Review: Inferno (Drake Security Book 4) by Mika Nix

Rating: 3.75🌈

Drake Security, the fated mates series about a family of dragons finding their bonded mates, is now on the fourth brother.

Co-written by K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe as Mika Nix, book four follows Valentino Drake, the one brother we know as busy being in touch with his love life instead of the brothers’ business. It takes a younger brother’s wrong doing and throughly bad decision making to bring Valentino back into the fold and help find his own unique mate.

First off, I loved the storyline of Valentino and Montrose, the demon. Montrose is a fantastic character, probably my favorite next to Lake . He’s intriguing, powerful enough to hold his own with his dragon, and dramatic enough to make any scene that involves him a little richer. Put them together and they are a great combination of riches. Dragon and demon.

Unfortunately there is an element that I found almost as irritating as I loved the romance part of the book. I feel that the authors probably have future plans for him but honestly there’s so much to character of Mac, the younger brother, that just gives me a narrative headache. As the authors created him, and as his part plays out in the book, Mac came perilously close to making me stop reading. Yes, his actions and that they spring from a certain problematic aspect of his personality are the ignition point of the story. I feel if it had only been that one factor, that one theft, it would’ve been, maybe, woven into his youthful status better. However, it’s his continued forbidden thievery that causes so much pain and danger to him and those around him. Without the Drake brothers, even at the end, having Mac feel any deeper remorse for his actions and crimes. Maybe the last one because he was so far in trouble. But all the rest? Not really.

It’s send him back home, and a new threat is here. What happened to ending this one? Because parts of Mac’s story felt unfinished.

So yes to the romance of Valentino and Montrose. They were great and could have used some of the narrative space assigned to the more irritating Mac. No, to the younger brother and his storyline who actually wanted to make me put down the book because of his personality, behavior, and lack of finality to his story.

I’m wondering if the next is the series finale for Drake Security. Sounds like Lord’s story. I’ll definitely be there for it. This was a fifty/fifty book for me.

Drake Security:

Hot Head #1

Smoulder #2

Wild Fire #3

Inferno #4

Buy link

Inferno (Drake Security Book 4)

Blurb:

I know I should keep my hands off of Montrose. But the one thing dragons and demons have in common is how much we love to play with fire.

My youngest brother has always had a knack for getting himself into trouble, but this time he’s stolen from the wrong demon and it might just be the last mistake he ever makes.

I have no reason to trust Montrose, but my dragon does anyway. There’s something about the vibrant, sassy incubus that calls to me, no matter how hard I try to resist.

Saving my brother’s scales should be top priority, but this inferno between Montrose and I just keeps heating up.

If fate put him in my path, can I trust that we’ll make it to the other side of this disaster together? There’s only one way to find out…

• Publication date: May 3, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 253 pages

Review: The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer (Monsters Hollow Book 2) by Chloe Archer

Rating: 4.5🌈

In The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer author Chloe Archer continues to explore the mysterious magic of the town while bringing in new characters and adding new details to the dimensions of this universe.

Its all very exciting.

Archer had me at Max “Maxie” Poppins, the absolute star of the first book of the series and still unseated fav character of mine. As the bestie of romance writer, Ryder, he’s one of the reasons Ryder has made the move to Monster Hollow and Max remains a true emotional connection to everyone else around the town. This in turn helps his more awkward, less socially inclined bestie, Ryder, become at ease with its inhabitants and his new surroundings.

That’s the new main character and half of the latest couple.

Ryder Thomas (aka Ryder St. James) the romance writer of the title and a man with a dangerous threat to deal with. Ryder was a foster child like Max. Ryder, however , ended up with a widely different and damaging family. He is given a sensitive and realistic characterization by Archer.

Ryder’s past experiences drives his emotional perception of love, his own inability to recognize, accept and even acknowledge that it exists.

Then there is Vash Dark Wing, a Scottish Gargoyle, with his own complicated background and current situation to deal with. He too is a well defined character who will reveal new depths of personality and emotions as the story and their relationship progresses.

Really, Archer gives us a little bit of everything here. A stalker and a couple of mysteries, a serious heartbreaker for Vash that now ties up a storyline from The Orc and the Manny, and a slew of new potential characters and romances to come . All from a delightful new source.

Oh and lots of sex! And a wonderful, fun drunken street scene. More of these please.

I had such a great time reading this. And am sorry I’ll have to wait in next year to get the next book in the series.

A yes to the book, and series if you are a fan of paranormal romance and this author!

Monsters Hollow series:

✓ The Demon and the Librarian: a prequel

✓ The Bogeyman and the Schoolteacher #0.5

✓ The Orc and the Manny #1

✓ The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer #2

◦ The Sasquatch and the Stylist #3 – coming 2025

Buy link:

The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer: A Cozy M/M Monster Romance (Monsters Hollow Book 2)

Blurb:

Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!

A quirky romance writer in hiding. A sexy gargoyle lover turned bodyguard. And a stalker that just won’t quit…

Ryder Thomas (aka Ryder St. James)

I assumed writing swoony romance novels about humans and Otherkind might attract some unsavory attention. But I never imagined I’d have an obsessive fan stalking me. Fortunately, my BFF Max has an in with a town he assures me can keep me safe.

As a former foster kid, I’m pretty resilient, but this situation is messing with my sleep and I’m on deadline for my next book!

About the only thing that can help at times like this is some regular mind-blowing… release. Trust me, solo methods just aren’t enough and hooking up with randos isn’t my style. I need someone safe who can reliably rock my world in the bedroom and maybe help me with my research as a bonus!

Enter the hunky Scottish gargoyle who’s been flirting with me ever since I arrived to hide out in Mystic Hollow. We come up with an ideal no-strings and no-feelings arrangement until I leave town for my next book tour.

After all, romance is just a fantasy I write about in my books–right?

Vash DarkWing

From the moment I met Ryder, I wanted to know more about the bonnie, brave man who speaks his mind. With no filter.

When he proposes a few weeks of mutually beneficial shagging before his book tour starts, I immediately jump on the chance to, well, jump him. Just a bit of fun and maybe friendship.

Hell’s bells, but Ryder slips past all my defenses and wins my affections without even trying! Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the man I love safe. Even if it means putting my heart as well as my life on the line.

The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer is a 106k novel that features an inappropriately curious novelist, a sexy Scottish gargoyle, a specialty harness for aerial…shenanigans, a creepy stalker, and true love for the win. This is the second book in the Monsters Hollow series and can be read as a standalone.

Reviewer’s note: No , no they really can’t. These aren’t even close to being standalone stories. Who knows why they are putting this on their descriptions? It makes no sense. SMH

• Publisher: Rainbow Dreams Press LLC (April 30, 2024)

• Publication date: April 30, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 395 pages

Review: Catch and Release by Isabel Murray

Rating: 4.5🌈

Isabel Murray continues to surprise me with her stunning perspectives on romance, relationships, and love.

I fell in love with her through her series, The Unwanted King, a fantasy series with unlikely, memorable characters, subtle heartbreaking elements, hilarious moments, and fabulous storylines.

Catch and Release is a remarkable paranormal romance, usually involving love story between a human and a mythical figure I don’t normally seek out in these romantic novels. I’m talking mermen.

Probably because I overthink the issues that come into play when writing mermen as viable/believable nonhuman beings. More so than other paranormal species, a mermaid or merman exists deep inside our minds, both in fables and mythology. And secretly for some strange reason, there’s a hope that our waters might be actually home to them as well. But would they be humanoid? Humans ,who for whatever reason, live aquatic lives.

Often that’s how they are portrayed.

Not here .

Catch and Release finds Joe McKenzie, 38, ex-hedge fund manager, living a new life as one of the world’s worst fisherman. Joe has moved to Lynwick, small harbour town tucked up between Scotland and northern England. He’s taken up not fishing very well, and been sort of adopted by Jerry Barnes, 58, owner of mid-sized trawler, the Mary Jane.

These are some of the best characters, with a uniquely wonderful dynamic between them. Half friends, and half family, it continues to grow throughout the story, with some of the beloved dialogue between them.

Which is great because there’s none between Joe and what they found in the netting. What they find is not human.

The chapters alternate between titles called Catch and Release. It’s both about the events and about the relationships that occur between them. Dave is the name given to the sea being caught in the nets. Who, what he is ? That’s all assumptions on Joe and Jerry’s part. We only get glimpses of exactly how removed from human Dave is by his actions and interactions with both men.

I love how Murray is able to demonstrate growth in a relationship and layers of understanding without losing sight of his otherworldly self or that Joe is fully human. And that there is a capacity to see each other’s viewpoint even if we have major differences to begin with.

So much deep humanity running into the shocking waters of another world. It’s wonderful, funny, sexy, and painful.

How do I review a book that will break your heart, mend your heart, and break your heart. And sort of mend it again. But only if you don’t think too far ahead past the end of the book.

Because Murray is beautiful in her realism. In her acknowledgement that Joe is and will always be human. And sometimes love is not forever. But it can be enough for today. And tomorrow.

Read this book. And, if you haven’t already, put Murray on your auto buy list. Highly recommended to both.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Catch-…Catch and Release: MM Merman Romance eBook : Murray, Isabel: Kindle Store

Blurb

Joe McKenzie’s high-flying London life imploded six years ago, and it happened dramatically enough that paramedics were involved. That’s all in the past. Now, Joe couldn’t be happier living a solitary life as a fisherman on England’s wild northern coast.

Okay, he could be happier.

It’s not like he’s depressed or anything but, you know. The weather’s not great. Life’s a bit samey. He’s only thirty-eight. The idea of another forty years is a bit exhausting, to be honest. He passes the time pretending to be a fisherman but the truth is, he sucks at it.

Then Joe makes the catch of a lifetime when he stumbles across the mysterious Dave washed up on the beach—an enormous man with gills and uncanny power over the sea. Once Dave stops trying to kidnap Joe and/or kill Joe’s fishing buddy, Jerry, turns out he’s kind of…intriguing?

And not half as smooth as he seems to think he is.

There’s a lot Joe doesn’t know about Dave. He doesn’t know why Dave keeps disappearing or why he can’t seem to stay away. He doesn’t know what Dave wants from him. He doesn’t even know what, exactly, Dave is. And Joe can’t ask, because they don’t speak the same language.

Joe does know one thing, though. He is in love.

Which, great. How’s that going to end well?

Catch and Release is a gay paranormal romantic comedy featuring a truly terrible fisherman with an octopus phobia, a merman (maybe? Confirmation pending) with no sense of personal boundaries at all, constant communication fails, a whole lot of sea life not in the sea but in Joe’s house, yes, it’s dead, some epic yearning from both sides, and bewilderingly enough, maybe a way to make it work?

• Publisher: (August 16, 2021)

• Publication date: August 16, 2021

• Language: English

• Print length: 267 pages

Review: How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit: Bone 6 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy Book 12) by A. J. Sherwood

Rating: 5🌈

Finale time! And Steve’s gonna be a whole new dragon! Well, long dead and a skeleton one at that! But happy happy!

And that madcap murderous fabulous family of sorcerers and a King will adopt another into the fold.

And there’s many weddings!

Sherwood has written a warmhearted, if somewhat murderous tale of adventure, love, magic, and family. It’s been a wild and humorous journey. A absolute pleasure to read, a joy to have ventured into with along with the characters.

Will we see Tan, Devan, the kids, and the rest of the ever enlarging family? Sherwood doesn’t know. But I hope so. They have caught our attention and our hearts. That life and vivacity surely won’t be denied. Stay tuned!

Love these covers.

Series and side stories

💥How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy-6 books

💥How Tan Acquired an Apprentice

💥How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit:Bone series

Buy link

How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit: Bone 6 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy Book 12)

Blurb

Final boss fight! Fight necromancer? (yes) (NO)

Devan: I’m not beating up an old lady.

Tan: Pretty sure the old lady could take you.

Devan: Still not doing it. Time to negotiate.

Tags: dragon acquired keep as pet (yes) (NO), retired necromancers are BAMF, the kids adopt a necromancer grandmother, or a grandmummy if you will, all the weddings, pirates might be lost in the labyrinth, Steve is finally complete!, $$$, vacation time

• Publication date: April 26, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 51 pages

Review: Tempest (The Silver Oak Pack Book 1) by Kiki Clark

Rating: 3🌈

“Based within the Kincaid Pack series’s universe, the Silver Oak Pack features a pack first introduced in The Enforcer and His Mate. Led by Alpha Liam Amato, the Silver Oak Pack is small but fierce as they work to rebuild under Liam’s newfound leadership.”

Clark is starting a new series that expands on the events that have happened within the Kincaid pack universe, a paranormal world’s organizational structure, The Council, was recently brought down by the Alpha of the Kincaid Pack. Rebuilding has been slow, leaving chaos and damaging ramifications behind.

That’s the situation Tempest finds the Silver Oak pack, dealing with the fallout, full of suspicion of change, outsiders, and the result is a pack that’s in stasis.

The portrait of a community frozen by its fears, history, and prejudice is clearly defined by the author. We understand the ramifications and the ugly consequences of this continuing pack identity will have on its members.

But that makes it hard to connect with others in this story. Or any sudden reversals in behavior or decision making.

The main character of Ore, the golden eagle shifter, who shows up wounded and unable to remember what happened, is an engaging one. His background is probably one of the issues here. While i like him, his storyline is also both interesting and not so well developed. It has potential but is wrapped up so quickly, for all the buildup, that you as a reader wonder what the problem was. It’s over in minutes. And it leaves another aspect of his story unresolved.

Cash, a felidae shifter, comes from a terrible background of parental abandonment. That’s contributed to his current situation as Enforcer and attitude of Pack first mindset. So his inability to accept his mate that literally falls into his arms because he’s not a feline, is both frustrating and understandable . To a point.

The author misses the mark here because, there’s a real lack of communication between almost everyone. Mates, friends, family, and importantly, the Alpha and those that are supposed to advocate for the pack or themselves.

So for most of the book no one talks to anyone. About important things. Yes, they do talk about if Ore’s getting his memory back. But other things? Nope.

There’s something else. The Mobster’s Mate, which is listed as a standalone really isn’t. It leads into this series as sort of a prequel, and should be read as such. Characters from that appear here and events there are important references here.

In fact it’s a better developed story and its characters have more chemistry and relationship than those here

Read The Mobster’s Mate, then read this. Tempest has potential, especially with its main couple but it’s got quite a few issues with its narrative that highlights the flawed development in plot and shortcuts.

Read it because you enjoy this universe and want to see where the ongoing mystery flows and how it develops.

Silver Oak Pack:

✓ Tempest #1

Kincaid Pack-6 books

✓ The Alpha and His King #1

✓ The Second and His Bonded #2

✓ The Deputy and His Enforcer #3

✓ The Hunter and His Mates #4

✓ The Enforcer and His Heart #5

✓ The Witch and His Doctor #6

✓ The Mobster’s Mate -standalone within the Kincaid universe, so not really

✓ A New Pack for New Year (Kincaid Pack) prequel

Buy link

Tempest (Silver Oak Pack Book 1)

Blurb

When duty and desire clash, fated mates are caught in the middle.

Cash’s loyalty to his pack is unwavering. He’d sacrifice anything to protect his packmates. Do anything to keep them safe. Put their needs above his own—always.

It is the life he was born for, and the one he’s worked years to achieve. As an Enforcer, he swore an oath to his alpha: pack before self.

Not once has he regretted his choices.

Until an injured eagle shifter lands in his lap, and his protective instincts get torn in two.

He knows he can’t risk the safety of his pack—no matter what his panther demands. Once the little bird is all healed up, Cash will have to send him on his way.

For the good of his pack.

But dark, frightened eyes and a sweet smile call to his cat in a hungry, possessive way and challenge everything he’s ever thought he knew.

For the first time in his life, he might just have to put himself first.

Tempest is the first book in the Silver Oak Pack series, set within the Kincaid Pack Universe but able to be read and enjoyed completely on its own. It features an overly protective panther trapped by his own responsibility-driven morals, an eagle who can’t remember much but knows the surly cat makes him feel spine-tingling safe, magical tattoos, skinny dipping, a delicious age-gap, gobs of scenting, and a swoon-worthy happily ever after.

• Publisher: Rainbow Publishing LLC (April 23, 2024)

• Publication date: April 23, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 261 pages

Review: SOS HOTEL: Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2 by Adam Vex and Ariana Nash

Rating: 4.75🌈

Things just keep getting better/worse for the gang at the SOS Hotel. One problem gets resolved only for that solution to have a rippling effect that brings even bigger consequences for Adam, Zee, Victor, and the Hotel.

Nash, writing as the main character Adam Vex, is still very much an enigma. What Adam is remains the biggest mystery of them all and potentially a center of a devastating prophecy. Maybe. Don’t know.

There’s two other beings that have Adam’s attention and who he is attracted to. Zee, the incubus ex porn star who co-owns the hotel with Adam. Turns out Zee has so much more to him that’s revealed here. Hes a fabulous character, so many layers, with the potential to be hurt and emotionally damaged.

Zee is one of the triad that will, according to the description, eventually be formed. The other is Victor, the billionaire vampire, who has more than a few secrets exposed during the story. But he’s still on the periphery of any real relationship between the other two. However, it’s warming up.

Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous really expands on the knowledge of the current world and some of the characters within the hotel while leaving the biggest mysteries surrounding Adam and his existence looming ever larger.

This story is a huge, extra butter, popcorn box of a magnificent piece of sexy suspense and paranormal romance.

It’s so hard to wait until May for Sleep With Us to drop.

Until it does, I’m highly recommending you read the books leading up to it. Read them in the order they are written. What a wonderful read!

SOS Hotel:

✓ For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1

✓ Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2

◦ Sleep with Us #3 – May 2024

Buy link

SOS HOTEL: Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous

Blurb

It’s been two weeks since the SOS Hotel opened, and everything is going great . . .

Apart from the detective who’s dead set on accusing Zee of murder, the leaking pipes, a psycho sorcerer stalker, a shadowbeast in the attic, and . . . did I mention Lord Reynard has a wife? Yeah, he didn’t mention it either. I could have done with knowing that before, you know, kinda falling for the suave, sexy Vampire Daddy.

He also neglected to mention that his wife wants my head on a plate. Literally.

This is not the love triangle I was expecting.

If Reynard lied about that, what else is a lie? Is Zee right, and Lord Reynard wants our hotel? Or is it something more personal he desires, such as my heart?

My name is Adam Vex. I’m totally, one hundred percent human.

Welcome to the SOS Hotel.

Where it’s about to get weird-er.

SOS Hotel is a whacky MMM adventure about a vampire lord, an ex-porn-star demon, and a boring human who absolutely does not have any secrets. 18+ only. You’ll find dark humor abounds, plus explicit language and sex. If you don’t like the f-word, or sex, with a little mass murder thrown in, do not read these books. There will be triggering content for some, including sexual coercion.Proceed with caution.

Have a great stay!

• Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (April 21, 2024)

• Publication date: April 21, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 172 pages

Review: SOS HOTEL: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay by Adam Nex , writing by Ariana Nash

Rating: 4.5🌈

SOS HOTEL has the feel of a terrific serialized fiction story, with a fast paced narrative, a first person point of view, and many, so so many mysteries contained within the storytelling.

In other words, it’s highly entertaining as well as a lively, sexy, mysterious paranormal romp. I really enjoyed it.

Nash, writing as the main character Adam Nex, is having a blast here with all aspects of this story. There’s an underpinning of darkness that makes this interesting and gives the characters and their personalities a needed sharpness. Murder and bloodshed does that.

But then there’s an undeniable quirkiness about so much of this too. Whether it’s the bargain bin AI bartender bought from a shady Fae , the run down, shabby quality of the hotel itself, or any of its denizens, these characters start lightly, humorously weird, and then their personalities gradually change and acquire unexpected depth. Albeit with humor to go with the flashes of dark seriousness.

Then there’s the mysterious main trio of Adam, a person hiding so many secrets, and Zee the succubus ex porn star who’s also a part owner along with Adam of the hotel. Zee has his own secrets and background to be revealed. And there’s Victor, billionaire businessman and vampire who’s strangely interested in Andy and the hotel. Along with the villain of the story.

So much is going on here that it’s a page turner. Be prepared to read until it is finished. And then need more. Honestly, what happened to Clayton?

Moving quickly to book 2, and leaving a definitive , yes, read this, right here.

SOS Hotel:

✓ For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1

◦ Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2

◦ Sleep with Us #3 – May 2024

Buy link

SOS HOTEL: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay!

Blurb:

Guaranteed a supernaturally safe stay!

(Definitely no murders)

A scandalous, ex-porn star demon and a morally shady, billionaire vampire walk into a bar…

But this is no joke. It’s opening day at the SOS Hotel, and that lust demon? He’s my business partner. I know. What was I thinking? The sexy, suave vampire however? He’s something else…

Creating a sanctuary for the supernaturals left here when the tear in the veil sealed was always going to be difficult, but it’s all I have, and I’m going to make it work. Despite the murders, the missing humans, and the psychotic real estate mogul who wants to bulldoze the hotel…

The SOS Hotel must thrive whatever the cost. Because if it fails, I’ll lose everything. Including my life.

My name is Adam. I’m just the boring human who works here, and I absolutely, definitely do not have any secrets.

Welcome to the SOS Hotel. What can possibly go wrong?

Warning: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable. For full warnings, please see the author’s website or the paperback “look inside sample”

• Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (April 19, 2024)

• Publication date: April 19, 2024

• Language: English

• Word Wise: Enabled

• Sticky notes: On Kindle Scribe

• Print length: 174 pages

Review: A Spooky Legacy (The Spectral Files Book 5) by S. E. Harmon

Rating: 5🌈

If A Spooky Legacy is the finale novel for Rainbow “Rain” Christiansen and his husband, fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, then it’s a fabulous story and sendoff to a compelling pair of characters and supporting cast that I have come to adore.

Five books that have taken them through all the stages of a remarkable relationship that has involved adapting to two widely different in-laws with their unique backgrounds, great law enforcement teams, and investigations into cold cases, and ghosts. Lots of ghosts, of the malignant, the uncooperative , and of the helpful kind.

It’s been such a great pleasure and one imaginative, magnificent journey.

So of course the last case will be that of a heartbreaker. For everyone involved.

Just as Rain and Danny are waiting to hear from the adoption agency on their application for approval and potentially getting a child, they will be handed a cold case of missing family.

So many feelings here. Harmon has Rain’s personal doubts and insecurities/fears over being a parent running concurrently with the real painful emotions of the investigation into a case that involves two young children and their parents. One we know didn’t end well.

As the case develops into something dark and far more complicated than expected, so does Rain’s feelings about the adoption and extending their family to include a child. It’s a realistic, emotionally tough but touching storyline. It takes work and commitment and communication on both sides of the relationship. That’s something I really appreciate here.

There’s also an unexpected helpful aspect for Rain to act as a bridge to understanding how it would feel to have someone else in the relationship.

There’s so many touching, moving elements and scenes here. I honestly felt both satisfied and wishing for more at the end.

Does this feel right? Yes. But, how I want a glimpse into their future lives.

This series has been distinguished by extraordinary characterizations, well woven storylines, and remarkable relationships that showed emotional maturity and growth.

That’s rare no matter the genre and I’ll miss them.

Read this in the order of release so not to miss out on the development of characters and relationships.

The Spectral Files:

✓ P.S. I Spook You #1

✓ Principles of Spookology #2

✓ Spooky Business #3

✓ The Spooky Life #4

✓ A Spooky Legacy #5

Buy link:

A Spooky Legacy (The Spectral Files Book 5)

Blurb:

Rain Christiansen is settling into married life with fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, and life is good. Better than good, even. But when it comes to the topic of expanding their family, Rain isn’t so sure he’s ready. Yes, a new addition could enrich their lives. But it could also tear down the delicate balance they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Do they really want to take that risk?

He’d love to brood over that a little more, but murder never takes a day off. A decade-old mystery of the missing Parker family is heating up. Most seem to think the Parkers pulled a disappearing act to get out of financial debt. It isn’t before the PTU finds out the reality is far grimmer than that. It seems that Quinn stumbled upon something better left hidden. Now that Rain has stumbled upon it, too, he has to be careful that he doesn’t meet the same fate.

Sometimes it amazes him how far he’s come from strait-laced FBI agent who couldn’t admit—even to himself—that he saw ghosts. He’s done the work, learning to get some measure of control of his paranormal side. And while his relationship with ghosts may not be perfect, it’s evolved into something symbiotic…which is a very good thing. Because in order to protect himself from the living, he might need a little help from the dead.

• Publication date: April 9, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 382 pages

Review: His Realm (House of Maedoc Book 3) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3🌈

As much as I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, His Realm was just a disconnect for me in many ways. From certain aspects of the character of Jason specifically to moments in the plot that weakens the couple and their dynamic, I just found I had issues here.

Which is a shame because I do enjoy so many of the scenes that the author has created here for the main characters and between others just as important.

House of Maedoc is an entertaining series that, in books one and two, creates a unique world and populates it with dynamic characters. It’s been wonderful to go along with Jason and Varic throughout their journey from their first meeting to their current position in their relationship. It’s been a tumultuous journey with both individuals undergoing major changes in their lives and their personal emotional development.

I’ve loved watching them. Up to now. Because it’s worked til now. Each story has contained huge amounts of dramatic elements and forward momentum in the vampire world and relationships. Even with characters who are not readily likable or beings seen as worthy of emotional connection, like the King himself.

It is Jason who should anchor his own story alongside his Prince, Varic. But Calmes makes some interesting choices for the story and characters that , for me as a reader, dilutes their impact as a strong couple and for their personalities, which spend so much time apart.

Here, Jason’s emotional responses to various highly complex or tragic situations just seem off. These ‘light hearted’ sort of particular personality traits are ones we’ve seen before in other Mary Calmes characters. But usually they were contemporary characters and the events that caused some of the same reactions were less likely to be as violent or extreme as the events that occurred here.

A grin or teasing comment from Jason when one would necessarily or reasonably expect a serious, thoughtful response to a question or situation where it’s been a an ongoing tragedy or people have lost their lives or subjected to loss.

It’s so jarring that it causes the reader to question whether the character’s actions are credible and think how shattered you’d be in the same situation.

There’s more. Repeatedly, Jason warns of serious threats and is dismissed. Even after being informed his advice won’t be ignored anymore. But Jason himself is a major problem. He,as the consort of the Prince, and therefore a member of the royal household, refuses to adhere to security measures and protocols. He constantly goes out without his guards, not reflecting on the ramifications of this for Varic and his staff.

He’s become an inconsistent character. As has Varic in relation with communication with Jason, what distance does to their relationship, etc.

It’s one element after another which weakens them, the story, their relationship, for the sake of a narrative drama that involves so many frustrating scenes and dysfunctional dynamics that it’s hard to care at times how it ends.

With a wedding and more things that just are pulled together quickly enough for the sake of the series rather than in keeping with everything that’s gone on before, with all the threads and characters’ personalities.

I like this author and feel that she has other, stronger series and characters to choose from.

Read this if you’re a fan, and to finish this series.

House of Maedoc :

✓ His Consort #1

✓ His Prince #2

✓ His Realm #3

Buy link

His Realm (House of Maedoc Book 3)

Blurb:

On their first meeting, Varic Maedoc, prince of the vampyrs, told Jason Thorpe that loving him was not for the faint of heart. He wasn’t kidding. In the past two years, Jason has been kidnapped, lived through several attempts on his life, and foiled a coup. Now, his new life as the prince’s consort and adviser to the king is made even harder by Varic’s prolonged absence. With his prince off hunting down a traitor, Jason must fend for himself.

While the separation doesn’t last, even Varic’s return won’t stave off the wicked plotting of others, and Jason soon finds himself—again—fighting for his life while navigating ancient betrayals and revenge put in motion before he was even born. And he must prevail because his prince needs him to bring a place without honor back into his realm.

But what festers in rage and bitterness is something Jason never expected, and nothing he’s experienced in his human life, or in the decadent court of the king, could’ve prepared him for the wrath that’s about to be unleashed.

Varic needs both his crown and his consort to be the king he’s always wanted to be, and it’s up to Jason to make sure their bond never breaks.

• Publication date: April 16, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 334 pages

Review: Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.25🌈

Higher Demon begins a new a sequel series to the fantastic Ghostly Guardians, called The Collective. That’s the ancient hidden agency started to protect humanity from demons, including the hunters who tracked and killed them.

The book and series begins after the tumultuous and violent events of the previous Ghostly Guardians finale, where corruption was uncovered in the Collective and a plot to bring both the earth and the demonic realm into the same plane , which culminated in a vicious battle.

All those characters now migrate into this new series, either as main characters or as supporting but equally important players. So having the knowledge of their stories and the background is a necessity here.

The Higher Demon of the title is, of course, Marc, the higher demon we met books ago. What a fascinating character he’s been from the beginning.

Marc started as an enigma, moves into semi-villainous status, and then keeps evolving as more about him and his role is revealed. His demonic nature, however, is pleasingly unique and Marc’s. Ancient, arrogant, definitely not human, Masters’ is able to both show an evolution in his thinking and capacity to change while keeping his essence intact. I adore Marc.

Then there’s the brothers we have meet many times before, mostly when they were both younger and with their older brother, Con. There is Matty, who will be featured in book 2, and Ian, who is the main character here. Ian is a great character too. Snarky, hilarious, tempered by his years as a hunter and now teacher.

Ian has always had main character energy from the time he was 12 and used flowers to protect his older brother from Marc, a story that has it’s origins in the first series and gets retold here, multiple times . Now 6 years later, Ian is older and the strange wonderful dynamic that pulls him and Marc together gets stronger.

The relationship that builds between them is built on snark, history, appreciation of each other’s intelligence and respect, however unacknowledged.

Masters has created additional threats to the tenuous peace treaty that requires investigation from both sides, a romance between Ian and Marc that has huge implications for both species as well as both characters, and for Ian’s relationship with his family.

Masters is packing a lot of elements into this first book, so for me it feels as though some aspects weren’t as developed as they could have been. The investigation is one. It ends on a “as told by “ explanation after an intriguing start.

Another element is the character of Con, Ian’s older brother. This character has had 6 years to adapt and mature as an individual. Here, he comes perilously close to being a bully and hothead, he’s riding the line that could make him a negative narrative force rather than a positive one. It’s understandable in that ancient ghost of a relative. Him? Not so much.

Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1) by Louisa Masters is a good read. I love the main characters of Marc and Ian, and look forward to seeing them as well as Matty’s story.

I thought that there were a few things that needed more attention to detail, more development in the narrative. Also, anyone coming to this story needs to read the first series for the characters and foundation knowledge it brings here. While the author does some explaining on the backstory, it’s far too complicated with regard to the characters and plots not to read the series itself.

Both are recommended! Happy reading.

Ghostly Guardians:

✓ Spirited Situation #1

✓ Vortex Conundrum #2

✓ Conduit Crisis #3

✓ Gateway Catastrophe #4 -finale

The Collective, sequel series:

✓ Higher Demon #1

◦ Demon Hunter #2-Aug 29,2024

Buy link

Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1)

Blurb

No matter the demon, the hunter’s role is clear…

A thousand years ago, my great-something uncle founded the Collective, a secret organization dedicated to protecting humanity from demons. The hunter tradition has been passed down over the generations, from parent to child, secure in the knowledge that the Collective is a community of safety and knowledge.

But betrayal sucks, and six years ago, it turned my world—and the Collective—upside down. After generations of deception, the hunters left behind are picking up the pieces and trying something we’ve never done before—working side by side with our enemy.

Demons, just to be clear. They’re apparently “misunderstood,” but the jury is still out on that. And I—a twentysomething archivist with an addiction to hoodies—somehow ended up as liaison to the demon ambassador.

If it sounds like a nightmare, that’s because it is. The demon ambassador is a stuck-up, pretentious twat… not to mention he could kill me with a thought. Worst of all, he’s getting under my skin in ways I never expected. But I’m the only hunter who doesn’t actively want to kill him, so… tag, I’m it.

I’ve already been betrayed by those I should have been able to trust the most. How hard can hanging out with a higher demon be?

The author recommends reading the Ghostly Guardian series for full background on what happened six years ago, though it’s not essential.

• Publisher: (April 11, 2024)

• Publication date: April 11, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 246 pages

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