The third book in Sarah Honey’s historical romance series, The Royal Rogue is a very entertaining romantic comedy with a threads of action and royal intrigue running through the pages.
The castle and universe of King Leopold of Lilleforth (The King’s Delight #1), The Royal Rogue can easily be read as a standalone novel about the Duke of Ravenport,
Evan Devere, and Thomas Malone, Captain of the Royal Guards. Both reoccurring characters in the previous stories.
The characters are well written, the story has wonderful dialogue and charm, and Evan it definitely a rogue to take to heart. Thomas is his match in every aspect, from intelligence to his ability to be flexible.
I skipped over the second book, why the author named the male main character Mother I’ll never understand.Just no. But I really enjoyed The Royal Rogue (Tales of Lilleforth, #3) by Sarah Honey and it’s a recommendation from me.
Thomas Malone is the new Captain of the Guard at Lilleforth Castle. He loves his job, but it leaves him no time for himself. It’s been way too long since he’s had anyone share his bed, let alone his life. To say he’s frustrated is an understatement.
To make matters worse, the King’s disreputable cousin Evan Devere, the Duke of Ravenport, is back from his travels. Evan is as scatterbrained as he is attractive, which is a shame—if Evan had even half a brain, he’d be exactly Thomas’s type. As it is, Thomas has resigned himself to spending his days keeping Evan out of trouble
But when a threat emerges against the crown, Thomas and Evan have to work together to find who’s behind the plot, and Thomas discovers there’s more to Evan than meets the eye. So when Evan suggests that they act on their mutual attraction, Thomas throws caution to the wind and agrees. After all, it is just a fling, right? There’s no way Thomas is actually going to fall for the sexy, infuriating cousin of the king.
Paper Roses just might be my favorite book of Lily Morton’s fabulous Confetti Hitched series. The third story in this series about a wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, the author’s focus turns from its engaging, vivacious employees to its owner, Jed Walker and his PA, Artie.
Jed, a widower, and his adorable PA Artie, are about to tumble into that popular romance trope, the fake marriage. In Morton’s story, this romantic framework for Jed and Artie’s HEA is a hilarious, poignant, heartwarming tale of two men clearly destined for each other. The obstacles in their relationship, a dead husband’s memory, a timeline , and various misunderstandings are clearly present. However , Morton’s narrative takes the wonderful slow road in allowing the meaningful aspects to of the past relationship and their current feelings a slow recognition to be fully understood. I enjoyed that the reveal was part of the growing relationship. It was extremely satisfying to see such adult relationships here.
I also adore that Mal and Caden and their farm were very much involved in parts of this story. Hilarious and very entertaining.
So much laughter here as well as romance. The pages flew by. I can see this couple having so much entertainment and joy in their lives together going forward.
Paper Roses (Confetti Hitched Book 3) by Lily Morton will be a reread for me. I loved this couple so and it left me feeling so lighthearted and happy.
Another win and highly recommended story by this author for me.
Jed Walker thinks he’s having a midlife crisis. The only trouble is that it feels too good to stop.
Widowed at a young age, he’s spent his life since then avoiding any relationships that might end up hurting him again. He has his successful wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, and a series of uncomplicated hookups, and that’s all he needs in life
The one person disrupting this controlled stoicism is his younger assistant, Artie. He’s sweet and kind and has a funny way of calming Jed’s mind. So, when Artie comes to him with a problem, Jed moves heaven and earth to help, which is how he finds himself entering a fake marriage with the younger man and catching feelings. Too bad it’s all pretend. Or is it?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a story about how love can completely derail the best-laid plans.
This is the third book in the Confetti Hitched series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Elf is the second of Rinda Elliott’s novels in her Mystic Guardians series and honestly I’m at a loss here with the series. It’s a series that contains a fated mate/soulmates relationship between preternaturals and humans who can see through their glamour because somewhere in their family history is a preternatural connection.
The Guardians, all preternaturals of various species, work for a powerful sorcerer, where they track heinous criminals and solve horrific crimes.
I like the preternaturals. Mostly. It’s an interesting group and the first novel, Basilisk, was very enjoyable. I did note that the human fated mate character there ,Clive, felt under developed, especially with his special needs. He’s barely mentioned here.
That aspect of the series continues here with Ezra Forsberg, the human main character of Elf. While Alaric, the elf who works for ancient sorcerer, Xavier, is well defined in terms of personality, magic and capabilities. His is a layered storyline in a way that cannot be said for Ezra.
Elliott’s Ezra has a number of troubling elements in his character’s life and story that’s addressed facetiously, especially for their topic. Ezra has been basically sold off by his crime family to another in marriage and for the past 3 years had been living with a murderous psychopath. He’s just escaped from that marriage prison and falls into immediate danger.
Ezra’s answer to extreme violence, trauma, tragedy, everyday betrayal, family emotional abandonment? He either throws up or he’s just sad. He’s just not particularly believable as a victim of the types of abuses and inflicted horrors that the author has written for him. Elliott writes that he’s been affected but never makes any case for it in the slightest. Ezra as a character and his family or his history with his husband just doesn’t make sense.
Nor does it make sense that it’s the boss blurting the sensitive news to Ezra about fated mates instead of Alaric.
This story came very close to a much lower ranking.
If the author was to layer a character with all these aspects to his storyline, then give the narrative ample room to fully explore the necessary details and plot points to make it and him feel believable.
For me, this didn’t happen. It’s the second time the human being got the underdeveloped part of the story and undermines the book.
Alaric Denman is determined not to let himself care for another human, especially not one like Ezra Forsberg. Ezra is a rich playboy without ambition, someone he could never respect. Why he’s intensely attracted to the man is beyond his understanding—but he is. So much so, it’s affecting his job to protect him.
Ezra isn’t sure who’s trying to kill him, but he has a pretty good idea. After growing up in one crime family and being forced to marry into another, his guess is his ex. He hires a bodyguard and gets a sexy elf. Yeah, he can see past the elf’s glamour, despite Alaric’s attempt to hide those elegantly pointed ears. But Alaric irks him with his stoic nature and he can’t resist poking at him.
While they’re busy clashing, a two million dollar price goes out on Ezra’s head, which brings out powerful preternaturals. Someone really wants Ezra dead, so it’s time they work together to figure out who.
Elf is a MM paranormal romance long novella with a reluctant elf, a snippy-mouthed human, and a soulmate passion that takes them both by surprise. It’s the second in the Mystic Guardians series, but can be read as a stand alone.
I discovered G B Ralph through his delightful cozy mysteries, The Milverton Mysteries. Ralph’s stories are tend towards the same elements. Character driven stories with the people , all of them with their faults included, fully realized and completely layered with human frailties. These characters carry the fears, joys as well as inabilities to move forward that the reader might recognize from their realities . It certainly makes them relatable.
If not occasionally a tad frustrating.
In this sweet, short trilogy, Ralph gives us the journey of Arthur and Gabriel, from Arthur’s awkward coming out to their relationship happily ending.
Each novella a sweet quick tale of a section of passage through that journey.
Duck and Dive starts it off with Arthur, an awkward Duckling trying to come out to friends and well, anyone, that’s he’s gay. And it’s not going well.
This is sweet, funny, painful in its own way in that you feel for Arthur in his fears and yearning to be out at his age. And his friends don’t make it easy.
Read all three together for a delightful lighthearted romantic afternoon.
A gay romantic comedy novella about coming out and failing spectacularly.
Arthur knows it’s time he told his mates he’s gay. So what’s the holdup? He’s wound so tight he can’t get the words out – giving himself injuries, spilling his dinner, and all-round making a mess of it.
And that’s before the nosy neighbour gets involved with her spiced apple muffins. Or the elderly residents of the Sunset Villas retirement home start complicating matters. Not to mention the gorgeous straight guy from the driving range.
If only Arthur could get his act together…
Duck and Dive is a quick, light, and fun read – the first in the completed Rise and Shine series. It’s filled with buckets of banter, dashes of comic tragedy, and more food and booze than any story ought to have. Our boys are surrounded by a cast of chaotic characters and thrown into the most unlikely situations. Their story continues in Slip and Slide, and concludes in Over and Out.
‘I didn’t know what to expect, but I genuinely enjoyed it. I’m glad I did, otherwise that would’ve been a very awkward conversation.’ Author’s partner.
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.
Second story into K. Sterling’s Princes Take New York series and I have a favorite already. Funny, heartwarming, beautifully written, full of characters that make you feel invested in their lives and the story. And even side appearances from delightful people who have just become star players in this universe! Muriel, I’m looking at you!
Sterling’s series is exploring the future of each von Hessen prince. There’s four brothers and a cousin, Max, living in Manhattan, who abdicated his duties and title to Leo, the oldest. Leo’s story and romance was the first one in the series.
Still single are Theobald (this book), Matteo, and finally younger, brilliant brother Elio aka Eli. And that’s the order that the author looks to be following for their stories.
As Truth or Spare opens, the setting is once again, The Olympia, an elegant well known apartment building on 72nd Ave in Manhattan on the Upper West side. It’s home to many characters and couples of both series but it’s Muriel Hornby’s apartment where Matteo and Theo are currently staying. Muriel is now family and ,hilariously, an intimidating sidekick when needed.
Theobald Anton Christoph Aelbehrt von Hessen is feeling restless. Sterling gives the reader an immediate impression of a man cut loose from his life’s purpose. That of raising his brothers who are now young men and capable of making their own decisions.
His interactions with Matteo show the brotherly dynamic and immense love that they feel for each other. And Theo’s loss of purpose for himself.
His personality and strength of character will only be further enhanced as he decides on a choice of actions that take him on a bus ride to tiny Oslo, New York and the old lanes of Brooks Family Bowling.
Never have I loved a fish out of water tale so much as I have watching an Austrian , albeit anonymous, prince wander into an American small town, multiple suitcases in hand, with a joyous, exuberant outlook. And lots of German words. With some very astonished people there to welcome him.
Dewey Brooks, owner and operator of Brooks Family Bowling has his own issues to deal with. Dewey also has a deep love of his fractured family, his tiny town, and the Brook’s legacy as represented by the family’s bowling alley, which he’s determined to keep alive whatever the cost to him personally. How much he’s struggling isn’t fully understood at first. Or exactly what are the issues he’s been battling. Those get revealed slowly, by others and as forced by events during the narrative.
Theo and Dewey’s relationship as employer/employee is hilarious. As something more? Sweet, sexy, utterly heartwarming and engaging. So well written it felt intimate to be a part of their lives and journey. And Walter? More please.
I could just continue on. About the customers, family members, town. Oslo, New York just has something special. And so does this amazing book.
It’s funny, it’s generous of spirit, it’s kind hearted, sexy and sweet.
I’m hoping we make a beeline back here soon in Matteo’s novel. Until then, pick up this fantastic romantic comedy. It’s one I’m highly recommending. The author too. She’s on my auto read list.
Nannies of New York (6 book series) and must read.
Princes Take New York (connected and sequel series):
Too cynical to pin his hopes on a miracle, Dewey “Doobie” Brooks has his doubts when a charming stranger arrives in Oslo, New York, looking for a job and a place to stay. Running the family bowling alley, raising his brother’s son, and hiding an autoimmune disorder have left him in need of help—but finding a capable, reliable adult in his small town has been hopeless.
Theo von Hessen is neither capable nor reliable. An Austrian prince and philanthropist with a reputation for being an unrepentant playboy, he has never held a real job and is clueless about manual labor. But the moment he sees a “help wanted” sign and Oslo’s tired town hero, Theo’s convinced fate sent him there to make a difference.
It isn’t all fun and games at Brooks Family Bowling. Dewey is at his wits’ end and doesn’t know what to make of his new employee. Is Theo on the run, or is this some reality-show stunt? Neither can deny their attraction and romance strikes, but will Theo wind up in the gutter when his true identity is revealed—or has he finally found his purpose and a chance to rewrite his own story?
It’s fantastic to be back in Fall Crosse, Wisconsin , the small town that’s the heart and home of K.M. Neuhold’s three interconnected contemporary romance series. Four Bears Construction Company launched them all and the author is keeping the series going and heartwarmingly fresh with the latest release, Handy.
It’s the eighth book and it’s wonderful. While I’ll always love Stone and Dare’s romance because it’s just hilarious, Neuhold had me at park ranger and bird nerd with Ledger. While there were other aspects of Ledger that had me sighing ( not in a good way, it’s the raccoon) , Neuhold represents his job (low pay, high knowledge, passionate) extremely well. Neuhold writes layered, believable characters.
Griff too was a great character. One easy to emphasize with, as he’s in stasis, the loss of his husband, his own grief and inability to understand how to let go and move forward keeping him emotionally and in a way, physically isolated. So well written. We can understand this man and why he’s allowed himself to get mired down.
Until Ledger, that human vibrating ball of fantastic positivity and bear crushing energy next door comes calling. Or maybe more accurately his DIY house does. And his pet raccoon, TP.
I will admit to the fact of someone, even a ‘Ranger’, having a raccoon as a pet is an issue for me because of past experiences that have not gone well for the animals. But the way Neuhold realistically describes the huge damage the raccoon does to the house (holes chewed constantly in the walls) and furniture as a fact of its every day life made this aspect of the storyline well documented. Thank you for relating that wildlife comes with wildlife instincts.
The relationship that develops between Griff and Ledger is one I adore. They flirt, or Ledger does and Griff slowly moves forward towards acceptance that he’s ready for a new relationship and love. They communicate, get sexy, Ledger imparts bird facts and together they become a couple who is engaging, realistic, and heartwarming.
Plus those are some truly special bird facts! I’d be won over.
Ledger has a best friend who is also a park ranger, Jericho, a single man in search of his HEA. I suspect his story is coming. Although it may be in the Ink Slingers series.
I love the series and Handy is among my favorites here. I’ve listed them all below as well as the two other connected series.
Be sure to check them out. Highly recommended.
Book and Cover design by Natasha Snow Designs
Four Bears Construction :
Caulky #1 (Ren and Cole)
Nailed #2 (Dare and Stone)
Hardwood #3 (Watson and Ev)
Screwed #4 (Ollie and Daniel)
Stud #5 (Sawyer and West)
Stripped #6 (Miller and Demetri)
Drilled #7 (Apollo and Ridge)
Handy #8 (Griff and Ledger)
Connecting sequel series, same town and crossover characters:
My new neighbor may be grumpy but he’s also hot, and very good with his hands…
I definitely overestimated my own handyman skills when I bought this fixer-upper. I have to say, the view from my new place is worth it though. Especially around seven o’clock every morning when my big, furry bear of a neighbor drinks his coffee shirtless on his back porch.
He’s dedicated to the bear thing too. Growly, grumpy, and as it turns out, he really likes belly rubs.
Am I a sucker for a touch starved grump? Yes. Am I sorry about it? Absolutely not.
Getting Griff into my house and into my bed is the easy part. Convincing him I’m actually interested in him is so much harder.
I didn’t mean to turn myself into his secret admirer, but if sending him anonymous presents and notes is the only way to wear down his gruff exterior, then that’s what I’m going to do.
Sooner or later he’ll realize he’s more than just my grumpy handyman, right?
Handy is a super low angst, high heat, romantic comedy featuring a grumpy “Bear” (not the shifter kind 😉 ), and his sunshiney neighbor who becomes his secret admirer. It can be read as a stand alone but the most enjoyment will be from reading it as part of the full Four Bears Construction Series.
Once again, it’s a stunning cover that had drawn my attention to a book and author I hadn’t known about. Coil of Boughs, is the first in a two book dark fantasy series The Underforest by Penny Moss. It’s a fantastic read, full of complex, well written characters and great world building.
The gorgeous cover gives the reader images of the characters and world inside but the imagery and fantasy elements that Moss creates are ones that make the story and themes of morality, redemption and love compelling and intriguing.
The description doesn’t really convey the breadth of this book. It’s an epic dark fantasy adventure which starts with a world where the worst has already happened. We work backwards, through memories, challenges , and conversations with others to explore the events that lead up to the current horrific situation.
It’s a fascinating approach, one where the reader isn’t always sure what to expect from Ryurikov, the complex, morally ambiguous main character whose redemption arc became the driving force for the narrative. Beside him is the magical, wonderful woods demon Awimak, who feeds on dreams. There’s a crafty, mysterious notorious witch who lives in a hut in a walking tree. And so much more. A endlessly burning land, terrifying creatures, and a world that needs saving.
Also this is a dark fantasy so yes, there’s horror and bloodshed and death everywhere. Be warned.
It ends not exactly on a cliffhanger but on the idea that another quest is about to start. I can’t wait for this final book to be released.
Highly recommended for all lovers of dark fantasy.
Skilled archer Ryurikov enjoys an unfettered life of thieving and debauchery. He wasn’t expecting to die at the hands of a witch while trying to steal from her. Neither did he expect to be revived by spirits with morally stringent demands. Or to be followed by a demon, hungry for his dreams. Luckily, Ryurikov has plenty of good dreams to trade in exchange for the demon’s help. He also possesses a wealth of denial about his past, his growing feelings for the demon, and the creatures slowly burning kingdoms to ashes. Too bad for Ryurikov, since he has no choice but to face all three.
The finale novel to the wonderful Head Above Water, I found I enjoyed reading this but it wasn’t as well rounded a story as its predecessor. There’s so much that the author was trying to fit into this book and more importantly, more details about alien cultures and their world biology that was unknown to the series, but hugely influential to a major character.
That’s usually interesting and a great way to explore new facets of a known main character’s storyline. Here it’s Sohven and Jace’s dynamic, not recovered from the past events of their spaceship crash. That’s the drama Evermore uses to thread the layers of an intense, unsettled romantic inter-species relationship onto that of bringing it to Sohven’s interdicted planet, further stretching its boundaries.
For me, the author turns a predatory Sohven who fled his planet into a completely new character. One who doesn’t fit the same frame as the one we’re familiar with. From over protective to removing himself from the protective nature he’s exhibited , and both lacking communication in the relationship.
Jace, who’s apart from Sohven for much of the book, is taking part of trails, is still his own man. The most interesting part of the story, along with several side characters, like Vovu.
That ending was climactic and everything I’d expect from the author and series. However, there’s Vovu and they ended up as a dangling storyline I’d have loved to see resolved here or in a side story. They deserve it.
I expect Little Ships is a two book series and I loved the first novel better than its finale. However, it’s great to see a HFN in any series, and Sohven and Jace certainly got theirs. A definite win.
Surviving a crash landing on an uncharted planet was supposed to be the hard part. No one told me the real challenge would be the aftermath.
I have most of my memories back, I’m about to start my first mission since Sohven and I were rescued from Sannaveh-8B, and my crewmates aren’t half bad. Nothing to complain about, right?
Too bad nothing good ever comes easy. Since we’ve returned to our ship, Sohven’s been overprotective, paranoid, and on edge. No matter how well I carry out my duties, he just can’t seem to trust me to take care of myself, and I’m getting tired of being treated like a freak blow to the head means I’m incompetent.
Sohven’s solution seems simple. He wants to double-down on our commitment and make things permanent. He wants us to become mates—officially. That means a trip back to Lohnyal, a closed planet with a culture few outsiders ever experience. The trouble is, seven years is a long absence—long enough to leave Sohven on the outside looking in, too.
We do our best to respect his family and follow their customs, but when we land in his eyrie, we’re stepping into more than a straightforward mating ceremony. When Sohven’s family gets him back, they don’t want to let him go. It’s going to take all of my ingenuity to make sure we find a way off his planet. This time, he’s the one who needs to be rescued, and I intend to deliver.
Rock and a Hard Place is meant to be read after Head Above Water, the first book in Jace and Sohven’s story
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.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 