Here we are at the penultimate story and it ends with, gasp, a cliffhanger! Ok , no surprise as this is a serialized story and thatâs in keeping with the format. So itâs very much to be expected.
But before that happens, author Jocelynn Drake gives our main characters, adorable , powerful necromancer Skylar Wallace and his human equally adorable author and neighbor Nolan Banks a first date to remember.
Does it go off the rails immediately? Absolutely! Spectacularly wrong in all the right and humorous ways? You bet!
Where the previous story went dark, dark, deeply serious into the worst that Skyâs paranormal life and world offer to Nolan, a human newly discovering that humanity wasnât alone. Date Night flips the narrative showing Nolan that magic and magical beings have a lighter side.
Itâs a wild ride, literally, of a date night.
Even a suspected element thatâs anticipated to be one of anguish and horror has an unlikely twist.
Thereâs plenty of side characters, including the vampire Varik brothers and mates. And Skyâs witchy best friends.
Honestly my hardest thing right now is the fact that thereâs only one more book to come.
How can Drake deliver such fantastic characters, give us the potential for more revelations about them and their lives and leave us at four books? Short ones at that?
I believe the author needs to conjure us up a sequel.
Anyway, the finale is coming. Itâs called Disaster, Who Woke the Dead?Naturally.
I canât wait.
Absolutely recommending this and that. And the series.
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life:
Life has settled down and Nolan has agreed to go on a date with Sky. There’s just one catch: Sky has to promise that it’s a totally normal, non-magical date.
I bet you can already see where this is goingâŚ
It would have been a totally normal, non-magical date if it weren’t for the purple fungus, a completely minor nonlethal mostly harmless but useful poisoning, and the pig.
Sigh…Will Nolan give him a second chance after this mess?
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This is book three of four and contains vampires, werewolves, witches, spells gone bad, good friends who should never call during a date, and a pig. Really. This will make your worst date look amazing. And did I mention itâs a full moon?
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a marvelously humorous, sometimes romantic, often horrifying serialized 4 piece story. Last one ending on a cliffhanger!
Which is where Pet Problems picks up. Pets, as in vampire human pets whether they want to be or not. Thereâs a trigger warning that comes with the story and itâs at the beginning of the book. It concerns a vampireâs actions that are non-con, can be defined as assault. The author mentions where they will occur so a reader can choose to read those pages or not.
Itâs totally appropriate.
The book deals with secrets and a huge danger that Nolan has fallen into trying to free his scrounge of a brother from his debts. We get to see more of Nolan trying to deal with a shattering revelation about the paranormal world that has always coexisted with his.
But the real story is Sky. Sky who on the surface is sweet, small, adorable Sky the Necromancer. Here we get to see whatâs been bubbling darkly underneath, just emerging in hints with demons who like sandwiches, or shrubbery gone cannibalistic. And itâs wonderful!
Finally! A dark raging necromancer and itâs fabulous! I so wanted more of this Sky! And the blood witch that showed up too. Ok all that is towards the end but what a climax!
The middle of the story is pretty good too. Oh, yes, Nolan does something predictably dumb but you knew that was coming. And since it sets up that amazingly awesome battle? I say letâs do it again.
This series is so much horrifying fun! But a reader needs to remember that itâs dark fiction as well so heed any trigger warnings the author includes.
Itâs a definite recommendation. But you need to read them in the order that they are written.
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life:
In his defense, he wasn’t sure if he could trust Sky at first.
And then, well…his life got pretty crazy for a while. He might have just forgotten.
But that secret has come calling and it’s about to take a big bite out of Nolan.
Of course, there’s no way Sky’s going to let anyone hurt his neighbor, friend, and possibly one-day baby daddy. He’s hitting back hard to keep Nolan safe.
Even the roses are angry in this one. (Just trust me on this one. Beware of the roses.)
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This is book two of four and contains vampires, werewolves, witches, underworld minions, danger, a meddling ghost grammy, aggressive roses, and one very angry necromancer. Seriously, nobody better touch his man.
Trigger Warnings:
âJust a warning to sensitive readers: some of Christophâs actions can be viewed as aggressive, verging on assault. You might want to proceed with caution in chapter one and the last half of chapter seven. Thanks,â
â How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: Disaster #2 (Princes of Mayhem) by Jocelynn Drake
Magical Mates, part of Macy Blakeâs The Chosen One universe, is an adorable little series , and With Kid Gloves it goes out with a magical, magnificent narrative bang!
Absolutely my favorite of the series, it plays beautifully to the strengths of Blakeâs themes and characters, reminding us and them of the importance of love in every aspect, the need for support from people who love and support each other whether it be family or pack or both, and the deep emotional connections that we make and share are sometimes broken. And need to be grieved for.
What a story.
The base structure starts with Tiger shifter, Bayu, whoâs been a bit of an enigma. Heâs a crush for Ollie, a formidable force that lingers in the woods, protecting the compound, and silently guarding those around him. Now as Bayu starts collecting rocks to build something, his past is slowly revealed. This nebulous project becomes, as a perfect narrative tool, a way for Blake to build a strong framework for a secondary theme . As the project grows, reshaping itself into something memorable, something remarkable happens. I wonât spoil it. Just say this thread is such a deeply rooted one in the philosophy of this universe and the overall storyline. I love it so much.
It helps with the relationship between Ollie and Bayu, which builds realistically. And they in turn extend outward to the other players in the compound who have need of them both.
Several major characters we have grown to love through past storylines and novels are at crossroads here. And one will die. And everyone will grieve deeply, including the reader.
I didnât expect this element in a book about children, rescues, and even babies. But it makes sense. Because this is about cycles of nature too. Natural passages of life. Blake handles this so perfectly, with the love, compassion and sensitivity I have come to expect from the author.
The ending is so powerful and well conceived. Itâs hard to believe that this is the last in this series but it also makes sense that it is. That itâs put a closure to so many threads and we get to see so many of the couples who got their families.
As I said, it by far, my favorite of the series. An absolute 5 star read and a comfort level storyline!
Iâm highly recommending this fabulous book! Read them in the order that they are written. Unfamiliar with the Chosen One universe? The authorâs website has a comprehensive reading guide for you there. Itâs a must with so many series and books involved.
A grumpy tiger thinks he can be a lonely drifter? Not on Ollie Jerrick self-proclaimed Happiness Championâs watch.
Ollie Jerrick has a hero complex. As a wolf shifter, heâs been surrounded by real-life heroes since his dads rescued him from an evil witch when he was six. Heâs the son of a doctor wolf shifter, his boss is a billionaire griffin, and his big brotherâŚwell, heâs a super-powered mage mated to the mythical Chosen One. Not convinced yet? The hellhounds, guardians of the human realmâŚtheyâre Ollieâs adopted uncles. So when a mysterious tiger arrives, Ollie decides to save him from his miserable, lonely life. Itâs not like itâll be hardâŚright?
Bayu prefers the solitude being a tiger provides, but tragedy leads him to Nick Smith and the menagerie of kids he rescued. He accepts the role as a pack guard on one condition: the lion shifter will use his powerful connections to help Bayu find the answers he seeks. He has zero intentions of staying on a permanent basis. Some pack members seem to have other ideas, though. Especially Ollie, a young, gorgeous wolf who seems to enjoy nothing more than talking Bayuâs ears off while coaxing him into leaving his isolated existence behind.
Bayu and Ollie find themselves brought together in ways neither of them could have anticipated. When tragedy strikes again, this time itâs Bayu who has to decide if heâs hero enough to save Ollie from himself, especially when the cost will be nothing less than Bayuâs heart.
An MM Paranormal Fated Mates Romance
âThe Chosen Universe is a group of interconnected series set in one universe. There is some overlap to the series, so itâs recommended to read the books in order. You can download a FREE reading order guide.â
â With Kid Gloves (Magical Mates: Book Four) An MM Paranormal Fated Mates Romance by Macy Blake
When a book leaves me laughing at the end, has me doing spittakes and in stitches in the middle, and absolutely captivated by the strangeness and unique nature of the characters at the beginning of the story, well 5 stars it is.
And Shelby Rhodes didnât even include one cliffhanger this time! Murderous, pain-loving characters (yes, pls do read the trigger warnings), a vampire who is quite unlike any other Iâve read, and a snarling human hunter who gets him as a partner. Both seem to have mysteries swirling around them. Even better.
The writing is really great, moving the story forward quickly without sacrificing character growth or relationship development. Thereâs so much more going on here thatâs itâs easy to miss the small details. Bombs going off,bodies everywhere, mythologies being laid down, an agency foundation and country laws pieced together for the readers and multiple species at the same time.
Itâs fabulous and woven in a bit at a time. Along with a great cast of characters that support diminutive vampire Foxx Honeywell and hulking hunter Harlow Blackmore.
Those terms in no way even begin to describe how complex and dynamic this partnership will become.
Iâm dying to have the next release in my hands! My mind is filling with possibilities about what is going on with both of them. I canât wait to see what happens next!
Highly imaginative, beautifully written, yes! A five-star read! One Iâm absolutely recommending.
The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx:
â At First Irritation #1
⌠Taste of Fear #2 – Dec 15, 2023
Trigger Warnings:
âThis is a slow burn M/ M paranormal romance series with heat. There will be blood, violence, gore, torture and death. Please do not read if you find any of the previous triggering.â
â At First Irritation (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 1) by Shelby Rhodes
âWelcome, welcome. I can only guess you are here to read about my wonderful adventures? Oh, you donât know who I am? Well, Iâm Foxx Honeywell. An adorable, fierce vampire with a kink for violence. Anywho, this marks the beginning of my story. A story of violence, blood, possibly pain, and love. Though, the love part is not so apparent at first.â
So how does this story start, you may ask? Well, it starts with a simpleâokay, maybe not so simpleâlaw change, and a new job. I, Foxx, join the notorious Hunters Guild. An organization that used to murder my kind indiscriminately. But that was in the past. We’ve moved on and forward to better things, as paranormals are legal now! Yay, legalâŚ
However, joining this government agency of questionable morals was just the catalyst of it all. Sure, the job is fun; lots of killing, maiming, blood, and even some explosions. But what is an adventure if you are all on your own? Boring, thatâs what. No, the true satisfaction and fun comes not just from the job but from my partner on the job, Harlow Blackmore. The man is a sexy, silver fox of a human, who may or may not be a psychopath. He also possibly finds me irritating as hell. As any rational adult would, I choose to ignore those last parts and focus on the sexy! It will surely all work out in the end!â
This fun little story is the start of a spin-off from Drakeâs Lords of Discords vampire series. Luckily, since Iâm unfamiliar with that series, Drake has made this , Princes of Mayhem, filled in with all the necessary details thatâs itâs basically standalone .
Serialized at four books, you quickly fall into the universe of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his goth next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. Itâs Nolan whoâs in trouble and Sky, the Necromancer with the positive attitude and yellow sunshine house, whoâs happy to step in to save the day.
Drake adds in just the rights amount of humor, horror, quirkiness, and terrific characters that carry the reader right through a plot thatâs sort of murky.
What I was surprised at was the twist at the end which came with a cliffhanger. It took the story and this element in an unexpected direction. Really enjoyed this.
A cliffhanger isnât uncommon in a serialized story. Instead, itâs almost a given.
Iâve listed the four books below. They will be released fairly quickly. Iâm absolutely recommending this story! Highly entertaining! Canât wait for the rest to roll out.
Great cover.
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life:
Nolan is the hot but grumpy goth boy who lives across the street from perpetually sunny necromancer Sky.
Nolan wants nothing to do with Sky.
That is until his older brother is on the run from a local vampire clan after he failed to deliver on a promise.
Nolan is about to learn that vampires, shifters, witches, and magic are very real. He needs an expert to guide him through this dangerous world.
It’s Sky’s time to shine!
And just maybe he can win the heart of a grumpy introvert. (Assuming he doesn’t scare the man to death first.)
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This book contains vampires, werewolves, witches, underworld minions, danger, surprises, sassy corpses, and some pretty amazing sandwiches.
Itâs been 6 months since I read Stitched Under Fire, the 2nd book in this series, so it took me awhile to remember what had happened to the characters and were we were in the various investigations.
Turns out Taken Under Fire itâs a very politically and racially charged atmosphere where xenophobia is ramping up, fueled by the revelations that the paranormal body parts could heal humans. Black market for paranormal body parts is off the charts.
Agents Maddox and Tristan have settled into a happy relationship, both personally and professionally. Tristan is still exploring his new, rare shifter identity as a Phoenix paranormal because no one is exactly sure what that means, and the P.I.S. (Paranormal Investigations Service) and the Police Department are coming together to try and figure out why their missing persons cases are overlapping.
The authors have so many storylines threading through their series and the above details donât even include the personal aspects of Maddoxâs and Tristanâs lives. Those are woven into the story too and will, obviously, have enormous impact on the main plot and main characters as the investigations and revelations continue.
And yes, thereâs some whoppers as far as both shocking revelations and heart wrenching drama collide here at the end.
I love the universe that OâConnor and Lyn have created here that feels so very current and still so unearthly at the same time. Racism, or any ism appears , historically to have no ending time frame. That Xenophobia might be universal is an idea the authors are working with effectively, but also building in a horrific mystery/conspiracy that will continue forward into the next book.
Itâs laid alongside the romance relationship of Tristan and Maddox, which takes a traumatic hit.
My issues with the story are that itâs so packed with drama and plot lines that the ending just stops. It doesnât try to tie up anything but sets a path for the characters to move to the next stage in the investigations. Investigations that are getting murkier, higher up, and with greater danger for everyone involved.
So if thatâs the sort of finish that leaves a reader a little frustrated, especially with no new book in sight, then perhaps you might want to consider waiting until the series is complete and binge reading it at that time.
This is a jam packed terrific paranormal thriller but itâs hard to consider it totally satisfying because of the ending. Love the characters, the shocking twists and emotional scenes. But it wasnât enough. Close but no.
So Iâll wait for the next one to be released. And ponder my own reading decisions.
I love the series and will recommend it. You decide how to read it.
In a city divided, Agents Maddox and Tristan must protect the paranormal, unearth the truth, and prevent darkness from claiming all.
In the aftermath of the devastating destruction that befell the city six months ago, an ominous shroud now looms over them. Paranormals are vanishing at an alarming rate. As fear and suspicion cloud the minds of the city’s inhabitants, calls for drastic measures grow louder, igniting tensions between supernatural beings and humanity.
Maddox and Tristan receive a mysterious visitor who unveils a hidden truth: the supernatural realm they were told had been obliterated is not only intact but still has people living there. As the agents delve deeper into the enigma, they find themselves being threatened by an unknown opponent.
With the city teetering on the brink of an all-out war, the agents must act swiftly. They form an unprecedented alliance, uniting humans and paranormals in a new task force, breaking barriers that were once thought insurmountable.
Can they untangle the web of deception and find the missing paranormals before it’s too late? Only time will tell if their
courage and resilience will be enough to save the city and prevent a catastrophe that could alter the fate of both realms forever.
This series just got immeasurably better. Wild Fire, the third in this series about a clutch of dragonshifter brothers finding their fated mates, is my favorite to date.
Itâs not that I find the authors, K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, have just written two really fascinating characters, itâs that I donât remember reading anything that resembles them in another book before. And thatâs even more compelling here.
A dragon whoâs uncaring about assembling his own hoard , and thrives in the cities and masses away from the smothering isolation of his brothers. And a wolfshifter who has a compulsion to amass a hoard , who needs his space away from his pack, whoâs more interested in his own world than his packâs. A yin looking for their yang.
This switch in characteristics is unexpected and so narratively rewarding.
It makes for a sensational journey or hunt when both Arson Drake and Draydon start on their remarkable continental quest for art treasures and find themselves falling into a surprising relationship with each other. One that carries definite overtones of Romeo and Juliet, as dragons and wolves are enemies up to this stage.
The two person perspective works so well as Arson and Draydon fight the attraction that pulls them together from country to country, their inner beasts empowering their decisions as well. The authors writing as Nix have given the reader two powerfully defined beings that are unique and unable to stay apart. And are trying to explain to themselves why, and if it even matters anymore.
Anything outside of that narratively has to come across as being less interesting because of how rich and powerful these two are.
The elements with the vampires are necessary for being the tool to bring the Montagues and Capulets together, I mean , dragons and wolves , but it comes across as just that. A narrative tool.
Could have been anything, unless itâs going to be included in another story.
Which is set up here by bringing in a new character and younger brother from another âclutchâ whoâs in trouble.
Interesting but thereâs still a couple of unmatched brothers from the original group needing mates. Guess Lord and Tino will have to wait.
Anyway, Wild Fire (Drake Security #3) by Mika Nix is a sure fire winner. Fabulous characters, marvelously plotted romance, and twisted personality traits I really appreciated.
It helps to read the series in order to understand the characters, the events, and the relationships. Lake especially. Heâs so over the top divine!
Heâs my nemesis, my rival, and the man I canât get out of my head. We may be star-crossed but thereâs enough heat between us to start a wildfire.
Iâve never been one to follow the rules, but sleeping with a wolf shifter might be over the line, even for me. So, why canât I get him out of my head? Or his scent out of my nose. Even on the other side of the world, I swear I can still smell him.
Everyone has a hobby, mine just happens to be stealing from the rich and powerful to give back to the rightful owners. A native art exhibit in Sydney is the last place I expected to see Draydon again. I canât shake the feeling that heâs here for the same reason I am⌠and here I thought larceny couldnât get any more fun.
Iâm a dragon without a proper hoard and heâs too jaded to even trust his own pack. But weâve already lit a fire thatâs getting out of hand.
Stealing Draydonâs heart might be my most impossible heist yet.
Well that was as close to absolute perfection as I can remember reading in a series finale, especially one as intense, as incredibly complex as well as mentally challenging at times to read as this one.
I will miss this universe and characters so.
And it starts where Saffron Wilds ends, on that heartbreaker of a cliffhanger (spoiler alert for that novel) with the God Darkness having lodged itself firmly within the body of Nick King , San Amaro police detective/alchemist and now husband of Fae Parker Ferro, the Windrose of the Fae Courts.
But Kai Butler has created over the course of seven books a fascinating, magnificent labyrinthian plot that involves a World Tree with ties to worlds and thousands of realms outside of that of Earth, the Fae Courts and its duplicitous politics that extends beyond into eras long ago and the murderous schemes of the Gods, which can mean the end of everything.
And what Gods and power struggles Butlerâs has thrown at us! Most are ones we have some knowledge of, even with the authorâs twists and unique perspective on oneâs such as the Mother, the Sun, Darkness, the Trickster (my personal favorite), and Santa Muerte, among the main gods.
Cypress Ashes offers up the most imaginatively beautiful to think about scenes and elements, oneâs Iâm still trying to wrap my mind around. Magical test battles between two great spirits, Reality and Distance, with one a titch drunk on the power being offered up. Itâs witches, alchemists, Laurel (if you know you know), Nick, and Parker, trying to figure out a meaningful way to fight the Sun God and what thatâs means to everyoneâs moral compass and mental health. Huge questions the author is asking on multiple levels.
Thatâs only a tiny fraction of what this story has to offer up in terms of elaborate narrative design and exciting storytelling.
Thereâs Sugar, the incubus, Runt, the not cat, Prometheus, the demon not dog, all the great brownies characters from the garden, the blade Tremble that can bring lightning, the Five Dragons, every important element and character, and maybe quite a few that slipped under a readerâs notice from previous books. All have important roles to play here. Some villains even find a surprising redemption.
The power of family and love, whether itâs on a small or infinitely universal and complex scale is also a key here. Where Shannon, Parkerâs foster mom is now a God, Mother , to be exact, the nurturing aspect of her being that saved Parker now becomes the element that helps save everything. And Parkerâs love for Nick and San Amaro.
Thereâs so much that Butler pours into this finale , all the narrative threads that needed pulling together, the interwoven storylines of all sizes that we needed to know how they evolved and ended. We got it, as much as we could when gods are involved.
I expect Butler is ready to move on. But Iâm not. So Iâm diving back in, to experience this again and see what I missed out in the first reading.
What a wild ride, what a magnificent journey this has been! Donât miss out!
But the books absolutely must be read in order for the characters growth, the revelations, and plot details to make sense. Enjoy the books and the ride! Iâm highly recommending the series and this finale!
In the heart-pounding conclusion to the San Amaro Investigations series, Parker faces down enemies on all sides, including one within his own family. With his city under lockdown, Parker is fighting for everyone and everything that he cares about.
The fate of the thousand realms rests on his shoulders. Whatâs a local PI to do?
A sequel to Brimstone, Beefcakes expands on the original by making the focus the short notice celebrity wedding of the famous chefs of the first novel. But while we get those characters and the event, they are peripheral elements here.
Our new characters and romance are fantastically , in a twist, in the âsupportingâ roles to that event. Ones the wedding planner and the other the wedding baker.
L Eveland really goes all in here with Beefcake and gives us a romance of surprises, depth, and remarkable storytelling. Itâs cupcakes, minotaurs, anxiety, porn, kink, and true love. Really, the elements contained within this storyline should overpower each other but instead Eveland uses them to enhance each characterâs depth of personality.
The author also uses them to chart the relationship development of Ezra Higgins, highly anxious human wedding planner, and exuberant Minotaur Matteo Reyes, wedding baker.
I absolutely loved these two characters, so completely different, disregarding their species for the moment, but matching in their emotional needs for each other and in their chemistry.
Eveland has two areas of special significance here. One is the treatment of Ezraâs social anxiety disorder. We get to see its origins in his motherâs death, how it took over his life, and how with the help of his therapist, he has been able to get back to running his business. Itâs a sensitive subject and the author does a terrific job in giving the reader a small glimpse of what it might be like living with the disorder.
The other element is Matteoâs kink that involves cooking and voyeurism. I really wonât go further with the explanation except to say I was wondering how the author would resolve this situation between Ezra and Matteo myself. What a fabulous solution! I loved it!
I throughly loved this entertaining tale of paranormal romance and a stressful wedding to end all weddings. The only reason it didnât hit the 5 rating was that while all the other characters were passionate about their careers, Ezra wasnât about his. He was only doing what was expected of him. And at the end , he was extending his time with Matteo without saying exactly what he was doing.
That left a great an impression of things being unsettled a bit . I wish Eveland had been a tad more finished here. But maybe that because thereâs a third book in the works. Bluz, is coming. Werewolf BBQ anyone?
So Iâm happily awaiting the third in this wonderfully wacky culinary series. Definitely recommending this and the one prior. Read them in order to understand the characters, relationships, and universe.
Wedding planner Ezra Higgins is having a bad day. Heâs lost his phone, heâs got six weeks to plan the biggest wedding of his career, and now the minotaur baker wonât stop flirting with him.
Itâs enough to make anyoneâs anxiety spike.
But the minotaur owner of Beefcakes bakery, Matteo Reyes, has an oddly calming effect on Ezra, and he canât stop thinking about him, no matter how hard he tries.
Matteo is sweet as salted caramel and twice as hot, but heâs off limits, especially since they have to work together.
Pulling off a televised celebrity wedding in less than ninety days? Doable. Resisting Matteoâs candy-coated charm in the process? Ezra canât have his cake and eat it tooâŚor can he?
Guarding Axel is the penultimate book in Jacobsâ Dark Forest Park series, so the series arc themes, which are plentiful, need to start coming together.
Axel Molhieth, a tormented Fae with full of secrets and a dark past has been a great source of mystery and interest for me and I think most people. Especially when it comes to the complicated relationship he has with the wolf shifter Talis.
Best friends until the enemy captures Axel , Talis, and others with a toxic Fae plant . The fallout from that traumatic event, destroys their close relationship, and sets the pack to guarding Axel against an old betrayer from his past.
I was looking forward to this story because of the hot chemistry between the were Talis and the Fae Axel but something happened and along the way, it dissipated under the weight of Axelâs overly complicated âsecret â and inability to trust within the storyline.
While Talis remains the tormented soul, denied his bond by Axel, by circumstances, hurt by the close proximity of Axel, Talis is the strongest character in the story. The most compelling.
Thatâs partly the reason why the story doesnât work out as well. Both main characters need to balance out each other and, for me at least, they donât.
Jacobs builds up this enormous amount of narrative suspense and anticipatory anguish around a secret that Axelâs been holding onto. Itâs the one keeping him from having a relationship with Talis, why heâs causing so much drama and damage within the pack structure, so it should be something so earth shattering, so emotionally and physically traumatizing to makeup for all the harm the reader sees him causing for us to make sense of it all.
Itâs one his cousin knows about. Btw.
But when itâs revealed, I kept waiting for the rest of the reveal. Thinking surely thereâs more. There wasnât.
And when his own cousin and the mate of the Alpha both tell Axel , the equivalent of âsnap out of itâ because you know better, this has been going on for too long, then either the secret wasnât written well enough or this element was executed in a way that made Axel a character I just couldnât connect with.
Thereâs far too many loose ends. Iâm sure Jacobs will pick them up in the next book. But this just didnât have the same feeling as the previous stories, at least as far as the main couple. I didnât feel like Axel had a great relationship with either the pack or Talis, given his actions and inability to understand how they impacted those around him.
Usually Annabelle Jacobs does a great job explaining the dynamics behind those decisions and how the character comes back into balance. Here I never thought that happened.
Iâm looking forward to Loving Jake, the series finale. And to seeing how everything plays out.
A silver-haired fae with a shattered heartâa green-eyed shifter with enough love to heal him.
Axel
Burnt by a past betrayal, Iâve learnt the hard way to keep my heart locked up tight. As tempting as Talis is, all I can offer is friendship, because trusting someone again is a risk I canât take. Love means sharing the true nature of my magic, and the last time I did that it almost cost me my life.
Talis
I want what every shifter wants.
A mate, a partner. Someone I can call mine.
Axel Molhieth, beautiful and free-spirited, makes it crystal clear that isnât him. Will never be him.
I know itâll end badly for me, but I want him anyway.
One night is all it takes to ruin their friendship, and avoidance is the easy way out. But when Axelâs past catches up with him, putting his life in danger, theyâre forced to finally face the consequences of their night together.
Guarding Axel is an MM paranormal romance featuring a protective shifter desperate for love, and a beautiful fae afraid to trust. Full of magic, suspense, and sizzling UST, with a guaranteed HEA.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 