It’s the penultimate story and Sherwood is giving us heartburn!
From Tan’s explosive attempts to fix his biggest mistake to being a jailbird then , well , nothing prepared us for this short frustrating story of fighting, explosions, heart eyes, and an evil princess.
It’s got a big cliffhanger ending too!
Sigh.
Actually that’s pretty typical of serialized stories but argh!
Just sayin.
How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 6 will be out on November 25, 2022. I’m so ready for a Royal smack down.
The covers have been changing. Notice the heart! Hmmmm, maybe a clue?
I’m highly recommending the series, frustration and all. Bring on the finale!
What’s Tan to do when an experiment goes wrong? Nothing. He’s unconscious and captured.
What’s Devan to do when his lover shows up in the palace prison? Keep calm and smuggle on.
Tan would say don’t put him into a box, but he actually does fit. Devan despairs.
Tags:
Tan gets himself into trouble, what? No one’s surprised by that?, Tan maybe forgot a teensy weensy promise, it bites him in the ass, in Tan’s defense, yeah I got nothin’, boyfriend to the rescue, Protective Devan, light angst, mostly as an excuse for cuddles, smuggling, cancuns saying inappropriate things, Serenity has successfully pissed Devan off for the last time, and then she does something even worse, magic battle, minotaurs, portals, Fa actually fixes her hair, it’s a miracle.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
My holiday reading continues with the heartwarming romance by Keira Andrews, The Christmas Leap.
Containing a number of favorite themes, best friends to lovers, fake boyfriends, bisexual awakening, this sweet romance is low angst and high on good feelings.
Long time friends ,Will and Michael , reunite after a two year separation caused by Michael’s relationship and his determination to lose his unrequited love for Will. A breakup, a breakdown (a car), and a business holiday weekend ensues to reinstate their tight bond and turn it into something else, a HEA.
Andrews gives us two remarkably engaging characters, surrounds them with a supportive cast of charming personalities (especially Will’s boss and her family), two fantastic locations, and all the right elements to make real Will’s bisexual awakening as well as Michael’s bravery in finally confessing his love.
I loved ending my night on the happy feelings this story left me with. For those looking for a holiday story, I’m definitely recommending A Christmas Leap.
Sure, I’ve thought about it. Wondered. Daydreamed. Imagined. But I wasn’t ready to take the leap.
I have a reputation as a “ladies’ man.” No one has any idea how curious I am about men—not even my openly bi best friend. Make that former best friend. Michael ghosted me, and I have no idea why.
Michael: The man I love is straight.
It hurt like hell when I had to distance myself from Will. I’ve tried desperately to grow up and get over him, but my carefully constructed life just fell apart—and Will rushes to my rescue.
Now we’re pretending to be a couple to impress his boss at a holiday retreat. We’re holding hands and hugging.
We’re sharing a bed.
And Will just kissed me.
Is my best friend falling in love with me after all?
The Christmas Leap by Keira Andrews is a Christmas romance featuring friends to lovers, bi awakening, first times, and of course a happy ending. This standalone novel takes place in the same universe as The Christmas Deal.
Conspiracy of Dragons marks the end of Louisa Masters’ Here Be Dragons series and it’s Steffen’s story that brings everything to a surprisingly strong and emotional close.
Steffen is a dragon who’s character has always ridden that edge of humor with a element of mystery and pathos about him. His overly suspicious, oftentimes paranoid tendencies, even as the head of security for Brandt and Here Be Dragons, brought about some comic scenes as well as sad ones over the previous novels.
But here we get to travel next to him, see into his traumatic past, and realize what a tremendous character of depth has been lurking around the periphery all this time. From the heart tugging revelation of what constitutes Steffen’s hoard to a hidden love that’s enduring all his fears and pain to continue to nurture and support him, Steffen’s romance extends beyond the couple backwards to their history, encapsulates their current relationships, and then tries to envision a new future for all.
That’s quite a story.
It picks up shortly after The Dragon Experiment where the life force has shown them that humans must re-learn how to use their magical abilities, otherwise all the other beings, except dragons, will eventually perish. That humans should regain magic has Steffen terrified.
Weaving that overall species goal, as seen through Steffen’s perspective, as well as through others trying to figure out best to slowly and safely implement this is wonderful. We get to have many of our favorite characters from all the stories involved (Alistair, Gideon,Sam…) as well as those so important to Steffen and his growth here.
That’s Wil. A gentle, warm-hearted dragon who’s essential to Steffen in every way. While Steffen is the center here, Wil is Steffen’s heart. Their story is painful, sexy, quietly strong, and loving. Perfect for a finale.
A suspenseful hunt, a surprise character, and a joyous element previously revealed in an earlier story help round out the narrative themes and bring the series to a satisfying close.
I will be very sad to see these characters go. I have come to love them so.
If you haven’t found this series or author, there’s a reading list of connected universe story/series.
Read all the stories in this universe so you’re familiar with the events that have occurred and the characters and relationships that are referred to.
I’m highly recommending them all, including this one.
It’s no secret that I’m hard to handle. People get annoyed by me. Sometimes they’re amused, but not for long. It’s not easy to deal with a paranoid conspiracy theorist, and I stretch everyone’s patience.
Everyone except Wil. He was there at the beginning, when I left my old life behind, and he’s stuck with me since. He’s been my friend when no one else wanted to. Patiently taught me how to fit in. He’s the one person I know I can rely on.
He’s the only man I can see myself ever being with. The only man I would want to spend eternity with.
But when my past rears its ugly head and the stuff of my nightmares rises from the dead, the hope of a happy future rapidly fades. I need him more than ever, but I can’t risk him. I can’t let anyone use him against me.
Torture doesn’t have to be physical to hurt. And I’m not going to let myself be hurt again.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Checking It Twice is a heartwarming holiday story about two long time friends getting their second chance at love in their fifties.
One of the wonderful Snowed Inn collection featuring multiple authors, much like the rest, it includes The Retreat Inn, a Colorado mountain resort also nicknamed The Rainbow Inn, a avalanche that cuts off the Inn and it’s inhabitants for a prolonged stay, and all the couples and events from all the stories.
Sutter Thompson, his longtime friend and coworker at Red Pine U, Watley, are driving a group of young boys for a regional hockey medal presentation being held at the Inn. Among the boys up for hockey honors is their sons. Sutter’s boy Zachary with his ex wife , and Watley ‘s son, Adam with his ex husband. The boys are best friends as well.
Locey’s men have a complicated past history. A deeply closeted Sutter decided to come out after his child was born. But he’s never revealed his last hidden truth. He’s always loved Watley.
Checking It Twice gives the reader a delightful depiction of a number of types of heartfelt relationships. Those of realistic loving father/son dynamics, especially as seen between both sets of parents and sons. You get the funny, too real, close knit relationship that happens with team members and their coaches (hurting stomachs, road trips, bunk bed assignments). Then there’s the one the men themselves have waited close to thirty years for. Their own romance.
It’s a halting , stumbling path full of slow revelations, first kisses, and , passion at last fulfilled. The men with their aches, trick knees, aged playlist, and glimpses of grey , are charming and engaging. It was a real joy to read their romance.
This collection is turning out to be a great way to dive into my holiday books, and I’m definitely recommending Checking It Twice as a heartwarming HEA!
Snowed Inn story Collection:
All the books can be read as standalones and in any order and all are available to buy or pre-order
The Trials is the fourth and looks to be the final story in Cari Z’s Spell Saga series. The author’s note sort of leaves it open as to whether we will return to this universe and couple or not.
So I’m treating it as a finale. And that comes with additional expectations. The Tank, the previous book, showed us different characters, a unique location, and deepened the histories and dynamics between the people involved. But in some respects it restricted it’s narrative down to further explore on a different, more detailed front what was happening with the war, magic, and our characters.
Here we get to see the consequences of those actions and decisions in The Trials. The Trials refers to the magical spell weapon Anton Seiber promised to deliver, under threat, to the Emperor of France. A spell not even his lover, Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière, wanted to see in their hands.
The Institute, that locked down tight magical fortress, is the main location once more, albeit more research prison than educational institution.
Where this story absolutely excels is in the tormented status of Anton Seiber, the horrifying reasons behind it, and the new dynamics it forces into the relationship between Anton and Camille.
The author’s creativity when crafting both the new spell and it’s effects upon others, Anton included, are so terrifying because it’s the readers imaginations that fill in all the horrors and unimaginable emotions that the spell initiates. Then we see what is doing to Anton, someone we’ve come to connect with, and the spell becomes vile beyond belief.
When Anton and Camille, and the spell are at center, the story is incredible.
However, for one that’s a finale, other aspects seem lackluster, rushed, or just one dimensional.
The entire element with the old and new emperor is lacking any grounding here. The actions of various characters (important ones) seem oddly flexible considering it’s war, the fact that the Lord in question is acting beyond rational thought into obsession about the magical weaponry and it’s devastating effects. Dr. Grabler, in particular, goes from one stance in The Tank, to another where his prize former student/friend is almost expendable without any foundation laid out for any of the elements here. These haphazard storylines (magical corruption, major characters who sort of disappear at the end, rushed exposition in the epilogue) all works against the finely crafted parts of the series and main storyline. That of Anton and Camille’s romance and history.
It all feels just so unfinished. Not at all what a finale book should be.
It was exciting, truly excellent in sections, and absolutely entertaining.
For that I’m definitely recommending The Spell Saga series and this novel.
All Anton Seiber, newly-minted Master Thaumaturge, wants is to use his training to support himself out in the world. Well, that and to see the man he loves, Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière, more than once every six months.
What he gets instead is an invitation to visit L’Institut D’Ingénierie Technologique in Paris, the foremost research institution for thaumaturgy and the arts of war in the world. It’s an offer he can’t turn down…quite literally.
Getting to the Institute is a mess that Anton barely survives, and that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Drawn into a web of lies and betrayals, Anton will have to use every trick he can conjure to survive—and perhaps hand over the most diabolical spell in the world in exchange for saving the life of someone he loves.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
I was expecting much more from this story because it was the long anticipated romance of Cohen “Ace” Gray , leader of Pegasus, and Jacob Burns , the Pegasus Tech specialist and son of the men who formed Phoenix.
There was a lot to unpack emotionally between them. A big age difference, Jacob’s dad’s feelings about his future, stubbornness, arguments. Plus there’s history, some hidden and others riddled with fear and injuries layered on top of each other to form barriers against any romantic relationship.
All those elements make for a terrific romance. But here it’s delegated to almost secondary status next to a poorly crafted suspense/action storyline with Seven . That escalates and spins off into other minor threads with more characters (CIA, Pegasus, anonymous teams, agencies) with tons of shooting, a few explosions, bad guys, new characters, more characters. Then a moment or two when the shaky path to a romance gets picked up and immediately dropped for more espionage, more murky type shootouts and well , you get my drift.
If Rebel was one of those big all star action movies, you could go get a beverage of choice, some popcorn, come back to find , while the movie has progressed, the narrative is basically the same.
It’s too many characters (Including teams/couples from the Phoenix series) that make one dimensional appearances. Too many plots that have no depth or explanation that makes them especially believable. We get no foundation here for anything that would make us commit emotionally to the “high stakes” action that’s constantly happening.
Even Jacob who has a good argument stating his fathers and Ace treat him like a youngster because of his age, then proceeds to undermine his own stand by putting those around him in danger by using poor judgment in order to prove himself because. Young. SMH.
Knightley wants us to support him. Really? Those last actions are of a boy scout with street cred who’s not thinking clearly but rage and action.
In the end, it was popcorn entertainment. Taken at surface value, easy to enjoy, easy to move past.
I hope Hunter and Seven’s story has greater attention to detail and their relationship then this did. They figured in here as much as Ace and Jacob.
One man on a journey of redemption and the other out to prove himself.
Cohen “Ace” Gray – Pegasus Commander. He’d buried one lover; he wasn’t going to take the chance of that ever happening again. Ace had his own demons to work on, but working closely with Jacob and having his friendship— despite their twenty-year age difference—had made life a bit easier. The void that Jacob left ate at him and burned into his brain, making him think that he might have made the biggest mistake of his life turning Jacob away.
Jacob Burns – Techie specialist, skilled in combat, expert at weapons. He never dreamed it would be this hard to cut the apron strings from his three dads. He got it. They lived a brutal life and dealt with the scum that hovered in the darkest part of society. What they didn’t fully understand was that he’d watched and learned from them, and he would leave his mark on this world. Ace and his dads thought he didn’t have what it took to be an operative.
They were so damned wrong.
One job. One chance encounter. When an unexpected meeting happens, both men are left stunned.
Then, shit gets all twisted up.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
R.J.Scott’s Stop The Wedding includes many elements that makes this romance novella in the Snowed Inn collection a real success. It’s a holiday love story to embrace.
The main characters, artist Declan and cop Patrick, have a long history together. A deep friendship that grew into love just as both boys were figuring out sexuality, along with difficulties with their families. A devastating kiss, a breakup, and breakdown in communication follows.
All that painful, emotionally charged threads of their previously entwined lives that Scott writes into Stop The Wedding allows for the reader to connect and believe in this couple.
It helps that the author realistically doesn’t go for an automatic instant reconnect treatment. Instead, Declan and Patrick have to sit down, move through the built up resentment, misunderstandings, and fears that have come between them first.
That’s not only refreshing and very adult of both as communicating is key.
There’s smaller factors here that I appreciate. Lovely narrative touches.
Still the main couple is the reason to read Stop The Wedding. It’s the holidays, at least in this story. Magic is in the air and the heartwarming romance and HEA makes this a story to recommend!
One drunken phone call with a desperate plea for help and an admission of love, and Patrick races to stop his best friend from marrying the wrong man.
Patrick never stopped loving Declan, even if he did shove him away at graduation when they kissed. His alpha-type brothers and father, with all their firefighter history, would never accept him being bi, or understand his need to step outside of the family firm and be a cop. So, he hides how he feels, and ends up losing the only man he’s ever really loved. The only reconciliation they tried was on the night he found out Declan was engaged, and he never imagined he’d have a chance to make things right. That is, until he receives a desperate phone call from Declan asking to be rescued.
Through travel chaos and storms, Patrick finally reaches the venue in the Colorado mountains, but with an empty wedding room and no sign of Declan or the fiancé, he knows he’s too late.
All too familiar with rejection, jilted by his fiancé on his wedding day, and lost, Declan has no idea what comes next. He never imagined he’d be entirely alone after his former fiancé and the wedding party leave, or that an avalanche would trap him in the hotel over Christmas. And worse? Patrick is in the hotel with him and won’t leave him alone. Sharing a room with his former best friend is the last thing Declan wants, but maybe nature has given him a sign that he needs to confront the past and find a way to move on with his life. If only it was easy to fall out of love with the man who holds your heart.
All the books In the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read In any order.
Snowed Inn story Collection:
All the books can be read as standalones and in any order and all are available to buy or pre-order
The holiday stories have started to be released and H.L. Day’s Five Night Stand marks the beginning of my seasonal reading.
It’s a short sweet romance with all the elements and characters that make a heartwarming holiday story and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Nathan Nichols, action/suspense author, is on a break. Nathan is trying to salvage his latest book that’s been rejected by his publisher. And the rewrite, up in a snowy mountain inn, is going nowhere.
A one night stand with CJ, a wildlife photographer, that turns into more courtesy of a avalanche , sparks more than inspiration.
H.L. Day builds a really lovely holiday story around this theme. Nathan’s predicament and his frazzled, upset attitude with himself and the situation is perfect for this moment. CJ, there to capture snow filled wildlife photos, especially rings true. The location, the elements, and the men lead to a romantic, heartwarming journey as they make love and share histories.
Five Night Stand has so much promise for a larger novel about the men, their characters, romance , and relationship. It’s the one reason I find shorter stories so frustrating.
If you love holiday romances and a terrific couple, this is a great way to start your seasonal reading. I’m recommending it.
Description:
The advantage of a one-night stand is being able to walk away. Except, Nathan can’t.
Workaholic Nathan Nicholls hasn’t had the easiest time of late. Still reeling from his publisher’s rejection of his latest book, he seeks refuge in a remote hotel. When he’s propositioned by the sinfully sexy CJ, a man who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to go for it, why shouldn’t Nathan throw caution to the winds for once and have a bit of fun? After all, he’s leaving the next day.
When an avalanche puts paid to Nathan’s quick exit, he finds himself stuck there for Christmas. Stuck with CJ. What should be awkward, quickly becomes something else. The snow might be cold, but the time they spend together is far from it, and Nathan finds his heart warming. If only their passion and laughter didn’t have a shelf life, doomed to come to an end once the road is cleared.
Nathan Nicholls doesn’t do one-night-stands. But maybe, just maybe, if he makes a Christmas wish, this could be something more.
A sweet and steamy 43k forced proximity story which features a man who never was any good at one-night stands, a cheerful wildlife photographer who might not be as confident as he makes out, rustic log cabins, snow, Christmas cheer, and two men gaining a whole new perspective on life.
All the books in the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read in any order.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Sass is definitely my favorite of the three Style novels. The writing is tight, the scenes runs the gamut from wryly funny to serious discussions to emotional pathos, all done so beautifully. The superbly crafted characters are ones we’ve gotten to know superficially in the previous books but now get their own stories and romance in a way that makes sense and gives them personal growth. All the other cast are equally strong as well.
When it comes to Kip/Chris , the store manager at Flare, Hogan’s skill at artfully threading multiple important character issues through his storyline without ever letting the exposition overwhelm or drop one of them is outstanding. Kip has always had a quick snarky attitude and a witty quip to go with it. A verbal shield to amuse or bruise or sass to go along with his fabulous sense of style and rotating bedroom door.
The reason why Kip is never Christopher is slowly revealed here through mending a broken relationship with tattoo artist Leon Steadman. Leon too has deep issues he’s not been able to deal with. Ones that led to his argument with Kip and 2 yr long feud. There’s aspects to Leon’s life and history that beg for more page time. He’s that big a infusion of life and energy into the story and Kip’s pattern. I love him and them together. Especially as they worked through their emotional blockages and mental barriers together, inching forward towards a future.
Drew, a young trans character who’s been an integral part of the universe since Flare also has an emotional storyline. Drew has matured from a frightened, bullied teen with a transphobic family into a stylish happy nineteen year old getting ready for his top surgery, knowing he’s loved and supported by his found family at Flare. He’s a remarkable person and character. I heart him so much.
We also see our other couples too . And get a lovely epilogue.
There’s a mention of past sexual assault. But it’s not on page. A warning for those for whom this might be a trigger.
Sass is a story for me with a wider reach. It’s range of serious issues and subject matter goes from dealing with grief and loss, anger and guilt over those same feelings of grief, sexual assault and how the emotional ramifications can effectively impact you in ways if May take decades to understand. Found family, the importance of the right clothes in helping people transition. All that for starters.
I know I missed some.
And it’s beautifully woven together.
Sass is the third book and I do believe you should read them in the order they are written to understand the characters, their growth, and all the relationships.
For two years I’ve kept Leon Steadman at a safe distance, ever since the night he turned me down flatter than a pancake with a side order of syrupy disapproval. His loss. The world is full of sexy men. One and done is simply good math and efficient use of my time. Or it would be if I hadn’t been lusting after the irritating, judgemental, gorgeous, mountain of a man, ever since.
The less I see of Leon, the better. Bad enough that his tattoo business sits next to Flare, the fashion store I manage, and that he’s friendly with my boss. But now he’s apartment-sitting above the shop, as well. Every time I turn around, Leon is there. In my store. In my space. Messing with my head. Being all nice and charming and acting like maybe he’s not the biggest jerk to walk the earth, after all.
Well, I don’t want or need Leon’s apologies, but maybe if I can have him, just once, it might put an end to this ridiculous hunger that sparks every time I lay eyes on him.
Yeah, I’ll get back to you on that.
Note: This book contains limited discussion of off-page past trauma.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Another wonderful contemporary romance from Lily Morton, Spring Strings is situated in the same model universe that has such wonderful characters as the incredibly beautiful always stoned Dean, Jude, and the effervescent Pip.
It’s a novella so unlike some of Morton’s longer fabulously memorable stories, Spring Strings misses in some of the depth of character history and layering she’s able to bring to her novels.
But Malachi Booth is such a striking character, in strong wry personality as well in beauty, that it goes a long way in helping her readers through the narrative shortcomings. Cadan Landry, his farm in Cornwall, do the rest of the heavy lifting for the romance and storytelling.
The charm of the farm and it’s setting, gruff Caden, his precarious financial situation, everything makes him and his predicament relatable.
Throw in Mal and the romance becomes a lively, sexy dance to love and HEA.
I found it entertaining and lovely.
I’m definitely recommending it for lovers of contemporary romance and Lily Morton.
Description:
Malachi Booth is a supermodel. He’s used to moving about the world, sleeping with whoever takes his fancy and watching the money roll in. The last place he expects to find himself is on a run-down farm in Cornwall, but a bad bout of bronchitis means that he’s stuck there. The only compensation for this dismal state of affairs is that the farmer is very good looking, even if he’s the grumpiest person that Malachi has ever met.
Cadan Landry’s farm has been in his family for hundreds of years but that doesn’t make it any easier to make ends meet. As a consequence, Cadan could be called grumpy. Most men would consider a supermodel collapsing at their feet while dressed in the skimpiest pair of briefs ever made to be a sign of good fortune. Cadan just resents the fact that the young man is taking up space in his cow field.
These two men are from different worlds, but can they ever meet in the middle?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a novella about snarky models, misconceptions, and finding a home in the most unlikely of places.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 