Review: Enticing the Elf (Elf Magic #2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.5🌈

The second book in Masters’ Elf Magic series, Enticing the Elf was a romantic joyride, a comedic urban fantasy journey of love. That’s a phrase I’m sure those bros would appreciate!

This is Dáithí and Eoin’s story, characters we’ve grown to love and appreciate throughout this series and stories from the Hidden Species universe. It’s a couple that have been seeing each other, so no insta-love but realistic obstacles and struggles that they face that are keeping them from a committed relationship.

Immediately I like the story better than the first. The groundwork is there, the characters are well defined, and Masters’ plot hilariously allows for many of our favorite characters to shine in supporting roles to bring Dáithí and Eoin to their HEA.

It’s got comedy, romance, realistic relationship discussions and heartwarming moments. And bunnies!

Plus we get a setup for the next book and couple to watch for.

Dáithí and Eoin turn out to be #relationshipgoals. What a happy ending and fabulous story.

Highly recommended.

Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar

Model: Ryan

Cover Design: Booksmith Design

Elf Magic:

Wooing the Elf #1

Enticing the Elf #2

Buy link

Enticing the Elf (Elf Magic Book 2)

Blurb

There’s nothing I want more than a life with him… but my past is the world’s worst wingman.

For a big chunk of my life, I expected to die along with the rest of my species. Nobody thought we’d make it, and I did my best to live in the now and enjoy every second of precious life.

Now that’s coming back to bite me in the ass.

Because the impossible happened, and we got our second chance. A safe home. A tomorrow worth planning for. And a future I want to spend with Dáithí.

He’s amazing—sassy, clever, the kind of guy who can cut you down with one eyebrow and still make you laugh. We’ve known each other a long time, and convincing him to date me was one of the best wins of my long life. Convincing him to be my boyfriend? That’s a fight I might not win.

Because the reputation I earned when I was living life to the fullest has stuck, and Dáithí’s convinced I’m only in this for a good time, not a long time. He’s protecting his heart from future damage by keeping things casual between us… even though they’re not.

How do I prove I want him forever?

Review: Shifting Winds (Shifter Lords #4) by S.E. Babin

Rating: 4.75⭐️

This was an excellent read. The fourth book in what I believe is a seven book series, Babin packs so many important series elements and shocking moments into this book, jamming a multitude of various character’s storylines, relationship dynamics, and unexpected events together to make this story a memorable, explosive dramatic and extremely compelling book.

Evie and Caelin’s relationship is one that still stands out as one of powerfully compelling fragility. Each of them has their own unique powers as well as responsibilities and deeply rooted secrets that make any type of permanent connection between them almost untenable. Never more is this made clear than here as events escalate.

But Evie’s friends are ongoing challenges and their own personal relationship issues. Ones that her choices are making an impact.

It’s one thing after another. One dramatic moment that arises when you least expect it. And the author folds every single piece of information and plot effortlessly into the whole, using mythology and fantasy and the richness of the location to bring the characters and wildness of this story to life.

That ending was so satisfying and intense. Which makes me want more immediately!

There’s a bit of a mystery left unanswered that will be carried over to the next book. I can wait for it to be released.

Highly recommended. Grab them up and read in the order they were written.

This is a series that I find absolutely amazing. A winner!

Cover design by Covers by Christian

Shifter Lords series:

Shift of Heart #1

Shift of Morals #2

Power Shift #3

Shifting Winds #4

Shifting Resolve #5

Shift of Rule #6

Shift of the Wild #7

Buy link

Shifting Winds (Shifter Lords Book 4)

Blurb

Everything’s a mess. The gods won’t stay out of her business. And Evie? All she wants is a little peace or drowning by bottomless margaritas.

Evie should be basking in the afterglow after her romp with the Shifter Lord. Instead, she’s dodging his increasingly aggressive courtship rituals like a runaway bride carrying dynamite. Not because she doesn’t care about him, but because she’s keeping big secrets.

Cernunnos has decided to retire. On the surface, totally fine. Except … Daddy Dearest wants to hand Evie the keys to the fae kingdom, and he’s been dropping in with divine homework and cryptic warnings about the future.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Caelan is hinting at forever, the Council is sniffing around, searching for answers about Donovan’s untimely demise, and Cliona keeps dropping by, hinting she wants a mother-daughter relationship, while conveniently forgetting she tried to kill Evie a few months ago.

The cherry on top? After a split-second decision to swallow the World Tree seed to keep it out of Chimera hands, Evie is now a bridge to other worlds—a power she has no idea how to use, but one that everyone covets, leaving her to ask the most important question of all…

Who can she trust?

And who wants to take her out for good?

Publisher

Oliver Heber Books

Publication date

November 4, 2025

‎English

Print length

264 pages

Review: Review: Echoed Defiance (Jacky Leon Book 4) by K. N. Banet

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Well written but extremely frustrating, Echoed Defiance brings another facet of Jackie Leon’s former life into focus. In this case, her prior human history.

Banet’s characterizations are so compelling and excellent that the reader is often confused between thinking of them as real people rather than fictional beings. Jackie’s former family, especially her twin, which is a huge surprise, are incredibly irritating, entitled, and often ones we want gone.

Paranormals: 1 Humans: 0

And in a truly remarkable bit of plotting and long term series narrative flow, what we see occur here, the events , context, and conversations have enormous implications for Jackie later in the series.

Yes, I’m at book 11. It just gets better and better.

Each book, the events and minute details, no matter how subtle or seemingly random, are adding up to an overall complex rich and devious plot.

I’m so in love. This is an automatic reread.

If shifters, mythology, science, gods, compelling characters and long term planning with plots are your thing, grab the series up.

Funny, heartbreaking, and just glorious. Also violent and deadly. FYI.

So so highly recommended.

The Jacky Leon Series- not complete:

Oath Sworn #1

Family and Honor #2

Broken Loyalty #3

Echoed Defiance #4

Shades of Hate #5

Royal Pawn #6

Rogue Alpha #7

Bitter Discord #8

Secrets and Ruin #9

Scarred Resolve #10

War Games #11

Cruel Revenge #12

Volume One: Books 1-3

Related Series in the same universe:

The Kaliya Sahni Series

Bounty

Snared

Monsters

Reborn

Legends

Destiny

Volume One: Books 1-3

The Everly Abbott Series

Servant of the Blood

Blood of the Wicked

Tainted Blood

Tribunal Archives Stories – Jackie’s family’s stories

Ancient and Immortal (Call of Magic Anthology)

Hearts at War

Buy link

Book 4 of 12: Jacky Leon

Blurb

My duty to my family is simple. Help maintain order and uphold the Law for my werecat father, Hasan, a member of the Tribunal.

But I’ve always had a defiant streak.

To do what’s right, I’m willing to throw the Law out the window and turn my back on everything I’ve been told. Everyone around me knows I’m willing to risk everything for what I believe in. All I can hope is that my beliefs and the Law don’t clash again.

Because I have another duty. A duty to blood. A duty to the bond between those who once shared a face and a life.

My name is Jacky Leon and my twin has found her way back into my life. My echo, strangely similar and yet different, Gwen is a piece of me that I tried to leave behind.

And it seems defiance runs in the family.

Publication date: September 15, 2020
Language: English
Print length: 384 pages
Book 4 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review: Family and Honor (Jacky Leon, #2) by K. N. Banet

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Family and Honor (Jacky Leon, #2) by K. N. Banet is another example of the second book in the series moving forward with character development, overall depth of series foundation and plot structure in such an exciting and fast paced way.

I honestly loved it better than the first for many reasons. Banet brings Jackie back into her territory, her home base where she’s comfortable. So we see a different aspect of the character. Right before the author begins to shake Jackie’s base and hard won stability up again.

An impulsive contract made because, once again the human child Carey is involved, will be the one thing that will pry open the solid isolation from werecat politics that Jackie’s maintained.

And ends up bringing her back into contact with her werecat family.

Banet has written a complicated, high paced, multi layered book. It has murder mysteries to investigate, multiple paranormal species involved, travel outside of Jackie’s territory, and further exploration into her family dynamics and history.

A real exciting, emotional thriller! Another late night finish! Just fantastic! Highly recommended!

The Jacky Leon Series :

Oath Sworn

Family and Honor

Broken Loyalty

Echoed Defiance

Shades of Hate

Royal Pawn

Rogue Alpha

Bitter Discord

Volume One: Books 1-3

Buy link

Book 2 of 12: Jacky Leon

Blurb

I got away with it. Carey and her family are safe and I survived to tell the tale. Now I’m the only werecat in the supernatural community that can say a small family of werewolves lives in my borders. But, in the effort of saving Carey and helping her father, I had to begin shedding the secrets that kept me safe for years.

My identity is out there now. As one of Hasan’s children, more is expected of me and I had no idea what sort of repercussions would come from my decisions. Werecats are reporting problems all over the world and when two go missing, I can’t avoid the feeling of guilt.

My name is Jacky Leon and I am a child of Hasan, ruler of the werecats. I have to learn how to live up to the obligations and expectations of my family before more people die.

My honor demands it.

Publication date: November 15, 2019
Language: English
Print length: 402 pages
Book 2 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review: Oath Sworn (Jacky Leon Book 1) by K. N. Banet

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I’m reading a lot of strong women main character centric content, mostly urban fantasy and paranormal stories. Luckily there’s so much out there to explore from a multitude of writers as it’s a very popular genre, something I’m very excited about.

Oath Sworn, the beginning of the Jacky Leon series by K. N. Banet, is a strong start into the series, and really great take on this popular trope.

Banet is a new to me writer, and I’m unfamiliar with The Tribunal universe that this series takes place in. However, I don’t think that not having read other books from other series impacts on my experience here. The world building is slowly layered in as the events occur, giving them a solid foundation and putting the political and governmental system in place as needed.

What or should I say who really does it for me here is the main character, Jackie Leon. She’s a werecat. In this story one on a mission to recover a human child stolen out of her care by a werewolf gang. She’s tracked them down and is bent on retrieving the child, which means violating The Tribunal Laws.

It’s a terrific story with lots of storytelling and plot lines to develop and carry through to completion. It introduces Jackie, some of her origin story (part of which is an ongoing mystery). Her troubled dynamic with her werecat father, and current life. Then the father of the human child, Carey Everson , stolen from her. He’s the current Werewolf Alpha, and wolves and the werecats are vicious enemies historically.

There’s so many emotional undercurrents and unresolved conflicts between the species, so tensions are high, constantly threatening the tentatively established peace and process needed to search for Carey amidst rising enemies.

The story is extremely well written. The action is fast paced and often emotionally charged.

Each species is well defined and there no romantic relationship. But a hint of what might be developed in the future.

I liked that Banet wrapped up this story completely so we start fresh in the next book.

Cover artist isn’t credited.

Highly recommended.

The Jacky Leon Series :

Oath Sworn

Family and Honor

Broken Loyalty

Echoed Defiance

Shades of Hate

Royal Pawn

Rogue Alpha

Bitter Discord

Volume One: Books 1-3

Buy link

Book 1 of 12: Jacky Leon

Blurb

I’ve never been the type to find trouble. Owning a bar takes work and that was all I wanted. Serving cold beers and paying my taxes. Those were the responsibilities I wanted for the rest of my life.

I didn’t ask to be a werecat. I didn’t ask for the responsibility to uphold an ancient treaty. I didn’t ask to get pulled into the middle of a werewolf pack’s coup.

But Carey Everson, the very human daughter of a werewolf Alpha, needs me. Her father’s enemies are on her heels and I’m her last defense. And I’ll be that defense until my final breath, even if it means challenging the very Laws that govern the supernatural. I gave her my word.

My name is Jacky Leon and nothing is going to stop me from honoring my word.

The Jacky Leon series is an Urban Fantasy series with a slow-burn romance.

Publication date: July 15, 2019
Language: English
Print length: 354 pages
Book 1 of 12: Jacky Leon

Review: Mystic Justice (The Other Detective Series Book 2) by Heather G Harris

Rating: 5⭐️

I loved Veiled Justice, the first book in this series but feel that this excellent story far exceeds my expectations for the second novel and character development.

Krieg, King of the Orcs and Detective Stacy and her companion caladrius, Loki are back in action in a fantastic new story. Stacy and Krieg are further along in their new relationship. They are getting to know each other, their history as Krieg continues to make himself a part of Stacy’s life, professional and personal.

This is happening, framed around several brutal murders. Each rawly heartbreaking that’s so realistically relayed by the followed investigative scenes to the next of kin.

Writing that shows it doesn’t have to be current fiction or fantasy for losses and brutality to hit hard.

This type of storytelling continues throughout this book.

As all involved, Stacy and her team, race to uncover the killer before another is kidnapped, the suspense is ratcheted up and the tension is heightened.

Towards the end, we see exactly the toll this case has taken on Casey, and a hidden part of her story is partially revealed.

There is also something going on with Loki that’s subtly disturbing. I don’t believe it was part of this storyline. So now I can’t wait for the next book to come.

Harris has a fantastic series here that’s complicated and getting better with each new story.

This might be my favorite series in a multi-series universe.

Highly recommend this and dive into this universe if you’re not familiar with it already. I’ve listed the reading order below.

Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.

The Other Realm Universe: Should be read in order to understand the world and characters .Events and relationships build upon each other.

The Other Realm series

⭐️Glimmer of Dragons- Book 0.5 (a prequel story),

Glimmer of The Other- Book 1, Glimmer of Hope- Book 2,

Glimmer of Christmas – Book 2.5 (a Christmas tale),

Glimmer of Death – Book 3,

Glimmer of Deception – Book 4,

*It is recommended that you read The Other Wolf books 1 to 3 before continuing with

Challenge of the Court– Book 5,

Betrayal of the Court– Book 6

Revival of the Court– Book 7.

⭐️The Other Wolf Series

Defender of The Pack– Book 0.5 (a prequel story),

Protection of the Pack– Book 1, Guardians of the Pack– Book 2, Saviour of The Pack– Book 3, Awakening of the Pack – Book 4, Resurgence of the Pack – Book 5; and Ascension of the Pack – Book 6.

⭐️The Other Witch Series

Rune of the Witch – Book 0.5 (a prequel story),

Hex of the Witch– Book 1,

Coven of the Witch;– Book 2,

Familiar of the Witch– Book 3; and Destiny of the Witch – Book 4.

⭐️The Other Detective Series❤️

Frustrated Justice – Book 0.5 (a prequel story),
Veiled Justice – Book 1
Mystic Justice – Book 2

Arcane Justice – Book 3 – Dec 26,2025
Brutal Justice – Book 4 TBD

Buy link

Mystic Justice: A Supernatural Crime Thriller (The Other Detective Series Book 2)

Blurb

A drowned dryad. Ritual markings. A killer who isn’t finished.

They pulled her from the lake – young, beautiful, and very, very dead. As Chester’s only magical Detective Inspector, I get the cases the Common police can’t handle, and this one has Other Realm written all over it.

When the medical examiner discovers runes carved into the corpse’s bones, I know we’re in for a bumpy ride. Elemental runes. First victim drowned. My gut says there’s more coming, and my gut is rarely wrong.

Then a centaur drops out of the sky, literally, and my theory’s confirmed. The only link between the victims? Botany, a vampire-owned bar that serves the magical and the mundane… and never seems short of trouble.

I’ve got a new unit at my back, Unit 13, and we’re still figuring out how to work together. Add Krieg, the King of Ogres – deadly, smart, and far too good at getting under my skin – and things get complicated fast.

With a killer on the loose and the clock ticking, we’ll have to move quickly… or the next body that drops may well be one of ours.

Immerse yourself in The Other Detective Series – perfect for fans of supernatural crime, complete with a fierce heroine, gritty murder investigations, and a slow-burn romance.

Written in British English.

The Other Detective Series

Frustrated Justice, a prequel story,

Veiled Justice – Book 1

Mystic Justice – Book 2

Arcane Justice – Book 3

Brutal Justice – Book 4

Publisher: Hellhound Press Limited
Publication date: October 2, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 264 pages
Book 2 of 3: The Other Detective Series

Review: The Wolf Vs The Dragon: The Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth #7) by Lauretta Hignett

Rating: 3⭐️

This is yet another review I found myself editing due to my exasperation with the main character, particularly how, at the penultimate book in this series, the author is still continuing to have Daphne’s character remain in the same place as it was at the beginning of the series.

Hignett has previously promised some growth for Daphne, especially with her annoyed “2 personality” inner dialogue, an element of the story and character that was highlighted prior as an issue.

Those constant ongoing conversations between violent‘brain Daphne’ and the other kind, naive and frankly, TSTL Daphne are an element that are repetitive, slow down the narrative, and honestly, irritating at this point. I thought the two halves were reconciled but ,no ,here we are, still with the same ongoing arguments that were old several books ago.

Brain Daphne: let me stab whoever. Emotional Daphne: No it’s wrong. Brain: stabby Stab!

ED: no, we must carry on with our internal dialogue while there’s some poor soul watching us stand here.

Just no. At 23 percent. Well the entirety of the book. Then it gets worse when one part of her calls the other part an idiot. And I’m agreeing.

Myf, the tortured alcoholic dragon shifter is now an enemy. Guess who is whining about that betrayal after Myf stayed locked in cabinets, soused after drinking binges with Dwayne, for ages, while Daphne deals with other drama? Daphne. SMH.

There’s multiple side storylines. The ones with Dwayne , which I’m sure will have ramifications in the finale, still feel like literal fluff.

By the end of the story, while there’s some good stuff here with Myf’s rescue, and a revelation, Daphne’s still such an oblivious, whiny character that I just can’t care about her anymore.

Daphne has gotten to be unreadable. Dwayne,her companion Chaos god, as well.

I’ll probably get the last one just to see what happens. But characters like Daphne? Are only interesting to me when they evolve and develop as the series progresses. By book 7, she shouldn’t be the same person as she was in the first novel. Now she’s just one more uninteresting trope.

Too bad because there is interesting mythology and world building going on, and some fascinating concepts here. Those got the rating points.

Book Cover by Atra Luna Graphic Design

Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth:

The Wolf Vs The Vampire #1

The Wolf Vs The Warlock #2

The Wolf Vs The Shifter #3

The Wolf Vs The Witch #4

The Wolf Vs The Monster #5

The Wolf Vs The Shadow Fae #6

The Wolf Vs The Dragon #7

The Wolf Vs The World #8 – Nov 15,2025 – finale

The Wolf Vs Santa: A Little Christmas Mystery

Buy link

The Wolf Vs The Dragon: The Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth

Blurb

I don’t want to hurt her… but she definitely wants to hurt me.

Betrayal doesn’t sting. It hurts worse than that; it feels like a rake over coals, a disembowling, a slow, agonizing stretch on the torture rack.

Myf is hurt, and she’s found someone to blame. She’s focused all her pain on one target.

Me.

The Wolf Vs The Dragon is book seven in the Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth, a hot new Urban Fantasy series by bestselling author Lauretta Hignett.

Publication date: September 15, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 306 pages
Book 7 of 8: The Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth

Review: License to Curse (The Merlin Mysteries, Book One) by Kim Richardson

Rating: 3⭐️

I have written and rewritten this review several times. And finally decided to try and keep it as concise as possible.

This was a DNF multiple times for me for many reasons but ultimately I finished it and enjoyed it. But I won’t be going further with this series.

Main issues revolve around the characterization and plot issues. Things and elements that repeatedly occur throughout the story or seem to be a part of the main character makeup which makes any credibility of a magical law enforcement officer impossible.

Arcane witch Rhea Morven is a newly credited Merlin. That’s a Magical Enforcement Response League Intelligence Network. Basically they’re the magical law enforcement agents who police the paranormal world. Rhea’s got a sketchy family history and wildcard powers. And she’s a newbie. But still an agent with a badge.

And she’s sent out to an equally sketchy town, Gallows Gate, where a fellow agent disappeared and 3 teenagers have gone missing.

Should be a great mystery and law enforcement storyline.

However, author Kim Richardson gives little insight or foundation into the political structure or powers here. So instead of the Merlin coming into town as a powerful magical force or police officer, there’s nothing to this aspect of the plot.

The agency has given no resources and dumped her. Might as well be a civilian. And she’s whiny. When the Council (and parents) blame her for certain crimes/events that have happened in her absence and without an investigation, she immediately agrees she’s a failure. She’s been there one day.

People refuse to listen or talk to her. Fine. Off she goes. No procedure. What training? Zero credibility as a Merlin for me as a reader.

Rhea’s personality too is lacking. Absolutely gullible as written, especially for a trained agent and magically powerful person. Rhea who listens to the person who’s got “big bad Villain“ stamped on their forehead while suspecting the person who’s saved her repeatedly and reeks of ancient great being. Let’s do that.

While there are some funny moments and engaging characters, like the ghost who’s attached to the dilapidated house that called the local Merlin office/ home, they’re swamped by scenarios and situations that are frankly eye-rolling.

The narrative continues to grow less credible as events unfold that the reader recognizes aren’t well developed mysteries but rather easily explained events. But the author keeps insisting that Morven can’t have the intelligence to guess immediately who and what is going on.

Example: The previous Merlin who was investigating several cases disappeared ten days ago. Now a new body of a man has been discovered. Looks like he’s been there a while. Week, maybe ten days . Oh no! Whoever could it be? Not like there’s a missing person or something. SMH.

Then in the dramatic climax and battle, a character turns into a well used trope. Why not. No foundation laid but ok.

For me this became a kitchen sink paranormal narrative, with little cohesion thrown together with some likable characters but not enough to make me go forward.

Read it if you’re a fan of this author.

Cover design by Kim Richardson

The Merlin Mysteries:

License to Curse #1

Witch on Probation #2 – Oct 31,2025

Magical Misconduct #3 – Nov 30,2025

Buy link:

Book 1 of 3: The Merlin Mysteries

Blurb

First day on the job? Missing teens. Dangerous magic. Zero backup.

I’m Rhea Morven, rookie Merlin agent, walking magical anomaly, and proud owner of a cursed bloodline no one trusts.

My first case dumps me in Gallows Gate, a hidden town full of secrets, politics, and creatures that bite. The assignment? Find three missing paranormals before the town tears itself apart. The twist? They’re not just anyone. They’re the children of the ruling council.

Now I’m stuck navigating vampire egos, witch rivalries, and suspicious council members who’d rather see me fail.

Good thing I’ve got a sharp tongue, a dangerous kind of magic, and a very low tolerance for bullsh*t.

Also, there’s a broody shifter with eyes like gold and a tendency to save my life. Not helpful for focus.

They sent me here to fail, but I’m not leaving without a fight.

Love found-family, magical suspense, and snarky witches who bite back? Welcome to The Merlin Mysteries, where a cursed bloodline meets a case from hell.

Publication date: July 22, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 281 pages
Book 1 of 3: The Merlin Mysteries

Review: Shift of Morals (Shifter Lords Book 2) by S.E. Babin

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Shift of Morals was another good story, fast paced and action packed. There are new terrific characters, added fascinating story threads, and further exploration of this character’s back history and traumatic experiences that led to this situation and her evolving physical status, whatever it may be.

I liked Shift of Morals better than Shift of Heart. Evie is growing more multi dimensional and relatable as she faces ever greater challenges and personal dangers. Especially when her worst enemy comes to town.

Highlights are scenes that include Seymour, the sentient venomous flycatcher plant with major personality, and more fantastic magical powerful elements, especially those of plants where they exhibit the ability to move and think for themselves. Toxic plants are everything!

I’m still not sold on shifter lord, Caelan. He’s still a bit problematic, especially when the author has such other strong good male characters available. Caelan is still being reactive, obsessed, secretive, non communicative, violent. And a bit dimwitted at the end.

Sigh. Why, why do authors love to write these main characters so much?SMH.

Still, so terrific writing and elements here. Heading forward!

Check it out! Especially if urban fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing.

Cover design by Covers by Christian

Shifter Lords :

Shift of Heart #1

Shift of Morals #2

Power Shift #3 – Oct 26,2025

Shifting Winds #4 – Feb 10,2026

Shifting Resolve #5 – March 31,2026

Shift of Rule #6 – May 26,2026

Shift of the Wild #7 – July 28,2026

Buy link

Book 2 of 7: Shifter Lords

Blurb

What do you get when you mix one hot shifter, one angry god, and an absolutely zero chance of keeping things low-key?

A whole bunch of trouble, that’s what.

Life was so much simpler when Evie’s problems consisted of picking the perfect peony. Now she’s got the gods on her tail and shifters trying to sniff out her secrets.

Then there’s the smoking hot Shifter Lord who has never once thrown a party, hiring her for all kinds of pack events and doing his best to convince her to trust him. But he has an agenda of his own, and Evie is far too smart to let her guard down.

On top of that, there’s a new god in town, one who’s way too good at identifying bloodlines and scenting out lies. She’ll have to dig deep and muster up some of her rusty acting skills to escape his notice, while trying to keep her identity hidden from the rest of the world so intent on finding her.

And if that wasn’t enough, someone is trying to kill her, and they’re getting close to succeeding.

Surviving will require placing her trust in the unlikeliest of allies and deciding just how long she can keep pretending she’s only a demure little florist who has an unfortunate black thumb for drama.

Evie is still a florist. Still a fraud. And still trying to pretend she’s not falling in love.

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 256 pages
Book 2 of 7: Shifter Lords

Review: Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords Book 1) by S.E. Babin

Rating: 4.25⭐️

S.E. Babin is an author I’ve read before with mixed feelings. Some series I’ve really connected with and others not so much.

Shift of Heart, the first in Babin’s Shifter Lords paranormal romance series, is one I’m excited about and currently enjoying.

The description of this book drew me in but, now headed to the next book in the series, I feel that it’s a bit misleading. And needs clarification to begin with on an element that should come with trigger warnings.

Here’s the lead in.

“In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.”

That last bit? No accident but a horrifying assault, vividly captured, and for some, as it’s a reoccurring part of the story and a traumatic experience for the character, a element I think should have a trigger warning. Assault and potentially death. FYI.

Onto the other aspects of Shift of Heart. The world building is one that’s being assembled as part of the process of storytelling. So we don’t know how humans and nonhumans cohabitate separately as well as they do. Especially as humans aren’t supposed to know about the paranormal beings. And readers just get an understanding of otherworldly politics and governance as events happen.

It’s a characters that make the story. Especially the found family that exists around the main character of Evie Quinn, a Flouromage who runs a flower shop with her best friends, a vampire, a banshee, and a dryad. With a main goal of being successful while trying to stay hidden from the horrors she’s fled from. As well as her Mother.

The best friends, are beautifully crafted. Each one has a unique personality as well as fascinating otherworldly qualities due to their species and history. And they’re all very close to Evie. They know her secrets, her past.

For me they are fantastic and support the story even when I feel that the author has Evie being self destructive and close to a TSTL character.

Most of that is due to her involvement and interactions with the Alpha of all Shifters in her area. Toxic relationship is how most people would describe it.

Although it’s a staple of some romance tropes. Outlooks are changing.

The Alpha is all “everything/everyone is mine” rawr! If I don’t like it or get it. Let’s destroy it. So of course, things around Evie are destroyed.

He fixes it. She tries to or pays for it. Pattern says that it continues.

To be fair. Caelan, the Alpha, recognizes that there is a problem with his approach. And her friends and a mentor are the ones who will tell Evie that she’s jeopardizing herself and them in this situation.

But it’s that relationship and story so it’s going to continue on this path. If you find it as frustrating as I did be warned.

What is worth continuing forward is the multiple mysteries, the mythology and the interwoven relationships between the gods, current events and the characters. That’s intriguing and suspenseful.

And it’s got me fully engaged in the series and process, and this group of characters.

Check it out! Especially if urban fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing.

Cover design by Covers by Christian

Shifter Lords :

Shift of Heart #1

Shift of Morals #2

Power Shift #3 – Oct 26,2025

Shifting Winds #4 – Feb 10,2026

Shifting Resolve #5 – March 31,2026

Shift of Rule #6 – May 26,2026

Shift of the Wild #7 – July 28,2026

Buy link

Book 1 of 7: Shifter Lords

Blurb

In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.

After a terrible divorce left her blindsided, all Evie Quinn wants is a relaxing girls’ trip to Scotland, not a fight for her life with a Chimera shifter—an ancient, secretive enemy with the power to shapeshift into anything with a pulse.

Surviving the attack is a plus, but her goddess mother drops a bomb on her: Living will change everything.

And…it does.

Now she’s hiding out in a small town running a popular flower shop, doing her best to resist the urge to gnaw on raw meat every chance she gets, and badly pretending she’s the same ol’ lovable hedgewitch she always was.

Except, spoiler alert: She’s not.

When a foraging trip reveals a dying shifter in the woods, Evie breaks all the rules to heal him and vanishes before he wakes up. Cue immediate panic when that dangerously attractive shifter walks into her shop a few weeks later, and she finds out he’s the Alpha of every single shifter in the state.

Eep.

Fortunately, he’s only looking for a florist, not Evie. Not yet. But divine magic brews in the skies, and the wild gods are on the prowl, searching for the source of a long forgotten ancient magic they sense stirring once again.

As Evie’s secrets claw their way to the surface, she realizes she may have to team up with the one man who can save her life.

If he doesn’t destroy it first.

For fans of dangerous supernatural tension, enemies-to-lovers romance, and reluctant heroines, Shift of Heart is the beginning of a dangerously addictive and magical new series.

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Publication date: July 29, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 278 pages
Book 1 of 7: Shifter Lords

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