Category: M/M Paranormal Fiction

Review: The Nightingale Prince (The Songbird Princes, #1) by Zack Bel

Rating: 3.5🌈

The Nightingale Prince is a first novel from author Zack Bell and it’s a wonderful jump into the world of paranormal fiction.

Bell is establishing a universe that’s full of mythological elements, deeply rooted in a past history and past lives of the beings we’ve barely met and just gotten to know. The author has chosen a main character who’s just as ignorant of the world around him as the reader as our guide through the story, a format that allows both the reader and the person the same distance from the events as they occur.

Bell is creating such a vast, complicated arc and universe that at moments within their narrative it becomes a bit unclear as to what the characters are actually thinking, what their motivations are, and where they actually came from. This series is one where the characters have many rejuvenations and their past lives and actions are currently reverberating through the present day.

Confusing? Yes, but interesting? Very.

The romance between Toby who thought he was human ( he’s not, he’s a reincarnated Fae), and the ancient nature Fae, Amaethon, who’s living on the grounds of the magical house Toby has inherited, is a weak aspect to the story. It starts off as an instant love without much connection between them to back it up, so it’s hard to invest in it initially.

Does it get better? Yes, as does the other threads, but there’s so much more going on that Bell needs to lay down in terms of knowledge or drama, that the emotional connections are oftentimes dropped. Or not connected enough because our attention is everywhere.

But the cast of characters? Intriguing. The drama? Well done, including the battle scenes. The more I read about certain sections of the universe and mythology, the more I want to know about the pieces that aren’t laid down yet or fully.

Bell gives the reader and characters a cliffhanger at the end of The Nightingale Prince to set up the next story to come, The Lyrebird Prince.

I think Zack Bel did a great job with their first published novel and I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Buy Link:

The Nightingale Prince: An MM Fae Romance (The Songbird Princes)

The Songbird Princes:

✓ The Nightingale Prince #1

◦ The Lyrebird Prince #2 – TBD

Blurb:

The crown of a Fae Prince is a dangerous thing

Toby’s boyfriend just kicked him to the curb, so when he inherits a decrepit mansion in the remote Aussie bush, he jumps at the chance for a break. He finds a charming little town full of big personalities, and a handsome, mysterious gardener. But Toby will soon discover that everything he thought he knew is a lie. He’s not even human.

The Fae are real, and he’s one of them.

The ancient nature Fae Amaethon has buried the pain of losing his lover a century ago. These days, he finds plants easier to talk to than people, but Toby pulls him out of his shell so easily. When the same evil that took his lover returns, he’ll fight to protect Toby and the chance to love again.

An ancient magic is reawakening, and Toby is the heir. To make matters worse, Fae hunters want him dead, and they’ll destroy this quiet town to stop the Nightingale Prince from rising.

Amaethon and Toby will have to fight together to survive, and failure means the end of all Fae kind.

The Nightingale Prince is a paranormal MM romance with a touch of the gothic. Book 1 of The Songbird Princes, each book follows a different main couple with a HEA, but the series must be read in order. May contain: Lots of chocolate chip cookies, a crumbling mansion with a library to put Belle to shame, an eccentric old lady who might’ve given King Arthur his sword, a magical housekeeper, and a badass witch librarian. It contains explicit content. Check the copyright page for content warnings.

Review: Spell It Out ( Mages and Mates Prequel) by Andy Gallo

Rating: 4.5🌈

Spell It Out is less a prequel but more a side story to the wonderful Mages and Matea series by Andy Gallo. This dives into a great couple of teachers at a interspecies high school connected to the university central to the series. Here mage Dylan Jurgenson, cousin to Bart Hollen (Break The Spell), has found out that he’s one of the teacher chaperones on the high school camping trip this year. Each year he’s managed to evade the duty by passing it off to another, like his cousin. But this time, Bart’s busy, so he has no other option. And math teacher , Minotaur shifter Xavier Tollis, is going as well.

Those are the basic facts. With the characters in place, Gallo begins to give us a lovely romantic story, filled with all the details that come with new relationship building, the discovery and discussions, and the joy. That Xavier and Dylan have young teenagers in their charge too adds a wonderful dimension. Gallo allows the kids a youthful energy and enthusiasm that makes the adults feel even more connected.

There are some fantastic teens here with their own issues, some of which coincide with that of Dylan’s poor self esteem. And there are other storylines about family, child neglect, and pack culture. All woven together into a story that has romances, humor, teenage angst , adult drama , mate bonding, and HEA.

Im hoping to see more of this couple together in the series, especially as Bart makes an appearance here. They are both really great characters and have such warmth about them. Actually I’d love to see the students too.

Novellas like Spell It Out ( Mages and Mates Prequel) by Andy Gallo just wet my imagination and enthusiasm for the series and characters I meet. It makes me want to go back to the beginning and start reading again.

This is a definite recommendation. So is the series. It’s listed below.

Mages and Mates:

✓ Spell It Out ( Mages and Mates Prequel)

✓ Break The Spell #1

✓ It Spells Trouble #2

◦ Under A Spell #3 – March 26,2024

Buy Link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Spell-O…Spell it Out: An MM Paranormal Romance Novella (Mages and Mates)

Blurb:

Sometimes success is a matter of life or death.

Dylan Jurgenson hates camping but is stuck chaperoning his practical magic class on their fieldtrip. Worse, he’s bunking with sexy math teacher Xavier Tollis. You know, the hot Minotaur shifter who barely knows Dylan exists. Not that Xavier’s lack of interest comes as any surprise. Who’d be interested in a mediocre mage, anyway?

Xavier can handle crazy teens and camping. Who he’d like to handle is the cute mage giving him morning wood so often he could build a house. Unfortunately, even in human form Xavier scares Dylan. Minotaurs have terrible reputations and even worse track records in love. Who’d be crazy enough to take a chance on a big guy like him, anyway?

Just when Dylan and Xavier are finally moving beyond their insecurities and misunderstandings, two students disappear under mysterious circumstances. Working together, they put their newfound feelings and lives on the line to save their wayward charges.

Failure is not an option but playing hero can sure have unintended consequences.

Review: Dryad on Fire (Carnival of Mysteries novel) by Nicole Dennis

Rating: 4.75🌈

Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis is a terrific, densely layered piece of storytelling. One of the novels that makes the most of the series central theme of the Carnival of Mysteries, that immortal circus is a major element. So it’s a delightful experience that Dennis delivers many of the main Carnival attractions we’ve already visited and performers featured in books previously released.

However, the Carnival arrives at a place and location where Dennis has created in depth a world of unique magic. It’s a university that encompasses a wealth of magically detailed elements that will be used throughout the story, including the investigation into what’s sickening the Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett and his majestic Scarlett Oak, the protector of the Grove, and more. All on the eve of the most important event in the university’s and community’s history, an event it turns out the world’s survival depends on.

With a great deal of emphasis on the importance of the magical science needed for the investigation, and building a ever widening foundation for this world and network of beings, the author has done a fantastic job of bringing this story vividly to life.

Each character, the university, the forest and the grove (separate entities) jump to life under the great characterizations here.

In a way, so many spectacular elements and beings , the density of the investigation, hampered the romance between male dryad Julian and Druid Emrys Cadogan, newly appointed Professor of Botany, who’s fighting his own horrendous battles.

As the events play out, by necessity Julian is sidelined, and with that , so is the relationship, to concentrate on others matters that do impact him and everything else.

But it makes this less a romance and more a fantasy thriller with a side romance. Which is fine. It’s grand at that.

When Julian does reappear, it’s to a real high emotional level and dramatic effect. It works.

In fact, this entire book contains enough elements, characters, and themes to jumpstart a fabulous series. Including new couples.

Dryad on Fire (Carnival of Mysteries novel) by Nicole Dennis is a densely packed, highly entertaining, fantasy thriller, with a small side order of HFN. It can get a bit slow at times but then the intense horror and investigation scenes grab at you and you are committed.

Fabulous plotting, vivid imagery and great characters. Love it. And highly recommending it.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver – September 20

◦ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill – September 27

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link :

Dryad on Fire: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

Welcome, Traveler, to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries!

What you see before you is no mere vagabond circus. Indeed, our show is full of wonders and delights that will leave you breathless, but whether that is with amazement or dread depends entirely upon you. We are unlike any other band of creatures you have ever encountered — and you few brave souls who choose to step beyond your mundane expectations and join us may witness sights beyond your wildest imaginings.

So sit back, relax, and let us entertain you. For time and worlds are fleeting, but each soul has a tale to tell.

Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett lands a protected position at the Lunore Academy of the Arcane. Caretaker of his grove, he senses trouble brewing underneath his oak and grove.

A mysterious traveling carnival offers distraction and fun. For Julian, a tarot card reading sparks off fears and heightens hopes.

Brought in mid-semester to replace an ailing Professor of Botany, Emrys Cadogan tries to prevent a potential disaster. A druid, he gets lost in the overwhelming work. Until the carnival offers him a brief distraction and pause.

Sparks strike away from the midway lights. Dark magic flickers and threatens. From games and shows, to life and survival, a druid and a dryad need to survive and fight together to save more than trees.

Dryad on Fire is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a mysterious hero, a lonely wanderer, a vengeful god, and a guaranteed HEA.

Review: Micah (Demons-In-Law #2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.75🌈

Micah is such a great story. Masters pulls together so many important pieces of her foundation elements in bringing the romance of fascinating puzzle creator incubus Camden Torrence and demon architect Micah Bailey.

Just the idea of that particular humongous, thousands of years old door of a puzzle, buried in a cave beneath a mountain and needing, no, wanting to be solved, is a fabulous idea. And that it’s Cam who’s got the superior knowledge, and bubbling excitement as well to solve it? Amazing. He’s a grand character who gets better, funnier, deeper as we and Micah, get to understand him.

Micah himself, with his family connections to Gideon, Asher , and the family (grandmother) who basically runs things , is another gem of a character. Through Micah, the demons are explored as a species, their dense physique due to teleportation. Even learning the subtle facial expressions are readdressed through the relationship between Micah and Cam, and even Cam’s interactions with Micah’s family.

Cam’s not without his own personal issues to deal with, and they are dealt with by being able to communicate and by understanding each other’s personalities and needs. I love it when an author does this, instead of letting the main characters flounder about, they communicate and share what they’re thinking and feeling, like mature beings.

Not to say there isn’t some absolutely spew worthy sentences and moments here. Because there totally are. Made my day! And this book so giggle snort gold ⭐️! And no will not quote them. Read them and enjoy them in context.

There be dragons here! Appearances by Brandt, Wil, Steffen and others were wonderful. And will send me back to their series , Here Be Dragons, which is one of the linked series to the original Hidden Species.

We get Hortplatz, now becoming as real a town as any character, with its high mountains, townspeople, and places we can recognize. Cold, and with it’s own charm.

If I have a small quibble, it’s that after all the buildup and intricate details of that puzzle door, it ended too abruptly. Perhaps it will be continued in book three, but it feels incomplete here as far as Cam goes and his “new life” which we don’t get. We need a chapter or at least several pages to bridge the gap between the ending and the new future town scenes to feel grounded imo.

But that’s a quibble in a book I very much adore. From the plot to the characters, this story had me from the beginning, perfect Louisa Masters.

Now onto book three.

And yes, I’m highly recommending this and all the connected series:

Hidden Species

Here Be Dragons

Demons-In-Law

Demons-In-Law:

✓ Asher #1

✓ Micah #2

Buy Link:

Micah (Demons-In-Law Book 2)

Blurb:

Wanted: Demon assistant for incubus genius. Personal services required…

Nobody ever expected to find a secret cave protected by a giant puzzle door in the mountains near our village. Even more surprising was the knowledge that it’s been there for thousands of years and was created by a dragon. I’m not the only one who’s dying to find out what’s inside.

It’s no hardship to assist the puzzle expert who’s coming to solve the door. That thing is an incredible feat of engineering, and the man who’ll solve it is bound to be intelligent and interesting. But from the moment I meet Camden Torrence, I’m forced to reassess… everything.

He’s intelligent and interesting, sure. But he’s also scattered. Clumsy. And I want to bury my face in his mop of curls and stay there forever.

A relationship wasn’t on my agenda, no matter what my matchmaking family wants. But as the weeks go by and we get closer to discovering what the secret treasure is, Cam becomes an integral, undeniable part of my life. How can I not fall for a man who, despite past hurts, is the living embodiment of sunshine in our snow-laden village?

I never thought the love of my life would turn out to be an adorable, absent-minded incubus, but now I can’t imagine existing without him. The challenge? Convincing him to stay even after the puzzle is solved.

Review: Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology by Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, et al.

Rating:4.75🌈

Anthologies are always a great place to find a new author, get reacquainted with a writer you haven’t read in a while, or just plain enjoy a story from a favorite author of yours. All centered around one theme so a reader can see if they take a different or similar approach to the topic.

In this case , it’s the popular theme of fated mates in paranormal romance.

Fated Mates, a charity anthology, offers 20 stories by 20 authors, on the subject of fated mates. Clearly, a reader will be able to find a story to enjoy out of such a wide variety.

Story Format Key:

🟦Authors who wrote standalone stories, no connection to another series

🟪Authors wrote prequels to new series

🟩Authors used their series/universe here , including characters, prior or some knowledge required.

List of Stories:

🔹Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters 🟪

🔹How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight 🟦♥️

🔹A Werewolf Called Ammon by Michelle Frost 🟩

🔹A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex🟪

🔹Fated Kiss by Mia Monroe 🟦

🔹Inferno by Kiki Clark 🟪

🔹Black and White by Vinni George 🟪♥️

🔹Violent Secret by Ariana Nash 🟩♥️

🔹 Wounded Mate by Lee Colgin 🟩♥️

🔹Shiny Things by Kelly Fox 🟦♥️

🔹The Crow King’s Mate by Jennifer Cody🟦♥️

🔹Fate’s Treasure by Grae Bryan 🟦♥️

🔹Deader Than Dead by H.L Day 🟦🔹Words Not Necessary by Lisa Oliver 🟩🟪♥️

🔹As the Raven Flies by Meghan Maslow 🟩♥️

🔹Curse of Silver & Blood by Sheena Jolie 🟩♥️

🔹There’s A Bat in My Room! By Michele Notaro 🟩

🔹The Demon and the Librarian by Chloe Archer🟩

🔹A Scent Like No Other by JP Sayle🟪

🔹True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwood🟦

———-

1. Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters – this story, which is a prequel, has a nice twist and interesting premise. Ends abruptly but as the author intends to go into a series with these characters, it’s fine.

2. How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight-Demon Lyn and human Jamie are #couplegoals and this is a fabulous tale w/ great depth and characters. Love this Demon, they are adorable.❤️

3. A Werewolf Called Ammon by Michelle Frost – part of an existing series, instant maté storyline.

4. A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex- terrific little story about a squirrel shifter finding his mate. Prequel to a new series. Fantastic.

5. Fated Kiss by Mia Monroe-instant mate/love vampire story that was one dimensional, plot holes.

6. Inferno by Kiki Clark- a prequel to the author’s new Silver Oak Pack series, it’s a quick best friends to fated mates tale, via mixed up curse. Cute.

7. Black and White by Vinni George- this is another prequel to a new paranormal series, Orcas. It’s pretty terrific in that it sets out the characters, a great storyline, and foundation arc. Need more!

8. Violent Secret by Ariana Nash- part of the author’s Blackrose Brotherhood series, including the character. Well done. Terrific piece.❤️

9. Wounded Mate by Lee Colgin , set in Colgin’s Outcast Mates series, an incubus and a werewolf find true love (hurt/comfort, found family) in a well done story.

10. Shiny Things by Kelly Fox is a great read, complete with well crafted location, terrific characters and story line. Poe the Raven shifter with his avian characteristics is perfect.♥️

11. The Crow King’s Mate by Jennifer Cody is an excellent paranormal love story about a raven shifter and a wolf shifter dealing with past bad romantic experiences finding out that they are fated mates. Wonderful characters and plot.❤️

12. Fate’s Treasure by Grae Bryan is a story I wish the author would expand into a larger novel. It’s so well written with excellent plotting and terrifically detailed characters that the ending pops way up too soon. Gentle , sweet storytelling.❤️

13. Deader Than Dead by H.L Day, great elements but together they added up to a story that just didn’t work for me. Others might feel differently. Trigger warnings about death and suicide.

14. Words Not Necessary by Lisa Oliver -prequel to established series, Magic Users of Greenford Trilogy, knowledge of that is useful but not necessary. Neo the anchor and Rocky the High Magic User find themselves on a magical murder mystery case as well as fated mates in a terrific short story that will send me looking into the series.❤️

15. As the Raven Flies by Meghan Maslow . Forced proximity/fated mates and two of my favorite shifters Raven/wolf combos or dire wolf. Part of the Charm City series/universe, excellent tale in every aspect. Storytelling, hot chemistry, fabulous characters, and location. More !♥️

16. Curse of Silver & Blood by Sheena Jolie is part of the Infinite Arcana Universe by SJ Himes/Sheena Jolie. Werewolf and wounded Fae fated mate pairing that’s a prequel to a story coming out in 2024. I’ll be waiting to read it as I love this romance and need more about what happens next. ❤️

17. There’s A Bat in My Room! By Michele Notaro. This is part of the Ellwood and Brinnswood world series for those who are familiar with the universe. There’s an adorable bat shifter in trouble and his human fated mate who will help him, once he gets over his fear of bats and idea that the bat isn’t a vampire. Cute story with familiar characters showing up as support.

18. The Demon and the Librarian by Chloe Archer. Archer had me at the librarian but just continued to seal the deal with great elements that had me snort giggling at places. Fabulous characters and storylines. Part of the Monsters Hollow series, this is a favorite story and one I wish was at novel length. ♥️

19. A Scent Like No Other by JP Sayle, Enchanted Ink tattoo shop, Salem, Massachusetts, and three beings in search of their fated mates, one of whom of is a skunk shifter. Prequel and same universe as the story in the beginning of the anthology from Kelex.

20. True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwood is a fantastic way to end this grand anthology. It’s a fated mates vampire romance with all the writing aspects associated with Sherwood’s storytelling. There’s poignant moments, humorous scenes, sexy intimacy and great characters. I seriously needed more than just the shortened ending. Love the universe and couple.❤️

All in all, a fabulous anthology, full of a wonderful selection of authors and stories to read and even new series to enjoy. And a charity that will be able to provide for the LGBTQIA community too with the readers help.

Buy Link :

Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthologyby Kiki Clark

Blurb:

Fated Mates is a Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology from some of your favorite MM authors!

It features new, exclusive stories from Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, Kelex, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle.

All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.

Review: Hellhounds Never Lie (Willow Lake Supernaturals, #1) by Lori Ames

Rating: 4🌈

Hellhounds Never Lie is the first in a new series, Willow Lake Supernaturals, by Lori Ames, an author I’m not really familiar with. I really enjoyed getting acquainted with her writing with Hellhounds Never Lie. It’s location is the town of

Willow Lake, a mixture of humans and supernaturals living together, albeit unknowingly by the small group of humans. It’s considered a haven for supernaturals, a safe sanctuary for all , regardless of pack or political affiliation.

Into this comes a badly wounded fire mage looking for a new home. This is Ash, whose escape from a criminal ex, and a DV and DA situation , has left him with scars inside and out. Ash is a lovely character and one easily invested in.

Ames has created an entire community of characters here to carry over from book to book. Alpha werewolf without a pack that’s part of the entire series arc, a Hellhound police captain, a cat whose supernatural identity isn’t revealed, and on it goes. So many magical hijinks afoot here, especially in the bar that’s the watering hole and gathering place for the town.

Dillon, the new Hellhound the arrives seeking Willow Lake, but ends up a misdirected at the beginning, is also a good character. He fit in well with a wounded fire mage and they have great chemistry. It makes the fated maté’s aspect easy to accept.

Some of the elements here by Ames just telegraph their intentions too easily. As in certain characters might as well have narrative red arrows above them pointing downward saying “bad guy, something wrong here”. So when at the point in the storyline they , gasp, show up as , well, bad, you’re not surprised. That’s why the ratings not higher.

But Ames is able to make a reader feel connected to the town and enough of the characters that, even with the predictable aspects of the plot and some minor characters, the enjoyment isn’t lost. Plus I’m curious about Ash’s best friend on the other side of those texts and he gets the next novel! And there is the ongoing mystery left to solve.

So I’m definitely invested in this series and author going forward. The DV/DA (off page) was handled with sensitivity and the mystery is good. I like the characters and the relationships as they develop. So onward to the next!

And a definite recommendation for this!

Willow Lake Supernaturals:

✓ Hellhounds Never Lie #1

◦ Wolves Always Bite #2 – Nov 1, 2023

Buy Link:

Hellhounds Never Lie: MM Paranormal Romance (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 1)

Blurb:

A mage without magic. A hellhound without a home. A greedy wolf pack in the hills.

Ash is technically a fire mage, but he can’t do much. Turning his bedroom lights on and off without having to get out of bed isn’t exactly awe inspiring, not when anyone with the right gadget could clap and do the same thing.

Worse, sometimes he senses something bigger and brighter lurking under his skin, and it feels so familiar he knows it has to be his magic, but then he burps or sneezes, and the feeling passes. So it’s probably just allergies… or gas.

Yeah… Not exactly brimming with magical oomph. Not anymore.

It sucks.

But things start to change when he finds Dillon, a hellhound, being chased through the woods by an angry wolf pack. He is instantly smitten and it’s like something inside him unlocks. What’s even crazier is Dillon seems to think Ash still has magic… and now Ash isn’t sure what to believe.

What he does know is he’ll do what needs to be done to protect his friends and the little supernatural town of Willow Lake from the dirtbag wolves in the hills. Even with his magic on the fritz he can help, right? And, with Dillon at his side, what could possibly go wrong?

Tags: a hellhound looking for a home, a fire mage without magic, a talking cat, a small town full of supernatural beings, size difference (BIG hellhound, small mage), fated mates, Ash has scars inside and out, Dillon wants to hurt people who hurt Ash, Ash is always cold (hello, big fluffy pink sweaters even in summer), and a curious human BFF who knows nothing about supes but has a very active imagination.

Review: Resurrection Reprise: A Soulbound Universe Novel by Hailey Turner

Rating: 5🌈

I love Turner’s Soulbound series and so wanted to see the author revisit this universe. I am thrilled it’s the complicated Spencer Bailey, a favorite in that series, who’s been chosen to get a new story.

The complexity that is mage Spencer Bailey and his relationship with his companion, Psychopomp ocelot , Fatima is a difficult task to describe in one story because readers of the series have gotten to know him over seven books. That goes for Fatima, the Psychopomp too, another layered character.

Not quite a necromancer that raises the dead but a soul breaker, that magical difference being the thing keeping Spencer from the death penalty in the world’s government’s opinions. His type of magic is considered so powerful and rare, so little understood, that most agencies would rather lock him away or kill him than take the chance on his magic working against them.

As with the other government agencies who don’t come off well in Turner’s series, filled with bureaucratic cliques, people’s willingness to take things at face value, it’s no surprise we immediately fall into Spencer’s side of things here as he starts his investigation into a missing artifact. He’s gone from one agency, the PIA (Paranormal Investigations Agency) who handles international investigations and doesn’t want him after that last big battle, to Supernatural Operations Agency, which is the agency that handles the investigations within the country’s boundaries. In other words, don’t leave the country after helping save the world.

Does it help to have read the Soulbound series. Yes. I really don’t consider this a standalone. You need to understand the relationships, events, and even the smallest of references to have a deep appreciation of this story and what happens to Spencer here. That includes the people that show up from the Soulbound series.

Even Spencer’s relationship with Takoma, the Master Vampire of Seattle, has a prior basis in his prior experiences with Lucian, a Master Vampire from Soulbound, unlike any other , and referred to here.

Hailey Turner took her foundational elements from Soulbound and used them as a launching point for an intriguing new story about a mysterious artifact that has gone missing from the federal vault with potential catastrophic consequences . Spencer is the one of the few people who’s had experience with this type of object and operation. The reasons why soon become clear.

The investigation, the events are suspenseful , dangerous, and vastly complicated. Takoma and Spencer have a great chemistry and a hot sexual relationship that makes them a fantastic couple. I would love to see one more story about them with Takoma,working with the New York God pack , removing Spencer altogether from all the federal agencies rosters completely and getting his new life outside of that one. What a tale that would be!

Until then, I’m ready to dive happily back into the Soulbound series, and start over again. Remembering the first time I met everyone, was astonished at the mythology, the labyrinthine storytelling, and the characters I still can’t get enough of.

Soulbound is fabulous stuff, absolutely always on my to be recommended list. Adding this to it.

Love the cover.

Buy Link:

Resurrection Reprise: A Soulbound Universe Novel76Kindle Edition$0.00or $6.99 to buy

Blurb:

Possession is nine-tenths of the law.

Spencer Bailey has spent his entire life under government oversight for something he can’t change: his magic’s affinity for breaking souls. After surviving the end of the world, Spencer joins the Supernatural Operations Agency with the intention of keeping his head down and his hands clean.

Tasked with tracking down a stolen artifact, Spencer wants to run his first case with the SOA by the book. The master vampire of the Seattle Night Court won’t make that easy. Takoma is demanding and possessive, used to getting what he wants, and he lures Spencer into his Night Court with the seductive promise of freedom.

In the Pacific Northwest, ghosts are crawling out of the woodwork, demons are on the rise, and Spencer can’t afford to make a mistake. Torn between the life he should lead and the one Takoma is offering, Spencer has to make a choice that won’t break his soul, but it might just shatter his heart.

Resurrection Reprise is an exciting new standalone novel set in Hailey Turner’s best-selling Soulbound Universe.

Soulbound Universe -Soulbound series:

✓ A Ferry of Bones & Gold #1

✓ All Souls Near & Nigh #2

✓ A Crown of Iron & Silver #3

✓ A Vigil in the Mourning #4

✓ On the Wings of War #5

✓ An Echo in the Sorrow #6

✓ A Veiled & Hallowed Eve #7

Review: The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray: Carnival of Mysteries by Kayleigh Sky

Rating: 3🌈

Here’s a book I wanted to like and rate much higher than I eventually did. And it came after much thought, dissecting the book until I realized what exactly kept bothering me about the narrative and the characters.

The plot, some of the issues:

🔹Some major elements treated like minor aspects: Jay, the locket, spirit appearances, different townspeople.

🔹Some sections made no sense except that it was part of the series. Why was the Carnival of Mysteries involved? The boy made an appearance but it wasn’t explained. The main characters went there but it didn’t make much of an impact on the story except for a fight scene that could have happened outside anyway.

🔹That Carnival is supposed to have a protective effect. Didn’t have much of one . Carnival isn’t a well layered in element.

Characters:

🔹The main characters have no chemistry imo. Immediately jump into sex with no relationship.

🔹One mc is actively plotting to steal money from the other if he can find it. 🔹This continues until almost 47%. Even knowing that the other person is in financial trouble.

🔹This same MC has anger management issues, and a “self first”approach that Sky thinks the reader should find connectable. Not for this reader.

Even with supplying a sad back history of rejection for Wade, his shady behavior and intentions just make him cringe worthy rather than a good character to invest our emotional energy in.

Eli on the other hand is a well conceived character. Haunted, his memory jumbled, in financial stress, with a beloved cat in tow, he’s so beautifully written that he almost makes the story. Eli and his ghost.

The ghost too is poignancy itself. A ghost named Jay. And this entire thread is both a great one and an excellent example of how Sky’s story went wrong.

We get bits of Jay. But he’s so much of the heart of the story, why not more. Jay’s the past and it’s present. Sky starts and stops with Jay’s voice, and his history, making it a muddle instead of a clearly defined bridge between Eli and his own troubles. Even the locket of the title is a element that’s not used to fullest. The author trots out a tiny bit at the end of the book, and then it becomes a item that made me ask more questions about the ending than it answers.

Really, where’s Rob been all this time? How’d that spirit get vanquished? Spoiler alert 🚨 A group of men, not just one, trespass and commit arson, and one gets off with a tap on the wrist? That’s satisfying?

Another thing that really made me think about the choices made here. Over and over.

When I thought it through, one character I liked, one character , Jay, whose potential I thought was wasted, and a feline character I liked, wasn’t enough to raise the rating higher than a 3. Too many issues,too muddy a plot, too unbalanced a relationship.

Too bad there is some things that are horrifically interesting. But the way in which the story is written dims the lights on the best this book has to offer.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

◦ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis – Sept 13

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver – September 20

◦ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill – September 27

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link :

The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

Don’t look. It isn’t there.

On the day Eli almost drowned in Coup d’Oeil Lake, a boy pulled him to shore and took him to a carnival. Nobody saw the boy or the carnival—not the lights, not the crowds, not the rides. So Eli kept quiet and ignored what he’d seen. He’s good at ignoring things now…

Except for the shadows.

Those he can’t ignore.

One step from homelessness and flirting with assault and battery every time somebody pisses him off makes the caretaker gig on out-of-the-way Greenwood Glen a safe place for Wade to cool his jets for a while. All he has to do is take care of a ramshackle house nobody lives in. Easy peasy.

At first.

The house was quiet until the prickly Elijah Gray returned home with his fluffy cat and woke something up.

Something dark and mysterious… and deadly.

The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a lonely artist who sees ghosts, a fuzzy black cat, a disgruntled caretaker, and a guaranteed HEA.

NOTE: Expect some dark “horror” scenes, but Gus the cat will be living a very long and very happy life.

Review: Patience (Damned Connections #1) by Lark Taylor

Rating: 4.5🌈

I was excited about this story and follow up series to The Reckless Damned . Ferry, aka Ferryman, The Grim Reaper, Charon, the being who ferried the dead souls across the River Styx was last seen leaving Hell on his way topside to the human realm.

Patience goes into Ferry’s tortured backstory, how he ended up as the Grim Reaper, and what he is doing back on Earth. Patience is a wonderful title for him and his ill- fated romance.

The other voice and half of this couple belongs to Leo, a human firefighter. Leo is a very good, very confused man. He’s aware that something has been missing from all his relationships but can’t pinpoint what it is exactly. He believes he’s straight but he struggles with feelings he doesn’t understand.

All with good reason. Leo has a history he’s not allowed to remember until he dies. And then only for one hour.

Lark has done a wonderful job with these characters and their poignant love story. One who remembers everything and one who remembers nothing. It’s a setup guaranteed to usher in huge emotions and a flood of memories and tears.

And it does, scenes upon scenes.

This series follows The Reckless Damned, which is its foundation. So those characters are important here as supporting players and suppliers of knowledge to Leo, as he navigates his way back to Ferry.

Plus there’s always a dramatic element above that of the personal challenges to the mate bond relationship. A outside force that needs to be overcome.

Here that aspect was a little bit easily figured out. But the rest of the story, which was ,in turn, humorous, poignant, sexy, heartbreaking, horrifying , and finally, incredibly beautiful, well, that was fantastic.

It made Ferenc (Ferry) and Leof (Leo’s) longtime love story one of my favorites. And the setup for the next with Leo’s younger brother and a certain enigmatic vampire has me really hooked for more. Need Justice now! But I’ll have to wait until next year.

In the meantime, I’m definitely recommending Patience. And The Reckless Damned if you haven’t already read those as well.

Damned Connections:

✓ Patience #1

◦ Justice #2 – Feb 1, 2024

Prior series:

The Reckless Damned

The Reckless Damned4 booksLark Taylor

Buy Link:

Patience (Damned Connections Book 1)

Blurb:

I paid the ultimate price when I took the gamble to save my mate’s soul.

Ferry

Ferryman. The Grim Reaper. La Muerte. La Pelona. Shinigami. Charon.

I’ve been called many names over the millennia, all thanks to my role in Hell.

Ferrying dead souls over the river Styx.

But few know the demon behind the legend, how I came to be here, or the freedom I sacrificed to save the man I love.

Now I’m free to find him again. The problem? He doesn’t remember me.

And he’s straight.

Leo fell madly in love with me once before. Will he fall again before it’s too late?

Leo

All my life, I’ve felt like something is missing. Neither my job as a firefighter, my brother Matty, nor my ex-girlfriends have been able to fill that hole.

When a mysterious stranger approaches me in a bar, I find myself captivated.

I’ve never been attracted to men before, but I can’t seem to resist him.

Why is it that spending time with Ferry feels so…right? So familiar?

Patience is a fated-mates, second-chance PNR romance. The first in the Damned Connections series, each book will follow a different couple as they find their HEA. Although better read in order, these books can stand alone.

Review: Ghostly Claus (Ghostly Book 4) by E. M. Leya

Rating: 4.5🌈

I really enjoy the Ghostly series by E.M. Leya, it’s got a number of interesting established ghostly characters, a slow burn romance, and at least one mystery per story that has a paranormal aspect to it that brings all the main cast together to find a solution, add to the series otherworldly information, and push the romance a bit further along.

In Ghostly Claus our victim is Santa. It’s the holiday season and someone is about to kill the fat jolly elf himself. But is it due to a lack of Christmas spirit or does the killer just not like the man under the costume? That’s what our coroner, Lance, who can see and converse with ghosts, and his detective boyfriend, Angus, are about to investigate, along with his partner, Frank.

Now on the fourth book, Leya has been accumulating a foundation of characters, alive and ghostly, to act as a found family to our core couple and important side adjacent people like Frank, Angus’ partner. Ghostly Claus continues that path as two more characters arrive in town that look to add to the knowledge of the other realm and expand on the found family for Lance, Angus, and the ghosts who live with Lance.

That’s the soldier brother of Lance returns home after a prolonged absence in missions overseas, and he’s got an unannounced surprise with him.

Once again, Leya gives the reader so much to sink into here. There’s the fact of the dead Santa’s family dynamics which are awkward and difficult for all, especially since his ghost is there, angry at everything he’s hearing and seeing. The mystery of who wanted to murder Santa, and catching him. Plus there the entire brother aspect of this storyline where Lance has decided to inform his brother of his new gift and hope it doesn’t change their relationship. Their brotherly friendship and dynamic feels real, especially as it deepens over the course of the book, each letting memories guide them back to each other. Finally, Angus and Lance continue to grow stronger with each other, not rushing things, communicating, confidently speaking about their lives and the things important to each other. Quietly adult and emotionally mature. So lovely, even with ghosts all around.

I adore the characters, the relationship dynamics, the mysterious nature of the cases, and the slow growth of the love story. Fabulous.

I’m highly recommending this but it needs to be read as part of the series, so really read them in the order they are written in order to understand the events and relationship growth.

Ghostly series:

✓ Ghostly Awakening #1

✓ Ghostly Findings #2

✓ Ghostly Envy #3

✓ Ghostly Claus #4

◦ Ghostly Target #5 – tbd

Buy Link :

Book 4 of 4: Ghostly

Blurb:

When Santa Claus appears on Lance’s autopsy table, he can’t believe his eyes or ears as the not-so-jolly ghost accompanying the body tells Lance he’s been murdered. Solving this murder will take time as the list of suspects is growing. For some, Christmas isn’t the most wonderful time of the year, but it is the most profitable.

To top it off, Lance’s brother is in town visiting and he’s not alone. He’s got a ghost attached to him. Telling his brother that he sees ghosts just became even more important as this ghost insists Lance help him make things right before he moves on.

While the rest of the world prepares for Christmas, Lance and Angus try to salvage what they can of the holiday as they work to solve Santa’s murder and keep someone from stealing everyone’s holiday spirit away