I enjoyed Annabelle Jacobs’ Regency Park Pack series so I jumped onto her latest release and first book in her Dark Forest Pack series.
A strong mixture of magical mysteries, secrets, second chance at love with old lovers reunited, it goes further by bringing in another Realm and the Fae. The Fae, aren’t considered treacherous but a species where extreme care needs to be taken so as to not be indebted to them.
Rys Calder is a wolf shifter, a being with a past he hasn’t shared with those he’s closest too. That past betrayal has haunted him through the years.
Gabriel Mason is Calder’s past , one that’s deep inside the kidnappings and mysteries that are happening around them.
Jacobs storylines creates a suspenseful atmosphere, one wrought with strong character dynamics, chemistry, often a lack of communication, and a string of revelations.
I read it all the way to the end, then wanted more. I’m highly recommending this story and waiting on the ones to come. Happy reading.
All that time apart and yet the pull between them is as strong as ever…
Rys Ten years ago Gabriel Mason betrayed me in the worst way. He made me question my instincts because I’d trusted him with a bone-deep certainty, and for that I will never forgive him.
Seeing him again after all this time sparks memories I thought I’d buried so far down they’d never surface. He’s as beautiful as I remember, but I’m older and wiser now, and I refuse to make the same mistakes again.
Gabriel Rys Calder, wolf shifter and the biggest regret of my life. I loved him, and yet I didn’t share with him the one thing that eventually became our undoing. I broke his trust and I’ve carried that guilt for years. I knew seeing him again would hurt, but no matter how many times I’d imagined it, being on the receiving end of his cold stares and indifference hurt more than I’d anticipated.
Thrown together again with a killer on the loose, will the past continue to haunt them, or can they move past it and claim the future that fate always had in store for them?
Claiming Rys is an MM paranormal romance with second chances, fated mates, pining, angry alphas, and feisty ex-hunters.
If you’re a lover of werewolf paranormal romances, then this new release, The Werewolf’s Heart by F.N. Fanning might just be the story for you.
The first in Fanning’s Supernatural Affairs series, it’s a quick flowing read that features a mystery, a mate bond, and magical evil doings.
Fanning doesn’t add any new elements to the werewolf accumulated species history here but does give us some very engaging characters in Aaron Honeywell, new to the neighborhood, and supernatural detective Merritt Slate, who’s team is “parked” across the street as part of a ongoing investigation into missing werewolves.
I enjoyed their romance but was missing a lot of world building and background on the universe they lived in, the sort of organization that employed Merritt, and well, just a good grounding in basics.
So I came away with having a enjoyable experience here with a romance that asks little from its reader other than a superficial entertainment. Sometimes that’s just fine.
It will continue in a book that focuses on Merritt’s brother, Chase, also a detective with the agency. This was fun so I expect to pick that one up as well.
A supernatural detective goes undercover to catch a predator… love was never part of the plan. Being a new homeowner is nothing like Aaron Honeywell imagined. Instead of unpacking and decorating, he’s suddenly dodging handsy fox shifters and getting a crash course in the supernatural world. And his teacher is a drop-dead sexy werewolf who seems to crave him too. Except he’s sworn to put Aaron’s safety above everything else, including their desires.
Merritt Slate loves his job. Usually. It’s just impossible to remember why when stuck posing as bait in suburbia to catch a kidnapper powerful enough to abduct werewolves. He won’t let an innocent person get caught in the crossfire, so protecting Aaron is more important than his feelings, no matter what his wolf thinks.
But the threats lurking outside their cozy street are getting closer to home. Kidnapping shifters is just the beginning of a sinister magical plot that may require Aaron’s help to succeed… whether he’s willing to provide it or not. Can the werewolf protect his heart, or will evil forces shatter it forever?
The Werewolf’s Heart is the first spellbinding book in a series of passionate M/M paranormal romances. Fans of Eliot Grayson and The Chosen Champions Series by Macy Blake will love this modern fantasy novel featuring a fiercely protective wolf shifter, a sweet human searching for a place to call home, and the kind of love that’s worth risking everything for.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
The Boy in the Locked Room is a good example of second book syndrome. The first story sets the characters and world building. The second story needs to continue that momentum going, while further developing the storylines (if that’s the format the author’s chosen) as well as allowing for character growth.
It definitely shouldn’t raise more issues than it does contribute towards a bettering a relationship with the characters and the series arc the author’s laying out.
Which is my problem with The Boy in the Locked Room . See full list at the bottom.
At the end of The Ghost in the Hall , a book I loved btw, the MC the medium, Edward Campion, had become paralyzed from the waist down, due to a battle with a evil spirit.
Avery’s descriptions of Ward dealing with his long recovery, his disability and it’s very real impact on every aspect of his life is raw, filled with tears, darkness, and is absolutely believable.
Ward isn’t thinking about the boy who needs saving. And still visits him nightly, albeit rarely in the beginning of the book. Ward is rightfully concerned with his own personal issues. His business, which is taking a hit because of his recovery. He’s depressed and feeling too dependent on others, like his orc Professor boyfriend, Mason . They’ve moved in together but even that’s feeling out of sync. The adjustment isn’t going smoothly.
This is where I’m conflicted because Avery does an incredible job with Ward in this situation , once having made the decision to injure Ward so severely in the story. However, it now becomes so much a part of the current story that any other subjects or threads are relegated to a lesser narrative status.
Including the boy in the locked room.
What comes next in the high percentage of scenes after the turmoil of Ward adjusting to his disability and new reality is his sex life. Or rather his and Mason’s. This does dovetail into how both parties are relating to each other physically and emotionally after Ward’s trauma.
But, there’s so many that just as we start with a scene or storyline that’s connected to Rayn, the tormented boy that’s dream walking, and crying out for help, it’s stopped. And we’re back to yet another sex scene.
The entire subject of the book’s title is given very little space until the story is halfway finished which is a shame because the horror and mystery is a excellent idea, but truly not given the depth or details it needs.
So where did the space go to? Chapter 19. A chapter the author themselves states, in a Dear Readers note within the book , can be skipped over because it includes,“an attempted sexual assault in Chapter 19. Readers who have survived similar experiences may be more comfortable skipping ahead to Chapter 20.” Avery has written a raw, graphic scene that’s hard to read, where a vulnerable person is being sexually assaulted. This includes a suspenseful build up as well as the scene itself. It’s the entire chapter.
This also includes a trip to the hospital, rape kit scene, and police investigation. Raw and brutal, as it would be.
There’s one impactful magical element that’s of note. It could be referenced or brought into this story another way outside of this chapter.
So my issue and question is, if a full chapter and entire major aspect of a plot and character storyline be skipped over, is it really necessary to begin with? Especially one that’s so traumatic, carries with it triggers, and deep emotional pain ?
Was it just needed to bring that one magical development to light?
That’s a chapter that could have been used to further the complicated history and horror that’s Rayn. Or any of the other ghosts or families asking Ward and Mason for assistance. Some including Sylvia are fantastic.
And let’s not forget the fantastic elf Detective Hart. His role here was enlarged, remarkable, and again makes me want a series just for him.
So for me? The Boy in the Locked Room (Beyond the Veil #2) by K.M. Avery suffered from :
✓ too many sex scenes, which leads to
✓ a lack of concentration on the actual title subject matter,
✓ the fact it contains an entire chapter devoted to a brutal attempted sexual assault that the author said could be skipped . So is it really necessary?
Final question. If a book has wonderful characters, great ideas, and moments where it seems to come together but just didn’t because of every reason I just stated, would you be recommending it?
The boy begging for help in my nightmares is very real. He’s trapped, and it’s up to me and Mason to get him out. The trouble is, we have to find him first.
It would be a lot easier if we weren’t also trying to solve a series of magical murders and deal with my horrible ex-boyfriend at the same time.
Oh, and on top of that, I’m trying to make this relationship work, but that’s not the easiest thing to do when you’re a magnet for ghosts and murderers, your ex is a complete narcissist, and your boyfriend is an orc witch.
As they say, when it rains, it pours.
A HFN, M/M Paranormal Romance—book two in Mason and Ward’s story.
Book Two of Beyond the Veil.
Book One: The Ghost in the Hall
(TW: Attempted on page graphic sexual assault)
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Vin George is another new to me author. Their excellent Fang’d , a paranormal romance, is the first in a new Evergreen Council series and I’m so excited I found it.
George has a somewhat different take on the usual shifter/hybrid vampire romance. Even on the species of vampires and weres themselves.
As a foundation story, Fang’d is such a excellent tale. It peals back the hidden layers of the world Charley Entwhistle and Lucien “Luc” Bradshaw inhabit as they race away from Charley’s hometown and serious wrongful accusations laid against Charley.
Vin George gives their characters and readers a suspenseful, gripping base as a staging point for the story. A dark night, a near crash, a flight into the dark! Then the tale gets oh so better.
Because the driver who, in his kindness in rescuing Charley, is the fascinating Lucien “Luc” Bradshaw .
Luc is so much more than he appears. Luc is also one of two narrators of this remarkable story. The other being Charley, of course..
There’s so much happening to Charley. Much of which he doesn’t understand. His life has been unusual, he’s adopted and had weird physical issues no one has tried to explain. Ones that have escalated since puberty. Now he’s accused of murder, something he knows he didn’t do . He’s hurt, confused, and running.
Charley is such a complicated character that a review can’t portray his real personality. Which is terrific because Charley is at the heart of the story, it’s revelations and astonishing mysteries that move the narrative briskly forward.
Luc is at his side , his equal in depth of character, emotional issues, including historical bigotry between species, homophobia within species, and hidden elements that I’m sure will come out in future stories. Luc is an amazing being.
But Fang’d happens to be packed with them. What a joy. So I’m eagerly anticipating the new release to bring us back into this universe and into these characters lives. There’s still so many mysteries to solve.
Did I also mention the heartwarming moments too? Yes , it has those as well.
Vin George just made it onto my auto buy with this story. It’s beautifully written, the characters are engaging and fully defined, and the story incredibly well plotted with new twists on the paranormal species.
If you’re a lover of the paranormal, then I’m recommending this story and author to you. It’s a fabulous read!
Who is the antsy, beautiful guy in my passenger seat? Or rather, what is he?
Wrongly accused of murder and running for his life, Charley took a chance on the hot stranger with a fast car. He didn’t expect the gorgeous Luc to have any insights into Charley’s increasingly strange symptoms. He certainly didn’t expect to learn the fantastical stories he’d heard as a child were true. And he definitely didn’t expect to feel so strongly for someone he only just met.
Luc’s impulsive offer has landed him in charge of a sexy, enticing, not entirely human someone. Charley might have vampire blood. Surely that should make him less attractive and not more? But the mysterious Charley is irresistible, addictive even. Luc is determined to protect him from anyone and anything…mortal or otherwise.
Fang’d is the sexy first book in the Evergreen Council series, featuring a bratty half-vampire on the run, his stubborn wolf-shifter protector, and a fascinating world of supernatural beings hiding in the shadows. HEA. Standalone.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Somehow I missed this series when it began so I’m catching up now. T.J. Nichols Familiar Mates series has nine books to date and The Witch’s Familiar is the one that launches it all.
It’s a entertaining story, full of romance, magical characters, and thrills. I did find it lacking in world building, especially when we land into electro mage Jude Sullivan’s predicament with a paranormal ruling council, The Coven. He’s in real trouble, again, this time he could be stripped of his magic.
Now, it’s assumed and understood through some of the dialogue that the human world and magical exists together, the mundane hasn’t a clue about the paranormal side, and obviously it should stay that way. But as to all the rest of the structure and who the Coven is? Nothing.
Except all the serious stuff that’s implied in bits and pieces throughout the rest of the book. Nichols has left a hole here and hopefully each book will continue to fill in more of the series foundation.
Jude Sullivan is given a mission as a test, complete it successfully and keep his powers or fail and have them removed. Seems a bit excessive. Plus there’s a obvious enemy on the Council.
At the small town where the killings are occurring that Jude needs to investigate is a lone bear shifter, Rob Mackenzie. He’s the town mechanic.
I adore this character. Mack is exactly what you’d want in a bear shifter. His personality suits the regional location and his temperament.
The manner in which Nichols has the two men meet is a tad odd because who jumps to such wild assumptions without any research or clues. It made no sense. It was just one of those “narratively directed” choices that always seem so out of place.
Especially when the later combined dynamics and growing relationship indicates anything but character driven actions.
The creatures, their magical history were amazing, and the investigation/hunt to capture the mystery animal was a great feature. Including Mack’s reaction to everything.
I really enjoyed the romantic aspects of their relationship, but wish they had gone further with the familiar/mate part as it seemed so serious with big ramifications, but we got none of that.
We also had two characters , Jude’s enemy on the Council, and Mack’s ex, each of whom promised more drama. They faded out at the end.
Those are the issues that nagged at me.
The Witch’s Familiar (Familiar Mates #1) by T.J. Nichols is a quick read. Light, suspenseful with a terrific couple. If you can set aside those issues that I mentioned above, you will find this a very satisfying paranormal romance.
I’ve listed the entire series below. I’m onto the next. A vampire with a familiar!
He can hold lightning in his hand, but will love slip through his fingers?
Jude Sullivan has one more chance to prove he isn’t a danger to the paranormal community. If he fails, he’ll be stripped of his magic, a painful process to make a witch human. As a test, the Coven sends him to Mercy South, Colorado, to stop a creature that’s been mutilating cows and scaring the locals. Jude hates cows and small towns. The Coven should’ve sent a nature witch.
Rob Mackenzie is the local mechanic and bear shifter. If the locals knew his secret, they’d run him out of town. He wants someone to really know him and not be afraid. With several chewed-up cows and some other weird happenings, he’s wondering if he’s no longer the strangest creature in Mercy.
After meeting Mack, Jude thinks he’s found the cause of the trouble. But the trouble is only just getting started when Mack realizes he’s Jude’s fated mate. As the cow-mutilating creature starts hunting in town, Mack and Jude will have to stop fighting their attraction and each other, to stop the creature from killing again.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
I had such a mixture of feelings when I finished this story. I couldn’t quite decide what I’d just read. The first of a new series by Lark Taylor, its such a remarkable grab bag of paranormal and contemporary elements that I’m not confident all the various aspects of the storyline fit well all the time.
The series is focused on the four sons of Lucifer, each of which will have their own book/romance. This is Cal’s, the eldest. He’s the Butcher of the Ninth Circle. Or was. Until he and two other brothers made their escape from Hell, displeasing Lucifer greatly, leaving a fourth brother behind.
Cal runs a bookstore, Mori a bar, Harlow, their business partner. Anyway. They are all different, in temperament and physique.
One’s elegant, one a lumbersexual, one a tiny glam demon. You’ve seen the types before. You don’t really get to know them early on as far as a detailed background. It’s an instant jump into a dead body on the floor with a scramble to assemble a sense of who these characters are and what’s the current drama they are involved in.
Then we go to Oscar, a teacher, our other narrator. Oscar is human and represents the contemporary aspects of the story, which, until the end, are consistently written in a believable manner with respect to someone who’s been a victim of domestic abuse and now suffers from low self esteem and anxiety attacks. Oscar realistically not yet recovered from his trauma as a domestic abuse survivor. That violence has caused his severe anxiety attacks,one’s he’s not even sure what might still trigger them.
These are on the page attacks with memories associated with his domestic violence, so if this is a element that’s a sensitive subject for you , take note and decide if this is a story for you.
Oscar and Cal’s relationship has its great moments, especially when Cal’s (a demon Prince) is being supportive in exactly the right way , and the author uses Cal to demonstrate the correct manner to help someone having a anxiety attack. All terrific.
But this is a story and series about demons, Princes of Hell. Not puppy dogs. So there’s death and torture too. Especially since Father’s insisting they come home.
Also humor, and mentions of other authors books because there is a romance novel connection too.
Yes, as I said Devil’s Mark has got a carryon’s worth of exposition to dump into this story. I haven’t even gotten to the Devil’s Mark itself, think bondmate bite of a werewolf sort of thing. And brotherly dynamics. And father/sons dynamics. So much here left without a firm foundation.
I’m hoping to get that in the next book.
If you’re a lover of paranormal romances, hurt/comfort, with some dark aspects, this might be for you. Please take note of the comments about trigger warnings.
I enjoyed this and am looking forward to the next installment.
Cal and his brothers turned their backs on the family business over a hundred years ago. Hell is tired of waiting for them to return.
Cal
I’ve never wanted a relationship—especially not with a human. With my father demanding my return to Hell and a demon leaving dead bodies in my bookshop, now is not the time to lose my heart. But one look in Oscar’s broken eyes, and I know I’m in trouble. Oscar’s been hurt before, and everything in me screams to keep him safe. How can I do that when I know being with me will only put him in more danger?
More importantly, am I strong enough to walk away from him?
Oscar
After escaping my last relationship with broken bones and an anxiety disorder, I’m tired of living half a life. My world revolves around my classroom, flat, and best friend. When fate throws Cal in my path, he seems too good to be true. He looks like he’s been pulled from my fantasies, and my baggage doesn’t scare him. Ok, so there’s the tiny issue of him being a demon, but I’ve dealt with far scarier.
I’ve been broken once before, and I don’t think I’d survive it again. Can I let down my barriers enough to let Cal in?
Devil’s Mark is a thrilling high heat, hurt/comfort, M/M contemporary paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliff-hanger. It features a possessive demon and the broken teacher who captures his heart. ‘Devil’s Mark’ is the first in The Reckless Damned series but can be read as a standalone. Each book focuses on a different couple and will have a HEA.
Trigger warning for emotional abuse and domestic violence in a previous relationship, anxiety attacks, and descriptions of violence.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Due to the complexity of Salinger’s world building and expanding cast of characters, I always need a bit of a review before diving back into this series. But it’s so worthwhile because the author has created a grand tale of war between good and evil beings, one that has been fought before, and now 500 years later is exploding on earth as mortals, Demi gods, mythological beings and creatures from all realms are gathering for one final chapter.
In the last novel, Edge Lines, the Fallen have started to remember their past lives before the First War, when they fell to Earth. The consequences of that recovery of a original self, means the reintegration of memory and powers. And just as much pain and guilt. For Cassius and Morgan , and for Victor.
Because the returning memories and selves brings deep deceptions and painful history to light.
All this while continuing current storylines with the characters, and investigations that carried over looking for the man/being who’s causing the chaos.
A main factor here is Theophile Serrano’s past, and his future part in the ongoing war. It is an amazing journey that really invigorated the story for me in some respects.
Just when I was thinking the story was getting a little dense in bringing in more characters and exposition, Theo’s part began and I was even more delighted with the twists that came next. It was incredibly emotional, full of action, and the ramifications from his section for the next storylines are huge.
These aren’t books you can read as standalones. They must be read in the order they are written and in the series sequence. They contain a huge amount of material that moves the arc and relationships forward in each story.
Fallen Messengers is a highly imaginative, complicated series. Oathbreaker is a wonderful installment, one I couldn’t put down until I was finished.
When the past comes calling, Cassius and Morgan have no option but to face the dire consequences of the choices they made before the Fall.
With Cassius Black’s secret operations to save the world in the last five-hundred years finally revealed by the agencies that govern the otherworldly, his status as the most vilified Fallen on Earth changes almost overnight. Unused to his newfound fame, Cassius tries to keep a low profile, but Morgan King’s reckless actions soon have them in the news again.
Forced to take a sabbatical, the pair heads to London to meet with Victor Sloan, who’s been incommunicado since his identity as the demigod who betrayed Cassius and Morgan during the War in the Nether came to light in the Spirit Realm.
Meanwhile, Theophile Serrano’s attempts to adapt to his new job as P.A. to Sion CEO Hugo Frost are derailed by the strange things that keep happening to him. Things that soon convince him that he is losing his mind.
Destinies collide when a catastrophe engendered by the dark God Elios strikes London. As past and present meet, Cassius finally comes face to face with the Guardians who were left behind in the Nether.
Will unlocking the secrets of Cassius and Theo’s past be the key to the city’s salvation? Or will the truth tear them all apart and give Elios the victory he seeks?
Oathbreaker is the fourth novel in the gay urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like your paranormal adventures full of action, magic, snark, and a host of steamy angels and demons, then you’re not going to want to miss this gripping, angst-filled adrenaline ride!
Content note: this book contains sensitive content that may be upsetting to some readers. Please refer to the blurb page of the eBook and the copyright page of the paperback and hardback for more information.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Another new author, another funtastic paranormal story and romance to grab hold of!
Given that graphically simple but perfect cover and great description, I knew I was in for a humorous story but it has hints of so much more hidden in the corners of this wildly entertaining romance between a ancient but oddly cute vampire who’s decided to be a detective and a human thief gone law student!
There’s a lot to discuss here. Mostly because it sounds a bit unhinged, in a terrific way!
It starts with Octavius Evander, the ancient vampire who’s boredom is the reason he’s starting The Undead Detective Agency to begin with. With his best friend, the zombie Scarlet at hand to act as secretary, backup, and sarcastic Greek chorus, Octavius is hilarious from the moment we meet him. He’s got the attention span of a toddler and what he does like (pink, sparkly, glitter, fabulous, eccentric), well, he wants it now. Black goth then 18th century fashion. In a instant. And sweets.
He’s just endearing. A bit clueless when it comes to some matters for a being that’s lived for so many centuries, but that’s a part of his charm.
And when he puts out a handmade flyer for the agency which also includes advertising for help. He gets the unexpected in the best way. A human applies.
That’s Turney Pimms. Love these names. Turney has got a bit of a colorful background, one I’m sure we will explore further in the books to come. At the moment, Turney’s enrolled in law school at Yale and the funds are getting scarce for the next year. He’s desperately in need of a job when a friend shows him a weird flyer.
A flyer which turns his world upside down!
Rhodes story has great characters, really entertaining scenes, but also ones that show our characters getting to know and understand each other with a warmth and deepening affection. It plays out so well.
But the author never forgets, even when we’re about to, that Octavius is a very old and powerful vampire and Turney is still just human. With all that entails.
There’s a number of scary cases, some investigations that go much differently then everyone thought, and will effect the Agency and the relationships being established.
Get It Together (The Undead Detective Agency #1) by Shelby Rhodes is just a wonderful read! I enjoyed immensely and highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys paranormal stories, especially romance.
There’s four books at least planned for the series. I’ve listed them below. I am so going to enjoy each and every one , I can tell!
The Undead Detective Agency series:
✓ Get It Together #1
◦ Keep It Together #2 – Feb/March 2023
◦ In Death Together #3 – TBD
◦ Together Forever #4 – TBD
Synopsis:
Hello, there! I’m Octavius Evander. And this is the beginning of my story—well…sort of. It’s not the very beginning. As a vampire, that story would be way too long to write down—think, before the Romans. Rather, this story is about how I met the love of my unlife. Okay, it will be mostly about the cool and fancy detective agency I opened and solving mysteries, but also a little about love too.
So, what does one need to open a detective agency, you may ask? Well, for one, a detective. As it was my idea, and I paid for everything, I, of course, filled that role. Next, I needed a secretary. My beautiful and marginally dangerous best friend Scarlett filled that role. Now, I will admit, at that time, I had not thought further than that, and simply skipped to getting my detective license, an office, and some other necessities.
My mind might have been too full of the fun adventures I was about to have. My hope was that those in and out of the paranormal communities would keep me entertained for a very long time. I quickly realized I still needed a driver, a tech person, and a witch that was good with ghosts. This is the story of how I found those people. And who would have thought the first to walk through the door would be human, with no knowledge of the paranormal—my precious Turney.
“I pat his knee to comfort him, and then because that is not enough, I pull him into a tight hug, blind-typing, There there, Papa’s here.
“I swear I’m not an idiot,” Bellamy whispers, squeezing my hand.
“We’re a touchy family. And yes, we are a family, even if sometimes Bellamy prefers to pretend we aren’t. He pretends less and less with each week that passes.
Fox reaches past me and flicks Bellamy’s nose. “We don’t disparage ourselves,” he grunts.
We save that for the people we murder.
Fox reads my text and kisses the side of my head. “That’s right.”
— The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2) by Jennifer Cody
This series started as a lark for Cody but The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin sees a deepening of the relationships within the ever weird found family that Romily is building around him, as well as a complexity to the series arc as the author is adding characters and potential books into the universe.
I love it.
I mean who adopts a full grown enemy assassin as a son? Uh, why Romily did. And gets the assassin, Bellamy , as well as Fox (husband to be) , and Romily’s new family to accept Bellamy as a son, grand baby too? Sheer madcap awesomeness!
The interactions are hilarious. But what’s better is Bellamy’s emotional acceptance of his new status and family. It’s everything.
So when their son is threatened? It’s the family on alert and then to the rescue.
Which gives Cody the ability to enlarge each character’s supernatural elements as well as add the personal growth to their personalities that their new and stable relationships have had on them. Neither Romily or Fox are the same as they were when we met them in the first story. Each has shown measurable growth and revealed more about who they are, as people , and well, species.
I appreciate that element and the changes we see in them separately and together. We have mundane mysteries, that includes Romily’s engagement and missing ring.
Cody? Where’s the ring?
We get several great new additions to the series just as Romily adds to the family. “Edovard Durand Folange.” It’s French.” Who and what he is can be found within this terrific story. Trust me, he’s adorable.
So many wild elements here. Hopefully we will get to dive into them further as the series progresses.
The narrator changes, at least for Book 3, if the teaser at the end here is any indication. Should be wonderful. Can’t wait.
While we are waiting, pick up the preceding stories and get caught up. I’m happily recommending them all.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees series to date:
✓ The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
✓ Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love): A Short Story MSMD #1.5
✓ The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2)
You know what I’d like to know? Where the hell my romantic, how-we-got-engaged story is. Am I going to get it any time soon? Where is my big ass diamond?
Unfortunately, all that romance-novel level relationship-angst gets put on (indefinite) hold when my beloved son, Bellamy, is targeted by who knows who, poisoned, and then abducted by a wolf-ish person I kinda like. Am I going to get my kid back? You betcha. The question is, how many people does Fox have to kill first?
The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin is a 65k M/M Paranormal Romance with plenty of sass, gore, and questionable decision-making skills (and now there are tiny tables too).
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
“Romily asked me to do this, and I would do anything for that cute, fiery ball of optimism and silver linings except share him. He’s mine and I will fight you for him. No exceptions.”
— Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love): A Short Story MSMD 1.5 (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees) by Jennifer Cody
This cute short story is wonderful to read right after The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1. Whereas that story is narrated by Romily, this is narrated by Arlington Fox, with interruptions by Romily. It’s a quick look at their beginning, and soulmate connection, from Fox’ perspective.
If you were wondering why Fox was so quick to go along with Romily on all those occasions? Here’s your answer!
Love it! Recommending it. Need the other book to know what’s going on.
It’s also available free if you subscribe to the author’s mailing list.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees series to date:
✓ The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
✓ Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love): A Short Story MSMD #1.5
✓ The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2)
Romily: Are you wondering what meeting me was like for the love of my life, Arlington Fox? Well, as Fox tells it, it was magical. Obviously.
Fox: Romily asked me to do this, and I would do anything for that cute, fiery ball of optimism and silver linings except share him. He’s mine and I will fight you for him. No exceptions.
Fox Recruits a Mute Boy is a 5k word short story as told from Fox’s point of view about how he met his soul’s mate. Content Warning: blood, gore, flying limbs, and ridiculous requests from polyamorous fathers.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 