Category: Urban fantasy series,urban fantasy mystery

Review:  The Goblin in the Sink (Groom and Doom Book 2) by Hailey Edwards 

Rating: 3⭐️

The Goblin in the Sink (Groom and Doom Book 2) by Hailey Edwards is a good example of how a series can lose their initial momentum with the second book and all plot potential. 

That seems to be a frequent element with some of Edwards writing in her various series.  She can strike hot and the entire series is excellent all the way through or the first is promising but falters as it progresses. 

Here it’s the later. The first novel had so many interesting moments and potentially intriguing characters that I wondered how Edwards’ next book was going to move the various plots and mysteries forward. 

Then the 2nd book releases and the choices made for the characters and plot just end up frustrating and unlikely thought out from multiple standpoints. 

Let’s have dragons but deny them the very characteristics and abilities that make them so powerful and memorable so that the villains can act without fear of retaliation for the majority of the story. They might as well be Guinea pigs. 

Until boom, suddenly, dragons act sorta like dragons. Or one does. Kinda.

However, it’s turning the main character of Ana Sartori into a person who suddenly puts her own needs above the safety of others, even in the face of overwhelming danger and extreme stupidity. Where it’s clear to everyone it’s a highly threatening trap to do certain things, ones where she’s going to knowingly bring friends into a situation where they might not even survive, but she says , yep let’s go. SMH. 

 It’s the equivalent of that commercial where there’s choice to go for a garage with swinging horror equipment or a running car and the teenagers choose the garage.  It’s like that.  Over and over. 

Oh no, do you think it’s a trap, trick. I just led my friend who’s now being tortured. Oh no. Wait I knew that was coming. 

It’s a constant SMH from a main character who starts coming off as incredibly self absorbed and TSTL. 

So it’s barely a 3. And not going forward. 

I enjoyed Edwards last series. And I’ll check out the others. But this is a pass. 

Groom & Doom (3 book series)

The Vampire in the Potting Shed #1

The Goblin in the Sink #2

The Mermaid in the Shot Glass #3

Buy link

        The Goblin in the Sink Drain (Groom & Doom Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Everything Ana Sartori knows about herself, and her father, is a lie. Or so the Walsh clan would have her believe. Their claims are convincing, the details too vivid to dismiss outright, but she can’t imagine her father as the villain of her story.

Carmichael Sartori is a lot of things. Ruthless. Merciless. Pitiless. But alphas aren’t known for being pushovers. Ana knows pack law is brutal for a reason, and her father enforces the rules with tooth and claw to protect his people. Including her.

But the more time she spends with the Walsh clan, the wider her eyes open to the possibilities of what an alpha could be, what a pack should be, and it makes her wonder if the Walshes are right about other things. The only way for Ana to be certain is to face her father. She’ll have to throw herself to the wolves and hope she makes it out alive with her answers.

Black Dog Books, LLC.

Publication date

October 31, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

150 pages

Book 2 of 3

Groom & Doom

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:  Little Bean: A Paranormal Comedy with Heart (Maya’s Blogs Book 5) by Lara MacKenzie

Rating: 5⭐️

Little Bean brings Maya’s Blog to a close, with tears, drama and, yes, more growth and more hopeful happiness  in the future for her and her growing family and friends. 

Maya’s undergone so many dramatic changes from the broken abused human who started a blog she wasn’t sure anyone would want to read to a paranormal being herself with readers in the millions from many realms (it’s listed at the top of every chapter).   She’s documented her journey, her fears and the challenges, every milestone and every step backwards. Her successes and her failures. 

And each one has been one that’s had resonated with me, deeply, with this remarkable character that the author has framed out in this great blog format. 

There’s side stories about women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse. And the organization that offers them and their children more than just food and shelter. 

It’s about recovery, healing, and the ability to accept help to move forward when needed. It’s emotional magic and it’s honestly so hard to put into words, what it means to read this series and reach the end. 

I’m not ready.  Truly I’m not.

So I’ll leave you with this small piece at the end. 

From Maya to her readers as she writes as she thinks about what comes next, just one tiny bit.  

“You’re allowed to take up space. You’re allowed to want more than survival. 

You’re allowed to fall apart and rebuild yourself into something new. 

You’re allowed to be scared and brave at the same time.”

I can’t even get past the rest without going back and starting over. With tissues. 

Given the current state of our world, especially for women, this character and series hits hard. An emotional gut punch, book by book. 

Laughing, crying, recovery, loss, and renewed strength to move forward. 

It’s a series I never expected when I first started reading. New author and format. But it’s one that’s stuck with me and it’s been a great read and source of comfort. 

Now I’m passing it along to you.  It a special kind of treasure, something to share with the next person who you think might be want a special voice in their lives. 

The cover has a tag, An Umbrafore novel, which might possibly promise more novels to come in this chaotic universe. I can always hope. 

Cover Illustration Main image by Manuka Madushan, Digital Illustrator.

MAYA’S BLOGS:

Espresso Yourself #1

Brew Diligence #2

Uncharted Grounds #3

Flat White Flag #4

Little Bean #5 – series finale 

Buy link

        Little Bean: A Paranormal Comedy with Heart (Maya’s Blogs Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Maya Draven thought marrying a shadow demon warlord was the craziest thing she’d ever do. She was wrong.

As she faces escalating attacks from hate groups, Maya discovers that having a hybrid baby doesn’t make her vulnerable—it makes her dangerous.

And Maya is about to face her biggest challenges yet.

This is the explosive conclusion to Maya’s journey from anxious barista to fierce mother, where she proves that sometimes the best response to people trying to silence you is to speak even louder.

  • Publication date: November 2, 2025
  • Language: English
  • File size: 2.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage: Unlimited
  • Screen Reader: Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Print length: 322 pages
  • Page Flip: Enabled
  • Book 5 of 5: Maya’s Blogs

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: Borrowed Amulet (Splintered Realms, #1) by Jilleen Dolbeare

Rating: 3.25⭐️

I should have remembered why I didn’t finish the original Splintered Realms series before I picked up this book. In fact, I didn’t make it past book 2 there. And I’m stopping here. 

I do like Jileen Dolbeare overall but find I need to be selective about what books or series of hers to read. I just read a prequel book that was terrific and I’m getting ready for the series finale of a paranormal romance thriller that’s highly recommended she’s co-authored with Heather G. Harris. 

But her Splintered Realms series just continues to be one that has too many issues. That of problematic characters and plots with storylines that are nonsensical, given the characters status and current events or just seem forced into the plot for the sake of drama itself.

This one is based off history and events that happened in the previous series. A death has already happened.  The main character, a dragon rider, is grieving . She’s supposed to be older here but acts younger. Merlin, that Merlin of King Arthur’s Court, is an unpleasant character but not a complete bad person. 

The actual story is a bit of a mess if you’re not familiar with the universe and background already set down in previous novels. 

But it’s the actions of the main character that I find actionable here as written by Dolbeare. I’m not sure why she’s not thinking a reader will listen and look at this whole woman and wonder why the lack of development. 

Granted she’s grieving and yes, Merlin was deeply cruel in his comments. All true. But past that, her dragon is very young and inexperienced in his own way. 

Then comes a young dragon mage, who has zero experience because she’s been totally isolated in Scotland, beloved, and given to an equally untrained wanna-be rider.  

Megan and Merlin decide to go after the eminently powerful Big Bad Mage with his own dragon who was responsible for her hunny’s death. Guess who they take with them? 

Oh no what could possibly go wrong?

That’s a SMH scenario.  And of course, it ends in a cliffhanger that anyone could see coming. When a author has her characters who are supposed to be seasoned mages act with all the instincts of first year grade students going into battle with kindergarteners, it destroys any credibility that they have.  Including that plot line. 

So I’ll try to remember that it is the Splintered Realms series I’m not reading. 

If you are a fan, I’ll leave it to you. 

Cover Designer: Covers by Christian

Splintered Realm Series 

Borrowed Magic: Book .5 

Borrowed Amulet: Book 1 

Borrowed Chaos: Book 2* 

Borrowed Trouble: Book 3*

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Splintered Realms 

Blurb 

Megan’s world has shattered. The love of her life is gone, leaving her hollow and consumed by grief. In the midst of this despair, one venomous remark from Merlin—yes, that Merlin—sends her over the edge, pushing her into a reckless new purpose: bounty hunting across the Splinters of reality with her red dragon, Goch.

One target fuels her obsession: Mordred and his dragon. It’s the only thing keeping her from drowning in sorrow. But the hunter’s guild has left Mordred’s bounty up for grabs, and it’s already claimed lives. Worse, as a realm walker, Mordred’s impossible to track across the splinters, driving Megan mad with frustration and leaving her too much time to think.

Out of options, she grudgingly teams up with Merlin. Powerful, legendary, and hard to ignore, he should be the perfect ally—except she loathes him with the fire of a million burning suns. Then Mordred makes a move, reaching out to both of them.

The hunt is back on, but Merlin’s shadowy past is catching up, turning an already dangerous mission into a deadly gamble. Can Megan capture Mordred, survive Merlin’s demons, and make it out alive? Or will her pursuit lead to her ultimate downfall?

Enjoy this urban fantasy adventure with an older heroine, a slow burn enemies to lovers romance, dragon riding, and tons of action!

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:  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:  Bramble Burn (The Convergence Book 1) by Autumn Dawn

Rating: 3✨

Autumn Dawn and her series, The Convergence, starting with Bramble Burn, was a top recommendation on a fantasy list so I picked it up based on similar themes and recommendations. 

What I found both delighted and disappointed me in terms of character development and plot design. 

Let’s start with the positive aspects of this story. Which are primarily related to the design and detail of Bramble Burn Park itself. 

The premise is that at some point in time our world and that of the Fae Underhill world merged, violently. From the geological landscape to actual buildings, there was an explosion of activity as physical changes, actual melding or melting of structures, happened, leaving our world forever changed. 

One mage leaves her family and farm to go buy a cheap abandoned city park from the mayor and officials, the Bramble Burn Park. A park so dangerous, so overrun, and inhabited by unknown creatures that evolved from the merge that no one enters in. One she intends to remake and make her own. 

That gorgeous, mystical cover is the tree home that tree mage, Juniper, first makes in the forest. And mysterious, eerie, Bramble Burn, with all its distinctive features, wilding areas, and imaginative creatures, is a highlight of the story. 

Too bad the author leaves it behind and tosses it away for another storyline altogether. Anyway, the park and Juniper’s resolve to make it her own, is the best part of the story. 

This includes her magic and the obstacles that come as she slowly builds up the frame around the park. And her living structures made from trees. 

The author really does an excellent job in making this park as intriguing, horrifying, and beautifully alive right from the beginning. And Juniper as well. From her perspective, she’s revealed to be increasingly powerful, someone who chooses to be alone in her woods, territorial and masterful in her pursuit of her goals. 

That’s where the author had me. Until she didn’t. 

The not so great aspects of the story. 

The romantic aspects of the book and the relationships. 

Bring on the dragons and werewolves. 

Spoilers ahead.

The plot turns from Juniper needing to make Bramble Burn hers within a time frame to dragon father, dragon sister, bratty brother who might be dangerous, and a human, enabling suffocating mother full of flags. 

It gets so much worse. 

Author Autumn Dawn reveals that Juniper is a “fertile female “ half dragon, therefore she is a catch or highly regarded female for both werewolves and dragons for her abilities to breed. 

Her werewolf, blink and he’s in love with her and asserting his mate bond over her, to a newly arrived dragon, both thrilled with Juniper’s fertility.

At this point I’m wondering what happened to the character I was reading at the beginning of the story. That strong woman is reduced to a breeder, complaining about a brother who is attacking her ( mom is excusing him) and complies with accepting the werewolf because he’s nice. 

There’s a strange new plot that introduces a bunch of characters that has nothing to do with the original story. Takes them away from the park. The author decides to immediately wrap up what was originally a complex issue, leaving huge threads unexplained or just left out. 

Juniper, the powerful tree mage who wanted to just work with her Forrest now ends up mated, marriages, with twins. 

What? 

So once again, I’m floored that an author went totally south with her character, world and plot development.  

It was if she decided halfway to change everything but without any notice, explanation , or foundation. 

So I’m not proceeding with either author or the series. 

Cool cover though. 

COVER DESIGN: Autumn Dawn 

The Convergence:

Bramble Burn #1

And a bunch more books each with a different character apparently. 

Buy link

 Book 1 of 7: Convergence 

Blurb 

It’s been thirty years since the Convergence, when the dimensions aligned and combined Earth and the world of Gwyllon, known in human mythology as “Underhill”. Elven castles and ancient ruins sprouted on vacant lots and merged with existing buildings, twisting into new structures. Roads and rail systems reformed, and after the rioting, starvation and death, agriculture sorted itself and food began to flow. A new government formed of elves and men arose, a society of human tech and elven magic. Cell phones and frost giants, race cars and elven steeds, dungeons and dragons…

And everywhere, monsters.

Tree mage Juniper was twenty-three, a child of the new generation. When she found a source of magic buried in an abandoned park, she made a deal with the city. If she can stabilize the park’s wild magic, she’ll own it…if she can survive. Now she has to clear out magic spawned monsters, deal with a werewolf suitor and survive her bloodthirsty dragon uncle. She’s going to have to dig deep to subdue Bramble Burn Park.

Hot but sweet romance. Does not contain explicit sex scenes.

[Amazon notes it’s similar to the Kate Daniels series. No. Absolutely not. Amazon needs to stop making comparisons. ]

  • Publication date: April 30, 2015
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 299 pages
  • Book 1 of 7: Convergence

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.