While Iām a huge fan of this author, unfortunately Immortal Sentry doesnāt seem to have the same energy or narrative features as this authorās many other books.
The story of a lone survivor, Prince Eron, of his royal familyās betrayal and demise and subsequent struggles to regain the throne, are densely worded and dull āas told toā scenarios instead of being lively, vividly illustrated with memorable scenes, and emotional moments.
It was indeed a struggle to connect with the characters and storylines. The language and dialogue was stiff and uninteresting. It lacked emotional overtones and saps any semblance of life from the characters and storylines.
Itās a huge difference from the authorās other novels I adore and rec. Those have a highly satisfying narrative, vastly better dynamics between characters that are relevant and believable on paper. Everyone here is dry and one dimensional. The plot is well written, as itās definitely had many characters and storylines woven together to create a wider story. But the couple and its main action sequences didnāt really work well. Thatās my main issue.
I enjoyed Winters previous novels, contemporary or fantasy driven, but this turned out to be not my cup of coffee.
Check it out if youāre a fan of the author, maybe it will be yours.
As captain of the kingās guard, Kerric should have laid down his life for the royal family. Now, the king and his heirs lie dead. Kerric deserves death, too, yet the court mage has another punishment in mind. For their failure on the fateful day an enemy invasion killed the king, Captain Kerric and his men will forever guard the castle as gargoyles, both as a curse and as a warning. His one chance for redemption is to put a rightful heir on the throne. How can that happen when there are no living heirs, and heās encased in stone?
Eron doesnāt remember much about his time before being rescued by notorious highwayman Lord Night and taught to live the life of a noble by day and brigand by night. Thereās much more to Lord Night than meets the eye and much more to Eronās destiny than purses of gold and nightly conquests.
A mysterious mage appears, saying itās time for Eron to return home, overthrow an evil usurper, and take his rightful place.
I love it when I learn about different cultures or areas of mythology through stories. Here itās about the NĆøkk, a Scandinavian or Norse being that shapeshifts into a water dwelling human form that lures people by violin playing and/or drowning by screaming. Thatās a simplified version of a complex, widely accepted concept of a being used in gaming , storytelling derived from mythology.
Even better when I get to know them through a series that will introduce a cast of characters, inhuman and otherwise, as they study for various degrees and live together in the dorms of Creelin University, aka Creepin U.
The characters, human and otherworldly, are well defined and their personalities are absolutely engaging, especially as they grow and develop the more they interact with each other and the other beings/community around them.
The NĆøkk, Steve Job as heās originally called at the beginning because he had to choose a human name , is a wonderful creation. A thoughtful unhappy young person who has chosen to separate himself from his country and species because he doesnāt want to be like them or follow traditional NĆøkk ways. Itās guitar and songwriting over the violin, and he definitely doesnāt want to gather up any souls.
Steve is a great character. Leslie McAdam has made his true name as well as his natural form a important part of the narrative, a definitive element of not only Steve and Brandonās relationship but of Steveā growth personally throughout the story.
Brandon, the human roommate and water polo player is another character that has hidden depths to his character. Too easily framed out as a āgolden retriever ā personality, that glosses over the many layers the author has created for him here. He is, in fact, a complex person, and thatās a factor in making not only the relationship work but this story as well.
Thereās so much to him, Steve, and the framework that McAdams has laid down in the book that makes me want further exploration and tales from this universe and couple. They are now surrounded by friends, a supportive family and a great journey ahead of them. I would love to see more of them in another story.
This series is turning out to be splendid and The NĆøkk and the Jock (Creepin U Book 1) by Leslie McAdam is a definite recommendation. Check them out!
Cover Art & Formatting by Whimsical Reverie Design LLC. Fabulous work. Love the cover.
Youāre formally admitted to Creelin Universityāknown locally as āCreepin U.ā The only things wilder than the monster shifters prowling around campus are the spicy male-male love stories unfolding between classes. The NĆøkk and the Jock is book one, starring an emo shapeshifter and a sunshine human. Each book is a stand-alone M/M spooky romance, but we hope you enroll in them all.
Brandon:
Iām pumped to be one of the first humans to attend a monster university, but a minor, negligible, insignificant issue arises almost immediately: My new roommate wants to drag me to his underground realm and take my soul.
Heās a nĆøkk who could almost pass for human, except his webbed fingers and entirely black eyes give him away. In my attempt to befriend him, I give him three drops of my blood, a black animal, and a bottle of vodka (I hear itās a nĆøkk thing). Which apparently triggers some ancient bonding ritual. My bad.
I must admit Iām into him. Maybe those online tests that say Iām only mostly straight are right. But there are a few hiccups: I canāt know his real name. He wonāt show me his true form. And heās both an omen and a cause of drowning ā¦ which is troubling, since heās on the water polo team with me.
Still, something about him calls to me, even if it shouldnāt.
The NĆøkk:
This human is mine.
Stay away from him.
The NĆøkk and the Jock is a monster-human bi-awakening M/M romance starring Brandon Fernandez, a golden retriever of a human being, and the prickly, melancholy nĆøkk. It features puzzling emoji text conversations, a monster who can stop waterfalls in midair, and drunken scareoke (monster karaoke). HEA guaranteed.
Iām familiar with Ashlyn Drewekās other dark paranormal novels so I was thrilled to see her work here in this series. Arcanum is exactly what I hoped for and a story I enjoyed immensely.
Drewekās novel is gripping and so well written. From start to finish, it pulls the reader into a suspenseful plot thatās grows into a larger anxiety ridden, terrifying, complicated element, as we get to know the characters and their histories.
The author has also created a town that becomes as much of a living entity as the characters are. We get to explore the streets and atmosphere of small town Mapleton, with its hair salons, tight knit community, and townspeople. All of which we have taken to heart as much as we have the main couple.
Drewekās characters include a haunted witch of the fabulous name, Greyson Darkholme. Now thereās a name to remember. Heās fled to town hoping for a new start in life, for reasons Iāll leave to the storylines. His next door neighbor is a K-9 police officer, Chris Brandt and partner Nitro. Extremely relatable and believable characters, man and dog . Love them both. In fact, Chrisā character and his role as a police officer is beautifully executed. His suspicions, fact checking, everything about his behavior screams cop. Especially when it pertains to family and town. Which makes Greysonās later statements and observation about the importance to Chris of the badge and uniform even more interesting and on point.
Thereās so many elements and different storylines that Drewekās woven into a complex novel that makes it all work. A bisexual awakening, a magical revelation, a way of writing a ex girlfriend in a manner that makes us understand and appreciate her . Monica is a treasure! All the details here that just keep adding up, the characters, the baking, the warmth and reality of community.
Is it perfect? No. I absolutely disagreed over the choice of having Greyson withhold so much information from Chris. That was frustrating.
But the rest ? Loved it and I really wish that Drewek will revisit the characters and location in a future story. Itās too fantastic to remain one book.
Last note: Excellent use of the tarot cards, deck , and chosen card as well as The Magic Shop and The Owner. One of the best yet.
Highly recommended!
Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always
Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen
Tales from the Tarot- 22 books
š· Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Codyā¤ļø
From the moment his new neighbor moves in, K9 officer Chris Brandt senses thereās something not quite right about the guy. His instincts are confirmed when he discovers the mysterious Greyson Darkholme is the prime suspect in a murder investigationāa murder that wiped out his entire family.
Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, Chris is captivated by Greysonās eccentric charm, awakening desires he never knew he had. As they grow closer, it becomes evident that Greyson is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, Chris faces a shocking dilemma when Greysonās secrets come to light.
To protect the man of his dreams, the dedicated officer must confront the ultimate question: how far will he go for love?
ARCANUM is a standalone paranormal MM romance novel and part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Temperance.
This book contains themes intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list can be found in the front matter of the book and on my website under Tropes & Triggers.
Iām not sure if Soar is the end of the Wings ‘N’ Wands series but it does read as if it is. With all the previous couples and all the dragon clans and mages being present here in one role or another , itās got the essence of a finale story. Especially that epilogue and speech.
So thatās how I will treat it. Iāve enjoyed reading the three stories immensely, with Sam and Dimitriās probably being my favorite (Ruins). So itās fitting that Soar concludes with a return to Samās story by way of his twin brother, Salem, a pediatric surgeon in the US.
Salemās in Brazil for a celebration for his brother, Sam and Dimitri, meets ice dragon Gregori, and after a fabulous one night stand, finds himself with a fated mate he doesnāt want.
Thereās several aspects of the story I enjoyed and others I didnāt connect with as well. It starts with the main characters and storyline. If you consider Sam and Dimitriās (my favorite) , the elements in Ruins are similar but Samās character is far more appealing. Samās magical core is broken but Salemās isnāt. So while Sam and Dimitriās relationship dynamic is reflective of the same snark and behavior that Salem and Gregori demonstrate to begin with, the issues they faced, the dangers and unknown terrain made their journey more complex, and their struggles more understandable in emotional terms.
However , while many of us could understand not wanting to overturn our lives, jobs etc, itās Samās continued conflicting and often abrasive or self-centered towards Gregori thatās the issue. The authors made it an important part of his character, a factor that left me feeling less than invested in his life and journey. The authors may have wanted to separate his character from his twin but it felt as though they went as far as they could in the opposite direction, sympathetically speaking. Heās just not as relatable with his constant references to himself and his actions as being a āa-holeā or something in that sense. Not that heās wrong as heās written. The narrative makes vague mentions as to some bad relationships in his past but the authors give no evidence of any, nothing to suggest that outright nastiness thatās been ongoing.
Yes, no one wants to overturn their lives. So communication is key. Doesnāt happen. Gregori is given more depth and better communication skills. Heās seen expanding his social circle and committing to the community. We get one well rounded character and one that needs more dimension to him.
Same unbalanced aspects of the storyline and relationship occur when (spoiler alert) Gregori starts to feel ill. Why he does is a well written element of the book.
Again Salemās responses doesnāt always match a physicianās ethic. Although, it was a narrative choice to have Salem choose to become a doctor/pediatric surgeon because of his competitive nature with his brother. Salem is written as excellent doctor, however he began.
The comparisons do add up. For me, Samās a problematic factor throughout the book. Right up almost to the end.
Thereās some thrilling scenes of flying dragons, additional dragon information about clans and physiology, and a grand reunion of all the dragons and mages weāve gotten to know at the finish. I adore that.
I donāt know if thereās going to be any further stories in this universe. Theyāve entered a new age. Iām sure new characters will be coming out and asked to be heard. But probably not here.
If you love dragons , instant fated mates, and fantasy love stories, check out the series as well as the fantastic series that started it, Scales āNā Spells . Ruins remains my favorite of this series, as does its couple. But read this for that ending and to see everyone once again. Plus dragon twins! Adorable.
Salemās guide to making a dragon break up with him:
Step 1: Donāt sleep with him. (No, seriously, donāt.) And definitely donāt let him into your apartment, he wonāt leave.
Step 2: Deny being mates and donāt fall in love with him.
ā¦Step one and two failed. Gregori is too stubborn and irresistable.
Salem is currently taking suggestions that donāt involve giving in to his feelings.
(Please note, do not try making the dragon jealous. Jealousy sex is too much fun and cannot be resisted. This will backfire.)
Tags:
One-night stand, ha! just kidding, surgeons be stubborn, no seriously Salem is the king of stubborn, Gregori is stubborn too, how to woo a reluctant mage 101, idiots to lovers, idiots to still idiots, no change on that front, ice dragons can burn up the sheets, more dragon cuddles, broken magic, Brazil, medical magic, mate fog can be dangerous, Rodrigo despairs of his dragons, Ha Na is Very Disappointed, that scares everyone, Sam is ready to throat punch Salem, Russian food is magical, all the cameos, age of mages, Ravi and his twins havenāt burned down the world, yet, 3 a.m. is a perfectly valid time for naked bonding ceremonies
Author V.L. Locey is off to a terrific start on her new paranormal romance series with Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee.
It begins with Archimedes Kee āArchieā Kee , Asian American, who helps run his grandfatherās failing family business, Keeās Book Store in Liverswell, MA. Archie can interact with ghosts, a family gift passes down through generations thatās now especially relevant as Archieās current location has several resident ghosts to converse with.
Thereās Reggie, who died in 1778, he haunts the bookstore, reads the latest books, and considers himself part of the establishment and family. Also the ghosts in the streets,along with a spectral cat that comes and goes, as cats do.
But itās the living that have issues to contend with, bills to pay, and Archieās fluency in Mandarin brings him a handsome college football player, Phil Kestrel ,seeking help and a tutor for his Asian studies class.
Archie and Philās developing relationship is wonderful, especially when Phil is let in on the truth about Archieās gift and the bookstoreās resident ghosts. As the plot switches over into a investigation into the mysterious presence in the lake, and what it means for the townās inhabitants (living and non-corporeal), it picks up speed but starts to lose some depth in the background and plot.
I liked how Locey created and then wove in the various ethnic languages and historical references from the town to make the paranormal stories and investigations the deepest, and saddest part of the story. It could have been even more detailed, but perhaps that is going to be part of the next book. Itās certainly got my attention. And it introduces certain families of the town who might have a part to play in future stories as well.
Most of my quibbles have to do with the relationship between Archie and Phil, and Archieās gift. Archie and Phil are just getting to know each other, they admit that they really like each other, which seems reasonable and , actually quite adorable.
But, as in too many stories Iāve read, they jump immediately into the āI love you ā conversation and confessions stage which hadnāt, imo, had a the same amount of narrative time or believable aspect to their relationship that other elements had. Really like on the way to something else? Yes, absolutely. Instant love? No. That case wasnāt made. Especially when thereās so much else going on around them.
And we really know very little about Phil here. Whatās the background on him?
So in Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee I feel that V.L. Locey is setting up a terrific location, characters and themes for a new adventure and series. Thereās so much she wants to lay down that not all got fully developed or explained, just put in place for future adventures and books to make use of. I absolutely adore Archie , his grandfather, Reggie, and look forward to learning more about Phil and the rest of the town.
This is a definite recommend for lovers of paranormal romance.
One speaks to the dead, the other talks to everyone else. Both have hearts that are whispering to each otherās.
Archimedes Kee has always had the gift. From his youngest days, he has been able to communicate with the dearly departed. Most of the time, they seek him as a way to correct wrongs or for help moving over to the next plane. Some just want to complain about badly written books. Generally, he does his best to aid the stranded spirits as he juggles working part-time at his grandfatherās bookstore, a job he adores, with attending a local college. Stuck in the grind of the day-to-day, he is totally unprepared for the arrival of Phil Kestrel, who blows into the shop like a hurricane with his blond hair, blue eyes, and unparalleled exuberance.
For the first time in forever, Archie canāt pull back into the protective shell he has learned to keep up. Phil is not only a charmingly sweet and sexy man, but heās also slowly winning Archieās heart one 80ās song at a time. After witnessing an unearthly book club meeting late one night the football star slash film major discovers Archieās secret and proposes a plan. They make a ghost hunter show for extra credit and to bring much-needed foot traffic to the old bookstore. The plan has merit, so they seek out a local legend and face off against an anguished soul who puts their new bond to the test.
Kestrel and Kee – The Siren of Lake Killikee is an opposites attract queer paranormal romance starring a shy medium, a gregarious footballer, a resident bookstore specter with a decidedly wicked mind, one otherworldly feline, a small town filled with ghostly goings on, an elderly family member eager to play matchmaker, a haunted lake, and a spirited happy ending.
Saxon James Accidental Love series is drawing to an end, with the penultimate book, Just Bromantically Invested. As one by one the ālost boysā of Big Bertha are finding their partners and HEA, itās time for Madden and Penn to get their own story.
Madden, with his free wheeling approach to life, aversion to clothes, and large heart, has been a challenging character for me to connect with. For some reason I just havenāt found him as interesting as the others. This book does help give Madden the depth of character and background into why the nudity is so important to him thatās been lacking.
Jamesā narrative has a number of other elements to bring to the table. Itās got a best friends to lovers relationship with one of them discovering that heās not exactly straight but bisexual. Iām not sure the author makes the full argument for this quick turnaround on Pennās behalf. They may have been friends but based on the behavior seen Pennās clueless mostly so it feels more importantly based on the needs of the plot line. They work together fluidly as friends, lovers not so much.
But probably because the romance needs more exploration as the other aspects of their lives and struggles that need so much clarification. That house dynamics is a mess, Maddenās inability to separate himself from the others to see a separate role for others is an issue that continues past that ending. And has an impact on the rest of the characters, especially Penn.
I do love the support and communication that finally comes when Madden is able to convey what he needs going forward, including explaining why being naked is so important as a major part of that.
Penn , anxiety prone and introvert that he is, however, is the one that is repeatedly given the reduced role here. In Maddenās head, Penn comes in after his relationships with his found brothers/family members of Big Bertha. Even at the end, that feeling that Penn is not as much of an embedded player in Maddenās life as he is in Pennās seems clear.
So it left me tentatively connected to both and actually feeling irritated by the continuing drama with Xander, whoās still refusing help. Xander has the last book and thatās the wrap. Should be interesting.
I enjoyed the earlier stories better than I have the recent ones . I look forward to seeing how James closes out the series.
My best friend is uptight, gorgeous, the greatest person I know ā¦ and I might be a smidge in love with him. Just a small amount. Barely worth the mention.
Which is a stupid choice on my part when the guy is straight.
Starting a landscaping company with him was the perfect mix of doing what I love and an excuse to spend time with him, only it hasnāt completely taken off yet and now heās telling me heās lonely.
Lonely.
Apparently having one friend in your life isnāt enough.
So Iām determined to help him find love. With someone other than me. Maybe if I can pull that off, itāll mean my heart will finally get the message and move on.
Or finish breaking into a hundred pieces.
Same thing, right?
Penn
Being besties with an overenthusiastic, gold-hearted, nudist of a man is a challenge sometimes. Madden makes everything sunshine when heās around.
The problem is that he hasnāt been around as much lately. We work together, sure, but heās got his roommates and I have ā¦ no one. Just him. So I feel the distance acutely.
My one reassurance is that we have work tying us together, but when an old client calls with a proposition for us, it feels like our once solid friendship is unraveling fast.
He wants Madden to help him open a nudist resort, and if Maddenās doing that, he wonāt be working with me.
Iām trying not to panic over the thought of losing him, which is a typical, common best friend reaction. Nothing out of the ordinary.
And neither is the way my body has been reacting to him lately.
Everything is totally, completely normal between us.
Burned is a fitting way to end the Drake Security series, with Lordās story and his tortured enemies to lovers, fated mates romance.
Lordās been that character with the older brother syndrome. Stolid, serious, constantly in control and ever watchful over the family business as well as all over the family, including his brothers, their mates, and younger clutchings.
So it makes sense that his story is the very antithesis of his life and nature. Itās dramatic, compulsive, and absolutely terrifying, the opposite of how heās been living and taught.
Mika Nix , aka authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, mirrored his impulsive acts toward a specific target, his fated mate who happens to be his worst enemy, a dragon hunter. Thatās a fatally wounded Alrick Havaror, a young Viking from a notorious dragon hunter family.
Lord and Alrick have matching angst filled emotions towards each other as they fight their own battles with the bond and their backgrounds. I really enjoyed this element of the story. They were well suited and their journey was full of chemistry and communication.
While we are very familiar with the Drake family and their mates, Alrickās history and family background could have used more development, especially given that ending. Considering the foul deeds his father, older brother, grandfather etc have committed, that end wasnāt exactly satisfying, even with the overlaying factor of kinship.
New wonderful characters included Viggo (middle brother of Alrickās), and Xanthis, a powerful Scottish dragon mage who promptly flirts with Dahlia. And while the authors let us know what happened with the two women, Viggo, who had an important role and his own journey here, oddly vanished from the story. After being told he was from now on a permanent member of the Drake family. SMH
If they say he went home with good old dad and brother. No. That doesnāt track as both authors had him say he wanted to remember the events and what they had done and everything that had occurred. So no.
Big narrative hole here and missing character.
So Burned ends up a good story but not a great one. I enjoyed the couple but thereās quite a few stumbles narratively speaking that keeps this shy of 5 stars. Still a lovely series and one Iām recommending.
Of all the creatures I could have accidentally mate bonded with, did it have to be a dragon slayer?
I never let my dragon take control. Never. Distraught after the death of a friend, I made a mistakeā¦
Finding a beautiful, broken viking on the verge of death in the middle of a forest, all of my instincts screamed at me to save him. My dragon wouldnāt have it any other way. For two-thousand years Iāve saved my mating fire, waiting for fate to bring me true, binding love. But with this stranger only a breath away from the afterlife, I didnāt have a choice.
I canāt really be mated to a dragon slayer, can I? There has to be a way to break this bond before his brothers come looking for him or mine realize what Iāve done.
The only problem is, the more time I spend with the captivating, big hearted man, the more I think that fate might have had a hand in things after allā¦
Is he feeling it too, or am I about to get burned?
Nik Knightās new rom-com urban fantasy new novel and the first installment in her new series is utterly stunning. Passing Through Purgatory: Passing Through Cafe #1 by Nik Knight caught my eye by that cover and then by the description.
But the actual story surpassed all my expectations by being not just a great story, but one that brought such immensely diverse, believable cast of characters, human and otherworldly. Each with their own unique and fully defined sense of being. Complete physical elements, emotional and spiritual elements, and often, as I think Knight will explore further, some hurtful, damaging aspects to their background and histories in the Hell Universe (just another world where trains run late and bigotry exists that feels very familiar).
The universe and characters are ones I connected with immediately. It starts with human Oliver Barnes, living in Chicago with friends (love Jude). He goes for a job interview in Greed district of Hellās Pentagram but in one realistic scenario (even if itās in Purgatory), he misses his train.
And in doing so, finds something else that is, everything he could possibly want. But first he needs to go through the doors of the Passing Through Cafe.
There Knight gives us the most chaotic place, a cafe of owners and employees who will become Oliverās found family. Each one such a distinctive being who quickly find a place in our hearts. I found myself forgetting that the lovable Gem, is an Araknis (think spider with a great butt) as well as many eyes and arms. After a while, it was Gem, who actually had a fragility about him that endeared him even more. Same thing with Rusty the Pyclon, a pink walking Care Bear with a snarky attitude that hides a damaged past. I mean thereās
Tad the Anura, a tough dishwasher,
Willow the empath dyad whoās a baker assistant to the fabulously gorgeous Glyma the succubus baker.
And Zef the asexual winged Mantodea , who is sometimes a drag Queen and cafe greeter, along with the handful, handsome demon Toni the Elas.
Quinn, owner and partner to Glyma, along with Bob, a question mark of a species who lives in the office and resembles a bug, complete the cafe found family.
It seems like a lot, but how Knight introduces them to Oliver (and the reader) folds them beautifully into his new dynamic and the world view we are seeing. Their lives and respective personalities as well as personal backgrounds will start to be revealed the more Oliver becomes a deeply entrenched part of their lives.
Because the Hell world has its intricacies as far as status, bigotry, speciesism, and itās divided along racial or specific lines and into territories. This element is still being explored. But the basic concept is laid down and itās ugly in its reality. And how it impacts our little group.
I look forward to seeing what happens next. Because while there are scenes of absolute hilarity here, thereās some of moments of such pain, of past history thatās so bad that itās unmentionable. Both hit hard because weāve come to care so much about our group of characters.
And that includes the final one I havenāt mentioned yet. Liel Karakis the Gymnot lawyer from the Greed district. Heās the one that Oliver falls for. A fantastic relationship and romance, but albeit not human in its sexual scenes. As it should be because Liel isnāt human. But for Oliver, itās the person who matters, not the body. And Knight has been as imaginative in this element as she is in every other aspect of the story.
Beautifully executed and well done.
Iāll end this saying I was so excited to see the narrative flow to the ranch, every part of that storyline, and the family. A glimpse into the Christmas visit would be amazing, because you know the gang is going to have to go too. Just saying, pretty please?
I honestly need Gratification in Gluttony now. I highly recommend this and the author. Just fabulous.
When Oliver applied for a job in the Hell dimension on a whim, he didnāt expect it to turn his whole worldāor his heartāentirely upside down.
Recently graduated at twenty-six, and two months behind on rent, Oliver Barnes is desperate. So desperate, in fact, that he applies for a job in the Greed district of Hellās Pentagram. But when he misses his train and, subsequently, his job interview, he stumbles, instead, upon a strange little coffee shop in the middle of Purgatoryās barren desertāand into an unexpected opportunity.
It isnāt the job he came to Hell for, but maybe itās exactly the job he needs.
As he navigates the demon dimension and tries to survive the ridiculous shenanigans of his unholy co-workers, Oliver soon falls head-over-ass for a tentacled lawyer with electric fingers and a deadly-sharp grin. Together, they discover that, sometimes, love and happiness can be just a train ride away.
Join Oliver and the rest of the eccentric staff of The Passing Through Cafe in Nik Knightās new rom-com urban fantasy series, full of found family, embarrassing encounters, spicy situations, and love that crosses dimensions.
Bold As Brass (Elementally Yours Book 3) by FN Manning is a well written, well executed paranormal romance. I thought Manning did a good job of explaining why Oliver Brass, brother and son to the Brasses held responsible for the crimes in book 1, makes the decisions he does here with regard to his magic and the use of a D/s relationship with respect to his control.
Thereās a very good authorās note about this element. Read it carefully. This story incorporates a realistic D/s relationship between two people, one of which is older than the other. If this isnāt an element that you enjoy reading about, you might want to skip the book.
For me, I found I didnāt connect with these characters as I had with the other couples in the preceding novels. Iām not sure why, because a D/s relationship isnāt an issue for me. Nor the difference in ages. Although the fact that (but not truly ) they almost rode the line between student and professional life is slightly troubling. It was addressed by the author.
I think that I felt that there wasnāt enough of a real connection between them to account for the sudden admission of deep love that happens.
That could be a difference of perspective. Another reader might think itās fine.
I do wish there was more information about what exactly went on towards the end. A resolution about what happened to fix everything . Instead we get a dinner and a HFN. It didnāt feel entirely satisfactory.
All in all, Bold As Brass (Elementally Yours Book 3) by FN Manning was well written but needed a better wrap up.
Control is everythingā¦ until you find someone worth surrendering to.
Oliver Brass is beyond prim and proper. Heās practically English after spending years studying metal magic in posh British schools. But when a family scandal turns his world upside down and his powers stop obeying, a stiff upper lip isnāt helping him regain control. Instead, an alluring professor shows the metal mage how to surrender.
A charming educator by day and a dirty dom by night, Liam Monroe has the unique ability to control a personās body and magic. Liam demands obedience, and even though Oliver may never stop blushing, he and his magic are eager to comply.
Everything is going well until dragons drop in with a score to settle, determined to make the wizard pay for the sins of his family. Oliver will need to rely on his powers if he has any hope of stopping the vengeful dragonsā¦ or keeping Liam. Can Oliver be bold enough to fight for the man he loves, or will it all go up in flames?
Bold as Brass features an innocent wizard being ācorruptedā and an intelligent literature professor who also happens to be a wicked dominant. Thereās also shamelessly perverted moon rituals, literal and magical power exchange, BDSM, finding strength in unexpected places, dangerous dragons, and romantic moonlit confessions. This is the third book in the Elementally Yours series of magical gay romances. Each book features different characters and can be read alone
Dragons, mysteries, romance and multiple ongoing storylines. Yes please. Iām just loving this series by Joy Lynn Fielding. Her Wings Over Albion just got more intriguing while expanding the series foundation knowledge and known dragon families previously laid out.
Now , as the book begins ,the fearsome, totally powerful head of dragons, Abimelech Mortimer, has call a moot, a gathering of the heads of the dragon families in a neutral location, for a major announcement. As well as other purposes on his agenda.
As the dragons rarely leave their own territories, this is an exceptional event, fraught with challenges and potential undertones. A fabulous way to introduce the characters and the stakes involved with the players and challenges faced.
We see briefly, some of the characters of the other novels. But our immediate attention will fall on the newest characters and dragons. As it should because they are remarkable.
Especially Ollie Shaw. Ollie is that character who shows astonishing growth from the awkward, somewhat disrespected lesser member of his family to dragon who lives and loves largely. His journey, which encompasses that of Archer Talbot, and his siblings Tim and Mia, is revelatory. We rejoice with him and Archer, along with Mia and Tim, as they shift in their thinking, struggling with their own personal pasts, and restructure into a believable, magnificent warm-hearted family. One we dearly want more of in the end.
Fielding adds to the dragon mythology and knowledge sheās building as well as bringing more dragons of color into the series. Everything is weaving together into a fabulous series tapestry that melds King Arthur, mystery, dragon politics, and love. I canāt help to see what happens next.
This is beautifully written, fantastic characters and gorgeous plots. Highly recommended!
Falling for him would be pure folly. I know that. Now all I have to do is convince my heartā¦
Allowing a strange dragon into my home was not my idea.
The Assembly assured me it was necessary, though. And thatās how I ended up with him.
Ollie Shaw is clumsy. Unfairly hot. He stumbles through my life leaving a trail of chaos and sunny charm in his wake.
And I hoard every moment with him like heās my greatest treasure.
But with an entire dragon territory to rule, bills to pay, and treachery brewing in my family, I canāt afford to be distracted by Ollieās copper-gilded beauty and boundless enthusiasm.
I especially canāt give in to my dragonās primal urge to claim him.
Because loving him could cost me everything Iāve fought so hard to protect. And that would eventually come back to bite us bothāwith dragonās teethā¦
Dragonās Folly, Book 3 in the Wings over Albion series, is a sweet and spicy, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity paranormal m/m romance.
Publisher: Independently published (October 9, 2024)
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 