter’s carefully honed detective instincts are thrown out the window when his obsession with the case turns into an undeniable attraction to the mysterious singer.

Dane is on a mission to stop a new killer hell-bent on picking up where Dane’s kidnapper left off, and Walter is determined to protect him, no matter the personal and psychological cost. They’ll have to rely on new friends and trusted colleagues as well as the power of a mystical spirit board to stop the killing, and have a chance at a real future together.

Warnings: discussion of suicide, serial killer attempted murder

Universal Buy Link

 

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Excerpt

You Can Save Me meme - R.L. Merrill

On a dark desert highway somewhere in California, I walked alone on the dusty shoulder with a borrowed acoustic guitar strapped to my back and my sole possession tucked under my arm in a brown paper bag. I shivered as though evil was breathing down my neck, when in reality, I was the one in pursuit. The sky had a purplish hue with some storm clouds off to the north but directly above me, the stars flickered in a surreal dance.

I walked with purpose, and it was a very important one.

I’m the only one who can stop him.

I passed a sign that said Highway 58 to Mojave, and I pulled my salvaged coat tighter around my scrawny self. The ground was warm beneath my tattered boots, but the air bit into my skin like an icy monster gnashing its teeth, hungry.

I turned to look behind me and spotted headlights coming my way. It had been at least an hour since another car had passed. I stuck out my thumb, hoping they’d stop. The boots I wore were also borrowed, as were my clothes and hat. I chose them because they were the only ones in the carnival storage that were the right size and fit.

I had only one memory from before I’d started working with the traveling carnival, and it was awful enough to make your blood run cold.

The lights hurt my eyes, and my energy flagged, but I kept my thumb out. I had something important to do, and if this car didn’t slow down, I’d keep going until the next one came. Someone had to stop. How else did people get anywhere if not for thumb power?

The headlights grew nearer and were impossibly bright. I had to cover my eyes briefly as I was nearly blinded. I heard the crunch of gravel as the vehicle pulled over and coughed at the cloud of dust that rose. A door opened and a male voice called out.

“Hey, man. What are you doing out here?”<

The bright lights faded and only a set of yellow ones down low on the front of the…pickup truck were left on. It was a massive thing, jacked up high, with big tires and a shiny chrome grill.

What does it look like I’m doing? The large concrete sign with the strange name loomed in my consciousness, and though every cell in my body struggled against my purpose, I stood tall and called back, “Need a ride. To Buttonwillow.”

The truck door closed, and I saw the man’s shape pass in front of the dim lights. What was he doing getting out of his ride? I backed up a step, trying to play it cool. He wasn’t the person I was worried about.

Then the passenger door opened, and a much larger man got out.

“Ryan, don’t.”

There were two of them. I didn’t like my odds, but I had no choice. I had to get there. I had to stop…

“Forget it man, I’ll walk.”

“Wait, come back. You can’t walk that far. That’s, like, almost a hundred miles away.”

The driver came closer, but the big man stepped in between us. I reached for the guitar on my back. Maybe I could whack him with it and run away. I was pretty fast.

“Do you have any weapons?” Then the passenger barked an order at me. “Let me see under your jacket.”

“Come on, man. I just need a ride. I don’t have anything.”

The driver pushed past him. “Kal, it’s okay. Hey, kid, what’s your name?”

“Dee Dee.”

The driver held his hand out, and I shook it. “Dee Dee, I’m Ryan, and this is my husband, Kal. Damn,” he said, letting go of my hand and slapping his together, the loud crack making me jump. “I love saying that.” He turned and smiled at the large man, whose scowl seemed to lessen the slightest bit. “We just got married in Vegas.” He held up a hand and the light flashed off of his wedding band.

“Congratulations?” It came out like the question it was. How were they married? Two men? Guess they really do let anything happen in Las Vegas.

“Where’d you come from?” Kal asked, standing next to Ryan as if to protect him from me. Not sure I’d ever been seen as a threat to anyone, but I didn’t blame him for being cautious. Wish I’d had someone to look after me like that.

“Back that way. Was working at a carnival, and I needed to—”

Ryan put a hand on my chest and his eyes went wide. “Did you say carnival? Like, ‘Welcome, Traveler’ carnival?”

“How’d you know?” I tried to step back and my heel caught on a rock. I was about to go down, but Kal caught me—and then I was caught up in his gaze.

“I came from there, too,” Kal said.

And then I heard it. In my mind. Calliope music.

I’d never gone to see it. I hadn’t done much exploring. I’d only gone from my trailer to my booth and back for however long I’d been employed there. Didn’t seem long, but then, time did weird things at the carnival.

>“The Troubadour’s Talking Board,” Kal said. He gripped my arm a little tighter as he brought me back up to standing. “The booth in the arcade. I know you.”

“That’s right. That’s me. Well, it was. I left. Got something I gotta do.”

Ryan grabbed Kal’s arm. “The promise. Babe, we have to help him.”

Kal continued to stare down at me, and though he seemed good—the big man oozed honor from his pores—he was a scary guy. His hand could have wrapped around my bicep twice. Or my throat. He looked from Ryan to me, and then he let go of my arm.

“We shall help you along your path.”

Seemed like a strange way of saying “sure, we’ll give you a ride,” but I’d take it.

“Thank you.”

Ryan gestured to the truck. “Hop in.”

Kal remained at my side and when we reached the cab, he opened the front of two doors. I’d never seen a pickup with two sets of doors before. This thing was unreal.

“You ride up here,” Kal said, taking the guitar from me. “I’ll be right behind you. If you hurt my husband, I will hurt you.”

“God, Kal. That’s hot, but babe, don’t scare the kid. We promised we’d help him.”

“Promised who?” I asked as I climbed into the tall pickup. “And I’m not a kid.”

Kal shut my door after I sat, and then he climbed in. I turned my back to the door. I didn’t like having him behind me. Didn’t like anyone at my back, especially after what had happened to land me at the carnival in the first place.

“I think you know,” Kal said as Ryan started the pickup. “Ryan and I are married because someone else made a promise to help us on our path. Ryan made a promise to Mr. Ame. Now we will do the same for you.”

I’d known cats who lived together, maybe even called themselves husbands, but marriage couldn’t happen between homosexuals. This was all too much. It was like I’d left one odd place and wound up in another.

But what he said about promises put my purpose front and center in my mind.

I sighed and turned just a bit, still able to see Kal out of the corner of my eye as he sat in the middle of the backseat. He rested a hand on the seat behind Ryan’s shoulder, his fingers tangling in the man’s shoulder-length copper hair.

“Thank you for stopping,” I said before I let my eyes drift closed. I needed to rest. I would need my strength when we arrived.

“What’s in Buttonwillow?” I heard Kal ask Ryan.

“All I know about it is there’s a pair of rest stops on either side of the highway. Creepy-ass place. Every time I stop there, I’m sure a murderer is going to jump out of the bushes.”

You don’t know how right you are.

Author Bio

R.L. Merrill

Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling, diverse, and inclusive stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Rockstar Romance for You Can Do Magic, and Daphne DuMaurier finalist for Connection, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after.

You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, cruising around town with Great Dane Velma, cuddling with twin black cat familiars Frankenstein and Dracula, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…

Author Website: https://www.rlmerrillauthor.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/rochellerlmerrill/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/rlmerrillauthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828914.R_L_Merrill

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/r-l-merrill/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/R.L.-Merrill/author/B00PI6Q1LI

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Review:  Lighting The Darkness (Carnival of Mysteries 2) by Eden Winters

Rating: 4.5🌈

Lighting The Darkness , a novel in the second Carnival of Mysteries collection, is a sequel to Eden Winters’ marvelous supernatural science fiction thriller, Darkness.

That book wasn’t a part of this series, and that’s very complex universe is the basis for this story and that cast of characters is central to the journey of Lio and Bel here.

Lio and Bel mirror the roles somewhat of the first couple in Darkness, that of Atlanta PD Det. Morrisey James and Farren Austin, all from the dying realm Domus who came to Earth by way of inhabiting the human bodies of those in the process of dying. 

Unlike the first couple, for Bel and Lio, this is a separate and highly tragic/traumatic experience.  FYI for readers because it happens with Lio on the page. 

Winters does an excellent job of weaving in the background information for those who haven’t read the preceding novel.  But the characters from that book and the agency they work for is such a substantial part of Lighting the Darkness, I highly suggest you read it.

The author throws in some interesting twists and a great turn with respect to the origin of the world and mystery. Wonderful work.

One of my favorite aspects of the story is how Winters used the Carnival of Mysteries to not only be a central element of the story but to continue to be an emotional component that moves the story forward.  Truly one of the best uses of the theme in this collection.  

Lighting the Darkness is a terrific story, situated within a complex universe, beautifully plotted, full of fascinating characters and layered storylines. Don’t miss out on it or it’s connected novel, Darkness.

Beautiful covers.

Carnival of Mysteries 2 -2024

🔹Rook’s Time by Kim Fielding (sequel to Crow’s Fate-2023)

🔹The Wrong Familiar by Megan Derr✅

🔹The Villain Who Wasn’t by Liv Rancourt 

🔹Blue Lightning by BL Maxwell 

🔹Magic Escaping by Kaje Harper (sequel to Magic Burning 2023)

🔹Lighting the Darkness by Eden Winters – sequel to Darkness 

🔹You Can Save Me by R L Merrill-Aug 21,2024

🔹Airs Above the Ground by Rachel Langella-Sept 10,2024

🔹Go for the Climate by Ander C. Lark

🔹 Flames of the Arcane by Nicole Dennis 

🔹Midnight on the Midway by Morgan Brice 

🔹Dust Bowl Magic by Zam Maxfield 🔹Dragonspark by Elizabeth Silver

Buy link 

        Lighting the Darkness: Carnival of Mysteries

    

Blurb

Only Light can balance Darkness.

Lio wakes in someone else’s battered body with plenty of questions but no answers. Who is he? Who are the strangers who rescued him? Why do they call him Tenebris and Darkness? And why does everyone treat him like a feral dog about to attack?

Bel Am’I’s home world of Domus died moments after his escape, trapping him in the human realm with a clear mission. As Light, he must prevent Darkness from destroying Terra and the Domusians who’ve escaped there. Failure will doom billions to certain death, but how can he locate and balance a single, hidden being who doesn’t want to be found?

A mysterious carnival unites Lio and Bel, who must work together to uncover Lio’s true identity and stop him from accidentally annihilating the world. Yet someone doesn’t want them to succeed, someone who will stop at nothing to achieve the total destruction of both realms—even pitting Light against Darkness.

The battle for the end begins…

Lighting the Darkness is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series and a side story to Eden Winters’ Darkness. Each book includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains characters from Darkness as well as new ones, alternate realms, a twist on soul mates, and bad guys. I mean, evil, horrible, terrible guys. Definitely the type you wouldn’t bring home to Mother. And one cookie-baking demon.

  • Publication date: August 14, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 295 pages

Carnival of Mysteries series. 2023 and 2024:

  • Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️
  • Step Right Up by L.A. Witt 
  • Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️
  • Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr
  • Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️
  • Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️
  • Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️
  • Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️
  • The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky 
  • Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver 
  • You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill
  • Sting in the Tail by TA Moore 
  • Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella 
  • The Black Robes of Flanders by Sara Ellis 

Carnival of Mysteries 2 -2024

🔹Rook’s Time by Kim Fielding (sequel to Crow’s Fate-2023)

🔹The Wrong Familiar by Megan Derr

🔹The Villain Who Wasn’t by Liv Rancourt 

🔹Blue Lightning by BL Maxwell 

🔹Magic Escaping by Kaje Harper (sequel to Magic Burning 2023)

🔹Lighting the Darkness by Eden Winters – Aug 14,2024

🔹You Can Save Me by R L Merrill-Aug 21,2024

🔹Airs Above the Ground by Rachel Langella-Sept 10,2024

🔹Go for the Climate by Ander C.Lark 

🔹Flames of the Arcane by Nicole Dennis 

🔹Midnight on the Midway by Morgan Brice 

🔹Dust Bowl Magic by Zam Maxfield 🔹Dragonspark by Elizabeth Silver

Review:  Smoke and Mirrors (Fortune Favors the Fae novel) by Kai Butler 

Rating: 5🌈

In Smoke and Mirrors, a novel in the Fortune Favors the Fae fantasy multi-author fantasy series, Kai Butler creates a group of characters and a place called Flower that just begs for a series of its own.

In what starts out as a magical undercover mission that goes sideways, Butler then takes the characters on a journey of healing, homecoming, and revelations.  That it’s incredibly action-packed, romantic, and full of layered character growth and development is also what drives this story and its numbers of threads forward. We connect with them and the place. We become so invested in their journey.

Damian Reyes is our narrator.  A undercover special agent for SPA, Strange Phenomenon Agency. When a barefooted Cassander,dethroned Shadow Prince of Moonlight and Whispers, runs into him ,it’s his mission that badly comprised.

The effects of which will lead Damian, Cassander in tow, back to the one place he never expected to return to, his home and family.  The Reyes family, from mother Rosario, sister Candy, and the children, are realistic, well defined in their emotions, and reactions to Damian’s reappearance. The old history between them all, the perspectives on the past, and the manner in which Butler has Damian slowly start to question his own memories and ideas about his mother and his adolescence feels so raw and deep.

While it’s Damian’s growth and revelations we have the biggest window into, it’s also the reflections of Cassander’s changing as he interacts with the family and Damian that’s so important as well.

Butler’s story gives out so much more than just the insight and depth that goes into the family dynamics.  The urban fantasy elements are fabulous.  The coin is a major factor here and I love how the author has woven it into the storytelling.  

Plus all the other characters that come together, whether they are from the bar, or the family, they have been created with care and given life as they are memorable.

So is the desert when seen through magical eyes.

More please.  Much more.

A fantastic book and one universe I hope the author decides to write in again.

Cover art by Natasha Snow. I love the covers. Fabulous.

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

  • A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️
  • The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️
  • Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️
  • The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 ❤️🔷
  • The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 
  • Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 
  • Prince of Poison by Alice Winters  #7  ❤️
  • Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 ❤️
  • Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024
  • Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 
  • Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 ❤️
  • Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024
  • I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem  by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024
  • A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
  • Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

        Smoke and Mirrors

    

Blurb

Secret Agent Damian Reyes has two problems: he just lost his job and now he’s babysitting a deposed prince.

When Damian ran straight into a firefight to save an attractive civilian, he didn’t realize he was also sacrificing the career he’d spent twelve years building for a man whose flirting is only slightly less lethal than his blades. Now they’re stuck in Damian’s childhood bedroom as he tries to salvage his job, avoid his mother, and keep Cassander from getting murdered.

Oh, and a phenomenally powerful magical coin has decided it wants a ride in Damian’s pocket. At some point, his luck has to change, right?

Smoke and Mirrors is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

  • Publisher: (August 8, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 8, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 338 pages

Review:  Kisses at the Crossroad (Fortune Favors the Fae Book 10) by Morgan Lysand

Rating: 3🌈

Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand has a lot of good elements going for it.  Multiple storylines, a universe that includes at least three highly diverse realms (demon, Fae, and human) with a variety of different, interesting characters that thread in and out of the plot lines. 

The main storyline that’s centered around the enslaved Fae, Lark, and the crossroads demon, Pike, has enough to it with the characters back stories and current plight, that it should have been more detailed and the entire focus of this book. Plus the coin as well. That’s a major part of their story.

What is nice is Lark and Pike, along with the hellhound, together. They are both very different yet sweet characters.  Lark’s background is a bit better defined than Pike’s but the story behind his capture still feels lacking, as though a villainous act was committed.  By maybe that fae Prince who popped up to say he wasn’t bad anymore and disappeared. A absolutely strange thread and dismissible character. But one which the author made a point about several times during the book.  

So many aspects to the story like this. Odd decisions that come out of the narrative void and leaves the reader wondering.  Like the huge one towards the end with Drake. That’s a major question for me. But it speaks to the overall issue here.

That Lysand has a larger overall expansive character cast and narrative in mind that effectively makes this story come off as less developed and finished.  You can tell which elements and characters have been highlighted by the author for new stories or additional roles in books (in multi-author series) to come. So while their roles here in scenes are as important secondary characters , what happens to each of them is incomplete or left unresolved. 

Wren isn’t mentioned but demons Wick, Van, and the interspecies human town of Hex, Indiana, get upcoming stories in two completely different series (see below). 

There’s enough loose ends or unresolved issues here that it leaves other aspects of Lark’s and Pike’s romantic relationship and journey just weirdly disjointed in many sections.  

So while I enjoyed it, I was equally occupied by thinking about all the things that felt underdeveloped and characters left behind. 

The coin was a major part of the story.  I appreciated this fact.

Cover art by Natasha Snow. I love the covers. Fabulous.

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

  • A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️
  • The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️
  • Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️
  • The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 ❤️🔷
  • The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 
  • Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 
  • Prince of Poison by Alice Winters  #7  ❤️
  • Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 ❤️
  • Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – Aug 21,2024
  • Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 
  • Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024
  • Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024
  • I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem  by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024
  • A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
  • Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

        Kisses at the Crossroads

    

Blurb:

Lark has the worst luck. After stumbling through a thin spot in the veil between realms, he’s been stuck in the human world for a decade and forced to perform parlor tricks for the witch that captured him. Luckily, the witch’s power wanes and Lark hopes to run for his freedom during the next full moon. But he needs help. What could it hurt to summon a crossroad demon to get him back home to the Faelands?

When Pike gets summoned for the first time in decades, he’s sure it’s for something ridiculous. Humans never think of consequences. However, the moment he lays eyes on the pretty Fae, he’s determined to help the ethereal one, no matter the cost, even if it’s his own heart.

Kisses at the Crossroads is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

  • Publication date: August 4, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 157 pages

🔹The Nephilim’s Touch (Van’s story and the location of Hex,Indiana 

Part of: Tales from the Tarot (22 books) – August 29, 2024

🔹How To Summon A Memory (Warwick’s story)

Part of: Cauldrons and Kisses (8 books) – September 30,2024

Review: The Turning of the Tables (Beyond the Veil Book 7) by KM Avery

Rating: 5🌈

The Turning of the Tables by KM Avery begins Seth Mays connecting trilogy of the Beyond the Veil series, a journey that’s got a perspective on the Arcanavirus we’ve not seen before.

KM Avery ‘s Beyond the Veil universe is a dark, highly complex world. It’s steeped in harsh human fears against those who are different, a divergence that has resulted from the Arcanavirus that’s wiped out a portion of the world’s population, the remaining population that has been exposed and is affected can change in otherworldly ways. Maybe they can hear the dead or maybe they’re a vampire.

In its wake , the world and society roils with bigotry, specism, racism, an increasingly amount of hatred based acts, as well as inflammatory politics that seem so dangerous and familiar these days. Read the author’s Notes on the universe information and trigger warnings before the book begins.

More so than any other books, except for Ward’s, Seth’s story , his beginning, has really moved me. Avery manages to so realistically, and with devastating exquisite clarity, covey a portrait of this gentle, sweet man coming physically, mentally, and emotionally apart in every aspect of his life. Just when he thought he had reached a good and satisfying point about his career, friends and family.

The pain is so intense as Avery does a deep emotional dive into the internal life of Seth Mays . Its from Seth’s point of view that we see his life , the events, the unthinkable aftermath, alongside a complicated, horrifying investigation, and the introduction of Elliot Crane, badger shifter, best friend of Hart, into Seth’s world.

Elliot arrives to craft a summoning table for Ward and an intense relationship is struck up between Seth and Elliot. One that is notably temporary due to their differences in locations and current circumstances, but that’s not how this works.

We know Elliot from Val’s books but we get a deeper understanding of him here even without reading his POV. Avery gives the reader a perfect window into this character, an insight into how the relationship between them is effectively changing him too. And it’s done, part way, through a series of texts. Some sent casually, others during the worst moments of Seth’s life.

The Turning of the Tables (Beyond the Veil Book 7) by KM Avery brilliantly follows Seth as through a journey so moving and engaging that often times, I found myself having to pause in my reading because I was so wrapped up in Seth’s story that I needed a moment to reflect.

Here a life is changed so profoundly it’s shattering, both for the character and for the reader.

The ending? Exactly what it should be. Hopeful. And now I’m exhausted but ready for the next book and step forward for Seth . That’s The Badger in his Burrow, no release date yet.

If you haven’t read this series yet, start reading it. It’s a must read in its entirety. Read them in order to understand the characters, their stories and relationships, the evolution of this world in terms of politics and magic. It’s complex, highly addictive, ingenious, and often dark as well as beautifully written.

And one I highly recommend. Always.

Series couples to date (not standalone):

Ward’s story (1-3):

The Ghost in the Hall

The Boy in the Locked Room

The Skeleton Under the Stairs.

Hart’s story (4-6):

The Dog in the Alley

The Bones in the Yard

The Elf Beside Himself

Seth’s story (7-9):

The Turning of the Tables

The Badger in his Burrow (coming 2024/ 5)

The Past in the Present (coming 2025)

Rayn’s Story (10 +) (coming 2025-2026)

Buy Link

The Turning of the Tables (Beyond the Veil Book 7)

Blurb:

I try to be an easygoing kind of guy, but sometimes things happen that really throw you for a loop. It turns out that meeting a certain badger shifter is one of those things.

I’d agreed to pick him up at the airport to help out a friend, and I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into. I figured I’d pick him up, drop him off at his hotel, and that would be that. Instead, I can’t stop thinking about him—and it doesn’t help that he keeps texting me, asking for my help.

The other problem is… he lives a thousand miles away and is only going to be here for a few weeks. Except that it hasn’t taken long for me to fall hard for those hazel eyes and white-streaked hair. To say nothing of the callouses on those strong hands.

I should be paying attention to work—to the killer using the Arcanavirus as a murder weapon—but I keep getting distracted by thoughts of Elliot Crane. Hopefully that doesn’t come back to bite me in the butt.

Who am I kidding? Everything comes back to bite me in the butt. And not in a fun kind of way, either.

A MM Shifter Romance.

Part one in Seth’s story.

• Publisher: (July 31, 2024)

• Publication date: July 31, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 398 pages

Seth’s story (7-9):

The Turning of the Tables

The Badger in his Burrow (coming 2024/ 5)

The Past in the Present (coming 2025)

Rayn’s Story (10 +) (coming 2025-2026)”

Review: Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I by MJ May

Rating: 5🌈

I’ve been desperately waiting for this book since Erasmus Boone , the Necromancer, and Aurelia, the djinn made their first appearances in the fabulous Perfectly Pixie series. Now, tied by past events , and magical connections, Erasmus and Aurelia have their own unique series, along with Erasmus’ human mate/romantic partner, Detective Franklin O’Hare.

Deadly Lineage is a superb introduction to Erasmus and Aurelia if you’re not already familiar with them from the previous series. May beautifully develops the storyline around Boone’s family, Boone’s neighbors and location, the necromancer history, and gives us new well defined characters in terms of the local MS police force where Detective Franklin O’Hare works and the investigations that come into play.

Boone’s complicated family just happens to include Nikodemus Holland , the feared, powerful warlock, father to Erasmus and his mother, Lydia Boone. May’s characterizations are well developed, vividly described and layered with personality. It’s doesn’t matter whether they’re human or paranormal, they’re believable in their love and concern for their son.

The Mississippi location is steeped in Southern sweet tea, wrap around porches with light blue ceilings, fans constantly swirling amidst the summer sweltering heat. The paranormal crimes committed are horrifying. The intense murder investigations are suspense filled and terrifying, and the romance between Erasmus and Franklin slowly burning.

Aurelia is an absolute gem of a character. A djinn who doesn’t act or even speak as anything other than what she is, an immensely powerful being, ones who has lived through the worst of origin stories and centuries of ownership. Each appearance sees more unexpected moments with her. More development, more revelations.

There’s so many great elements in this story. Whether it’s the side cases that Erasmus takes, his incredible neighbor, Mrs. Hart, and her tiny dog, Miss Pattycakes, each are a narrative treasure.

I was ready for book two as soon as this one was over. I love the universe, the characters and crossovers with the Pixies, and everything new May is creating here for Erasmus, Franklin as well as Aurelia.

This is a must read, as it the series before it. Highly recommended!

Another excellent cover design by cheriefox

Related/Preceding Series:

Perfect Pixie Series

🔹Perfectly Imperfect Pixie

🔹Perfectly Perfect Pixie: Peaches’s Story

🔹Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story

🔹Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendall’s Story

🔹Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox’s Story—End

Necromancer Tales:

Deadly Lineage #1

Buy Link:

Deadly Lineage: Necromancer Tales Book I

Blurb

Shunned by most species and abandoned by their warlock fathers, necromancers are marginalized, feared, and reclusive. Erasmus Boone is different. His warlock father chose love instead of abandonment. Unusually powerful and talented, Boone’s embraced his necromantic abilities and managed to carve out an existence within a world that would rather he not exist at all.

Humans aren’t the most respected species. Hell, they’re just a step above termites in the eyes of most. Detective Franklin O’Hare has never taken derision towards his humanity to heart. Determined to do the best given his human limitations, Detective O’Hare does whatever it takes to right the wrongs of the world—no matter the species concerned—even if that means working with a necromancer. Besides, Erasmus Boone isn’t so bad. In fact, he’s temptingly perfect.

Seeking solace after a difficult case, Boone walks the typically peaceful gravesites of Trinity’s Holy Cross Cemetery. The gentle hum of contented, long-dead souls ease Boone’s mind—until he’s hit with an unearthly cry unlike any he’s heard before. Unfortunately, that first soulful cry isn’t Boone’s last, each wail revealing a disconcerting pattern. There’s a serial killer in the wind, and their murders are resulting in souls with painful, missing pieces, leaving their voices incoherent and

indecipherable.

Boone and O’Hare must work closely together if they’re going to stop the killings. O’Hare learns quickly that keeping Boone safe from disgruntled clients and serial killers is a never-ending and nearly impossible task.

As O’Hare and Boone grow closer, so does the killer. They need to figure out who’s indiscriminately murdering seemingly unrelated species, and why the victims’ souls are devastated beyond repair, before Boone becomes another victim on the ominous list.

Deadly Lineage is the first book in the Necromancer Tales series. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be read as a stand-alone. Deadly Lineage is a M/M romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to ignore his attraction to the aforementioned necromancer, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a twisted serial killer, a questionably agreeable all-powerful djinn, damaged souls, humans-some redeemable and some not, a steamy Mississippi summer, and far too much sweet tea. Deadly Lineage has a HFN ending.

Mentions of violence, murder, souls bruoght back from the beyond, speciest bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity.

• Publication date: July 18, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 359 pages

Review: Static/Cling (Subpar Heroes story) by Jaime Samms

Rating: 4🌈

Static/Cling by Jaime Samms is another in the Subpar Heroes multi-author series about a group of people who have specific abilities that have been deemed just not “super” enough for high level status. They’re subpar heroes or heroes whose abilities are diminished in some respects.

Samms story involves a group of characters, first a pair of friends/lovers that eventually ends up as a triad when they find the third that completes them. Along the way, a team of like minded and powered characters is formed, there’s a scary mission to undertake, and an evil villain to be foiled.

Static/Cling has terrific characters, interesting storylines, and the potential for additional novels, packed as it is with loose ends and underdeveloped plot lines and character elements.

I really enjoyed it.

Characters like Bjorn Bielke, “electricity runs through my body” and Leif, his best friend/lover and personal current discharge unit, who end up working for SPAM (the superhero agency) where all the rest of their future team is working, are great in their respective roles. Also fascinating, if not equally well developed, is Kassian, IT SPAM specialist, but he’s more. What exactly is not delved into.

The developing Bjorn/Leif/Kassian romance is interesting in how the author pulls it off and it makes sense for all the people involved. This could have taken up more of the plot, especially since Leif and Kassian each need more narrative development than is given towards the end.

Sal, Robert (two more intriguing members of this found family) as well as actual family members, contribute to a action packed, emotionally driven story.

Only the fact that Samms had left unexplored or unresolved some major plot lines at the end of the story did I feel unsatisfied with the finish and HFN given to the characters.

Perhaps, like other writers, Samms intends to revisit this universe. At any rate, if you are enjoying the series and are a fan of the author, I recommend reading Static/Cling (Subpar Heroes story) by Jaime Samms. It’s very entertaining.

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper❤️

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple ❤️❤️

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️❤️

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy links:

Static/Cling

Blurb:

Best friends Bjorn and Leif help each other out. Whether it’s blowing off some steam in bed (as friends do), or helping each other find a new job, they’ve always been there for eachother. So when Leif points out an ad for a janitor team at SPAM it’s a perfect fit.

Bjorn will be able to work where his strange ability to gather static electricity won’t be a problem, and Leif will still be by his side to make sure nothing bad happens.

Turns out, Bjorn should have read the fine print.

Working at SPAM is like no other job they’ve ever had, and then there is Kassian. Tacitern. Unfriendly. Half computer geek, half muscle-head, he’s way more appealing than he has any right to be, and maybe the spark between them they’ve often looked for but never found.

But Kassian the computer geek is clear. He doesn’t need any more friends, and he doesn’t need a lover, never mind two. Kassian the muscle head has a different take on the idea.

When they have to track down a missing computer file and stop a madman from ruining the lives of everyone at SPAM, it’ll take the whole team, a multi-layered plan, and no small amount of luck to succeed.

It will also take the three of them combining their skills to stay alive and save, not just the day, but each other.

Static/Cling is a part of the multi-author Subpar Superheroes MM romance series.

• Publisher: Jaime Samms (July 30, 2024)

• Publication date: July 30, 2024

• Language: English

• File size: 3301 KB

• Print length: 237 pages

Review: The Villain Who Wasn’t (Carnival of Mysteries 2) by Liv Rancourt

Rating: 3🌈

The Villain Who Wasn’t by Liv Rancourt was such a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed much of the story and characters, including how Rancourt wove the Carnival of Mysteries into this tale, making it an important part of Micah Jenkins journey to redemption.

Micah, how his relationship with Anders Montgomery developed amid his journey to redemption and finding home, that entire storyline , is the best part about this book. It starts with the characters.

Corbin Blande aka Micah Jenkins is terrific, a wounded being with a great back story. He’s a polymorphic being, a therianthrope, someone who could shift into any form, human or animal. A almost mythic creature who fell into the wrong hands and did terrible things to protect people he loves.

Then there’s Anders Montgomery, a beta werewolf, one of 5 children.The pack is renting the Hidden Glen Resort for a younger sister’s first shift. But it’s never that simple. Again, a great story and character set within a pack and family that cries out for further development.

Part of the main narrative includes Micah’s daughter, who because of the danger involved, doesn’t know him, and a demon that has him trapped by promises and threats. All fascinating stuff and all underdeveloped here.

The decision why is because the author decides to mash up The Carnival of Mysteries series story , and make it a sequel to her book, The Accidental Necromancer from the Subpar Heroes superhero series from a completely different universe and multi-author collection. So now SPAM and superheroes has entered the story and things go completely off the rails, narratively speaking.

Once Livcourt makes the decision to smash (not integrate) one storyline universe into another, it drastically changes tone and direction. An entirely new crew of characters, new locations and the superhero governing agency, SPAM, is the dominant force, leaving the pack and other elements pushed aside.

In fact, instead of exploring Micah’s unique natural history and having him make restitution for his actions in other ways, Livcourt brings in SPAM, takes over the story, hobbling the previous narrative, and making the Subpar Heroes the universe that’s dominating this book.

If a reader isn’t familiar with these series, especially the Subpar Heroes, or a reader of this author’s books, they will find themselves lost in the muddled world that this story has become at the end. Yes, there’s a HFN and a note from Livcourt she intends to continue on with additional stories in this universe. Which one? The subpar heroes is my guess but I’m not sure.

I liked The Villain Who Wasn’t (Carnival of Mysteries 2) by Liv Rancourt because of Micah, Anders, their relationship, and the manner in which the story began. Plus the Carnival of Mysteries was an important part of their journey. But the rest of the book was a mashup that felt forced and confusing. That was mostly the second part of this book.

Read it if you’re a fan of the author.

Again, terrific covers.

Carnival of Mysteries 2 -2024

🔹Rook’s Time by Kim Fielding (sequel to Crow’s Fate-2023)

🔹The Wrong Familiar by Megan Derr✅

🔹The Villain Who Wasn’t by Liv Rancourt ** notes (sequel to other stories/series)

🔹Blue Lightning by BL Maxwell

🔹Magic Escaping by Kaje Harper (sequel to Magic Burning 2023)

🔹Lighting the Darkness by Eden Winters – Aug 14,2024

🔹You Can Save Me by R L Merrill-Aug 21,2024

🔹Airs Above the Ground by Rachel Langella-Sept 10,2024

🔹Go for the Climate by Ander C. Lark

🔹 Flames of the Arcane by Nicole Dennis

🔹Midnight on the Midway by Morgan Brice

🔹Dust Bowl Magic by Zam Maxfield 🔹Dragonspark by Elizabeth Silver

Buy link

The Villain Who Wasn’t: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb;

Micah is not a nice guy. He can shift into anything with a pulse, a rare talent that caught a demon’s eye. Threatening Micah’s weak spot – his baby daughter – that demon gave Micah seven tasks, each one shittier than the last. It’s taken him almost five years, but now that he’s done, Micah can become a better man.

And he will, as soon as he figures out how.

Anders is a werewolf with a plan. When the time is right, he’ll take over his uncle’s contracting company and later become Alpha of the pack. He never intended to take a mate, even one as hot as Micah.

Who’s not a werewolf and might not be quite trustworthy.

A visit to a mysterious carnival shows Micah what it will take to be the kind of mate Anders deserves. Things get complicated, though, because while Micah thinks he’s done with the demon, the demon’s not done with him.

As Anders comes to terms with the Universe changing his plans, Micah struggles to be a worthy mate. Despite the growing strength of their bond, they need to send a certain demon back to hell, or they’ll never be able to build their future together.

• Publisher: Rancourt Publishing (July 24, 2024)

• Publication date: July 24, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 234 pages

Carnival of Mysteries series. 2023 and 2024:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore

✓ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella

✓ The Black Robes of Flanders by Sara Ellis

Carnival of Mysteries 2 -2024

🔹Rook’s Time by Kim Fielding (sequel to Crow’s Fate-2023)

🔹The Wrong Familiar by Megan Derr

🔹The Villain Who Wasn’t by Liv Rancourt

🔹Blue Lightning by BL Maxwell

🔹Magic Escaping by Kaje Harper (sequel to Magic Burning 2023)

🔹Lighting the Darkness by Eden Winters – Aug 14,2024

🔹You Can Save Me by R L Merrill-Aug 21,2024

🔹Airs Above the Ground by Rachel Langella-Sept 10,2024

🔹Go for the Climate by Ander C.Lark

🔹Flames of the Arcane by Nicole Dennis

🔹Midnight on the Midway by Morgan Brice

🔹Dust Bowl Magic by Zam Maxfield 🔹Dragonspark by Elizabeth Silver

Review: Gloombringer (The Summertide Chronicles Book 1) by Sam Burns

Rating: 5🌈

Sam Burns is such an amazing prolific fantasy writer that I’m reading several new series from her while discovering ones from her backlist I’ve not yet started. And yet here’s another fabulous book that welcomes in a new incredible universe full of political intrigue, four magical ruling families, and a crisis that’s falling upon the land.

I’m so in.

And immediately invested as the entire book and multiple storylines plays out during a politically charged, emotional, and often potentially violent meeting between the heads or representatives of each ruling family.

Each story is about a different family. Burns starts with the family or what’s left of the Gloombringer family. That’s aging, cold, often nasty Oberon and his wounded younger sister Titania in their ancient large household. While we are deeply involved with this duo, their history, and their tangled relationships with the rest of the other rulers, it’s Adair Courtwright, and Rain Moonstriker that’s the central pairing here.

Adair Courtwright who’s powerfully talented in his ability to see life connections, bonded to moon tear Rhodri, and through his family legacy, is in service, as was his father, to Oberon Gloombringer. And Rain Moonstriker, who has shown up at the four-ruling family summit as the Moonstriker representative, bringing his own team and plenty of his mother’s agendas and secrets.

The Moonstriker family is large in size, intellectual in temperament, isolated and held in somewhat fearsome regard, mostly due to Rain’s mother and uncle’s power. Burns gives the reader several intriguing glimpses into a couple of Rain’s siblings, which only makes us want more of each of them. Rain is well developed individual assisted by his own bonded stones. His romantic relationship with Adair is one that needs to be understood by reading it as it’s layered with Adair’s personal story. It absolutely works, and they are assisted by those around them.

An occurrence that happens again and again as other different people appear during this meeting, as family members or employees. Each one is so well defined, uniquely themselves with a backstory that cries out for greater exploration, that this novel alone would weigh a ton would that happen.

I honestly forgot about the timeline here, as I was so caught up in the various drama plots, the romance between Adair and Rain, and the fact that this summit is headed for disaster with no stopping it. Just fabulous.

So many creative moments and imaginative elements that Burns has written into her story and universe. It just captures the reader’s attention and own imagination too. One of my favorites?

Burns has also created sentient stone, crystals of various ages, that bond with humans, gifting them with various forms of abilities depending upon the type and nature of each stone. This is a devastating aspect of the world, because it both has the capacity to elevate or subordinate a person’s status, especially as they have no choice over what stone bonds with them. They are simply great characters themselves, and I can’t wait for the author to explore this further.

I can’t wait for Dawnchaser to be released. I need to know what happens next! This is a must read, especially for lovers of fantasy fiction.

The Summertide Chronicles:

✓ Gloombringer #1

◦ Dawnchaser #2 – Oct 3,2024

Buy Link

Gloombringer (The Summertide Chronicles Book 1)

Blurb

For decades, the four families who rule the Summerlands have been locked at an impasse. No one is fighting, but neither has anyone been speaking.

We don’t have time for that anymore.

Mount Slate, the volcano that sits in the middle of the Summerlands, is threatening to erupt, and only the four family heads working together can avert disaster.

As the right-hand man of the Gloombringer, it’s been up to me to convince first my boss, and now the rest to put aside their differences and work together for the good of the world. The problem is that not everyone is all that interested in the good of the world—not unless they get something out of it. Even worse, I now find myself distracted by the Moonstriker’s envoy, Rain. He’s intelligent and handsome and for the first time in my life, I’m struggling to focus on work. But I have to.

It’s up to us to save the world.

If we can.

Gloombringer is the first of four books in The Summertide Chronicles, featuring one right hand man trying to save the world, one future family head trying to seduce him, one woman badly in need of another drink, and a plethora of people trying to keep them from their goals. It ends with Rain and Adair’s HFN, but also contains an overarching storyline that will follow the entire series.

• Publication date: July 25, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 334 pages

Review: Silver & Gold : Seth and Raider Book 2 by Katherine Diane

Rating: 4.75🌈

Silver & Gold finishes the wonderful Seth and Raider duology by Katherine Diane and I’m so sorry to see such an exciting, well written adventure come to an end.

This series was my first introduction to Katherine Diane and Silver & Gold just established her as an author I will put on my must read list. The world building here is amazing, rich in various cultures, vibrant in sociological aspects of each country, and deep in the many mythical creatures and beings met here.

That’s just in the layers of foundation that the characters and storylines are threaded into as they go through their epic journey to find the villains, a mystical item, and a truth about Raider’s existence.

Diane does a fantastic job in telegraphing the horrors that have happened to Raider to make him full of quicksilver without being graphic in details. She lets the reader’s imagination become the foundation for the horrors of his past instead of letting a narrative slip it definitively into his scenario. This is more subtle and terrifying in my opinion.

Silver & Gold brings fascinating new insights and characters, particularly Julian, the young arcanist, and the ifrit Adavasti. I really need a new series that uses this pair as a central element.

There’s so many outstanding new details and magical elements that I wanted Diane to halt certain threads to explore the new things she just introduced. Whether it’s the type of carriages or new desert creatures, everything feels deserving of greater exploration. Or any of the related religions she created here that we saw temples for, right down to the riches and guards.

If I had any quibbles, it’s that this series could easily be expanded to include more books just due to the richness of the world and its inhabitants. Everything begs for greater understanding and attention. And more journeys.

The wounded, passionate dynamic between Seth and Raider feels like it’s just beginning as they set out on the next step in their lives. I want more of them too.

I really hope both are in our future. This duology is highly recommending. Just make sure to read them in the order they were written.

Seth and Raider Duology:

✓ Silk & Sand #1

✓ Silver & Gold #2

Buy Link

Silver & Gold: An MM Fantasy Romance Duology (Seth & Raider Book 2)

Blurb:

The revelations about Raider’s past have turned Seth’s simple manhunt into a complicated mess. He’s stepped into a tangled web of arcane mysteries and political machinations. As an experienced Curator for the Arcanum College, he can handle that. What he can’t quite handle is his feelings for Raider. There’s love—gods, he can’t deny that—but Raider’s lies have made a mess of Seth’s heart, his principles—and everything else. Because Raider himself is at the very center of this tangled web.

Raider has been running from his past for ten years. (And what was wrong with that? A strong cup of raaki, a bit of music, a gorgeously scowling Curator—what more could anyone want?) The past, however, has finally caught up with him. And if Raider wants to keep his gorgeously scowling Curator alive and well, he’s going to have to face those old nightmares—because he and Seth need each other.

Only together can they navigate the treacherous court of Empress Zarina. Only together can they survive a dangerous new mission that will take them deep into the unknown reaches of the Sands, where mythical creatures and ancient mysteries await.

Silver & Gold concludes the high-heat fantasy adventure begun in Silk & Sand. Get ready for more fabulous locations and deeper, darker secrets. And of course, all the action, humor, and sexy intensity that only these two gorgeous, complicated, irresistible men can deliver.

• Publication date: July 25, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 326 pages