Demon Dating Service by Jocelynn Drake is a really cute paranormal romance. A graduate student in need of housing and romantic relationship advice gets both in the form of a âhauntedâ mansion thatâs home to a found family of demons.
Luke is in desperate need of a cheap place to rent when the crows he feeds drop a flyer advertising a room near campus thatâs the right price. Except heâs not aware that the landlords are demons playing a game of scare the human because they are bored.
This is an engaging out story with well defined characters, especially the demons which I really enjoyed. The joint journey they all take to acceptance, friendship and found family is marvelous.
The romantic relationship is less interesting as we donât get as much background on the other character or their time together.
For me, Luke and his demon found family made the story. Along with his best friend who deserves more time here.
Luke is a poor grad student, desperate for a cheap place to live.
Desperate enough even to live in a house full of demons.
(Anything is better than his last roommate.)
When the demons find itâs nearly impossible to scare Luke away, they decide on a new plan to amuse themselves.
Theyâre going to help Luke with his love life.
Can they really aid Lukeâs efforts to catch his college crush? Or are they headed for a disaster that neither heaven nor hell can fix?
Demon Dating Service is a fluffy, chaotic stand-alone novel about a sweet guy making friends with the misfits of the demon world, trying to survive grad school, and snagging the hottest guy on campus.
The second book in Mastersâ Elf Magic series, Enticing the Elf was a romantic joyride, a comedic urban fantasy journey of love. Thatâs a phrase Iâm sure those bros would appreciate!
This is DĂĄithĂ and Eoinâs story, characters weâve grown to love and appreciate throughout this series and stories from the Hidden Species universe. Itâs a couple that have been seeing each other, so no insta-love but realistic obstacles and struggles that they face that are keeping them from a committed relationship.
Immediately I like the story better than the first. The groundwork is there, the characters are well defined, and Mastersâ plot hilariously allows for many of our favorite characters to shine in supporting roles to bring DĂĄithĂ and Eoin to their HEA.
Itâs got comedy, romance, realistic relationship discussions and heartwarming moments. And bunnies!
Plus we get a setup for the next book and couple to watch for.
DĂĄithĂ and Eoin turn out to be #relationshipgoals. What a happy ending and fabulous story.
Thereâs nothing I want more than a life with him⌠but my past is the worldâs worst wingman.
For a big chunk of my life, I expected to die along with the rest of my species. Nobody thought weâd make it, and I did my best to live in the now and enjoy every second of precious life.
Now thatâs coming back to bite me in the ass.
Because the impossible happened, and we got our second chance. A safe home. A tomorrow worth planning for. And a future I want to spend with DĂĄithĂ.
Heâs amazingâsassy, clever, the kind of guy who can cut you down with one eyebrow and still make you laugh. Weâve known each other a long time, and convincing him to date me was one of the best wins of my long life. Convincing him to be my boyfriend? Thatâs a fight I might not win.
Because the reputation I earned when I was living life to the fullest has stuck, and DĂĄithĂâs convinced Iâm only in this for a good time, not a long time. Heâs protecting his heart from future damage by keeping things casual between us⌠even though theyâre not.
Shadow Throne King is the third novel in Kai Butlerâs Emperor’s Assassin series and I thought this is where the series would be wrapped up.
But thereâs more to come and Iâll be honest, Iâm struggling a bit here.
Butler has written about a complex political situation, with an equally strong layered world upon which the author made its foundation. Kingdoms at war, subtly and magically. Ice and fire, ancient blood magicians, and monstrosities abound.
And dragons as well as things that lurk in the dark.
Thatâs all pretty exciting. Love the ravens. And the characters are, individually, intriguing and given strong backgrounds.
Based on its elements alone, itâs a 4.5, as a series and story. Solidly crafted and executed so well that I really enjoyed it.
Especially that last section of dramatic fights and flight from the mountain. So excellent and moving. I was with those mountain badgers and their families every single step. And that song at that moment? Heartbreaking.
What Iâm struggling with? And shouldnât be is the relationship between the two main characters. I feel absolutely no connection with them. Individually yes. Together no.
I just donât find them credible as a pair. No real chemistry between them. And Kai Butler can write chemistry like crazy. Just read Butlerâs The Empty Throne Trilogy. But, at least for me, Iâm not feeling it here.
I enjoy Airon, the northern assassin/Prince Consort, although at times I feel that heâs not consistent enough in his character for me here. Heâs a trained assassin. Yet he doesnât know to trust his instincts here in the story? Particularly regarding a certain character whose actions are screaming donât trust me?
Things like that in a character and storyline just will take a reader right out of a narrative quickly. As it did me several times here.
For me, it just highlights that you can have all the âpretty things â like great world building and details but you need to get the actual substance, the core , the relationship right for a story to feel complete. And at book three itâs not happening.
But could be thatâs itâs just me. So for all the great execution of the plot and characters, 4 stars.
As the Imperium crumbles beneath our feet, will I be able to keep hold of Tallu?
The imperial generals who so loyally served Tallu’s monstrous father have declared war on us and fled the capital. The enemy nation of Krustau claims to have Empress Koque and Prince Hallu, the second son of Emperor Millu. If that is true, Krustau would have claim to the Imperium’s throne.
Unable to risk the possibility that Tallu’s brother could fall into the wrong hands, Tallu and I must confront a greater threat than either of us could dream of. Will Tallu’s secrets lead to our loss or will he finally trust me with the truth he can barely whisper in the dark?
Out Of A Fix brings an end to Mary Calmes wonderful Torus Intercession series with the last of the original fixers, 52 year old Nash Miller takes a job in a small town in Washington state where the family she left behind of a woman who is now in WITSEC program resides. Her brother is concerned their safety isnât a priority for the FBI and wants Torus to insure they are protected during this trial.
Seems simple enough. However, thatâs not the case that Nash finds out when he enters the town. The ex-husband is absent on a job site. The kids are in trouble and heâs desperately needed there as a fixer. On many levels.
Calmes quickly turns this last story into a heartbreaking then finally heartwarming tale of a family rescued . Which turns into an engaging emotional story about a family that has finds their hearts and home rebuilt into a new beginning, including their own fixer.
The children are so well written. They grab at the readers hearts just as they do Nashâs. Whetherâs Tatum, the youngest child or the oldest son, whose behavior has brought him into the worst possible situation, these are kids who are fragile and need help immediately. And get it.
The issues are slow to be revealed and are addressed as needed. This includes issues of the dadâs too. Luke Duchesne doesnât get an immediate pass on his behavior but thereâs also an effort made to understand and address it. And to do better.
Therapists have a prominent role here and thatâs a positive element of the story. For each of these characters have issues to overcome.
The plot moves forward swiftly, the romance is not always the center of the story but the forming of the family which folds in the newly created dynamic of Nash and Luke. That feels very realistic and seated in the story.
Itâs fantastic to see all the characters from the Agency and the couples reunite here at the end. We see where each of them are in their own lives and relationships as well.
This is just an outstanding sendoff to one of my favorite series.
Iâm highly recommending it and have starred my favorite stories below. Iâm sure we each have our own.
If you put a family back together, how can you ever leave them?
Through the years, Nash Miller has watched all his buddies fall in love and get married. It was romantic, and heâd wondered when he himself would find the one. Now, older, wiser, he realizes that what heâs always wantedâa husband and a familyâjust isnât in the cards for him. And thatâs all right. He has wonderful friends, a good life, and he gets to help people, which has always been his true calling. So when the time comes to protect a family in a tiny town in Washington State, heâs more than willing to get on his white horse and ride.
The family needs a bodyguard, but it goes beyond that. The mother abandoned them for a new life, and the father is absent, stuck on a work project he took on to keep his family afloat. What Nash finds are three kids in need of a fixer, and lucky for them, thatâs exactly what he does. Providing support and structure is second nature to him, and heâs on solid ground, confidentâŚuntil their father, Luke Duchesne, gets home. Heâs nothing like Nash assumed heâd be, and with each passing day, the lure of the man, and his great kids, gets harder to resist. But he canât stay there. Heâs a fixer, after all, and what theyâre all feeling is simply gratitude. Isnât itâŚ? Though when Luke kisses him, it starts to feel like so much more. Nash hopes heâll be able to explore a life with Lukeâhe just needs to make sure his own isnât cut short.
E.M. Leya writes the terrific Ghostly romance mystery series and this is the first in her new paranormal murder mystery series, Touched.
The main characters , located in the small town of Hidden Falls , WA, are Barrett Whitestone, 34, PD detective skeptic and Adam Wrecker , 32,a psychometric psychic. Thatâs someone who can , by touch, sense events and experiences from an object they have been given.
A missing girl brings the two men together and the cosy nature of the small town dynamics repeatedly makes repeated visits necessary in various ways.
One aspect of this story thatâs out of the usual box for this author is the graphic depiction of violent SA, torture and murder of the victim here. I suspect that, given the circumstances surrounding the psychic gift of Adam Wrecker that this will be a reoccurring issue.
I feel this series and story should have trigger warnings associated with it given those elements. FYI.
Leya is creating a new cozy mystery atmosphere for her series by introducing a full cast of townsfolk and shopkeepers, police officers included. Itâs a tiny town that counts on tourism. But most cozy mysteries donât have such raw material as part of their storylines.
Thereâs a sweet, slow burn romance between the two characters but countered by the graphic horror of the victimâs death.
For me, the other seems jarring here. I get that it helps authenticate Adam as a psychometric, but itâs out of âcharacter â for the rest of the narrative. If this was a harder type of story with characters who are hardcore, a romance with an edge , and darkness, then Iâd expect this aspect of the novel.
But with donuts, small towns communities dynamics and cozy spaces, along with the occasional slow burn sweet kisses, it other feels out of place.
Adam comes across as very believable in his gifts. The slow investigation of the culprits and frustrations of the small police force also seems real and credible.
A Touch of Murder is a good start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.
Officer Barret Whitestone loves the small town of Hidden Falls. After all, he grew up there. He takes his job of protecting the people seriously, and so when a case brings him to Touched, he’s sure he has just met the biggest fraud and charlatan in town. With a murder case to solve, he doesn’t have time to waste with someone he’s sure is taking advantage of a grieving family.
Adam is a psychometricâa person who has the rare ability to sense an object’s history through touch. But unlike most others with his gift, he can’t turn the ability off. He’s used to people not believing him, but when it comes to murder, he knows he can help identify a killer.
With pressure from the town, Barret humors Adam. At first, he’s convinced he’s wasting time and energy, but when what Adam tells him starts to match with the evidence, he can’t help but believe there may be something to Adam’s ability.
Forced to put their differences aside, the two slowly piece together what happened to a missing woman. Navigating through a confusing case while searching for evidence that can be used in court, they’re both determined to bring a killer to justice and learn to trust each other along the way.
The Sinnerâs Son is the second in the Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood series by Aimee Nicole Walker. Itâs a ongoing dramatic story about a couple who have traveled from their first encounter and police cases as police officers through the obstacles of a complicated process of their relationship and respective careers through the process of marriage and now fatherhood.
With any long history and multiple series like this, there is going to be books that will hit on every level and some that will fall short.
For me, The Sinnerâs Son fell a bit short. Too much of repetition in terms of certain aspects of the storyline. I felt like I anticipated the plot and villain. Especially since the overall mystery going through to the next book seems clear.
For me the best elements are those surrounding the impending birth, their emotional state about fatherhood, their friends and support.
The mystery feels less well developed than usual. Or maybe I just read too many mystery novels. And listen to too many crime podcasts.
Either way, I enjoyed the first novel more. And will look forward to reading Brokered Betrayals later this year.
Cover photo Š Wander Aguiar
Cover design Š Natasha Snow
Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood series:
The Paternity Puzzle #1
The Sinnerâs Son #2
Brokered Betrayals #3 – Dec 16, 2025
Preceding Necessary Locke and Key Series :
Zero Hour (3 books)
Sawyer and Royce: Matrimony and Mayhem (3 book series)
Can a sinnerâs son outrun his fatherâs shadow, or will darkness follow him everywhere and taint everything?
No oneâs life should be reduced to random items in an evidence box, only to collect dust for decades. Seeking justice for the forgotten will bring a temporary partner into Sawyerâs life who threatens his carefully curated peace. Alec Bishop, the son of a serial killer, arrives in Savannah with an audacious ego, an unwillingness to accept boundaries, and an overzealous fan club. Calling it quits isnât part of Sawyerâs character, but he might not have a choice when the circumstances surrounding the sinnerâs son take a dark twist.
Nature versus nurture? The age-old question forces Sawyer and Royce to reevaluate the relationships with their fathers, and it influences the parents they aspire to be now that the countdown to Baby Locke has begun.
The Sinnerâs Son is book two in the Felonies and Fatherhood trilogy, the third installment in the Royce Locke and Sawyer Key story arc. ** New readers should start with the Zero Hour and Matrimony and Mayhem trilogies before reading Felonies and Fatherhood. **The Sinnerâs Son continues Royce and Sawyerâs happily ever after as they move into the most anticipated phase of their lives. Though some storylines span the trilogy, this book does not end in a cliffhanger. Heat, humor, heart, and homicide abound. You have been warned.
How to Trust a Hellhound is the fourth book in the Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series by Shannon Mae. A terrific interconnected series with Maeâs preceding work with crossover characters, here weâre watching an adopted family of Hellhounds find their fated mates, often from a similarly small group of found family of humans friends, starting with a paranormal author next door.
The humans have, for the most part, damage and horror in their past or present lives, which meshes well with hellhounds intent on delivering justice and dark souls to the underworld.
How to Trust a Hellhound focuses on adoptive Hellhound father, Wilder, who has returned to his âboysâ and the town of Paradise Falls only to find someone who needs him.
Thatâs human Josh, close friends with Toby (the author and now hellhound mate). Itâs been obvious for several books that Josh has been in dire trouble, mostly due to his controlling boyfriend. But here Mae shows us exactly what Josh has been through. The emotional and physical abuse, and the damage it has caused.
This particular situation and how the characters, especially Josh and Wilder, as well as the various other characters, handled it, was well written. Multiple reactions, including shock. Anger, withdrawal. Everything reads realistic and painfully true.
Along with the development of Josh and Wilderâs relationship, which is slow, given the current situation, thereâs also the fact that Josh was unaware of the otherworldly beings around him. Hellhounds being number one. Thatâs was very funny.
The only aspect of this story I felt was underdeveloped or not as well explored was the big dramatic climax which sets up the next relationship and novel to come.
Thereâs no foundation for it. Any of it. You could say it was all meant to be a surprise but there should be some kind of narrative shoring up of the plot and aha moments but instead it feels muddled and confusing.
The author states that originally another couple was to have the next book but she changed her mind because these two were speaking up. I get that. But it feels rushed.
Especially since it looks to be a very intriguing relationship. Canât wait to see how that plays out.
Recommended!
Cover design by Morningstar Ashley
Hellhounds of Paradise Falls: (Paranormal Romance)
How to Flirt with a Hellhound
How to Hack a Hellhound
How to Tame a Hellhound
How to Trust a Hellhound
How NOT to Kill a Hellhound (Coming Soon)
Linked series:
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures: (Paranormal Romance)
Angels, demons, hellhounds, Nephilim, and a whole host of other non-mortalsâmy pack of adopted hellhound sons sure knows how to pick a place. And yet somehow, the most interesting one of all is the sad, quiet human whoâs become friends with the pack. Helping people heal and learn to trust is a specialty of mine, but I donât see Josh as someone to adoptâmy hellhound sees him as a mate. The problem? Josh doesnât believe in anything supernatural. Plus, thereâs the vicious and oddly hard to track ex-boyfriend, the meddling but strangely helpful sheriff, the delicate side project Iâm working on, and the immortal evil rich guy running around. As I said, my boys sure know how to pick a town.
Josh
Iâm the boring one. No imagination. No fun. In control. My ex-boyfriend taught me how to let loose and explore things, but then he changed⌠or maybe I just realized who he truly was. I want someone who cares for me, not someone who controls me, but I donât think Rick will let me go easily. Everyone is willing to help, though, including the handsome dad of my best friendâs boyfriend. My inappropriate feelings for him arenât helping matters, though. Not to mention that the more I hang out with everyone, the more my writer friend’s supernatural stories suddenly don’t seem so far-fetched. Something is strange about Paradise Falls, and I canât help but think that Wilder is more involved than he lets on.
Tags: Itâs always the quiet ones (wink, wink); Josh doesnât believe in hellhounds, but they believe in him; Wilder is just the hellhound to give Josh all the comfort and healing he needs; Helene is the best therapist for someone whoâs been wronged; the entire pack gets involved (of course) and chaos ensues; abusive ex-boyfriends always get whatâs coming to them; thereâs torture and death (but only of really bad people); hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them.
Stories from the small town of Fall Crosse and Four Bears Construction include:
Happy Birthday Honey (Cole and Ren)
Baby Goats (Stone and Dare)
Stone and Dareâs Wedding – ditto
Christmas Butt Plug. (Everett and Watson)
Tequila Wedding (Ollie and Daniel)
GOATS LIKE CAKE TOO – Four Bears Epilogue
Each one is exactly what the author says, a short scene from the coupleâs life. Cute or sexy or both. The stories are a terrific way to close out the series and say goodbye to these characters and their HEAâs.
If you love them and want to see more of their lives, this is just the thing for you.
Side characters are often everything. And they, when fantastically crafted as they are in this series, make such an impact that you canât help but wonder what happens to them afterwards. How did their characters go forward?
Author May supplies us with 5 short stories that focus on some of our favorites from this series and gives them their own HEA or something similar.
Did I have a favorite? No. I just adore each one. So totally satisfying and a wonderful reminder why I love and highly recommend this series so much.
Ever wonder if our favorite ancient vampire, Nirgal, found his happily ever after? What about our morally ambiguous fairy, Hamish McIntyre? How exactly did Warlock Vander Kines meet Georgiana and why did she leave her daughter, Byx, in his questionable care? What Scuttlebutts think and how Trinket views her tribe? What about the perfect gift for a pixie who already believes he has it all? Hopefully the following short stories answer those burning questions.
Lighting the Darkness
Older than memory, vampire Nirgal is often simply referred to as ancient one. Help from his new friends across the pond, along with a desperate home-and-hearth pixie, might finally give Nirgal his own HEA, Lighting the Darkness invading his soul.
Magicâs Sight
Vander is near his breaking point. Thankfully, Magic has a plan and sends aid in the form of a precocious brownie child named Byx and her mother, Georgianna. Will Magicâs Sight be the answer that saves Vanderâs life?
Philâs Gift
Dillon and Ruthie set out on a quest to find the best present ever. Deciding Philâs friends know him best, the children embark on their mission. Turns out dwarves, pixie best friends, fauns, and fairies have some interesting ideas regarding Philâs Gift.
A Scuttlebuttâs Loyalty
Trinket will do whatever it takes to keep her tribe safe, even if that means tearing Dusk apart to do so. Too bad it just so happens to be during Wendall and Rayâs bonding celebration. Party be damned, a Scuttlebuttâs Loyalty is too important.
Cherry Blossomâs and Fairy Blushes
Why is Hamish so distracted by the dryad who walked through his office door? Why canât Hamish seem to dismiss his new client, and why is he so concerned for his safety? More importantly, why is this dryadâs Cherry Blossoms causing his Fairy Blushes?
Perfectly Petite Shorts is a collection of five stories revolving around side characters from the Perfect Pixie Series. For optimum enjoyment, the previous books in the series should be read prior. Perfectly Petite Shorts contains questionable gifting ideas, protective scuttlebutt violence, magenta colored pixie dust, mischievously motivated sprites, trolls with questionable fashion sense, randomly sprouting cherry blossoms, and so much more.
While Iâm really enjoying this subset of paranormal fantasy novels in the Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery universe, this book doesnât have the same level of complexity and depth for all the main characters as previous stories. And that lack hurts my connection to the narrative.
K Sterling is a fantastic author. Her ability to weave together a coherent and compelling narrative is a huge factor in her success. She uses her unique background of investigations, murders then adds more layers of natural history, geography, multicultural history, and mythology to create a unique world and experiences.
This is where I recommend readers not to forget to include reading all Sterlingâs authorâs notes at the beginning of this book. On this being a love note to our parks and its Rangers, but also to their own complex, oppressive history with our indigenous people and communities over lands that were confiscated by the government.
And, thereâs a dictionary for those who want to know how to pronounce some of these Irish Gaelic words seen throughout the novel and series. Honestly, I loved this.
Now to the pluses and minuses of the book.
The plot is excellent but almost too removed from actual action and its deep roots in a nefarious bargain. We should have seen more of that. And perhaps less sex, more detailed work on a real relationship.
Itâs framed in that the Oracle has seen that an innocent, a Park Ranger in the Shenandoahâs, will be in danger from a demon.
Thatâs more than enough for the crew of Demi Sun god MacIlwraith, Nelson, Merlin, the two hellhounds and their mates to make the trip to investigate and save him. This group is always a great source for the story and dialogue. And we see Nox MacIlwraithâs powers growing.
However, thing is , the main story revolves around the Ranger, Niall, and the demon, Cenn, aka Lord Smoak. Of the two, we get one fascinating character and one bland one dimensional character. Guess who is the one note person? Niall the human.
Heâs got a great background story, but that not well represented in his actual personality. The dark damage he fled from wouldnât be the same as someone who really just comes across as an introvert from a conservative background. Itâs not believable as written.
Who is on point is Cenn, the demon Lord Smoak. First of all demons, arguably murderous, arrogant, dark and complex. And flexible in his ways and character to show the ability to make choices and changes as he sees fit.
Silas, a Sheriff and new character has the next book in the series and itâs already an interesting one from the small excerpt included here.
This left one aspect of Cenn and Niallâs relationship open as well as what happened to the first villain, an ongoing conflict.
So my take on Dead Air: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K. Sterling is that itâs interesting but doesnât hold up well next to the preceding stories.
Read it as a bridge between the books, for the new characters and to see how the group is evolving. Nox especially.
Exquisite covers.
Cover art by @KillerLaurent
Moon Mysteries 1 – 3 (first series)
Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries sequel series)
He hid in the woods to escape a monster but found a demon in his bed.
Six years ago, rising political star Niall Gilpatrick was living a lie. A fearless and vocal activist, he hid that he was himself a victim. After a brush with death, Niall ran, starting over as a park ranger in the Shenandoah Mountains.
But now, strange dreams and an impossibly dashing biologist have upended his tranquil existence.
And that was the point.
An ancient Irish demon, Chance Curn was sent to tempt this surprisingly wholesome mortal into selling his soul.
Heâs haunting Niallâs dreams and playing with his heart, but it is Chance who finds himself in a dangerous trap.
Since when did demons have feelings?
Now, Chance has to decide if heâs willing to risk it all for a mortal and Niall must face his fears to trust a demon with his heart and his life. Can they save each other or will they become dead air?
Dead Air is a paranormal MM romance set in the mountains of rural Virginia. Thereâs Celtic mythology, an evil plot to foil, and an isolated cabin where no one can hear you scream. Dead Air is set in the world of Nelson & MacIlwraith, but can be read as a standalone.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 