This is a delightful short low angst monster romance! A prequel to a new series about a small interspecies town, Monster Hollow, thatās a sanctuary. We start off with a sweet little romance by the school principal and the newest teacher. That they happen to be a Bogeyman and a human soon becomes irrelevant. They are clearly perfect for each other.
Archer gives us the background for the town as well as hints about each main characterās history. Itās easy, engaging, and sweet.
And sets the stage for the first in the series. The Orc and the Manny. Iām looking forward to that!
Want a quick sweet read? Here you go! And a new series as well!
Wonderful characters, love the feel of the township, and want to know more!
Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no boundsāeven in a town full of monsters!
When Principal Emrys Bogey sets his sights on the new schoolteacher, Jayden Bell, he’s determined to win his heart. But as a bogeyman, he knows his unconventional nature and intimidating appearance might be too much for a human to handle. Can Principal Bogey find a way to woo his crush without scaring him away? Maybe thereās more to the sweet Jayden Bell than meets the eyeā¦
Buckle up for the prequel ushering in a new cozy M/M monster romance series by Chloe Archer where the sparks fly and the spice sizzles!
Note: This 20k prequel short was previously part of the limited time only Class of 22/23 M/M Romance Prolific Works Giveaway in June 2023.
What a fabulous story! With a heartwarming plot, full of hilarious quotable lines, memorable moments, and fantastic characters I can never get enough of, this is one of the best books Iāve read lately.
This also applies to Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed, up to three outstanding books and counting.
Cassidy begins this latest book with the strange happenings in the city, the dark rainstorms and nightmares plaguing the characters. Itās all about Bruce Reyes, Dusty Le Freyās maybe if she could commit ghost boyfriend . Thereās been plenty of dream warnings/forecasts about Bruce, his grave being found, boneās which definitely shouldnāt, because heās a gatekeeper.
I wonāt go into the splendid greatness thatās the plot here. Read it for yourself. Dive into the fabulosity of humor and thriller combined! Itās having Tris and Danny still working on their relationship, Dannyās newfound knowledge of the otherworld, plus getting to wallow around those drag queens, Chan the Queen being the main one.
Side wonders? A lava lamp death. And Death.
Charismatic characters, marvelous layered plot, thrilling suspense filled narrative run to the finish line that leaves a reader wondering what should I have ? A desert or glass of wine? Iām so happy.
Yes. Iāll probably reread immediately because Iāll have to wait until the end of the year for the next book to be released.
Until then, Iām happy to share my recommendation that you read this series if youāre a fan of paranormal romance. Itās a must! But read them from the beginning, none are standalones. Must be read in order to understand the relationships and character development.
Love the covers.
Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed:
ā Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey #1
ā Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy #2
ā Dead Serious Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes #3
ā¦ Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume #4 – Dec 31,2023
Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasnāt so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristanās āgift,ā and they were about to move in together officially.
Life was good.
That is until Deathāhonest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)āpitches up in Tristanās kitchen with an unusual request: stop Dustyās ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences. i.e. an accidental apocalypse.
Determined to do the exact opposite, and avoid potentially the end of the world, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.
Seriouslyā¦ what could possibly go wrong?
From Author Vawn Cassidy comes the next instalment of this hilarious and sweet paranormal romance mystery series
When a book leaves me laughing at the end, has me doing spittakes and in stitches in the middle, and absolutely captivated by the strangeness and unique nature of the characters at the beginning of the story, well 5 stars it is.
And Shelby Rhodes didnāt even include one cliffhanger this time! Murderous, pain-loving characters (yes, pls do read the trigger warnings), a vampire who is quite unlike any other Iāve read, and a snarling human hunter who gets him as a partner. Both seem to have mysteries swirling around them. Even better.
The writing is really great, moving the story forward quickly without sacrificing character growth or relationship development. Thereās so much more going on here thatās itās easy to miss the small details. Bombs going off,bodies everywhere, mythologies being laid down, an agency foundation and country laws pieced together for the readers and multiple species at the same time.
Itās fabulous and woven in a bit at a time. Along with a great cast of characters that support diminutive vampire Foxx Honeywell and hulking hunter Harlow Blackmore.
Those terms in no way even begin to describe how complex and dynamic this partnership will become.
Iām dying to have the next release in my hands! My mind is filling with possibilities about what is going on with both of them. I canāt wait to see what happens next!
Highly imaginative, beautifully written, yes! A five-star read! One Iām absolutely recommending.
The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx:
ā At First Irritation #1
ā¦ Taste of Fear #2 – Dec 15, 2023
Trigger Warnings:
āThis is a slow burn M/ M paranormal romance series with heat. There will be blood, violence, gore, torture and death. Please do not read if you find any of the previous triggering.ā
ā At First Irritation (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 1) by Shelby Rhodes
āWelcome, welcome. I can only guess you are here to read about my wonderful adventures? Oh, you donāt know who I am? Well, Iām Foxx Honeywell. An adorable, fierce vampire with a kink for violence. Anywho, this marks the beginning of my story. A story of violence, blood, possibly pain, and love. Though, the love part is not so apparent at first.ā
So how does this story start, you may ask? Well, it starts with a simpleāokay, maybe not so simpleālaw change, and a new job. I, Foxx, join the notorious Hunters Guild. An organization that used to murder my kind indiscriminately. But that was in the past. We’ve moved on and forward to better things, as paranormals are legal now! Yay, legalā¦
However, joining this government agency of questionable morals was just the catalyst of it all. Sure, the job is fun; lots of killing, maiming, blood, and even some explosions. But what is an adventure if you are all on your own? Boring, thatās what. No, the true satisfaction and fun comes not just from the job but from my partner on the job, Harlow Blackmore. The man is a sexy, silver fox of a human, who may or may not be a psychopath. He also possibly finds me irritating as hell. As any rational adult would, I choose to ignore those last parts and focus on the sexy! It will surely all work out in the end!ā
I love it when the author improves upon the original themes and world building they originate in the first novel of the series. In A Beginnerās Guide to Mistakenly Summoned Demons and Other Misadventures (Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Book 2), Mae continues with the humor of humans and demons finding each other their eternal soulmate, and all that entails.
But here in Mistakenly Summoned Demons, she ups the heart factor, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections and the depth of their relationship to each other and ones family. Whatever that means.
The humor and laughter is still here, but the serious topics and larger issues are always present. Not to pull down or burden the characters or storylines, but to underline their various roles, or themes within the plot.
Gabe is a perfect example. Having his marvelous grandmother summon a lust demon for his birthday, itās not going according to plan. Gabeās newest companion is asking Gabe to explore his sexuality, to think about how and why heās not had a fulfilling sexual relationship or any at all. How this is done, by letting human Gabe and the Infernal King of Hell, Prince of Lust, Asmodeus, get to know each other as friends, gradually becoming more deeply acquainted (yes, itās not just any olā demon).
They do start to work on Gabeās idea of what he finds sexually attractive (thereās some kink) and itās very hot! However, itās also character driven with a sharp focus on plot growth and series world building. Mae throws in some fabulous plot twists and great new character developments . Sheās building a group of characters who will eventually find their soulmates too. And by doing that, add to a greater pattern.
I am so enamored of Gabe and As that Iām thrilled to hear from the author they will be popping up again in the other books. They are simply amazing and too good to contain to one story.
So far thereās three ready and more planned. Iām so excited to see what happens next.
Absolutely recommending the series. Read them in the order they are written.
Check out the great covers and dates for book three to drop!
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures:
ā A Beginnerās Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters #1
ā A Beginnerās Guide to Mistakenly Summoned Demons and Other Misadventures #2
ā¦ A Beginnerās Guide to Revenge, Chaos, and Other Absurd Escapades #3-Oct 5,2023
Mistakenly summoning a lust demon was not on Gabeās to-do list, but with a meddling grandmother, heās gotten used to the unexpected. The real trouble begins when Gabe realizes exactly who heās summoned. Whatās a guy supposed to do when an Infernal King of Hell has decided heās staying and wants to follow Gabe around like a stray puppy? Add having a job as a teacher, living in a family of meddlers, and dealing with a bureaucratic underworld, and Gabe is about ready to lose his patience. When the Prince of Lust decides heās going to help Gabe figure out his sexuality, though, things really start to get interesting. Maybe mistakenly summoning a demon wasnāt the worst thing to happen after all.
Asmodeus:
Asmodeus has dealt with humans and their lust since they were first created, and he has never met someone immune to his powers. So when heās forcibly summoned (which should be impossible), and he realizes he has no power whatsoever over the human (which hasnāt happened before), heās more than a little intrigued. No way is he going back to hell when heās found such a mystery. When he realizes that Gabe is confused about his own sexuality, Az happily decides to help him figure it out. Who better than a lust demon for the job, after all? If Az happens to get slightly obsessed with his human in the process, whoās going to tell him he canāt keep the guy? Now Az just needs to convince Gabe that keeping a lust demon around forever is the perfect plan.
Tags: A lust demon meets his match in a human who experiences limited sexual attraction; Grams cannot be trusted when sheās in the kitchen; siblings are annoying; Az doesnāt understand why Gabe thinks a demon shouldnāt pretend to be a high school teacher; sexuality is not always clear cut; Az likes to watch, and maybe Gabe does too; exploring what checks your boxes can be tons of fun with the right person (or demon).
This fun little story is the start of a spin-off from Drakeās Lords of Discords vampire series. Luckily, since Iām unfamiliar with that series, Drake has made this , Princes of Mayhem, filled in with all the necessary details thatās itās basically standalone .
Serialized at four books, you quickly fall into the universe of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his goth next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. Itās Nolan whoās in trouble and Sky, the Necromancer with the positive attitude and yellow sunshine house, whoās happy to step in to save the day.
Drake adds in just the rights amount of humor, horror, quirkiness, and terrific characters that carry the reader right through a plot thatās sort of murky.
What I was surprised at was the twist at the end which came with a cliffhanger. It took the story and this element in an unexpected direction. Really enjoyed this.
A cliffhanger isnāt uncommon in a serialized story. Instead, itās almost a given.
Iāve listed the four books below. They will be released fairly quickly. Iām absolutely recommending this story! Highly entertaining! Canāt wait for the rest to roll out.
Great cover.
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life:
Nolan is the hot but grumpy goth boy who lives across the street from perpetually sunny necromancer Sky.
Nolan wants nothing to do with Sky.
That is until his older brother is on the run from a local vampire clan after he failed to deliver on a promise.
Nolan is about to learn that vampires, shifters, witches, and magic are very real. He needs an expert to guide him through this dangerous world.
It’s Sky’s time to shine!
And just maybe he can win the heart of a grumpy introvert. (Assuming he doesn’t scare the man to death first.)
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This book contains vampires, werewolves, witches, underworld minions, danger, surprises, sassy corpses, and some pretty amazing sandwiches.
The one of the best gifts I can receive when it comes to my books is a multi-author series, especially when the center focal point or theme is so fascinating. It allows a reader multiple opportunities to view the same elements in a variety of wildly varied ways, including perspectives from characters and storylines vastly different from each other.
Kim Fielding kicks off this series from Tin Box Press with her story, Crowās Fate. It has many of the best of the Fielding narrative touch that I expect from her tales. Some spare narrative that weaves together elements of mythology, sparsely told but heart wrenching plot lines , compelling characters and an ending that intrigues the mind but still leaves the reader satisfied.
And Fielding includes two of my favorite images from various mythologies, crows and ravens and combines it with the series theme of a Carnival of Mysteries where Midwest farmer to be Crow Rapp first meets English Simeon Bell who works within the traveling Carnival.
The imagery immediately turns from a normal scene of a foursome out for some fun to Crow discovering his world shattering.
We follow a complex duo making hard decisions about their lives, their future fate, including discussing the if humanity has freedom to choose between their own path or does fate choose for them.
Thereās so much to this story and these characters that it canāt possibly fit all the exposition I felt it needed to convey all the foundation details of the big picture Fieldingās drawing here. Itās on a huge scale and, honestly, theyāre not the room to fill in all the historical gaps or context we need.
However, since what we do get is so dramatically charged up and so emotionally wonderful, I admit to overlooking it at the end. It wasnāt until I finished the story and was thinking back that I realized that certain portions of her explanation for Crow was never delivered here.
It certainly deserves a sequel. For them as us. They are wonderful and the elements are fascinating and could use some additional foundation.
Crow’s Fate: Carnival of Mysteries by Kim Fielding is a grand way to start the series and I definitely recommend it.
Carnival of Mysteries series:
ā Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding
ā¦ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt – July 19
ā¦ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper July 26
ā¦ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr – Aug 2,
ā¦ Assassin by Accident by E.J.Russell-Aug16
ā¦ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis – Sept 13
ā¦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25
Crow Rapp assumes heāll spend his life growing corn in rural Illinois, like the grandparents who raised him. But during a visit to a traveling carnival, he encounters a handsome stranger named Simeon Bellāand receives a prophecy of a horrifying future. When that future materializes soon afterward, Crow fleesā¦ only to find that no matter how far he goes, fate pursues him.
Simeon reenters his life a decade later and causes Crow to consider whether actively fighting his fate might be better than constant attempts at escape. In a world tinged by magic, where myths are as real as the sky above them, the men try to determine Crowās true identity. Along the way, they test the powers of friendship and love and explore the boundaries of free willāultimately discovering whether the force of destiny can be overcome.
Crowās Fate is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ameās Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world itās on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains an Illinois farmboy, a roustabout from London, and realizations about the power of love.
CARNIVAL OF MYSTERIES Welcome, Traveler! Join us for a series of M/ M fantasies by a talented group of both new and established authors. Whether you enjoy mystery, action, danger, or just sweet romance, there is something for everyone at the Carnival of Mysteries!
Authors:
Kim Fielding * L. A. Witt * Kaje Harper Megan Derr * Ander C. Lark * E. J. Russell Morgan Brice * Sarah Ellis * Kayleigh Skyā
Nicole Dennis * Elizabeth Silver * Ro Merrill T. A. Moore * Z. A. Maxfield * Ki Brightly Rachel Langellaā
Itās been 6 months since I read Stitched Under Fire, the 2nd book in this series, so it took me awhile to remember what had happened to the characters and were we were in the various investigations.
Turns out Taken Under Fire itās a very politically and racially charged atmosphere where xenophobia is ramping up, fueled by the revelations that the paranormal body parts could heal humans. Black market for paranormal body parts is off the charts.
Agents Maddox and Tristan have settled into a happy relationship, both personally and professionally. Tristan is still exploring his new, rare shifter identity as a Phoenix paranormal because no one is exactly sure what that means, and the P.I.S. (Paranormal Investigations Service) and the Police Department are coming together to try and figure out why their missing persons cases are overlapping.
The authors have so many storylines threading through their series and the above details donāt even include the personal aspects of Maddoxās and Tristanās lives. Those are woven into the story too and will, obviously, have enormous impact on the main plot and main characters as the investigations and revelations continue.
And yes, thereās some whoppers as far as both shocking revelations and heart wrenching drama collide here at the end.
I love the universe that OāConnor and Lyn have created here that feels so very current and still so unearthly at the same time. Racism, or any ism appears , historically to have no ending time frame. That Xenophobia might be universal is an idea the authors are working with effectively, but also building in a horrific mystery/conspiracy that will continue forward into the next book.
Itās laid alongside the romance relationship of Tristan and Maddox, which takes a traumatic hit.
My issues with the story are that itās so packed with drama and plot lines that the ending just stops. It doesnāt try to tie up anything but sets a path for the characters to move to the next stage in the investigations. Investigations that are getting murkier, higher up, and with greater danger for everyone involved.
So if thatās the sort of finish that leaves a reader a little frustrated, especially with no new book in sight, then perhaps you might want to consider waiting until the series is complete and binge reading it at that time.
This is a jam packed terrific paranormal thriller but itās hard to consider it totally satisfying because of the ending. Love the characters, the shocking twists and emotional scenes. But it wasnāt enough. Close but no.
So Iāll wait for the next one to be released. And ponder my own reading decisions.
I love the series and will recommend it. You decide how to read it.
In a city divided, Agents Maddox and Tristan must protect the paranormal, unearth the truth, and prevent darkness from claiming all.
In the aftermath of the devastating destruction that befell the city six months ago, an ominous shroud now looms over them. Paranormals are vanishing at an alarming rate. As fear and suspicion cloud the minds of the city’s inhabitants, calls for drastic measures grow louder, igniting tensions between supernatural beings and humanity.
Maddox and Tristan receive a mysterious visitor who unveils a hidden truth: the supernatural realm they were told had been obliterated is not only intact but still has people living there. As the agents delve deeper into the enigma, they find themselves being threatened by an unknown opponent.
With the city teetering on the brink of an all-out war, the agents must act swiftly. They form an unprecedented alliance, uniting humans and paranormals in a new task force, breaking barriers that were once thought insurmountable.
Can they untangle the web of deception and find the missing paranormals before it’s too late? Only time will tell if their
courage and resilience will be enough to save the city and prevent a catastrophe that could alter the fate of both realms forever.
This series just got immeasurably better. Wild Fire, the third in this series about a clutch of dragonshifter brothers finding their fated mates, is my favorite to date.
Itās not that I find the authors, K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, have just written two really fascinating characters, itās that I donāt remember reading anything that resembles them in another book before. And thatās even more compelling here.
A dragon whoās uncaring about assembling his own hoard , and thrives in the cities and masses away from the smothering isolation of his brothers. And a wolfshifter who has a compulsion to amass a hoard , who needs his space away from his pack, whoās more interested in his own world than his packās. A yin looking for their yang.
This switch in characteristics is unexpected and so narratively rewarding.
It makes for a sensational journey or hunt when both Arson Drake and Draydon start on their remarkable continental quest for art treasures and find themselves falling into a surprising relationship with each other. One that carries definite overtones of Romeo and Juliet, as dragons and wolves are enemies up to this stage.
The two person perspective works so well as Arson and Draydon fight the attraction that pulls them together from country to country, their inner beasts empowering their decisions as well. The authors writing as Nix have given the reader two powerfully defined beings that are unique and unable to stay apart. And are trying to explain to themselves why, and if it even matters anymore.
Anything outside of that narratively has to come across as being less interesting because of how rich and powerful these two are.
The elements with the vampires are necessary for being the tool to bring the Montagues and Capulets together, I mean , dragons and wolves , but it comes across as just that. A narrative tool.
Could have been anything, unless itās going to be included in another story.
Which is set up here by bringing in a new character and younger brother from another āclutchā whoās in trouble.
Interesting but thereās still a couple of unmatched brothers from the original group needing mates. Guess Lord and Tino will have to wait.
Anyway, Wild Fire (Drake Security #3) by Mika Nix is a sure fire winner. Fabulous characters, marvelously plotted romance, and twisted personality traits I really appreciated.
It helps to read the series in order to understand the characters, the events, and the relationships. Lake especially. Heās so over the top divine!
Heās my nemesis, my rival, and the man I canāt get out of my head. We may be star-crossed but thereās enough heat between us to start a wildfire.
Iāve never been one to follow the rules, but sleeping with a wolf shifter might be over the line, even for me. So, why canāt I get him out of my head? Or his scent out of my nose. Even on the other side of the world, I swear I can still smell him.
Everyone has a hobby, mine just happens to be stealing from the rich and powerful to give back to the rightful owners. A native art exhibit in Sydney is the last place I expected to see Draydon again. I canāt shake the feeling that heās here for the same reason I amā¦ and here I thought larceny couldnāt get any more fun.
Iām a dragon without a proper hoard and heās too jaded to even trust his own pack. But weāve already lit a fire thatās getting out of hand.
Stealing Draydonās heart might be my most impossible heist yet.
Gateway Catastrophe is the almost finale for Louisa Masters Ghostly Guardians series and it had a lot of ground to cover for a book about the end of the world.
At the end of Conduit Crisis, a higher demon, Marc has arrived from the Otherworld, as they are calling the realm trying to break through to Earth through the portals. Heās here to save his realmās species and world from the mad leader, Cato, thatās coming for Earth.
Marc has a complicated and messy relationship with quite a few of the people at the estate as heās been back and forth between his world and theirs often trying to figure out how to stop the planned invasion.
Masters has brought in all the couples, including the young brothers of Connor and Gabe, Ian and Matt, whoāre studying at Franklin U (Mr Romance). We have the great ghosts, now including Tomās Italian grandmother added into the mix, a few new disposable hunter characters, the odd townspeople, and the cast is about at overflow levels.
Sometimes thatās great here but occasionally itās a bit too much for the storylines to handle for clarity sake. The main povās here are Gabe the demon hunter, and Tom, the part-time cab driver with the ghostly Italian grandmother who rides with him . Tom (a childhood friend of Skye) has been unaware until recently of the existence of the paranormal world that now threatens theirs. Tom had a terrific backstory that we donāt get enough of, a homophobic Italian family, a childhood deep friendship with Skye that includes Skyeās fatherās basically āadoptingā him into their family. A closeted adolescence for Tom that almost destroyed him. Thatās a lot of emotional baggage to unpack.
That itās a end of the world quickly dealt with conversation is understandable but, hmmmm, itās an example of the types of narrative choices Masters had to make here when looking at the huge amounts of information, storylines sheād created (sabotage, mysteries, betrayal, paranormal universes, chemistry problems, wars, good vs bad vs grey, portals etc) , the need to complete college degrees if the world might be ending, and romance!
Sometimes itās successful and other times itās too many people, too many voices , and situations that are overpowering the very huge theme . The baddies are coming, the world is ending. What are we doing?
The suspense and anxiety should be over the top here towards the end, the reader on the edge of their proverbial seats. But, for me , at least, it starts to head the other direction.
By the time Cato, the high demon whoās the bigger bad, itās almost anticlimactic. When the battle is engaged, we see whatās happening from Gabeās perspective , which deals with the portals. The actual battle and fighting? The stuff that makes the adrenaline rush and the heart rate spike? Nope, that a āas told toā afterwards.
Thatās my biggest issue with this story. Itās the popped balloon we were hoping to do ourselves only for someone else to get to it before us. The element of anticipation that is never going to happen.
When we get back to the scene itās over. And the characters fill other characters (and the readers) in on what happened.
From an authorās standpoint, I can see where writing about this part of the story might have meant that the book went on for several more chapters. But wouldnāt that have been worth the payoff? Emotionally?
Or less portal, more the actual physical fighting?
I donāt know. The climatic scenario and the revelations felt unbalanced. And unsatisfactory. After all that hefty exposition, all that tons of information and huge cast of characters, thatās the way it ends? With a battle off the page? A narrative whimper?
There is a sweet payoff for everyone involved but itās still not grounded enough in the narrative to be an emotional element. To have that kind of reaction you need to have the reader be involved in the actual situations that require a resolution. We werenāt.
A plus here is the romantic relationship between Gabe and Tom, with the āend of the world ā supplying the necessary energy for them to get themselves together and go for the chance of a life together. And Tom, he was a great surprise and success as a character. I wish we could have seen more of him. Supplying Tom with being a Tendo master and then not utilizing this fully in the climax seems like a waste.
Thatās this story. Sometimes too much, and sometimes not enough. Often at the wrong times.
And thereās another book coming because Masters isnāt finished yet with these characters and universe. Itās with Ian and Marc.
So does that make this an almost finale? Or the new book a side story.
Not sure but itās seems about right for the series and Gateway Catastrophe, a story that doesnāt really seem to have an core ending in itself.
So overall, itās a jammed packed paranormal end of the world story, with a lovely romance. Tons of interesting elements, some great characters (as always adore the ghosts and the insufferable higher demon Marc), but I felt that some of the immense complexity of that theme (nothing bigger than ending the world) got lost in the shuffle.
Perhaps it was who got chosen as the final narrator (Gabe versus Tom) or which field of action the author chose to concentrate on, either way, itās my personal opinion it was the less interesting path to go down.
Iām still recommending it for those fans of this series and the author. If you havenāt read the series, then this book will probably not make any sense to you. This series must be read in the order that they were written for the events, relationships, and situations to make sense.
I live a simple, small-town life. Helping with the family restaurant, my side gig as a ride-share driver, hanging with my best friend, making the most of the extra time with my ghost grandma. The only exciting thing to happen to me in the past year was when Gabe moved to townātoo bad Nonna scared him off. Itās hard to impress a guy when your dead grandmother calls him the devil.
The last thing I expect when I pick up a ride-share client and take him to Mannix Estate is that heās a demon. An actual, breathing, can-kill-me-with-a-thought demon. That night blows my simple life apart and changes everything. Turns out, ghosts arenāt the weirdest things out there, my best friend and Gabe are both part of this alternate world, and thereās a big bad demon who wants to end us all. Whatās a small-town boy to do but roll up his sleeves and join the fight to save the world?
Working side by side with Gabe reminds me just how much I liked him when we first metā¦ and the feelingās mutual. As the clock counts down and we both struggle with personal issues, itās good to know thereās someone to lean on. But I donāt know if our tenuous connection can survive the hell thatās coming and see us through to the other side.
A sequel to Brimstone, Beefcakes expands on the original by making the focus the short notice celebrity wedding of the famous chefs of the first novel. But while we get those characters and the event, they are peripheral elements here.
Our new characters and romance are fantastically , in a twist, in the āsupportingā roles to that event. Ones the wedding planner and the other the wedding baker.
L Eveland really goes all in here with Beefcake and gives us a romance of surprises, depth, and remarkable storytelling. Itās cupcakes, minotaurs, anxiety, porn, kink, and true love. Really, the elements contained within this storyline should overpower each other but instead Eveland uses them to enhance each characterās depth of personality.
The author also uses them to chart the relationship development of Ezra Higgins, highly anxious human wedding planner, and exuberant Minotaur Matteo Reyes, wedding baker.
I absolutely loved these two characters, so completely different, disregarding their species for the moment, but matching in their emotional needs for each other and in their chemistry.
Eveland has two areas of special significance here. One is the treatment of Ezraās social anxiety disorder. We get to see its origins in his motherās death, how it took over his life, and how with the help of his therapist, he has been able to get back to running his business. Itās a sensitive subject and the author does a terrific job in giving the reader a small glimpse of what it might be like living with the disorder.
The other element is Matteoās kink that involves cooking and voyeurism. I really wonāt go further with the explanation except to say I was wondering how the author would resolve this situation between Ezra and Matteo myself. What a fabulous solution! I loved it!
I throughly loved this entertaining tale of paranormal romance and a stressful wedding to end all weddings. The only reason it didnāt hit the 5 rating was that while all the other characters were passionate about their careers, Ezra wasnāt about his. He was only doing what was expected of him. And at the end , he was extending his time with Matteo without saying exactly what he was doing.
That left a great an impression of things being unsettled a bit . I wish Eveland had been a tad more finished here. But maybe that because thereās a third book in the works. Bluz, is coming. Werewolf BBQ anyone?
So Iām happily awaiting the third in this wonderfully wacky culinary series. Definitely recommending this and the one prior. Read them in order to understand the characters, relationships, and universe.
Wedding planner Ezra Higgins is having a bad day. Heās lost his phone, heās got six weeks to plan the biggest wedding of his career, and now the minotaur baker wonāt stop flirting with him.
Itās enough to make anyoneās anxiety spike.
But the minotaur owner of Beefcakes bakery, Matteo Reyes, has an oddly calming effect on Ezra, and he canāt stop thinking about him, no matter how hard he tries.
Matteo is sweet as salted caramel and twice as hot, but heās off limits, especially since they have to work together.
Pulling off a televised celebrity wedding in less than ninety days? Doable. Resisting Matteoās candy-coated charm in the process? Ezra canāt have his cake and eat it tooā¦or can he?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 