If youāre a fan of this author and the series, Blackhaven Manor, or if you just enjoy an entertaining paranormal mystery, then this is the book for you.
Itās a terrific otherworldly thriller with a fated mates romance that has characters from that connected universe and references dramatic events that saw the creation of Hunters Hollow.
Now that one of the three Maddock dragon siblings has established a town and new hotel called Hunters Hollow as a sanctuary for the otherworldly community, the author is set to place a new set of fated mates romances inside the warded township and hotel.
It starts with Angels and Anarchy and a serial killer on the loose. A dead vampire Councilman brings together human waiter/bartender Braeden Burke and nephilim Detective Zarrik Cox . One as a witness , the other as an investigator.
Steele does an excellent job in defining the characters, their personalities, the magical bond that makes them gravitate towards each other, and the messy investigation that follows the murder.
I normally have a issue with couples that donāt communicate but, as friends and family point out, on top of an immediate bond, thereās a serial killer racking up the body count thatās taking up most of Zarrikās time.
I wish that Braeden had been more open to the idea of therapy than he was, considering that as written, he comes across as severely traumatized by his experience. That was dropped as an element and not addressed again, a weak point here in an individual who has a number of great qualities.
In fact, Steele has potentially so many wonderful storylines threaded in here that not all could be fully realized or explored in the length given. I can only hope that the author will pick them up in the books to come.
The relationship ,once the communication ,begins is wonderful, the chemistry is warm and believable. They make a terrific couple.
The mystery, the dramatic finale, is exactly what you want to see and what the author delivers. With a bit of an unexpected twist.
I canāt wait for the next one in the series. Im definitely recommending Angels and Anarchy (Hunters Hollow, #1) by Arden Steele, itās a winner.
Slinging drinks in New Orleans’ French Quarter isnāt the most glamorous job, but Braeden Burke loves the lights, the music, and the excitement. As a long-time believerāeven before Otherlings had waltzed out of the paranormal closetāspending his nights flirting with gorgeous werewolves and smooth-talking vampires isnāt exactly a chore. His life is easy, colorful, and for the most part, free of drama.
Until fate throws him a curveball.
It was supposed to be his day off. Instead, Zarrik Cox is called in to investigate the murder of a high-ranking member of the Ministry of Otherling Affairs. Tracking down the only witness to the crime is easy. Discovering the vulnerable human is his mate is a complication he wasnāt expecting.
He might be a nephilim, but heās no angel, and heās damn sure no oneās savior. But with a killer on the loose, and Braeden caught in the crosshairs, there’s no limit to how far he’ll go to keep his new mate safe.
Mayās Perfect Pixie series just took a decidedly darker turn in an already beautiful and layered world. Much like the vibrantly colored, glittery pixies the stories have been written about, Perfectly Charmed Pixie has at its heart, one Parsnip, a well known social pixie, as famous for his unusual aquamarine color as he is for his cable television series.
Yes, this story has a pixie dealing with his ongoing struggles with depression, PTSD, anxiety, and the very real consequences of his past. All by staring in a mirror. Plus Parsnip is fighting multiple internal and external battles here. With his fans and the Network over the expectations for his appearance, his insecurities, and his real fears for himself.
May has really outdone herself here. Because the series themes and world building just expanded in several quiet horrific ways.
Addiction to pixie dust has been mentioned before in the previous books but now we see the consequences. And worse . Because Parsley, Parsnipās brother, is running a recovery home for those pixies saved from trafficking operations. But thatās still a minor aspect of the narrative.
A huge one is the warlock, Vander Kines, a fantastic character. Guardian to a young brownie, Byx, Vander owns a small shop that makes magical charms and heās barely making ends meet. Mostly due to the fact heās got a strong moral compass and wonāt take jobs he feels is wrong or unlawful.
Vander and his ward, Byx, have a warm family relationship with a loss of a loved one that connects them. That beautiful dynamic carries over into the one that starts when Parsnips contacts Vander out of desperation.
Vander and Parsnips emotionally exist, at the beginning, outside of the circle of friends who form the basis of the strengths of the strange pairings here. But the subtle similarities in Parsnipās relationship and personality bring them together with pixies Phil and Peaches, along with their fated mates. I loved this journey and all the tiny elements that the author wove into it. Btw? Those hair clips of Byxās are incredible!
Mayās attention to detail, however, is never lost by the sheer texture and depth of the new storylines being added into the universe, the darkness that is now so much closer to the characters than we thought, and new awareness of old dangers brought to light.
The different Pixie relationships are loving and unusual, the many beings who are important to the inner circle are expanding their storyline, and a new realm has opened up.
Thereās so many key issues that May puts into play at various stages in the narrative that itās chilling watching how they slowly develop into something more complex and threatening than has ever been hinted at before. It happens with whispers and the occasional nod from the characters that something is definitely amiss and will need to be investigated. Or something even more serious.
I got delicious shivers and a whole new appreciation for this authorās style and craftsmanship in this book and series.
The fourth book has a title. Is it part of a new series or this one? Itās most definitely connected. I needs it now I do.
Not familiar with this author? This is a fabulous place to start, with this series. But they really must be read in the order they are written in because of the relationships and events that occur that are building the foundation.
If I could give higher ratings I would.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie: Parsnip’s Story (Perfect Pixie #3) by M. J. May is a must along with the prior stories!
Absolutely gorgeous covers!
Perfect Pixie:ā„ļø
ā Perfectly Imperfect Pixie #1
ā Perfectly Perfect Pixie #2
ā Perfectly Charmed Pixie #3
Next: and part of this series/universe
ā¦ Perfectly Perplexing Zombie: Wendallās Story – late fall/winter 2023
Youthful arrogance and misplaced trust left Parsnipās once beautiful aqua colors little more than shades of muted gray. As a social pixie and host of a popular TV show, Parsnip desperately needs to fool everyone into believing heās that same, stunningly colorful creature. Warlock-made charms are all Parsnip needs to keep up the rouse. But the financial cost is high, and each activated charm steals more of his life force. Despite this, Parsnipās willing to pay any price. After all, who would want a faded pixie?
Everyone knows warlocks have no moral compass. But if thatās true, why does Vander Kines turn down more commissions than he accepts? Barely able to keep a roof over his head, his shop open, his brownie ward fed, and beer in the fridge, Vander should jump at the large sums of money clients are willing to throw in his direction. But no amount of cash is worth the cost of his soul, and his only true concern is keeping the young brownie safe.
When a magical mishap with Parsnipās warlock sends the pixie through Vanderās door, Vander refuses his request until he discovers Parsnip is his one and only. Now, he will go to any lengths to make Parsnip happyāeven trading his own life force in place of Parsnipās.
Unfortunately, Parsnip isnāt fooling everyone, and a witch with a vendetta is determined to expose his secret, and sheās willing to kill Vander and hand Parsnip over to his worst ogre nightmare to get what she wants.
True, unvarnished love is hard to find and sometimes even harder to accept. Having found it, Parsnipās willing to do anything to keep it safeā¦even if that means giving up his charmed life.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie is the third book in the Perfect Pixie series. It can be read as a stand alone but would be more enjoyable if the first two books in the series are read first.
Perfectly Charmed Pixie contains beautiful pixiesāno matter what their colors, an ornery yet clever brownie, a morally sound warlock, pixie dust addicted ogres, good and bad witches, a questionably reformed siren, more honeysuckle mead, magic, and finding your perfect, other half.
A Ruse To Unchain Us brings The Magi Accounts near the end of this incredible dark saga. Two more stories to follow and weāll see what happens to all the characters who have suffered and survived through this perilous, harrowing journey.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is emotionally draining and powerful in the wrenching scenes that Notaro delivers, one after the other, as the Ono-Nai tribe fights against government and witches alike to survive the battles against both and the tear in the universe. There are moments of such brutality and violence, common in this series, that hit you hard in the heart. As they should. Tissues should be issued along with the story.
Repeatedly, the author reminds the reader exactly whatās at stake, often graphic detail , what type of treatment the non humans have had to endure for decades. Along with the past traumatic history, thereās the current horrors they continue to endure, suffer under, as they battle to get their rights and freedoms.
As Notaro notes, read the trigger warnings because they definitely apply, as they have for the series. Torture, sexual assault and abuse (some off page) as children and adults , brutality , beatings, and horrific death is a common occurrence too. These beings have been and are continued to be subjected to the entire spectrum of the worst humankind is capable of simply because they arenāt human and are regarded as tools for the humans to use as they see fit.
To counter such agonizing moments and scenes, itās balanced with those of pride, found family, bonds of deep affection, friendship, and abiding love. All of which have had to endure the pain and horror of the world they live in and survive to come together as the strong forces we see now.
Cosmo Ono-Nai, Mads, Jude, and the rest of the Ono-Nai pack must deal with the toughest challenges yet their pride has faced when The Red Cloth ups itās attacks against the government and its citizens.
I wonāt spoil the high stakes and action that occurs here. Itās intense, fast paced, incredibly emotional, and very suspenseful. And yes, filled with love and pain too , because this is a battlefield and people/beings are hurt and sometimes they die.
Notaroās vision and realistic writing makes sure we donāt forget about the pain as well as the love, the loss that goes with the wins, such as they are. Itās raw, dark fiction and it rings so true.
Two more novels to go. Oneās a companion story, Logan and Haiden get a book of their own. And then onto the finale. I canāt imagine how the author will tie up all the characters and storylines still moving forward but Iām sure it will be amazing. Iāll be so sorry to see this series end.
What a fantastic journey itās been.
Until then, I highly recommend you read this series in the order itās written if you havenāt already done so. Then read the intensely powerful A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro. Just a great example why this author is an auto read.
The Magi Accounts:
š¹The Scars That Bind Us #1
š¹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
š¹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
š¹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
š¹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday
š¹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5
š¹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4
š¹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)
Itās time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.
The Cloaked Freeway is finally in a position to effect real change, and I want so badly to be a part of it. Since I was a little kid, itās been my dream to free my people from under the humanās rule. And now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.
But helping them means giving up so much. I have a family nowāa prideāand I donāt want to put them at risk. Luckily for me, my mate wants to be a part of the revolution, too, but that still leaves everyone else.
The world is turning into chaos around us and our family is being pulled in different directions, but I know one thing for sure. The Ono-Nais are fighters, and weāll do everything in our power to keep each other safe and help those around us.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is the fourth book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. Itās recommended to read the series in order because the romance progresses through the series and it has an ongoing storyline, but there is NO cliffhanger.
*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.
A Ruse To Unchain Us brings The Magi Accounts near the end of this incredible dark saga. Two more stories to follow and weāll see what happens to all the characters who have suffered and survived through this perilous, harrowing journey.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is emotionally draining and powerful in the wrenching scenes that Notaro delivers, one after the other, as the Ono-Nai tribe fights against government and witches alike to survive the battles against both and the tear in the universe. There are moments of such brutality and violence, common in this series, that hit you hard in the heart. As they should. Tissues should be issued along with the story.
Repeatedly, the author reminds the reader exactly whatās at stake, often graphic detail , what type of treatment the non humans have had to endure for decades. Along with the past traumatic history, thereās the current horrors they continue to endure, suffer under, as they battle to get their rights and freedoms.
As Notaro notes, read the trigger warnings because they definitely apply, as they have for the series. Torture, sexual assault and abuse (some off page) as children and adults , brutality , beatings, and horrific death is a common occurrence too. These beings have been and are continued to be subjected to the entire spectrum of the worst humankind is capable of simply because they arenāt human and are regarded as tools for the humans to use as they see fit.
To counter such agonizing moments and scenes, itās balanced with those of pride, found family, bonds of deep affection, friendship, and abiding love. All of which have had to endure the pain and horror of the world they live in and survive to come together as the strong forces we see now.
Cosmo Ono-Nai, Mads, Jude, and the rest of the Ono-Nai pack must deal with the toughest challenges yet their pride has faced when The Red Cloth ups itās attacks against the government and its citizens.
I wonāt spoil the high stakes and action that occurs here. Itās intense, fast paced, incredibly emotional, and very suspenseful. And yes, filled with love and pain too , because this is a battlefield and people/beings are hurt and sometimes they die.
Notaroās vision and realistic writing makes sure we donāt forget about the pain as well as the love, the loss that goes with the wins, such as they are. Itās raw, dark fiction and it rings so true.
Two more novels to go. Oneās a companion story, Logan and Haiden get a book of their own. And then onto the finale. I canāt imagine how the author will tie up all the characters and storylines still moving forward but Iām sure it will be amazing. Iāll be so sorry to see this series end.
What a fantastic journey itās been.
Until then, I highly recommend you read this series in the order itās written if you havenāt already done so. Then read the intensely powerful A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro. Just a great example why this author is an auto read.
The Magi Accounts:
š¹The Scars That Bind Us #1
š¹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
š¹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
š¹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
š¹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday
š¹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5
š¹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4
š¹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)
Itās time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.
The Cloaked Freeway is finally in a position to effect real change, and I want so badly to be a part of it. Since I was a little kid, itās been my dream to free my people from under the humanās rule. And now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.
But helping them means giving up so much. I have a family nowāa prideāand I donāt want to put them at risk. Luckily for me, my mate wants to be a part of the revolution, too, but that still leaves everyone else.
The world is turning into chaos around us and our family is being pulled in different directions, but I know one thing for sure. The Ono-Nais are fighters, and weāll do everything in our power to keep each other safe and help those around us.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is the fourth book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. Itās recommended to read the series in order because the romance progresses through the series and it has an ongoing storyline, but there is NO cliffhanger.
*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.
A Ruse To Unchain Us brings The Magi Accounts near the end of this incredible dark saga. Two more stories to follow and weāll see what happens to all the characters who have suffered and survived through this perilous, harrowing journey.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is emotionally draining and powerful in the wrenching scenes that Notaro delivers, one after the other, as the Ono-Nai tribe fights against government and witches alike to survive the battles against both and the tear in the universe. There are moments of such brutality and violence, common in this series, that hit you hard in the heart. As they should. Tissues should be issued along with the story.
Repeatedly, the author reminds the reader exactly whatās at stake, often graphic detail , what type of treatment the non humans have had to endure for decades. Along with the past traumatic history, thereās the current horrors they continue to endure, suffer under, as they battle to get their rights and freedoms.
As Notaro notes, read the trigger warnings because they definitely apply, as they have for the series. Torture, sexual assault and abuse (some off page) as children and adults , brutality , beatings, and horrific death is a common occurrence too. These beings have been and are continued to be subjected to the entire spectrum of the worst humankind is capable of simply because they arenāt human and are regarded as tools for the humans to use as they see fit.
To counter such agonizing moments and scenes, itās balanced with those of pride, found family, bonds of deep affection, friendship, and abiding love. All of which have had to endure the pain and horror of the world they live in and survive to come together as the strong forces we see now.
Cosmo Ono-Nai, Mads, Jude, and the rest of the Ono-Nai pack must deal with the toughest challenges yet their pride has faced when The Red Cloth ups itās attacks against the government and its citizens.
I wonāt spoil the high stakes and action that occurs here. Itās intense, fast paced, incredibly emotional, and very suspenseful. And yes, filled with love and pain too , because this is a battlefield and people/beings are hurt and sometimes they die.
Notaroās vision and realistic writing makes sure we donāt forget about the pain as well as the love, the loss that goes with the wins, such as they are. Itās raw, dark fiction and it rings so true.
Two more novels to go. Oneās a companion story, Logan and Haiden get a book of their own. And then onto the finale. I canāt imagine how the author will tie up all the characters and storylines still moving forward but Iām sure it will be amazing. Iāll be so sorry to see this series end.
What a fantastic journey itās been.
Until then, I highly recommend you read this series in the order itās written if you havenāt already done so. Then read the intensely powerful A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro. Just a great example why this author is an auto read.
The Magi Accounts:
š¹The Scars That Bind Us #1
š¹The Shackles That Hold Us #2
š¹A Date To Impress Him #2.5
š¹A Purpose That Restores Us #3
š¹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday
š¹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5
š¹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4
š¹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)
Itās time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.
The Cloaked Freeway is finally in a position to effect real change, and I want so badly to be a part of it. Since I was a little kid, itās been my dream to free my people from under the humanās rule. And now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.
But helping them means giving up so much. I have a family nowāa prideāand I donāt want to put them at risk. Luckily for me, my mate wants to be a part of the revolution, too, but that still leaves everyone else.
The world is turning into chaos around us and our family is being pulled in different directions, but I know one thing for sure. The Ono-Nais are fighters, and weāll do everything in our power to keep each other safe and help those around us.
A Ruse To Unchain Us is the fourth book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. Itās recommended to read the series in order because the romance progresses through the series and it has an ongoing storyline, but there is NO cliffhanger.
*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.
Iāve been following Annabelle Jacobs wolf shifter packs from the beginning and got really invested in the world the author created and cross series she created.
But now at the end of the Dark Forest Pack, I feel that the stories and multiple characters, as evidenced by the index at the bookās beginning, has gotten so stretched out that the depth of plots and personalities that once grabbed my attention is now less apparent. Or missing altogether.
For me, Loving Jake falls into the latter category. Which is too bad.
The entire concept can be summed up as āmy Alpha says so , so even though itās evil and I hate it , Iām gonna do itā. Whatās worse is that the author sets up the drama with the main couple and secondary characters knowing the Alpha is ādoing WRONG ā but hey letās ignore it. Then everything plays out based on the fact they Canāt Do anything because the BAD Alpha says so.
Now the author warns the reader the book, a total lesson in readability/frustration imo, this is the way sheās plotting it, so thereās that. Itās pack rule, do whatever the Alpha says. Even though it doesnāt happen in her other novels.
But there no point, no dimension to this plot. Just a sledgehammer of dramatic narrative up to almost the end. No real details of a love affair between the main characters or verbal declarations of their own either. Just deep feelings to counteract the plotting against them.
Everyone knows who the villain is. The last battle is a mess, and the resolution doesnāt fully answer all the questions the mystery and murder raised.
I want to give this a two star but went ahead with a 3 out of fondness for its origins which are squandered here.
So for me, at the end of the series which had so much potential, Loving Jake gave us one dimensional characters, a forced sledgehammer of a frustrating plot, and a messy ending that doesnāt really resolve anything. Really, itās like the series lost its energies here.
If thatās a story you want to read, or if youāre a reader who needs to complete a series, Loving Jake awaits you.
Pack is family, family is everythingā¦until it isnāt.
Max
I worried weād ruin it all by crossing the line from friends to lovers, but kissing Jake feels as natural as breathing.
I thought weād have forever.
I thought we could take our time.
I couldnāt have been more wrong.
In this last instalment of the Dark Forest Pack series, Max and Jake need all the help they can get to break free from their alphaās command. But thereās just one problem with thatātheyāre forbidden to talk about it. When breaking that rule could mean tearing their pack apart, is it a risk worth taking?
Loving Jake is an MM paranormal romance featuring best friends turned lovers with the odds stacked against them. Full of pining, suspense, and sizzling UST, with a guaranteed HEA.
For maximum enjoyment, books should be read in order.
A Star So Dark and Peculiar , the first in the Tears from the Sky series by Cyan Crowe, is also a first novel by the author for me. Iām all about storytelling that involves multiple types of shifters, mating bonds, paranormal species , and exploring the mythology that will build on their past in the series arc.
Crowe is giving the reader all that and more here. The series is dark fiction and characters that feel engaging and real are often treated as expendable, meeting their True Death unexpectedly. One at least I wasnāt prepared for. But itās in keeping with the characterizations and relationship dynamics Crowe is developing.
Cyan Crowe does several things that are notable, most fantastic and one not so great.
First is the fact that our introduction into the world is a confusing one. That window into the past with the Crown Lords and Oracle didnāt work, at least for me. I felt that any information gleaned from those scenes could have been imparted in other ways throughout the storyline. In fact the entire book only really came together one we got into the present day.
Thatās where everything starts to gel. The characters are strong, exceedingly well written, and while the reader doesnāt yet have a solid understanding of the world building, itās parts are added as the characters interact and the narrative becomes more complex to give a larger perspective on the mystery and universe surrounding them.
Itās a brutal world overlaid with an air of civility, animalistic with a skin of humanity. Cell phone technology with fang and claw death in tandem. The author realistically portrays a divided paranormal society, literally separated by fortified walls and gates, each ruled by a different species with a similar structure and name. The immortal Crown Lion, Crown Wolf, and Crown Gryfalcon, each at the head of their respective species, then they have their Blades of the Crown. A unknown person who is close to the Crown, carries out their orders/duties as they see fit, an assassin if need be. The Blades are old and said to have some of the immortal blood in them.
This is just part of the intriguing mystery and information that the reader gathers from the narrative as we meet Gage Declan, Alpha Wolf of the City (wolf territory although other species live there). Heās considered young for the job position heās holding but powerful in his role to easily manage his team. Gageās character and history is a complex one, and becomes even stronger and fascinating as the book progresses. He starts off strong but the author builds on layer after layer, giving Gage remarkable depth and high intelligence while not diminishing his raw brutality .
To balance such a compelling being the author had to craft an equally complicated, magnetic personality. Crowe gives us Alpha Ethan Odin Vinci, new Alpha Lion of the Fort (Lion shifter section with other species residing). But Ethan is ancient, mysterious, and perhaps more. So they begin at a combative level to sort out a mystery plaguing both their sections and separate species.
Additionally, same sex relationships or activities are illegal and considered unnatural by law and the cultures. So events that occur are fundamentally shocking to both.
This is a great element and the way itās handled on both sides makes sense for the two men involved from both personal and political perspectives. This is a core sea change that can, given both Alphas status and power, fundamentally change society.
Given this fact and the type of being each person is, Crowe stays true to the heart of the narrative and world the author is still rolling out in showing the reader the complex, often contradictory, intense, sometimes feral or savage behavior that resides within them, often after seemingly being pleasantly civil.
This is exciting stuff. We have a whole vampire element here thatās probably not what it appears to be. Right now they are the very big bad though.
Plus thereās things like the TEARs, a fatal illness no one knows how or why it occurs but that thereās no cure or antidote. The scenes involving people in the final stages are moving and heartbreaking.
Crowe has also assembled an excellent cast of characters surrounding the main personalities, and that seems to be expanding as well to meet the needs of the revelations of the storylines. The plot lines, many that they are, flow so fluidly through the story, picking up speed as it arrives at the main climatic battle and the jumping off point towards the next book.
Which honestly canāt come soon enough.
Except for that stumbled start, A Star So Dark and Peculiar (Tears from the Sky Book 1) by Cyan Crowe is a fantastic read. Itās exciting, full of new multidimensional characters, and imaginative storytelling. I canāt wait for it to continue.
Iām highly recommending it for all lovers of paranormal fiction and dark romance.
Itās time to embrace the night and show the true might of the stars so brightā¦
My name is Gage Odysseus Declan.
You could say Iām a complicated man with uncomplicated needs. Iām Alpha Wolf for the City, charged with protecting my kind. I enjoy law and order, sexy times at Circus, and being left alone.
Step too close, and Iāll cut you down.
But Iāve stumbled upon a kitty cat that smells like a raging storm, a dark and peculiar chaos that I want to dominate and cuddle.
His name is Ethan Odin Vinci.
I suspect heās the Blade to Crown Lion. The cat lives in the Castle, is crazier than anyone Iāve ever met, and is way too devious for that vain head of his.
And heās just as alpha as me.
Thatāsā¦a problem.
The Lady Moons connected two men together, an utter blindsiding Bond. This has never happened beforeāitās not our way.
Yet here I am. Here he is.
Here we are under the sky and the stars and the night, circling each other like weāre moonslit preyā¦
While bloodthirsty vampires take root in the City, and our people continue to die from TEARS.
But Iāve got this under control.
I am that good.
Get ready to twinkle twinkle, bitches.
The night is going to shine.
*This novel is approx. 150,000 words. This world does not contain MPreg.
Spell It Out is less a prequel but more a side story to the wonderful Mages and Matea series by Andy Gallo. This dives into a great couple of teachers at a interspecies high school connected to the university central to the series. Here mage Dylan Jurgenson, cousin to Bart Hollen (Break The Spell), has found out that heās one of the teacher chaperones on the high school camping trip this year. Each year heās managed to evade the duty by passing it off to another, like his cousin. But this time, Bartās busy, so he has no other option. And math teacher , Minotaur shifter Xavier Tollis, is going as well.
Those are the basic facts. With the characters in place, Gallo begins to give us a lovely romantic story, filled with all the details that come with new relationship building, the discovery and discussions, and the joy. That Xavier and Dylan have young teenagers in their charge too adds a wonderful dimension. Gallo allows the kids a youthful energy and enthusiasm that makes the adults feel even more connected.
There are some fantastic teens here with their own issues, some of which coincide with that of Dylanās poor self esteem. And there are other storylines about family, child neglect, and pack culture. All woven together into a story that has romances, humor, teenage angst , adult drama , mate bonding, and HEA.
Im hoping to see more of this couple together in the series, especially as Bart makes an appearance here. They are both really great characters and have such warmth about them. Actually Iād love to see the students too.
Novellas like Spell It Out ( Mages and Mates Prequel) by Andy Gallo just wet my imagination and enthusiasm for the series and characters I meet. It makes me want to go back to the beginning and start reading again.
This is a definite recommendation. So is the series. Itās listed below.
Dylan Jurgenson hates camping but is stuck chaperoning his practical magic class on their fieldtrip. Worse, heās bunking with sexy math teacher Xavier Tollis. You know, the hot Minotaur shifter who barely knows Dylan exists. Not that Xavierās lack of interest comes as any surprise. Whoād be interested in a mediocre mage, anyway?
Xavier can handle crazy teens and camping. Who heād like to handle is the cute mage giving him morning wood so often he could build a house. Unfortunately, even in human form Xavier scares Dylan. Minotaurs have terrible reputations and even worse track records in love. Whoād be crazy enough to take a chance on a big guy like him, anyway?
Just when Dylan and Xavier are finally moving beyond their insecurities and misunderstandings, two students disappear under mysterious circumstances. Working together, they put their newfound feelings and lives on the line to save their wayward charges.
Failure is not an option but playing hero can sure have unintended consequences.
Anthologies are always a great place to find a new author, get reacquainted with a writer you havenāt read in a while, or just plain enjoy a story from a favorite author of yours. All centered around one theme so a reader can see if they take a different or similar approach to the topic.
In this case , itās the popular theme of fated mates in paranormal romance.
Fated Mates, a charity anthology, offers 20 stories by 20 authors, on the subject of fated mates. Clearly, a reader will be able to find a story to enjoy out of such a wide variety.
Story Format Key:
š¦Authors who wrote standalone stories, no connection to another series
š¹True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwoodš¦
āāā-
1. Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters – this story, which is a prequel, has a nice twist and interesting premise. Ends abruptly but as the author intends to go into a series with these characters, itās fine.
2. How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight-Demon Lyn and human Jamie are #couplegoals and this is a fabulous tale w/ great depth and characters. Love this Demon, they are adorable.ā¤ļø
4. A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex- terrific little story about a squirrel shifter finding his mate. Prequel to a new series. Fantastic.
5. Fated Kiss by Mia Monroe-instant mate/love vampire story that was one dimensional, plot holes.
6. Inferno by Kiki Clark- a prequel to the authorās new Silver Oak Pack series, itās a quick best friends to fated mates tale, via mixed up curse. Cute.
7. Black and White by Vinni George- this is another prequel to a new paranormal series, Orcas. Itās pretty terrific in that it sets out the characters, a great storyline, and foundation arc. Need more!
8. Violent Secret by Ariana Nash- part of the authorās Blackrose Brotherhood series, including the character. Well done. Terrific piece.ā¤ļø
9. Wounded Mate by Lee Colgin , set in Colginās Outcast Mates series, an incubus and a werewolf find true love (hurt/comfort, found family) in a well done story.
10. Shiny Things by Kelly Fox is a great read, complete with well crafted location, terrific characters and story line. Poe the Raven shifter with his avian characteristics is perfect.ā„ļø
11. The Crow Kingās Mate by Jennifer Cody is an excellent paranormal love story about a raven shifter and a wolf shifter dealing with past bad romantic experiences finding out that they are fated mates. Wonderful characters and plot.ā¤ļø
12. Fateās Treasure by Grae Bryan is a story I wish the author would expand into a larger novel. Itās so well written with excellent plotting and terrifically detailed characters that the ending pops way up too soon. Gentle , sweet storytelling.ā¤ļø
13. Deader Than Dead by H.L Day, great elements but together they added up to a story that just didnāt work for me. Others might feel differently. Trigger warnings about death and suicide.
14. Words Not Necessary by Lisa Oliver -prequel to established series, Magic Users of Greenford Trilogy, knowledge of that is useful but not necessary. Neo the anchor and Rocky the High Magic User find themselves on a magical murder mystery case as well as fated mates in a terrific short story that will send me looking into the series.ā¤ļø
15. As the Raven Flies by Meghan Maslow . Forced proximity/fated mates and two of my favorite shifters Raven/wolf combos or dire wolf. Part of the Charm City series/universe, excellent tale in every aspect. Storytelling, hot chemistry, fabulous characters, and location. More !ā„ļø
16. Curse of Silver & Blood by Sheena Jolie is part of the Infinite Arcana Universe by SJ Himes/Sheena Jolie. Werewolf and wounded Fae fated mate pairing thatās a prequel to a story coming out in 2024. Iāll be waiting to read it as I love this romance and need more about what happens next. ā¤ļø
17. Thereās A Bat in My Room! By Michele Notaro. This is part of the Ellwood and Brinnswood world series for those who are familiar with the universe. Thereās an adorable bat shifter in trouble and his human fated mate who will help him, once he gets over his fear of bats and idea that the bat isnāt a vampire. Cute story with familiar characters showing up as support.
18. The Demon and the Librarian by Chloe Archer. Archer had me at the librarian but just continued to seal the deal with great elements that had me snort giggling at places. Fabulous characters and storylines. Part of the Monsters Hollow series, this is a favorite story and one I wish was at novel length. ā„ļø
19. A Scent Like No Other by JP Sayle, Enchanted Ink tattoo shop, Salem, Massachusetts, and three beings in search of their fated mates, one of whom of is a skunk shifter. Prequel and same universe as the story in the beginning of the anthology from Kelex.
20. True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwood is a fantastic way to end this grand anthology. Itās a fated mates vampire romance with all the writing aspects associated with Sherwoodās storytelling. Thereās poignant moments, humorous scenes, sexy intimacy and great characters. I seriously needed more than just the shortened ending. Love the universe and couple.ā¤ļø
All in all, a fabulous anthology, full of a wonderful selection of authors and stories to read and even new series to enjoy. And a charity that will be able to provide for the LGBTQIA community too with the readers help.
Fated Mates is a Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology from some of your favorite MM authors!
It features new, exclusive stories from Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, Kelex, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle.
All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.
Hellhounds Never Lie is the first in a new series, Willow Lake Supernaturals, by Lori Ames, an author Iām not really familiar with. I really enjoyed getting acquainted with her writing with Hellhounds Never Lie. Itās location is the town of
Willow Lake, a mixture of humans and supernaturals living together, albeit unknowingly by the small group of humans. Itās considered a haven for supernaturals, a safe sanctuary for all , regardless of pack or political affiliation.
Into this comes a badly wounded fire mage looking for a new home. This is Ash, whose escape from a criminal ex, and a DV and DA situation , has left him with scars inside and out. Ash is a lovely character and one easily invested in.
Ames has created an entire community of characters here to carry over from book to book. Alpha werewolf without a pack thatās part of the entire series arc, a Hellhound police captain, a cat whose supernatural identity isnāt revealed, and on it goes. So many magical hijinks afoot here, especially in the bar thatās the watering hole and gathering place for the town.
Some of the elements here by Ames just telegraph their intentions too easily. As in certain characters might as well have narrative red arrows above them pointing downward saying ābad guy, something wrong hereā. So when at the point in the storyline they , gasp, show up as , well, bad, youāre not surprised. Thatās why the ratings not higher.
But Ames is able to make a reader feel connected to the town and enough of the characters that, even with the predictable aspects of the plot and some minor characters, the enjoyment isnāt lost. Plus Iām curious about Ashās best friend on the other side of those texts and he gets the next novel! And there is the ongoing mystery left to solve.
So Iām definitely invested in this series and author going forward. The DV/DA (off page) was handled with sensitivity and the mystery is good. I like the characters and the relationships as they develop. So onward to the next!
A mage without magic. A hellhound without a home. A greedy wolf pack in the hills.
Ash is technically a fire mage, but he canāt do much. Turning his bedroom lights on and off without having to get out of bed isnāt exactly awe inspiring, not when anyone with the right gadget could clap and do the same thing.
Worse, sometimes he senses something bigger and brighter lurking under his skin, and it feels so familiar he knows it has to be his magic, but then he burps or sneezes, and the feeling passes. So itās probably just allergiesā¦ or gas.
Yeahā¦ Not exactly brimming with magical oomph. Not anymore.
It sucks.
But things start to change when he finds Dillon, a hellhound, being chased through the woods by an angry wolf pack. He is instantly smitten and itās like something inside him unlocks. Whatās even crazier is Dillon seems to think Ash still has magicā¦ and now Ash isnāt sure what to believe.
What he does know is heāll do what needs to be done to protect his friends and the little supernatural town of Willow Lake from the dirtbag wolves in the hills. Even with his magic on the fritz he can help, right? And, with Dillon at his side, what could possibly go wrong?
Tags: a hellhound looking for a home, a fire mage without magic, a talking cat, a small town full of supernatural beings, size difference (BIG hellhound, small mage), fated mates, Ash has scars inside and out, Dillon wants to hurt people who hurt Ash, Ash is always cold (hello, big fluffy pink sweaters even in summer), and a curious human BFF who knows nothing about supes but has a very active imagination.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 