Category: Supernatural

Review: URBAN SHAMAN (The Walker Papers Book 1) by C. E. Murphy

Rating: 4⭐️

Urban Shaman brought me not only another great book but a new prolific author and series to explore. Love it when this happens. 

In Urban Shaman, Murphy introduces a mixed race (Cherokee and Irish ancestry) Seattle police mechanic Joanne Walker, who on a flight home from a funeral, discovers not only is there mystical layers to her world but she’s a shaman as well. 

In trying to save a woman from a threats from a Celtic god and the mythical Wild Hunt, Jo has to accept that she’s got shaman powers she’s not even close to understanding. And she needs them in order to survive the gods and the threats they have brought into her world. 

The author combines Seattle location, a mechanic’s love for her cars, a middling law enforcement presence and two different types of mythology, Celtic and a broader spectrum of The People to this urban fantasy novel. 

There’s murder, a race to understand the mystery behind the what the Wild Hunt and gods are doing, and most of the time, it’s spent in a dream scape of a urban fantasy world where Jo and Coyote are trying to heal her and lead her to knowledge. 

This aspect of the story is where some readers will find themselves having issues. The magic isn’t well defined, especially Jo’s powers and how she’s developing them. And that so much of the story isn’t set in the real world of Seattle where the drama is occurring. 

Perhaps future books will change that. 

Jo is a really good and traumatized character (there’s a very sad, past history revealed here). And her relationship with the cab driver and her boss in the SPD have potential. 

Looking forward to reading more of the series. 

A winner here with the potential for a great series. 

Cover Art & Design: G&S 

Cover Design Studio Cover Model: Marissa Turcotte

The Walker Papers (10 book series):

Urban Shaman #1

Banshee Cries #2

Thunderbird Falls #3

Coyote Dreams #4

Cauldron Bourne #5

Demon Hunts #6

Spirit Dances #7

Raven Calls #8

No Dominion #9

Mountain Echoes #10 – July7,2026

Buy link

 Book 1 of 10: The Walker Papers 

Blurb 

Joanne Walker has no use for the mystical, and up until this morning, the mystical had no use for her.

But an ancient god has reared his head, and the all-too-real riders of the mythical Wild Hunt are menacing the streets of Seattle. Caught in the middle of an age-old grudge, Joanne is forced to choose between accepting an unexpected magical heritage and facing this immortal enemy, or…dying.

(Look, nobody said it was a good choice.)

Guided by a cryptic coyote who visits her dreams and armed with magic she doesn’t know how to use, Joanne is befriended by a nosy cab driver who wants to tag along for the adventure as she hangs on to the desperate hope that she might survive the next few days.

Joanne’s journey from police department mechanic to urban shaman begins here…whether she likes it or not!

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Miz Kit Productions

Publication date

October 1, 2023

Language

‎English

Print length

364 pages

Book 1 of 10

The Walker Papers

Review: Ghostly Interests (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 1) by Lily Harper Hart

Rating: 2.5⭐️

Ghostly Interests (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 1) by Lily Harper Hart has so many issues, and I think many (but not all) might have to do with the year that this book was published in.

Written in 2015 and it’s showing its age. I almost feel like I should list the issues and be done with it. 

Main characters in their late twenties whose dialogue is more characteristic of someone much younger than themselves. Even with the colloquialism of the times and references of that specific decade. 

The lack of any broader understanding between the other characters of the idea of a found family or strong female and male friendships/bonds that act like a sibling relationship without any blood relationship so it’s spelled out like one would in general terms in the book. 

While it’s a given understanding these days. 

How the main character and those characters around her see her body and their bodies in different aspects of attractiveness. And the terminology that’s used. The idea of body positivity is no where near here but 1950 is. 

The male/female dynamics are annoying and toxic, depending upon the relationship. The men tend to talk over the women, dismiss their complaints and comments. At one point, Zander actually told Harper to shut up while he spoke to the cop about whether he thought he could date her. 

Funny? Not particularly.  Although I’m sure the author meant it as a humorous comment. Same I’m sure when Harper’s mom called Zander a derogatory word for a gay man and it’s shrugged off as being ok because it’s her mother. No, again not ok.

This sort of casual bigotry and sexism is written throughout the book.

While the main woman character, Harper, has a gay best friend, Zander, who’s also a partner in their ghostbuster business, how every day sexism and sexual harassment is handled here is seriously outdated. 

One of the younger men who works for them is outright engaged in verbal sexist remarks towards Harper, making remarks about her body, as well as marking disparaging comments about their younger intern who’s crushing on him.  Zander himself makes crude remarks towards women that’s insulting. But it’s noted he’s a masculine gay. 

There’s the issue with the entire point that the men often defer to the roommate, Zander, for information that they will believe. Even though Harper has just told whoever the same story. Even though she’s the main character. More sexism. 

And it’s taken as a joke or commentary, in the father’s case, as situation normal. 

“I do want the divorce.” “Why are you calling Mom ‘your woman’ then?” Harper asked. “Because we’re not divorced yet and I don’t like anyone taking what’s mine before I’m ready to give it up,” Phil said. “That’s not the way things work.”

That’s the kind of relationship/dynamics written and dated tone that’s displayed here by all the characters, at every level. 

It’s old at page one. 

Then there’s just things that make you stop and think:

A young American woman who says “Bleeding tragic “ which no one would say at her age and situation, even as a ghost. 

And the fact that a victim who is SA has that element totally glossed over as well as a predatory college professor. 

In the words that Zander would understand and say. “Ewww.”

To everything.  Just no. 

A Harper Harlow Mystery (21 book series)

Ghostly Interests #1

Buy link

        Ghostly Interests (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Harper Harlow lives in a world of ghosts. She sees them. She talks to them. She investigates them. She sends them on their merry way. She’s not embarrassed by her abilities, and she’s not afraid to be who she is. She’s also not looking for a relationship. Enter Jared Monroe, a smooth-talking police detective who sees things in black and white and ignores any shades of gray. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, and while he’s intrigued by the feisty blonde ghost detective, he’s not interested in the paranormal. When twenty-one-year-old Annie Dresden’s body washes up on the beach of Whisper Cove, Harper and Jared collide. Sparks may be flying, but so is confusion and mistrust. Harper calls on her loyal band of ghost hunters to solve the crime, and Jared relies on his training to tackle the same problem. It doesn’t matter what approach they take because all paths are destined to intersect. Can Harper and Jared learn to work together? And, more importantly, can new ghosts let go of the past and give in to an obscure future? It’s anyone’s guess when big personalities go to war and find they might have more in common than they think.

HarperHart Publications

Publication date

September 15, 2015

Language

‎English

Print length

212 pages

Book 1 of 21

A Harper Harlow Mystery

Review:   Death Waits at Dead Rock (The Haunted Ranch Mysteries Book 6) by Sara Bourgeois

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Death Waits at Dead Rock was actually so different because the reader became familiar and fond of the victim, as did Claire. Which made what follows so personal and upsetting. A very different experience from every murder and investigation prior. 

When a invitation to a weekend at a vineyard for influencers and potential clients turns into a murder investigation the story ventures into a new realm of acceptance of Claire’s abilities from those closest to her and an investigation into someone she’d grown close to.

Death Waits at Dead Rock ends with a new paranormal mystery rising about the land and Claire, an old mystery solved sort of about the town, and on moment for all that was both moving and bittersweet depending upon what character was the focus. 

A different but equally great story.

Cover by Book Covers by Melody

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries (8 book series)

Death Rides The Desert #1

Bones and Cactus Blooms #2

Spirits of the Saguaro #3

Tombstones with a View #4

Body Beneath the Wither #5

Death Waits at Dead Rock #6

Skulls and Sunlit Secrets #7 June 23,2026

The Bone Charm #8 – Aug 18,2026

Buy link

        Death Waits at Dead Rock (The Haunted Ranch Mysteries Book 6)

    

Blurb 

A wine tasting. A viral treasure hunt. A body at the base of Dead Rock.

Claire Caldwell thought she’d seen every kind of weird the desert could throw at her. Ghosts in her kitchen, omens from a spirit fox, and the occasional town scandal that required a very large cup of coffee. What she did not expect was a swarm of influencers descending on Perdido Springs for a luxury “Desert Vines Weekend,” complete with ring lights and sponsored smiles.

The big gimmick is supposed to be harmless fun. Collect the special labels, piece together the artwork, and you get a treasure map to a legendary stash hidden near Dead Rock. 

Content gold. Tourist bait. Everyone wants in.

Then the weekend’s headliner turns up dead at sunrise.

Claire would love to let law enforcement handle it, but Buster is… Buster. Rosa’s ghost has opinions, Rusty is tracking something no living person can smell, and the closer Claire gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that the “treasure” isn’t just old wine and a cute story. Someone in town has been protecting what Dead Rock is hiding for a long time, and they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

Now Claire has to sift through secrets, suspects, and a trail of clues disguised as a party favor, before the killer strikes again… and the next toast becomes a death sentence.

March 2, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

205 pages

Book 6 of 8

The Haunted Ranch Mysteries

Review:  How Not to Kill a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #5) by Shannon Mae

Rating; 4🌈

How Not to Kill a Hellhound  is the fifth book in the Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series by Shannon Mae, a fated mates paranormal/urban fantasy series set in Paradise Falls, a location where several of her interconnected series take place.

Mae’s actually working towards an overall universe storyline that encompasses all her series and characters I’m guessing, and one of the ultimate main characters has an impactful role here.

I appreciate that it was left to Sebbie , mostly, to decide when he was emotionally ready for the next step in his quest to remember everything that happened and move forward. This is 90 percent Sebbie’s journey. Who he is, the past and how those characters around him support this journey. He’s a sweet, engaging person and I loved reading his story.

It’s a good tale with many creative elements, including mythological aspects, but leaves the Hellhounds mostly removed from this even as Corbin is a major player as Sebbie’s fated mate and Hellhound.  The Crow familiar is on the same level with Corbin here. Except for the many sex scenes with the emphasis on Sebbie’s appendage size being “cute”.  

I ended up wanting more exposition, less sex, more exploration of their developing relationship and each person’s history as opposed to their body parts. 

When things get interesting, things get misty.  I did like the interpretation of Charon and the boat ride. Amazing.

And loose ends were tied up finally from Aiden’s story while setting up Jude and the Sheriff for their fated mates romance. That should be interesting!

Cover design by Morningstar Ashley

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls: (Paranormal Romance) 

How to Flirt with a Hellhound #1

How to Hack a Hellhound #2

How to Tame a Hellhound #3

How to Trust a Hellhound #4

How NOT to Kill a Hellhound #5

How To Catch a Hellhound #6 – Oct 1,2026

The Revenge Playlist: A Collection of Afterlifer Revenge Stories (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls)

Linked series:

Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series) fated mates romance set in Paradise Falls 

Buy link

        How Not to Kill a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Sebbie 

Life’s pretty good. I love my job, I feed the crows in my yard, and I have some awesome friends. Sure, I was kidnapped by a cult recently, but my friends rescued me, so no harm done. And, okay, people do tend to die around me, but I work in a hospital. That’s normal… right? Death isn’t scary anyway—it’s just another beginning. Unfortunately, most guys I date don’t see it that way. My love life has been pretty empty, but I just met someone new. He’s ridiculously cute and even likes crows. I just hope he’s not scared off when he learns about my job. 

Corbin 

I take great satisfaction in removing hellbound souls from the world—especially the ones who prey on the weak. With my pack and my familiar, Crow, at my side, life is steady and peaceful. At least, it was until Sebbie. The cute, bubbly man is far more than he realizes, and he’s about to turn everything upside down. There’s just one little problem: he doesn’t know the supernatural exists… or that he’s a supernatural being. I want to help him harness his powers, but there’s a catch—if I’m not careful, Sebbie might end up killing me in the process. 

Tags: Crows hold grudges; Death is actually cheerful; Corbin’s as obsessed with shiny things as his birds; The pack shows up to create chaos; Thea is determined to be Sebbie’s new bestie; Jude doesn’t get arrested (or maybe he does?); 

Review:  The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

Rating: 4.5⭐️🌈

This is a harrowing excellent short story by Alix Harrow, an author I associate with imaginative, thoughtful fiction. 

Set in a dystopian world, hundreds of years after a catastrophic event has permanently changed earth’s environment as well as humans beings themselves, Harrow has intriguingly narrowed down the location to a dying community of outsiders, the Appalachian community of Iron Hollow.

They, like other struggling poor people, live outside the walled compounds of the rich.  High in the Mountains, living in the hollers near the poisonous streams and changed vegetation, they live life hard, dying young and often, sometimes from the very monsters emerging from the mountains itself.

Harrow creates, in the richly colored, sometimes horrifying world, a tale of love lost, love deeply mourned, and finally, love changed and found again. 

It’s not a romance. Each main character has lost their wives. Both Shrike the Secretary, the young mountain woman and the legendary Knight who’s come to slay the monster. 

What follows is an amazing story. One of anger, ruthless determination, dedication and finally, deep love. 

I absolutely love that ending.

Highly recommended, both story and author. 

Cover design by Tree Abraham Cover illustration by Colin Verdi

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Knight and the Butcherbird: A Short Story eBook : Harrow, Alix E.

Blurb 

In this dystopian fairy tale from the New York Timesbestselling author of Starling House, a small town’s storyteller struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.

Hundreds of years after the end of the world, the Appalachian community of Iron Hollow finds itself beset by demons. Such horrors are common these days in the outlands, where most folks die young—if they don’t turn into monsters first.

When a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest unearthly beast to haunt their woods, the town’s new oral historian, Shrike, has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still herself, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

Review: How Not To Woo Your Human Warrior (Falling for Demons #3) by Laura Winters 

Rating: 3.75⭐️

I had seen this series before but not read any of the books. But the description of How Not To Woo Your Human Warrior included a rage filled main woman character, one who when kidnapped by demons used her anger to fight to reach her sister. 

That sounded promising and it also stated it could be read as a standalone, so I picked it up. 

I mostly enjoyed the story. Not having read the preceding novels, I don’t know how much of the missing world building is to be found there. What I did find was a story that dealt with some sensitive issues (parental abuse,DV,control issues and anger issues) yet framed them with some comedic humor that is a bit jarring. Or perhaps just odd that it feels out of place. 

At least to me. 

The storyline is good. A pair of sisters, already at odds, are kidnapped by slavers. And then rescued. By demons. 

Kalypso or Kaly, the older sister has lived a tough life. Her history is slowly revealed over the course of the book, the reason she’s so excellent at fighting, so filled with rage, so quick with her anger. With her younger sister as her only focus. As one can imagine, none of those reasons are good. 

Her sister, Kat, is an enigma for the most part, separated from Kaly, used as to keep Kaly compliant with the rules of the place they are living in. 

That damaged dynamic is a realistic twist of the book. 

Ozirax, the demon warrior in charge of Kaly getting settled into her new environment is an interesting character. This is the first time I’ve seen dyslexia written into a demon in this manner, and it’s a very successful element. Same for how it’s a part of Kaly’s story.  This bridge is just one that makes their journey to a relationship work. 

Other aspects of the story I think are well written are the various paranormal creatures that are battled or just met as part of this new world. The teams and political factions are very similar to an earth similar system and/or structure so there’s nothing new to explore. 

What I find irksome about this and any other book is where the author has given a element of their series a name that’s either silly or odd enough that just seeing it, throws you out of the narrative.  Example. The current storyline is dealing with a serious issue, then one of the characters mentions that they are living in Heck. 

SMH. Demons in Heck. 

Which would be funny if this was a comedy. And not a book dealing with child abuse, rage, anger management, and other sensitive topics. 

Yes, I took rating points away because of that. 

 And because that wasn’t well written. You can have humor and traumatic experiences within the same novel but the writing has to be exceptional. This isn’t it. 

It’s engaging at times. Downright awkward reading at times. Oz calls Kaly spicy immediately because she’s filled with rage over being kidnapped and drugged by slavers and separated from her sister.  Anyone see a problem here? 

It’s that sort of thing that occurs regularly throughout that makes this a ok read but not one where I’ll seek out the other books. 

Falling for Demons-6 books:

“Six human women, betrayed by their own only to be rescued by the very demons they were taught to fear, find themselves trapped in a harrowing, magical city.

But the cautionary tales were wrong, and they’re quick to learn demons don’t inspire terror but temptation…”

▪️How Not to Court Your Human Captive #1 by A. K. Caggiano

▪️How Not to Charm Your Human Colleague #2 by Laura Winters 

▪️How Not To Woo Your Human Warrior #3 by Laura Winters

▪️How Not to Tame Your Human Tease #4 by A. K. Caggiano

 ▪️How Not to Pursue Your Human Perfectionist #5 by Laura Winters 

▪️How Not to Mesmerize Your Human Muse #6 by A. K. Caggiano

Buy link

 Book 3 of 6: Falling for Demons 

Blurb 

Eyes forward, sword up, heart true.

Kalypso has a long list of things to be angry about, starting and ending with a spiky purple demon who reluctantly rescued her and five other women from the Dreadmoor. Trapped in the demon realm, Ozirax is the final barrier standing between her and her sister, so she’ll play nice for now. The only issue is… she’s never been nice, and when she drives away the one person she’s dedicated her life to, Kalypso is left without a purpose. Until she finds a demon warrior whose simmering anger calls to her own.

On the cusp of promotion in the demon guard, it must be a cruel joke from the gods that Ozirax ends up saddled with the rage-filled human woman. Kalypso is stubborn, vicious, and unafraid—the kind of distraction he doesn’t need—but she holds the key to his rise in rank. Work together, keep her in line, and the captain’s position is his. But there’s a cunning mind behind the spicy human fighting him at every turn with fists and blunt teeth, and with danger lurking in the Dreadmoor, she might be the very warrior their realm needs.

They’ve found their match, a mirror to the anger burning within. Kalypso has shown her colors, sharpened her defenses, but Ozirax is filling in the cracks of her broken pieces, and she’s not sure how to separate them again. Love has always been her weakness, but loving a demon? It might very well be her downfall.

The world has taught them to flare their spikes, but when passion blurs the lines of fury, can they walk away with their hearts intact?

For fans of fantasy monster romance, cozier fantasy, and queer stories, join Laura Winter and AK Caggiano in the Falling for Demons series of interconnected standalones, set in the same fantasy world. Follow six humans and their budding romances with the demons they once feared in a cozy, spicy setting.

December 4, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

350 pages

Book 3 of 6

Falling for Demons

Review:  Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Selena ,with her dog, Copper, has fled an abusive relationship after the death of her mother. Broken and desperate with dollars to her name, she’s bought a train ticket and traveled days to a small desert town of Quartz Creek in search of an aunt she barely knows. 

Kingfisher’s novel pulls us immediately into the character of Selena, as it’s her voice that’s telling her story.  Quietly contained, tense, and worried as we watch through her eyes, her journey to a town so dry , so small that there’s nothing to see when she’s deposited at her final destination with her few belongings and gentle old lab, Copper. 

We’ve no idea exactly how broken Selena is or how horrific a relationship and past she’s fled. That is slowly revealed throughout the narrative as she starts to find her own way and new foundation in this quirky community. 

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher is a richly woven, beautifully written tale of a broken woman who finds in small dusty desert town full of secrets, small Gods both frightening and dangerous and some benign a refuge and home, along with a found family. People who are ready to support her, give her comfort and the space she needs to recover and develop her own strengths. 

It’s a remarkable journey. Full of humor, compassion, joy and yes, horror.  

All the characters are remarkable in their design and detail, human and otherwise.  The mythology and mystical elements are incredible. 

And I appreciate that even in the “horror “ aspect of this tale, there is a grey area attached to the “villain” here. Yes, its actions now are wrong but all the characters can see their origin came from a very different place.  I really like having a broader perspective on subjects like this. Nothing is ever black and white. 

T. Kingfisher  or author Ursula Vernon is a writer whose work is quietly thoughtful and insightful. Her love for this desert and its beauty is apparent here, it flows through the landscape of the narrative in every sentence. 

As does her approach to life and wildlife. Roadrunners are indeed far more than the cartoon characters would have you believe. Authors notes are a delight. Check them out. 

Highly recommended. Both author and book. 

Exquisite cover that carries major themes of the story.

Cover design by Logan Matthews Cover illustration by Tristan Elwell

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comSnake-Eater: Kingfisher, T.: 9781662525094

Blurb 

From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award–winning author T. Kingfisher comes an enthralling contemporary fantasy seeped in horror about a woman trying to escape her past by moving to the remote US desert—only to find herself beholden to the wrath of a vengeful god.

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind.

Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled.

Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.

Review:  Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

Rating: 5⭐️

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs has been described as a terrific novel written in as several short stories. I absolutely agree and I loved it. 

The premise of the stories centers around an ancient werewolf, Asil, one who lost his beloved mate in a long past traumatic event that has continued to haunt him.  His current pack mates in Montana have decided to take him on a series of 5 blind dates, via various dating apps, at Christmas time, to pull him out of his increasingly violent behavior and depression. 

He’s even a Muslim who doesn’t celebrate Christmas as Asil will often remind his friends. So each short story is one of Asil’s dates. It begins with a open email, or text, that starts with 

Dear Asil. It then outlines the date, the app they choose from, the parameters of the date and sign it Merry Christmas, Your Concerned Friends .

The dates have a huge range from floral arrangements to kitties to ghostbusters and more. But that doesn’t even touch the surface of what the author has in store for Asil and the reader. 

It’s actually startling complex, often horrifying, well written and beautifully played out, with each story constantly evolving and reflecting back into Asil’s life. 

By the time we reach the end tale, the pieces are falling into place, the drama is charged full of suspense and chaos, and that epilogue is so satisfying and heartwarming that I read it twice. 

This is why Patricia Briggs is a highly recommended author. Grab up this new book and enjoy!

Contents:

Asil’s first date:

“Unappreciated Gifts”

Asil’s Second Date:

 “Must Love Cats: Aftermath”

Asil’s Third Date:

“Asil and the Not-Date”

Asil’s Fourth Date:

“Dating Terrors”

Asil’s Fifth Date:

“Scheherazade”

“Epilogue”

Except from 

“Alpha and Omega” by Patricia Briggs

Cover illustration Daniel dos Santos Cover and endpapers designed by Judith Lagerman

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › shop › dealsBlind Date With A Werewolf

Blurb 

When the deadly werewolf Asil is gifted five blind dates by some anonymous “friends,” his reclusive life will never be the same, in this enthralling novel in stories from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series.

Includes two all-new stories as well as three previously published stories.

Dear Asil:

We are worried about you. A werewolf alone is a sad thing, especially at Christmastime. So we have a challenge for you: five dates in three weeks. We have taken the work out of it and connected you with five people from online dating sites. You should also know that we have informed the whole pack and instigated a betting pool. Have fun!

Sincerely,

Your Concerned Friends

  • Publisher: Ace
  • Publication date: October 21, 2025
  • Language: English

Review: The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Magical Bounty Hunter’s Guild) by Jileen Dolbeare 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Quite a few of Jileen Dolbeare’s inhabit the same universe so I’m not sure yet if this goes for this series. But it’s not necessarily required to be absolutely invested into this character and her journey and growth as a magical bounty hunter. 

From starving, homeless thief on to the run , albeit with a magical companion, to a trained respected bounty is a great storyline and character. 

Especially her tough beginnings. We really emphasize with her. It’s an emotional, scary start. 

At only 126 pages, we have a lot of background that still needs developing and main characters, aside from Astrid, who also require additional history. I feel that’s coming in the first book. 

What The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf successfully does is make the reader want that next book, the next step in Astrid’s journey now! 

Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait until next year. But I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for the release. 

Until then? Pick up the prequel and get ready for the next  urban fantasy series that looks to be a winner.

The Magical Bounty Hunter’s Guild:

  • The Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf prequel #0.5
  • The Bounty Hunter and the Assassin  # 1 – September 5, 2026

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Bounty Hunter and the Spirit Wolf: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure …

Blurb 

Before she was a bounty hunter, she was the hunted.

It’s been three months since I ended up on the streets of Anchorage with nothing but the clothes on my back and Teekon, my spirit animal, for company. Once upon a time, I had dreams. Now, I’d settle for a hot meal and somewhere warm that doesn’t come with a side of rats.

I steal to survive, but I’m spectacularly bad at it. Hunger makes you reckless. Stupid. Desperate. My stomach was loud, and I ignored my whispering instincts that told me using magic to steal was a bad idea.

Naturally, I got caught.

Now the Magical Enforcement Agency has my scent, and they’ve sent a grizzled bounty hunter to drag my sorry ass in. Because rule one of the magical underground? Don’t flash your power in front of humans. Whoops.

I’ve got two options: trust a stranger with a badge and a scowl, or end up dead, or worse. And life has taught me there is always a worse.

Teekon says this bounty hunter could be our chance at something better. I reckon he’s just another predator in a world full of them.

But when your life’s on the line, you don’t get the luxury of easy choices.

One mistake landed me here. One choice might set me free.

  • Publisher: Ice Raven Publications
  • Publication date: September 26, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 126 pages

Review : Pack Challenge (Magnus Pack #1) by Shelly Laurenston

Rating: 4⭐️

I’m continuing my journey through Shelly Laurenston’s catalog and started in on the Magnus Pack trilogy as it’s focused on three closely knit girlfriends. Each has her own story, only one of which is a shifter but there are shifters in each connected story. 

Things to consider first. These are sexy, sexy tough women and the stories are full of scenes that flow accordingly. If you’re looking for sweet content, you might want to look elsewhere. 

Considering my favorite series is Laurenston’s honey badger series I really enjoyed it. IYKYK.

The first character and girlfriend is a heavily scarred, damaged, pain-filled woman, Sara Morrighan. With scars across her face and a limp from a badly damaged leg when she and her dad were attacked by mountain lions and she was left for dead. 

Sara, along with her best friends, Miki Kendric and Angelina Santiago, keep an eye out for each other, keeping each other safe and supporting them. Especially Sara, raised by a crazy grandmother and has an employer/surrogate father, Marrec, owner of a local motorcycle shop. 

But the small Texas town has secrets. Sara’s life is about to change, she’s getting aggressive and her leg is still full of pain. 

Then a group of people on motorcycles rides into town. Zack, one of them, shows an immediate reaction to Sara. One that’s returned.

This is a very good fast paced story about someone who doesn’t know what she is. And is about to find out the hard way.   There’s shifter battles, tons of great sex scenes and wonderful chemistry between characters that makes the instant lust realistic. 

The three women are hilarious together. The sisterhood is alive and well and relatable here. We absolutely believe these women grew up together and know each other inside and out.  The dialogue is amazing. 

Some world building feels under explored as does the shifter universe here. But on the individual level, it’s exciting and sexy storytelling. 

A definite winner. 

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design.

Magnus Pack: 

  • Pack Challenge 
  • Go Fetch 
  • Here Kitty, Kitty 
  • “Miss Congeniality” in When He Was Bad anthology

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Magnus Pack 

Blurb 

What’s an Alpha Male to do when he meets the Alpha Female of his dreams? Step one, hide all sharp objects. 

All Zach Sheridan ever wanted was to become Alpha Male of his Pack and to be left alone. What he definitely didn’t need in his life was some needy female demanding his attention. What he never saw coming was the vicious, scarred female who not only demanded his attention but knew exactly how to get it.

Sara Morrighan knew this was the best she could expect from her life. Good friends. A nice place to live. And a safe job. But when Zach rode into her small Texas town with his motorcycle club, Sara knew she wanted more. She knew she wanted him. But after one sexy encounter with her dream biker, everything is starting to change. Her body. Her strength. That new thing she’s doing with the snarling. Even her best friends are starting to wonder what’s going on with her.

But this is only the beginning. Sara’s about to find out her life was meant for so much more. And Zach’s about to find true love with the one woman who makes him absolutely insane.