Silent Knight was totally charming. Low angst, sweet, and huge on holiday spirit. It should make everyoneâs holiday seasonal reading list.
Simon Russell has been a staple in these stories for a while. But what type of being or who he exactly is has never been stated. Heâs always been the sunny guy who hangs around the receptionist desk, or goes off to handle whatever requests have been handed out by the Manorâs guests or itâs Owners. Heâs a good natured, gorgeous guy.
As the Manor gets ready for its holiday season, it also prepares for the arrival of its latest employee, Snow leopard shifter,Archer Knight.
Archer was part of the Guardians seen briefly in Grin and Bear it. Now Archerâs been forcibly retired from the Guardians due to physical disabilities caused on the job. Heâs been hired by the Maddox siblings to work security at the Manor.
Archer is one of the great characters in this series. A magical attack left him without the ability to verbally communicate and with a heavily scarred visage. Archer communicates with ASL. His background is not a happy one and is best left to the story.
Having his fated mate be Simon Russell , who comes from a large, loving family is perfect. And makes for a romantic relationship youâre going to love to read about.
The reveal about Simonâs true nature is part of their mating bond. One more terrific element.
Silent Knight, a reference to the mute Guardian Archer once was is a lovely book about finding love and family when you least expect it.
Blackhaven Manor is a series of short romances that keeps surprising me with the wonderful stories and great couples.
Iâm highly recommending you look into the series if youâre not familiar with them already.
Being part siren isnât exactly a secret, but itâs not something Simon Russel likes to advertise, either. Heâs not ashamed of who he is or anything so dramatic as that. But people tend to treat him differently once they realize he can manipulate their emotions. Just once, he wishes someone could see him and not the demon within.
Enter Archer Knight, a former Enforcer and the newest guard at Blackhaven Manor.
Forced into retirement after a poorly executed mission leaves him damaged and disfigured, Archer figures he has a right to be a little bitter. With his scarred face and surly attitude, heâs not going to win any popularity contests, which suits him just fine, or so he tells himself.
Until he meets Simon.
Mix one not-so-chance encounter, a heap of holiday cheer, and a dash of misguided but well-meaning intentions in this recipe for Christmas magic. Season with love and serve with a side of awkward family get-togethers.
Beth Boldenâs new book, Playing for Keeps, is the first in her new Miami Piranhas series about a fake Miami, Florida NFL football team thatâs scrambling to come together. New coach and coach teams. And a slew of incoming new players to mesh with the ones already there.
One of those new players is one of the NFLâs legendary players, Sebastian Howard. Howardâs reign as one of the NFLâs outstanding corners is coming to an end as age has caught up with him.
But his agent and the coaches at the Piranhas have gotten him to Miami to talk about playing there.
But thereâs a catch. He needs to play safety.
Beau Dawson, assistant coach and son to legendary head Coach Asa Dawson, sees a bright future ahead with the struggling Piranhas. But it includes convincing Howard, a brilliant player, to switch positions.
Playing for Keeps has multiple storylines. All important and all balanced beautifully to maintain our connections to each character, their evolving relationship, and to the team thatâs trying to find an identity.
Itâs also about family dynamics, juggling how they determine oneâs journey in life, and the manner in which each still goes forward.
Itâs a lot to pack in but Bolden does so without making this feel dense or heavy.
It was only at the very beginning where Sebastian Howardâs complaining veered towards non-stop whining that it almost lost me. Yes, I got that he was the GOAT at corner. But after a while I wanted his agent to give him a reality smack.
Luckily, it and Sebastian turned a corner and things smoothed out , sort of. Boldenâs run at a struggling NFL team feels believable. Down two, they arenât functioning as a team. Having several of the people looking at answers feels about right.
The dynamics and talks among players on the queer spectrum? Also real. Putting out the pros and cons, the issues theyâve faced and those to come seems about right. As is the question about coming out while continuing to play. Thatâs a pertinent question thatâs on the mind of many a closeted queer athlete because of toxic environments they play in.
While this is a low angst romance, itâs not without its drama and obstacles that each person raises to the possibility of a relationship. I liked how each man handled it in turn.
The romance between Sebastian and Beau is sexy, believable, and makes for great reading.
Bolden gets the football elements right, from exciting action on the field to tense drama inside the team. Great stuff.
Iâm eagerly awaiting the next installment. Until then, Iâm highly recommending Playing for Keeps (Piranhas #1) by Beth Bolden.
Sebastian Howard is the best damn cornerback in the NFL.
Or at least he was.
Age and injuries have taken a toll, and while most people have written him off, Sebastian isnât ready to acknowledge that at only thirty-two, heâs already in the twilight of his career.
He signs with the Miami Piranhas intending to prove everyone wrong.
Only to realize that the head coachâs son, out-and-proud Beau Dawson, doesnât believe he can.
Beau is infuriating but brilliant, and when he offers to help him on the field, Sebastian wants to say yes, but thereâs one thing stopping him: the unexpected, inconvenient, and all-consuming crush he doesnât want to have on Beau.
But Beau isnât interested in playing it safe, with football or with anything else, and soon theyâre embroiled in a hotâand secretâaffair that would finish Sebastianâs career if Coach Dawson found out.
As Sebastian falls harder for Beau, he begins to realize that actually the worst thing in the world isnât getting benched, but losing the man he loves.
A combination of adorable cover, new author, and fun title lead me to How To Summon a Boyfriend by Aja Foxx . It was everything I had hoped for.
Foxx actually had me at the idea of someone summoning a potential fake boyfriend but throw in the moniker Herby for the cute guy in need ? Iâm all in.
A two person POV, we get a wide-eyed Herby who definitely sees things through a uniquely wonderful âHerbyâ perspective as well as a bored Hades, whoâs role as the Ruler of the Underworld had gotten a tad tedious. Itâs Herby whoâs arrival shakes things up fundamentally.
The characters are well done, the dialogue snappy and the plot extremely well paced.
Thereâs so many terrific secondary characters from Lionid, to Abigor, Cerberus, and other figures of mythology.
I wish there was a bit more about Herbyâs family, and those books. But itâs shorter length works against that.
Iâm still so happy to have read this book. It was entertaining, a fun romance, with an exciting storyline.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Iâm recommending How To Summon a Boyfriend by Aja Foxx !
Herby I needed a boyfriend to keep my father from marrying me off to a man handpicked by him. What better way to get one than to summon a demon? When I found a book of shadows in my grandfather’s attic, I knew I’d found the answer, but something went wrong. Instead of summoning a demon, I ended up in hell. What was I supposed to do now?
Hades Judging souls was boring. Ruling the underworld was boring. Everything was boring. I needed something to happen to keep me from going insane. I never imagined the fates would answer my unspoken prayer by dropping a human into the underworld, and I’d certainly never met a human quite like Herby. He confused me, amused me, and drove me crazy. Why else would I agree to be his boyfriend?
Note: This story was originally part of the Fate’s Call Anthology – Manlove Edition. It has been revised and extended by 21,000 words.
Warning: Gay erotic romance. The material in this book contains explicit sexual content that is intended for mature audiences only. All characters involved are adults capable of consent, are over the age of eighteen, and are willing participants.
As a book I really ended up looking at it at two different ways once I completed it.
First letâs talk about Royal Lines as a contemporary romance. As a love story, it soars. The men are throughly seated in their prospective cultures and personal histories.
Marquis Miller is completely grounded in his Detroit family and city. His father and uncle, the Miller twin brothers , now in bad health, have worked their entire lives to bring their families, their business into the international company it is now and Marquis is itâs expected heir to head it after hockey. However, this is all about Marquisâ appreciation for his family and the City, black history, and his awareness of his familyâs company abilities in promoting diversity. Marquis is a great character. Charismatic with depth.
Prince Kaleb, young son to a Royal family in mourning , is also well defined. Heâs also grounded by a family in turmoil, a recent death of a not so loved Royal consort, necessary Royal marriages, unnecessary marriages, media intrusion, a moldering castle, and a Queen mother whoâs in need of a son to handle everything as the heir seems unwilling or unable to do so at the moment. A family overwhelmed by circumstances yet always in the public eye. Thereâs no way not to feel for him. And when both men collide over a construction bid to replace the broken plumbing in said castle? You feel the sparks down to your toes!
This love story is stumbling hot! Marquis and Kaleb trying not to have an affair, discussing faulty pipes, and all they want is to bounce into the nearest Royal bed! Incendiary!
Thereâs various subplots about the other Royal siblings, also emotional messes, that get nicely tied up.
While this is a lust/love at first sight, it absolutely works. You buy into it completely because the way these characters are crafted, their personalities, you can totally see it happening.
As a love story, including the HEA ending? Itâs a 5!
Now to the other part. Is this a hockey story? Um , in my opinion, no.
With the exception of a charity game thatâs basically there to bring in Dunny for the next book, hockey isnât here at all.
Boston isnât mentioned. The team the Rebels are non existent except as a line where Marquis says he finished out his contract in the Epilogue. Nothing.
Marquis mentions that heâs a player for the team once. Thatâs the extent of it.
Iâm sort of perplexed about a series called Boston Rebels when the last several books the teamâs a ghost. And the story is more about what happens to players or ex players after theyâve left the team.
When you think about such wonderful series as Harrisburg Railers or Arizona Raptors or even the Owatonna U Hockey series, Cayuga Cougars series, those are absolutely about the team, ice on ice action, team dynamics, as well as players and their lives.
Here in this series, Boston Rebels barely exists. It serves only loosely as a something to tie these men together. Not a solid framework.
This pattern looks to continue with Dunny in the next story. Unfortunately it heâs seems he will have a life changing event. Read no hockey. Or , as Iâm guessing, no Rebels.
So not sure why the team even continues to be even a element here.
These stories are excellent on their own. They can certainly be standalone novels. As a love story itâs amazing.
As a hockey romance? Not so much as thatâs the element thatâs almost totally missing.
Iâm definitely recommending it. Loved the characters and the story.
The rest was just me wondering about the series. Take it for what itâs worth.
Theyâre setting fire to the sheets, but a romance between an out and proud hockey star and a closeted playboy prince could end up burning them both.
Marquis Miller might be one of the NHLâs best players, single, wealthy, and open about his sexuality, but he knows his future lies in taking over the reins of the familyâs multimillion-dollar company after retirement. Jumping on the family jet, he heads to Europe, tasked with schmoozing a prince into accepting his companyâs bid on a significant castle renovation. Assuming heâd be faced with a dusty old monarch well into his dotage, Marquis is stunned to find out that Kaleb is a young, sophisticated, beautiful man with an impressive work ethic, to-die-for eyes, and a certain flair that captures Marquisâs attention.
Dragging the royal palace into the twenty-first century is one battle after another for the Kingâs youngest son. Juggling renovations, his royal duties, and attempting to reverse his former playboy prince reputation is impossible when no one seems to want to give Kaleb a chance. His chaotic life takes yet another turn when an American hockey player arrives at the castle to discuss a renovation project. Marquis is the antithesis of Kalebâs newly minted, responsible outlook on life, a jock, a player, willing to take chances. Although the forbidden sex is hot, Kaleb is not ready to turn on his family responsibilities for a pretty smile and a smart mouth.
For both men, family is everything, and romance will always come in second until they open their hearts to love.
Amy Aislinâs Lighthouse Bay is one of those lovely contemporary romance series thatâs continues to resonate with me. Itâs the gorgeous setting of Lighthouse Bay, with its small town community, with its variety of people, from itâs Mayor to itâs Main Street of stores ,whoâs owners weâve gotten to know well through the novels.
Weâve loved the townâs heartwarming displays at the Christmas season and watched, as they planned, built, and then marched down Main Street for the parades! Aislin has made us feel a part of these people and their community.
Weâre there as they work through their personal issues, cry out and get support and love when facing a health crisis, and when they decide to trust and find true love again.
These are gentle, emotionally adult novels where the people are remarkable in their love for their town, friends and family, and the often slow to romances.
Often a balm to the heart with the gentle love stories, the men here in Sweet to the Core, Dev Stone of Devâs Bakery, and Clark Ricci, wildlife biologist, with a little ghostly intervention, get their own story and HEA. Itâs that favorite friends to lovers trope.
Dev and Clark have been a part of the previous books as everyone is connected through friendship and family relationships. Dev has had an enduring crush on his older cousinâs best friend for decades. Now in his thirties, Dev has no reason to expect their friendship to change anytime soon.
A two person POV, we have a front seat to the resigned state of Devâs affections for Clark, the dreams heâs letting go of, and the way heâs pushing himself at the Bakery. Dev is a believable young man whoâs falling into a pattern he soon wonât know how to get out of.
Clark Ricci, is a man who loves his job, but with his friends settling down, starts to get the uneasy feeling heâs missing something.
It takes his fatherâs very real, financial issues to launch a change for all of them. With some ghostly assistance that points the way to the Annual Sweet to the Core Apple baking contest.
Aislinâs beautifully layered characters, a community with its shops in all stages of financial growth, and a group of citizens that have come to feel like family, full of believable life situations, relationships that require communication and emotional depth, and lots of love, fill Sweet to the Core .
Itâs a terrific way for this trilogy to end, however much Iâd like it to continue. Or at least end on another Christmas novel.
Iâm highly recommending this and all the books of Lighthouse Bay. They are lovely, heartwarming contemporary romances.
Dev has pined for his cousin’s best friend for years, but no matter how hard he wishes, Clark sees him as nothing but a friend. And it’s as a friend that Clark comes to him for help.
Clarkâs father is on the brink of losing his house and the fastest way to make a quick buck is to win the $10,000 prize in the inaugural Sweet to the Core apple baking contest. Only problem? He’s never baked anything that hasnât come out of a box.
But Dev has. As a baker, heâs Clarkâs best chance.
For the first time, Dev has something Clark wants. Only problem? Dev needs the prize for himself. The only thing he wantsâbesides Clarkâis to buy the local lighthouse where he last spent time with his parents before they died.
Working together means opening a lot more than a barrel of apples, though. They may have found the recipe to love.
But will Dev have to give up the only connection he has left to his parents in order to have it? Or will Clark let his father down? They can’t both have everything.
Jodi Payne and B.A. Tortugaâs Lone Star series is back with a second chance at love story between former young sweethearts who meet up ages later just when the timing might be right for them to get their HEA.
A longer story, Roped In has the necessary history and time that allows businessman, Jude Sharpe , to reconnect with his former love, rodeo champion , Rope Canutt, just as heâs getting ready to retire.
Jude, a widower and single father to 7-year old Silas, is a man who loves his son, enjoys his job, but is missing that love he shared with his husband who died of cancer. Jude is a well-rounded character, easy to recognize, and connect with. A good man and great father.
And Silas is a utter joy to meet and read about. Especially as he changes, committing totally to the ranch and life in Texas. His goats, his chickens. Adorable.
Rope Canutt is not one of those rodeo cowboys whoâs dreading retirement. Instead, Rope has listened to his body, all the injuries and steel plate in his head, and recognized that itâs time to get out while at the top. Itâs his last tour for his sponsors and to finish in the money.
Itâs a portrait of a smart man , seasoned by years on the tour and the pain of old injuries. Itâs a great character and he meshed well with his old flame , Jude.
The walks in the neighborhood in NYC, the visits in the kitchen. Itâs a real pleasure watching the men get reacquainted with each otherâs lives, seeing the sparks fly, and Rope start to love Silas.
The dramatic moments here are more about instances that happen in daily life. The huge decisions those that couples make when they decide they will make a future together.
The story, the romance, the family, they are all very realistic and wonderful.
Itâs a perfect ending. And those that have come to love these cozy romances as well as readers who love contemporary love stories will throughly enjoy this.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but sometimes distance makes people drift apart.
Rope Canutt has announced his retirement from bull riding and is making the most of his final year on the circuit, riding the big shows and resting in between so he can finish the season on a high note. He isnât sure whatâs next for him. He has no plan yet and nowhere to go, especially since his family sold their ranch a few years back.
Jude Sharpe remembers Rope fondly from their younger days in Austin. Mostly he remembers how hot the rodeo cowboy was and how much fun they had hooking up every time their paths crossed. That was a long time ago, and Judeâs been married and lost his husband to cancer in the years since theyâve seen each other. Now heâs raising a son alone.
When bull riding comes to New York City, Judeâs consulting firm uses their private box to entertain clients from Houston, and Jude brings his son Silas along to see the show. Rope is riding and Jude hopes to introduce Silas to a real bull rider. Theyâve each lived a whole lifetime apart, and Jude and Rope arenât sure how much they have in common anymore. So will they be drawn to each other when their paths cross again?
The books in this series are standalones and can be read in any order.
The Finding Home, The Complete Series, is a splendid collection. I love being able to read one story right after the other of the men of Chi an Mor, House by the Sea.
The first novel is my favorite of the collection. Thatâs
đčOz.
It hit all my buttons, as far as a contemporary romance, and itâs everything Iâve come to expect from a Lily Morton story. Itâs alternatively hilarious, so believably authentic that you feel youâre actually seeing the places and people moving through the events as they unfold, smelling the lavender, feeling the salty winds drifting through the warm fields and gardens of the golden stoned manor.
So sure everything exists because they feel so real and grounded for you.
Oz Gallagher and Silas Ashworth , the Earl of Ashworth, are absolute perfection. Oz, small, fierce Irish born Londoner, with his firsts in Art History but a common background that will always insure no reputable firm will hire him, is that quick witted, smart mouthed soul . Heâs instantly someone you love. An affair that deepens, page by page.
Itâs helped along by Ozâs instantaneous connection with Chewwy, a mournful Italian Spinione , who becomes his shadow, to our delight.
Silas, the Earl and local vet, is just as warm and charming as Oz, but in a totally different way. Heâs, posh but without the snobbery. Heâs Cornish, where the land and house have as deep a hold onto him as for it to be cellular. He loves his land, his people, and , everything about Silas telegraphs that immense connection through Mortonâs wonderful descriptions and thoughtful dialogue.
Theirs is a slow paced romance, working through each otherâs issues to arrive at a wonderful HEA and heartwarming epilogue.
Thereâs so many outstanding secondary characters, many of whom we will see again in other stories, including those in this collection.
5đ
đčMilo is next. This is a more somber story as it deals with issues such as domestic abuse and itâs lasting effects upon the person who suffered.
Milo Ramsey had a stutter , caused by a childhood accident, that also made him a target for bullying. This story addresses that as well. The Milo we met in Ozâs novel is one thatâs had some time to recover.
This story gives us the Milo we hadnât met yet, the trauma he endured, and the journey he took to recover and recognize the characteristics of the man he loves arenât like the one who abused him.
Itâs one of self-discovery, forgiveness, and bravery.
Thereâs a age difference between Milo and Niall. Miloâs romance with Niall Fawcett, estate manager to the Earl of Ashworth, that is.
But itâs a wonderful romance, and thoughtful story, working through all the serious issues thatâs being discussed here, and what that means for Milo, first and their future.
Very satisfying. 4.75.
đčGideon is last.
Gideon Ramsey is Miloâs older brother, close friend to Niall and Silas. They grew up together at a nearby house, close to Chi an Mor. But where Milo was kept close to home, Gideon, like Silas and Niall , was shipped off to boarding school.
Gideon became a famous actor. Hiding the fact that he was âgay â on the advice of his toxic agent. The fast lifestyle caught up with him in his late 30âs, drugs, sex, alcohol. Until it almost kills him with a bout of bronchitis.
Enter Milo and Niall, with an intervention of sorts. A cruise and a nurse to transport him to Chi an Mor where heâll recuperate.
Eli Jones is believable as the nurse and engaging. Gideon is acerbic , dryly funny, and charming. The cruise is a great way to have them get to know each other before they land and Eli is off to another job.
I felt there could have been more in the section with Gideonâs agent. That happened abruptly. The cottage visit was lovely.
I liked this story but the other two were clear favorites. The epilogue, however, was splendid! I could picture that so easily. What a grand way to send them off.
4.5đ
All in all just an amazing collection of stories. I wish Chi an Mor was real and I could pay to visit. Iâd be on the next plane out.
One small note just because it bothers me. Of the 3 covers. The one for Oz? Has absolutely no connection to any main character . Oz? Tiny sharp faced black haired blues eyes Irish man. Silas? Tall, black haired, blade like nose Cornishman.
The bestselling Finding Home series is now available in one collection. Set in Cornwall, the series follows a group of friends as they each find love with a lot of heat and humour along the way.
Oz Gallagher does not do relationships well. Bored and jobless after another disastrous hook up, he decides to leave London for a temporary job in the wilds of Cornwall. Surely managing a stately home on a country estate will be easier than navigating the detritus of his relationships at home.
However, when he gets there, he finds a house in danger of crumbling to the ground and a man who is completely unlike anyone heâs ever met. An earl belonging to a family whose roots go back hundreds of years. Silas is the living embodiment of duty and sacrifice. Two things that Oz has never wanted. Heâs also warm and funny and he draws Oz to him like a magnet.
Will falling in love be enough to make Oz stop moving at last and realise that heâs finally home?
Milo has been burying himself at Chi an Mor, hiding from the wreckage of his once promising career and running from a bad relationship that destroyed what little confidence he had. Niall, his big brotherâs best friend, has been there for him that entire time. An arrogant and funny man, Niall couldnât be any more different from the shy and occasionally stuttering Milo, which has never stopped Milo from crushing wildly on the man who saved him.
However, just as Milo makes the decision to move on from his hopeless crush, he and Niall are thrown into close contact, and for the first time ever Niall seems to be returning his interest. But it can never work. How can it when Milo always needs rescuing?
Content warning: There are descriptions of domestic abuse in this book.
Gideon has everything he should want in life. Fame, money, acting awards â he has it all. Everything but honesty. At the advice of his agent, Gideon has concealed his sexuality for years. But itâs starting to get harder to hide, and his increasingly wild behaviour is threatening to destroy his career.
Then heâs laid low by a serious illness and into his life comes Eli Jones. Eli is everything that Gideon canât understand. Heâs sunny tempered, friendly, and optimistic. Even worse, heâs unaffected by grumpiness and sarcasm, which forms ninety percent of Gideonâs body weight. As Gideon gets to know the other man, he finds himself wildly attracted to his lazy smiles and warm, scruffy charm that seem to fill a hole inside Gideon thatâs been empty for a long time.
Will he give in to this incomprehensible attraction when it could mean the end of everything that heâs worked for?
Unraveling The Threads of Fate by Alice Winters is an excellently written, highly suspenseful tale that contains a lot of moments of extreme anxiety and dread. It stretches over the all events that should be happening to the people in the universe here.
I say should because a major element is that one character, Alex Coleman, school teacher, has a gift. He can see invisible threads stretching from person to person. Red threads ties a person to their soulmate. But the black threads he also sees ties them to the one who will kill them. Itâs a talent heâs had his entire life and one heâs hidden.
In this universe, those with special gifts are tested and tracked, starting at a early age. But Alexâs abusive childhood with a destitute drug dealer allowed him to evade it.
Bishop King, scion to a wealthy businessman, once was the only friend Alex had growing up, until a horrific event drove them apart.
Bishop too has a special talent. He can walk in peopleâs dreams. But in Alexâs dreams, heâs got the power to do more, see more.
When they meet again, at Career Day at Alexâs school, they set off a set of events that have a rippling effect for a multitude of characters as Alex and Bishop fight to find and change their fates, pulled along by the threads Alex is seeing.
Winters, in her inimitable manner, with wry, sarcastic, haunting, and heartbreaking dialogue and scenes gives us a scary and thrilling tale of fate altered at breakneck pace, a murderer on the loose, and two find trying to outwit both a murderer and plot they canât understand, and deal with a abusive past that threatens them.
With alternating flashbacks that are chilling in their cruelty and ability to deliver the blows that continues to be felt in the future, and a present where dreams are nightmares of blood, black threads, and death, that the author manages to bring romance and fun into this is amazing.
All the characters are fantastic. It includes Alexâs sister, Cali, who he raised. Her friends. Even the adults the surround them, good and bad.
Itâs a vile and fascinating mixture.
But watching them trying to figure out how to change the date of each person and event, itâs thrilling and scary and heart racing.
Alex Some people are born lucky. Then thereâs me, destined to be loved by the man who knows my darkest secret. My gift has followed me my entire lifeâthe ability to see the threads of fate. I can see the red thread tying together two people destined to love one another. But my gift has another side to it. A darker side. I can also see a simple black thread tied to the fingers of those who arenât aware of it, connecting them to the person destined to kill them. And when I look down at my own finger, I can see the red thread stretched over to Bishop King. The man who is my soul mate.
But then why is the black thread also wrapped around our fingers? Bishop is sweet and caring, and I canât stop my heart from loving him. I just need to thwart fate before it separates us forever.
Bishop I swore to never let myself be drawn back into Alexâs world, but the man is funny and charming and the moment weâre together I fall back into the familiarity we shared as teenagers. I know this time is different; heâs hoping that I can help him walk through his dreams to figure out how an innocent girl is going to die.
While his dreams tell of the future, mine allow us to find the truth. But what happens when we save a life and change fateâwill it affect our own future? I canât keep myself from falling for Alex, but what if helping him leaves one of us dead?
Unraveling the Threads of Fate is a standalone romance with action, mystery, humor, and a happy ending.
It almost hurt to write this review because it wasnât the one I was really expecting to write. I have loved this series since Rachel Reid began it. And a diehard fan of Shane and Ilya since they premiered in Heated Rivalry, a favorite novel among many here.
So like so many readers and fans of both author and Game Changer , Iâve been eagerly anticipating the series finale and the novel which would bring some closure to the 11 years long closeted romance of Shane and Ilya.
What I didnât expect was that I felt the first 25 percent of the book, perhaps more , was such a slog, that I came close to putting it down completely.
The characters I had connected with were missing. Chemistry gone. Shane was the one I had the most issues with. Self involved, complaining, non communicative. Other than sex, I couldnât see what Ilya saw in him. The relationship and dynamics from Heated Rivalry had dimmed and the sparks doused.
I couldnât believe this was it.
It wasnât until the halfway mark, when dramatically the narrative picked up, and their relationship became energized once more that I was invested in their lives, romance, and the story.
There had been serious elements introduced. Depression, family history, suicide. But it was one-sided narratively speaking. And it served to only connect us to Ilya and his shaky emotional status. Leaving Shane in a removed story bubble, away from the relationship and the feelings connecting us to Ilya.
The emotional ties only reached back out after the story was halfway through.
Then we got safely back on established familiar relationship ground. One we recognized from Heated Rivalry, but with personal growth accounted for.
Shame it took that long because the remainder of the story was excellent. It wove plot threads from Role Model into the storyline here, making terrific use of those characters and elements.
Reid also found the missing humor, to intersperse with the serious issues of LGBTQIA+ athletes acceptance in sports, outing, and, the stress of being a pro athlete on relationships.
The last section of The Long Game was everything Iâd hoped for and wanted for this couple. It turned into the perfect way to send them off.
I just wish it had happened sooner. That the book was a complete Gordie Howe Hat Trick instead of a one goal win.
But Iâll take it. Iâm sorry to see the series end. Just as I am to see the end of every hockey season.
Iâll look forward to the next Rachel Reid with the same enthusiasm as the start of the new season and run for the Stanley Cup as well.
If youâre a lover of hockey romance, contemporary romance, and the works of Rachel Reid, this series is for you. Iâm highly recommending it.
Game Changers Book 1: Game Changer Book 2: Heated Rivalry Book 3: Tough Guy Book 4: Common Goal Book 5: Role Model Book 6: The Long Game
The sequel is finally here! Shane and Ilyaâs story, first seen in Heated Rivalry, continues in this long-awaited hockey romance from Rachel Reid.
“Everything you could want from this magnetic couple! A passionate, sexy, emotional sequel that grips your heart! Shane and Ilya forever!” â#1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely, author of Hopelessly Bromantic
To the world they are rivals, but to each other they are everything.
Ten years.
Thatâs how long Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other. How long theyâve been keeping their relationship a secret. From friends, from familyâŠfrom the league. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything?
Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationshipâŠIlya wants it all.
Itâs time for them to decide whatâs most importantâhockey or love.
ââOkay, I understand.â âGood. I take my leave now.â âThanks for coming.â âI will always come when you ask. Iâll see you soon.â âYes, you will see me soon.â The cat disappears into a slight mist.â
â The Witch’s Power Play (Covens of Eaton Falls Book 2) by Mia Monroe
Thereâs just so much I want to like about this series and story. Monroe is pulling together a interesting history of interwoven supernatural mating and wars, of inter-species bonding and Gods intervention.
All so fascinating that I really want to know where the author is taking the series.
But to navigate through the process of untangling the story threads, a reader must decide whatâs their tolerance for characters whose dialogue is either so stilted or so overblown as to take a reader away from the story.
Leo and, here, Presley, the witches, are constantly âgiggling â. That word is ever present. They had their heads together, giggling. He giggled. They giggled. Nonstop giggling. They also twirl, and just have personalities that, frankly, swing from varying degrees of maturity.
The vampires verbiage is oddly both a combination of something that supposedly sounds âold â while also trying for hip. If you know what I mean. A strange unwieldy thing that doesnât work.
Plus they go around carrying their witches as though they were young women from a bodice ripper.
The characters themselves have real promise. Presley and Beto? Great dynamics and background. But you need to basically put them on mute after a while because itâs just to much. Thereâs a nice element of D/s here that is unexpected. But also a eye roll bit with the color pink . So for every one good thing that gets included, thereâs bound to be another thatâs zany.
Thereâs also a villain called The Beautiful One.
So. I breezed through this. Next time , if I continue, Iâll have to find a way to mitigate the dialogue and words that seem to populate like bunnies.
In the meantime, for those of you who adore this author, Iâm sure youâll have read it or itâs on your TBR list. It does have some really interesting themes going forward.
Want to know how itâs going? Check it out!
Covens of Eaton Falls:
đčNever Trust a Guy With Fangs #1
đčThe Witchâs Power Play #2
đčVampireâs Make Bad Roommates #3 -July 14,2022
đčCosmic Spells and Vampire Lairs #4 – January 11, 2023
đčA Traitor Shows His Hand #5 – March 9, 2023
Note: didnât that last title seem a bit spoilery? So now we know the traitor is a guy. Wouldnât it have made more sense to have said A Traitor Shows Their Hand? Hmmmm?
How to tame a vampire isnât in any of my spell books.
My life changed forever the night my coven was attacked. I was scared and alone until my bestie Leo showed up. I trust him with my life. Good thing since he dragged me to the home of a notorious vampire. Even worse, another equally terrifying vampire is in charge of keeping an eye on me.
I did my best to comply and keep my distance from the stoic, domineering man who I shared a room with. I may have tried to flirt with him a couple times, a totally dumb move considering vampires arenât exactly fans of witches. It didnât work anyway. Once I was able to get away from him and back to the safety of my coven, I hightailed it out of there. I thought I would quickly forget him. I was wrong.
When we reunite, Beto letâs a surprising secret slip, leading me to make a decision that we both might regret. Who am I to deny a man his need to submit? Will Beto decide to trust me with his desires? Can I learn to keep a vampire in check? Donât know, but Iâm up for the challenge. If the war doesnât tear us apart first.
The Witchâs Power Play is an MM paranormal romance featuring a subby vampire who just wants to be good for someone, a sassy witch embracing his toppy side, a supernatural war causing havoc, a bunch of really annoying demons who show up at the worst time, and so much pining (at first). It is book two in the Covens of Eaton Falls series. Each book features a different couple with an ongoing conflict and therefore should be read in order.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 