Review: Fractured Souls (Fallen Messengers #1) by Ava Marie Salinger

Rating: 4.25 🌈

Fractured Souls is the first book I’ve read by author Ava Marie Salinger but it definitely won’t be the last, if for no other reason that Fractured Souls is the first in a series.

But after reading this imaginative and gripping fantasy story (non-stop btw), I’m ready to rush headlong into the second round and more in this universe and series.

Salinger starts us off in a world where a cataclysmic event has already occurred hundreds of years ago. Then a tear in the void between worlds saw demons, angels and a host of otherly beings from all Realms fall to Earth. After much warring a peace was brokered and all species co-exist, tentatively side by side.

That’s the interesting basis that the author then starts really building her edifice upon. Salinger does so through her strong characters as they navigate her incredibly dark and complicated storyline, which includes murder, sacrifices, humor, action, surprise revelations, and just plain great plotting.

Much like her universe, we get a basic understanding of who her characters are and then the author proceeds to show us that’s just a mere outline she’s using to create something astonishing. Not just for one major character but for many as the revelations, small and large, stumble out .

What’s more remarkable is that not only is the reader highly surprised by each change or new element with regard to the characters but the characters themselves are shocked!

Yes The Fall wiped out most memories of past existence for those who survived it. Talk about a great concept! So both the readers and characters find out the new details about themselves at the same time. Love it.

Salinger has so many great details here to go along with a heinous murder spree. A series arc that’s delicious , devious, and dangerous in its own right. And characters that are just memorable in every way.

If I have a issue here it’s with the language or descriptions. While Salinger’s plots are stellar, the writing sometimes gets a little less tidy. Some characters get the same words used to describe them repeatedly.

Poor Adrianne. She comes to mind the most.

Adrianne said dully.

Adrianne said leadenly. (She does this a lot)

Adrianne snarled.

There’s also a lot of “muscles jumping in cheeks’ of both sexes when upset. Including Adrianne’s. It’s as though the author knew she didn’t want her characters muscles to “tick” so they “jump”. Often, sometimes in the same paragraph. SMH. Anyway.

The plot kept my interest glued as the pace is fast and the events occurring are action packed. Had that not been the case, verbiage like those examples above would soon drag your attention out of the storyline.

Luckily, a great concept and enough mystery keeps your mind centered on the characters.

Here there’s no demons versus angels but all factions actually work together. More or less, power struggles not withstanding. Nice change that.

Cassius Black and Morgan King are perfect for each other. And their chemistry grows along with their complicated relationship.

All the support characters are equally strong and have the potential for more growth in the future. They make up a great team, one you connect with and invest yourself emotionally in.

I’m heading now quickly over to book 2 in the Fallen Messengers series. That would be Spellbound.

I’ll let you all know what I find. This was an terrific , exciting, sexy fantasy novel. And a great start and introduction to a new author and universe.

I can’t wait for my journey to continue with both.

Definitely recommended.

Fallen Messenger series:

Unbound #0.5

Fractured Souls #1

Spellbound #2

Edge Lines #3

Oathbreaker #4

Synopsis:

Humans are dying in San Francisco. The most shunned angel on Earth may very well hold the key as to why…

When Cassius Black moves to San Francisco for a fresh start, the angel’s hopes of staying below the radar of the supernatural organizations that oversee the otherworldly and magic users in the city are dashed when he stumbles across a dead body in the sewers. His grim discovery soon puts him in the sight of the Argonaut Agency and Francis Strickland, the bureau director who knows his darkest secrets.

Morgan King and his team of Argonaut agents have been hunting for the culprits behind a series of gruesome killings that have rocked the city all summer. Killings that bear sinister hallmarks of sacrificial rituals where the victims’ souls have been ripped from their bodies. When Fate brings Cassius in Morgan’s path, he realizes the angel everyone likes to call The Devil may very well be the only person who can help them track down the murderers.

Morgan and Cassius soon find themselves chasing down a sect of black magic sorcerers and cross paths with a mysterious warlock whose actions evoke disturbing echoes of an incident from Cassius’s past. As rumors of a potential plot to tear the Nether reach their ears, Cassius and Morgan must work together to defeat their common enemy and save the city from destruction, all while fighting their growing attraction for one another.

Fractured Souls is the first novel in the MM urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like action-packed paranormal adventures with romance and snark, then get this pulse-pounding book today and enter a world you won’t want to leave!

https://www.goodreads.com › showFractured Souls (Fallen Messengers #1) by Ava Marie Salinger – Goodreads

Review: Five Dead Herrings (Quest Investigations #1) by E.J. Russell

Rating: 4🌈

Five Dead Herrings is the first in a new paranormal series by E. J. Russell. And like many of this author’s other series, it’s part of a connection of characters and storylines that runs or rubs up against each other constantly as they share the same foundation and universe.

Matt Steinitz, human PI and employee at Quest Investigations has turned up as a secondary character in other books, briefly referenced here. Russell now takes the time to build out Matt’s personality and let him show a depth of character not seen previously. We get the flashes of insecurities, the humor, the joy of learning, and the terror and newness of his situation.

And the start of a new romance…

There’s a mystery involving dead fish, a grumpy gorgeous Selkie, a new adorable werewolf secondary character of boundless energy , and a ton of supernatural beings from books and series we loved to get reacquainted with.

In short, it’s a whole lot of fun. And ends with one mystery solved but some major loose ends needing to be dealt with. Which will lead us straight into the second book in this series.

Quest Investigations Series:

Five Dead Herrings #1

The Hound of the Burgervilles #2

Synopsis:

Something’s definitely fishy about this case…

On my last stakeout for Quest Investigations, I nearly got clotheslined by a grove of angry dryads. I expected my bosses to reprimand me, but instead they handed me my first solo assignment. Me! Matt Steinitz, the only human on the Quest roster!

Okay, so the mission isn’t exactly demanding. Obviously, the bosses wanted to give me something they think I can’t screw up. I’m determined to show them what I can do, however, so I dive right in with no complaints.

At first glance, it looks as simple as baiting a hook: A selkie’s almost-ex-husband is vandalizing his boat with unwanted deliveries of deceased sea life. All I have to do is document the scene, tell the ex to cease and desist, and present the bill for property damages. Boom. Mission accomplished, another Quest success, and as a bonus, I get to keep my job.

But then things get…complicated. Suspicious undercurrents muddy up my oh-so-easy case. Nothing is as clear as it should be. And the biggest complication? My inappropriate attraction to the client, who may not be as blameless as he claims.

Turns out those dead herrings aren’t the only things that stink about this situation.

Dammit.

Five Dead Herrings is the first in the Quest Investigations M/M paranormal mystery series, a spinoff of E.J. Russell’s Mythmatched paranormal rom-com story world. It contains no on-page sex or violence, and although there is a romantic subplot, it is not a romance.

https://www.goodreads.com › showFive Dead Herrings (Quest Investigations, #1) by E.J. Russell – Goodreads

Review: Corruption (The Bureau #1) by Kim Fielding

Rating: 3.5 🌈

Corruption is a short story that begins a new series by Kim Fielding.

It’s supernatural with what hints to be the beginning of a complicated hurt/comfort relationship with one clearly in the Master side of a D/s Angel/demon relationship.

The characters, only loosely set here but enormously fascinating with tremendous chemistry, have most of their background still to fill in.

So does the nebulous Bureau we only see or hear pieces of.

Corruption is like receiving the tantalizing first chapter of a new novel…. And now you want more. More foundation, more of the characters history and current predicament. And future going forward.

I’ll follow the promise set down here and look forward to all the stories to come.

The Bureau series:

Corruption #1

Clay White #2

Creature #3

Chained #4

Convicted #5

Connect #6

Caroled#7

Camouflaged #8 out now

Synopsis:

Once a proud demon of the night sky who carried nightmares to humans, Tenrael has spent decades in captivity as the star attraction of a traveling carnival. He exists in miserable servitude to men who plunk down ten dollars to fulfill their dark desires.

Charles Grimes is half human, half… something else. For fifteen years he’s worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures it’s just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael

https://www.goodreads.com › showCorruption / Clay White / Creature by Kim Fielding – Goodreads

Review: Hijinks With a Hellhound (Hidden Species #3) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.75 🌈

Hellhounds. If for no other reason to pick these amazing stories up, it’s to meet hellhounds.

These are not the beings or species that are coming to mind when the name Hellhound pops up. Nopes.

The Hellhound species here? Welp,that wasn’t originally their name. But turns out it’s a racial uh soecist slur that was flung at them sometime around the huge Species War. They thought it humorous so their Species Leader renamed their ENTIRE species! Yep Hellhounds.

It’s just the thing a Hellhound would do… see? I treat them as if the exist!

They and Alistair deserve to be real!

It’s almost painful on a cellular level they don’t.

Alistair Smythe, covert op, top Investigator and part of the inner circle of the Lucifer is 6’5” of gorgeous muscular shifter energy!Sure most of the time he’s so adorable, whether it’s Karaoke nite or doing the Macarena, that we forget how incredibly utterly fantastic Alistair is at his job.

While still being absolutely Alistair, in all his magnificently quirky glory.

Hijinks With a Hellhound is Alistair’s time to shine. It also brings him into close working conditions with Aiden Byrne, Felid shifter-Shifter Species Leader. At first what starts out as a clash of personalities turns, upon reflection and a little advice, into a journey of lust, espionage, and eventually love.

It’s a hell…hound of a ride!

Plus this incredible adventure introduces a new cast of important characters leading into the finale. Especially one species that will have you going oh no.. them and hellhounds? 😱🤣. The anticipation is off the charts!

Aiden and Alistair are so perfect together, and this story sets the foundation for the revelation and narrative explosions to come.

How could you not love this? And them? Hellhounds!

It goes without saying… absolutely recommended.

Along with the entire series!

If I only had a magic wand…..

Cover notes. Best cover of them all. That is Alistair! Absolute perfection!

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Synopsis: I’m a one-and-done kind of hellhound… I don’t catch feeeeeeeelings…

Once upon a time, my first and last relationship taught me that romantic love isn’t enough to stop your boyfriend from trying to kill you. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. My awesomeness is now strictly reserved for one-nighters and casual hookups. Sure, my friends seem to be matching up in romantic bliss, but screw that—I’m not interested.

Besides, things are heating up at the Community of Species Government, and I’m right in the thick of it all. Those bad guys are going down—and not in the good way. They might seem to have the drop on us right now, but we’re going to turn the tables on them. Even if it means going on a mission with Aidan Byrne.

I’m still not happy about the way Aidan handled things with my bestest bestie a few months back, even if he did turn out to be right. Plus, there’s something about him that rubs my fur in the wrong direction. He’s the kind of guy who thinks karaoke is only for college kids and looks down on me for licking my own balls. He also thinks that just because he’s the species leader, he’s in charge.

Too bad for him, I’ve never backed away from a challenge… even if it is unnervingly sexy and really bendy. A hookup won’t lead to feelings… right?

Hijinks With a Hellhound

Hidden Species Cast of Characters:

Community of Species Government-CSG

Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane

Senior Investigators Team:

Sam Tiller – team admin

Gideon Bailey, Demon

Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair

David Carew, sorcerer

Lily Heath, succubus

Andrew Turner, Vampire

Alistair Smythe, Hellhound

Noah Cage, human

Aiden Byrne, Felid shifter-Shifter Species Leader

Review: One Bite With a Vampire (Hidden Species #2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 5 🌈

One Bite With a Vsmpire introduces us to Noah Cage, a human who is one of the most fascinating characters of the Hidden Species series. Noah’s personality and character is one of unknown depths, continual growth, and unexpected revelation.

Honestly, even at the end of the series finale, I felt as though the life force and Louisa Masters wasn’t done with Noah yet.

He’s almost mesmerizing in his grumpiness, painful past of which we are never fully cognizant, and inability to fully trust.

His scary journey here to the CSG and the found family of species within the inner circle of the Lucifer is a white knuckle ride.

That it’s Andrew Turner, the 800 year old vampire, with a fondness for cake and snark who’s the being that’s the one at Noah’s side? Both a touch of perfection and source of poignancy.

For as irritation slides into lust and then something more, what’s continually highlighted is Noah’s humanity and short lifespan against Andrew’s great age and continued longevity.

And we watch as both Andrew and Noah each try to deal with this element of their relationship in their own way, unsuccessfully, however subtly.

Masters can, with just a few sentences, create a scene of such emotional fragility , containing both despair and hope, you will want to weep.

And she does it over and over again.

Book after book here in this series.

Then follow it up with one of equal hilarity.

Goddess love those hellhounds!

While I have focused on Noah here as a character, Andrew Turner , vampire, is just as complicated as his years would have made him. More of his background and history as it relates to other members of the inner circle comes out in another vastly important and emotional story. But much like Noah, Andrew has just as many depths and dimensions to him waiting for us to discover.

They are a truly great pair.

This story doesn’t so much end on a solid note so much as it gets ready to flow into the next book.

This is a ending you’re going to see until the finale as the huge investigation ramps up and the horror begins to unveil.

So yes run immediately to Hijinks With A Hellhound because you need to know what happens next and well, it’s Alistair. That’s reason enough.

Honestly Alistair became alive to me as did all the Hellhounds. I physically hurt over the fact they don’t exist. We really need Hellhounds in our lives. Especially Alistair.

At any rate. Noah’s journey which starts here is a compelling and emotional story. So is his romance with Andrew, full of snarky love, pain and surprise.

I’m highly recommending One Bite with A Vampire and the entire Hidden Species series.

They are must reading for me.

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Synopsis:Getting kidnapped was never part of my life plan. But being rescued opened up a whole world of crazy.

It’s not easy being the only human at the Community of Species Government—and especially not when you’re the rescue case. Two years ago, I was planning to go to college, have a wild time, then settle into a normal life. Instead, I was kidnapped, spent months being a test subject, was in hiding for nearly a year, and then found out that my whole existence is a science experiment conducted by the bad guys. It’s definitely time to reassess.

My rescuers at CSG have been awesome… mostly. They gave me a job, a home, and a support network. But the whole demons, vampires, shifters thing is not easy to get used to. Especially when one particular vampire makes me want to take up stake sharpening for a hobby. How can someone be over eight centuries old and have the maturity of a drunk frat boy?

The thing is, teenage mentality or not, Andrew is a fierce protector. With the bad guys still on the loose, I need someone like that on my side. Plus, did I mention that he’s not hard to look at? I could stare at him all day if only he never opened his mouth.

As we race to find my former captor before he can find me, life takes another twist and upends my world all over again. This time, though, I’m ready—after all, I’ve got an eight-hundred-year-old vampire at my back. What could possibly go wrong?

One Bite With a Vampire

Hidden Species Cast of Characters:

Community of Species Government-CSG

Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane

Senior Investigators Team:

Sam Tiller – team admin

Gideon Bailey, Demon

Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair

David Carew, sorcerer

Lily Heath, succubus

Andrew Turner, Vampire

Alistair Smythe, Hellhound

Noah Cage, human

Aiden Byrne, Felix shifter-Shifter Species Leader

Review: Thack’s Angel: Midnight Rodeo #12 by BA Tortuga

Rating:4🌈

It’s a great concept, a hell’s rodeo full of supernatural beings that tours like a regular rodeo around the US, only the bulls are really demons doing hell time for their bad deeds and the rodeo staff and bull riders are a very interesting mixture of supernatural beings of various species.

The books, 12 including this one, follow the members of the rodeo along a usually rocky path to romance as we also learn about their histories.

A found family of sorts each character is a reappearing member in every story. So it’s nice to continually reconnect with them book to book.

Thack is the demon is charge of the Darque and Knight supernatural rodeo. As we start the story , one central torment is the loss of his angelic mate years ago without a trace or explanation. Who unexpectedly now reappears out of nowhere.

Years lost, with no memory of who he is and where he belongs, Uri is drawn to the strange rodeo in the town he’s passing through. A rodeo who’s staff remember who he is and more importantly a rodeo that may change contain the being most centrist to regaining his past and his heart.

This is a strange, sexy, poignant second chance at love, lovers reunited story. A two person narrative that works perfectly to bring out the pain , anger, and pathos of years of lost love. Also the mystery and anguish of Uri’s journey back to his mate and found family is explored from many sides as the revelations come.

It helps to have read the other books to be familiar with the peripheral characters but not totally necessary as their dynamics are also somewhat laid out here.

I adored the Thack/Uri reunion and that of the fam but found that of the villain reveal a bit rushed. For me, it needed a little more foundation for it to have felt satisfying. Also fire demon/ice demon? Did I miss something there?

At any rate, that element kept me from rating it higher.

This is a terrific series and a fascinating concept. Love the characters and couples. Not familiar with it and them? Check it out! I’m recommending it!

Thack’s Angel (Midnight Rodeo, #12)

💀Midnight Rodeo series:

Welcome to the Pack #1

Oklahoma Rain #2

Big Bear, Little Bear #3

Light a Rocket #4

Freaked Out #5

Tails and Whiskers #6

Above the Fold #7

Vampire Protection #8

Shifting Responsibility #9

Brownie’s Sway #10

The Dragon’s Dilemma #11 by Julia Talbot

Thack’s Angel #12

Synopsis:Demon Thackery has been running the actual rodeo show at the Midnight Rodeo since anyone can remember. He has a damn good life on earth: he loves his job, he has good friends, and he has a personal assistant who understands that a good horn rub has nothing to do with sex. Only one thing is missing. His angel Uri, who disappeared years ago without even a goodbye.

When Uri rides into the Midnight Rodeo on his Harley, he has the sense that he’s been there before. And when the regulars see him, they know that the proverbial stuff is about to hit the fan. Thack is going to lose it when he sees Uri. Except that Uri can’t remember anything about his past, and he has no idea why he left.

Uri knows one thing for sure when he sees Thack; that he big demon is his mate. Period. Even if someone wants to keep them apart, now that Uri is back, there will be no separating them. Or at least that’s the plan. Can they get Uri’s memory back and keep everything else together?

Review: Never Underestimate An Omega by Eden Winters

Rating: 3🌈

Eden Winters’ Diversion series is one of my favorites. It’s so well written, highly complex, and the characters beyond amazing, with lives so layered , so thick with nuance , humor and peril that each book was a showstopper.

Never Underestimate an Omega sees Winters venturing into supernatural territory and for me the results are just a pleasant ok story.

Shifters romances, especially wolf shifters are plentiful. To stand out you need to add a new twist to the wolf shifter lexicon or give us a superb story that builds on the wolf shifter canon we already know.

This doesn’t do either , if anything it works against known canon in the worst way. It’s just a nice romance about a pack that needs rescuing, an omega included, and a alpha returning to exact revenge and take over the pack. We’ve seen this scenario before, multiple times. Including the fact that the omega turns out to be a stronger, more intricate part of pack dynamics then the old pack structure will acknowledge.

Again, nothing new. Although I enjoyed the omega Logan.

Alpha Grey, also sexy . And their relationship? What we see if it, which isn’t much until the very end of the story, is superficial. That doesn’t work or help to connect us to them as a couple.

What was confusing here was the whole mate recognition element. For one pair the mate factor/bond was immediate, although “off stage” so we don’t see it happening. Weird.

For our all important main couple? The alpha seemed clueless which was incredibly odd when Logan knew Grey was it for him. However, that recognition was not the all powerful element you’d expect it to be. That could be any instant love story tbh.

Wolves mate for life, something not even mentioned here.

Within this universe, the mate bond almost seems to be a “take it or leave it” thing which diminishes the impact of any mating/bonding. At least for me. It feels all sorts of muddy here as a part of the shifter biology and that actually dilutes the importance of their relationship and impact within the pack structure.

In my opinion . At one part Logan debated even “returning”… which assumed that the entire mate aspect holds little physical or emotional sway. But for another pair it’s the direct opposite. But again for them it comes across as more of a “we’re in love” than a deep spiritual/physical imperative.

So is this in fact something the author intended or a continuity problem? I don’t know. Either way it was extremely confusing and deflating.

It’s not until the very end that they act or have any type of relationship that veers towards romance. Then it’s really too late. Much of the story is spent on other issues and them apart, physically and emotionally.

While there are certainly some interesting characters here they aren’t necessarily the main ones.

Overall, as I said, it’s a nice story. But not what I was expecting from this author who’s other stories are so extraordinary and complex.

If you ask me what I recommend? I recommend you read the entire Diversions series. Those are just great reads.

Synopsis:An alpha leader must have an alpha mate, but Gray wants only one man.

And that man is an omega.

Wolf shifter Gray Collins returns to his home pack to avenge his father’s murder, never expecting to take on the role of leader. Gray is a loner with no desire to tackle the politics of being Pack Alpha. Worse yet, he falls for the man he’s come to depend on—omega Logan Richardson.

According to pack lore, omegas are inferior, nothing more than lowly servants. Or are they? Logan is far too cunning, fierce, and bold to be a low-ranking wolf. While he keeps his head down in public, when they’re alone, Logan stands toe-to-toe with Gray like no one else dares. Mutual respect grows into friendship, friendship into a white-hot desire neither can fight.

Despite the law and the odds, the two wolves form a tentative bond. Together they lead the pack through strife and threats, all while keeping a secret—a secret that could get them both killed, and plunge the pack back into the savage dark ages.

The entire Lycan world is on the brink of a hard-won lesson: Never underestimate the relentless force of an omega.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58329516-never-underestimate-an-omega

Join Us for the Blog Tour for Loose Ends (Badlands #4) by Morgan Brice (excerpt and giveaway)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4)

Author: Morgan Brice

Cover Artist: Natania Barron

Release Date: December 30, 2019

Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance

Trope/s: Spooky supernatural suspense, hurt/comfort, dark magic.

Themes: Trust, loyalty, commitment, partnership

Heat Rating: 4 flames

It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and

features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.

Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

Length: 62 000 words/ 220 pages

Add on Goodreads

As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?

Blurb

Cold cases, old enemies, ex-lovers, and vengeful spirits are making life dangerous for psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato.

The ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless, trapped by love, secrets, scandals, and spells, keeping Simon busy protecting the living from the unhappy dead. Someone from Vic’s past is out to destroy him and everyone he holds dear, and the high-profile trial of the first case Simon and Vic worked together puts them in the spotlight—and put a target on their backs. As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?

Loose Ends is an urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with spooky supernatural suspense, hot sex, hurt/comfort, feisty friends, found family, ghosts galore, and dark magic. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Nook

Excerpt

“I’ve been poking around on the Buccaneer story since the place shut down,” Josh said. “My team’s visited probably a dozen times. Plus, I knew people who worked on the construction and dismantling, and who ran the rides when it was open.” He leaned forward, dropping his voice. “They won’t talk on the record, or to the police, but I’ve heard all their stories. And the rumors that got out? They’re just a fraction of how fucked up that place was.”

Simon sat back in his chair, settling his lanky body and long legs as best he could. He warmed his hands on the hot paper cup and tucked a strand of long chestnut hair behind one ear. “Tell me.”

“One of my sources was a crane operator when they were installing the Riptide Roll steel coaster,” Josh confided. “He saw one of the workmen fall from the top of the first hill when they were assembling the ride. Says the guy died on impact. The company paid to hush it up. Same thing happened when another worker was crushed to death. A load of steel pipe shifted, and he ended up underneath it.”

“Jesus.”

“That’s not all of it. The place was only open for barely two seasons, but the ride operators had stories that would curl your hair. Riders got whiplash, one girl lost a couple of fingers, and a kid died from head injuries when his ride car came loose and crashed. Not to mention the operator who got electrocuted when he had to run his ride in the rain.”

“If the owners had to cover all that up, no wonder they went bankrupt,” Simon said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe they didn’t get shut down.”

“Their rides continued to pass inspections from the state office—or maybe someone got paid off. Still, they closed suddenly before the end of their last season,” Josh said. “Whistleblowers went to the media. The situation was going to be ugly. But then it turned out to be even worse.”

Simon remembered the end of the story. Investors clamored for their money back when the park abruptly shut down, only to find out that the accounts were empty, the books had been cooked, and the profits were never real. Before it could turn into a media circus and authorities asked for serious jail time, Ellington killed himself, and Stevens skipped town.

“Any clue about who’s haunting the place?”

Josh chewed on his lip and looked at Simon. “I was hoping you’d come over with us this afternoon and help me figure that out. I’m doing my best to learn, but my skills aren’t as powerful as yours, and I don’t know how to really use them. I can sense when spirits are nearby, and I see them better than the average person, but having a conversation is beyond what I can do.”

About the Author

Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Series include Witchbane, Badlands, and Treasure Trail. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

Read a copy of my Badlands short story Restless Nights here for free

Social Media Links

Facebook Group | Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) | Twitter: @MorganBriceBook

Follow me on BookBub | Instagram

Giveaway

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one of three ebook copies of any book in the Badlands series

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Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

A Barb the Zany Old Lady: Howling on Hold by EJ Russell

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I admit, I was attracted to this story by the cover and the blurb—and the fact that it was a standalone since I haven’t read any of the author’s other stories and I don’t like starting in the middle of a series. But I was disappointed in that there were multiple characters from previous books who played a strong secondary role in this story. There were also references to situations and past events that those who’ve read the other books would likely recognize.

Apparently, though, when it comes to werewolves, this is the first time they’ve been explored. Those other books were about the Fae, and vampires, and other shifters and more, whereas this one focused on werewolf packs, their hierarchy, and the training of “juniors,” those who have passed certain criteria and now enter a three-year Howling school where they learn how to suppress the things that make them wolves so they can pass unnoticed in the human world. This book is about Tanner, a young wolf howling student who turns 21 and is worried that his uncle will call him back early so he can take over his legacy as pack alpha, his dad having died years before. And it’s about his RA in “the Doghouse,” Chase Denney, a guy with high moral standards who refuses to act on his attraction to Tanner.

After a series of misunderstandings and a possible threat on his life, Tanner goes into hiding for three months. Chase isn’t aware he’s gone, due to his own series of misadventures that bans him from going back to the Doghouse, and when he returns, he immediately sets out to find Tanner and tell him how he really feels. Even when the two find each other, there’s still threats from otherworldly creatures to contend with, intercessions and assistance by the (apparently important) characters from previous books, and a dirty, underhanded plot from one of Tanner’s family members.

To be honest, the story felt way too busy with information overload. Perhaps it hit me that way because the author was trying to fill in all the past issues for those new to the book, or perhaps that’s the author’s writing style, but there was a lot of narrative, and in proportion, very little dialogue. Facts, facts, and more facts had my head spinning with information I did not find interesting so I had a difficult time following many parts of the story. I enjoyed the sweet and simple romance between the two young men, but that took up very little page time. A few less characters, both new and past, and a few less plot twists would have gone a long way toward making this a better book. More face-to-face time with more dialogue, less about the antics of the other wolves in the house (which didn’t seem to go anywhere or have a point to them), and a note linking this to the other books in this paranormal world would definitely have made the story more enjoyable.

The cover by L C Chase is really attractive and shows, in cartoon style, a wolf standing on a cliff edge, howling at the sky, with a cartoon bubble filled with hearts coming out of his mouth, instead of the traditional howl. Very cute and it’s what sold me on reading this story.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 237 pages
Published January 13th 2020 by Riptide Publishing
ASINB081H7NLR6
Edition Language English

So Squirrels. This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

So… Squirrels

So as I counted down the days until Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words went on hiatus, I had things to do and wanted everything to go in a tidy, organized manner. So of course, everything rapidly descended into chaos. The dishwasher broke down, I had to deal with family RL issues, and then there were squirrels. Well, a squirrel. In the house. For an extended stay.

Looks around.

I think he or she is finally gone. Of course, with this one, you just don’t know.

Had squirrels in the house before. Some brought in via the many animals, furkids who have lived here over the years. Moles, voles, shrews, chipmunks, and the occasional field mouse have all made it in as the unfortunate “living gifts or toys” from various cats and dogs over the years. Most actually made it back outside. Then there are the visitors down through the chimney., that wonderful artificial “tree hollow” that has seen so many over the decades (my father built this house).

Most of the squirrels and I have come to a tried and true method when they arrive into the family room that way. I open the back doors into the yard and boom, out they go. No drama, all very neat and quick. I had assumed we, the squirrel community and I had an agreement on this. All very civilized of course.

But it seems in every small group there exists a rebel. One who goes left, when all the others go right. That is the squirrel who came down the chimney several days ago.

They did not go right out the door into the yard. Nooooooo. They went left. Dashing madly up the stairs into the living room where my tubby little dog awaited! With glee! They then proceeded to zoom around many levels of house, levels of rooms, well the squirrel did, tubby didn’t. Then it happened. I lost track of the squirrel. And it went stealth. No chattering, nothing.

And its scent was everywhere so said dog couldn’t find him. Although to be fair my sausage with a head gave it his all. All day and all night tracking the now quiet and unmoving squirrel. I had looked with my trusty flashlight. The next day, we had a sighting! And then it went quickly hiding until located once more. I mean is this squirrel a secret Russian operative?

Found! Unbelievably in the closet full of Christmas Nutcrackers (honestly who writes these things) in the library, up behind all those boxes. Couldn’t get to it and that squirrel wasn’t coming out. So new tactic. Call Animal Control with the nets to come and get it to release. Right? Nope. I should have remembered. Unless it’s actually in a trap, nope. Back to square one. My own method. While I was pondering what to do, Rambo squirrel made a move, busted out of the louvered door closet and out of the library for another round of madcap chasing. Door propped up, and again I didn’t see it go out.

Sigh.

Tubby is investigating my desk in the library and the closet as I write this. No idea if the squirrel is out or in. Time will tell.

Good news, my little dog has had more exercise than if he’d had a zillion Peloton workouts. Yay squirrel.

Honestly, I think its out, don’t you? 😬

In the meantime, I am thinking the hiatus will be more like me making intermittent reviews and ramblings until we are back fulltime in June 2020. Too many books to talk about and apparently things to say.

So stay tuned, more on this later on.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 26:

So Squirrels. This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, January 27:

Review Tour – Garrett Leigh – The Edge Of The World
A MelanieM Review: The Edge of the World by Garrett Leigh
A MelanieM Review: Ted of the d’Urbervilles by Rob Rosen

Tuesday, January 28:

Book Blast – Earnest Ink by Alex Hall
AUDIOBOOK TOUR – Love’s Trials by Janice Jarrell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady:Howling on Hold by EJ Russell
A Free Dreamer Review: Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4) by Morgan Brice

Wednesday, January 29:

REòEASE BLITZ Bound to Liberty by Kai Tyler
Release Blitz – Hold Me Up by Colette Davison
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Stay Lucky by Leta Blake
A Chaos Moondrawn Review Asylum by Julian Burnes

Thursday, January 30:

BLITZ Better Than Beginnings by Lane Hayes
Tour: BL Dayhoff on The Right Move
A MelanieM Review: Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4) by Morgan Brice
A Free Dreamer Review Out of Time (Out of Time #5) by C.B. Lewis
A MelanieM Review:Howling on Hold by EJ Russell

Friday, January 31:

Blog Tour – Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4) by Morgan Brice
Release Blitz – Say It (Fascination Series Book 1) by Sky McCoy
Release Blitz with ARC Reviews – Fight For This by Suki Fleet
A MelanieM Review: Head in the Game by Jeff Adams
A MelanieM Audio Review:All I Want Is You by DJ Jamison and Wyatt Baker (Narrator)

Saturday, February 1:

So What Happens Next?

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So… Squirrels

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 26:

Monday, January 27:

Tuesday, January 28:

Wednesday, January 29:

Thursday, January 30:

Friday, January 31:

Saturday, February 1:

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