Category: M/M Paranormal Fiction

Review:  Two Thousand Shadows ( Kings of Chaos Book #4) by Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 5🌈

We’re at the penultimate book in Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic epic paranormal series of ancient Chinese vampires, terrifying Fae dynastic plots, realm invasions, dragons, fated mates , witches and paranormal beings of all sorts of magical mythology.

What a mesmerizing wild explosive fantasy romantic ride this series is. And with Two Thousand Shadows we get both answers to a series long puzzle and an agonizing cliffhanger to angst over until the finale is released. 

Two Thousand Shadows has a lot of storylines and elements to it, particularly with Drake having to concentrate on pulling together the entire series dramatic plots and characters for huge battles and storyline climaxes that will resolve the majority of the series main crucial issues.  

Does Drake pull it off? Absolutely!

With the addition of new characters, cat shifters with magical abilities that are slowly revealed throughout the narrative, and a new couple who are (already formed in the reader’s imagination) a more substantial force in both personalities and character growth. 

Junjie, who’s a seer and warrior, has his own painful past revisited here through memories and conversations with his clan. The cat shifter is revealed to be Leo, the stray cat Junjie has been feeding a surprise that came at the end of the previous story. 

Leo’s character and shifter background is rolled out as Leo decides what he wants to do with the clan and his affinity for Junjie. It’s interesting how Drake again is able to write Leo feelings and thoughts as a paranormal character with a different nature than a human being.  Leo’s story feels very different from anything else that has come from before, that includes the dragon, who also acts as it should. 

What or who is delightfully written is an orphan cat shifter who acts as a bridge between Leo and the clan, especially Junjie, pulling Leo into the found family in a relatable manner. 

When it comes to the all important details and climatic moments, Drake has the power of the many magical beings and surprisingly great twists to make them so satisfying.  Did I want more? Sure. But this is so complicated, so many elements and elaborate layers of storylines leading up the result that I probably wouldn’t be happy unless there was a couple more books.  

These are fabulous characters and it’s hard to believe that with all their potential for growth and more importantly additional content, this is leading up to the end. Hopefully with a break, Drake will think about new stories. 

There’s another story coming because as I said this ends on a cliffhanger. A unexpected twist.  

Until that book drops, grab up this fantastic series. Read them in the order they were written and enjoy the journey into an incredible universe and amazing characters. 

Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.

The Kings of Chaos :

  • Two Thousand Dreams #1
  • Two Thousand Tears #2
  • Two Thousand Blades #3
  • Two Thousand Shadows #4
  • Two Thousand Promises #5 – Feb 21,2025 – finale I think.

Buy link

        Two Thousand Shadows (Kings of Chaos Book 4)

    

Blurb 

That cat is a liar!

The “stray cat” Junjie has been feeding and cuddling for months is actually an extremely rare cat shifter.

Of course, Leo would have preferred to continue their arrangement of Junjie feeding him choice bits of fish and rubbing his belly, but he needs Junjie’s help and that means revealing his secret.

An orphaned kitten needs a home after the fae killed his parents, and Leo is the most irresponsible, feckless, lazy creature in existence.

In short, he’s a terrible choice for raising a two-year-old cat shifter.

No. The WORST choice.

Yet, even after the little boy is settled with Junjie and the rest of the Zhang clan, Leo can’t walk away.

There’s just something about that sweet, bashful vampire with the too-soft heart and sexy eyes. And that kid is stealing chunks of his heart, too.

The war with the fae is about to tear the world apart and an old dark shadow has fallen over the Zhang clan, threatening to destroy them all.

Leo must stay to protect his new family. Even if it means giving up all his secrets to the vampire who is steadily stealing away his heart.


Two Thousand Shadows is the fourth novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a gentle, shy vampire who will stop at nothing to protect those he loves, a shifter with a secret, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, cuddles, secrets, and an endless love.

  • Publication date: December 13, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 354 pages

Review: The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 5) by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 5🌈

Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees is one of my favorite unhinged series. Jennifer Cody’s fabulously eccentric characters and wildly imaginative 

storylines that swing from the humorous to the horrifying to the absurd and adventurous and back are always captivating.  

The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch, the fifth book in the series, is another resounding hit.  With one twist after another popping up in the story, the reader is still firmly centered on the growing relationship between otherworldly finder Darcy Hellspinner and very chill human Elijah Penn as they face numerous challenges and overcome attacks from villains unknown. 

It’s a wildly chaotic journey that’s well constructed, layered with strange creatures and beings, and goes to unexpected places that even our main characters didn’t anticipate.

I believe that there is one more book in the series. There’s a wedding that still needs to happen for Arlington Fox and Romily, our original couple. That should be utter joy and a great universal celebration of the most unhinged storylines and these fabulous zany characters.  I can’t wait.

I highly recommend this series and story. Read these in order, it does help. Great covers.

Cover Design by Tammy, Aspen Tree E.A.S.

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 Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch #5
  • The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest

Buy link

        The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 5)

    

Blurb

Elijah:

Imagine coming home from an extended stay in a foreign country to find a letter from a house sitter you didn’t hire warning you to get a protection order against your ex and informing you that you’re a terrible plant dad.

I mean, I am a terrible plant dad, and I probably should get a protection order against Stalker Steve, but that letter isn’t the weirdest thing to happen to me today. I think the teleporting alien baby who’s decided to make me their perch probably takes the prize for Weirdest Thing in Elijah Penn’s Life.

Fortunately, the baby’s parents hired a bounty hunter to bring me and my new buddy back. Unfortunately, Darcy Hellspinner might be the sexiest man I’ve ever met in real life, and if it isn’t clear from the fact I call my ex Stalker Steve, I have terrible taste in men. I have the sneaking suspicion that Darcy’s going to be my next big mistake, but that’s ok—I’m probably going to be his too.

The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch is a 87k paranormal romance with a little bit of sci-fi mixed in, two MCs who think this is just an extended hook up, and a baby alien with impeccable timing. The Foxily family is growing again. It’s Darcy’s turn to bring in a mate, but he’s lodging an official complaint because this isn’t what he signed up for.

  • Publication date: December 13, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 329 pages

Review:  The Firedancer (Black Cat Circus) by Rye Cox

Rating: 4🌈

The Firedancer is my first dive into Rye Cox’s Black Cat Circus series, a paranormal world of outcasts that travel through worlds finding their true loves. 

The setup is simple, the author establishes the characters and fundamentals of the series early on in the book, so even if the reader, like myself is new to the series, we understand setting of the circus and the concept of the story.

Coal, a Vermillion Bird, a fire being of ancient Chinese mythology. But his full background is slightly hidden under Coal’s painful personal history as a half human/half Fire Bird and what that meant for him growing up. I do wish that Rye had further explored his fiery magical powers, especially with regard to the mark on his chest. While what the author achieved was intriguing, the potential for something stunning was very real. 

The same occurred with the great character of Rhett.  Rhett is an engaging, warm, layered character. Of smaller stature, this human chef has the personality that invigorates each scene he appears in. From the food scenes to the awe in which he’s viewing the circus acts, we just connect to him. That includes the very realistic background that Cox has crafted for Rhett with a found father as a kid on his own. 

The Ringmaster is suitably mysterious yet charming. The other circus performers/found family members are interesting and ones who will have stories of their own. 

I enjoyed Rhett and Coal’s romantic journey together but as good as they are there’s so much potential for even more magical exploration of the fire that brings them together.  As well as the nice twist that comes at the end of the book. Really needed more of this too. 

A definite recommendation. But a wider range or more detailed explanations would have made this exceptional. 

Cover Art: Coffin Print Designs

Black Cat Circus series:

The Daredevil #1

The Firedancer #2

The Aerialist #3

The Ringmaster #4

Buy link

        The Firedancer

    

Blurb 

Coal was drawn to the circus after being driven out of the only home he knew. He was the outcast, the half-blood that shouldn’t have survived the fire that burned inside him. At Black Cat Circus, he finds a family of people just like him, of those who accept him just the way he is. However, the scars that were buried deep in his heart keep him from letting anyone get too close. He is fire, and he’s afraid of once again losing control of the thing that makes up the very essence of himself.

Rhett never knew his parents or had a family. Having grown up in foster care, he’s determined to find a place he can finally call home. When he sees the ad looking for a chef for a certain traveling circus, he’s compelled to apply despite never once having left the little town he grew up in. What he doesn’t expect is to find friends shrouded in mystery, and a beautiful man who burns so brightly but tries to dampen his flames.

The two can’t resist the mutual attraction, but are terrified of what it means to want more. When playing with fire, they must be careful or risk getting burned.

The Firedancer is a paranormal MM romance that features light temperature play, size difference, hurt/comfort themes, and learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin. It is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series that features found family and a magical cast of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed as a series.

  • Publisher: (May 13, 2023)
  • Publication date: May 13, 2023
  • Language: English
  • File size: 2710 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage: Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Print length: 184 pages

— The Firedancer by Rye Cox

Review: SOS HOTEL: Your Final Resting Place by Adam Vex (Ariana Nash)

Rating: 5🌈+

Honestly only the promise of an equally warped, wonderfully dark new series has kept me from absolutely bewailing the ending of this series as it came to its fabulous finale.

Am I ready to say goodbye to the ancient incubus warrior, winged purple flamboyance himself, Zee? Or the magnificent vampire businessman, “Fancy Fangs” Victor? And, importantly ,their love, Adam Vex, “yes, sure I’m human”. No. No, I’m not. And not to Tom Collins, the murderous AI djinn bartender , and all the other otherworldly beings who have made an impact throughout the series are here now in the final showdown with the villain to save the world! And it’s everything I wanted it to be.

It’s sexy, sarcastic, explosive, funny, horrifying, over the top entertaining, emotional, and downright fabulous.  And I never wanted it to end.

Coats were flared, buildings destroyed, sex was had, prophecy’s fulfilled, and love wins. 

Let me spare a moment to wipe away a tear in sheer joy and appreciation for this absolutely amazing and zany world and series.  I’ll probably need to go back and re-read this series and see what I missed in the final reading.

But seeing Adam, Vee, Victor, and the  

SOS HOTEL as they were at the end of this book? So so satisfying. A grand finale.  I wish I could rate it higher. 

A must read for all lovers of this author and genre. Don’t miss out on all the notes beforehand and afterwards. As usual.

Cover design by Ariana Nash 

SOS Hotel:

  • For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
  • Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
  • Sleep with Us #3 
  • Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
  • No Rest for the Wicked #5 
  • Ho, Ho, No #5.5
  • Luxury To Die For #6
  • Your Final Resting Place #7 – tbd

Holiday release!

 SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Buy link

        SOS HOTEL: Your Final Resting Place

    

Blurb 

An ex-adult movie star, a broke vampire daddy, and a boring human are about to try and save the world…

It’s probably our fault your world is doomed, if I’m honest. Sorry about that. Sticking with honesty, we’re not great at saving people, or ourselves. You should probably pack a bag and head for the hills.

You know, just in case…

My name is Adam Vex, and I’m definitely not the hero we all need, but along with Zee and Victor, a whole bunch of s*x demons, one shadow beast, a sassy AI bartender, and some uncontrollable gremlins, we’re all you’ve got.

Welcome to the end of the world at the SOS Hotel.

We hope you enjoy your final resting place.

*

Advisory: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable, including frogs. There will likely be a few instances of unaliving, a whole lot of swearing (Zee does not have a profanity filter), and Sebastien being Sebastien.

If you haven’t read the previous books, definitely do not start here. This is the final book in the series.

  • Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (December 6, 2024)
  • Publication date: December 6, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 195 pages

Review:  The Devil’s Dilemma (Tales from the Tarot) by Alex J. Adams 

Rating: 3.75🌈

The Tales from the Tarot series delivers another interesting new paranormal romance in The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams.  I did enjoy Adams’ story about a bored Devil casino owner and a mysterious lucky visitor making way too many successful bets.  It’s got an abundance of interesting elements to the narrative, the characters themselves have an equal amount of unusual aspects to their histories and current lives to make this a book that engages the reader’s imagination and attention. 

I especially enjoyed the character of Austin.  Morally gray, but fairly good, loving, but not especially with perspective qualities or introspection. Awful criminal bent friends being the first example.  The Devil is strangely evil.  Bored , incredibly powerful but as the plot progresses, this aspect of the Devil’s character becomes oddly weaker when presented with the events and villainy that arises. 

That’s the issue with a lot of the storylines and characters here. Adams has created some very promising characters and plot threads but doesn’t really fully explain or execute them to their full potential.   

For every single thing that happens that I think is a good idea, there is one where I also go “what happened to that character “ or why didn’t whatever come into play.   Something gets dropped. 

There’s a lot going on here, so much that the author brought in crossover characters from another series and books to help explain certain plot points, to the characters and readers.   So yes, this is an enjoyable story, it just feels like more should have been written into it or aspects of the characters better defined.

Tarot card is obviously The Devil. 

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always 

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books 

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley 

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

❤️by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon ❤️by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun ❤️by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

        The Devil’s Dilemma

    

Blurb 

Dante

That cheating low life. I swore when I got my hands on him, his life wouldn’t be worth living.

How dare he steal from me? Doesn’t he know who I am?

Only coming close to him, seeing him shudder at my touch. I’m drawn to him in ways I never imagined.

He’s an enigma and not at all what he seems.

But what I made him do. He’ll never forgive me, he’ll hate me, but if that’s all he can give me… I’ll take it.

Austin

He was filthy rich! He didn’t need the money, probably wouldn’t even miss it. How wrong could I be?

Now here I am, unable to flee and I hate him for what he made me do.

But I can’t help myself. I crave his touch and attention. I need everything he can give me.

I think I love him, but if this is all he can give me… I’ll take it, gladly.

DEVIL’S DILEMMA IS A STANDALONE MM ROMANCE NOVEL AS PART OF THE MULTI-AUTHOR COLLABORATION TALES FROM THE TAROT. THIS BOOK IS BASED ON THE MAJOR ARCANA CARD THE DEVIL.

HEA GUARANTEED.

TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR VIOLENCE, CAPTIVITY, KIDNAPPING AND STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

  • Publication date: October 10, 2024
  • Language: English
  • File size: 2758 KB
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Print length: 215 pages

Review:  Inviting Bedlam (Demon Bound Book 2) by Grae Bryan

Rating:  4.75🌈

Well, this was the best yet. Crazy, sinfully sexy, twisted and beautiful. Yup, a definite winner.

Grae Bryan’s Demon Bound series is carefully working its way through not only a damaged Russian American mafia family but a small group of hell bound demons.  Each story ends up with a bound mated pair from each group/family and each story has been so incredibly emotional and different from each other.

The Koslov crime family, three brothers , is a severely damaged group of people. Each a massively damaged product of their late conservative Russian mob boss father and his powerful patriarchal legacy.  The younger brothers, now having removed themselves emotionally and physically, have left the running of the family business to Ivan , the oldest and the one who has most resembled their father.

In Ivan, the author has created such a complex, flawed dynamic character. Unlike the other brothers, he enjoys his status while still being angry and bitter about his brothers’ ability to leave him behind in the family business. It’s a charged, charismatic personality, flawed, powerful, and undeniably appealing. And it needs an equally powerful personality in a demon. And it gets it.

But not the one either the reader or Ivan expects. Which is one of the greatest pleasures of the book. 

Ivan has found himself at odds with various criminal elements, mostly due to his brother’s actions. He has had several unpleasant encounters and emotional jolts.  Which leads to a summoning of Nix, one of the group of demons bound together.   Nix is everything. 

In Nix, the author cuts loose narratively, letting the vibrancy of the character, the sheer force of Nix’s personality and presence almost steal the show.  And if it weren’t for the equally strong presence of Ivan to crash up against, Nix would. But together? This book flames hotter than anything else I’ve read lately. Ivan never wanted a male lover before but can’t keep his hands off Nix? Absolutely believable. Nix decides Ivan is his? Yes, absolutely. 

Not a wrong choice here. Nix’s advice and the manner in which Bryan gives Nix a personality that’s lacking the human moral compass so that the demon is able to be that perfect fit for Ivan, a crime boss who matches him so well. 

I delighted in their relationship, that dark journey that’s sexual, bloody, and violent but very compelling and satisfying.  It’s one that develops in astonishing depth and ways that makes it hard to imagine that this couple is confined to just one book. 

I absolutely wanted more. And while the next couple is intriguing, this one is hard to beat.

Inviting Bedlam (Demon Bound Book 2) by Grae Bryan is a must read for lovers of dark paranormal romance and the series as well. I’m highly recommending both.

Cover designed by MiblArt.

Demon Bound:

🔹Wrecking Havoc #1 (Kai and Sascha) 

🔹Inviting Bedlam #2 (Nix and Ivan)

🔹Calling Chaos #3 – May 1,2025

Buy link

        Inviting Bedlam (Demon Bound Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Ivan Kozlov doesn’t make mistakes, no matter what his brothers might say. Mistakes in his world mean death. So while he may have summoned the wrong sort of demon to aid him in cementing his empire, binding himself to the creature with an irreversible contract, that doesn’t mean he can’t make use of him. Except the seductive incubus he’s summoned seems to want more from Ivan than just a piece of his soul. Nix wants Ivan’s body, his desire, his faults and his regrets. But giving those things to him would be a mistake. And one Ivan might never recover from.

Nix has been waiting to be summoned again for ages. And while he might have had to trick his handsome mob boss to make it happen, he’s not going to waste the opportunity while he has it. Only now that he’s here, he doesn’t just want to stay in the human realm. He wants Ivan—his greed and his rage and his lust. And if Nix has to fix Ivan’s life to make that happen—if he needs to handle the dangers in his business, mend the broken bits left by Ivan’s father—then that’s what he’ll do. Even an incubus can be useful to a mobster, if given the right incentive.

INVITING BEDLAM IS A HEATED, MM PARANORMAL ROMANCE WITH A HEA AND NO CLIFFHANGER. IT CONTAINS A REPRESSED, CONTROLLING MOB BOSS AND THE NAUGHTY INCUBUS DETERMINED TO MAKE HIM CRACK, BROTHERS WHO WON’T COMMUNICATE, MORE DEMONS THAN IVAN ASKED FOR, AND A PAIR OF PANTIES IVAN WOULD LIKE TO SET ON FIRE. WHILE EACH BOOK FOCUSES ON A DIFFERENT COUPLE, THE SERIES IS BEST ENJOYED IN ORDER.

  • Publication date: October 25, 2024
  • Language: English
  • File size: 3936 KB
  • Print length: 268 pages

Review:  Atticus: Paranormal Council Enforcers Book Two by Taylor Rylan

Rating: 4🌈

This is my first dive into author Taylor Rylan’s Universe of Destined Paranormals.  A universe of connected paranormal series, five at the moment, in which there’s fated mates and mpreg/omegaverse stories.  I listed all the series in the suggested order of reading below, however, did come into Atticus with no prior series knowledge or universe foundation. 

The reason I chose Atticus to explore this multi series world was the lack of mpreg here, one that’s a factor in many of the other novels.   This story has two alpha males at its center, and that’s why they are incapable of having any offspring. 

The characters are carryovers from prior stories and the events mentioned in the book, some hugely impactful to the characters, may have happened during previous novels.  Rylan’s story does bring those threads and backgrounds forward, but it can’t be with the same depth given the length of the book and the current plots that have to be explored.

I did enjoy this story. I found the characters engaging and the plots interesting.  The themes, an ongoing series arc of an investigation into paranormal trafficking, especially the young, is handled here without specific details while maintaining an emotional connection. 

I really like both Atticus and Brice, and they look to figure into the future storylines as Atticus’s alpha status emerges with regard to the hellhounds.   I found that I could get involved in the characters and the many dramatic moments even though I hadn’t read the other series and wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about many aspects of the universe and characters that appeared here.

The writing and plotting was well done and I was engaged in the storyline from the beginning. There’s fifteen books in the Paranormal Council Enforcers and I’ll probably do what I did here, deciding which story interests me most going forward.  

If fated mates and a paranormal universe interests you, take a look at the many series and books here. Be aware that most include a mpreg/omegaverse element.  But not all. 

It’s a definite recommendation.

Cover by Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

Paranormal Council Enforcers series:

Ambrosius #1

Atticus #2

Reinhold #3

Garic #4 – Dec 7, 2024

Everett #5

Benjamin #6

Raiden #7

Parker #8

Ramsey #9

Castiel #10

Damien #11

Sebastian #12

Warwick #13

Dimitri #14

Frederick #15

Buy link

        Atticus: Paranormal Council Enforcers Book Two

    

Blurb 

Hellhounds don’t have mates. But after a decade of denying his attraction to Brice, Atticus realizes the lion shifter is just that: his fated mate.

Atticus was banished from the demon realm well over a century ago when he could no longer do his master’s bidding. He had been many places but truly felt at home when he found Honey Creek. His attraction to Brice was unexpected, and when it became too much for him to control his beast, he left, leaving the lion alpha behind.

Brice wasn’t sure what the fates were doing when they gave him a human male for his mate, but he didn’t care. He just wanted Atticus and the life he knew they could have together. When Atticus left, never acknowledging their connection, Brice tried to make the best of what fate had gifted him.

When trouble threatens Brice’s sister and family, he rushes to New Orleans to help. While there, he makes a life-changing discovery about his missing mate. Atticus isn’t a human, and he’s never truly been gone. He’s now a council enforcer, and the hellhound is hell-bent on claiming his mate. But will Brice give in easily?

Atticus is Book Two in the Paranormal Council Enforcers series. Each book in this series will focus on a different couple, but these books are not standalones and should be read in order as there is an ongoing backstory that won’t be resolved quickly. This is a fated mate story in an MPreg world, but this is an alpha/alpha pairing and there is no pregnancy in this story. You should expect all the normal shenanigans, and remember that sometimes fated mates don’t necessarily understand what is going on.

  • Publisher: Mortimer Press, LLC (July 15, 2022)
  • Publication date: July 15, 2022
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 304 pages

Welcome to the Universe of Destined Paranormals

 The Universe of Destined Paranormals is a world of interconnected series set in one universe. Because of this, it is recommended that you read the books in chronological order. 

Honey Creek Den Series-When the child of the created warlock goes searching for his mate, a domino effect occurs and the den is blessed by the Fates. 

Timber Valley Wolf Pack Series-Magic is changing and the wolf pack is next to be blessed by the Fates. Does Edison have something to do with it?

Warlocks of Amherst Series-Edison’s warlocks have finally been blessed by the Fates and it’s their turn to find their fated Ones. 

Vampires of the Beloved Gem Series-Master Nikolai’s vampires aboard the Beloved Gem realized that their time has come to find their beloved ones. 

Paranormal Council Enforcers Series-the magic has shifted and the Paranormal Council has been formed. Will the chosen enforcers be next to find their forever mates?

Review: Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1) by Rinda Elliot 

Rating: 3.75🌈

Although Rinda Elliot has co authored stories with a writer, Jocelynn Drake, on my auto read list, this is the first book I think I’ve read of hers.  It’s the beginning of a new paranormal soulmates series and I enjoyed Basilisk, the first book.

The series central premise is an otherworldly security agency headed by an ancient sorcerer, Xavier, whose employees will be finding their soulmates, story by story. 

Magical beings, here called Preternaturals, exist side by side with an unaware human society. There’s a vague history that is relayed by Xavier about the past and conflicts but it’s not well explored. 

Basilisk is the first book and I would expect more world building from Elliott in letting the reader understand the universe in which these characters coexist.  Because while beings like Bain get a wonderful description and fully developed history, he seems not to realize himself the extent of the universe he lives in despite the long years he’s lived.   

And the reason why Clive Manning, human accountant, proves to be so special needs further explanation as well. I hopeful that these elements will become further developed in the stories to come. 

The relationship between Clive and Bain was full of chemistry and felt believable.  Although that short time and dramatic aspect of their relationship didn’t ring true towards the end of the story.  Communication had been key up until then between them.  And the villain got wrapped up too easily without much resolution.

I enjoyed Basilisk. I liked the characters and the series premise while thinking it needs more world building and further development. I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the series when it’s available. 

If you’re a fan of the author and this trope, definitely check out this book and series.

Buy link

        Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1)

    

Blurb 

As a basilisk, Bain Ophion has lived over two hundred years. For the last ten, he’s worked for his best friend, a sorcerer who runs Protective Solutions. Bain loves his work as a bodyguard and especially loves proving his skills when clients take one look at him and doubt. Yeah, he may dress flashy and have androgynous looks, but he also comes with preternatural strength. Humans don’t know that, though. Because, like all his fellow bodyguards, he uses a glamour to hide what doesn’t blend. Most humans aren’t ready to know about the supernatural world around them, but he’s about to learn that there are a few who are special.

Clive Manning has no idea which of his new clients is threatening his life, but when they send someone to break into his home, he knows he can’t handle this alone. He lives a perfectly ordered life and works from home for a reason. Lifelong fear. He calls Protective Solutions and hires a bodyguard, and when that man shows up, Clive is shocked. He expected something like a man in black and instead, he got a rockstar. 

But Clive is highly attracted to this colorful bodyguard and soon Bain proves he’s very good at his job…among other things.

Basilisk is a long novella with a sexy shapeshifter who’s stunned by his fierce attraction to an uptight accountant and the accountant who learns his lifetime of fear had good reason.

  • Publication date: September 28, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 148 pages

Review:  His Mate By Resistance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 2) by Mel Aitchess

Rating: 4.75🌈

There’s certain books and series that just so grab your attention that they make you think why haven’t you been reading this author all along? Especially when it’s a trope that’s a common must have for you.

That’s what comes to mind when reading Mel Aitchess’ Lunetti Pack series, a paranormal fated mate crime family romance series. That’s a bunch of elements and tropes that just ticks all my boxes, narratively speaking.   And the author does it outstandingly.

Now on book two and Aitchess’ series gives us the hugely broken brother of the criminal Lunetti pack, brother to the Alpha and its IT hacker. 

There’s basically three crime families that run the city. One’s a vampire clan, one’s all witches, and lastly, there’s the Wolf pack, the Lunettis. The author gives the reader a beautiful map in the beginning to help establish the territories and city’s layout in our minds.   It’s needed because one of the series storylines is a murderous mystery and suspense driven plot of an anonymous character/group trying to drive a wedge between the three factions.  That’s a great story as a foundation for all the other plotting and elements to overlay.

Because prior we’ve known that Luca has a tragic, traumatic past that has made the pack overly protective and turned him into an angry, solitary being. Scenes from the first book are now seen from his perspective and with more knowledge than we had previously. It builds a compelling narrative and complicated character.

Adding to this is another great character, that of the previously neutral water witch, Cal, who owns the hot night club, Hex Rated, we saw too in His Mate By Vengeance #1 .  Cal and his club get fully fleshed out into his amazing water witch personality, complete with his water powers explored. Then it’s taken up a notch.  

Aitchess is weaving a brutal tale about two men with damaged pasts, in terrifying situations, under horrific strain and they still build a relationship, while not wanting to immediately accept what’s apparent.There’s rightfully trigger warnings for violence among other things. 

There’s magic, brutality, crime, family, betrayal, fated mates, everything you would expect from a paranormal mafia romance, but more, complex, and the situation is ongoing into the future stories.  I’m beyond frustrated I have to wait because I’m so addicted to this universe and characters. 

The next book promises to be even more epic and dangerously exciting. Looks like several rereads in my future before then.

Both books, to be read in order, are highly recommended.  A must read each. 

Cover by Camberion

Lunetti Pack:

  • His Mate By Vengeance #1
  • His Mate By Resistance #2 
  • His Mate By Allegiance #3 – October 12,2025

Buy link

        His Mate By Resistance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 2)

    

Blurb 

His boy deserved better. He deserved to be the centre of someone’s world.

Luca stumbled on something he shouldn’t have and now someone’s trying to kill him. If only he knew what and who. He hates that he has to use his hacking skills against his own pack as he hunts down the traitor. He hates it even more when his Alpha sends him away for his safety. Hex-Rated—the hottest gay nightclub in New Trinity—is the last place he expected to be hiding out. The water witch who owns it better keep his damn hands to himself.

Cal has no time for the three crime families that run the city. He’s worked hard to keep his club on the right side of the law. That’s all put at risk when a favour for a friend has him faking a relationship with a Mafia wolf shifter. Luca’s a criminal and there’s no way Cal would go there for real. Even if the shifter brings out every protective instinct in him. Even if Luca is so good for him despite himself.

His Mate By Resistance is an enemies to lovers MM Paranormal Romance. It’s book two in the Lunetti Pack series, but can be read as a standalone. It features forced proximity, a fake relationship, knotting, a water witch Daddy, and magic sensory play. There is no mpreg in this world.

— His Mate By Resistance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 2) by Mel Aitchess

  • Publisher: Mel Aitchess (November 19, 2024)
  • Publication date: November 19, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 260 pages

Review:  SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex/Ariana Nash

Rating:  5🌈

Adam Vex decided to give us the tale of how a holiday visit to that famous Swedish store known for its DIY furniture and complicated instructions goes horrifically hilariously and, of course, incendiary sexy, awry.

There’s terrifying gnomes, a weird twists on familiar Holiday mythological characters and general all out chaos.  

And they save Christmas. 

I absolutely adore this series and characters. 

Don’t miss out on any of the stuff beforehand or afterwards, including this.

“HOW TO SURVIVE THE HOLIDAYS BY ZEE”

Cover design by Ariana Nash 

SOS Hotel:

  • For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
  • Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
  • Sleep with Us #3 
  • Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
  • No Rest for the Wicked #5 
  • Ho, Ho, No #5.5
  • Luxury To Die For #6
  • Your Final Resting Place #7 – tbd

Holiday release!

 SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Buy link

Blurb 

One day, we might leave the hotel for a date or a shopping trip and not be hunted, shot at, kidnapped, and almost unalived by a hoard of gnomes…

Apparently, that day is not today.

My name is Adam Vex, and this is what happened when a day trip to a well-known Scandinavian home furniture store turned into a nightmare for me, Victor and Zee.

No cacti were harmed in the making of this book, but some gnomes were. A whole lot of gnomes, actually. Reader discretion is advised.

SOS HOTEL Christmas Special can be read anytime after book 5 in the series to avoid spoilers.

This book is a NOVELLA, and is shorter in length than the main books in the series.

  • Publisher: Crazy Ace Publishing (November 15, 2024)
  • Publication date: November 15, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 65 pages