Review: Demon Hunter (The Collective Book 2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 3🌈

Demon Hunter and this series so far has been a semi-winner for me. The characters that have been carried over from Ghostly Guardians have been a mixed bag as some have shown little development in character, while others have shown significant growth through their respective relationships and roles in the series and arc storylines.

That continues here with main characters still showing antagonism towards higher demons like Marc, a fascinating higher being who’s has been and continues to be portrayed as being supportive of them and their family. Marc is not only the reason why this group has successfully taken down their collective enemies but also as a bonded mate to one of their own. But despite this, since the finale, the hostile behavior of several members has not changed towards him, despite the events and ongoing conflicts within the Collective.

It makes little sense for the group and serves to reinforce a certain stagnation of their personalities.

Matt and Dylan are in a relationship, one that they are hiding from their friends and family members. The reasons for, given the situation and circumstances of this group and the Collective will seem not particularly well thought out. Masters has a traumatic event occurring that impacts Matt, then Dylan and their group as an unseen threat to everyone is identified.

The aspect of this book that’s interesting and important for future stories is the thread about the threat/enemy uncovered and how it’s handled . Especially in what it represents in terms of loose ends and the challenges going forward. I really like the other higher demon as well as my favorite couple of Marc and Ian. They are heavily involved in this book and plot thread.

Less engaging for me is the issues I have with Matt and Dylan’s relationship dynamics. The constant lack of communication between them, the avoidance of major confrontation with each other over intimate matters, and in general, their refusal to acknowledge issues that might impact their own lives as well as endanger others around them.

That would be one thing if the author utilized this aspect of their relationship with regard to the storyline and made it easier for them to understand and move forward, but instead it’s Marc who is the most influential factor here. It sort of happens, but it takes the entire plot and that’s entirely too long for this reader.

Marc remaining the most epic and entertaining character of the series and group. I look forward to seeing more of him, his relationship and dialogue. And more higher demons.

Ghostly Guardians:

Spirited Situation #1
Vortex Conundrum #2
Conduit Crisis #3
Gateway Catastrophe #4 -finale

The Collective, sequel series:

Higher Demon #1
Demon Hunter #2

Buy link

Demon Hunter (The Collective Book 2)

Blurb

What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?

Before that night, there wasn’t much in my life I could complain about. I hunt rogue demons for a living, which is the coolest thing ever, and my brothers are the best. Sure, there was that thing with our parents betraying humanity, and okay, I wasn’t thrilled when my brother-bestie hooked up with a demon, but everything else was amazing.

Except that Dylan, the person I love more than anything, wanted to keep our relationship secret.

I got it; I really did. He’s lost all his family, and he was afraid if my family adopted him, he might lose them too. It’s not like we’ve got the world’s safest jobs. I was sure he’d change his mind eventually.

That decision was taken from him one awful night. Now, everyone knows, but Dylan’s more worried about the people trying to kill me. Unidentified and vicious; that’s all we know. Oh, and they hacked The Collective’s server.

How does a demon hunter fight a virtual threat? He doesn’t… that’s his kickass techie boyfriend’s job. Dylan will find these people, and then we’ll deal with them.

Even if there is more going on than we know about.

Publication date: August 29, 2024
Language: English
File size: 2748 KB
Print length: 253 pages

Review: Best Laid Plans by E M Leya

Rating: 3🌈

I know this author by her wonderful paranormal Ghostly series so when I saw this story I picked it up.

Unfortunately it had lost the many elements that make the series so special and its characters so engaging. Best Laid Plans is a contemporary romance that’s sweet and predictable.

Uncle gets custody of his niece by tragic circumstances. Finds out his sister never told the father of his niece about her. Contacts that man, who immediately loves the kid, huge family loves her, they fall into an instant rushed relationship, events happen, they move in together. The end. All so quickly that you blink and the timeline has them getting engaged.

While this isn’t unusual in contemporary romance, these characters have little depth and less chemistry. We don’t get much history that adds to the plot or understanding of the sister. So it doesn’t really encourage the reader to connect with the story or characters in an emotional way.

Except that as a dog lover, I found myself disagreeing with many aspects of the narrative that concerns the puppy and the dynamics of the family/character interactions. Honestly, having a father threatening to put a puppy outside unless a two year old eats her vegetables? Just no.

If you’re a fan of this author or contemporary stories, there’s other books out there that I find I would recommend reading instead of this one.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Best-L…Best Laid Plans – Kindle edition by Leya, E.M. . Romance Kindle eBooks …

Blurb

Conner never thought much about being a father, at least not until a stranger showed up in his office and tells him he is one. It had been years since he dated the guy’s sister, but he won’t deny the possibility that Kayla is his child.

Dave just wants to right the wrong his sister made and give Conner a chance to be the father he never knew he was. While mourning the loss of his sister, he’s also angry she never told Conner about the baby.

As the two try to figure out how to handle the mess his sister left them, the men form a friendship and a bond as they try to make the transition as easy on Kayla as they can. What they didn’t expect was the feelings that spending so much time together might cause. Working through the maze of emotions, they struggle to not only keep Kayla’s heart safe, but also their own.

Publication date: July 14, 2023
Language: English
Print length: 205 pages

Review: Clean Finish (Goliaths of Wrestling book 2) by Lily Mayne

Rating:4.5🌈

Clean Finish is the second book in Lily Mayne’s Goliaths of Wrestling paranormal romcom series and it’s another winner, fabulous cover including.

This time the comedic romance is an age gap, first time storyline with the main characters being a young flighty sweet Fae assistant and an older werewolf bodyguard.

Larkin, the young, not very focused, elf assistant of Holt’s, is an engaging character who we met in book 1. Sunny, kind, and effervescent in outlook, Larkin is also scattered in his thought processes, not quite able to complete his tasks with all the gorgeous wrestlers about, and his hormones on overdrive.

Seb, an older thoughtful werewolf, is Holt’s bodyguard. He’s quiet, observant, a crossword puzzle enthusiast, and has been nurturing a deep abiding crush/love for Larkin from the moment he first saw him.

When Larkin decides he needs a tutor in sex, it’s Seb he turns to and starts a journey to a wonderful subtly developing friendship. Mayne creates a funny, remarkably moving, and relatable story here between Seb and Larkin that becomes a deeply passionate and loving relationship. It’s built over home-made bread, cross word puzzles, a combined love of their warmhearted supportive families, and yes, lots of very sexy exploration and personal revelations.

We also get to see our other favorite couple, Holt and Taylor , continuing their story as they work together on making Goliaths of Wrestling a better place and their own life together richer. The wrestling scene and wrestlers are front and center as important players here and as found family.

A teaser for the next book shows a slight increase as the characters aren’t in the same place or personality as these. Should be fascinating. Can’t wait.

Again fantastic artwork on this cover!

Cover illustration: Vic Gray/Bloodwrit

Goliaths of Wrestling:

🔷Impromptu Match #1

🔷Clean Finish #2

🔷Cheap Heat #3 – September 27,2024

Buy link

Clean Finish (Goliaths of Wrestling Book 2)

Blurb

Larkin

Look, here’s the thing.

I’m young, carefree, and my job as the assistant to Holt, manager and owner of the Goliaths of Wrestling, means I’m surrounded by half-naked beefcake wrestlers all day. Of courseI’m going to be interested in… getting to know them all better. It would be, like, illegal for me to not lust after them all, right?

There’s just one hurdle I have to get over first before I can… get to knowthe wrestlers in the way I want. And that hurdle makes me really, really freaking nervous.

So I come up with an amazing idea. Holt’s bodyguard Seb, a werewolf, is the quiet, dependable, calm presence in the office. He’s safe. He’s not as intimidating as the wrestlers, and we’re kind ofbuddies, so I decide to ask him for help with my little… predicament.

Just for some practice. Before I move onto the big leagues. That’s all it is. Practice.

Seb

I’m the foolish old wolf who’s pined after Larkin since the moment he started working here. I’ve had to watch him flirt with all the wrestlers, listen to him talk about how much he wants them, act like I didn’t care, and it’s never gotten easier.

At least no one knows. And I can never tell him. He’s too young for me, too carefree and irresponsible, and he’s never shown even a hint of being interested in me that way. Mentally, I’ve accepted it. My heart, however, is a different matter.

And then he comes to me with a ridiculous proposition. Something I never thought I’d get to experience, something I should absolutely turn down, but I can’t. I’m not strong enough to deny myself. And I want to help Larkin in any way I can.

It’s just practice for him. I have to keep reminding myself of that, every time I get to touch him—every time he’s pressed against me, every time he falls asleep on my chest. He doesn’t want me. He just wants… lessons. Practice.

That’s all it is. Practice.

Publication date: August 6, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 461 pages

Review: The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1) by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 4.5🌈

We first met all these people (alive and ghostly ) at the very haunted Ashton-Drake Manor House in the Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed).

That was a fabulous supernatural murder mystery romp that was absolutely entertaining, romantic, and gave us an entirely new cast of characters to love.

The Haunted Hotel picks up in the aftermath of those events, the unwanted publicity and the trouble it’s brought to the Manor. And the unexpected surprises too.

One is a leftover guest, the horror book author Mr Pennington, whose writer’s block has vanished since the last events and his creative sparks are flowing! He’s decided to stay and write. The most important new element is the new arrival at the Manor.

Morgan Ashton-Drake has returned home after his mother took him to America when he was a young boy. Now he’s come home, only he can’t remember the ancient manor that holds both his history and memories and perhaps his future.

While Morgan is dealing with renewed relations with his grandfather, and his past, Ellis Sparks, and the rest of the found family of staff and ghosts of Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel have their own challenges to face.

Vawn Cassidy weaves in intimate relationships of family dynamics, romance, friendship, and ghostly goings on to come up with a warm-hearted, layered story of families, history, and love in believable terms. Even when there’s ghosts involved.

By the end, a new resolve has set in, an additional chapter begins, and someone else has come home. I love this book so much.

The Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) gives a wonderful foundation for this book as well as being a terrific story in a fantastic series. Don’t miss out on any of those stories.

I highly recommend reading them and this, the gorgeously crafted The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1) by Vawn Cassidy . Now I can’t wait to see where the next novel takes everyone.

Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits:

The Haunted Hotel #1

Buy link

The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1)

Blurb

Have a frightfully good stay…

Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if he’s all work and no play. He’s not missing out on anything important.

But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, he’s not keen to confront his past. What he didn’t count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfather’s hotel.

Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, he’s never met a frown he can’t turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer.

With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking as an incentive to get him to stay. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine?

From the creator of Dead Serious comes this hilarious grumpy/sunshine spin off which will leave you wanting to book your own room at The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.

Publisher: Underside Press (August 24, 2024)
Publication date: August 24, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 277 pages

Review: Impromptu Match (Goliaths of Wrestling book 1) by Lily Mayne

Rating:5🌈

I had no idea Lily Mayne could write romcom. Paranormal romcom! I picked up Impromptu Match, the first book in Mayne’s Goliaths of Wrestling paranormal romance series, based just on that fabulous cover illustration by Vic Gray/Bloodwrit. Didn’t even look at the author at all. I was captivated by the characters I saw beautifully captured by the artist.

But that story! Wow! While I got the book in ebook format, I’m going to buy it again to have it to read in print. I love it. The universe, the characters, the writing, everything about this is amazing.

Where to start? Hard to pick a favorite element. The characters, from the main couple of Taylor and Holt , to all the otherworldly wrestlers, and the easily recognizable corporate office staff are perfect.

Taylor Hough, sad human office worker bee , uniform of suits, dad jeans and old sneakers, 39, caught in the monotony of a job he never wanted, still doesn’t and doesn’t understand, has his world rocked with a wrong turn one night after work. Taylor is a great character. He’s easily identifiable, one we connect with, and as he changes, throwing off his old habits for new growth, exploring new ideas and concepts, we are cheering him on. Especially in his relationship with Holt.

Holt is everything. I’ll let the reader enjoy his character and personality in this book. But chef’s kiss.

Talk relationship goals. These two are so well written, the chemistry, the communication, and great respect for each other, I love them. They’re sexy, they have endless potential, and they’re just so expansive in their approach to life and their love.

What else is top notch here? The dialogue and the author’s keen ear for the sheer awfulness of corporate jargon. The absolute nonsense that gets tossed about as often as zoom meetings these days. Synergy as

“The directors prefer there to be synergy across all our public-facing outputs to really leverage the HutSec brand, you know?”

Snort and giggling. Also

“Let’s circle back to this in the morning. I’ll loop you two in when the team have our group-think first thing.”

Double Snort! More giggles

Honestly, this is so spot on and used so hilariously throughout the office conversations that I found myself laughing constantly. That corporate culture, right down to a bland name HutSec, is narrative perfection.

When I’m not laughing at the dialogue, or swooning over the couple, or enjoying the action of the fantastic group of otherworldly wrestlers of the Goliaths Wrestling Club, I was just trying to see who was the best otherworldly character to see a romantic story next. So many to choose from.

And the sheer comedy scenes here are incredible. These are a very hot, frisky couple, the chemistry is off the charts! Stock up on the fans!

Love this! Highly recommended!

And I’ll repeat it again, that cover is incredible..

Cover illustration: Vic Gray/Bloodwrit

Goliaths of Wrestling:

🔷Impromptu Match #1

🔷Clean Finish #2

🔷Cheap Heat #3

Buy link

Impromptu Match (Goliaths of Wrestling Book 1)

Blurb

I, Taylor Hough, am a painfully average guy.

I have the soul-destroying corporate job, I iron my underpants, and I was unceremoniously dumped for an influencer hippie a few years ago. Every day feels the same, and I don’t know how much longer I can cope before I do something unhinged like rip off my shirt in the middle of my co-worker’s office birthday party and smear lemon cake all over my chest.

But then a case of mistaken identity suddenly lands me in the middle of a covert professional wrestling league, which is apparently being run in the basement of my office building. Weird. Even weirder are the wrestlers. They seem… otherworldly. So does the rest of the staff. And the audience. Pretty much everyone except boring old me.

And then there’s the owner, Holt Hector, with whom I have an extremely embarrassing first encounter. He’s ridiculously attractive, even in the inhuman cosplay get-up he’s wearing that only makes him hotter, if I’m being totally honest.

Then I discover it’s not a costume. And that the show put on by Goliaths of Wrestling every night is more monstrous reality than mindblowing special effects.

My previously boring life is suddenly no longer quite so average, and hot-as-hell Holt is inexplicably as interested in me, and my ironed underpants, as I am in him and his strange new world.

Publication date: February 9, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 422 pages

Review: Thirst Quenched (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 4) by Shelby Rhodes

Rating: 5🌈

Thirst Quenched (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 4) by Shelby Rhodes is a fabulous book. It’s everything I’d hoped for and more.

For the uninitiated, stop. Read all the trigger warnings, seriously, have you read this author? Then proceed to go to the beginning of the series and start reading there.

For the rest of us, this is outstanding on so many levels. It moves the complex relationship between Foxx and Harlow forward even as they grapple with the challenges that Harlow’s new condition presents to them personally as well as what it means for them in the role they play as partners within the organization. That last being a very important part of this plot.

Rhodes brings in new facets to this story and series with the change to Harlow. It’s a great twist because it’s bringing a deeper dive into his background, the energy of his relationship with Foxx enters a new dynamic, and a hints of a even wider dimension arc wise is threaded into the narrative by two of the most intriguing characters.

Honestly, there’s multiple scenes I enjoyed here that I had to read through several times before I could convince myself to continue. And others that I was sure held clues to future stories that I just didn’t want to move past.

Iggy as “bluebird “? Yes! more please! I’ll say no more.

And then there’s that cliffhanger. A real heartstopper! So now we wait for False Morality to hit next March. I can’t wait! I’ll definitely be rereading this several times in anticipation and just because it’s outstanding and I might have missed something.

Kudos to Shelby Rhodes on writing Thirst Quenched (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 4)! Highly recommended!

Love the covers. This might be my favorite so far.

The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx:

At First Irritation #1
Taste of Fear #2
Unusual Emotions #3
Thirst Quenched #4
False Morality #5 – March 31,2025

Buy Link

Thirst Quenched (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 4)

Blurb

Foxx Honeywell, here. So, picking up where we left off…and things are decidedly not okay. But, hey…what isfine…is my love life. Which is a win in my book, considering how badly all my former relationships have gone. And really, it’s not often you become someone’s boyfriend and have to deal with their strange secret camera obsession for keeping you safe. No red flags there!

It’s just everything else that is pretty bloody horrible. Multiple old enemies, some new ones, a not so mysterious murdery group, and just all around hatred everywhere. You know, on top of me dealing with Harlow while the man works through, and sometimes fails to work through, his brand new issues. I may end up burying a fifth boyfriend—I haven’t decided yet.

Anywho, it probably won’t be fine. But Harlow and I are still breathing! So that counts for something!

CONTENT WARNING: This is an M/M paranormal romance book that ends on a cliffhanger. Please see inside or my website for full content warning!

Publication date: August 23, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 539 pages

Review: Review: Ghostly Death (Ghostly Book 6) by E M Leya

Rating: 4.75🌈

The Ghostly series by E M Leya continues its quiet, very terrific otherworldly journey with Ghostly Death, a poignant tale of young teenagers lost too soon to a mysterious serial killer, a disheartening investigation, and a crime whose resolution feels realistic, sad,and, as the officers and main characters will say, not entirely satisfactory.

Leya’s story is so well written, slowly pulling the events together, one horrific incident after another, like puzzle pieces fitting into the scene to form a larger picture for the police and medical examiner’s team to investigate. That the case will have help from the some of the beautifully portrayed victims in the form of their ghosts is not just a major narrative element but a quietly powerful emotional aspect of the story. We will see the events from their perspective, feel the grim reality, and their grief.

It’s one of the things I’ve so appreciated about this series and the author’s writing is how Leya builds the characters, including them in their lives, families and surroundings. Whether they are the main characters, surrounding cast, or the victims, they are real to us in their realism. The readers understand these characters because they are grounded in ways we ourselves recognize.

There’s no huge drama. Instead it’s personal stories that make the most poignantly deep impact and ones which are those we can relate to, that will hit us emotionally.

I absolutely recommend reading this series and story. It helps to read them in the order they are written. Here the characters are still dealing with the aftermath of the events from the last book. Again very believable and raw.

I’m looking forward to the next in the series, Ghostly Dilemma. With this book, a strong series got even better.

Ghostly series:

Ghostly Awakening #1
Ghostly Findings #2
Ghostly Envy #3
Ghostly Claus #4
Ghostly Target #5
Ghostly Hostage #6
Ghostly Death #7
Ghostly Dilemma #8 – TBD

Buy link

Ghostly Death

Blurb

When teenagers start dying around town, it’s up to Detective Angus Young to figure out if the cases are connected and who would want them dead.

Lance is one of the city’s medical examiners and has a talent he doesn’t share with many people — he sees ghosts.

Helping his boyfriend figure out who wants these kids dead just became his number one job. He can see some of their ghosts, and one of them just might be the key to breaking this case wide open.

Publisher: E.L. Publishing (August 21, 2024)
Publication date: August 21, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 190 pages

Review: Fae for Pay (Fortune Favors the Fae novel) by Meghan Maslow

Rating: 3.5🌈

Fae for Pay is the new fantasy novel by Meghan Maslow for the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae, with a magical traveling two sided Fae gold coin as a connecting point.

An immediate plus goes to Maslow’s use of the fae magical coin in the storyline.It was imaginative,interesting, and a large enough of a element in the plot to make it narratively visible throughout the story.

I enjoyed all the engaging characters who have the potential for more than just one book. They were fun to get to know and enjoy along the journey. However the universe building has need of considerably more foundation information. It’s spotty at best.

We’re given to understand it’s a world that encompasses humans, vampires and werewolves but not other paranormals. Why no other species isn’t said. Not much more information is laid out about magic or paranormal phenomena other than that which is puzzling. Nor do we have any background history on if this has always been true or a historical event.

Teremie Summersis a human whose life has been changed for the worse by his ex. Known falsely as Teremie the cheater because of actions by his ex, he’s survived by streaming as an elf on his Only Fae channel and rooming with his best friend, actor Rory.

When Sheila Levy, their agent informs Rory of a actors call for a movie that’s from Rory’s childhood best book, The Elves Cursed Coin/The Prince’s Cursed Coin, it’s both of them who end up answering the call.

The story begins there, following them to the remote set location, and all the weird shenanigans that occur throughout the filming process. The story continues with the filming as relationships form between Teremie and Kade, and between other friends in the cast.

That would be Rory McMahon, friend from childhood and Alistair the vampire, also an actor.

Kade Savage, actor, wolf shifter, fated mate, is a very interesting character with a neat twist that comes into play further in the storyline. But Maslow does with this terrific element as with others here, it doesn’t get developed fully into the highly complex aspect of this thread that it could. Which is the main issue I found here.

Maslow has many great elements and neat ideas thrown in here that while some pop up consistently throughout the story (woodland animals on Teremie and Rory’s porch on the set, the wicked crows, pixies,etc), these details aren’t explored or tied into a specific story elements in a clearly defined way. So much of the story is written like this that eventually the reader just doesn’t look for any explanations or reasonable tie in to a storyline.

The dramatic reveal is strange because the reader is unfamiliar with the story of the book the plot of the movie is based upon. Had the author included more details, it would have given clarity and depth to the story and characters actions. It would have helped give foundation too a narrative that’s often not making sense. It’s fun and the characters are charming in their own way. But pulled together it’s just not.

Fae for Pay has so many great characters and good ideas. But a cohesive story and foundation is lost somewhere. It’s still a lot of fun and has the potential to spin off another romance for two characters in need of HEA.

Fun for lovers of the author and the series.

Cover art by Natasha Snow. I love the covers. Fabulous.

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️
The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️
Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️
The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 ❤️🔷
The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5
Never Darling by Sam Burns #6
Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 ❤️
Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 ❤️
Fae for Pay by Meghan Maslow #9
Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10
Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 ❤️
Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12
I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 ❤️

A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

Fae for Pay

Blurb

A hot AF wolf who could make me howl all night long. A persistent gold coin with dubious intentions. And a magical whammy no one saw coming.

Hello, gentle reader (or online stalker). My name is Teremie—yes, it’s a T, not a J, thanks for asking—Summers. Maybe you’ve seen me on Only Fae. I play the sexpot elf of your dreams.

Through a bizarre turn of events, I end up cast as an elf in an upcoming epic fantasy film—even though my acting skills are mainly of the “fae for pay” online variety.

My co-star is the once-cute-teen-star, turned smokin’ hot, all grown up, wolf-shifter Kade Savage. He’s gentle, honorable, and he doesn’t care about my past mistakes.

All great, right? Well . . .there are a couple of teensy tiny roadblocks to my happily-ever-after. See, wolves don’t date non-wolves. It’s a thing. And, oh, yeah, he’s straight. Which is fine. I’m perfectly okay with it. My track record is so poor that I might as well be running backward. So, it’s a little crush. What’s the harm?

But before long I catch him giving me big-bad-wolf eyes when he thinks I’m not looking. His low, growly voice makes my heart beat a little faster and sends tingles down my spine and on a one-way trip to my nether regions. Just when the UST between us is about to erupt, we end up in a fantasy scene so real it would make Peter Jackson jealous. What in the Lord of the Rings alternate dimension is this?! We have to rely on each other—and a contrary magical coin—to show us that “home” isn’t a place so much as where the heart is.

Fae for Pay is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love, and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

Publisher: Pun City Pantser (August 21, 2024)
Publication date: August 21, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 255 pages

Review: I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem (Fortune Favors the Fae story) by Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 4.5🌈

I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem is Jocelynn Drake’s funny, imaginative and quite magical story in the multi-Author Fortune Favors the Fae series. I enjoyed it on so many levels. The characters, the storyline, and all the various elements Drake threw together to make this an entertaining rousing adventure.

I can only imagine the enjoyment Drake had writing this story, one that has a certain online novelist, Adam Lockhart , with severe writers block, stumbling into his own unfinished story where none of his characters behave as they should, the plot is nothing like he intended, as everything’s going totally amuck from how he assumes the universe will be. Sort of like it might feel like in an author’s mind when working on an uncooperative project. Love this so much.

Adam’s been churning out a fantasy online series, Betrayal of the Elf Prince, with daily installments expected from his fans/paying readers. A trip to see friends is waylaid by finding a gold coin, yes, that one, and boom, Adam ends up in the town of Misty Pass, a place he’d created from his own unfinished novel. Ok, more to it than that but I’ll leave it to the book.

Of course he meets Nylian, a prince in disguise and distress. But it’s our Adam, the modern day human, we get more and more invested in. Adams who thinks he knows what will happen but watches with total bemusement and a great deal of befuddlement as the chaos continues on with his “plot” as he’s thrown into the lives of the people and world around him. Including Nylian a person he’s getting so close to.

It’s funny, exhilarating, real in the exploration of a new feelings and sexuality as well as the excitement in seeing all the different aspects of the world he’s found himself in. One he created but it’s so new too. The other characters are especially interesting and great in their own ways. The mercenary Adeline and her younger brother, Jasper, the wizard in training. Master Binx who I really needed more of, so adorable.

There’s adventure, magical goings on, dastardly characters and romance. And punny names!

If I had a quibble, it’s that the coin had a negligible role here. It’s assumed it’s good luck but as a major element it’s somewhat lacking.

But the characters, their journey and the potential for even more interesting tales is so strong, I highly recommend this book and Drake as an author for your auto list.

Cover art by Natasha Snow. I love the covers. Fabulous.

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1❤️
The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 ❤️
Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13❤️
The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 ❤️🔷
The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5
Never Darling by Sam Burns #6
Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 ❤️
Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 ❤️
Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9

Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10
Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 ❤️
Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12
I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 ❤️

A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem

Blurb:

Don’t Pick Up That Coin!

I was just an innocent author minding my own business. Until I found that coin…

The evil thing zapped me into the novel I was writing.

Now I’m dodging ogres, humans, elves, and a certain wizard-in-training with a proclivity for changing people into small harmless animals.

My only goal is to get home again, and the best way to do that is to get this book back on track. I must help the sexy exiled prince find his brother’s killer.

The only problem is that the prince keeps flirting with me rather than the women he’s supposed to be adding to the harem.

Wait! Flirting with me? That can’t be right.

Wait wait! Why did I call him sexy? Am I falling for the prince, too?

I Destroy the Elf Prince’s Harem is a stand-alone novel within the Fortune Favors the Fae collection and follows the adventures of one poor author as he stumbles his way through his own novel and just maybe falls in love with the hero. Along the way he will encounter elves, humans, ogres, a wizard-in-training who’s really bad at magic, jealousy, possessiveness, political intrigue, secrets, and a prince who has eyes for just one man. Unfortunately, that one man is as blind as a bat when it comes to love.

From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in the Fortune Favors the Fae series. Discover destiny and true love, and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure. Each book is a standalone and can be read in any order.

Publication date: August 22, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 377 pages

Review: Get A Fix (Torus Intercession Book 6) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 4.5🌈

Every reader has comfort reads and comfort authors. Mary Calmes is one of mine. She’s happily ever after. I know her heroes without even looking at her name on the cover. They’re highly competent in their abilities, gorgeous (whether they acknowledge it or not), full of warmth and kindness, especially for a certain inner circle of people. They shine.

And fall in love, usually deeply , quickly and forever. And Calmes makes a great story for their romantic journey to the point we believe in them.

They are fixers in a highly specialized agency, Torus Intercession, which has a unique and often powerful clientele. But the fixers themselves often have need of fixing as much as the people they are hired to work with. And the romance between them is quick, combustible, and as memorable as the men themselves.

I definitely have my favorites in the series. And while Get A Fix might not be quite at that level, I definitely enjoyed this story and the couple. It’s very close.

That’s due to Cooper Davis, the Torus fixer. I fell in love with him as he helped Ainsley Cushing, mom to big brood and having airport meltdown along with Gemma, 2, at the Bangor International Airport. Its there we got to know him, watch him interact with Gemma,2, fill a overwhelmed Ainsley about himself as he helps her get her stroller and get back together before meeting up with her husband coming in on the next flight.

There’s sequence after sequence of heartwarming moments, real and genuine in their ability to ground us in this character and the family we will get to know better.

Ashford Lennox appears at the wedding location, an Inn that’s not exactly what the bride or anyone else expects. Under construction, ghostly fog instead of photographic backdrop worthy snow covers the Bay and surrounding landscape, and the wedding party is a stressful affair. As you’d imagine. All beautifully written and executed.

I enjoyed Ash. This relationship, as new as it is, is understandable. They both realize it is a hard like and lust with amazing potential. They want to see where it goes. I think that’s a great foundation here. The chemistry is sizzling and they are a terrific team.

There’s other smaller elements I appreciated. I’m not sure if everyone will agree with me on this. The ex and how he was handled is one of those. I think he was very well done. Yes, he’s an appalling man. But even those people have a right not to be outed. For me, Calmes made calm thoughtful choices about him. I’m sure others wanted a more dramatic comeuppance.

The ending was a bit abrupt but I’m hopeful that we see more of them in the upcoming wedding.

For me, this was another winner in a series I really enjoy.

Torus Intercession:

No Quick Fix #1❤️

In A Fix #2 ❤️

Fix It Up #3 ❤️

The Fix Is In #4

The Big Fix #5

Get A Fix #6❤️

Buy link

Amazon

Blurb

Simply because your world collides with a shooting star doesn’t mean that’s a sign, does it?

Cooper Davis has a nice life he’s quite fond of. He has a wonderful family, good friends, and a job he excels at. As a fixer with Torus Intercession, he’s entrusted with the well-being of the people relying on his guidance. He is protector, guardian, but most of all, as his boss always says, everyone needs to be better off once he leaves. The issue is, when he’s asked to watch over the actor Ashford Lennox, he’s not sure that leaving is what he wants to do.

Ashford Lennox is a movie star on the rise. He has everything he’s ever wanted, except someone to love and call his own. He’s learned over the years that home is not a place but sharing a life with one special person you can count on. When he meets the man tasked with keeping him safe during a wedding, it’s like a lightning bolt. Suddenly he can see his whole future unfolding.

Being on the same page is an epiphany for both, now if they could just make it to the happily ever after without getting shot…

Book Details

Release Date: August, 20 2024
Word Count: 278
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

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