Eden Winters new release, Darkness, is a superb supernatural thriller. Wintersā beautifully written narrative combines elements of horror, murder mystery, political conspiracy, as well as a deeply intriguing romance to create a dark, suspenseful, and gripping story.
It starts with Atlanta PD Det. Morrisey James. Heās a wounded, broken man, with a disturbing talent that allows him to sense what the newly deceased felt, a gift he keeps hidden in his job investigating violent crimes.
Thatās where Winters drops the reader into the narrative. James and his partner have just arrived at the scene of a truly horrific crime, one that will have ramifications for the rest of the story. We immediately get a feel for Morriseyās battered emotional state, the close dynamic between himself and his deeply depressed partner. And the author is able to portray, just from the remarks of the other crime scene officers, a city under siege as waves of high crime just overwhelm the police and all departments.
When tragedy strikes again and loss hits Morrisey, its help from Farren Austin that turns his life upside down.
The characters of Morrisey and Farren, the darkness and the light, are so thoughtfully and beautifully crafted. Winters builds believable people who we have real empathy for , but leaves them with so much more room to expand their characters into increasingly larger and complex roles.
I couldnāt stop reading. I was so caught up in Morriseyās story, Farrenās role in it, each new revelation about all the various travelers and their tumultuous journeys from a dying world. Winters has enough elements for a series should she want to continue exploring the world and characters she has created and set in motion.
I wasnāt really ready for Darkness to be over as I felt the characters were just getting started with their own new beginning. There were also other characters I had grown fond of and needed to see more of them.
Whether this is a standalone or the beginning of an extraordinary series, itās a great story and one Iām excited to share.
As an Atlanta PD detective, Morrisey understands the worst atrocities the city has to offerāor believes he does. His recent cases present something new: a killer who unleashes unbridled terror in victims before moving in for the kill. Morrisey has an edge, though, the terrifying ability to gain flashes of insight from each victim.
Most people assume Farren Austin is a shallow, pretty boy, but heās so much more. Agent Austin keeps secrets as part of the FBIās Alternate Entities Task Force, a unit created to monitor travelers from another realm. Although they might look human, theyāre anything but.
And theyāve taken a special interest in Morrisey.
Partnered with Farren, Morrisey finds himself in the middle of demons trying to possess his body, a succubus sidekick who wants to cook him breakfast, accusations of being a powerful destructive force, and a growing number of people calling him āDarkness.ā Not to mention a sudden overwhelming attraction to his new partner.
Itās going to take the mysterious Farrenās help to keep the latest case from being Morriseyās last.
F. N. Manningās urban fantasy series. Supernatural Affairs, draws to a close with The Soul of an Angel.
Manningās story is a good finale in that the reader has some important questions answered about the main characters and their relationships. The author also supplies further exploration of the universe and adds on to the series world building/mythology already established.
Does everyone get a HEA? No. A HFN , which is more in keeping with the storylines and newness of the main coupleās relationship. That actually makes sense, but for a finale novel some people might not be satisfied.
Manning has a number of larger series elements that need in-depth exploration and themes that require more heavy lifting, narratively speaking, than a book 195 pages long can provide.
Frost, a Angel hiding from Heaven, revelations about the true nature of the inhabitants of Heaven and Hell, their relationship with Earth, the past and current history between the three realms, a hidden political conspiracy, complete with battle and thatās just what is basically happening.
Letās then throw in internecine family dynamics, and a main character in danger whoās the fated mate of Frost. Nathan Clinton is someone who is being hunted down and thatās what brings him to the attention of Frost because of what is hunting him.
I liked Manningās characterizations of both Frost, who weāve seen before, and Nathan, a very frightened man on the run from demons and a supernatural world just revealing itself to him.
I think that my issues here are that thereās little time for any real development in this relationship because thereās so much more that Manning needs to pay narrative attention to and does. To the detriment of this couple.
A fight for Earth. Yes, super important and that would necessitate a lot of new information and elements to be added. Which they are. Aliens who arenāt what they appear? Yes, more exploration and more details required. So much more.
Probably see where this is going.
Thereās really not enough time within the pages to lay out all the really interesting and imaginative content that Manning has written for this story and series. So in trying to get it all done, it all feels as though the author has made sacrifices and nothing has the layers and dimensions expected in a finale or book with this many storylines.
Itās got a lot of potential. I enjoyed the characters, and some of the relationship dynamics. I just wish there had been more length or another book to make that work.
The author does mention the idea of another sequel series which perhaps would tie up some of the many loose ends left behind here. And let us see what happens next to those characters without partners or just getting a start with theirs. That would be lovely.
If youāre interested in paranormal romance or urban fantasy stories, here is a series for you.
In a battle between Heaven and Hell, two lovers must fight to stay together and save the world.
Frost the angel takes pride in protecting others as an agent with the Department of Supernatural Affairs. But his days on Earth are numbered when his family intends to drag him back to Heaven. After centuries of precious freedom, wishing for more time feels greedy. Itās just a shame that Nathan enters the picture right when his time as a free man is up.
Being a high school music teacher isnāt exactly glamorous, but Nathan Clinton is happy with his life. He already did the impossible once by escaping toxic, controlling parents and starting over, so stopping the demons after his immortal soul should be a piece of cakeā¦ right? Good thing a beautiful angel has offered his assistance.
When angels and demons start taking an interest in Earth and the world is threatened, Frost and Nathan find themselves in the middle of a brewing war between worlds. With the angel being pulled to Heaven and Nathan being dragged to Hell, is there any hope of them being together on this worldāand also saving the Earth?
The Subpar Heroes series has been a real hit or miss for me, with having liked 2 books and finding I absolutely couldnāt finish 2 others.
Iām combining the reviews for the DNF because neither requires a full on review as you will see.
The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt is a DNF simply because I was appalled by its application of the theme and overall plot. If you are a cat lover, pet owner or just love animals, this is not the story for you. The main character accidentally raises road kills, they follow him home. Opening scene of a roadkill cat now pitifully mewing, detailed missing parts showing exactly what happened to it, following him home. He sighs because yeah, again. Adds it to a room with other dead roadkill animals . Then follows episodes with the hot one dimensional SPAM vet. Poor dialogue.
But mainly pathetic really horribly dead animals.
Why would author think that this is a good idea? Especially considering readers who might have lost beloved pets? Just no. DNF
Next up an author Iām a fan of except for this nonsensical piece where thereās no clear idea of the characters or even whoās speaking most of the time .
2. Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp
This is from Harlanās pov and his voice included as well to further muddle the conversation. So three different people speaking and basically the reader will have no idea who they are from this passage. And thatās not unusual.
āDash and DT exchanged glances. āStop looking at each other that way. Itās making me insane.ā
I took a long drink of coffee and lost track of what I was saying.
āFuck me, this is good coffee.ā
I know, right?ā DT agreed.
āWhereād you get it?ā
āThatās classified, soldier.ā The corners of his mouth tilted up.ā
āI forced the memory of how that mouth had tasted back into the lockbox in my brain. āAsshole.ā Banter was good. It gave us some familiarity and some distance at the same time.ā
ā Behind the 8-Ball: A Subpar Heroes Story by A. E. Wasp
It should be a good story but the framework and how Wasp lays out the characters and storylines will just give the reader a headache. Iām sure the author is going for a certain narrative style but itās hard to tell because it lacks substance and flow.
DNF
Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:
š·The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt
š·Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp 5/30/2024
š·Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper
š·Impossible Things by Alexa Land
š·My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple 6/6/2024
š·An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke 6/13/2024
š·In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024
š·Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024
š·Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024
š·What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024
š·License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024
š·Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024
š·Signed, Iām Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024
āAs I sprinted up Telegraph Hill with about two dozen overly enthusiastic raccoons in hot pursuit, I muttered, āNot again.ā
So opens Impossible Things by Alexa Land and our introduction to Anderson āAndyā Chen, our appealing subpar hero.
This is the second in the Subpar Heroes multi author series that Iāve read and each has taken a different approach to this decidedly engaging theme. I absolutely adore Impossible Things by Alexa Land .
Landās story acknowledges the existence of SPAM, Special Processing and Management of superheroes or just about anyone with paranormal abilities. And thatās where we meet Andy , a librarian who has landed a āupper mobility ā job in heading the Archives for SPAM. We meet his mom and her girlfriend (with their powers and backgrounds), his bestie and her issues. Heās a great character, fully established in his culture, layered in personality and his own baggage. Land has left him room to develop and thatās exactly what Andy does. He blooms throughout this story.
Next comes Samaritan āSamā Miller, a man of many talents who is a new hire at SPAM, and who gets assigned to help Andy wade through the mess down in Archives. Sam is another character who is multi dimensional and grows as the story and their relationship develops. They are both perfect for each other.
After a rough start connecting with each other, a mysterious file and some research send the pair of them on a mission thatās helping them bond, revealing to the reader and each other so much about their lives and opening themselves up to new possibilities for themselves and a romantic relationship.
This journey is so exciting and well plotted. We get villains, family involvement, new friends (Arden), more mysteries, action-packed sequences, and a sweet romance.
I donāt think Iāve read much by Land but this will see me seeking out this authorās catalog.
Iām highly recommending Impossible Things (A Subparheroes Novel) by Alexis Land. Engaging couple, well written story and wonderful cast of supporting characters. Lovely!
Love this cover too!
Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:
š·The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt
š·Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp 5/30/2024
š·Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper
š·Impossible Things by Alexa Land
š·My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple 6/6/2024
š·An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke 6/13/2024
š·In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024
š·Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024
š·Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024
š·What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024
š·License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024
š·Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024
š·Signed, Iām Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024
I chose to be a librarian for a reason. All I want is a quiet life, surrounded by books. But when I stumble across a scientistās journal that could have dire consequences for superheroes everywhere, my whole world gets knocked off its axis.
Suddenly, bad guys are closing in, and I find myself on the run with my coworker Sam–a big, loud ex-jock with more conspiracy theories than common sense. He says heāll keep me safe, but how? Iām the one with a superpower, even if itās total crap.
To complicate matters, thereās an undeniable spark of attraction between us. We donāt need the distraction, not when weāre running for our lives. But itās hard to resist temptation when weāre stuck with each other day after day. And I canāt help but wonder if thereās more to Sam than meets the eyeā¦
Do Sam and I have what it takes to stay ahead of a supervillain, protect each other, and keep the information we possess out of the wrong hands? It seems impossible. But maybe weāll end up surprising ourselves–and each other.
Impossible Things is a part of the multi-author Subparheroes MM romance series.
If youāre a fan of author Vin Georgeās Evergreen Council series, then this novella is the thing for you. Teasād is a warm-hearted glimpse into the daily lives of Charley, the half vampire/half fae adorable being from Fangād (Evergreen Council Book 1) and his vampire father, Dalziel. Naturally, this sees Luc, Charlie ās bond-mate werewolf, as an important part of his life and household as well.
This novella is a perfect illustration of how to bring a sense of loving family and deep understanding of each otherās differences to life in a meaningful but short narrative. Especially when its characters and universe are all from prior books.
The reader doesnāt have to have read those stories in order to understand these characters, their unique personalities, their histories, and the warmth and loving synergy between them all. Georgeās dialogue and fantastic storytelling has done an excellent job, laid all the groundwork, and now letās the reader enjoy and become involved in the story itself.
And what a joyful, and emotional journey it becomes. A father/son moment, a learning experience full of humor and poignancy, quixotic and sweet.
This is a group of characters and a universe I canāt get enough of . Itās also one I highly recommend.
Donāt play games with a vampire unless youāre prepared to lose.
Playing pranks on his three-hundred-year-old vampire sire wasnāt Charleyās brightest idea. Now Dalziel has set him a task. Charley is stuck with a nightās worth of brain-twisting clues and his own company until he solves them all. Not even Luc can help! Charley wants to win, but can he ever really lose? His mate is waiting for him regardless, ready to rock his world.
An Evergreen Council novella, pitting a preoccupied father against his chaotic son, with smiles, curses, and insights into both menās lives when the biggest adventure is living well.
Taylor Rylanās Ambrosius : Paranormal Council Enforcers Book One represents a new author for me as well as series. I enjoy paranormal romance fiction so I was looking forward to reading this, especially as it already has a number of books already published in the series.
Unfortunately, I believe Iām going to stop here. While thereās a few things I enjoyed about this story, theyāre overshadowed by other aspects that left me feeling disconnected from the characters, underwhelmed by the plot lines, and , most importantly, uninformed about the foundation or universe itself that the story and characters are grounded in.
Taylor Rylanās Universe of Destined Paranormals is a group of five inter-connected series and characters, of which Ambrosius is the first in the fifth series, Paranormal Council Enforcers. So thereās a lot of expectations for readers to know who everyone is and who these agencies are that they work for, this giggling goddess that just appears (not a fan), a omega/Alpha relationship thatās not well defined, especially here with one character.
This story actually ends up raising more questions than it does answer with its narrative. But quickly , the poorly crafted characters have lost my interest in their lives and this book.
That starts with the main character of Ambrosius, a made vampire. That term isnāt used in the way weāre accustomed to seeing it. Ambrosius wasnāt āturnedā or made. No a goddess who comes across as a blonde bestie from your college sorority days crafted him full blown. Thirtyish looking, now over a millennium old. But how does Ambrosius act during the book? Much like a silent movie heroine, weeping, throwing himself at his mate, overwrought by emotions and the situation he is in. Surely, heās got his own power and has learned a thing or two about weapons, or something. His character is just so ill defined. In the beginning we learned he went from being rejected by an omega because his fangs are scary to becoming an omega himself when he finds himself mate to a dragon. No explanation. Then there is basically little communication between anyone here.
Thereās really little history or reason laid down for personalities. Or for reactions, or just anything in general . And the main drama, a huge criminal investigation into a shifter trafficking organization is barely explored and not finished, a thread thatās carried over to the next book.
The only other major storyline is a mpreg one that comes out of nowhere (literally) because the main character has no clue heās pregnant. His mate and others know but donāt say anything. They assume he knows. Then heās got kids. Then they are special. Itās a rapidly changing story without substance or grounding.
If youāre a fan of the author or any of the other series associated with this, then Iām sure youāll enjoy it .
But other authors do this one universe, multiple connected series better and those are the ones Iāll read.
Paranormal Council Enforcers:
14 books to date:
Ambrosius #1
Attiticus #2 plus more
The Universe of Destined Paranormals is a world of interconnected series set in one universe. Because of this, it is recommended that you read the books in chronological order.
š·Honey Creek Den Series-When the child of the created warlock goes searching for his mate, a domino effect occurs and the den is blessed by the Fates.
š·Timber Valley Wolf Pack Series-Magic is changing and the wolf pack is next to be blessed by the Fates.
Does Edison have something to do with it?ā
š·Warlocks of Amherst Series-Edisonās warlocks have finally been blessed by the Fates and itās their turn to find their fated Ones.
š·Vampires of the Beloved Gem Series-Master Nikolaiās vampires aboard the Beloved Gem realized that their time has come to find their beloved ones.
š·Paranormal Council Enforcers Series-the magic has shifted and the Paranormal Council has been formed. Will the chosen enforcers be next to find their forever mates?ā
When youāre the created vampire, and discover your fated mate is a dominant dragon alpha, what could go wrong?
Master Ambrosius was created over a millennium ago and had come to terms with spending his life alone. He has his coven, his second, and a few close friends, but he continues to be haunted by the memory of his fated mate running from him in terror. That is, until the goddess sends him to Montana, and he discovers his body reacting to a sexy alpha with wide shoulders and dark eyes. Surely thereās some mistake though, right?
Emmerich was born on Treasure Ridge, the mountain his grandparents claimed several centuries ago for a reason that wasnāt yet known. Like his brother, he longs for his mate and children but knows they arenāt on their mountain. Emmerichās dragon insisted he would find his mate in Sicily, but after weeks of searching, he comes back to Treasure Ridge, where his dragon scents the most amazing thing. Mate. When he discovers the scent is coming from the created vampire, heās not sure about the pairing but is more than willing to accept the match.
Together, they discover a desire for unexpected things. But while they are happy switching roles at certain times, the council is still forming, and they discover an evilness none expected. Will they be able to stop the threat before their family is harmed?
Ambrosius is Book One in the Paranormal Council Enforcers series. Each book in this series will focus on a different couple, but these books are not standalones and should be read in order as there is an ongoing backstory that wonāt be resolved quickly. This is a fated mate MPreg story in an MPreg world, and you should expect all the normal vampire shenanigans, and remember that love bites in unexpected places. Especially when your beloved is a sexy dragon.
The Universe of Destined Paranormals is a world of interconnected series set in one universe. Because of this, it is recommended that you read the books in chronological order.
š·Honey Creek Den Series-When the child of the created warlock goes searching for his mate, a domino effect occurs and the den is blessed by the Fates.
š·Timber Valley Wolf Pack Series-Magic is changing and the wolf pack is next to be blessed by the Fates.
Does Edison have something to do with it?ā
š·Warlocks of Amherst Series-Edisonās warlocks have finally been blessed by the Fates and itās their turn to find their fated Ones.
š·Vampires of the Beloved Gem Series-Master Nikolaiās vampires aboard the Beloved Gem realized that their time has come to find their beloved ones.
š·Paranormal Council Enforcers Series-the magic has shifted and the Paranormal Council has been formed. Will the chosen enforcers be next to find their forever mates?ā
āThe scream that explodes from within Menace would put a dying banshee to shame.ā
So begins Enchanting Exposition, book four in Alice Wintersā marvelous fantasy romance series.
If this is the last in the Demon Magic series, then Iām going to be sad because I absolutely love this universe. But Iāll also be very satisfied because of the way Winters has left the all characters, ok maybe most, happily settled in their lives. All after a wildly terrifying, exhilarating, and emotional adventure that brings the original Geoff narrative to a close.
Geoff, the fiendish mage whose diabolical plans is at the very heart of so much misery and death, will be the basis for much of the story here. The author weaves in all the many painful backgrounds of the characters , established beings and new characters, so that this series arc can finally end. Itās powerful, imaginative, certainly has the hallmarks of the Wintersā take with humor and terror intermixed, along with a great deal of romance and love. Not just between Havoc and Miles. Thatās front and center, and totally entertaining.
What else is outright hilarious? Menace and his reactions to Cottontuff. More , love this.
And Marco. Somehow, Marco (my beauty is my contribution) and Lachlanās developing relationship is everything this book. Along with Evan, Etienne, Dyame combo, even Nicco. Not sure who else Iāve left out, someone Iām sure. Everyone showed up and it was absolutely scarily splendid!
We get a great new character and Iād really love to see more of him . Thereās an interesting dynamic weāre left with that needs to be explored.
Miles and Havoc? Happy! So so happy.
Enchanting Exposition (Demon Magic Book 4) by Alice Winters is a must read and fabulous book. Itās a definite recommend in a series I deeply enjoyed. Read them all!
Maybe it wasnāt my best idea to draw dark magic into myself to save a friendā¦ but itās definitely not my worst (donāt ask Havoc what that was). The first thing on our list of āSave Miles from the Dark Magic That Might Be Making Him Do Ridiculous Thingsā is to destroy the ominous book thatās snagging my attention. But what I donāt expect is to be dragged into the book filled with dark mysteries that leaves me with more questionsā¦ and a lack of pants.
But itās nothing that Havoc and I canāt handle. The two of us have proven that our relationship is strong enough that we can face anything life throws at us, so I think we can handle a measly bookā¦ maybeā¦ I mean, so far it may look like weāre not winning, but thatās just because itād be boring if heroes won immediately.
And itās not like we have to fight this battle alone, especially with an awe-inspiring dragon familiar who is forced to face his greatest adversary (a common housecat), a narcissistic angel who comes with a sword that compliments every cut made, a centaur who always manages to look like heās on the set of a cologne commercial, andā¦ Etienne (whatever he is).
With the demon I love by my side and my found family, weāre going to stop this darkness before it spreads. But doing so might unveil some things we never expected.
Itās been a while since I read the first book in the series, Hexes and Horns, so getting back into this universe needed prompting from the author for necessary foundation work.
Thereās some really good elements here and some I feel need better explanation or more detail to feel complete.
The characters are terrific. The mixed pack of shifters trying to pull it together on the edge of an uneasy otherworldly boundary situation is a great element. It adds so much natural tension and believable shifting pack dynamics that I wish weād had more of this aspect of the story. From Grammy, CJ, and various other pack members, the rawness and energy of this stressful scene came through perfectly.
Especially with its Alpha, Angel Velasquez, who has his own struggles to overcome, along with the otherworldly dealings and beings to deal with to ensure that the pack is safe. That includes murky agreements with one of the Fae over someone Angel has agreed to give sanctuary to.
Thatās the mysterious Dafydd. His story and background very slowly reveals itself, almost too slowly. We figure out pretty quickly what type of being he is but not why heās in danger.
That background is extremely difficult to understand and too complicated for the events that follow. Itās not well laid out narratively nor are all the vague clues as to his species history or strangely mysterious individuals that are important to this aspect of the story but without any firm foundation.
Itās frustrating that we get great characters but holes in the storylines and universe building when needed.
Like an unacknowledged mate bond. Why not just go ahead and cement that aspect of their relationship? It made no sense to leave it as one more cloudy element .
I enjoy this author and find she very imaginative and entertaining. This book has many good elements, enough to make it an enjoyable read.
Keeping their distance is the safest path, but sometimes magic and the heart make other plans.
For pack alpha, Angel Velasquez, every day is a struggle to keep his head above water. Between running his bar, paying back a mountain of debt, and protecting his pack from dark witches, the Fae, and anyone else just waiting for a sign of weakness, he already has more than he can handle. The last thing he needs is a refugee from Faerie dumped in his lap, no matter how sweet and sexy he might be. But when an elven prince calls in a debt, refusal is not an option.
Dafydd hates keeping secrets almost as much as being seen as a burden. A dragon is supposed to be fierce, proud, and self-reliant. Betrayed by those he thought he could trust most and forced to run from the only home heās ever known, he isnāt feeling very dragonly. Is it any wonder Angel canāt see him as an equal, someone worthy of his time and possibly his affection?
As Halloween approaches and their bond grows despite every reason it shouldnāt, what will they risk to protect each other when the real hunt begins?
Hunted is an over 100k slow burn romance featuring a cinnamon roll of a dragon, a grumpy alpha, meddling pack, mysterious neighbor and a guaranteed HEA. Each book of Into the Wyldewood can be read separately but are best experienced in order.
Damned Connections is the sequel series to the original Reckless Damn Series about the rebelling four sons of Lucifer, finding their mates ,and the war with their father. Itās an excellent series.
But Iām finding that Damned Connections is even better, imo. Itās still got the original characters but now weāre focusing on the aftermath and the characters on the edge of their group. And the ones affected by the war. Itās an extraordinary journey.
Now itās Toby and Blaiseās time for their stories to be told and Taylor has outdone herself with a narrative of incredible emotional depth and intelligence .
Taylor has incorporated the elements of BDSM and D/s in such a way that readers who donāt read this type of thing or think that they donāt understand it will find themselves absolutely absorbed into this relationship. Itās a Dom/ sub relationship that works through each otherās needs and desires as well as those aspects of play that they donāt want to include. Itās clearly discussed as adults and spanking is the top discipline here.
But Blaise is fighting for his life in that his guilt is literally driven him down. The emotional tension and despair attached to him is real and extremely intense.
Toby isnāt the bartender vampire heās seemed in the previous books and the revelations of his true nature are astonishing.
The exploration of Blaiseās past and the journey between them drew me in like no other. It was 3 am before I realized I was still reading. And often sobbing.
The only reason this didnāt get a 5 star rating is because there was so much āas told toā sections as the author had to fill in the reader with different details about certain aspects of a coupleās story from a book and timeline pertinent to this story.
Temperance (Damned Connections Book 3) runs in the same time period as some of the other books so itās necessary for Taylor to pinpoint exactly where in the timeline this is happening . Especially if you havenāt read the other books.
But it drags the narrative down in a way and changes the perspective in some cases.
So yes, a fantastic story and incredibly compelling plot thatās one of my favorites. Probably be a reread.
Iām absolutely loving this series and recommend reading it in the original as well as this.
A fire mage who believes heās broken. A vampire who believes he can fix him. A contract thatās going to change everything.
Blaise
Iāve never been good at doing the right thing.
A series of bad choices have left my life in tatters. Everyone is telling me to move on, but how can I? What I did was unforgivable, even if some believe otherwise. My whole world imploded the night I left a human dying on a classroom floor.
I donāt deserve anything good in my life, I know that. But Iām desperate for peace. Just a few moments where I can escape from everything Iāve done.
When Toby offers me a solution that promises just that, I jump at it. I never imagined having a Dom, but with Toby in that role?
Nothing has ever felt so right.
Problem is, this isnāt a relationship, itās a contract. A temporary one.
Which means I need to guard my heart and stop myself from falling for this enigmatic vampire.
Like I said, Iāve never been good at doing the right thing.
Toby
I never learn.
Every time I see a needy sub, I canāt stop myself from offering my help. Every time, I forget that itās a contract and fall too hard and too fast.
Iām the one who fixes them, never the one they choose to spend eternity with. Thatās the way it always goes.
When Blaise bursts into my life, I already know how itās going to end. I canāt stop myself from wanting to help him, but this man has the capacity to break me in entirely new ways. Maybe if I keep the boundaries strict between us, I can walk away at the end without another scar on my heart.
Like I said, I never learn.
Temperance is the third book in the Damned Connections series. Featuring a needy sub and a Dom whoās trying to avoid heartbreak, this spicy MM PNR romance will pull at your heartstrings. Although this series can be read as a standalone, itās better enjoyed in order. Each book follows a different couple and has a guaranteed HEA.
Itās a series that starts with The Beast Without, meeting vampire Reyland and werewolf lover, Jorgas. Itās an excellent book, scary and powerful. And with each story, new paranormal characters and convoluted elements are added and explored, like The Arcadia Trust and then the horrifying Wound. Tears in Time is the fourth book in this increasingly complex and scarily powerful series.
Christian Baines has an incredible talent of writing supernatural or other worldly beings and making them absolutely credible. These are beautiful or stunningly horrifically broken creatures that bear no resemblance to human beings. Not in their reactions to events and emotions but in that they lack our standards of morality or ethics. They may understand the rules, the philosophical framework and how to manipulate them to their advantage. But actually have human empathy? Not really.
And for the reader to go in with expectations of the characters who are paranormal beings acting as humans, thatās a pitfall that should be discarded at the beginning. Because, Bainesā brilliantly written and compelling characters are not going to act like humans because they arenāt.
It might be hard to forget this but events will drive this element home. Betrayal after betrayal. Manifesting that each being and group of paranormals is operating on a different level and paths that humans find unfathomable . Such brilliant writing and amazing storytelling.
Chilling and brain breaking plot lines that connect and weave into something so shocking at the end that Iām just stunned that cable producers havenāt come running yet to put this into a show.
Tears in Time is a book whose characters and plots are so intricate and deeply detailed that a reader will have to have read the stories the preceded it. That foundation knowledge and sequencing of events is essential for a total understanding about the characters relationships and twists in the narratives that the reader will experience here.
I absolutely recommend reading this series and book if youāre a fan of paranormal fiction, horror stories, and twisted romance. But be warned, this is not for the faint of heart.
Moments have passed for Reylan since he crossed the barrier between worlds to rescue his werewolf lover, Jorgas. But on their return, nothing feels right. Faithful allies have vanished, and places that once offered solace are now derelict, filled with shadows and inhabited by evil.
How can Reylan find his friends, and who can be trusted once they’re found?
The world Reylan and Jorgas returned to has destroyed the one they left behind. In this new reality, someone is playing a deadly game with time, and their fates are its prize.
