Category: M/M Fiction

Review: Prince of L. A. (FBI Files Book 1) by Patricia Logan

Rating: 3.25🌈

I’m a fan of law enforcement romances and police procedural fiction so Patricia Logan’s FBI Files series seemed just the thing for me.

On the surface, the pairing and theme is intriguing and the author’s background for Special Agent Leo Reeves is one that has the potential to make the series and character.

Prince of L.A. was an interesting read.

The romance was very much an instant attraction, instant love relationship. One that occurs between two men, both FBI agents, in an established team, newly professionally paired up and then almost immediately romantically so.

Agent Leo Reeves, newly arrived from VA , looking for a new start, and is an outstanding profiler. He’s out, handsome , and young. He’s sent asap to a sickening crime scene where he meets his new team, including experienced field agent Max Prince. A man who he connects with on every level.

Logan has created a horrifying, and powerful backstory for Leo’s character. But oddly, it’s, imo, not used as realistically one might think for a law enforcement agent or agency. Perhaps the details and exploration is coming in another book. That backstory includes the fact that Leo’s father was a notorious serial killer.

Leo’s new team is unaware of his background as the son of a notoriously evil serial killer but other sketchy agents there know , publicly taunting Leo in Max’s (and others) presence. Does this make sense? Would a team leader not have had a meeting with Leo to discuss the matter prior to his arrival ? Its procedures such as this that kept me from being totally committed to the story and, relationship.

The investigation into the deaths and criminal “ring” did have some realistic aspects to it, there’s another side that feels just as manufactured, less law, more plot driven, then necessary. There’s several more things that I took note of about the FBI office, team, and investigators that contributed to removing me from the story. I had to check to see when the book was published (2022) so that shouldn’t have made any difference. But there’s overt homophobia/racism displayed towards a fellow agent, loud commentary, etc in a FBI office, agency building, workplace etc, that something that would see them removed/reported to HR. Especially in California. But here, for plot purposes, it’s not only tolerated but shrugged off in a pair of unlikable agents. That is the same knowledgeable pair taunting Leo about his parentage.

Fast, sort of jerky interactions, not a smooth flow, but a definite sense of instant lust/instant love that a reader either gets into or doesn’t. I prefer to see a slower realistic development, where the characters proceed to actually get better acquainted, especially when there’s a complicated investigation in progress. That’s not this one.

Logan has either let the story go the way of “as told to”, an on page investigation with vaguely realistic or unrecognizable protocols, or forgone them altogether.

While I liked some of the things about the Prince of L.A. such as side characters (drag queens, pet bull dog, strong woman agent), there’s an even larger amount of under realized elements (the team, their chemistry and dialogue, the main characters instant live in relationship including jealousy , and quickly resolved investigation that left me feeling unconnected and underwhelmed.

I’m not sure I’ll continue with this series. There’s so many other law enforcement stories to read that it might be a while if I decide to circle back.

FBI Files:

✓ Prince of L.A. #1

◦ Leo On Fire #2

◦ A Thousand Vermilion Stars #3

◦ Life On Mars #4

◦ A Clown Car Full of Sovereigns #5

◦ Stag Queen #6

Buy Link

Prince of L.A. (FBI Files Book 1)

Blurb:

Special Agent Leo Reeves is new to the FBI’s L.A. field office. His career has been on track since the day he joined the bureau. He loves his job as a profiler and being assigned to a new team in one of the busiest offices in the nation will be the opportunity of a lifetime…if he can put the past behind him. The face Leo shows the world is strong, focused, dependable, and capable. The long list of citations in his file only serve to prove how good he is.

If he could only forget he was sired by a monster.

Former Marine Staff Sergeant, Max Prince, leads by example. Whether it means protecting men in battle, working for the US Marshal service, or being the best damn field agent the FBI has ever seen, he brings a special kind of bravery to the job. His teammates depend on his ready smiles, his funny jokes, and know him as the excellent agent he’s proven to be. They never see the man who buried his heart eight years ago.

The last thing he wants is to fall for the new guy.

When a serial killer suddenly starts targeting innocents, both men have trouble pinning down who they’re dealing with. With victimology all over the place, Leo can’t make sense of a profile, and Max simply wants to put the bastard away before he murders anyone else. The case is maddening but worse, the attraction the two men find every time they look at each other, is beginning to get in the way.

• Westburg Publishing Corp. (August 24, 2022)

• Publication date: August 24, 2022

• Print length: 357 pages

Review: A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Demons: A Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Novella by Shannon Mae

Rating: 4.5🌈

Time for the road to romance for Beel the demon pet frog to begin! And what a hilarious journey it is. Beel or Beelbufo, a lower demon, was first mentioned back in book 1. Beel had been summoned by Gabe’s Grams as a pet and companion for the little boy (long, involved, and heartwarming plot thread). Beel ends up happily spending his time (decades as Gabe grew up ) in a lovingly decorated aquarium with a heat rock) watching horror films and eating popcorn, listening to Gabe and becoming family.

Now with Az and Gabe happily paired up as soulmates, Az has plans to find Beel a love life. After all, that’s what a lust demon who’s also an Infernal King of Hell supposed to do! Meddle with the lives of those who have become family.

Mae brings Beel, previously only seen as a furiously croaking frog, into gloriously chaotic life as a confused, frantic demon. Newly back to a human form in decades, bad at deception and absolutely falling for his pet sitter, Jonathan. Who thinks he’s a frog.

While the story ends a bit abruptly, everything that goes before it is a narrative wonder. Hilarious, with moments of genuine sweetness and heart, there’s scenes of high humor and ones of poignancy. A demon frog and pet store owner find their HEA while watching horror films and eating popcorn. How perfect.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Demons: A Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Novella by Shannon Mae is an excellent read and reason why I have come to love this series and author so.

The writing is marvelous, the characters well crafted, and the plotting layered with vivid details and emotional scenes.

Read this series in the order it’s written because it’s got a very complex plot that is developed book by book. Amazing! And one I’m highly recommending.

Great cover again, probably my favorite so far!

Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures: (Paranormal Romance) :

✓ A Beginner’s Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters

✓ A Beginner’s Guide to Mistakenly Summoned Demons and Other Misadventures

✓ A Beginner’s Guide to Revenge, Chaos, and Other Absurd Escapades

✓ A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Demons (A Novella)

◦ A Beginner’s Guide to Ghosts, Fallen Angels, and Other Afterlifers (Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Book 6)-June 19, 2024

Buy Link:

A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Demons: A Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Novella

Blurb:

Beelbufo has lived a comfortable life as a pet frog for two decades, enjoying pets, human food, and horror movie nights with his favorite human, Gabe. But when Gabe and Az fall head over heels in love, they decide Beel needs a companion too. Little does Beel know that the charming pet shop owner, Jon, is about to become his unsuspecting caretaker. There’s only one small catch – Jon thinks Beel is just an ordinary pet frog.

When Jon’s safety is threatened, Beel can’t help making an appearance in his human form. Now Jon’s eyeing him with suspicion (turns out his cover story wasn’t that great), Gabe and Az are up to their matchmaking antics, and Beel really just wants another kiss with the adorable pet shop owner. (Oh, did we forget to mention they shared a kiss? Spoiler alert: it was magical.)

If Beel’s meddling family can stop interfering, Jon can stop being so suspicious, and Beel can stop being so scared of outing his true identity, these two might just get their own happily ever after. (Hopefully with more kisses, because Beel really does like the kissing.)

Tags: Beel despises romantic comedies, but maybe he’s about to star in one; Jon’s got a troublesome ex and could use a knight in shining armor – Beel’s more than happy to oblige; Az keeps weaving fairy tale and frog references into their lives, much to everyone’s chagrin; Beel’s cover stories are laughably bad; coming out as your true self is tougher than Beel imagined, but sometimes it’s worth it.

• Publisher: (January 11, 2024)

• Publication date: January 11, 2024

• Print length: 140 pages

Review: Teeth and Tarot: A MM Paranormal Romcom (le Fay Romances Book 1) by A.A. Fairview

Rating: 3🌈

It was the amazing cover that drew me to Teeth and Tarot: A MM Paranormal Romcom (le Fay Romances Book 1) by A.A. Fairview. I’m also a huge fan of paranormal/fantasy fiction and ready to read something by an author new to me, like A. A. Fairview.

This is their first series and it has some nice elements to it. The premise of a male witch, a twin, from a wealthy criminal family who’s now estranged from their father. Lance le Fay is clashing with a human being, Reagan, over his family’s deadly illegal activities.

That’s only some of the storylines that author A.A. Fairview has at the center of this novel but those are interesting ones, and the initial chapters are good ones.

However, Fairview’s characters and plots also work against themselves in letting whatever potential they showed early on slowly be pulled away. As the plot develops, the narrative makes less and less sense and the main characters themselves seem powerless (literally ) and of the STTL variety.

A witch, Lance le Fay, who’s backstory is never really filled in, with minimal exceptions of an appearance by his “evil twin” and with no real magical abilities (or explanation of the magic in this world). However , as Fairview will tell us, he’s done “bad things” for his family. Why and how he was made to do them is never clear.

Lance hides in plain sight, keeps his real name, stays in the same town as his notorious family, is estranged from them, but expects them to show up any moment to drag him back into their nefarious schemes. He could actually leave town but that would spoil the story. And maybe make sense.

Next he meets and is suspicious about a gorgeous stranger he hooks up with in a bar. Naturally he has sex with him after taking him home (which he never does). Yes, this is an incredibly stupid idea.

But that’s Lance le Fay. The entire story all he does is react without thinking. He runs off, puts others in danger. Runs here, runs there. Never has a plan about anything. Leaves bar alone at night to walk home after his friends tell him it’s the idiotic thing to do because there’s been a bunch of people showing an interest in him. Every scene is Lance demonstrating he’s basically a STTL character. That’s To Stupid To Live character if you didn’t know.

And for a witch, you can’t imagine why, because there’s no foundation for this aspect of his character. There’s one scene with him using magic that isn’t even remotely close to being impressive. A fizzle instead of an explosion. And that’s it. That and he reads tarot cards.

The other main character, Reagan (named after Ronald), is a hot mess, albeit a bit more interesting. But a hash is eventually made of him as well.

Here be more spoilers.

Reagan, the gorgeous hookup turns out to be a FBI agent, one specifically hired as a “honey pot” someone who lures in suspects with sex. Cause z, which absolutely makes no sense in law enforcement terms. But that aspect of his character and this story is weak and illogical in every way possible as written to start. He’s straight , but then has no issues with gay sex. He’s been selfish and self absorbed in his previous married relationship but shows no signs of changing until forced into a new relationship by means of becoming a werewolf.

Furthermore, towards the end, naturally his FBI phone rings, his bosses/colleagues calling to check on their errant agent. Reagan’s response isn’t to answer the call but hand it over to another werewolf/friend of Lance’s. That being, then at Reagan’s request destroys the unanswered phone, with Reagan saying he will be fired anyway.

Right. Because the unanswered call from an FBI agent will make that agency automatically assume that agent has quit and will be living another life , with a suspect in that suspect’s apartment where they had him under surveillance. No paperwork, turning in equipment, badges, etc. No following protocol. Sigh.

And yes, Lance takes the newly turned Reagan right back to the exact same apartment that’s seen Lance abducted from (various bad guys) , under surveillance ( his criminal family and the FBI), but no problem, why move?

From a potentially good start to a story that went downhill with ever increasingly outrageous plot lines and silly elements to a HFN that just made one shake their head.

The second book in this strange series is a different couple, female/male relationship, but no matter, I’m stopping here.

Too bad. A lovely cover and potentially nice elements that just never got the treatment they deserve.

Trigger warnings, here referred to as Content Warnings, are listed at the beginning by the author.

Cover Art:Sophie Zuckerman

Cover design: A.A. Fairview

le Fay Romance:

✓ Teeth and Tarot #1 (m/m )

◦ Crystal and Contracts #2 (m/f-different couple)

Buy Link:

Teeth and Tarot: A le Fay Romance (le Fay Romances)

Blurb:

t’s not my fault, I remind myself. Daily affirmation.

Unfortunately.

Lance fled the comforts of his wealthy witch family a decade ago and has settled into a human existence. But the nightmares remain and drowning out the memories with clubs, hookups, and early morning coffee runs only helps so much. When he spots a hot stud as his favorite coffee spot, things seem too good to be true. His gut tells him it’s too good to be true and to not trust the man who calls himself Adam.

But a one-night stand can’t hurt. Right?

Like a curse he can’t escape, Lance is pulled back into the world of witches, werewolves, and gangs. For every person he has in his corner there is another working against him. Never mind his stud hookup– who went and got himself bit by a werewolf. Forgetting things has never been easy and Lance isn’t ready to just forget this man… even if keeping him close puts them both in danger.

Teeth and Tarot is the first book in the le Fay Romance series following a family of witches, though the books can be read as stand alone. Teeth and Tarot features a witch and werewolf relationship between two men.

Review: Twelve Days of Squidmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance by K.L. Hiers

Rating: 4🌈

There’s so many great things to like about K.L. Hiers’ Twelve Days of Squidmas, one of the Winter Tentacle Holiday collection. It’s got a truly poignant storyline about loss and the damage that years of family abuse does to a person. It talks about someone who’s watched and been a caregiver for someone dying of cancer. Then the reader is there, as the funeral is over, the grandmother’s death so deeply devastating that her grandson is having trouble moving forward, and his family is descending like vultures.

Bright and happy a start this is not.

But Hiers brings into this realistically portrayed scenario of a grief stricken young man alone with his loss and house, a new wild card that upsets everything Jack Marsh thought he knew about his grandmother. Jack summons Xorvash, an interdimensional tentacle creature who was his grandmother’s best friend.

Hiers has such fun and does a fantastic job capturing both the essence and power of the demon Xorvash, especially his impact on “Cuddles “. While there’s an amazing effervescent energy and joy that comes from this character and his scenes, Hiers still manages to bring in the smallest detail of Jack’s painful background and the emotional damage he’s suffered in ways that are fleeting but powerful. Then it’s onto a scene that’s familiarly funny and satisfying for the season.

I enjoyed the many side characters and storylines, especially the next door neighbors. I wish that aspect could have been more developed as a few details were left unexplored.

Same went for the ending. It wasn’t exactly satisfying. Jack and Horvash go to all that trouble to boot the family out of the house and then what? They leave and what happens to the house? That was an important narrative loose end that was left flapping around. And it should have been a simple one to explain or tie up.

Things like this make me wonder why, when the rest of the piece is so well written and emotionally balanced.

I’m recommending Twelve Days of Squidmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance by K.L. Hiers because even with these quibbles it’s a pleasure to read.

Tinsel and Tentacles (11 books)

◦ Jingle Bells and Elder Gods by Kiernan Kelly

✓ All I Want for Christmas is Tentacles by Chloe Archer ❤️🫶

◦ Tentacles and Other Stocking Stuffers by Delaney Rain

◦ Tentacles Rock by K.C. Carmine

✓ A Sucker for Christmas by J.P. Sayle

✓ Kraken Klaus by Charlotte Brice

✓ Twelve Days of Squidmas by H.L. Hiers ❤️

✓ It’s a Tenta-ful Life by Amanda Muewissen

✓ Rebel without a Claus by L Eveland

✓ Cthulhu for Christmas by Meghan Maslow ❤️🫶

◦ Tentacle Wonderland by Reese Morrison

Buy Link:

Twelve Days of Squidmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance

Blurb:

Jack Marsh has twelve days to pull off the perfect Christmas.

Even though his beloved grandmother has just passed, his rotten family is expecting him to host in her place. He already hated this time of year, and now he has to decorate, bake cookies, wrap presents, and create a delicious holiday feast.

Enter Xorvash, an interdimensional tentacle creature from another plane of existence. Thanks to a minor kitchen mishap, Xorvash comes crashing into Jack’s life and promises to do the impossible. Jack suspects Xorvash’s interest in him goes far beyond merely wanting to help him deck the halls, and he’s having trouble resisting Xorvash’s unique charms. With some luck and a sprinkle of holiday magic, Jack might get some sweet tentacle romance for Christmas—plus a little miracle or two.

Twelve Days of Squidmas is part of the Tinsel and Tentacles multi-author collaboration and a complete standalone. Expect to find a grumpy human and a sunshine tentacle creature, lots of silly snark, smexy tentacle times, and a magical happily ever after. Want more tantalizingly tentacular winter holiday romances? Grab the whole series!

• Publisher: (December 15, 2023)

• Publication date: December 15, 2023

• Print length: 167 pages

Review: It Doesn’t Translate by Ofelia Gränd

Rating: 4.5🌈

Another short fantastical story by the strange, imaginative mind of author Ofelia Grand. It Doesn’t Translate originated as a casual bunch of texts amongst a group of friends/authors who wondered about a wandering (very dead) body that would pop up in various places, no matter the context, universe, or even trope.

Before long a series, the Tattooed Corpse stories, was born.

“Different time, different place, same body” How irresistible.

It Doesn’t Translate by Ofelia Gränd is a LGBTQIA SYFY short story that I desperately want to see a sequel to.

I adored the characters, this weirdly wonderful, and fascinating universe, and the relationships that are forged within a human owned Hamburger joint on a small space station near a ravaged Earth.

There’s human Max Welch, proud owner of on The Lunar Terminal, a small fake city, that was home to the barest of essentials. A barber, a grocery store, a fuel station, bathhouse, healthcare center, and Max’s Hamburger Bar, a small restaurant that served the local and ships that docked.

Quam, a reptoid, is Max’s best friend, bodyguard, side orders cook if needed, and casual guide to the alien world all around him as Max is pretty the only human being outside of Earth, one of the few left.

This story is supposed to be a one of simple short, a kind of quickie tale but it’s not. Grand is far too deeply bent an author, narratively speaking, (and I mean that in the best way possible) for this not to have multiple storylines and just so many different well defined characters that reach out to grab the reader’s attention and imagination.

There is a pirate infestation and alien being trafficking aspect here, one that threatens Max. A fabulous mate match element, not one but potentially several. A dead body (yes that one), and so many more appealing and downright interesting storyline threads that the author has built into this short tale that the mind wants to follow its journey through to the end is woven with endless possibilities.

We want to know what happened to Earth and the rest of the population. Where are those fabulous dairy products coming from? What did happen to that one pirate? Did they help Quam date? I have a page of things I need to know!

I want to send bribes, so many bribes to Grand, to get her to continue this story and characters forward with more adventures.

Is the story perfect? Not exactly.

There’s a tiny quibble. It’s over a typical mindset.

“And I’m not allowed to carry you?” Noir held his arms open.”

Definitely not, I’m not a girl.”

“Girls get carried?” “

“Well, no, but guys definitely don’t.”

It wasn’t that hard to understand, was it?

Noir shrugged.

— It Doesn’t Translate by Ofelia Gränd

I hope to see this gendered type of behavior less and less in the coming years. There’s a sort of a start. But, tbh, does it really matter what the gender in how someone is carrying another? Especially if one is an alien and the other is perceived to be injured? I say let’s leave gender and sex out of this, and let the scene and storyline prompt the action.

It Doesn’t Translate is a fantastic short story, ending far too quickly for me and the characters. Grand is such an inventive writer and the world building is so satisfying that it cries out for more than a single tale.

I’m definitely recommending this book and author. Check them both out.

Tattooed Corpse Stories:

◦ The Worth His Salt (ghost story and lighthouse)

✓ It Doesn’t Translate (syfi universe)

Buy Link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Doesnt-…Kindle – It Doesn’t Translate eBook : Gränd, Ofelia

Blurb:

Noir Kioko had only ever seen one human before his undercover work brought him to the diner at the Luna Terminal, and that was at a distance. Humans are rare, most of them disappear without a trace, and he hopes hanging around the restaurant will give him a lead on the smuggling ring he’s investigating. There was no way he could’ve known the human would turn out to be his mate, and no way he can let it show without putting his mate in danger and possibly jeopardising his mission.

Max Welch is the proud owner of the only restaurant within a light year’s distance. He left Earth four years ago to create a better life for himself, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of scary alien pirates making his restaurant their favourite hangout spot. As a measly human there isn’t much he can do about it, but as one of the pirates starts coming by almost every day he has to come up with something before he loses all his customers. That the giant cat man is rather nice to look at changes nothing.

When rumours of another human arriving at the space station start to circulate, Noir’s species trafficking infiltrate and observe only mission may need a revamp. But will Noir be able to protect his mate and another one of his rare species?

• Publisher: JMS Books LLC (March 17, 2021)

• Publication date: March 17, 2021

• Print length: 100 pages

Review: Family and Reflection (The Sleepless City #3 ) by Anne Barwell

Rating: 4.5🌈

I’m jumping around this remarkable paranormal series by authors Anne Barwell and Elizabeth Noble as I recently discovered it by reading the second book in the series. That story, the fascinating universe that these authors were creating was something that immediately drew me into the narrative. From its location of Boggslake, a small historical Ohio town situated alongside Lake Erie with all its atmospheric layers , to that odd expanding group of found family of supernatural beings plus a human as well as a dog, I was all in.

Then Barwell and Noble introduced a twist or two on the fated mate/soul bound trope, and I was more than committed, I was delighted with the idea that, fated mates didn’t equal instant love but instead perhaps a more thoughtful approach for both men, including dismay, hilarity, dismissals, before finally finding acceptance. Yes, that works.

So here , it’s an exploration between two species that , in this series, have a serious animosity towards each other, even if the individuals themselves have a friendship that is looking to go further.

That’s the current werewolf and vampire species. There’s also the arc storyline and threatening mystery that’s involved multiple murders, several mysterious creatures, and an ongoing hunt for the mastermind behind it all.

All these complicated plot threads and the characters and elements converge together as Lucas Coate, werewolf (estranged from his pack) is asked for help from his sister to solve a horrific mystery. But the vampire Declan, recently returned from abroad, is being framed for thefts around town, and now needs help from his friends at Boggs Castle to find the real thief. All while dealing with this attraction to Lucas and the new soulbond of his friend/long time vampire lover, Jonas Forge to Blair.

This story has complicated relationships that speak to complex layered dynamics between friends and family, friends and their own lovers, friends and their long term friends. All woven into storylines that have murders, mysteries, and developing romances.

It’s not entirely satisfactory an ending because the arc storyline has one more book before it can be completed. So the elements I feel were left unfinished here were probably done so for a purpose. I won’t know exactly until that last novel is read.

I get the feeling that everything is fitting together like a puzzle piece and so now it’s off to finish the puzzle. But first back to grab up that first story before I can finish up.

I’m highly impressed with the series and authors. It’s a must read. Dare I say, don’t do as I did, and read them in order? Yes! Do that!

The Sleepless City:

◦ Shades of Sepia #1 by Elizabeth Noble

✓ Electric Candle #2 by Elizabeth Noble

✓ Family and Reflection #3 by Anne Barwell

◦ Shifting Chaos #4 by Anne Barwell

Sequel Series:

The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble:

◦ Code Name: Jack Rabbit #1

◦ Quarry #2

◦ Endosymbiont #3

Buy Link:

Family and Reflection (The Sleepless City Book 3)

Blurb:

When a rebel werewolf and a vampire thief fall in love, only one thing is certain—trouble.

For as long as Lucas Coate can remember, werewolves have been taught to mistrust vampires. Lucas is an exception—he has close friends who are vampires. The werewolf pack in Boggslake—and their leader, Jacob Coate—have made it clear that Lucas’s association with vampires is barely tolerated, and another transgression will be his last. When Lucas finds out about the plague of werewolf deaths in the area, he wants to help even though his own life may already be in danger.

Declan has been away from Boggslake for ten years, but he isn’t surprised to learn that the internal politics of the Supernatural Council haven’t changed for the better. When a series of burglaries hit close to home soon after he arrives, Declan—a vampire and professional thief—is their prime suspect, although for once, he isn’t responsible. With the council keeping secrets, no one is safe. Time is running out, and for Lucas and Declan, everything is about to change.

Authors Note: This story was originally released in 2015 by another publisher. This edition has been re-edited with additional content.

• Publisher: LaceDragon Publishing; 2nd edition (September 11, 2020)

• Publication date: September 11, 2020

• Print length: 275 pages

Review: Electric Candle (The Sleepless City #1) by Elizabeth Noble

Rating: 4.5🌈

Such a fascinating series! A four-book series, with two authors, each writing two books a piece to complete the arc and couple storylines. And it works beautifully, flowing pretty seamlessly from one author’s narrative to the next.

Barwell and Noble have created a really remarkable paranormal universe.

It’s got a found family of supernatural beings (werewolves , vampires, and a ghost), one human, one dog, all of which are living in a haunted castle near Lake Erie in a small town of Boggslake, Ohio. The group has an unusual set of backstories among them, including a current history of unrest and animosity between different paranormal species. Specifically, between werewolf and vampire species which often will impact the group dynamics.

The authors, especially Noble here, offer a very different approach on the typical soulmate/soul bonding process. I really found this to be such a surprising and fascinating element of these characters and storylines.

Noble’s characters include a very old vampire who needs antihistamines . And upon discovering the person who’s his soulmate, isn’t instantly rapturous over the thought but instead thinks that person is a bit of a naive idiot ,definitely not soulmate material. Nope, no instant love , more deep mortification.

Noble’s story involves a several current murders, possibly a deeper connection to mysterious deaths in the past, and plenty of slow revelations about each species and the dynamics within Boggs Castle, as the new relationships being forged.

I’m absolutely hooked. The characters are a marvelous combination of well developed personalities but leaving just the right amount of mystery to their respective backgrounds that the reader just needs to know more.

Plus the author’s folds in the Lake, as it’s called there, perfectly, using its unique allure, scary qualities, and beauty to a narrative charm.

I can’t wait to read all the books in this series.

Start here, it’s an excellent read and got so many new twists to familiar elements.

The Sleepless City:

✓ Electric Candle #1 by Elizabeth Noble

◦ Shades of Sepia #2 by Elizabeth Noble

◦ Family and Reflection #3 by Anne Barwell

◦ Shifting Chaos #4 by Anne Barwell

Sequel Series:

The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble:

◦ Code Name: Jack Rabbit #1

◦ Quarry #2

◦ Endosymbiont #3

Buy Link:

Electric Candle (The Sleepless City Book 2)

Blurb

When a vampire finds his soulmate, the bond is forever. It’s love at first sight.

Or is it?

Homicide Detective Jonas Forge has been a vampire for centuries. He’s fought wars, seen life go from the simple colonial days to the modern high-tech world. He’s evolved with the times, adapted to each new era, blended into each new life. The one constant is his best friend, mentor, and lover, Declan. Even though not fated to bond as soulmates, Forge and Declan are happy and settled in their life together.

Until Forge’s real soulmate falls, literally, into his life.

Forge isn’t thrilled with the guy, despite the pheromones attracting them to each other, and the feeling seems mutual. While trying to adjust to his clumsy soulmate and equally awkward feelings, Forge is also on the hunt for a serial-killer witnesses can’t identify who’s leaving a trail of bodies in its wake.

Will the bond Forge is finally forming with his soulmate be destroyed when the hunter becomes the victim?

If you like fated mates who aren’t perfect for each other, a paranormal killer who might not be caught and found families then you’ll love Elizabeth Noble’s Electric Candle

Review: A World Apart: An MM Urban Fantasy Romance (Learning to Breathe Book 2) by Carole Cummings and Andy Gallo

Rating: 5🌈

A World Apart picks up from the events of the last novel, A World Away, the first in Cummings and Gallo’s excellent LGBTQIA syfi series.

Best friends and now lovers, Camilo Almenara and Nathan Duffy have been through unbelievable hardships, family losses ,and challenges, which have included Nathan’s paralysis, then gaining the experimental implants that allowed the military to draft him and Cam. There’s a war going on, mages are real, and Nathan’s talent is so powerful, that along with Cam, the mission to find more talents on parallel worlds is one he’s already been assigned to.

The format the authors use for the story, a countdown of time as the mission draws near, then as it happens, is powerful.

It brings us into the anticipatory phase of the mission and everyone’s mindset as they are getting ready. All the multiple elements that occur, all the various , random stuff that plays into scenes and moments before an unknown mission. The reader is there, intimately inside their minds, with the characters. From friends, family, even if that family be high authority military figures themselves, Cummings and Gallo, makes the reader a part of the action, writing realistic and grounded dialogue that makes a futuristic story and alternate universe feel alive and familiar.

Then comes the mission.

From the highly anticipated to the emotionally charged and powerful, to the suspense sustained scenes as the revelations start to occur, the narrative is superb and the plotting tightly woven together and the depth of details outstanding.

Especially towards the climactic, horrifying scenes near the end.

No spoilers. But honestly, it’s heartbreaking at times. And as much as I wanted the authors to expand on parts of that ending, I’m not sure it wouldn’t have taken away from the emotional impact as it’s already written.

There’s so many questions left unanswered, so many compelling details that was definitely delivered in a short but important way at the end.

I have no idea if this series is over. I’m ok if it is. I’m ok if there’s more to come. Outstanding characters, an ever-expanding universe at war that it’s losing, children as gun fodder, sounds so familiar. Cummings and Gallo’s take on this old refrain is emotional and extremely well written.

I’m highly recommending both books, to be read in the order that they are written.

Learning To Breathe:

✓ A World Away #1

✓ A World Apart #2

Buy Link:

A World Apart: An MM Urban Fantasy Romance (Learning to Breathe Book 2)

Blurb:

There are an infinite number of universes and each has its own story. Not all of them have happy endings.

Two years after he nearly died, Nathan Duffy is living his dream. He and Camilo are finally the ‘them’ Nathan always wanted. But Nathan quickly learns everything comes with a price. The military gave him experimental implants that help him walk again, but he’s drafted and assigned to a dangerous, special ops, off-world unit. He and Camilo are together, but the military assigns Cam to the same dangerous mission. Nathan knows he’d do everything he can to keep Cam safe, even sacrifice himself to save the man he loves.

Two years after he nearly lost the only man he’s ever loved, Camilo Almenara refuses to let anything come between him and Nathan. Not his father, the military, nor Nathan’s irrational belief that only Cam’s life mattered. To ensure the man he loves comes home, Cam makes sure he is assigned to the same off world mission as Nathan. He knows the assignment is dangerous, but he believes they are stronger together than apart.

Misfortune strikes the operation, and two team members are captured. Nathan is forced assumes command and must work a resistance movement he doesn’t fully trust. The plan to rescue their friends hit unexpected resistance and Nathan cuts off communications with everyone in an attempt to save them all. Faced with his worst nightmare come true, Cam races to reach Nathan and convince him not to give up on ‘them.’

A World Apart is the 100K sequel to A World Away. It follows the established couple as they fight to build a life together in a dangerous world. This book includes an alternative universe, the continuation of a romance, and more selflessness as the two best friends struggle to transition from friends to lovers.

• Publication date: December 23, 2023

• Language: English

• Print length: 358 pages

Review: One (Angels of Wrath Book 1) by Paulina Ian-Kane

Rating:2.75🌈

I’ve been reading several newly discovered (to me) authors recently, one of which is Paulina Ian-Kane. Kane’s books, from the descriptions, fall under the trope of “psychopathic killers for good” dark romance fiction.

One, the first novel in the author’s Angels of Wrath series, follows one of a group of men rescued as children from a horrific, abusive secret government experimental program. All, either sold or kidnapped into the program, were initially diagnosed as young psychopaths. Then scientists, using torture techniques, tried turning them into assassins/soldiers for the military. They were “rescued” by a pair of doctors and adopted/fostered into a family arrangement that now hides their secret business of being assassins for justice, killing those that the law allows to go free.

There are other authors that have written this as a foundation for a series. Child psychopaths/ assassins formed families that now kill those that deserve it. One writer especially is associated with it.

After completing the story, I just feel that this book was just too derivative for my tastes and degree of comfort, starting with the format at the beginning, to multiple similarities with another well known series, imo.

That’s Onley James’ Necessary Evils , a series about an adopted/rescued group of child psychopaths who are assassins (popular among many as this trope is a favorite of mine and others). And I’m not alone in thinking One has many similar elements to that older, and imo, better written, series by James.

Some of these similarities between these two series include , later books with James:

1. Starting a chapter with the word Subject: and a name. Then treating it as a scientific document on the character.

2. The characters are children diagnosed as psychopaths, although it turns out not all are.

3. They are adopted by doctors. In James series’ a man, a woman in One.

4. Both families are extremely wealthy using their businesses to fund their secret projects

5. The manner in which each finds their “mate “ , especially the cinnamon roll character, feels so familiar.

There’s others things that come up, pros and cons narratively that had me struggling with this story , but there’s just enough of a difference in things and a nice twist that the book does eventually turn interesting.

However, not enough for me to consider continuing with this series. Each book will, naturally, contain the story for a different “brother “ as they find themselves a mate amongst the murder.

There’s two book out now with more planned.

I prefer Onley James’ Necessary Evils series. In comparison , it’s tighter in its plotting, its foundation and series arc is more fully realized, and its characters are more complex .

You decide which one to read.

Trigger warnings:

Heavy issues are also present. Talk of self-harming, killing and experimentation on children.”

— One (Angels of Wrath Book 1) by Paulina Ian-Kane

Angels of Wrath:

One #1

Six #2

Buy link

One (Angels of Wrath Book 1)

Blurb:

Michael Caldwell—medical examiner, odd, blood obsessed. His new life in Chicago consists of performing autopsies and eating chips while watching old detective series.

Until…

“He’s suddenly standing in front of me. Leather jacket, washed-out jeans, jet black hair.

His deep, green eyes are so intense on me I can barely breathe.

It’s in his crooked smile, bold flirting and confident—borderline conceited—behavior that I get lost.

The fact that he protects me five minutes later during an attempted robbery only reinforces my crazy-instant attraction toward him, though.

But there are shadows hiding in his gaze. And his apathetic yet possessive attitude confuses me.

Makes me care.

Makes me crave.

But then secrets come out and my life turns into a thriller movie.

Now I’m left wondering how this all started. And when the answer comes, I know I can never go back to my uneventful life. Would I even want to?

Would I be able to leave him?

‘Never again’, he whispers.”

WARNING-This is not a sci-fi angel story, unless you see eager vigilantes with a dark side as angels.

This is an action packed romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an over the top possessive psychopath, and a peculiar medical examiner with a stomach made of steel. There’s violence, torture (only of very bad people), dark humor, amazing side characters and very spicy scenes with blood play. Morality’s grey area is quite stretched in this story.

This is book one in the Angels of Wrath Series. Each book follows a different couple.

• Publisher: (August 23, 2023)

• Publication date: August 23, 2023

• Print length: 274 pages

Review: Taking the Body (Watkins Glen Gladiators #4) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4.75🌈

Taking The Body just became my favorite of this series . I laughed so hard so much of the time when reading it, mostly due to the outrageous family tales related to various people by the main character, hockey player, Phil Greco. He’s such an entertaining and highly engaging person. Irish/Italian from Queens, New York, once he appears on the page, he’s got the reader’s total attention.

Locey must have had such an incredible time writing this man and his unique voice. He had me in stitches but he was also such a believable person, grounded in family and a recognizable location such as Flushing.

Frenchman Henri Gaudion, of Gaudion Winery, and his wonderful found family of staff, that includes his butler, Barnaby, is a well defined character and great match for gregarious Phil. His character is also a very poignant person. Locey has created in Henri such a relatable person and backstory. Henri’s background is one of loss, constant inter-family fighting over the winery and his sexuality, and finally, the ways in which Henri has isolated himself due to the fears caused by his illness and approaching blindness. His emotional walls are those of fear and experience.

Watching Phil moving through that previously ordered and quiet existence as seen and heard through both men’s perspectives is such a joy and utter blissful experience.

And that Locey wove The Nanny and Fran Drescher into this? Priceless!

The only thing that keeps the story from a total 5 rating is that the ending came about rather quickly. It feels too abrupt. Had that been extended to go into a little longer explanation of the situation, and not leaving that other renter hanging, then this would have been a 5+ story.

As it is, Taking the Body (Watkins Glen Gladiators #4) by V.L. Locey is my favorite of a lovely series. I hope to see more of this couple in the stories to come.

Watkins Glen Gladiators:

✓ Between The Pipes #1

✓ Defending The House #2

✓ Dump and Chase #3

✓ Taking The Body #4

Buy Link:

One’s from Flushing, New York, the other from Ambroise, France. Worlds, wit, and passions are about to collide!

Phil Greco is that player that every opponent and their fanbase hates but secretly wishes played for their team. Greck is a mouthy guy, high-spirited, and able to tweak nerves with relative ease. Having grown up with a large family he’d learned early that you had to fight for what you wanted. This is how a short, undrafted guy from Flushing made it as far as he had. It had taken no small amount of bull&*#*, grit, and plenty of wit. Generally that wit and grit was enough to get him on the top of the pileup but that’s not the case with Henri Gaudion, owner of Gaudion Winery. Ever since they’d met sparks have flown, and for the life of him, Phil cannot understand what it is about the suave, well-dressed, handsome French vintner that makes him so edgy. They have nothing in common aside from a love of Watkins Glen, so why does he keep finding himself so drawn to the lean man with the rapier wit? Sure, he was pretty, and did keep him on his toes, but Phil’s not the kind of fella to be drawn to such a fancy pants rich boy. How stupid would it be to think that a hoodlum like him could ever catch a man like Henri? Not that he wanted to catch the stuck-up winemaker…

Henri Gaudion has no time for shenanigans or those who engage in them, especially boorish braggarts on skates. Yes, he enjoys the game of hockey and having the Gladiators hockey team and the local gentry at his chalet overlooking Seneca Lake every Sunday for brunch, but that’s solely for keeping up appearances. Since the death of his father, he has devoted his life to ensuring the lands bequeathed to him produce the finest wines and champagne in the Finger Lakes district. Henri is a lonely, heartbroken man when the blinds are drawn and the erudite mask is dropped. He also has no room in his life for rowdy little men with bright smiles, cheeky winks, and heavily accented, fanciful tales about his large Italian family back in, of all places, Flushing. The pull that he’s feeling for Phil Greco must be some sort of glitch, or perhaps he’s been spending too much time in the tasting rooms. Whatever the reason, he is not about to let his attraction to Phil grow. It would be impossible for two such incompatible men to fall in love. Wouldn’t it?

Taking the Body is a low-angst, opposites attract queer hockey romance with a mouthy hockey player, a refined vintner, a whole lot of forced proximity, on-ice action, evenings spent sipping wine, a nosy butler, even nosier teammates, a large loving family, and a perfectly aged happy ending.

• Publication date: January 5, 2024

• Print length: 193 pages