Hunters Hollow, a sequel series to Arden Steele’s ongoing terrific Blackhaven Manor paranormal novels, is a successful crossover world. I’m really enjoying this series. I love the way Steele created new engaging characters, while maintaining the many established characters/couples it’s brought over from its original series.
These characters, all well defined in terms of personality and history, as well as the shared universe beings that have continued impactful roles to play , like Hades, in the storylines, keep the books intriguing and exciting.
Curses and Casualties, the third book in this series, demonstrates all the best qualities of the two worlds, with the established mythology and a great murder mystery to investigate.
Necromancer Elliot Church has a secret parentage and a familiar, Dax. It’s his father whose request for an investigation brings him first to New Orleans, then to Hunters Hollow.
It’s where he meets his fated mate, Tenn, an incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry. Tenn, now a tattoo artist in Hunters Hollow, and Elliott have a great fated mate moment and start to a developing relationship. I enjoyed that Steele has layers to them. There’s issues that need to be addressed. Dax’ bond and Dax’s feelings as part of the dynamic for one. That’s just the beginning.
The mystery is good although the villain is easily guessed at. Why they are so bad is a better story.
And there’s other scenes and aspects of Curses and Casualties that will just tug at your heart. Especially the ending that added just more things to think about and explore in this expanding universe.
I look forward to the next chapter in this series and couple to get their fated mate HEA.
At least, that’s the way Elliot Church feels. A powerful mage with a gift for necromancy, he’s made a name for himself as a successful private investigator. And he fails to see how smiling in front of a camera or answering the same banal questions has any bearing on his performance.
It’s nothing more than a distraction, and one he doesn’t need, especially when strange things start happening in New Orleans.
There are dead Otherlings in the Quarter, their bodies mummified and their souls fragmented. A Reaper stands on every corner, and more are pouring into the city daily, which can only mean one thing. Mass casualties.
When his search for answers leads him to Hunters Hollow, the last thing he expects to find in the backwater town is his mate. Incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry, Lysander Tennison—Tenn to the locals—is everything he never knew he wanted, but the timing couldn’t be more wrong. Yet, he can no more turn his back on the demon than he can ignore what’s going on in the city.
Even when every road in front of him leads straight to hell.
Wolfsbane is in the murky area that the characters and locations are familiar to those who have read The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, and yes , that main character makes an important contribution here. So while you might say it’s a standalone story, it’s also not really one as many elements crossover.
Wolfsbane (Werewolves of Boston #1) by S J Himes is also a series of one novel. The characters themselves will make appearances elsewhere but this is it for them.
Rael, a young person whose heritage has made him unwelcome in his pack (his mother is a werewolf and deceased father human). He’s unable to shift, or show other otherworldly traits that would make him acceptable.
The author sets up an emotional showdown at a pack meeting that goes unexpectedly sideways with Rael and his mother not leaving but instead Rael has a suitor.
This all comes together rapidly , and while Rael and Jameson Mercer, his suitor, agree on a set time to get to know each other, there no “feeling “ of them being able to communicate or interact because of the dramatic events that soon followed.
The short length rushes the narrative smartly along to the detriment of much depth of character or relationship development. It’s just everything falling into place.
Drama. Romance. Villains identified. Help offered and accepted for various elements of the plot. New final surprise scene and wrap up.
It’s lively, fun, and a fast paced read. The couple is cute and the mom wonderful. For more than that it needs details, depth, and story length.
For which I recommend The Sorcerer of Beacon Hill series. Just excellent.
I do recommend it if you’re a fan of the series and author. I enjoyed it.
Werewolves of Boston (1 book series)
Related series/universe:
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer (8 book series) by Sheena Jolie writing as S.J. Himes
Introducing a new series, Werewolves of Boston, set in the same universe as The Beacon Hill Sorcerer!
Rael Morrow is a human-werewolf hybrid, and he’s about to be kicked out of his pack. Unable to transform, Rael is left with few options. He can accept the Alpha’s ruling and be banished, pulling his mother with him—or agree to a courtship with Jameson Mercer, heir presumptive of their Boston Southside Pack and the object of Rael’s longtime unrequited crush.
If he mates with Jameson, he can remain in the pack, and he and his mother won’t have to suffer the indignity of being forced to uproot their whole lives.
Rael reluctantly agrees to the plan. He’s been in love with Jameson since he was a kid, and there’s no way Jameson cares about him in the same way. Rael is afraid he’s setting himself up for a lifetime of misery.
But then begins a seduction that breaks down every preconceived notion that Rael had about Jameson, and he dares to hope.
Of course, things are never that easy. Jameson is the perfect alpha, and Rael’s human heritage hides a secret that threatens his life. The Southside Pack is primed to fracture as power dynamics shift. And Rael is forced to reconcile who he always thought he was with who he could become.
WOLFSBANE is a 37,000 word novella set in the Infinite Arcana, an expanded universe shared with The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, but can be read as a standalone.
Superlative. Once again May is building a suspenseful, dynamic, thrilling new series by introducing a villain that’s truly horrifying by its truly threatening but yet unknown nature. But first, a fantastic well crafted, compelling murder mystery, full of secrets, bodies, ghosts, another necromancer , more world building, and just a outstanding story.
Have to wait until the end but by the scenes described, the reader can imagine the scope of its plotting. One so immense that’s been unknown, whose power and potential to harm this series’ world and characters will hang over each story.
Fabulous.
It starts with May taking her Erasmus Boone and Franklin O’Hare out of their homes and comfort zone, away from their jobs, family, friends and the warmth of the Mississippi , back to Chicago and the Midwest where Detective Franklin O’Hare came from and still has ties.
It’s a great way to start. It’s cold. The Chicago PD murder case is fraught with danger, both in terms of emotional distress and the likelihood of prejudice against Boone. And then there’s the question of Franklin’s family who wants to meet Boone for the first time as well since they became a couple.
The characters May creates for the Chicago PD and at every other aspect of the story are just as well defined, beautifully executed as any that’s come before. Their personalities develop and grow as the cases and investigations become more complex, just as you would imagine.
Series characters are also evolving. Aurelia the djinn is finding new facets to her personality, possible emotions to figure out, and those are her struggle with her increasing unpredictability. May’s strength in writing otherworldly beings that are absolutely at their core non human make her books magical, powerful, and often terrifying. For the reader and the characters in the stories.
I can’t wait for this series to continue. What an amazing, scary journey lies ahead. Highly recommended! And I love seeing crossover characters from the Pixie series make connections here!
Necromancer Erasmus Boone’s life is better than he ever imagined. Bucking the typical necromancer storyline, Erasmus has managed to carve out a life filled with love and purpose. With Halloween fast approaching, Erasmus is ready to enjoy his favorite time of year. Unfortunately, Detective Franklin O’Hare’s Midwestern past has other ideas.
Covered in blood and found wandering the streets surrounding Chicago, a necromancer is being accused of murder—the victim and circumstances unknown. Mentally unstable, this unfortunate necromancer is in jeopardy of being railroaded for a crime he may or may not have been involved in. Franklin O’Hare’s former captain doesn’t want to witness another victimized necromancer. Aware of Franklin’s association with Erasmus, he calls on them for help.
Now headed for chillier climes, Erasmus and Franklin need to figure out if a crime has been committed, and if there’s one thing Erasmus excels at, it’s finding where the bodies are buried. Only Erasmus doesn’t just fine one victim; he finds several. When the souls of the departed blame their deaths on a long dead bogeyman, it becomes clear the local sheriff has a problem and a necromancer accused of murder is just the tip of the iceberg.
Between bringing back the dead, dealing with local prejudices, and meeting Franklin’s family, Erasmus has his plate full. Add on a worried warlock father and more than one attempted assassination, and Erasmus is more than ready to pack it up and head back to the warm Mississippi breeze.
Deadly Deception is the second book in the Necromancer Tales series and should be read in order. This series is a spin-off of the Perfect Pixie series and takes place in the same world but can be read as a stand-alone series. Deadly Deception is a m/m romantic fantasy mystery with an unusually sane necromancer just trying to make a living, a humble human detective attempting to keep his necromancer boyfriend alive, an arrogant but redeemably overprotective warlock father, a deceptive killer, a questionably moral all-powerful djinn, a kitten who can’t figure out how it wound up in a backpack, let alone staring through a plastic bubble, humans—some redeemable and some not, a chilly Chicago fall, and a playfully bloodthirsty vampire. Deadly Deception has a HFN ending as it is part of an ongoing series.
Mentions of violence, murder, souls brought back from the beyond, spaciest bigotry, and a few characters of questionable morals and sanity.
I’m so enjoying this series, a sequel to Mae’s fantastic Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series). Same location, many crossover characters and fascinating interactions between them that make this series a great read.
It’s dark and violent but without being graphic, sexy with fated mates and magical otherworldly characters. Many of the characters have tragic or otherwise damaged pasts that still currently haunt their lives. And that factors into the narrative of their stories and romantic relationships.
Yes, I’m throughly invested here.
Mae’s done a fantastic job in creating the new interlocking cast of characters that’s launched the series. A found family of Hellhounds that’s moved to Paradise Falls and will start to find their mates.
First , they ended up moving next door to human horror author, Toby, and HellhoundDexter ended up helping Toby with his writing but saving him too from a trafficking ring.
That storyline continues with two of the survivors , Quinton and Aiden, who’ve been adopted into the small group of otherworldly friends, including the Hellhounds.
While this is Quinton and Liam’s story, it’s also Aiden’s because Aiden’s trauma and Quinton’s is linked by their captivity and now survivor closeness, a deep relatable friendship. I love how Mae handles this aspect of the story as well as the different facets that’s introduced to the relationships that exist within the group that’s developing here. There room for so many types of relationships and understanding of each other and how they relate to various dynamics within the group.
It’s lovely. And I look forward to more of this and these types of conversations happening.
The other thing is that the Hellhounds, a well defined and diverse group of individuals, have been created as distinctly non human entities. They come across completely, in their language and actions as otherworldly beings. And we’re still learning about them and their history.
I love this story, the world and the characters. Shannon Mae ties up the trafficking storylines here satisfactorily and sets up the narrative for the next couple to come. It should be fascinating , and full of emotions.
I can’t wait.
I’m highly recommended this series and book. Read them in the order written for plot and characters development.
Hellhounds of Paradise Falls:
How to Flirt with a Hellhound #1
How to Hack a Hellhound #2
How to Tame a Hellhound #3 – May 1,2025
Related series, same universe:
🔹Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series)
Getting kidnapped and held hostage in a human trafficker’s basement was not on my bingo card. Getting rescued by a paranormal being was also not on my bingo card. (Apparently I needed to trade in bingo cards.) The guy who took me may be dead, but I know there are more people behind the operation, and I plan to shut it down. If I need to get the help of one of the creepy glowing eyed dudes to do it, I will. It turns out Liam is incredibly sexy and really good with technology, too. He may be great at hacking into computers, but I’m determined to hack my way into his life.
Liam
Ever since I looked into the feisty human that Dexter rescued from a basement, I’ve been a little… obsessed. Is it wrong that I watch him all the time and hack into all his technology? I’m just trying to keep him safe. After all, he’s sticking his nose into some troubling areas, and I can’t deal with the thought of him getting taken again. Of course I offer to help him when I discover his mission to take down a trafficking ring, although my motives aren’t exactly pure. The little human attracts me in a way that I can’t explain, and my hellhound thinks he’s mine, whether he wants to be or not.
Tags: Emotionally traumatized, feisty vigilante and hacker hellhound fall in love; Liam has Quinton under surveillance 24/7 and will protect him; Quinton doesn’t mind being watched if the dude with the glowing eyes will keep him safe; there’s torture and death (but only of really bad people); hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them.
False Comeback continues to expand and explore Lily Mayne’s unique paranormal romance series set in an otherworldly underground wrestling world, Goliaths of Wrestling.
The intense energy and high emotions that have been resonating between the lord high elf wrestler, Crossbody, and the egregious ghoul with a chip on his shoulder, Vince Burke, come crashing into a head in this crazy, great story, False Comeback.
The set up for this romance starts in the previous book with a huge argument between the two characters that requires a court Wrestling mediation and in-house counseling sessions from the fabulous Corey.
The absolutely combustible, compelling relationship that Mayne is building between Crossbody and Vince captures our entire attention as the layers of history and depth of their personalities are revealed. As their animosity lessens and their intensity of attraction/intimacy becomes even stronger, the characters become increasingly complex and relatable.
Their interactions with the other wrestlers, their fears, and unvoiced feelings, it’s all there, beautifully laid out by Mayne.
And I have to say that last quarter of the story is a fantastic narrative ride! Part thrilling adventure, all sustained suspense and wild moments! Along with some great comedy and sublime characters and storytelling. I read several parts of this twice. Gotta love Ethel.
For additional world expansion, we also get a group of new wrestlers added to the Goliaths of Wrestling found family. What a fascinating new group they are! I can’t wait to meet them in depth.
This has grown to be a favorite new series for me this year. Highly recommended.
Read the warnings. Sexy, kinky, in this case a D/s relationship, otherworldly, hilariously spew worthy, and a definite recommendation.
I’ve given up a lot to pursue a career in professional wrestling, and I’m not going to have it all derailed by an uncouth ghoul with a huge chip on his shoulder, who decided he disliked me for no reason on his very first day at Goliaths.
Vince Burke has been the thorn in my side for five long years, but things have taken a turn for the worse. The management is threatening to get involved. I refuse to let Burke take the life I’ve worked so hard to build from me, so I try to be on my best behaviour at work, but something about him just gets to me. He consumes my thoughts. I can’t stand him.
And when something happens between us that leaves me feeling completely unmoored, I find myself thinking about him constantly. He’s taken all the control, and I need to get it back. Because I liked it too much, and I can’t let myself feel that way about him.
Vince “Rolling Rimmer” Burke
I love everything about my job as a professional wrestler at Goliaths of Wrestling, an underground supernatural wrestling organisation. I love the showmanship. The costumes. The crowds. The ring and the arena. My co-workers.
Well, except one.
High Lord Crossbody, the royal fae who’s an actual prince, is a pompous snob and a pain in my backside. Everything about him rankles me—his clipped drawl, his disdainful sneer, his stupid long legs and eerily perfect face and sultry hooded eyes…
I hate everything about him. I do. So when our mutual dislike boils over in a very public argument, then explodes into something even hotter and completely inappropriate, I’m left confused and even more annoyed.
Because now I want him. And I hate that I want him.
Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. That’s such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
There’s so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year I’m adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. I’m including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. That’s The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. That’s the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These aren’t in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. That’s the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
🔷Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
🔹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( I’m still working on the larger collections)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they weren’t available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. I’d lost track because I read so many.
It’s a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and author’s voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
I’m so thankful for the authors and books I’ve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
🫶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
We’re at the penultimate book in Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic epic paranormal series of ancient Chinese vampires, terrifying Fae dynastic plots, realm invasions, dragons, fated mates , witches and paranormal beings of all sorts of magical mythology.
What a mesmerizing wild explosive fantasy romantic ride this series is. And with Two Thousand Shadows we get both answers to a series long puzzle and an agonizing cliffhanger to angst over until the finale is released.
Two Thousand Shadows has a lot of storylines and elements to it, particularly with Drake having to concentrate on pulling together the entire series dramatic plots and characters for huge battles and storyline climaxes that will resolve the majority of the series main crucial issues.
Does Drake pull it off? Absolutely!
With the addition of new characters, cat shifters with magical abilities that are slowly revealed throughout the narrative, and a new couple who are (already formed in the reader’s imagination) a more substantial force in both personalities and character growth.
Junjie, who’s a seer and warrior, has his own painful past revisited here through memories and conversations with his clan. The cat shifter is revealed to be Leo, the stray cat Junjie has been feeding a surprise that came at the end of the previous story.
Leo’s character and shifter background is rolled out as Leo decides what he wants to do with the clan and his affinity for Junjie. It’s interesting how Drake again is able to write Leo feelings and thoughts as a paranormal character with a different nature than a human being. Leo’s story feels very different from anything else that has come from before, that includes the dragon, who also acts as it should.
What or who is delightfully written is an orphan cat shifter who acts as a bridge between Leo and the clan, especially Junjie, pulling Leo into the found family in a relatable manner.
When it comes to the all important details and climatic moments, Drake has the power of the many magical beings and surprisingly great twists to make them so satisfying. Did I want more? Sure. But this is so complicated, so many elements and elaborate layers of storylines leading up the result that I probably wouldn’t be happy unless there was a couple more books.
These are fabulous characters and it’s hard to believe that with all their potential for growth and more importantly additional content, this is leading up to the end. Hopefully with a break, Drake will think about new stories.
There’s another story coming because as I said this ends on a cliffhanger. A unexpected twist.
Until that book drops, grab up this fantastic series. Read them in the order they were written and enjoy the journey into an incredible universe and amazing characters.
Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.
The Kings of Chaos :
Two Thousand Dreams #1
Two Thousand Tears #2
Two Thousand Blades #3
Two Thousand Shadows #4
Two Thousand Promises #5 – Feb 21,2025 – finale I think.
The “stray cat” Junjie has been feeding and cuddling for months is actually an extremely rare cat shifter.
Of course, Leo would have preferred to continue their arrangement of Junjie feeding him choice bits of fish and rubbing his belly, but he needs Junjie’s help and that means revealing his secret.
An orphaned kitten needs a home after the fae killed his parents, and Leo is the most irresponsible, feckless, lazy creature in existence.
In short, he’s a terrible choice for raising a two-year-old cat shifter.
No. The WORST choice.
Yet, even after the little boy is settled with Junjie and the rest of the Zhang clan, Leo can’t walk away.
There’s just something about that sweet, bashful vampire with the too-soft heart and sexy eyes. And that kid is stealing chunks of his heart, too.
The war with the fae is about to tear the world apart and an old dark shadow has fallen over the Zhang clan, threatening to destroy them all.
Leo must stay to protect his new family. Even if it means giving up all his secrets to the vampire who is steadily stealing away his heart.
Two Thousand Shadows is the fourth novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a gentle, shy vampire who will stop at nothing to protect those he loves, a shifter with a secret, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, cuddles, secrets, and an endless love.
Honestly only the promise of an equally warped, wonderfully dark new series has kept me from absolutely bewailing the ending of this series as it came to its fabulous finale.
Am I ready to say goodbye to the ancient incubus warrior, winged purple flamboyance himself, Zee? Or the magnificent vampire businessman, “Fancy Fangs” Victor? And, importantly ,their love, Adam Vex, “yes, sure I’m human”. No. No, I’m not. And not to Tom Collins, the murderous AI djinn bartender , and all the other otherworldly beings who have made an impact throughout the series are here now in the final showdown with the villain to save the world! And it’s everything I wanted it to be.
It’s sexy, sarcastic, explosive, funny, horrifying, over the top entertaining, emotional, and downright fabulous. And I never wanted it to end.
Coats were flared, buildings destroyed, sex was had, prophecy’s fulfilled, and love wins.
Let me spare a moment to wipe away a tear in sheer joy and appreciation for this absolutely amazing and zany world and series. I’ll probably need to go back and re-read this series and see what I missed in the final reading.
But seeing Adam, Vee, Victor, and the
SOS HOTEL as they were at the end of this book? So so satisfying. A grand finale. I wish I could rate it higher.
A must read for all lovers of this author and genre. Don’t miss out on all the notes beforehand and afterwards. As usual.
Cover design by Ariana Nash
SOS Hotel:
For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
Sleep with Us #3
Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
No Rest for the Wicked #5
Ho, Ho, No #5.5
Luxury To Die For #6
Your Final Resting Place #7 – tbd
Holiday release!
SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
An ex-adult movie star, a broke vampire daddy, and a boring human are about to try and save the world…
It’s probably our fault your world is doomed, if I’m honest. Sorry about that. Sticking with honesty, we’re not great at saving people, or ourselves. You should probably pack a bag and head for the hills.
You know, just in case…
My name is Adam Vex, and I’m definitely not the hero we all need, but along with Zee and Victor, a whole bunch of s*x demons, one shadow beast, a sassy AI bartender, and some uncontrollable gremlins, we’re all you’ve got.
Welcome to the end of the world at the SOS Hotel.
We hope you enjoy your final resting place.
*
Advisory: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable, including frogs. There will likely be a few instances of unaliving, a whole lot of swearing (Zee does not have a profanity filter), and Sebastien being Sebastien.
If you haven’t read the previous books, definitely do not start here. This is the final book in the series.
This is my first dive into author Taylor Rylan’s Universe of Destined Paranormals. A universe of connected paranormal series, five at the moment, in which there’s fated mates and mpreg/omegaverse stories. I listed all the series in the suggested order of reading below, however, did come into Atticus with no prior series knowledge or universe foundation.
The reason I chose Atticus to explore this multi series world was the lack of mpreg here, one that’s a factor in many of the other novels. This story has two alpha males at its center, and that’s why they are incapable of having any offspring.
The characters are carryovers from prior stories and the events mentioned in the book, some hugely impactful to the characters, may have happened during previous novels. Rylan’s story does bring those threads and backgrounds forward, but it can’t be with the same depth given the length of the book and the current plots that have to be explored.
I did enjoy this story. I found the characters engaging and the plots interesting. The themes, an ongoing series arc of an investigation into paranormal trafficking, especially the young, is handled here without specific details while maintaining an emotional connection.
I really like both Atticus and Brice, and they look to figure into the future storylines as Atticus’s alpha status emerges with regard to the hellhounds. I found that I could get involved in the characters and the many dramatic moments even though I hadn’t read the other series and wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about many aspects of the universe and characters that appeared here.
The writing and plotting was well done and I was engaged in the storyline from the beginning. There’s fifteen books in the Paranormal Council Enforcers and I’ll probably do what I did here, deciding which story interests me most going forward.
If fated mates and a paranormal universe interests you, take a look at the many series and books here. Be aware that most include a mpreg/omegaverse element. But not all.
Hellhounds don’t have mates. But after a decade of denying his attraction to Brice, Atticus realizes the lion shifter is just that: his fated mate.
Atticus was banished from the demon realm well over a century ago when he could no longer do his master’s bidding. He had been many places but truly felt at home when he found Honey Creek. His attraction to Brice was unexpected, and when it became too much for him to control his beast, he left, leaving the lion alpha behind.
Brice wasn’t sure what the fates were doing when they gave him a human male for his mate, but he didn’t care. He just wanted Atticus and the life he knew they could have together. When Atticus left, never acknowledging their connection, Brice tried to make the best of what fate had gifted him.
When trouble threatens Brice’s sister and family, he rushes to New Orleans to help. While there, he makes a life-changing discovery about his missing mate. Atticus isn’t a human, and he’s never truly been gone. He’s now a council enforcer, and the hellhound is hell-bent on claiming his mate. But will Brice give in easily?
Atticus is Book Two in the Paranormal Council Enforcers series. Each book in this series will focus on a different couple, but these books are not standalones and should be read in order as there is an ongoing backstory that won’t be resolved quickly. This is a fated mate story in an MPreg world, but this is an alpha/alpha pairing and there is no pregnancy in this story. You should expect all the normal shenanigans, and remember that sometimes fated mates don’t necessarily understand what is going on.
Publisher: Mortimer Press, LLC (July 15, 2022)
Publication date: July 15, 2022
Language: English
Print length: 304 pages
Welcome to the Universe of Destined Paranormals
The Universe of Destined Paranormals is a world of interconnected series set in one universe. Because of this, it is recommended that you read the books in chronological order.
Honey Creek Den Series-When the child of the created warlock goes searching for his mate, a domino effect occurs and the den is blessed by the Fates.
Timber Valley Wolf Pack Series-Magic is changing and the wolf pack is next to be blessed by the Fates. Does Edison have something to do with it?
Warlocks of Amherst Series-Edison’s warlocks have finally been blessed by the Fates and it’s their turn to find their fated Ones.
Vampires of the Beloved Gem Series-Master Nikolai’s vampires aboard the Beloved Gem realized that their time has come to find their beloved ones.
Paranormal Council Enforcers Series-the magic has shifted and the Paranormal Council has been formed. Will the chosen enforcers be next to find their forever mates?
There’s certain books and series that just so grab your attention that they make you think why haven’t you been reading this author all along? Especially when it’s a trope that’s a common must have for you.
That’s what comes to mind when reading Mel Aitchess’ Lunetti Pack series, a paranormal fated mate crime family romance series. That’s a bunch of elements and tropes that just ticks all my boxes, narratively speaking. And the author does it outstandingly.
Now on book two and Aitchess’ series gives us the hugely broken brother of the criminal Lunetti pack, brother to the Alpha and its IT hacker.
There’s basically three crime families that run the city. One’s a vampire clan, one’s all witches, and lastly, there’s the Wolf pack, the Lunettis. The author gives the reader a beautiful map in the beginning to help establish the territories and city’s layout in our minds. It’s needed because one of the series storylines is a murderous mystery and suspense driven plot of an anonymous character/group trying to drive a wedge between the three factions. That’s a great story as a foundation for all the other plotting and elements to overlay.
Because prior we’ve known that Luca has a tragic, traumatic past that has made the pack overly protective and turned him into an angry, solitary being. Scenes from the first book are now seen from his perspective and with more knowledge than we had previously. It builds a compelling narrative and complicated character.
Adding to this is another great character, that of the previously neutral water witch, Cal, who owns the hot night club, Hex Rated, we saw too in His Mate By Vengeance #1 . Cal and his club get fully fleshed out into his amazing water witch personality, complete with his water powers explored. Then it’s taken up a notch.
Aitchess is weaving a brutal tale about two men with damaged pasts, in terrifying situations, under horrific strain and they still build a relationship, while not wanting to immediately accept what’s apparent.There’s rightfully trigger warnings for violence among other things.
There’s magic, brutality, crime, family, betrayal, fated mates, everything you would expect from a paranormal mafia romance, but more, complex, and the situation is ongoing into the future stories. I’m beyond frustrated I have to wait because I’m so addicted to this universe and characters.
The next book promises to be even more epic and dangerously exciting. Looks like several rereads in my future before then.
Both books, to be read in order, are highly recommended. A must read each.
His boy deserved better. He deserved to be the centre of someone’s world.
Luca stumbled on something he shouldn’t have and now someone’s trying to kill him. If only he knew what and who. He hates that he has to use his hacking skills against his own pack as he hunts down the traitor. He hates it even more when his Alpha sends him away for his safety. Hex-Rated—the hottest gay nightclub in New Trinity—is the last place he expected to be hiding out. The water witch who owns it better keep his damn hands to himself.
Cal has no time for the three crime families that run the city. He’s worked hard to keep his club on the right side of the law. That’s all put at risk when a favour for a friend has him faking a relationship with a Mafia wolf shifter. Luca’s a criminal and there’s no way Cal would go there for real. Even if the shifter brings out every protective instinct in him. Even if Luca is so good for him despite himself.
His Mate By Resistance is an enemies to lovers MM Paranormal Romance. It’s book two in the Lunetti Pack series, but can be read as a standalone. It features forced proximity, a fake relationship, knotting, a water witch Daddy, and magic sensory play. There is no mpreg in this world.
— His Mate By Resistance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 2) by Mel Aitchess
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 