This paranormal romance novella is packed full with so many interesting characters and vividly detailed elements that I wish I was a much longer novel. From the location and shop to the multi-dimensional characters, Fox has barely touched on her Texas Magic universe potential.
The second story in this series, it’s a fated mate romance between a newly arrived embittered werewolf, Thorin, and a local shopkeeper, a raven shifter named Poe.
The personalities and relationship issues are well defined. As are how Fox has their fated mates chemistry help them work out their problems. It’s sexy, believable and makes them so connectable.
Even the secondary characters are ones I’d like to know more about as well as the intriguing town of Bee Cave with its own magical atmosphere.
Love fated mates? Want a quick wonderful story? Check out Shiny Things (Texas Magic) by Kelly Fox. Highly recommended.
I’ve already had my poor wolf heart broken by one selfish, trinket-hungry avian shifter, and I am never going through that again.
Hell, I moved all the way out to the shifter town of Bee Cave, Texas to start over, so…yeah. That adorably twitchy raven shifter at the local coffee shop had better get it through his pretty skull that he’s not gonna get one over me.
Even if he is so sparkly and gorgeous, I can barely help myself.
Shiny Things is part of the Texas Magic shifter novella series. This 17k word novella contains reluctant mates, undeniable attraction, and an unhinged crow shifter ex.
Hunters Hollow, a sequel series to Arden Steele’s ongoing terrific Blackhaven Manor paranormal novels, is a successful crossover world. I’m really enjoying this series. I love the way Steele created new engaging characters, while maintaining the many established characters/couples it’s brought over from its original series.
These characters, all well defined in terms of personality and history, as well as the shared universe beings that have continued impactful roles to play , like Hades, in the storylines, keep the books intriguing and exciting.
Curses and Casualties, the third book in this series, demonstrates all the best qualities of the two worlds, with the established mythology and a great murder mystery to investigate.
Necromancer Elliot Church has a secret parentage and a familiar, Dax. It’s his father whose request for an investigation brings him first to New Orleans, then to Hunters Hollow.
It’s where he meets his fated mate, Tenn, an incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry. Tenn, now a tattoo artist in Hunters Hollow, and Elliott have a great fated mate moment and start to a developing relationship. I enjoyed that Steele has layers to them. There’s issues that need to be addressed. Dax’ bond and Dax’s feelings as part of the dynamic for one. That’s just the beginning.
The mystery is good although the villain is easily guessed at. Why they are so bad is a better story.
And there’s other scenes and aspects of Curses and Casualties that will just tug at your heart. Especially the ending that added just more things to think about and explore in this expanding universe.
I look forward to the next chapter in this series and couple to get their fated mate HEA.
At least, that’s the way Elliot Church feels. A powerful mage with a gift for necromancy, he’s made a name for himself as a successful private investigator. And he fails to see how smiling in front of a camera or answering the same banal questions has any bearing on his performance.
It’s nothing more than a distraction, and one he doesn’t need, especially when strange things start happening in New Orleans.
There are dead Otherlings in the Quarter, their bodies mummified and their souls fragmented. A Reaper stands on every corner, and more are pouring into the city daily, which can only mean one thing. Mass casualties.
When his search for answers leads him to Hunters Hollow, the last thing he expects to find in the backwater town is his mate. Incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry, Lysander Tennison—Tenn to the locals—is everything he never knew he wanted, but the timing couldn’t be more wrong. Yet, he can no more turn his back on the demon than he can ignore what’s going on in the city.
Even when every road in front of him leads straight to hell.
It’s always exciting when Shelby Rhodes releases a new book, yet alone one that’s the start of a new series, but A Spark of Something (A Librarian’s Guide to Witchery Book 1) is exactly that.
A new LGBTQIA paranormal romance thriller that has all the elements we hope to see in a Shelby Rhodes novel, it sets the foundation going forward with the characters and world building for the books to come.
It’s horrifying, sexy, otherworldly, humorous, and funny. And leaves plenty of room for exploration and expansion in this series.
It starts with a sweetheart of a person, Oliver ‘Ollie’ Cross, who lives above his family’s building, Cross Heritage Private Library. He’s 30, orphaned from a wealthy family, and takes incredible pride and delight in sharing his love of books and the collection with children of his community and his diverse employees. And his irascible black cat, Red.
Who and exactly what Noble Vincent is, the man who enters Ollie’s life, is a major storyline and won’t be spoiled here. This is a two person POV, one of which is Noble’s. That’s important because of his type of character and history, only an inkling is implied.
Ollie’s employees are amazing and that library has wonders yet to come, I’m sure. It’s definitely got ghosts.
I thought it was a little unbalanced in terms of character storytelling at the beginning. But that changed dramatically as the two characters met and their relationship created a new dynamic. And Ollie became aware of the otherworld.
Noble’s element is horrifying and that, honestly, makes his quick relationship with Ollie a bit problematic for me. Rhodes has so many open opportunities for this story to move forward. And it’s just beginning to lay out the details of Ollie’s history and current situation. Nobles as well. Don’t get me started on Red and that book.
So I’m extremely excited to see where this author goes next. Surprising, terrifying, sexy and amazing. I’m there for it!
Hello there, I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Well, if you are new, welcome. I’m Oliver ‘Ollie’ Cross, owner of the Cross Heritage Private Library, and I have a problem. Several actually. To explain the full weight of my conundrum, I feel I have to put out there that I am skeptical of all paranormal ‘things’, and always have been. Mostly, I just find the supernatural a bunch of nonsense. At least…I did…until ghosts started appearing…and my cat started talking to me… And if that weren’t enough, there is a book that constantly insults me, while claiming that I’m a witch!
So, as you can see, I have quite a conundrum on my hands, in that I…may be losing my ever-loving mind.
On a positive note, for the first time in my life, a man may actually like my tendency to babble, so…winning there? But then, Noble Vincent is perfect… Mysterious, but perfect. Though my cat doesn’t like him, and my best friend thinks he is hiding something. But if anything that’s happening is reality…my cat also lied to me my whole life…and my best friend usually thinks everyone is hiding something, so…opinions rejected!
Anyhoo, things are fine! I’m fine! What’s a few life altering events, some breakdowns, and…multiple people trying to kill me—hah… Things will be okay! I hope…
Author Note: A Spark of Something is the first book in the MM paranormal romance series, A Librarian’s Guide to Witchery, a series that is meant to be read in order. Please see inside or my website for content warnings.
Wolfsbane is in the murky area that the characters and locations are familiar to those who have read The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, and yes , that main character makes an important contribution here. So while you might say it’s a standalone story, it’s also not really one as many elements crossover.
Wolfsbane (Werewolves of Boston #1) by S J Himes is also a series of one novel. The characters themselves will make appearances elsewhere but this is it for them.
Rael, a young person whose heritage has made him unwelcome in his pack (his mother is a werewolf and deceased father human). He’s unable to shift, or show other otherworldly traits that would make him acceptable.
The author sets up an emotional showdown at a pack meeting that goes unexpectedly sideways with Rael and his mother not leaving but instead Rael has a suitor.
This all comes together rapidly , and while Rael and Jameson Mercer, his suitor, agree on a set time to get to know each other, there no “feeling “ of them being able to communicate or interact because of the dramatic events that soon followed.
The short length rushes the narrative smartly along to the detriment of much depth of character or relationship development. It’s just everything falling into place.
Drama. Romance. Villains identified. Help offered and accepted for various elements of the plot. New final surprise scene and wrap up.
It’s lively, fun, and a fast paced read. The couple is cute and the mom wonderful. For more than that it needs details, depth, and story length.
For which I recommend The Sorcerer of Beacon Hill series. Just excellent.
I do recommend it if you’re a fan of the series and author. I enjoyed it.
Werewolves of Boston (1 book series)
Related series/universe:
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer (8 book series) by Sheena Jolie writing as S.J. Himes
Introducing a new series, Werewolves of Boston, set in the same universe as The Beacon Hill Sorcerer!
Rael Morrow is a human-werewolf hybrid, and he’s about to be kicked out of his pack. Unable to transform, Rael is left with few options. He can accept the Alpha’s ruling and be banished, pulling his mother with him—or agree to a courtship with Jameson Mercer, heir presumptive of their Boston Southside Pack and the object of Rael’s longtime unrequited crush.
If he mates with Jameson, he can remain in the pack, and he and his mother won’t have to suffer the indignity of being forced to uproot their whole lives.
Rael reluctantly agrees to the plan. He’s been in love with Jameson since he was a kid, and there’s no way Jameson cares about him in the same way. Rael is afraid he’s setting himself up for a lifetime of misery.
But then begins a seduction that breaks down every preconceived notion that Rael had about Jameson, and he dares to hope.
Of course, things are never that easy. Jameson is the perfect alpha, and Rael’s human heritage hides a secret that threatens his life. The Southside Pack is primed to fracture as power dynamics shift. And Rael is forced to reconcile who he always thought he was with who he could become.
WOLFSBANE is a 37,000 word novella set in the Infinite Arcana, an expanded universe shared with The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, but can be read as a standalone.
Superlative. Once again May is building a suspenseful, dynamic, thrilling new series by introducing a villain that’s truly horrifying by its truly threatening but yet unknown nature. But first, a fantastic well crafted, compelling murder mystery, full of secrets, bodies, ghosts, another necromancer , more world building, and just a outstanding story.
Have to wait until the end but by the scenes described, the reader can imagine the scope of its plotting. One so immense that’s been unknown, whose power and potential to harm this series’ world and characters will hang over each story.
Fabulous.
It starts with May taking her Erasmus Boone and Franklin O’Hare out of their homes and comfort zone, away from their jobs, family, friends and the warmth of the Mississippi , back to Chicago and the Midwest where Detective Franklin O’Hare came from and still has ties.
It’s a great way to start. It’s cold. The Chicago PD murder case is fraught with danger, both in terms of emotional distress and the likelihood of prejudice against Boone. And then there’s the question of Franklin’s family who wants to meet Boone for the first time as well since they became a couple.
The characters May creates for the Chicago PD and at every other aspect of the story are just as well defined, beautifully executed as any that’s come before. Their personalities develop and grow as the cases and investigations become more complex, just as you would imagine.
Series characters are also evolving. Aurelia the djinn is finding new facets to her personality, possible emotions to figure out, and those are her struggle with her increasing unpredictability. May’s strength in writing otherworldly beings that are absolutely at their core non human make her books magical, powerful, and often terrifying. For the reader and the characters in the stories.
I can’t wait for this series to continue. What an amazing, scary journey lies ahead. Highly recommended! And I love seeing crossover characters from the Pixie series make connections here!
This is a must read, as it the series before it.
Another excellent cover design by cheriefox
Related/Preceding Series:
Perfect Pixie Series
🔹Perfectly Imperfect Pixie
🔹Perfectly Perfect Pixie: Peaches’s Story
🔹Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story
🔹Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendall’s Story
Necromancer Erasmus Boone’s life is better than he ever imagined. Bucking the typical necromancer storyline, Erasmus has managed to carve out a life filled with love and purpose. With Halloween fast approaching, Erasmus is ready to enjoy his favorite time of year. Unfortunately, Detective Franklin O’Hare’s Midwestern past has other ideas.
Covered in blood and found wandering the streets surrounding Chicago, a necromancer is being accused of murder—the victim and circumstances unknown. Mentally unstable, this unfortunate necromancer is in jeopardy of being railroaded for a crime he may or may not have been involved in. Franklin O’Hare’s former captain doesn’t want to witness another victimized necromancer. Aware of Franklin’s association with Erasmus, he calls on them for help.
Now headed for chillier climes, Erasmus and Franklin need to figure out if a crime has been committed, and if there’s one thing Erasmus excels at, it’s finding where the bodies are buried. Only Erasmus doesn’t just fine one victim; he finds several. When the souls of the departed blame their deaths on a long dead bogeyman, it becomes clear the local sheriff has a problem and a necromancer accused of murder is just the tip of the iceberg.
Between bringing back the dead, dealing with local prejudices, and meeting Franklin’s family, Erasmus has his plate full. Add on a worried warlock father and more than one attempted assassination, and Erasmus is more than ready to pack it up and head back to the warm Mississippi breeze.
Deadly Deception is the second book in the Necromancer Tales series and should be read in order. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be read as a stand-alone series. Deadly Deception is a m/m romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to keep his necromancer boyfriend alive, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a deceptive killer, a questionably moral all-powerful djinn, a kitten who can’t figure out how it wound up in a backpack, let alone staring through a plastic bubble, humans—some redeemable and some not, a chilly Chicago fall, and a playfully bloodthirsty vampire. Deadly Deception has a HFN ending as it is part of an ongoing series.
Mentions of violence, murder, souls brought back from the beyond, spaciest bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity.
My Inherited House Might be Haunted by AJ Sherwood is a cute, no angst paranormal romance. It originally came about as a serialized story on the author’s Patreon site but has been updated and expanded.
The characters are adorable, there’s a inherited haunted house, along with ghosts (a family of ghosts which we never meet unfortunately), brownies, witches everywhere!
There’s so many interesting elements here pack together for a short story. Especially the familiars , a cat and puppy, that these characters never get fully developed into their elements. They are familiars in name only because they’re recognized by others as such. But do they talk or do things that we think of as being something familiars do? No. They do things that our cats and dogs do just as adorably mostly.
The romantic relationship is fast and the book length just doesn’t leave them much time for development of magical skills, new knowledge of how magic works, or other relationship areas. But the characters, Rhett and Calix and Calix’s family are so interesting that this story makes me wish for a sequel or expanded version.
Read My Inherited House Might be Haunted by AJ Sherwood for a delightful instant love paranormal tale!
I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of Silver & Blood: An Infinite Arcana Novella by Sheena Jolie ( formerly writing under the pen name SJ Himes). It’s been a long while since I read their Infinite Arcana novels, so getting to dive back into this universe was exciting.
It’s not essential to have read the other books to understand the world of the characters and the foundation behind the storytelling. Jolie’s narrative does a splendid job of explaining the history of the world and otherworldly beings living there.
Curse of Silver & Blood literally has an explosive start, one that has our main characters on a collision course with fate.
Alec, an elf is escaping horrific captivity, and Leif, a cursed ancient werewolf, who hears the explosion on the edge of his territory, are two fantastic, well defined characters. Beautifully rendered, from their personalities to their own backgrounds, it’s easy to slip into connecting with each of them and their fated mates relationship.
Their fated mate relationship is built in the story in a way that’s makes the reader accept their bond and their growing chemistry. These characters work together. Jolie also creates magical elements that feel realistic in that situation but fascinating enough that I would want this couple to have additional stories.
The ending is solid and holds so much promise for the characters and their future together. I loved it.
I highly recommend Curse of Silver & Blood: An Infinite Arcana Novella by Sheena Jolie and the others in this universe.
Cover designed by Kelley York of Sleepy Fox Studio
An Infinite Arcana Novel series:
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer*
The Necromancer’s Dance
The Necromancer’s Dilemma
The Necromancer’s Reckoning
A History of Trouble Collection Mastering the Flames
Alec has been held prisoner for months, coerced into using his magic to manufacture illegal drugs for the mountain mafia. His gifts are profitable and dangerous, and his captors have no intention of letting him go. Alec engineers his escape–which lands him in the territory of a local legend–an ancient werewolf, a lone alpha cursed by silver and blood.
Leif has been alone for a thousand years. Forced to keep his distance from his own people, Leif settles into the depths of the Appalachian Mountains and spends his endless days patrolling his territory. One night the forest is rattled by an explosion, and the sudden appearance of a bedraggled fae running for his life.
Neither expected to come face to face with their fated mate in the cold, dark woods.
Fate has a hand in uniting Alec and Leif–but it’ll be up to them to forge the nascent mate bond between them, and Alec and Leif have a fight on their hands–the mafia wants Alec back, and the curse laid on Leif is out for blood.
The expanded version of the FATED MATES Charity Anthology short story, set in the Infinite Arcana Universe by bestselling author Sheena Jolie (formerly SJ Himes.) Contains new content. Novella, MM Paranormal Fantasy Romance. 36k words.
Recalling My Demon: An MM paranormal romance by Colette Davison is part of a multi-author 12 book paranormal series called Possessive Love.
Colette Davison does several things here with this charming kinky novella that make it surprisingly different in many ways from the rest of the typical stories involved demon romances.
It’s a ex priest and demon romance with many twists. There’s a daddy kink, an innocent character, and the church isn’t involved in the story.
Who’s the innocent? Well, it’s the demon. That’s Brin, a bratty, loving demon who lives with his human mother, isolated behind wards for his safety and hers. In Brin, Davison has created such a lovable engaging character. Naughty and innocent. A total scamp.
Ian, the ex-priest turned nurse is an interesting personality. He’s a caring individual, made his peace with his faith, and went into nursing to continue to help others. But he’s got a kinky side. Guess who gets to explain sex to a demon?
There’s more emotional side stories, including the one that involves Brian’s aging mother.
I didn’t find the end as well realized as the rest of the story but it’s definitely a HEA.
If you are a fan of the author and trope, don’t pass up Recalling My Demon: An MM paranormal romance by Colette Davison. A fun entertaining read.
Possessive Love series:
A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae
My Demon Husband by Jan Stuart Exercising a Demon by H.L Day
Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley
The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain
My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin
My Saintly Demon by RM Neill Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Howell
I’m told Nethermire House is haunted, but the truth is even stranger.
Nethermire is home to an eccentric 80-year-old and the young man she claims is her great-nephew.
Except he’s not.
He’s a demon.
Brin’s chaotic, bratty ways draw me to him. When he calls me Daddy, I’m a goner. I want to protect him, take care of him, and call him mine.
But when he gets summoned to hell, our happiness is shattered.
Can I recall him to my side, or will I lose him forever?
Recalling My Demon is a standalone MM paranormal romance in the Possessive Love multi-author series. It has an age-gap relationship between a bratty demon who needs someone to love him more than he realises and an ex-priest who’s now a Daddy.
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (October 19, 2023)
Santano’s been away from his mate and boyfriends, now it’s the New Year. It’s time for his family and all the minions to celebrate with a special party! Mostly sans clothes, lots of sex and energy to celebrate his return and the New Year!
It’s all charming characters on board and their new family dynamic on sexy loving display.
Fun, sexy and a great addition to this series.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees :
The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2
The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion #3
The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger #4
The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest
How to Start the New Year Right: According to the Minions
In preparation for Santanos’s return from a retreat in the Alps, the minions are putting on a New Year’s Eve party, but if one more person touches Edovard, the celebration is going to get bloody.
Hassan:
My mate is adorable, but he’d be even cuter with bloody hands. If only that wouldn’t upset Edovard.
How to Start the New Year Right is a 6k short story featuring a New Year’s Eve party with fewer clothes than people and the minions’ evil New Year’s resolutions.
Where There’s Smoke continues F.N. Manning’s Elementally Yours series about elemental mages learning to use their powers, get their brand, and finding love in the process.
Where There’s Smoke is about two supposedly opposite elements, Fire and Water. Water is represented by the exiled Argyle, half-water nymph and half-human, who is on campus taking courses to help him and others like him adapt to their magic. That’s where he meets with Samson, a fire mage who can’t control his element.
Manning puts together a wonderful romantic story, with well defined magical elements, a horrific magic themed mystery that has huge implications for Argyle and Samson. In the course of investigating the mystery, the story provides the necessary background and missing family information for them both.
I really enjoyed this story and couple. It was very well plotted and the couple was engaging and easy to relate to.
Absolutely looking forward to the next one in this series.
When fire meets water, can love extinguish the turmoil?
Argyle is more familiar with schools of fish than a college education. Half-water nymph and half-human, Argyle is building a life on land for the first time at age 42, which includes taking classes in order to help others with his magic. But when his studies hit rough waters, he partners with an irresistibly hot fire mage for tutoring.
Samson knows how to bring the heat. The 26-year-old fire caster seems interested in Argyle despite their age difference and he’s quick to flirt, but the man has trouble opening up about his own magical issues. And while the chemistry between them is undeniable, their fire and water powers clash, creating only smoke.
Just as their bond begins to blossom, trouble brews under the surface in Argyle’s seaside home. Cruel magic poisons the water and threatens Argyle’s family. Argyle and Samson may be the key to combating the damage, if they can find a way to unite their conflicting elements. Will their connection save everyone, or will it all go up in smoke?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 