Category: M/M Paranormal Fiction

Review:  Arcanum (Tales from the Tarot story) by Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: 4.5🌈

Tarot card: Temperance 

I’m familiar with Ashlyn Drewek’s other dark paranormal novels so I was thrilled to see her work here in this series.  Arcanum is exactly what I hoped for and a story I enjoyed immensely. 

Drewek’s novel is gripping and so well written.  From start to finish, it pulls the reader into a suspenseful plot that’s grows into a larger anxiety ridden, terrifying, complicated element, as we get to know the characters and their histories. 

The author has also created a town that becomes as much of a living entity as the characters are. We get to explore the streets and atmosphere of small town Mapleton, with its hair salons, tight knit community, and townspeople.  All of which we have taken to heart as much as we have the main couple. 

Drewek’s characters include a haunted witch of the fabulous name, Greyson Darkholme.  Now there’s a name to remember.  He’s fled to town hoping for a new start in life, for reasons I’ll leave to the storylines.  His next door neighbor is a K-9 police officer, Chris Brandt and partner Nitro. Extremely relatable and believable characters, man and dog .  Love them both.  In fact, Chris’ character and his role as a police officer is beautifully executed.  His suspicions, fact checking, everything about his behavior screams cop. Especially when it pertains to family and town. Which makes Greyson’s later statements and observation about the importance to Chris of the badge and uniform even more interesting and on point. 

There’s so many elements and different storylines that Drewek’s woven into a complex novel that makes it all work.  A bisexual awakening, a magical revelation, a way of writing a ex girlfriend in a manner that makes us understand and appreciate her . Monica is a treasure! All the details here that just keep adding up, the characters, the baking, the warmth and reality of community.

Is it perfect? No. I absolutely disagreed over the choice of having Greyson withhold so much information from Chris. That was frustrating.   

But the rest ? Loved it and I really wish that Drewek will revisit the characters and location in a future story.  It’s too fantastic to remain one book.

Last note: Excellent use of the tarot cards, deck , and chosen card as well as The Magic Shop and The Owner. One of the best yet. 

Highly recommended!

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always 

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books 

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley 

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

        Arcanum

    

Blurb 

From the moment his new neighbor moves in, K9 officer Chris Brandt senses there’s something not quite right about the guy. His instincts are confirmed when he discovers the mysterious Greyson Darkholme is the prime suspect in a murder investigation—a murder that wiped out his entire family.

Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, Chris is captivated by Greyson’s eccentric charm, awakening desires he never knew he had. As they grow closer, it becomes evident that Greyson is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, Chris faces a shocking dilemma when Greyson’s secrets come to light.

To protect the man of his dreams, the dedicated officer must confront the ultimate question: how far will he go for love?

ARCANUM is a standalone paranormal MM romance novel and part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Temperance.

This book contains themes intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list can be found in the front matter of the book and on my website under Tropes & Triggers.

  • Publisher: Fox Hollow Books (October 7, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 7, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 450 pages

Review:  Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3) by AJ Sherwood, Jocelynn Drake

Rating:  3.5🌈

I’m not sure if Soar is the end of the Wings ‘N’ Wands series but it does read as if it is.  With all the previous couples and all the dragon clans and mages being present here in one role or another , it’s got the essence of a finale story.  Especially that epilogue and speech. 

So that’s how I will treat it.  I’ve enjoyed reading the three stories immensely, with Sam and Dimitri’s probably being my favorite (Ruins).  So it’s fitting that Soar concludes with a return to Sam’s story by way of his twin brother, Salem, a pediatric surgeon in the US. 

Salem’s  in Brazil for a celebration for his brother, Sam and Dimitri, meets ice dragon Gregori, and after a fabulous one night stand, finds himself with a fated mate he doesn’t want. 

There’s several aspects of the story I enjoyed and others I didn’t connect with as well.  It starts with the main characters and storyline.  If you consider Sam and Dimitri’s (my favorite) , the elements in Ruins are similar but Sam’s character is far more appealing.  Sam’s magical core is broken but Salem’s isn’t.  So while Sam and Dimitri’s relationship dynamic is reflective of the same snark and behavior that Salem and Gregori demonstrate to begin with, the issues they faced, the dangers and unknown terrain made their journey more complex, and their struggles more understandable in emotional terms.  

However , while many of us could understand not wanting to overturn our lives, jobs etc, it’s Sam’s continued conflicting and often abrasive or self-centered towards Gregori that’s the issue.  The authors made it an important part of his character, a factor that left me feeling less than invested in his life and journey.  The authors may have wanted to separate his character from his twin but it felt as though they went as far as they could in the opposite direction, sympathetically speaking.  He’s just not as relatable with his constant references to himself and his actions as being a “a-hole” or something in that sense. Not that he’s wrong as he’s written.  The narrative makes vague mentions as to some bad relationships in his past but the authors give no evidence of any, nothing to suggest that outright nastiness that’s been ongoing. 

Yes, no one wants to overturn their lives. So communication is key. Doesn’t happen.  Gregori is given more depth and better communication skills. He’s seen expanding his social circle and committing to the community. We get one well rounded character and one that needs more dimension to him. 

Same unbalanced aspects of the storyline and relationship occur when (spoiler alert) Gregori starts to feel ill. Why he does is a well written element of the book.

Again Salem’s responses doesn’t always match a physician’s  ethic.  Although, it was a narrative choice to have Salem choose to become a doctor/pediatric surgeon because of his competitive nature with his brother.  Salem is written as excellent doctor, however he began.

The comparisons do add up. For me, Sam’s a problematic factor throughout the book.  Right up almost to the end.  

There’s some thrilling scenes of flying dragons, additional dragon information about clans and physiology, and a grand reunion of all the dragons and mages we’ve gotten to know at the finish.  I adore that.

I don’t know if there’s going to be any further stories in this universe.  They’ve entered a new age.  I’m sure new characters will be coming out and asked to be heard. But probably not here. 

If you love dragons , instant fated mates, and fantasy love stories, check out the series as well as the fantastic series that started it, Scales ’N’ Spells .  Ruins remains my favorite of this series, as does its couple.  But read this for that ending and to see everyone once again.  Plus dragon twins! Adorable. 

Happy reading.

Cover by Katie Griffin.

Scales ’N’ Spells Series 

  • Origin #1
  • Breath #2
  • Wish: A Novella #3
  • Blood #4
  • Embers #5

Wings ’N’ Wands :

  • Dawn: A Prequel Novella (Ha Na and King Rodrigo)
  • Ruins #1 – Sam and Dimitri’s book 
  • Rise #2 – Vasily & Luka & Amura
  • Soar #3 – Salem and Gregori

Buy link

        Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3)

    

blurb

Salem’s guide to making a dragon break up with him:

Step 1: Don’t sleep with him. (No, seriously, don’t.) And definitely don’t let him into your apartment, he won’t leave.

Step 2: Deny being mates and don’t fall in love with him.

…Step one and two failed. Gregori is too stubborn and irresistable.

Salem is currently taking suggestions that don’t involve giving in to his feelings.

(Please note, do not try making the dragon jealous. Jealousy sex is too much fun and cannot be resisted. This will backfire.)

Tags:

One-night stand, ha! just kidding, surgeons be stubborn, no seriously Salem is the king of stubborn, Gregori is stubborn too, how to woo a reluctant mage 101, idiots to lovers, idiots to still idiots, no change on that front, ice dragons can burn up the sheets, more dragon cuddles, broken magic, Brazil, medical magic, mate fog can be dangerous, Rodrigo despairs of his dragons, Ha Na is Very Disappointed, that scares everyone, Sam is ready to throat punch Salem, Russian food is magical, all the cameos, age of mages, Ravi and his twins haven’t burned down the world, yet, 3 a.m. is a perfectly valid time for naked bonding ceremonies

  • Publication date: October 18, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 312 pages

Review: Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4🌈

Author V.L. Locey is off to a terrific start on her new paranormal romance series with Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee.  

It begins with Archimedes Kee ‘Archie’ Kee , Asian American, who helps run his grandfather’s failing family business, Kee’s Book Store in Liverswell, MA. Archie can interact with ghosts, a family gift passes down through generations that’s now especially relevant as Archie’s current location has several resident ghosts to converse with.  

There’s Reggie, who died in 1778, he haunts the bookstore, reads the latest books, and considers himself part of the establishment and family. Also the ghosts in the streets,along with a spectral cat that comes and goes, as cats do.   

 But it’s the living that have issues to contend with, bills to pay, and Archie’s fluency in Mandarin brings him a handsome college football player,  Phil Kestrel ,seeking help and a tutor for his Asian studies class.

Archie and Phil’s developing relationship is wonderful, especially when Phil is let in on the truth about Archie’s gift and the bookstore’s resident ghosts.  As the plot switches over into a investigation into the mysterious presence in the lake, and what it means for the town’s inhabitants (living and non-corporeal), it picks up speed but starts to lose some depth in the background and plot.

I liked how Locey created and then wove in the various ethnic languages and historical references from the town to make the paranormal stories and investigations the deepest, and saddest part of the story.  It could have been even more detailed, but perhaps that is going to be part of the next book. It’s certainly got my attention. And it introduces certain families of the town who might have a part to play in future stories as well.

Most of my quibbles have to do with the relationship between Archie and Phil, and Archie’s gift. Archie and Phil are just getting to know each other, they admit that they really like each other, which seems reasonable and , actually quite adorable.

But, as in too many stories I’ve read, they jump immediately into the “I love you “ conversation and confessions stage which hadn’t, imo, had a the same amount of narrative time or believable aspect to their relationship that other elements had. Really like on the way to something else? Yes, absolutely. Instant love? No. That case wasn’t made.  Especially when there’s so much else going on around them.  

And we really know very little about Phil here. What’s the background on him?

So in Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee I feel that V.L. Locey is setting up a terrific location, characters and themes for a new adventure and series.  There’s so much she wants to lay down that not all got fully developed or explained, just put in place for future adventures and books to make use of.  I absolutely adore Archie , his grandfather, Reggie, and look forward to learning more about Phil and the rest of the town.  

This is a definite recommend for lovers of paranormal romance.

Cover by Meredith Russell. Love the cover.

Buy Link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Kestrel…Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee

Blurb:

Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) :

One speaks to the dead, the other talks to everyone else. Both have hearts that are whispering to each other’s.

Archimedes Kee has always had the gift. From his youngest days, he has been able to communicate with the dearly departed. Most of the time, they seek him as a way to correct wrongs or for help moving over to the next plane. Some just want to complain about badly written books. Generally, he does his best to aid the stranded spirits as he juggles working part-time at his grandfather’s bookstore, a job he adores, with attending a local college. Stuck in the grind of the day-to-day, he is totally unprepared for the arrival of Phil Kestrel, who blows into the shop like a hurricane with his blond hair, blue eyes, and unparalleled exuberance.

For the first time in forever, Archie can’t pull back into the protective shell he has learned to keep up. Phil is not only a charmingly sweet and sexy man, but he’s also slowly winning Archie’s heart one 80’s song at a time. After witnessing an unearthly book club meeting late one night the football star slash film major discovers Archie’s secret and proposes a plan. They make a ghost hunter show for extra credit and to bring much-needed foot traffic to the old bookstore. The plan has merit, so they seek out a local legend and face off against an anguished soul who puts their new bond to the test.

Kestrel and Kee – The Siren of Lake Killikee is an opposites attract queer paranormal romance starring a shy medium, a gregarious footballer, a resident bookstore specter with a decidedly wicked mind, one otherworldly feline, a small town filled with ghostly goings on, an elderly family member eager to play matchmaker, a haunted lake, and a spirited happy ending.

  • Publication date: October 17, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 211 pages

Review:  Burned (Drake Security Book 5) by Mika Nix

Rating: 4.25🌈

Burned is a fitting way to end the Drake Security series, with Lord’s story and his tortured enemies to lovers, fated mates romance. 

Lord’s been that character with the older brother syndrome. Stolid, serious, constantly in control and ever watchful over the family business as well as all over the family, including his brothers, their mates, and younger clutchings. 

So it makes sense that his story is the very antithesis of his life and nature. It’s dramatic, compulsive, and absolutely terrifying, the opposite of how he’s been living and taught.   

Mika Nix , aka authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, mirrored his impulsive acts toward a specific target, his fated mate who happens to be his worst enemy, a dragon hunter. That’s a fatally wounded Alrick Havaror, a young Viking from a notorious dragon hunter family.

Lord and Alrick have matching angst filled emotions towards each other as they fight their own battles with the bond and their backgrounds.  I really enjoyed this element of the story. They were well suited and their journey was full of chemistry and communication.

While we are very familiar with the Drake family and their mates, Alrick’s history and family background could have used more development, especially given that ending.  Considering the foul deeds his father, older brother, grandfather etc have committed, that end wasn’t exactly satisfying, even with the overlaying factor of kinship.

New wonderful characters included Viggo (middle brother of Alrick’s), and Xanthis, a powerful Scottish dragon mage who promptly flirts with Dahlia. And while the authors let us know what happened with the two women, Viggo, who had an important role and his own journey here, oddly vanished from the story. After being told he was from now on a permanent member of the Drake family. SMH

If they say he went home with good old dad and brother. No. That doesn’t track as both authors had him say he wanted to remember the events and what they had done and everything that had occurred. So no.

Big narrative hole here and missing character. 

So Burned ends up a good story but not a great one. I enjoyed the couple but there’s quite a few stumbles narratively speaking that keeps this shy of 5 stars. Still a lovely series and one I’m recommending.

Drake Security series:

  • Hot Head #1
  • Smoulder #2
  • Wild Fire #3
  • Inferno #4
  • Burned #5 – series finale 

Buy link

        Burned (Drake Security Book 5)

    

Blurb

Of all the creatures I could have accidentally mate bonded with, did it have to be a dragon slayer?

I never let my dragon take control. Never. Distraught after the death of a friend, I made a mistake…

Finding a beautiful, broken viking on the verge of death in the middle of a forest, all of my instincts screamed at me to save him. My dragon wouldn’t have it any other way. For two-thousand years I’ve saved my mating fire, waiting for fate to bring me true, binding love. But with this stranger only a breath away from the afterlife, I didn’t have a choice.

I can’t really be mated to a dragon slayer, can I? There has to be a way to break this bond before his brothers come looking for him or mine realize what I’ve done.

The only problem is, the more time I spend with the captivating, big hearted man, the more I think that fate might have had a hand in things after all…

Is he feeling it too, or am I about to get burned?

  • Publication date: October 16, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 254 pages

Review:  Bold As Brass (Elementally Yours Book 3)  by FN Manning 

Review:  4🌈

Bold As Brass (Elementally Yours Book 3)  by FN Manning is a well written, well executed paranormal romance.  I thought Manning did a good job of explaining why Oliver Brass, brother and son to the Brasses held responsible for the crimes in book 1, makes the decisions he does here with regard to his magic and the use of a D/s relationship with respect to his control.

There’s a very good author’s note about this element. Read it carefully. This story incorporates a realistic D/s relationship between two people, one of which is older than the other. If this isn’t an element that you enjoy reading about, you might want to skip the book.

For me, I found I didn’t connect with these characters as I had with the other couples in the preceding novels. I’m not sure why, because a D/s relationship isn’t an issue for me.  Nor the difference in ages. Although the fact that (but not truly ) they almost rode the line between student and professional life is slightly troubling.  It was addressed by the author. 

I think that I felt that there wasn’t enough of a real connection between them to account for the sudden admission of deep love that happens. 

That could be a difference of perspective. Another reader might think it’s fine. 

I do wish there was more information about what exactly went on towards the end. A resolution about what happened to fix everything . Instead we get a dinner and a HFN. It didn’t feel entirely satisfactory. 

All in all, Bold As Brass (Elementally Yours Book 3)  by FN Manning  was well written but needed a better wrap up. 

Elementally Yours:

Frost or The Bite #1

Strikes Twice #2

Bold As Brass #3

Buy link

        Bold As Brass: M/M Paranormal Romance (Elementally Yours Book 3)

    

Blurb

Control is everything… until you find someone worth surrendering to.

Oliver Brass is beyond prim and proper. He’s practically English after spending years studying metal magic in posh British schools. But when a family scandal turns his world upside down and his powers stop obeying, a stiff upper lip isn’t helping him regain control. Instead, an alluring professor shows the metal mage how to surrender.

A charming educator by day and a dirty dom by night, Liam Monroe has the unique ability to control a person’s body and magic. Liam demands obedience, and even though Oliver may never stop blushing, he and his magic are eager to comply.

Everything is going well until dragons drop in with a score to settle, determined to make the wizard pay for the sins of his family. Oliver will need to rely on his powers if he has any hope of stopping the vengeful dragons… or keeping Liam. Can Oliver be bold enough to fight for the man he loves, or will it all go up in flames?

Bold as Brass features an innocent wizard being ‘corrupted’ and an intelligent literature professor who also happens to be a wicked dominant. There’s also shamelessly perverted moon rituals, literal and magical power exchange, BDSM, finding strength in unexpected places, dangerous dragons, and romantic moonlit confessions. This is the third book in the Elementally Yours series of magical gay romances. Each book features different characters and can be read alone

Review: Dragon’s Folly (Wings Over Albion Book 3) by Joy Lynn Fielding 

Rating: 4.5🌈

Dragons, mysteries, romance and multiple ongoing storylines. Yes please. I’m just loving this series by Joy Lynn Fielding.  Her Wings Over Albion just got more intriguing while expanding the series foundation knowledge and known dragon families previously laid out. 

Now , as the book begins ,the fearsome, totally powerful head of dragons, Abimelech Mortimer, has call a moot, a gathering of the heads of the dragon families in a neutral location, for a major announcement. As well as other purposes on his agenda. 

As the dragons rarely leave their own territories, this is an exceptional event, fraught with challenges and potential undertones.  A fabulous way to introduce the characters and the stakes involved with the players and challenges faced. 

We see briefly, some of the characters of the other novels. But our immediate attention will fall on the newest characters and dragons. As it should because they are remarkable. 

Especially Ollie Shaw. Ollie is that character who shows astonishing growth from the awkward, somewhat disrespected lesser member of his family to dragon who lives and loves largely. His journey, which encompasses that of Archer Talbot, and his siblings Tim and Mia, is revelatory.  We rejoice with him and Archer, along with Mia and Tim, as they shift in their thinking, struggling with their own personal pasts, and restructure into a believable, magnificent warm-hearted family. One we dearly want more of in the end. 

Fielding adds to the dragon mythology and knowledge she’s building as well as bringing more dragons of color into the series.  Everything is weaving together into a fabulous series tapestry that melds King Arthur, mystery, dragon politics, and love.  I can’t help to see what happens next.

This is beautifully written, fantastic characters and gorgeous plots.  Highly recommended!

Cover art

Wings Over Albion:

  • The Red Dragon of Oxford #1
  • In the Dragon’s Lair #2
  • Dragon’s Folly #3

Buy link

        Dragon’s Folly: MM paranormal romance, Wings over Albion, Book 3

    

Blurb

Falling for him would be pure folly. I know that. Now all I have to do is convince my heart…

Allowing a strange dragon into my home was not my idea.

The Assembly assured me it was necessary, though. And that’s how I ended up with him.

Ollie Shaw is clumsy. Unfairly hot. He stumbles through my life leaving a trail of chaos and sunny charm in his wake.

And I hoard every moment with him like he’s my greatest treasure.

But with an entire dragon territory to rule, bills to pay, and treachery brewing in my family, I can’t afford to be distracted by Ollie’s copper-gilded beauty and boundless enthusiasm.

I especially can’t give in to my dragon’s primal urge to claim him.

Because loving him could cost me everything I’ve fought so hard to protect. And that would eventually come back to bite us both—with dragon’s teeth…

Dragon’s Folly, Book 3 in the Wings over Albion series, is a sweet and spicy, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity paranormal m/m romance.

  • Publisher: Independently published (October 9, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 9, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 287 pages

Review:  How To Summon A Memory (a Cauldrons and Kisses story) by Morgan Lysand

Rating: 3🌈

I had started into this universe and the various characters stories with Lysand’s first book, Kisses at the Crossroads (Fortune Favors the Fae series).  That was Lark, an imprisoned fae and a crossroads demon’s love story. It introduced the town of Hex, Indiana and Lysand’s intention of expanding into various other relationships of the side characters in future series and stories.

This approach, as I noted earlier, left the original plot a bit unsatisfying as it appeared that Lysand was concentrating on setting up the foundation for other plots to come.

They ended up across several different multi-author, various themed series. I have listed them below as has the author under the title Hex, Indiana. Does this make for a comprehensive or complete sense of the universe or greater understanding of the characters represented? Not really. But I’ll let you be the judge.

The concept behind this story is a good one. The idea of two best friends/potential lovers, in this case a summoned crossroads demon and a young witch separated from each other . By loss of memory, an inability to find their person, a mystery , combined with an unknown determined enemy, is a terrific one.  It catches your attention and engages your imagination.  Especially the characters here, one Prof. Ethan Speller who’s engaged to his best friend, the nonbinary Florence, an engagement and marriage neither wants but can seem to stop because of their powerful families. Add to that an unhappy crossroads demon, Warwick, who doesn’t know what happened to the young witch who was his best friend? Amazing plot.

However, How To Summon A Memory just doesn’t have enough depth or page length to really capture the potential of the story the author has set out to create.  There’s so much that gets lost here.  

Florence, the best friend? Terrific character. Their familiars , chubby squirrel (Florence) and hummingbird (Ethan) are important but not well introduced.  Other parts of this story, like the school, or subplots like the ones involving the students and chemistry classes, aren’t either necessary but overly dramatic or needed and not well executed. Much of the story goes along these lines. 

The narrative doesn’t flow smoothly or in an evenly balanced/paced way that makes the book feel cohesive.  Which is a shame because a really good idea and couple gets lost along the way. 

The person responsible for all the woe gets off with a “do better “, the explanation for the magic doesn’t really work, and I’m left wondering why it wasn’t combined into one series to begin with. 

This was interesting . If you are a fan of the series and author, that’s who I’m going to recommend it as a read.

Cauldrons and Kisses (8 books)

🔹Love Potions and Moonlight by Kota Quinn

🔹Charmed by Rainbow by Jax Stuart

🔹Enchanted Hearts by Jacey Davis

🔹Oral Hex: An MM Omegaverse Romance by Salem Jack

🔹How To Summon A Memory by Morgan Lysand

🔹Half Past Hex by Toby Wise

🔹Prince, Charmed by Ducky Mack

🔹The Trouble With Spells by Raiven Mathews 

——

Connected universe books:

Welcome to Hex, Indiana : 

🔷Kisses at the Crossroads (Fortune Favors the Fae series)

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch (Tales from the Tarot series)

🔷How To Summon A Memory (Cauldrons and Kisses)

Buy link

        How To Summon A Memory

    

Blurb

Ethan

Who is the beautiful demonic stranger in my dreams? That’s what I want to know. But between teaching at Hex University and preparing for my unfortunate nuptials to a fellow witch, I don’t have time to explore why the demon seems so familiar. I just know the demon is important, but why?

Warwick

I’ve been searching for my best friend, Ethan, for six years. One minute he stood in front of me, finally ready to make his crossroads deal to free him of his arranged marriage, the next he’s gone and he took my heart with him. I’ll do anything to find him, if only to tell him off for leaving me right when we could finally be together. Color me surprised when one night Ethan walks through the door of the bar I’m moping in. But he’s not the same sweet, goofy boy I fell in love with. No, this is a man who has forgotten me and his true self. Will my crossroads magic be enough to bring back his memories? It better, I won’t be forgotten.

How To Summon A Memory is a fluffy and spicy paranormal romance featuring a witch missing his memories and a possessive crossroads demon determined to get back to the man he loves. 

Cauldrons and Kisses is a multi-author series of MM magical standalone stories. 

  • Publication date: October 11, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 146 pages

Review:  Back In The Hunt: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4🌈

Back In The Hunt both continues the overall themes and universe started with the Moon Murder Mysteries (3 book series) that introduces the characters, locations and incredible complex mythologies and cultural linguistic concepts/elements that are at the heart of everything here.

That each book needs at the beginning of the story its own introduction to the various aspects of the mythologies in use, the translations of the old Gaelic terms in casual usage, witch lore is testament to Sterling’s dedication to a well crafted universe and the depth of detail and development that’s being explored here.

This achievement of increasingly complex concepts and character dimensions does several things to this story and new series.  It makes it necessary for a reader to have read the preceding Moon Murder Mysteries before arriving here so they have the right background information and understanding of the circle of characters that is the basis for this book and group of people.  

The other aspect of this densely packed narrative is that you must be able to carry that knowledge with you throughout the story, so even that minutiae from a prior book is available to pull out when a character, say Merlin, mentions it in a throw away bit of conversation here. 

For me, it engages my brain in absolute appreciation even if I’m not completely emotionally attached to the characters.  Odd how that has worked out, at least for me.  I’m so fascinated by the conceptual context and issues that it’s removed me from the emotional connection. 

Did I enjoy reading this? Absolutely. Thought the entire aspect of the changeling and how Sterling saw them was imaginative and well constructed.  

I did find that it was resolved too quickly and in a way we didn’t quite find out what happened to the two “troublesome “ beings. That felt unsatisfying to me.  Perhaps in the future stories we will find some further resolution.

Until the next book, which I’m really anticipating, I am content to leave the group of Prof Lennox ‘Nox’ MacIlwraith ,FBI Agent Grady Nelson,

Merlin Oglethorpe ,Prof Darrach Clancy , Bryn Cadwallader and Everly Wells, Bryn’s twin brother, Arawn, surgeon, married to

Dr Fletcher Bixby, gathered together as yet another personal case is ready for their attention. 

I’m definitely recommending this but please ignore that sentence in the description that states it can be read as a standalone. No. Why do they keep putting those things on books that absolutely aren’t standalone stories. SMH. 

Cover Art isn’t credited but I love it.

Moon Murder Mysteries (3 book series):

  • Nelson & MacIlwraith #1, 2, and 3

A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries related)

  • Back In The Hunt #1
  • The Tides of March #2 – March 15,2025

Buy link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Back-…Back In The Hunt: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Your soul is his to take. And he takes that very seriously.

After a string of gutting losses, Everly Wells has given up on life. But a near-death experience and an encounter with a cocky paramedic with glowing green eyes, gives Everly a new reason to live…and powerful allies fighting to keep him out of danger.

Bryn Cadwallader and his twin brother might be descended from the hounds of the Wild Hunt, but there are limits to their powers. When Bryn saves Everly’s life, refusing to take the lost mortal’s soul onwards, he realises darker, stranger forces are at work. Rattled but determined to save Everly’s life, Bryn looks to a very different, but uniquely qualified pair of investigators.

FBI Agent Grady Nelson and Professor Nox MacIlwraith.

To track a foe who uses both modern and ancient means, Nelson and Nox must use their knowledge of the occult and experience fighting crime and evil to help Bryn thwart this new, mystical threat. Can they save Everly, or will Bryn be cursed to an eternity hunting for his lost love?

Formerly listed as The Case of the Curious Cadwallader, Back In The Hunt is a hurt-comfort, paranormal mystery romance. It overlaps with the epilogue of Nelson & MacIlwraith: Moon Murder Mysteries #3, and references some events from the Moon Murder Mysteries trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone.

*From me: no, just no. They absolutely can’t be read as a standalone. Why do they insist on putting this in? SMH

Review: Ghostly Dilemma (Ghostly Book 8) by E M Leya

Rating:  4.5🌈

The Ghostly series by EM Leya is going strong as demonstrated by Ghostly Dilemma, the eighth book in this excellent paranormal law enforcement series.  With the romantic relationship between ME Lance and Det. Angus is happy and they’ve moved in together, along with their dog Haunt.  Frank, Angus’ partner has recently bought a home, and Lance’s older brother is leaving the military and coming back home. They’ve even gotten back Carrie (recovering from the hostage situation) and acquired a new receptionist. Things are going well. 

So it’s time to get back to work, small caseloads, different jobs, various storylines.  And by switching it up from a singular dramatic plot line to an almost typical workload for both the police department and medical examiner staff, Leya gives the readers a diverse range of cases and people’s stories and experiences that the characters and departments deal with.  

And the author is able to demonstrate once again how well it’s not the high drama that can make a heartbreaking impact but sometimes it’s life’s smallest and most quiet stories that hit the hardest.  Here not all the ghosts are victims, some are those who left life behind in natural causes or silent, peaceful moments. But, of course, not all.   Leya makes each ghost a vibrant personality, no matter how they left their lives behind.  We also see what happens to the people and lives they have lost.  That’s reality too. 

Each one a case of different lengths but each fascinating and of importance to the lives of those around Lance and Angus, a found family that continues to grow in numbers, both living and ghostly. 

I adore this series because it’s so different in its approach to the ghostly world, and the way the author tells the stories associated with the people around the main characters as well as the characters themselves.  

I’m highly excited to see what the next book will bring.  And definitely recommending this series and story.  Read these in the order they are written. 

What a treat they are!

Ghostly series:

  • Ghostly Awakening #1
  • Ghostly Findings #2
  • Ghostly Envy #3
  • Ghostly Claus #4 
  • Ghostly Target #5 
  • Ghostly Hostage #6
  • Ghostly Death #7
  • Ghostly Dilemma #8 
  • Ghostly Bother #9 (coming soon)

Buy Link:

        Ghostly Dilemma

    

Blurb

Sometimes it’s the little cases.

Not every minute of being a detective is spent solving huge murder cases. Sometimes it’s the little ones that take up Detective Young’s life, like the seventy-year-old cold case that suddenly fell into his lap or figuring out if a death was suicide or murder.

Lance spends most of his time working cases that no one hears about. The unattended deaths of those not under a doctor’s care take up most of his time. Now that he can speak to ghosts, some of those cases are the most interesting. Work isn’t all that is keeping him busy—his brother’s girlfriend has shown up in need of his help, and he can’t refuse when she’d helped him so much in the past.

Life is never boring for Lance and Angus, and though work pulls them both in different directions, they always seem to meet up somewhere in the middle of things. Sometimes it feels like if murder and death didn’t bring them together, they’d never get time together at all.

  • Publisher: E.L. Publishing (October 6, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 6, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 234 pages

Review:  Cosmic Soul: A MM Sci-fi Romance (Cosmic Romance 2) by Mars Quinn

Rating: 4.5🌈

I was intrigued by the theme of the book when Mars Quinn introduced the characters and concept at the end of the first story.  That a human ghost had traveled, somehow, to the stars and stumbled upon a strange planet and being able to see him? Fascinating as a certain other well-known character would say. 

Cosmic Soul: A MM Sci-fi Romance (Cosmic Romance 2) by Mars Quinn turns out to be a beautifully executed and thoughtfully written novel, one that engaged me far deeper than even the first well done story had.

Quinn continues to enlarge this universe by adding to the knowledge of the Drakcol Empire culture,its  martial history, and the sentient Crystal that now drives all their lives and decisions. The Drakcol believe in 4 soul types: warriors, seekers, spiritual, and creators, testing their people to see into what type they fall. This aspect of Drakcol society plays deeply into the various characters dynamics here. That determines much of their lives as some types are valued higher than others simply because of their history. 

In Cosmic Soul, Quinn with these characters, there’s glimpses of almost hidden gifts and other aspects of Drakcol society that are reflective of human life.  Quinn uses, per the author’s notes, deeply personal knowledge to describe parts of Zoltikvoxfyn/Fyn (one of Kal’s brothers) personality. It’s a condition that’s had an enormous impact on his and his family’s lives.  It’s realistically portrayed as something Fyn has been dealing with , similar to human depression.

It’s through Zoltikvoxfyn/Fyn that the human ghostly traveler, Caleb Smith, is able to find someone able to see and hear him. Turns out that Fyn, a name Caleb gives to Zoltikvoxfyn, can see spirits or ghosts, a highly unusual gift among his people.

From this incredible beginning, in Fyn’s room among rare flora, a deeply layered and detailed narrative is created.  These characters will become so dear and remarkable, as well as the tumultuous, often painful journey they must endure in order for them to find their own unique form of love and a mate bond.

The author brings back all the great characters from Cosmic Husband, including them in important roles here, both as family and friends, as Fyn and Caleb seek their way through this difficult period. There’s a subtle development with the Crystal, the two races, the uneasy populace that’s seeing additional narrative growth in the series arc plotting that’s highly fascinating. I can’t wait to see where Quinn goes with this.

Book to book, the characters and storylines are gathering depth and strength in terms of new great characters and world building.  

It’s got humor too. So yes, this is a great read and must series. Read them in the order they are written.

Cover Artist: Etheric Designs

Cosmic Romance:

Cosmic Husband #1

Cosmic Soul #2

Buy Link

        Cosmic Soul: A MM Sci-fi Romance (Cosmic Romance 2)

    

Blurb

So I may be dead, but my afterlife isn’t.

Caleb

After years of wandering the stars, I’ve finally met someone who can see me—the handsome and serious Prince Zoltilvoxfyn. I know I should pass on, but I feel something, like physically feel something, when I’m with him. That hasn’t happened since I was alive, and I can’t help but wonder, why now?

Zoltilvoxfyn

I’m trying to help the human soul, who shouldn’t even be here, leave the mortal plane, but he is resolved to remain. The longer Caleb lingers, the more danger he is in, yet the more I want him to stay by my side. It’s like he belongs here, but that isn’t possible.

This is a spicy stand-alone MM romance in the Cosmic Romance series. It is a sci-fi paranormal romance with a sunshine ghost, a serious alien, overprotective brothers, and a happily ever after. This book is for adult audiences only and has explicit content. Content warning inside.

  • Publication date: October 7, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 408 pages