Here we are at the penultimate story in the life of Adam Vex , his companions , ex porn star incubus Zee, and wealthy businessman vampire Reynard. All of them living in their struggling SOS Hotel, with their gremlin filled walls, weirdly scary but wonderful AI bartender Tom Collins, and some personal secrets about to come busting out!
But first, something is wrong with Tom Collins! He’s too nice, his cocktails too boring, he’s not himself.
In this story, sooo many things are happening. In a race to find and bring back their beloved bartender, secrets start to come out. And not in happy moments.
But this is a series on its way to its climactic conclusion and it’s building up to that point by challenging the characters to expose themselves (yes that too), emotionally and on personal terms, revealing their histories they hadn’t before.
So yes, there’s wild rescues, more than a few fight scenes. And one ginormous cliffhanger.
It’s fantastic. I need that final book! If you’re not into cliffhangers, wait until the entire series is out and binge read. Otherwise, read it in order and wait until it’s released in August. I’m highly recommending this book and series. Well thought out and fabulous characters!
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 – August 16, 2024 (finale)
Something is wrong with Tom Collins. More wrong than usual.
Tom’s being nice.
I should have known trouble was right around the corner. One attempted murder later, and Reynard is forced to disarm Tom (literally).
No bartender, means no bar. Zee is grumpy and avoiding me, and the hotel’s measly profits are dwindling by the day.
Things are not going well. We need our broken, foul-mouthed Tom Collins back.
But don’t worry. Zee says saving Tom should be a walk in the park for us.
Turns out, that walk in the park is more like a road to hell. But I’ve got this…
My name is Adam Vex. I’m your average and mundane, human host. Welcome to another crazy day at the SOS Hotel.
*
Warning: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable. For full warnings, please see the author’s website or the paperback “look inside sample”.
Located on Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village, the now historic Stonewall Inn opened in 1967 in New York City. Owned by the mafia (as was many of the gay nightclubs), it was operated as a restaurant previously but now served as a gay bar serving illegal liquor for the mob and paying protection money in monthly payoffs to local cops to keep the raids down. Down but not stopped. In those days, dressing as the opposite sex was illegal and carried jail time, not just harassment and beatings. And the Stonewall Inn was heavily frequented by drag queens, transgendered people, crossdressers., and lesbians who dressed “male” or butch. The last was important because some say it was a lesbian who threw the first punch at a cop that night in retaliation over the brutal treatment of another patron. But because there are so few images and differing accounts, the truth might never be know. Others say it was a transgendered person and others still a drag queen. Although the Inn itself could not be called a fancy establishment, it’s decor not the best, it’s dance floor and atmosphere, that despite police raids, let people feel free to be themselves, kept the place alive and packed. Of course, the liquor helped too.
But the raids were growing more frequent and City Hall had orders to shut down Stonewall Inn for good. Courtesy of history.com (see that link for enlarged narrative) is the timeline of the explosion that followed that decision:
June 24, 1969: Police arrest Stonewall employees, confiscate alcohol
June 27-28, 1969: Stonewall crowd erupts after police arrest and rough up patrons.
Early hours of June 28, 1969: Transgender women* (other accounts have this as drag queens or crossdressers) resist arrest. Bottles are thrown at police.
Close to 4 a.m. June 28, 1969: Police retreat and barricade themselves inside Stonewall.
June 28-29: Stonewall reopens, supporters gather. Police beat and tear gas crowd
June 29-July 1, 1969: Stonewall becomes gathering point for LGBT activists.
July 2, 1969: Gay activists protest newspaper coverage.
The beginning of the Gay Pride Movement has been ignited!
Today, The Stonewall Inn remains a place of LGBTQIA history and a gathering spot for all, where everyone can be themselves. Only now it’s legal, the right hard fought on this spot. A sign erected lest people forget. Not that they are likely too. There are parades, and books, and vids, and movies and more ready to remind us. Especially now at the 50 year anniversary of Stonewall.
I hope you’ll visit some of those links and enjoy some of those remarkable books. Martin Duberman’s was reviewed here and the stories of the individuals in the movement made a big impact on me.
Paul Richmond, an amazing artist some of you may recognize only through his covers for Dreamspinner Press or other of it’s houses, is doing this month. Over at his facebook page Paul Richmond Studio , every day this month, Paul has taken a different LGBT artist, past or present. and highlighted their works. He has talked about why this artist has meant so much to him, or perhaps the struggles this artist has had to go through. The journey through different eras, artistic lives and styles has been a revelation! Paul’s LGBT Artist of the Day has continued. If you have missed a artist or day, its not too late! Head over to Paul’s FB page and start your introduction to some jaw dropping artwork and artists.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Pride Month! We have highlighted NHL Hockey for Everyone efforts with absolute delight, we have had great recommendations for stories, showcased Paul Richmond and LGBTQIA artists and finishing up with The Stonewall Inn. How has your Pride Month been?
This is where I will also wish everyone in the US and expats abroad a happy and safe Fourth of July!
Note:
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is looking for Reviewers! We are looking for reviewers for our blog. If you love to read or listen to LGBT stories and share your thoughts about them with others, consider reviewing with Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Please send all inquiries to scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. We are very flexible about how many reviews each reviewer takes on. That’s entirely up to each reviewer’s own schedule.
And now onto our week ahead.
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Sunday, June 30:
New Release Blitz for Save the Date (Harrisburg Railers #9) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
End of Pride Month and the History of Stonewall Inn
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Monday, July 1:
Blog Post – Victoria Milne – Purple Method
BLOG TOUR Change of Heart by KM Neuhold
Release Blitz – Amy Tasukada – Yakuza Path Box Set
A MelanieM Review: Ammo and Enchiladasby BA Tortuga
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Tea by Matthew J. Metzger
Tuesday, July 2:
BLITZ Palm Trees and Paparazzi by J.C. Long
Release Blitz – Ruby Moone – Eyeliner and Lace
Review Tour for Save the Date (Harrisburg Railers #9) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
A MelanieM Review: Save the Date (Harrisburg Railers #9) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Raze (Riven #3) by Roan Parrish
An Alisa Release Day Review: Fox Hunt (Shifter U #4) by J. Leigh Bailey
A Caryn Release Day Review: The Importance of Being Kevin by Steven Harper
Wednesday, July 3:
Release Blitz – I’ve Got You by Becca Seymour
BLITZ Where the Night Reigns by Emilie Lucadamo
PROMO BA Tortuga on Come Back Around (Leaning N #4) by B.A. Tortuga
Blog Post – LA Bryce – Love, Trust & Secrets
A Stella Review : I’ve Got You by Becca Seymour
A MelanieM Release Day Review:Come Back Around (Leaning N #4) by B.A. Tortuga
Thursday, July 4th:
DSP PROMO j. leigh bailey and Fox Hunt (Shifter U #4)
Release Blitz – Sam Burns – Salmon & The Hazel (Rowan Harbor Cycle)
Release Blitz – MATED by Tricia Owens
TOUR DANCING WITH THE LION: BECOMING by Jeanne Reames
An Alisa Review Waited So Long by JM Dabney
Reviews – MATED by Tricia Owens
Friday, July 5:
Review Tour – Ari McKay – Recipe For Romance
PROMO Victoria Milne
Release Blitz – Espejos (South Texas Lore 1) by Michael War
A Lila Review: Espejos (South Texas Lore 1) by Michael War
A MelanieM Review: Recipe for Romance (Recipe for Romance #1-4) by Ari McKay
A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review: Never a Hero (Tucker Springs #5) by Marie Sexton
Saturday, July 6:
Release Blitz Tour – Michael Mandrake – Death’s Angel
A MelanieM Review: Here Comes the Son by Dahlia Donovan
Unusual Emotions is the third book in Shelby Rhodes’ amazing paranormal romance series, The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx, so a couple of things right away. If you’re reading this series, you are already familiar with the trigger warnings, so I’m not going to repeat them.
Secondly, if you’re familiar with Shelby Rhodes writing, either here or any of this author’s work, then again, see my sentence above about triggers. Rhodes’ writing just comes with a certain amount of warnings, primarily because of the various types of themes and content that are present in this author’s work. If you know, you know.
As this is the third book in this remarkable series, one that has to be read in order, then a reader knows what is in store for them and the characters here. Proceed forward with knowledge!
Unusual Emotions tells us exactly what our characters are dealing with. After the traumatic events and deepest horrors of the past revisited that Taste of Fear put Foxx and Harlow through, now the impact of those events and its consequences, emotionally are seen here on the partners.
Unsurprisingly, Foxx is having nightmares, the burning marks upon his body still visible, his emotional state is shattered as much as his damaged threads. Hes not in good shape as the book opens. But just as shocking, neither is his partner Harlow. He’s having feelings, anger , fear, and more, which he’s trying not to identify. He’s a psychopath and , in his own words and mind, he’s not supposed to be having feelings.
Rhodes weaves an intimate, increasingly confused relationship between two characters that always thought they knew what their relationship was about. Until recently, and Foxx’s recent traumatic experiences have upset him and their dynamic. Both sides are stumbling around, dealing with their own issues, their partner’s unspoken difficulties with the current situation, and a multitude of new cases involving them and weird elements.
It’s Foxx and Harlow trying to figure out how to make their relationship work but it’s changing in ways neither understands. The author lays this out , all the fears, the misguided ways their friends and bosses interfere in the process, all the challenges that realistically make them not trusting of anything deeper than a work relationship, it’s complicated journey that makes them feel more real and broken. Incredible stuff here.
Threaded through this slow burn journey over broken glass pathways is the cases Tony is throwing their way. Unusually big numbers, scary details, weird situations. Each one coming with some defining features and scenarios that will, I’m sure, add up to something even more terrifying to the partners later on.
And I’m not just talking about the cliffhanger of that ending!
Yes, it does have a wowzer of a cliffhanger here. We also knew that would happen.
Unusual Emotions (The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Foxx Book 3) by Shelby Rhodes is one incredibly powerful and heart stopping book. Our connection with Foxx and Harlow is made stronger, and we are all so happy that they have made a new step forward in their journey. Now about that cliffhanger!
Highly recommended! Read them in order. Not one is a standalone.
Foxx Honeywell here… Have you ever wanted something, but then when it finally happens, you panic and think of all the things that could go wrong, because things have always gone wrong? No? Just me? Well, let’s backtrack.
We pick up where we last left off…after the hypocritical murdery priests. Yeah, I’m still dealing with all that. Cases come and go, and things are normal…but then normal flies out of the window. All because my mind decided to focus on things it shouldn’t. Because, as is often the case, emotions and feelings don’t give a shit about timing, place, or the sanity of those involved!
Speaking of sanity. My annoyingly insane partner, HARLOW, decided that he wants to make it all the more complicated by feeling ‘something’ as well.
Long story short, more cases, more confusion, and just the urge to burn the world down in a fit of anger…because why the bloody hell not? Things are decidedly not okay.
CONTENT WARNING: This is a slow burn M/M paranormal romance book, that ends in a cliffhanger. Please see inside or my website for full content warning!
Well this is an absolutely splendid addition to the Fortune Favors the Fae series. I loved how Michele Notaro adapted her Brinnswick universe into this series, by means of that mischievous wayward fae coin.
While its personality doesn’t really come into play as it has in a prior tale, that coin is still the means through which unlucky fae Belryn Bizidor meets wolf shifter Remington “ Remi” Ellwood, newly arrived with some of the members of his family to start a family security company on Gauhala.
Its meet cute, and mate recognition, sort of . Mostly both feel a very special unusual attraction, which I find interesting because it takes time for this relationship to develop. For Bel, his situation is fragile. His city views Fae as the lowest form of life, discrimination is common, he’s homeless, and trying to protect what’s left of his family.
The more the reader learns about his character and how perilous the situation he’s in, the more we connect with him. Bel is the type of character Notaro crafts so well. Layered, emotional, and warmhearted. And desperate. In this case, to save his family.
Remi the wolf shifter who finds his viramore and is determined to hold him, no matter what, is kind and loving. Just by his own history he’s not as vividly drawn as a wounded Bel. It’s just the nature of the difference in the drama between them. They do have a gentle charm and connection that works well here.
Notaro has created a number of fascinating characters that support the main couple, ones that almost prove more compelling. Whether it’s Tan, Remi’s friend and business partner who’s in a frenemies attraction thing with the Dragon King, or Bel’s cousin Ker and the vampire bookstore owner, Anton Orsova, those are stories that beg to be told and look to come in a new sequel series soon to be released.
I hope we see these characters as well.
The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae (a Fortune Favors the Fae story) by Michele Notaro is a highly entertaining read and one I’m happy to recommend!
Be on the lookout for the new series below.
New connected series that continues a couple’s developing romance:
The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 1) – Oct 25,2024
Look at what’s coming up next!
Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:
✓ A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1
✓ The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2
◦ Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13
◦ The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 – June 20, 2024
◦ The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 – June 27,2024
◦ Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 – July 4,2024
◦ Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 – July 11,2024
◦ Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 – July 18,2024
◦ Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024
◦ Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 – August 1,2024
◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024
◦ Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024
◦ I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024
◦ A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024
◦ Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024
Call it fate, call it luck, but when a powerful wolf shifter walks into my life, everything changes.
Bel
I’ve made some stupid decisions in my life, and one in particular keeps coming back to haunt me. When I keep running into a handsome stranger, I know I should push him away, if only to keep him safe from my mess, keep him safe from me. But something inside of me—my heart, my magic, or my soul—keeps pushing me toward him, offering to make all my secret dreams come true. And I don’t know how to stay away.
Remi
When I travel across the world to open a new business—and get away from my overbearing family—the last thing I ever expect is to find the most beautiful and alluring fae I’ve ever met. I’m drawn to him, and I’m pretty sure if he lets his guard down, he’ll admit he’s drawn to me too. All I want to do is pull Bel into my arms and protect him from whatever he’s hiding. But he’s skittish and suspicious, and I just want to prove to him that he can trust me.
Fate, and a bit of luck, brought us together, and I’m not going to let it or anything else tear us apart.
The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.
Never has Jocelynn Drake’s fantastic fantasy series, Kings of Chaos, leaned so heavily and culturally into its Chinese mythological roots as it does beautifully in Two Thousand Blades.
When Two Thousand Tears dramatically ended, so many major traumatic events had happened. The Elf King had been ended. But the invasion, lead by the Elf Queen, was successful and the East Coast was falling fast as the otherworldly forest spread. But more devastating, the Clan lost a brother as a dragon sank down into the battle and stole Xiang away from his family and those fighting against the Fae.
Drake’s clear love of Chinese mythology and culture has always been used beautifully against the various otherworldly themes and mythologies at play in this series. But in Two Thousand Blades, she allows them full rein.
This tale becomes a vivid tapestry of ancient history, gods come to life, otherworldly internecine war, magical blades, and forever love. Memorable, emotional and immensely powerful.
It’s Xiang’s background. His family and past so cemented in their original home so far away and Kai, the one who becomes everything to him. The swirling mythology of which is well known today and is attached via footnotes and addendums here by the author.
It’s how Drake builds their relationship, the slow reveal of identity, and the meshing of the two ongoing conflicts/locations that work together so seamlessly here. We see the Clan of 2,000 Chinese vampires, their mates, friends and allies in Hartford fighting the Fae and desperately seeking a way to find their brother Xiang. And we have Xiang and Kai in the Dragon’s cave with Xiang equally seeking passage home, answers about their location, and the dragon.
The relationship between Xiang and Kai is revelatory personally and historically. It’s a great way, narratively, for Drake to bring the history of the Clan’s history, their horrific transformation into vampires, and their defeat of their master.
Without venturing into spoiler territory, this is an exciting, high stakes, action packed storyline where even if you think the Clan has come out ahead, nothing is as it seems. The clan and its family will have its major brutal challenges ahead and angst filled romances to come.
We know who is next as the ending is a bit of a stunner and cliffhanger, both in the best way possible. So now it’s waiting until Two Thousand Shadows comes out in December.
Until then, I’m highly recommending all the books in this series. Read them in the order they are written for character and plot development. Just a superb series in every aspect.
Xiang thought his biggest problem was going to be defeating the fae.
Nope.
Right now, it’s escaping this dragon’s hoard.
The dragon, who tried to eat his clanmate, grabbed Xiang instead, and now Xiang is trapped.
And he’s not the only one who needs to escape the dragon’s lair.
Kai is serving as the dragon’s assistant and helping to keep Xiang from going crazy with boredom.
Xiang is sure there’s more to this sexy man beyond his sad eyes and stuffy personality, but learning all of Kai’s secrets is going to take time.
First, Xiang needs to steal Kai from the hoard, and hopefully win his heart in the process.
But will they be able to escape the reach of a very possessive dragon?
Two Thousand Blades is the third novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a stubborn vampire falling in love with someone who isn’t quite who he claims to be, shifters, vampires, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, treasure, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, pouting, cuddles, one very possessive dragon, and an endless love that crosses lines drawn by war
• Publication date: May 31, 2024
• Language: English
• Print length: 360 pages
Fantasy Asian Mythology
The Kings of Chaos is a spin-off series from the Lords of Discord and Princes of Mayhem series.
Lords of Discord :
Claiming Marcus
Saving Rafe
Waking Bel
Embracing Winter
Healing Aiden
Visiting the Variks: A Short Story Collection
Princes of Mayhem
How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Ruined Saved My Life :
If you’re a fan of author Vin George’s Evergreen Council series, then this novella is the thing for you. Teas’d is a warm-hearted glimpse into the daily lives of Charley, the half vampire/half fae adorable being from Fang’d (Evergreen Council Book 1) and his vampire father, Dalziel. Naturally, this sees Luc, Charlie ‘s bond-mate werewolf, as an important part of his life and household as well.
This novella is a perfect illustration of how to bring a sense of loving family and deep understanding of each other’s differences to life in a meaningful but short narrative. Especially when its characters and universe are all from prior books.
The reader doesn’t have to have read those stories in order to understand these characters, their unique personalities, their histories, and the warmth and loving synergy between them all. George’s dialogue and fantastic storytelling has done an excellent job, laid all the groundwork, and now let’s the reader enjoy and become involved in the story itself.
And what a joyful, and emotional journey it becomes. A father/son moment, a learning experience full of humor and poignancy, quixotic and sweet.
This is a group of characters and a universe I can’t get enough of . It’s also one I highly recommend.
Don’t play games with a vampire unless you’re prepared to lose.
Playing pranks on his three-hundred-year-old vampire sire wasn’t Charley’s brightest idea. Now Dalziel has set him a task. Charley is stuck with a night’s worth of brain-twisting clues and his own company until he solves them all. Not even Luc can help! Charley wants to win, but can he ever really lose? His mate is waiting for him regardless, ready to rock his world.
An Evergreen Council novella, pitting a preoccupied father against his chaotic son, with smiles, curses, and insights into both men’s lives when the biggest adventure is living well.
Taylor Rylan’s Ambrosius : Paranormal Council Enforcers Book One represents a new author for me as well as series. I enjoy paranormal romance fiction so I was looking forward to reading this, especially as it already has a number of books already published in the series.
Unfortunately, I believe I’m going to stop here. While there’s a few things I enjoyed about this story, they’re overshadowed by other aspects that left me feeling disconnected from the characters, underwhelmed by the plot lines, and , most importantly, uninformed about the foundation or universe itself that the story and characters are grounded in.
Taylor Rylan’s Universe of Destined Paranormals is a group of five inter-connected series and characters, of which Ambrosius is the first in the fifth series, Paranormal Council Enforcers. So there’s a lot of expectations for readers to know who everyone is and who these agencies are that they work for, this giggling goddess that just appears (not a fan), a omega/Alpha relationship that’s not well defined, especially here with one character.
This story actually ends up raising more questions than it does answer with its narrative. But quickly , the poorly crafted characters have lost my interest in their lives and this book.
That starts with the main character of Ambrosius, a made vampire. That term isn’t used in the way we’re accustomed to seeing it. Ambrosius wasn’t “turned” or made. No a goddess who comes across as a blonde bestie from your college sorority days crafted him full blown. Thirtyish looking, now over a millennium old. But how does Ambrosius act during the book? Much like a silent movie heroine, weeping, throwing himself at his mate, overwrought by emotions and the situation he is in. Surely, he’s got his own power and has learned a thing or two about weapons, or something. His character is just so ill defined. In the beginning we learned he went from being rejected by an omega because his fangs are scary to becoming an omega himself when he finds himself mate to a dragon. No explanation. Then there is basically little communication between anyone here.
There’s really little history or reason laid down for personalities. Or for reactions, or just anything in general . And the main drama, a huge criminal investigation into a shifter trafficking organization is barely explored and not finished, a thread that’s carried over to the next book.
The only other major storyline is a mpreg one that comes out of nowhere (literally) because the main character has no clue he’s pregnant. His mate and others know but don’t say anything. They assume he knows. Then he’s got kids. Then they are special. It’s a rapidly changing story without substance or grounding.
If you’re a fan of the author or any of the other series associated with this, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it .
But other authors do this one universe, multiple connected series better and those are the ones I’ll read.
Paranormal Council Enforcers:
14 books to date:
Ambrosius #1
Attiticus #2 plus more
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?”
When you’re the created vampire, and discover your fated mate is a dominant dragon alpha, what could go wrong?
Master Ambrosius was created over a millennium ago and had come to terms with spending his life alone. He has his coven, his second, and a few close friends, but he continues to be haunted by the memory of his fated mate running from him in terror. That is, until the goddess sends him to Montana, and he discovers his body reacting to a sexy alpha with wide shoulders and dark eyes. Surely there’s some mistake though, right?
Emmerich was born on Treasure Ridge, the mountain his grandparents claimed several centuries ago for a reason that wasn’t yet known. Like his brother, he longs for his mate and children but knows they aren’t on their mountain. Emmerich’s dragon insisted he would find his mate in Sicily, but after weeks of searching, he comes back to Treasure Ridge, where his dragon scents the most amazing thing. Mate. When he discovers the scent is coming from the created vampire, he’s not sure about the pairing but is more than willing to accept the match.
Together, they discover a desire for unexpected things. But while they are happy switching roles at certain times, the council is still forming, and they discover an evilness none expected. Will they be able to stop the threat before their family is harmed?
Ambrosius is Book One 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 MPreg story in an MPreg world, and you should expect all the normal vampire shenanigans, and remember that love bites in unexpected places. Especially when your beloved is a sexy dragon.
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?”
Damned Connections is the sequel series to the original Reckless Damn Series about the rebelling four sons of Lucifer, finding their mates ,and the war with their father. It’s an excellent series.
But I’m finding that Damned Connections is even better, imo. It’s still got the original characters but now we’re focusing on the aftermath and the characters on the edge of their group. And the ones affected by the war. It’s an extraordinary journey.
Now it’s Toby and Blaise’s time for their stories to be told and Taylor has outdone herself with a narrative of incredible emotional depth and intelligence .
Taylor has incorporated the elements of BDSM and D/s in such a way that readers who don’t read this type of thing or think that they don’t understand it will find themselves absolutely absorbed into this relationship. It’s a Dom/ sub relationship that works through each other’s needs and desires as well as those aspects of play that they don’t want to include. It’s clearly discussed as adults and spanking is the top discipline here.
But Blaise is fighting for his life in that his guilt is literally driven him down. The emotional tension and despair attached to him is real and extremely intense.
Toby isn’t the bartender vampire he’s seemed in the previous books and the revelations of his true nature are astonishing.
The exploration of Blaise’s past and the journey between them drew me in like no other. It was 3 am before I realized I was still reading. And often sobbing.
The only reason this didn’t get a 5 star rating is because there was so much “as told to” sections as the author had to fill in the reader with different details about certain aspects of a couple’s story from a book and timeline pertinent to this story.
Temperance (Damned Connections Book 3) runs in the same time period as some of the other books so it’s necessary for Taylor to pinpoint exactly where in the timeline this is happening . Especially if you haven’t read the other books.
But it drags the narrative down in a way and changes the perspective in some cases.
So yes, a fantastic story and incredibly compelling plot that’s one of my favorites. Probably be a reread.
I’m absolutely loving this series and recommend reading it in the original as well as this.
A fire mage who believes he’s broken. A vampire who believes he can fix him. A contract that’s going to change everything.
Blaise
I’ve never been good at doing the right thing.
A series of bad choices have left my life in tatters. Everyone is telling me to move on, but how can I? What I did was unforgivable, even if some believe otherwise. My whole world imploded the night I left a human dying on a classroom floor.
I don’t deserve anything good in my life, I know that. But I’m desperate for peace. Just a few moments where I can escape from everything I’ve done.
When Toby offers me a solution that promises just that, I jump at it. I never imagined having a Dom, but with Toby in that role?
Nothing has ever felt so right.
Problem is, this isn’t a relationship, it’s a contract. A temporary one.
Which means I need to guard my heart and stop myself from falling for this enigmatic vampire.
Like I said, I’ve never been good at doing the right thing.
Toby
I never learn.
Every time I see a needy sub, I can’t stop myself from offering my help. Every time, I forget that it’s a contract and fall too hard and too fast.
I’m the one who fixes them, never the one they choose to spend eternity with. That’s the way it always goes.
When Blaise bursts into my life, I already know how it’s going to end. I can’t stop myself from wanting to help him, but this man has the capacity to break me in entirely new ways. Maybe if I keep the boundaries strict between us, I can walk away at the end without another scar on my heart.
Like I said, I never learn.
Temperance is the third book in the Damned Connections series. Featuring a needy sub and a Dom who’s trying to avoid heartbreak, this spicy MM PNR romance will pull at your heartstrings. Although this series can be read as a standalone, it’s better enjoyed in order. Each book follows a different couple and has a guaranteed HEA.
It’s a series that starts with The Beast Without, meeting vampire Reyland and werewolf lover, Jorgas. It’s an excellent book, scary and powerful. And with each story, new paranormal characters and convoluted elements are added and explored, like The Arcadia Trust and then the horrifying Wound. Tears in Time is the fourth book in this increasingly complex and scarily powerful series.
Christian Baines has an incredible talent of writing supernatural or other worldly beings and making them absolutely credible. These are beautiful or stunningly horrifically broken creatures that bear no resemblance to human beings. Not in their reactions to events and emotions but in that they lack our standards of morality or ethics. They may understand the rules, the philosophical framework and how to manipulate them to their advantage. But actually have human empathy? Not really.
And for the reader to go in with expectations of the characters who are paranormal beings acting as humans, that’s a pitfall that should be discarded at the beginning. Because, Baines’ brilliantly written and compelling characters are not going to act like humans because they aren’t.
It might be hard to forget this but events will drive this element home. Betrayal after betrayal. Manifesting that each being and group of paranormals is operating on a different level and paths that humans find unfathomable . Such brilliant writing and amazing storytelling.
Chilling and brain breaking plot lines that connect and weave into something so shocking at the end that I’m just stunned that cable producers haven’t come running yet to put this into a show.
Tears in Time is a book whose characters and plots are so intricate and deeply detailed that a reader will have to have read the stories the preceded it. That foundation knowledge and sequencing of events is essential for a total understanding about the characters relationships and twists in the narratives that the reader will experience here.
I absolutely recommend reading this series and book if you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, horror stories, and twisted romance. But be warned, this is not for the faint of heart.
Moments have passed for Reylan since he crossed the barrier between worlds to rescue his werewolf lover, Jorgas. But on their return, nothing feels right. Faithful allies have vanished, and places that once offered solace are now derelict, filled with shadows and inhabited by evil.
How can Reylan find his friends, and who can be trusted once they’re found?
The world Reylan and Jorgas returned to has destroyed the one they left behind. In this new reality, someone is playing a deadly game with time, and their fates are its prize.
So, so satisfying. No really. Loved it. Parts also really hurt. But Sleep With Us explored so many new areas of this world and these fabulous characters!
Adam in his desperate need to get demon Zee away from the club and out of his contract with Sebastian, is forced to accept help. Whether it’s sketchy advice from his AI bartender or something more personal and likely physical from the resident vampire, Lord Reynard, some new information is acquired about all of them.
There’s some gross action packed sequences, a few sexy scenes, and ones that make us feel so much more connected and involved with all three characters and whatever craziness is right around the corner.
I’m so in love with this series and characters. They’re so vividly drawn and widely thought out that they are just bigger than the page. Read even the credits, Zee can’t help himself.
How am I going to make it through until June 28th?
Highly recommending SOS Hotel but read them in the order they are written.
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 – June 28,2024
Three weeks in, and the SOS Hotel is still standing. I know, crazy right? Despite the gremlins, lethal electrics, vampire threats, a shadowbeast in the attic, and a psycho sorcerer, our doors remain open to all Lost Ones. Also, nobody has died . . . in a few days.
All I have to do is, hold it all together, keep every guest safe, not mention the body in the flowerbeds—and maybe we’ll last another week?
But Sebastien has demanded Zee return to the club, or he’ll hurt more demons. Sebastien has become a big problem. And problems, like gremlins, have a habit of multiplying at the SOS Hotel.
I promised Zee I’d stay out of his other life. But I can’t—won’t—watch Sebastien mistreat him.
I might be a boring, average, harmless human, but even I have my limits.
Plus, I’ve got a vampire on my side. Lord Reynard has a knack for getting answers out of people, and together, we’re going to find a way to break Sebastien’s hold over Zee, even if part of our plan involves an evening of la mort d’amour at Razorsedge. Reynard says we’re not going to do anything risky. But I kind of, maybe, just a little bit . . . want to?
Trust me. I’m Adam Vex. Totally normal human. It’s all going to turn out just fine.
I’m absolutely certain I have everything under control.
Probably.
Welcome to the SOS Hotel.
***
SOS Hotel is a whacky adventure about a vampire lord, an ex-porn-star demon, and a boring human who absolutely does not have any secrets. You’ll find dark humor, explicit language and sex throughout the books.
If you don’t like the f-word, sex, some minor murders, or a few questionable pies thrown in, do not read these books.
There will be triggering content for some, including sexual coercion and pets in peril.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 