Review: The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4) by K. M. Avery

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Dog in the Alley switches over from focusing on the relationship between medium/warlock Edward Campion and his partner Dr Mason Manning, orc, witch and respected historian and Edward’s magical growth. That’s was the primary theme of books one to three.

Now the focus turns to Detective Valentine Hart a great character and personal favorite. Hart, an important element in all the prior stories, was changed by the Arcanavirus into a 6’5” violet eyed gorgeous elf who presents himself as a coldly effective, wry, snarky personality who barely tolerates the bureaucracy of the political system and police department he works within. He’s gruff, unbearably rough while being one of the few types of Nids the human population can tolerate simply because he’s beautiful, a elf Fairy Prince of the folklore made a breathing being. Unlike the ghouls, vampires, death witches, shifters and other beings once formerly human who are hated, protested against, and even killed.

Here K. M. Avery explores Hart’s surprising history, reveals the true nature underneath the “sarcastic , cold“ persona Hart uses as a shield,

and brings in a shatteringly horrific case that both ties into the previous stories and yet adds another layer of the growing abuse that the Nid population is suffering under.

Avery also introduces several characters that are just fascinating. One is the dog of the title. I have a slight issue in that we only get partial foundation for what is a major character. Most of that is in his dog form which, admittedly, is utterly adorable. But the man? Remains a bit of a mystery.

The other is a Tiger shifter. He too is a main character who appears to have a journey in the series but is this the last book? I don’t know.

The ending is somewhat abrupt. Both in terms of what has happened in terms of our detective in his life, professionally. We get a here’s where he is now . And the same hint of a surprise in another direction.

After everything that’s gone on, it’s a light ending for a very serious, heavier narrative.

The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4) by K. M. Avery is about one of my favorite characters, Detective Hart. It does a excellent job in making a fascinating character even more richly layered. My only issue is that the author just didn’t completely stick the ending. It didn’t quite live up to the complex, well plotted , parts that went before.

I certainly hope the author intends to go on. It’s a great series and is full of characters and elements that haven’t been fully explored yet.

I’m definitely recommending. This and the series.

Beyond The Veil series:

✓ The Ghost in the Hall #1

✓ The Boy in the Locked Room #2

✓ The Skeleton Under the Stairs #3

◦ The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4) m

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil, #4) by K.M. Avery

Description:

Some days, an elf can’t get a break.

I’m overworked, underpaid and underappreciated, and up to my lavender eyeballs in missing and murdered shifters. To make matters worse, I’ve acquired a dog.

Sort of.

He’s not actually a dog. I don’t know his name or anything about him other than the fact that he’s mostly hairless and is blind in one eye—and he’s a witness to one of the unsolved shifter murders that’s keeping me up at night. We found him at a crime scene, injured and scared, and I just can’t make myself lock him up for obstruction of justice, even though I probably should.

He won’t shift back, so here I am with a dog that isn’t a dog following me everywhere and eating off my plate every time I turn around.

The weirdest part is that I’m not sure I want to go back to living without him constantly underfoot.

A slow-burn M/M Paranormal Shifter Romance
Book 4 in the Beyond the Veil Series

———-

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

Review: The Tank (The Spell Saga Book 3) by Cari Z

Rating: 4.5 🌈

The Tank, third novel in Cari Z’s terrific steampunk romance adventure series is perhaps the best conceptualized, best written of the three stories so far.

It brings her characters great emotional growth, allowing for betrayals, thought provoking moments of ambivalence of the nature of the work that a Master of Thaumaturge finds himself and his associates engaged in for the services of war. And the cost to relationships of all kinds.

The histories of the war, the Enemies, and even main characters are filled in and given fuller dimension.

The series and the growing relationship between Anton Seiber and Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière becomes deeply layered within the restrictions of their service and the growing demands of an enlarging war.

I was absolutely engaged by the drama and poignant moments of the storylines here. The war that overtakes the needs and loyalties of many.

There’s another book to come. I can’t wait to read it .

I highly recommend this story and series but start with The Train and read through as they were written.

The Spell Saga series:

✓ The Train #1

✓ The Tower #2

✓ The Tank #3

◦ The Trials #4 – Nov 8, 2022

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Tank-S…The Tank: The Spell Saga: Book Three – Kindle edition by Z, Cari. Romance …

Description:

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.

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

Review: The Creek (Briar County #3) by Riley Hart

Rating: 5🌈

There’s nothing better then to be able to return to Riley Hart’s fictional North Carolina setting of Briar County, where we’ve gotten to know the various townships and citizens that makeup this warm-hearted series.

The Creek sets down a familiar theme with a hometown son returning after a decade or so absence.

Hart’s storyline of second chance love combined with this richly layered foundation of found family and warm-hearted tapestry of a diverse community is a wonderful novel to sink into.

There’s so much to appreciate and love here. The characters are well crafted, defined by their past histories and experiences as well as their personalities.

A major standout in terms of storylines? One that’s rarely seen among contemporary romance novels is that Hart doesn’t take sides when narratively exploring the broken relationships between divorced fathers August, his ex Lewis (not a MC), and their teenage son, Reese, who’s having enormous emotional issues dealing with all the upheaval in his life. No one dimensional ex hatred or simplistic dumping.

No. Here, Reese’s pain and adjustment problems are naturally made a big theme of August’s return to Harmony. Reese’s slow integration into the community with the help of the “found family “ members we’ve come to love and care about is remarkable in its believability and realistic elements. His fears of abandonment, the discussions that he finally understands how to bring up about himself, his fears, heartbreaking and grounded in RL.

Cliff Jones, the welder/artist, who’s never forgotten his first kiss and the boy who gave it to him, is a sheer joy to encounter. No drama, just a warmth of discovery, and understanding about where his future lies in the man and his teenage son who’s returned.

August and Reese, their deeply heartfelt relationship is real and emotional. Reese, who is seeing a therapist to try and help him understand his feelings, is so well written that you will believe you know him. Well.

The drama, such as it is, occurs much as it would in real life. The arguments are the same. The outcome lovely.

There’s so much here to connect with and take into your heart. It all begins with the road into Briar County.

If you’re not familiar with this incredible lovely series, I’ve listed them below. And I highly recommend them all, including this one.

Briar County series to date:

✓ Firefly Lane #1

✓ Sundae’s Best #2

✓ The Creek #3

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Creek-B…The Creek (Briar County Book 3) – Kindle edition by Hart, Riley, Aguiar, Wander. …

Description:

Divorced for two years, August Reynolds needs a change. He and his teenage son, Reese, pack up and move to Briar County, the home August left at fourteen. He’s hoping it’ll help him and Reese connect again, that Reese will come into his own there the way August did. For him, it was all because of Clint Jones, his childhood best friend and first crush.

At forty-two, Clint figures he’s probably never going to find the one. He’s dated on and off, but he’s never fallen in love. He has his business, his dogs, his friends and family. Most of the time, that’s enough, but then August moves home—Clint’s first kiss and bisexual awakening—making him realize he might be lonelier than he thought.

Clint and August fall back into an easy friendship. Some of their best childhood memories are the days they spent at the creek: talking, laughing, and learning about who they were. But now they’re adults, the attraction palpable between them. It’s not long before they’re tumbling into bed, stealing moments for secret kisses and spending days exploring each other.

They can’t move too fast, though. Reese misses his other father, and sometimes August worries Reese would rather be with him. They’re just getting their life on track, and the last thing August wants is to shake it up by telling Reese he’s with Clint. But as it turns out, that’s not the only obstacle in their way…

The Creek is a small-town, second-chances, friends-to-lovers romance, with mature men who talk about their feelings, stolen kisses, and nights spent beneath the stars.

———-

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

Review: The Case of The Undiscovered Corpse (Cambridge Fellows/Alasdair and Toby Mystery ) by Charlie Cochrane

Rating: 4.5🌈

It’s wonderful to return to those fabulous Cambridge Dons Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart, now in their 70’s, still living happily together in Hyacinth Cottage, and teaching at their beloved St. Brides College.

It’s 1952 when a movie producer with an idea for a potentially new film script featuring comes calling for the pair in Cambridge. The script would feature a real life mystery that the couple was involved in decades ago at the Old Manor, the famed Stewart estate. The film would have Orlando and Jonty played by the enormously popular actors, Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe, who just happen to be amateur sleuths themselves.

What follows is a fascinating, complicated story of multiple relationships, decades past family histories, and a murder that was never solved as the WW1 was the focus of everyone’s attention and energies.

It’s outstanding to see the lovely, intelligent and now deeply settled relationship that’s the combination of Orlando and Jonty in their 70’s. Still handsome, sparks flying, the joy of investigating and discovery making everything just sing.

Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe are a bit of a splendid discovery for me. I hadn’t read their stories and will now backtrack and gather those up. They are a remarkable team and combining them together with the Cambridge Fellows makes this a double couples delight , that never flags but builds gently onto each other.

Plus we get to see the brilliant Dr Panasur and others too.

If you’re not familiar with either series, then yes, you’ll be at a loss here. For the settings, scenes , and many a dialogue are awash with memories from other stories and characters now long passed away.

But for those of us who love this couple, the series, and probably the other too, it’s a great story and mystery as well.

Charlie Cochrane being fabulous as always.

I’ve listed the 2 series and their novels below.

I’m highly recommending all.

Description:

Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe are the darlings of post-war British cinema, playing Holmes and Watson onscreen and off. When they’re called on to portray their fellow amateur detectives-Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart-not only do they find distinct challenges in depicting real people, they also become embroiled in solving a century-old murder.

How did a body lie undiscovered so long in the Stewart family vaults, who’s been covering up the murder ever since and why was the victim killed in the first place?

———-

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

The Case of the Undiscovered Corpse (An Alasdair and Toby and Cambridge Fellows Mystery)

Relates series:

Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe novels:

◦ An Act of Detection

◦ The Case of the Grey Assassin

The Cambridge Fellows Mysteries -Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart series

✓ Lessons in Love (set November 1905)

✓ Lesson in Desire (set August 1906)

✓ Lessons in Discovery (set November 1906)

✓ Lessons in Power (set Spring 1907)

✓ Lessons in Temptation (set July 1907)

✓ Lessons in Seduction (set September 1907)

✓ Lessons in Trust Summer 1908

✓ Lessons for Suspicious Minds (set Summer 1909)

✓ Lessons for Idle Tongues (set Summer 1910)

✓ Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code (set February 1911)

✓ Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune (set summer 1911)

✓ Lessons in Following a Poisonous Trail (set October 1911)

✓ Lessons in Solving the Wrong Problem (set spring 1912)

✓ Game of Chance (set 1916) – in the anthology Capital Crimes

✓ All Lessons Learned (set Spring 1919)

✓ Lessons for Sleeping Dogs (set 1921)

✓ Lessons in Loving thy Murderous Neighbour. (set in 1922)

◦ Lessons in Chasing the Wild Goose (set in 1922)

Review: Filthy and the Beast (Love Unexpectedly Book 4) by R. Cayden

Rating: 4🌈

Filthy and the Beast was read out of sequence in R. Cayden’s Love Unexpectedly series and I honestly don’t think it matters. Some of the other couples make appearances but who they are is explained or further depth of detail isn’t necessary.

For a quick, sweet contemporary romance, Filthy and the Beast is lovely. It’s got a age gap, nerd/jock, and what is described as sunny/grumpy dynamics happening. Oh and a bi-awakening too.

There’s some terrific elements here that I thought were underdeveloped which is likely due to the shorter length of the novel. Shame because greater attention to such character growth and aspects of their relationship/lives would have enhanced the storylines.

Damien here is a young man who does many things well but hasn’t found what he’s passionate about. Cayden is able to make Damien engaging and very connectable.

Enzo the former boxer is lovely and there’s parts to him I wish had been enlarged. His past is a bit lacking, when we get the major dramatic points filled in , it’s fleeting and not with the dimension it requires. But one of the biggest elements is his rescue and love of pit bulls. It becomes a major story thread. Yet it’s seriously shallow for such a popular and emotional theme.

Their relationship is quick and pretty seamless but with a few minor stumbling blocks.

So it’s a good romance but the promise for a even better one will hang over it all the way to the end.

Love Unexpectedly series:

◦ Filthy Sweet #1

◦ Filthy Bromance #2

◦ Filthy Rock Stars #3

✓ Filthy and the Beast #4

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showFilthy and the Beast (Love Unexpected, #4) by R. Cayden

Description:

There’s no way in hell I’m falling for a man called the Sledgehammer.

Enzo is a lot of things.
A big grump of a jock.
Twenty years my senior.
My employer.
Straight.
I’m living with the retired boxer while he recovers from an injury, just here to earn a good paycheck after my life fell apart.
Getting emotionally involved with the man isn’t my job, but my gaze keeps lingering on his thick muscles and the storm clouds in his eyes.
For a million reasons, my geeky heart shouldn’t flutter when Enzo walks in the room.
But then he grunts my name, our eyes lock, and the world turns upside down.

Filthy and the Beast is a steamy standalone M/M romance featuring an older, grumpy jock and the bubbly geek who lands in his mansion and upends his life. It’s got a secret sweetheart, surprise temptation, and a touch of angst. The fourth book in Love Unexpected, Filthy and the Beast can be enjoyed alone or as part of the series.

———-

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

Review: Unstable Connections (Valor and Doyle (Book 3) by Nicky James

Rating: 5🌈

Nicky James has written an extraordinary story with Unstable Connections, the third novel in the amazing Valor and Doyle series.

Usually there’s one element that’s lacking when you have a couple and series with such serious storylines and a myriad of emotional issues. Most of which, like past domestic abuse , alcoholism, and deep loss, thread through the couple’s new shaky relationship and the main mystery that involves both missing children and a presumed kidnapped sister from decades past.

But Unstable Connections has no flaws.

The relationship that slowly being established between MPU Detective Detective Quaid Valor and that of Homicide Detective Aslan Doyle is so beautifully written, full of emotional nuances and realistic complications that it brings the men even more vividly to life as they struggle with every aspect of their lives.

It’s Quaid fighting constantly with the demons and fears and damage the domestic abuse of his last relationship has inflicted on him that continues into his current romance with Aslan.

It’s the now sober Aslan’s past as a out of control drunk that threatens his present day relationships, both work and romantic. It’s the tough lifting he’s with Quaid to counteract the deepest wounds done by Quaid’s ex. And now the stress and pain of the latest information that’s been recovered from the missing girls case that’s got both Quaid and his father riding an emotional edge.

The plotting and narrative is perfection. We are carried along with the characters on a horrifying set of mysteries that twists and turns with a subtle swiftness on its way to a poignant , deeply layered closure to a story element that had its beginnings at the first novel and with issues embedded in our characters at a cellular level.

While the mystery is solved, the relationship between Aslan and Quaid is still moving slowly forward with all the issues the latest events have brought up.

The supporting cast is as outstanding and fully realized as any I’ve read. I’m so in love with them as well.

I can’t wait for the next story to be released.

If you’re not familiar with this series and couple, you’re missing out. Start at the beginning and work your way through as they must be read in the order they are written.

I’m highly recommending one and all.

Valor and Doyle Mysteries:

✓ Department Rivals #0.5

✓ Temporary Partner #1

✓ Elusive Relations #2

✓ Unstable Connections #3

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showUnstable Connections (Valor and Doyle #3) by Nicky James

Description:

Missing children are reappearing, and ties to a thirty-year-old cold case can’t be ignored.

Between his shaky, brand-new relationship with reformed office playboy Detective Aslan Doyle, his sister’s case going from cold to hot overnight, his father insisting on being involved, and his boss breathing down his neck, Detective Quaid Valor is on edge.

The stress of the case is impacting Quaid’s whole life. He isn’t eating or sleeping, and every time he and Aslan are together, he is overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, which threaten to ruin the one good thing he has. Aslan’s patience seems unending until something happens to turn his life upside down too.

Can their relationship survive the personal and professional pressures they’re facing, or will it crash and burn?

Between media rumors and unstable connections, Quaid and his team need to work quickly to piece together a complicated case before more children fall victim to their unknown serial kidnapper. Maybe once everything is solved, Aslan and Quaid will have time to work on their rocky relationship and find stable ground once again.

** Unstable Connections is the third book in the Valor and Doyle Mystery Series. It is a same-couple series that should be read in order. Although each book has a self-contained mystery with no cliff-hangers, the romance is overarching and progressive throughout the series. **

———-

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

Review: Without A Trace (Shadows of London #5) by Ariana Nash

Rating: 4.25:🌈

Ariana Nash’s Shadows of London series comes to a close with Without A Trace. It’s a finale story that’s got the complexity and character surprises we’ve come to expect from this author and series but it’s also has some of the flaws that have kept it from fulfilling the promise it’s showed from the very beginning.

First the elements that made Without A Trace a moving, complex story. At the close of Truth or Dare #4, Alexander Kempthorne and Dom have been “presumed dead” and are now happily living new lives together under new identities.

They are powerful with their matching “tricks”, yet Alexander is determined not to tell Dom the complete truth about their shared past history. That lack of communication and transparency has haunted their relationship and will shatter their current one.

The rigid character personalities that Nash has built for both Alex and Dom are the best aspects of this story. Each man with his rich, tortured past, has their reasons for a lack of clarity and trust while still being deeply, painfully in love with each other. They have depth.

The magic, the latents, the horrors lurking under London. All extremely well done. The torture and bigotry that’s shown towards latency. Believable.

But for all the terrific descriptions, horrifying scenes, and chilling dialogues, there’s the whole frustrating , frankly unrealistic Kage Mitchell element to factor in as well as a couple of villains so blatant that they might as well as worn a sign.

But it’s the Kage Mitchell element that’s the most bothersome. He of the “let me commit many betrayals, atrocities, actually kidnappings and murder attempts “ and is then let walk away time and again because “awww, soft spot”. He’s really only there for one reason. To make a certain reappearance at the end and then boom. If you list everything about this character and his actions and story appearance, it’s complete nonsense. Kage Mitchell is a narrative tool and not an especially good one. More an annoying, one note replaceable one.

Given what Dom’s background is and then how Kage’s actions impact Dom, Alex and the other, it’s not only unbelievable but frankly a storyline that disconnects one from the events happening because it’s so implausible.

Kage is that ill conceived narrative subject that just kept popping up and stomping over all the lovely complex proceedings. Right to up to his laughable unreal last words at the end.

Too bad.

Still , it’s a good fantasy series. With many exciting things and aspects to it, including a strong couple at its heart.

For that I’m recommending it.

Series reading order:

Twisted Pretty Things

Tide of Tricks

Trial by Fire

Truth or Dare

Without a Trace

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showWithout a Trace (Shadows of London #5) by Ariana Nash

Alexander Kempthorne has one more secret to tell, but it could cost him everything. Including Dom.

The windswept Scottish Highlands.

Everything has changed.

With new names and new lives, Dom and Kempthorne should be living their happy ending, but it’s not over yet.

Kage Mitchell knows they’re alive and he’s discovered the single most devastating secret Kempthorne has yet to tell Dom.

There is no other option. Kage Mitchell must die.

But he’s the least of Kempthorne’s concerns. With their identities revealed, and a war brewing between latents and normals, the shadows are on the rise once again, and an old threat awakens beneath London. A threat that could change latents, and the world, forever.

Kempthorne has spent his whole life running from his past. But now, the past is back, and alone, Kempthorne’s not strong enough to win this fight. When the terrible truth is revealed, will Dom forgive him enough to fight with him?

The Shadows of London series comes to its climatic finale in Without a Trace.

***

Please note, the Shadows of London series is set in London and the characters are all British (so is the author). Although the series has been edited in US English for the US market, to include US spelling and grammar, many English slang words and spelling remain as part of the character of the work.

Review: How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 3 By A.J. Sherwood

Rating: 4.5🌈

A.J. Sherwood’s serial fantasy story continues with Miracle 3 as Tan and Devan ride off together on the back of Dan the Stallion to search for the thieving rapscallion adventurers who stole the powerful, magical Sword of the Sea from a mage friend of Tan’s who was its keeper.

Devan is needed, not just because Tan would have him with the Black Sorcerer 24/7 as he would, but because the Mighty Sword of the Sea can only be wielded by a Knight who’s heart is bright and true. That’s definitely Devante Salvino, First Knight of Goodwine. The Sword, which is a tad naughty, would actually consider Tan a enemy and number one target.

The journey to recover the Sword also leads to increased closeness between Tan and Devan as well as launching considerable introspection about Devan’s occupation and his happiness.

I love how this slow burn romance is starting to heat up through Devan’s realizing how much Tan has become a part of his life.

It makes my need for the next installment and step forward in their relationship even greater.

Plus we got a new look at the King, and a hint he’s as bad as the Princess.

All the stories are called the same , only the number of the Miracle changes.

What else changes? Subtle changes to the cover! Love this aspect too!

Yes, I’m highly recommending the series. Yes, they must be read in the order they are written.

It’s a quick, highly entertaining fantasy series! Start in and get caught up with us heading into Miracle 4 today!

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showHow I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy: Miracle 3

Description:

What’s Tan to do when he has to reclaim a holy sword he can’t touch? Call upon his White Knight to save him.

What’s Devan to do when he learns the sword was stolen in order to defeat Tan? Save the poor fools from utter annihilation.

Tan is not amused by this quest line. Devan can’t stop laughing.

Tags:

Tan’s turn to need help, what are they teaching these adventurers?, I’m not saying baby adventurers are stupid, but if you put a candle next to their ears their eyes will shine, Tan has all the plans, Devan laughs for the first time, Tan loves it, even if it’s at his expense, Tan is banned from Osedon Conclave, for reasons, Tan disguises himself as a girl, also for reasons, no one likes to be drowned, no one, even magic swords knows who’s boss

———-

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

Review: Antagonist (Dads of Stillwater #1) by Ana Ashley

Rating: 3.25🌈

Antagonist is the first of Ana Ashley’s Dads of Stillwater series. Ashley ‘s story gives us all the necessary elements we need for a first novel. A foundation in the small town of Stillwater, with major events taking place at the elementary school, bakery, and other places that will be highlighted in this and other stories. We get a feel for it’s various citizens and township. Good and bad.

A overall theme of single dads , a section of liberal families versus a conservative “embedded bunch of pearl clutchers”, change versus status.

The first couple mirrors that image in their current lives. Bisexual attorney Harrison Davis is moving with his ex wife Stella and their child, Megan to Stillwater so Megan can have a better childhood.

Several terrific elements here. Harrison, Stella, and Megan are a great family unit even though Harrison and Stella are no longer married. Everyone is a fully fleshed character. No one is demonized over the end of the marriage. These are adults who respect each other and work in the best interests of their child.

Harrison is a bit lost in a small town environment but it’s his personality. It’s all well crafted and believable.

Fletcher, the artist and another single father who is the second main character is very engaging. Ashley has the father / son dynamics down perfectly so we fall in love with them as a family immediately. Gigi is adorable.

Fletcher has moments here that just keeps me frustrated with him. I not sure if it’s the author’s creation of his character or something in the storyline but the entire element with his ex, the dithering about even thinking of giving a narcissist personality(as written by this author) custody of a child because of a old promise comes across more as a need of story inserted drama then any believable plot line.

In reality, a person would have lawyered up faster then you could have said I don’t think so. But then a lot of the dramatic narrative would have been lost. That was me being polite.

The dithering about just was unreal , frustrating, and frankly, made me disconnect from the story a bit.

So was the whole outcome from the disagreements with the “pearl clutcher “ Karen here. Very disappointing.

So some very sweet, lovely elements and a great foundation for the series. A contemporary romance with two men with wonderful children and terrific found family dynamics.

It’s a nice start with some stumbling blocks.

I’m recommending it and will definitely go on to the next installment.

Dads of Stillwater:

✓ Antagonist #1

◦ Breakthrough #2

◦ Heartstring #3 – March 14, 2023

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showAntagonist (Dads of Stillwater #1) by Ana Ashley

Description:

Single dads. Polar opposites. Undeniable chemistry.
Harrison
Meeting at a bachelor auction for charity has trouble written all over it as far as I am concerned. Especially when the guy with the winning bid seems to be after only one thing…a good time between the sheets.

Refusing the advances of a man who’s too good looking for his own good, is easy at first. But how can I stay away from him when our kids are in the same class and trouble is already brewing between the two?

Fletcher
What do you do when the guy you can’t stop thinking about—and thought you’d never see again—turns up at your kid’s school?
You bring your A-game and flirt until he caves.

Harrison is hell bent on resisting the chemistry between us.
That is until we’re thrown together to organize the school’s Spring Fair.
Will that be my only chance to prove to him that I’m looking for more than a casual fling?

Antagonist is book 1 in Ana Ashley’s new series, Dads of Stillwater. You can expect bumping heads, show-stealing kids, a school fair so heated it may just go up in flames, lovable secondary characters, and Ana’s usual happy ever after.

Review: Love and History (The Script Club #6) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 4.5🌈

The events of Love and History run concurrently to The Professor’s Date and works beautifully to tie all the original couples up into their HEA as well as give us a heartwarming romance for one of the remaining Script Club members and a new boarder at the lovely old historic house they’ve been renting the entire series.

Almost everyone has either moved out as they have found their partner and established themselves in their careers. The ones left at the house are Tommy and Holden, both Professors at CalTech, both geniuses going for their PhD’s. All the other scientists/geeks in their circle have moved out, forcing them to rent to jock friends of Blake (Aster’s boyfriend).

If you’ve read The Professor’s Date, then you’re aware of how certain events will play out regarding the house. So having Lane use it as a dramatic element is a bit awkward. We know there’s no real threat there.

I wish another thread was used to have Holden thinking of moving on other then the loss of the house. Cole and Ezra had a realistic reason. They needed a location closer to work, which made sense. Holden’s emotional ties also felt believable. A renovation versus a loss of lease perhaps?

Anyway, the romance between Holden Galymer ,astrophysicist, microbiologist ,Phd candidate at CalTech and jock/lawyer in the making Ezra Marsden turns out to be incredibly bumbling, sexy, and sweet.

Ezra has been an irritant on Holden’s nerves since he moved in. With a dislike for clothes past the front door, and a disregard for respecting or replacing someone else’s groceries, Ezra is a itch Holden can’t scratch.

Lane is excellent at creating two wholly opposite characters and then making the reader see how perfect they are for each other. As she does here.

Each man has issues they are still working through. Especially Ezra. A lively outgoing demeanor hides someone who’s dealing with deep grief and anger over his father as well as a inability to come fully out of the closet as bisexual. Holden too has many layers and things that he keeps hidden. Those issues impact his feelings and ability to move forward into relationships.

How Ezra and Holden stumble through into love and HEA includes some wonderful events, some painful moments, and a outstanding wrap up with every couple in the series.

It’s a treat and a great way to say goodbye.

This is a series I really enjoyed. I had my favorites (who doesn’t) and was absolutely entertained.

If you love contemporary romance, this is a group of men I think you’re going to love. Including their finale. I’m definitely recommending this!

The Script Club Series:

✓ Following the Rules #1

✓ Rules of Play #2

✓ The Jock Script #3

✓ The Holiday List #4

✓ The Professor’s Date #5

✓ Love and History: Ezra and Holden #6 – series finale

———-

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

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