Category: M/M Supernatural Fiction

Review:  Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

Rating: 5⭐️

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs has been described as a terrific novel written in as several short stories. I absolutely agree and I loved it. 

The premise of the stories centers around an ancient werewolf, Asil, one who lost his beloved mate in a long past traumatic event that has continued to haunt him.  His current pack mates in Montana have decided to take him on a series of 5 blind dates, via various dating apps, at Christmas time, to pull him out of his increasingly violent behavior and depression. 

He’s even a Muslim who doesn’t celebrate Christmas as Asil will often remind his friends. So each short story is one of Asil’s dates. It begins with a open email, or text, that starts with 

Dear Asil. It then outlines the date, the app they choose from, the parameters of the date and sign it Merry Christmas, Your Concerned Friends .

The dates have a huge range from floral arrangements to kitties to ghostbusters and more. But that doesn’t even touch the surface of what the author has in store for Asil and the reader. 

It’s actually startling complex, often horrifying, well written and beautifully played out, with each story constantly evolving and reflecting back into Asil’s life. 

By the time we reach the end tale, the pieces are falling into place, the drama is charged full of suspense and chaos, and that epilogue is so satisfying and heartwarming that I read it twice. 

This is why Patricia Briggs is a highly recommended author. Grab up this new book and enjoy!

Contents:

Asil’s first date:

“Unappreciated Gifts”

Asil’s Second Date:

 “Must Love Cats: Aftermath”

Asil’s Third Date:

“Asil and the Not-Date”

Asil’s Fourth Date:

“Dating Terrors”

Asil’s Fifth Date:

“Scheherazade”

“Epilogue”

Except from 

“Alpha and Omega” by Patricia Briggs

Cover illustration Daniel dos Santos Cover and endpapers designed by Judith Lagerman

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › shop › dealsBlind Date With A Werewolf

Blurb 

When the deadly werewolf Asil is gifted five blind dates by some anonymous “friends,” his reclusive life will never be the same, in this enthralling novel in stories from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series.

Includes two all-new stories as well as three previously published stories.

Dear Asil:

We are worried about you. A werewolf alone is a sad thing, especially at Christmastime. So we have a challenge for you: five dates in three weeks. We have taken the work out of it and connected you with five people from online dating sites. You should also know that we have informed the whole pack and instigated a betting pool. Have fun!

Sincerely,

Your Concerned Friends

  • Publisher: Ace
  • Publication date: October 21, 2025
  • Language: English

Review: The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Magical Bounty Hunter’s Guild) by Jileen Dolbeare 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Quite a few of Jileen Dolbeare’s inhabit the same universe so I’m not sure yet if this goes for this series. But it’s not necessarily required to be absolutely invested into this character and her journey and growth as a magical bounty hunter. 

From starving, homeless thief on to the run , albeit with a magical companion, to a trained respected bounty is a great storyline and character. 

Especially her tough beginnings. We really emphasize with her. It’s an emotional, scary start. 

At only 126 pages, we have a lot of background that still needs developing and main characters, aside from Astrid, who also require additional history. I feel that’s coming in the first book. 

What The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf successfully does is make the reader want that next book, the next step in Astrid’s journey now! 

Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait until next year. But I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for the release. 

Until then? Pick up the prequel and get ready for the next  urban fantasy series that looks to be a winner.

The Magical Bounty Hunter’s Guild:

  • The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf prequel #0.5
  • The Bounty Hunter and the Assassin  # 1 – September 5, 2026

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure …

Blurb 

Before she was a bounty hunter, she was the hunted.

It’s been three months since I ended up on the streets of Anchorage with nothing but the clothes on my back and Teekon, my spirit animal, for company. Once upon a time, I had dreams. Now, I’d settle for a hot meal and somewhere warm that doesn’t come with a side of rats.

I steal to survive, but I’m spectacularly bad at it. Hunger makes you reckless. Stupid. Desperate. My stomach was loud, and I ignored my whispering instincts that told me using magic to steal was a bad idea.

Naturally, I got caught.

Now the Magical Enforcement Agency has my scent, and they’ve sent a grizzled bounty hunter to drag my sorry ass in. Because rule one of the magical underground? Don’t flash your power in front of humans. Whoops.

I’ve got two options: trust a stranger with a badge and a scowl, or end up dead, or worse. And life has taught me there is always a worse.

Teekon says this bounty hunter could be our chance at something better. I reckon he’s just another predator in a world full of them.

But when your life’s on the line, you don’t get the luxury of easy choices.

One mistake landed me here. One choice might set me free.

  • Publisher: Ice Raven Publications
  • Publication date: September 26, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 126 pages

Review:  Review: Echoed Defiance (Jacky Leon Book 4) by K. N. Banet 

Rating: 4.5⭐️ 

Well written but extremely frustrating, Echoed Defiance brings another facet of Jackie Leon’s former life into focus.  In this case, her prior human history. 

Banet’s characterizations are so compelling and excellent that the reader is often confused between thinking of them as real people rather than fictional beings. Jackie’s former family, especially her twin, which is a huge surprise, are incredibly irritating, entitled, and often ones we want gone. 

Paranormals: 1 Humans: 0

And in a truly remarkable bit of plotting and long term series narrative flow, what we see occur here, the events , context, and conversations have enormous implications for Jackie later in the series. 

Yes, I’m at book 11. It just gets better and better. 

Each book, the events and minute details, no matter how subtle or seemingly random, are adding up to an overall complex rich and devious plot. 

I’m so in love. This is an automatic reread. 

If shifters, mythology, science, gods, compelling characters and long term planning with plots are your thing, grab the series up. 

Funny, heartbreaking, and just glorious. Also violent and deadly. FYI. 

So so highly recommended.

The Jacky Leon Series- not complete:

Oath Sworn #1

Family and Honor #2

Broken Loyalty #3

Echoed Defiance #4

Shades of Hate #5

Royal Pawn #6

Rogue Alpha #7

Bitter Discord #8

Secrets and Ruin #9

Scarred Resolve #10

War Games #11

Cruel Revenge #12

Volume One: Books 1-3

Related Series in the same universe:

The Kaliya Sahni Series 

Bounty 

Snared 

Monsters 

Reborn 

Legends 

Destiny 

Volume One: Books 1-3 

The Everly Abbott Series 

Servant of the Blood 

Blood of the Wicked 

Tainted Blood 

Tribunal Archives Stories – Jackie’s family’s stories 

Ancient and Immortal (Call of Magic Anthology) 

Hearts at War

Buy link

 Book 4 of 12: Jacky Leon 

Blurb 

My duty to my family is simple. Help maintain order and uphold the Law for my werecat father, Hasan, a member of the Tribunal.

But I’ve always had a defiant streak.

To do what’s right, I’m willing to throw the Law out the window and turn my back on everything I’ve been told. Everyone around me knows I’m willing to risk everything for what I believe in. All I can hope is that my beliefs and the Law don’t clash again.

Because I have another duty. A duty to blood. A duty to the bond between those who once shared a face and a life.

My name is Jacky Leon and my twin has found her way back into my life. My echo, strangely similar and yet different, Gwen is a piece of me that I tried to leave behind.

And it seems defiance runs in the family.

  • Publication date: September 15, 2020
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 384 pages
  • Book 4 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review:  Bramble Burn (The Convergence Book 1) by Autumn Dawn

Rating: 3✨

Autumn Dawn and her series, The Convergence, starting with Bramble Burn, was a top recommendation on a fantasy list so I picked it up based on similar themes and recommendations. 

What I found both delighted and disappointed me in terms of character development and plot design. 

Let’s start with the positive aspects of this story. Which are primarily related to the design and detail of Bramble Burn Park itself. 

The premise is that at some point in time our world and that of the Fae Underhill world merged, violently. From the geological landscape to actual buildings, there was an explosion of activity as physical changes, actual melding or melting of structures, happened, leaving our world forever changed. 

One mage leaves her family and farm to go buy a cheap abandoned city park from the mayor and officials, the Bramble Burn Park. A park so dangerous, so overrun, and inhabited by unknown creatures that evolved from the merge that no one enters in. One she intends to remake and make her own. 

That gorgeous, mystical cover is the tree home that tree mage, Juniper, first makes in the forest. And mysterious, eerie, Bramble Burn, with all its distinctive features, wilding areas, and imaginative creatures, is a highlight of the story. 

Too bad the author leaves it behind and tosses it away for another storyline altogether. Anyway, the park and Juniper’s resolve to make it her own, is the best part of the story. 

This includes her magic and the obstacles that come as she slowly builds up the frame around the park. And her living structures made from trees. 

The author really does an excellent job in making this park as intriguing, horrifying, and beautifully alive right from the beginning. And Juniper as well. From her perspective, she’s revealed to be increasingly powerful, someone who chooses to be alone in her woods, territorial and masterful in her pursuit of her goals. 

That’s where the author had me. Until she didn’t. 

The not so great aspects of the story. 

The romantic aspects of the book and the relationships. 

Bring on the dragons and werewolves. 

Spoilers ahead.

The plot turns from Juniper needing to make Bramble Burn hers within a time frame to dragon father, dragon sister, bratty brother who might be dangerous, and a human, enabling suffocating mother full of flags. 

It gets so much worse. 

Author Autumn Dawn reveals that Juniper is a “fertile female “ half dragon, therefore she is a catch or highly regarded female for both werewolves and dragons for her abilities to breed. 

Her werewolf, blink and he’s in love with her and asserting his mate bond over her, to a newly arrived dragon, both thrilled with Juniper’s fertility.

At this point I’m wondering what happened to the character I was reading at the beginning of the story. That strong woman is reduced to a breeder, complaining about a brother who is attacking her ( mom is excusing him) and complies with accepting the werewolf because he’s nice. 

There’s a strange new plot that introduces a bunch of characters that has nothing to do with the original story. Takes them away from the park. The author decides to immediately wrap up what was originally a complex issue, leaving huge threads unexplained or just left out. 

Juniper, the powerful tree mage who wanted to just work with her Forrest now ends up mated, marriages, with twins. 

What? 

So once again, I’m floored that an author went totally south with her character, world and plot development.  

It was if she decided halfway to change everything but without any notice, explanation , or foundation. 

So I’m not proceeding with either author or the series. 

Cool cover though. 

COVER DESIGN: Autumn Dawn 

The Convergence:

Bramble Burn #1

And a bunch more books each with a different character apparently. 

Buy link

 Book 1 of 7: Convergence 

Blurb 

It’s been thirty years since the Convergence, when the dimensions aligned and combined Earth and the world of Gwyllon, known in human mythology as “Underhill”. Elven castles and ancient ruins sprouted on vacant lots and merged with existing buildings, twisting into new structures. Roads and rail systems reformed, and after the rioting, starvation and death, agriculture sorted itself and food began to flow. A new government formed of elves and men arose, a society of human tech and elven magic. Cell phones and frost giants, race cars and elven steeds, dungeons and dragons…

And everywhere, monsters.

Tree mage Juniper was twenty-three, a child of the new generation. When she found a source of magic buried in an abandoned park, she made a deal with the city. If she can stabilize the park’s wild magic, she’ll own it…if she can survive. Now she has to clear out magic spawned monsters, deal with a werewolf suitor and survive her bloodthirsty dragon uncle. She’s going to have to dig deep to subdue Bramble Burn Park.

Hot but sweet romance. Does not contain explicit sex scenes.

[Amazon notes it’s similar to the Kate Daniels series. No. Absolutely not. Amazon needs to stop making comparisons. ]

  • Publication date: April 30, 2015
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 299 pages
  • Book 1 of 7: Convergence

Review: Go Fetch (Magnus Pack Book 2) by Shelly Laurenston 

Rating: 4⭐️

Another entertaining read in Laurenston’s Magnus Pack series. Go Fetch features Miki, the hacker/bar owner bestie of wolfshifter Sara. Sara now lives in California with her Alpha mate. But Miki has unresolved issues with Conall Víga-Feilan , who knew he was hooked as soon as he laid eyes on his Alpha’s best friend, the pint-sized Miki Kendrick in Texas. 

Their chemistry and dynamics are hilariously different from the previous couple but it’s so good that it keeps the reader happy and invested in their relationship. 

The drama and ongoing storyline of pack issues is not well defined or given enough foundation here. It seems to carry over into the third book. But there’s little framework for this intense plot and species plotting. 

Had the author laid out a trilogy wide storyline that encapsulated this arc and events this would have been a more compelling and well grounded series and novel. 

It’s still highly entertaining and recommended.Just wishful thinking on my part. 

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design.

Magnus Pack: 

  • Pack Challenge 
  • Go Fetch 
  • Here Kitty, Kitty 
  • “Miss Congeniality” in When He Was Bad anthology

Buy link

        Go Fetch (Magnus Pack Book 2)

    

Blurb 

How much trouble can one small female be to a modern-day shapeshifting Viking? Well…it really depends on local gun laws.

Conall Víga-Feilan, direct descendent of Viking shifters, never thought he’d meet a female strong enough to be his mate. He especially didn’t think a short, viper-tongued human would ever fit the bill. But Miki Kendrick isn’t some average human. With an IQ off the charts and a special skill with weapons of all kinds, Miki brings the big blond pooch to his knees—and keeps him there.

Miki’s way too smart to ever believe in love and she knows a guy like Conall could only want one thing from her. But with the Pack’s enemies on her tail and a few days stuck alone with the one man who makes her absolutely wild, Miki is about to discover how persistent one Viking wolf can be.

  • Publisher: Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
  • Publication date: July 11, 2016
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 243 pages
  • Book 2 of 3: Magnus Pack

Review : Pack Challenge (Magnus Pack #1) by Shelly Laurenston

Rating: 4⭐️

I’m continuing my journey through Shelly Laurenston’s catalog and started in on the Magnus Pack trilogy as it’s focused on three closely knit girlfriends. Each has her own story, only one of which is a shifter but there are shifters in each connected story. 

Things to consider first. These are sexy, sexy tough women and the stories are full of scenes that flow accordingly. If you’re looking for sweet content, you might want to look elsewhere. 

Considering my favorite series is Laurenston’s honey badger series I really enjoyed it. IYKYK.

The first character and girlfriend is a heavily scarred, damaged, pain-filled woman, Sara Morrighan. With scars across her face and a limp from a badly damaged leg when she and her dad were attacked by mountain lions and she was left for dead. 

Sara, along with her best friends, Miki Kendric and Angelina Santiago, keep an eye out for each other, keeping each other safe and supporting them. Especially Sara, raised by a crazy grandmother and has an employer/surrogate father, Marrec, owner of a local motorcycle shop. 

But the small Texas town has secrets. Sara’s life is about to change, she’s getting aggressive and her leg is still full of pain. 

Then a group of people on motorcycles rides into town. Zack, one of them, shows an immediate reaction to Sara. One that’s returned.

This is a very good fast paced story about someone who doesn’t know what she is. And is about to find out the hard way.   There’s shifter battles, tons of great sex scenes and wonderful chemistry between characters that makes the instant lust realistic. 

The three women are hilarious together. The sisterhood is alive and well and relatable here. We absolutely believe these women grew up together and know each other inside and out.  The dialogue is amazing. 

Some world building feels under explored as does the shifter universe here. But on the individual level, it’s exciting and sexy storytelling. 

A definite winner. 

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design.

Magnus Pack: 

  • Pack Challenge 
  • Go Fetch 
  • Here Kitty, Kitty 
  • “Miss Congeniality” in When He Was Bad anthology

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Magnus Pack 

Blurb 

What’s an Alpha Male to do when he meets the Alpha Female of his dreams? Step one, hide all sharp objects. 

All Zach Sheridan ever wanted was to become Alpha Male of his Pack and to be left alone. What he definitely didn’t need in his life was some needy female demanding his attention. What he never saw coming was the vicious, scarred female who not only demanded his attention but knew exactly how to get it.

Sara Morrighan knew this was the best she could expect from her life. Good friends. A nice place to live. And a safe job. But when Zach rode into her small Texas town with his motorcycle club, Sara knew she wanted more. She knew she wanted him. But after one sexy encounter with her dream biker, everything is starting to change. Her body. Her strength. That new thing she’s doing with the snarling. Even her best friends are starting to wonder what’s going on with her.

But this is only the beginning. Sara’s about to find out her life was meant for so much more. And Zach’s about to find true love with the one woman who makes him absolutely insane.

Review:  Family and Honor (Jacky Leon, #2) by K. N. Banet 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Family and Honor (Jacky Leon, #2) by K. N. Banet is another example of the second book in the series moving forward with character development, overall depth of series foundation and plot structure in such an exciting and fast paced way.

I honestly loved it better than the first for many reasons. Banet brings Jackie back into her territory, her home base where she’s comfortable. So we see a different aspect of the character. Right before the author begins to shake Jackie’s base and hard won stability up again. 

An impulsive contract made because, once again the human child Carey is involved, will be the one thing that will pry open the solid isolation from werecat politics that Jackie’s maintained. 

And ends up bringing her back into contact with her werecat family. 

Banet has written a complicated, high paced, multi layered book. It has murder mysteries to investigate, multiple paranormal species involved, travel outside of Jackie’s territory, and further exploration into her family dynamics and history. 

A real exciting, emotional thriller! Another late night finish! Just fantastic! Highly recommended! 

The Jacky Leon Series :

Oath Sworn 

Family and Honor 

Broken Loyalty 

Echoed Defiance 

Shades of Hate 

Royal Pawn 

Rogue Alpha 

Bitter Discord 

Volume One: Books 1-3

Buy link

 Book 2 of 12: Jacky Leon 

Blurb 

I got away with it. Carey and her family are safe and I survived to tell the tale. Now I’m the only werecat in the supernatural community that can say a small family of werewolves lives in my borders. But, in the effort of saving Carey and helping her father, I had to begin shedding the secrets that kept me safe for years.

My identity is out there now. As one of Hasan’s children, more is expected of me and I had no idea what sort of repercussions would come from my decisions. Werecats are reporting problems all over the world and when two go missing, I can’t avoid the feeling of guilt.

My name is Jacky Leon and I am a child of Hasan, ruler of the werecats. I have to learn how to live up to the obligations and expectations of my family before more people die.

My honor demands it.

  • Publication date: November 15, 2019
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 402 pages
  • Book 2 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review: Oath Sworn (Jacky Leon Book 1) by K. N. Banet 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I’m reading a lot of strong women main character centric content, mostly urban fantasy and paranormal stories.  Luckily there’s so much out there to explore from a multitude of writers as it’s a very popular genre, something I’m very excited about. 

Oath Sworn, the beginning of the Jacky Leon series by K. N. Banet, is a strong start into the series, and really great take on this popular trope. 

Banet is a new to me writer, and I’m unfamiliar with The Tribunal universe that this series takes place in. However, I don’t think that not having read other books from other series impacts on my experience here. The world building is slowly layered in as the events occur, giving them a solid foundation and putting the political and governmental system in place as needed. 

What or should I say who really does it for me here is the main character, Jackie Leon. She’s a werecat. In this story one on a mission to recover a human child stolen out of her care by a werewolf gang. She’s tracked them down and is bent on retrieving the child, which means violating The Tribunal Laws. 

It’s a terrific story with lots of storytelling and plot lines to develop and carry through to completion. It introduces Jackie, some of her origin story (part of which is an ongoing mystery). Her troubled dynamic with her werecat father, and current life. Then the father of the human child, Carey Everson , stolen from her. He’s the current Werewolf Alpha, and wolves and the werecats are vicious enemies historically. 

There’s so many emotional undercurrents and unresolved conflicts between the species, so tensions are high, constantly threatening the tentatively established peace and process needed to search for Carey amidst rising enemies.

The story is extremely well written. The action is fast paced and often emotionally charged. 

Each species is well defined and there no romantic relationship. But a hint of what might be developed in the future. 

I liked that Banet wrapped up this story completely so we start fresh in the next book. 

Cover artist isn’t credited.

Highly recommended. 

The Jacky Leon Series :

Oath Sworn 

Family and Honor 

Broken Loyalty 

Echoed Defiance 

Shades of Hate 

Royal Pawn 

Rogue Alpha 

Bitter Discord 

Volume One: Books 1-3

Buy link

 Book 1 of 12: Jacky Leon 

Blurb 

I’ve never been the type to find trouble. Owning a bar takes work and that was all I wanted. Serving cold beers and paying my taxes. Those were the responsibilities I wanted for the rest of my life.

I didn’t ask to be a werecat. I didn’t ask for the responsibility to uphold an ancient treaty. I didn’t ask to get pulled into the middle of a werewolf pack’s coup.

But Carey Everson, the very human daughter of a werewolf Alpha, needs me. Her father’s enemies are on her heels and I’m her last defense. And I’ll be that defense until my final breath, even if it means challenging the very Laws that govern the supernatural. I gave her my word.

My name is Jacky Leon and nothing is going to stop me from honoring my word.

The Jacky Leon series is an Urban Fantasy series with a slow-burn romance.

  • Publication date: July 15, 2019
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 354 pages
  • Book 1 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review:  Mystic Justice (The Other Detective Series Book 2) by Heather G Harris

Rating: 5⭐️

I loved Veiled Justice, the first book in this series but feel that this excellent story far exceeds my expectations for the second novel and character development. 

Krieg, King of the Orcs and Detective Stacy and her companion caladrius, Loki are back in action in a fantastic new story. Stacy and Krieg are further along in their new relationship. They are getting to know each other, their history as Krieg continues to make himself a part of Stacy’s life, professional and personal. 

This is happening, framed around several brutal murders. Each rawly heartbreaking that’s so realistically relayed by the followed investigative scenes to the next of kin. 

Writing that shows it doesn’t have to be current fiction or fantasy for losses and brutality to hit hard. 

This type of storytelling continues throughout this book. 

As all involved, Stacy and her team, race to uncover the killer before another is kidnapped, the suspense is ratcheted up and the tension is heightened. 

Towards the end, we see exactly the toll this case has taken on Casey, and a hidden part of her story is partially revealed. 

There is also something going on with Loki that’s subtly disturbing.  I don’t believe it was part of this storyline. So now I can’t wait for the next book to come. 

Harris has a fantastic series here that’s complicated and getting better with each new story.  

This might be my favorite series in a multi-series universe. 

Highly recommend this and dive into this universe if you’re not familiar with it already.  I’ve listed the reading order below. 

Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.

The Other Realm Universe: Should be read in order to understand the world and characters .Events and relationships build upon each other.

The Other Realm series 

⭐️Glimmer of Dragons- Book 0.5 (a prequel story), 

Glimmer of The Other- Book 1, Glimmer of Hope- Book 2, 

Glimmer of Christmas – Book 2.5 (a Christmas tale), 

Glimmer of Death – Book 3, 

Glimmer of Deception – Book 4, 

*It is recommended that you read The Other Wolf books 1 to 3 before continuing with

Challenge of the Court– Book 5, 

Betrayal of the Court– Book 6

 Revival of the Court– Book 7. 

⭐️The Other Wolf Series 

Defender of The Pack– Book 0.5 (a prequel story), 

Protection of the Pack– Book 1, Guardians of the Pack– Book 2, Saviour of The Pack– Book 3, Awakening of the Pack – Book 4, Resurgence of the Pack – Book 5; and Ascension of the Pack – Book 6. 

⭐️The Other Witch Series 

Rune of the Witch – Book 0.5 (a prequel story), 

Hex of the Witch– Book 1, 

Coven of the Witch;– Book 2,

Familiar of the Witch– Book 3; and Destiny of the Witch – Book 4.

⭐️The Other Detective Series❤️

  •  Frustrated Justice – Book 0.5 (a prequel story), 
  • Veiled Justice – Book 1
  • Mystic Justice – Book 2
  • Arcane Justice – Book 3 – Dec 26,2025
  • Brutal Justice – Book 4 TBD

Buy link

        Mystic Justice: A Supernatural Crime Thriller (The Other Detective Series Book 2)

    

Blurb 

A drowned dryad. Ritual markings. A killer who isn’t finished.

They pulled her from the lake – young, beautiful, and very, very dead. As Chester’s only magical Detective Inspector, I get the cases the Common police can’t handle, and this one has Other Realm written all over it.

When the medical examiner discovers runes carved into the corpse’s bones, I know we’re in for a bumpy ride. Elemental runes. First victim drowned. My gut says there’s more coming, and my gut is rarely wrong.

Then a centaur drops out of the sky, literally, and my theory’s confirmed. The only link between the victims? Botany, a vampire-owned bar that serves the magical and the mundane… and never seems short of trouble.

I’ve got a new unit at my back, Unit 13, and we’re still figuring out how to work together. Add Krieg, the King of Ogres – deadly, smart, and far too good at getting under my skin – and things get complicated fast.

With a killer on the loose and the clock ticking, we’ll have to move quickly… or the next body that drops may well be one of ours.

Immerse yourself in The Other Detective Series – perfect for fans of supernatural crime, complete with a fierce heroine, gritty murder investigations, and a slow-burn romance.

Written in British English.

The Other Detective Series

Frustrated Justice, a prequel story,

Veiled Justice – Book 1

Mystic Justice – Book 2

Arcane Justice – Book 3

Brutal Justice – Book 4

  • Publisher: Hellhound Press Limited
  • Publication date: October 2, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 264 pages
  • Book 2 of 3: The Other Detective Series

Review: My Kind of Town by Shelly Laurenston 

Rating: 3.5⭐️

My Kind of Town by Shelly Laurenston  is a paranormal shifter romance that was previously written for and published in another anthology. I didn’t read that one. And it was the cover and the author’s fantastic honey badger series that drew me here.

I liked this but found that it’s the promise of its elements for future books the most intriguing. The main couple is engaging if not fully explored. 

Thats primarily the issue with this story. Great ideas, an interesting storyline with fascinating magical characters and elements but none of those are really explained or given any meaningful foundation here. A coven with their powerful dark magic and found family ? Absolutely to know more. 

A dying coven with different powers and magical abilities? Ok, so what happened to them? 

The story offers up more questions than answers about the characters and never answers the original story plot about what brought Emma Luchessi, the Long Island witch down to the southern town of Smithville. 

That gets forgotten totally. 

So yes, I enjoyed it. Saw so much promise, and hope that the author ventures back to Smithville to finish what this story begins. 

Pretty much instant sex, instant lust, well, you get it. 

Cover design by Cynthia Lucas.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comMy Kind of Town eBook : Laurenston, Shelly: Kindle Store

Blurb

Emma Luchessi may be a witch from Long Island but she is used to her life being quiet. Some may even say boring. She doesn’t mind boring. Boring is safe. Calm. Peaceful. Like beige. One doesn’t get into trouble with beige. But a wrong turn off a southern highway is about to turn Emma’s beige life into everything but boring.

Kyle Treharne’s a good ol’ boy with a sheriff’s badge and a difficult population to manage. He wishes he had to worry about gangs and drugs and car-jackings. Instead, he has to worry about big cats fighting with wolves, bears fighting over honey, and hyenas fighting with everyone. And now, out of nowhere, he’s got a human outsider riling up all the locals by asking too many questions. She’s just so paranoid. And doesn’t trust Kyle a lick. These city gals. They just don’t know how to relax, do they?

Of course, Kyle is a big cat. He knows how to relax and he’d be more than willing to help Emma learn how. He’d be willing to help Emma do all sorts of things if she’d just give him half a chance. 

But it turns out Emma coming to Smithville isn’t a simple accident. She’s been brought here and she’s bringing change and danger right along with her. Lucky for Emma, Kyle and the rest of the town like a bit of danger…

This story was previously available in the Sun, Sand and Sex anthology.

  • Publisher: Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
  • Publication date: April 26, 2020
  • Edition: 2nd
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 122 pages