Review: Got Me Feeling(Vet Shop Boys Book 8) by Casey Cox

Rating: 3.75🌈

Got Me Feeling is the series finale for the sexy, heartwarming series by Casey Cox about a group of veterinarians, their clinic, and each man’s journey to HEA.

I’ve adored this series, found each story fascinating, and the manner in which each vet found their happiness a joy to read. Cats, funny t-shirts, lube soaps, twins, bakers, piglets, weddings gone wrong, the author has taken us and these caring people on quite the path to love.

Their stories have been written so that we feel like we know them. They’ve been humorous, serious, often thoughtful, sometimes very painful in what the different individuals have gone through, but always ultimately loving and satisfying in the end.

I don’t know why but I expected more from a finale story than I got with Locky and Roman, but I wanted a wrap up book that had a relationship that left me feeling a little more comfortable and happy than the one that was written here.

Maybe it’s just the elements that Cox introduced into the storyline for Roman’s character that weren’t conducive to the type of character and personality traits that he was supposed to have within him. He literally stalked Locky in the story. And instead of communicating to his brother, or Locky, the fact that he’s “investigating” Locky’s shady ex husband, he’s keeping secrets. Letting Locky continue to feel vulnerable and insecure as he heads towards his divorce. The voice that keeps telling Roman he’s a thug is the one I started to agree with, and not the one that everyone else says is a person who is in recovery.

Those issues are waived away in the book as “ok” because well, Roman loves Locky, and was doing things in his best interest. Am I the only one who thinks that these are flags?

Had more time been taken to explore these aspects of the relationship, I might have been more inclined to think that they were realistic in the dynamic and partnership. But so much was glossed over here.

Roman was straight until Locky, then he’s bi? Locky sexual? Pan? Was never straight. I’m not a fan of the GFY but this is another aspect that wasn’t really given depth. I’m attracted to you, let’s have sex. Ok.

The kitten thing was cute. The ex husband was a dramatic hurdle that was almost nonexistent.

Then everyone had a party to celebrate. Series over.

It all felt so rushed. From the relationship to the storyline and all the elements in between. Nothing seems especially well developed or balanced with aspects of each character trait left feeling a bit unsettled or unfulfilled.

Never felt realistic. And I thought as a finale I should have come away feeling happier and with a better overall picture of the group at this stage of their lives.

So final thoughts. It was a nice story but wasn’t one I would have expected from a series finale. Vet Shop Boys is a sexy, warm-hearted series and I found the tales very entertaining. Read them and enjoy.

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

✓ Got Me Hoping #1

✓ Got Me Wishing #2

✓ Got Me Looking #3

✓ Got Me Thinking #4

✓ Got Me Going #5

✓ Got Me Merry #6

✓ Got Me Talking #7

✓ Got Me Feeling #8 – finale

Buy Link:

Got Me Feeling (Vet Shop Boys Book 8)

Blurb:

I’m a thug. I’ve done bad things. And I’m straight… So why can’t I get the sexy Aussie vet out of my head?

When I showed up on my brother’s doorstep three years ago, I’d hit rock bottom. Broke and homeless, with a miles-long trail of destruction in my wake.

Those days are behind me. I’m rebuilding my life. Staying focused. Disciplined. Busy. If I’m not working to pay back my debts, I’m helping out at my brother’s animal shelter. Whatever it takes to keep my impulses under control.

And then I meet Locky, the new Aussie vet. His husband cheated, kicked him out, and is threatening to turn their divorce nuclear.

My newfound control snaps. I have to help, even if the smart thing to do would be to stay away.

I definitely shouldn’t give Locky a place to stay.
Or offer to be his wingman…with benefits.
Or get involved in his messy divorce.

Too late.

I may be straight, but Locky’s triggered every possessive instinct I have. And that’s what makes this situation dangerous. Because I do very bad things to protect the people I care about.

I’ve worked hard to start over, so why has Locky got me feeling I’d be willing to blow it all up for him?

Got Me Feeling is book 8 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, bi-awakening, forced proximity, a possessive thug who’s hiding a kitty-cute secret, and a heartwarming happily ever after!

Review: Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Rating:5+🌈

TA Moore, what a story! I love this so much! Although I feel I should put a titch of a warning out there for anyone looking for a feel good, cozy hearted romantic tale that they won’t get the book they’re looking for here.

A whopping fabulous story that has huge elements of horror, murder, mystery, and the paranormal. A bittersweetness and just plain bitterness, yes. All so beautifully written. But warm and fuzzy? Uh no.

But you kind of have to figure that goes hand in hand with a story who’s centered around a dead serial killer and his son who has to deal with the ramifications of the father’s debts. Not that his son isn’t as morally ambiguous a figure as dear old dad. He’s just not a serial killer.

Not in the entirety of this collection or in any recent books I’ve read have I met as intriguing and layered a character as Ledger Conroy. Moore could write legions of stories about him and Wren and never be done.

Ledger, son of convicted killer, Bell Conroy, returned to dispose of the old family house and the ghastly things that his dad might have left hidden inside. Why? Because , considering what they are, they would bring a profit. Ledger’s in the business of selling darkness, in the form of items, to people and beings who can use them. Yes, magic is real. And dear old dad dealt with the worst.

Every paragraph, every page adds depth and clarity of purpose to our character and history. Even as we get more information, I begrudge the the space the author isn’t able to give to the small elements introduced to fill out Ledger’s backstory. I need to know more about that sister!

Then there’s Wren, an otherworldly figure in service to a truly horrifying creature. I’ll leave Earl to the book. Make no mistake, Earl is one of the scarier nightmares to haunt any narrative.

Wren is a very complex being. One whose relationship with Ledger grows them emotionally in an unexpected manner , but doesn’t change what or who they are fundamentally just as it doesn’t Ledger.

This aspect of the story is probably the most interesting part about this. Moore stays true to her creations, neither of them becoming something they’re not but continuing to act /or emotionally maneuver within their respective personalities.

The plot is fantastic, a hunt for an object that belongs to Earl. Plus a short timetable and a horrific bargain that was made by Ledger. During this process, the Carnival of Mysteries is introduced and employed in a perfect way that not only is important to the game but has a profound impact on the outcome. Another exemplary usage of the overall theme.

There are several different storylines woven into the main theme of that have compelling endings, almost endings. There’s a tenuous quality to them, a vagueness that’s so satisfying and horrifying because, that’s what this tale calls for. You wish it wasn’t so but how else would it end?

Ledger and Wren have made it clear of the present danger. That’s the only spoiler I’ll give.

But what wouldn’t I give for Moore to send Ledger and Wren off on more murderous magical missions. Horror awaits. I hope the author is listening.

I’m highly recommending this to lovers of dark fiction and paranormal romance. I only wish I could rate it higher.

Spectacular cover. This collection’s artwork is amazing.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy link:

Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

The Carnival of Mysteries just arrived in Sutton County. They say if you cross the fortune teller’s palm with silver she can read your future like a map. Right now all Ledger Conroy wants to know is if he has a future.

Back in Sutton after over a decade, Ledger’s plan had been to bury his father–recently deceased convicted serial killer and less-well known warlock, Bell Conroy–clear the property, and then finally wash his hands of being a Conroy. Instead there’s a cured human heart in the larder, a pissed off pretty boy who is definitely not human at the door, and a debt to the devil that Ledger’s just inherited.

Devil. Monster. Something like that. He’d not asked for its pedigree

Whatever it was, it’s given Ledger a week to fulfill the terms of his father’s contract. Or else he’s never going to leave Sutton again. With pretty-boy Wren at his heels, more to make sure Ledger doesn’t skip town than to provide assistance, Ledger tries to track his father’s sins across Sutton. The problem is there’s so many of them.

Ledger is faced with old grudges, a Sheriff that thinks Ledger knows more about his father’s crimes than he’s ever said (and isn’t wrong), and a dead man with a book shop. Not to mention the on-going distraction of Wren, who can’t decide whether to be a hindrance, a help, or just hot.

Luckily Ledger has a nose for this sort of work.

Sting in the Tail is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a dealer in dark collectibles, a man who’s NOT people, and a monster with a debt it expects to be paid.”

— Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Review: The Black Robe of Flanders (Carnival of Mysteries) by Sara Ellis

Rating: 3.25🌈

The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis, part of the Carnival of Mysteries collection, has so much potential in its themes and characters but ultimately just doesn’t fulfill what it sets out to accomplish.

Set in 1936, the world is filled with pre WW2 political figures and elements. Hitler and his party is on the rise, the dangers he represents is being ignored by many of the world’s biggest corporations, while Jewish communities abroad as well as other marginalized groups are being targeted by the German government.

What makes this story different is the inclusion of a paranormal aspect. There’s individuals, on both sides, who are gifted with different abilities or Talents as they are called here. The US has the Council for the Promotion of Unusual Talents for example.

The UK has folded their operatives into side branches of their respective organizations. But this is an alternative universe in that respect.

But we get no idea where or how it happened. No historical record for this. That lack of foundation follows the same pattern throughout the entire story. It just all is. So why can’t we talk WWI? Anyway.

The two individuals that form the main couple are UK agent Alexander Skavadale, the most believable character here. And American author, Valentine Ford, who’s also a foreign correspondent. This character isn’t realistic in either role. There’s literally no groundwork laid down for him to make him feel or look like a foreign correspondent or even an author. Except to have someone say they have a book of his. He’s not credible.

The time period is 1936. But it should feel like 1936 in every aspect of the story. And except for the fact that they are running about trying to find “holy relics “ and prevent some Gestapo from doing some mystical things while mentioning Hitler, it really doesn’t feel like 1936. Not even close, including that dialogue.

Historical writing , especially including events, if you’re a writer locating everything in a certain country and context, is tricky to get right. Want to put everything in Germany or Belgium? Ok then make the assumption that everyone is speaking that language or sneak it into the narrative that your characters speak the language.

What not to do? Throw in the word “Danke” or “mein gott “ out of nowhere when literally there’s been no word of German spoken anywhere in the book. That will startle you and not in a good way. “Mein gott”. Then never see another foreign word again. SMH.

The Carnival shows up to deliver a play that should deliver a message but doesn’t make any sense. The first time they appeared was more on target. The second? Not so much. Actually they didn’t even need to be in the book at all.

The elements of the story that were nicely written are the ones that were focused on families. Val’s estrangement with his mother and subsequent reconciliation was heartwarming and believable. So were the scenes from the family home. All the felt emotionally satisfying and real.

Less so were the undercover agents and espionage elements. Indiana Jones comes across as more realistic and hardcore than most of this stuff does.

So what do we have? A good premise that wasn’t well executed imo. One good character, no real world building, but some lovely smaller elements. A bit of a mixed bag of a narrative. And a central collection theme that might as well have been not even mentioned.

I think Ellis set the bar high for herself and that’s wonderful. I look forward to seeing what she might do with her next story.

Fabulous covers, this one included.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link:

The Black Robe of Flanders: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

It’s the summer of 1936. Europe is at peace. Prosperity is beginning to return after the long, hungry years of the Great Depression, and new leaders have brought fresh ideas and what might actually be hope to country after country. People have enough money to spend at the shops, the cafes, even the shabby little kermesse that goes from town to town.

Life is good again, or will be soon….

Valentine Ford is a foreign correspondent who’s been on the Continent for almost a decade. He sees the warning signs of trouble to come, the cracks beginning to form in the happy facade, but no one will listen….

Alexander Skavadale is a covert agent who’s been on the job since the Great War. He’s heard rumors of trouble brewing, of rare artifacts disappearing to further a diabolical plan that no one can quite explain….

Two men from different worlds.

Two men with a common goal.

Two men facing an enemy they cannot imagine, forced to work together to stop a plot that could seal the fate of Europe, and the world, for generations to come.

And might just seal their fate as well.

Review: The Demon Undertaker (Possessive Love) by Alex J. Adams

Rating: 2.5 🌈

The Demon Undertaker (Possessive Love) by Alex J. Adam’s is another book in the Possessive Love collection that’s written by an author new to me.

I thought the premise of a mortuary run by demon brothers a terrific idea. Bury the bodies, collect the souls of the nasty ones. Or whatever. Doesn’t mention what happens to all the other souls of the people they bury, which should be a lot.

Even better, the author had the demons locate the whole business to a section of town where the population was old and aging out. But there’s an issue logically here only slightly mentioned as business getting slow. The errors are in the design and development here.

It was also noted that it was a bad sector of town but that went nowhere in the narrative and I thought it was a missed opportunity.

There’s so many elements here that are not very well explained or even understood. That includes the characters.

There’s poor Kieran who lost his beloved husband of 5 years to cancer and is still lost in his grief. That’s natural. There’s no timetable for mourning the loss of someone you’ve deeply loved. And everyone here is pushing him to move forward as they are worried about him.

However, as the story goes, Kieran is lost in his grief so deeply he’ll make a deal with a demon to bring hubby back to immediately he’s fine now and having sexual relations. Was any of that believable? No. Just no foundation work laid out for this transition to make sense.

Let’s talk demons. Who aren’t particularly demonic. Or scary even. They have a caring Mom and Dad down in Hell looking after them, and a cute Hellhound who’s not particularly hellish itself. I find some trick or treaters more frightening.

Mal doesn’t like humans until he does, because, look Kieran is his fated mate!!

Then drama from out of the blue arrives because, idk, it was needed, but had no foundation.

The lesbian couple Kieran worked with was the best part of the story aside from the premise which went nowhere and was wasted.

That was the real shame here. Because that original premise of this story? Interesting, and ultimately lost.

What happens when you are in a neighborhood that ages out and the turnover is all younger? If you’re only taking the nasty souls, what’s going on with the souls of the other bodies that you are burying? So many questions that could have been raised and answered in a story that was written with that premise in mind.

Not a recommendation unless you are a fan of the author. Then it’s up to you.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

✓ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen ❤️♥️

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

✓ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link :

The Demon Undertaker: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour: Where we bury the bodies and reap the SOULS!

Mal

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, the family business; we bury the bodies and reap the souls, it’s what we do.

“Be nice to the humans, Mal.” My father insists. “Humans are our business.”

I don’t do humans. I don’t like humans. They’re tedious, but I’m cold and unfeeling. They mean nothing to me.

But then he walks in; sad eyes, sallow skin, a man grieving for his lost love. It’s all I can do not to hide him away and take care of him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen; now I don’t know how to handle these feelings.

Doesn’t he know I’m a demon, not a lover?

Jason

“It’s time to move on, Jase.” Kristine’s words ring in my ears as I enter Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, but that isn’t what I have in mind.

You see, I’ve heard of a man that can bring him back from the dead and I’ll do anything to hold him in my arms again. Kieran was my world until his ended.

But then there he is. Tall, dark and brooding, but he’s not the one I’m here to see. He’s not the one that can bring Kieran back to me.

Something about him, though. I can’t explain how he brings a long-forgotten smile to my face, how my stone-cold heart beats a little faster.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen.

But he’s a demon, not my dead lover.

The Demon Undertaker is part of the Possessive Love series featuring a demon and a human.

An MM standalone featuring a demon with no clue, a human with no clue, an annoying brother and a cute hellhound! Plenty of steam abounds!

TW – mentions the death of a loved one

Check Out the latest release : Fayette by Tim Rayborn , 7 Day Blog Tour and Giveaway

Faytte - Tim Rayborn

Tim Rayborn has a new queer fantasy book out, Qwyrk tales book 4: Faytte. And there’s a giveaway.

As Halloween draws near, Qwyrk and company are abruptly reminded of just how screwed-up everything can get. Qwyrk and Holly are literally being driven apart by magical forces they don’t understand, and their friends are in disarray.

Then Holly goes missing and Qwyrk loses something else that’s almost as important, while the behind-the-scenes scheming and shenanigans come to the fore at last. And who is the mysterious, ancient figure in red that seems to know all and see all, but annoyingly, won’t talk about it?

Traitors abound, old friends return, sides will be picked, and the final battle between good and evil will rage. To stop the actual end of the world from happening, Qwyrk might have to make a decision that will change her life forever.

Faytte is the final book in a series of four novels about the comic misadventures of a group of misfits at the edge of normal reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties in a bakery, a mysterious key, every monster you can imagine, an abundance of sarcasm, and the answers to all the questions. Oh, and Qwyrk is going to definitively prove that she’s not a bloody elf; they’re just silly!

About the Series

Join the adventures of a group of misfits at the edge of reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties, sorcery, witchy magic, philosophical speculation, every monster under the moon, an abundance of sarcasm, and even elves… though they are a bit silly.

Universal Buy Link

Giveaway

Tim is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:

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Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47300/

Excerpt

Faytte meme

Jilly was skeptical. And grumpy. Skrumpy? In any case, having watched her friends abscond to various places without giving her any details was more than just annoying; it felt rather like a betrayal.

“It’s like they don’t even trust me. Now that I’m learning all about witchery and can finally hold my own, they don’t even want me around anymore. Yeah, really nice, thanks everyone.” She brooded. “Oh, calm down, Jilly, it’s not like they haven’t done rubbish like this before, and there’s always been a good reason for it. And they’ve let you know when the time was right. It’s probably just that again.”

But something about Blip’s behavior in particular bothered her, nagged at her. It had been going on for too long, and he was not one to be secretive. As she sat stewing over it, a thought came to her.

“What if I could spy on him? Check out where he’s going without him realizing? I wonder.” She peered out the living room window across the street. Granny wasn’t home as usual, but Jilly had complete run of her house while she was away. She checked the time: 8:00 pm.

“Mum and dad aren’t going to be home until at least ten, so that only gives me a couple of hours to go on over and poke around. Unless, what if…”

She went back upstairs to her room and found a small book she’d been reading recently: Fludd’s Phenomenal Grimoire of Useful and Slightly Annoying Enchanted Distractions. Leafing through it, she found the page she’d recalled, in a section about how to divert attention from oneself.

“Here it is, brilliant!”

She noted a simple little apotropaism to buy her some more time away at Granny’s. Speaking the two-line spell, she waited just a short while, and sure enough, the sound of mild snoring began to drift through the bedroom. She smiled, satisfied.

“With the light off, they’ll never even think to check in on me! Still, better pile up a few pillows under the duvet, just to be sure.”

Once she’d created a convincing snoring dummy of cushions, she turned out the light and shut the door. Going back downstairs, she grabbed her coat, and hopped off to Granny’s for a good eve­ning’s snooping.

Author Bio

Tim Rayborn

Tim Rayborn has written a rather ridiculous number of books over the past several years (about fifty!). He lived in England for quite some time and has a PhD from the University of Leeds, which he likes to pretend means that he knows what he’s talking about. His generous output of written material covers such diverse topics as music, the arts, history, the strange and bizarre, fantasy and sci-fi, and general knowledge. He’s already planning on writing more books, whether anyone wants him to or not.

He’s also an internationally acclaimed musician. He plays dozens of unusual instruments that quite a few people of have never heard of and often can’t pronounce, including medieval instrument reconstructions and folk instruments from Northern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East.

He has appeared on over forty recordings, and his musical wan- derings and tours have taken him across the US, all over Europe, to Canada and Australia, and to such romantic locations as Marrakech, Istanbul, Renaissance chateaux, medieval Italian hill towns, and high school gymnasiums.

He currently lives in Washington State, surrounded by many books and instruments, as well as with a sometimes-demanding cat. He is rather enthusiastic about good wines and cooking excellent food.

Author Website: https://www.timrayborn.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/timrayborn

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/TimRaybornMusicandWriting

Author Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@timrayborn

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayborn.esoterica/

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/tim-rayborn/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tim-Rayborn/author/B00DWY5J8E

Other Worlds Ink logo

Review: Son of the Arch Demon (Possessive Love) by Amanda Meuwissen

Rating: 5 🌈

Well, this made me exceptionally happy. In a collection about demons from hell finding a mate and a relationship, in whatever form that may take, I have a story where the characters are actually coming across as demonic. With a few minor exceptions. And hell’s no vacation spot.

Amanda Meuwissen’s tale of love and demons is an intriguing affair. I love it when a collection reacquaints me with an author I haven’t read in a while with outstanding results, and that’s what I found here.

Immediately the author gives us a compelling opening . It’s Avriel’s 21st birthday and he’s feeling a bit out of sorts, even for him. From beautifully detailed descriptions of the characters and their personalities and lives , the reader is intimately familiar with the situation as the story begins and understands the types of people involved. Avi is immediately real and grounded in his small group of friends and college town.

And when he dies, it’s gut wrenching. That’s not a spoiler. It’s in the blurb and how he changes into his true self. But are we still prepared for it? No.

Then there’s Marchosias, the demon imp, also known as Marc. He’s the other half of this incredibly complicated, emotional narrative. From the start, Marc has a surprising history and agenda that prompts a character development that’s both in keeping with his demonic tendencies and newfound sense of self worth. It’s an exceptional journey.

But it’s done in tandem with the changes brought forth by the death and rebirth of Avi’s demon nature. And the battles they face from the Princes of Hell.

Meuwissen was so clever in using the seven deadly sins as avatars for the Princes of Hell. How they manifested themselves in the earthly realm I’ll leave to the book as well as those formidable battles. Just outstanding on every level.

Even the other characters that support Avi and Marc are so good in their roles and depth of personality. The father who is just glimpsed until the later stages still has a strong sense of self. The cast is believable and grounded in emotion and real life, even given the paranormal nature of the situations.

Let’s get to the part where there’s pain, blood, suffering, and death, because yes, these are demons. There may be a beauty in their brutality and otherworldly physicality but they are definitely demons. It’s reflected in the evolving relationship between Avi and Marc, the conflicted nature of their roles as Avi changes and Marc becomes more aware of his own feelings. Such an emotional connection and excellent element of this story.

Avi and Marc have decisions to make if possible. That’s part of the amazing story and the author’s ability to create a great narrative. I won’t spoil it but will say this is my favorite of the collection. And I’m delighted to have rediscovered this author once more.

Grab this one up if paranormal fiction and romances are your wheelhouse.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

✓ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen ❤️♥️

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

✓ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link :

Son of the Arch Demon: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Sometimes the high road leads straight to Hell.

Avriel

Turning twenty-one is almost universally seen as the age of transformation, of coming into one’s own, reaching adulthood, and sometimes even as a symbol of death and rebirth. I never knew how literal that last part could be until, on my twenty-first birthday, I died and was resurrected as a demon.

Well, half-demon and would have died if I wasn’t prophesized to become the Antichrist and take over the world. All I wanted was to survive graduation, achieve my dream of becoming an artist, and maybe have Marc, the hot new guy who I thought liked me for me, be anything other than a lust demon hoping to guide me on my path to the apocalypse.

Marchosias

Occasionally, ya gotta make yer own destiny, my lovelies, so when I found a thin spot in the veil between Hell and earth, I leapt right through it. Sensing the soon-to-be successor to the throne of Hell, I insinuated myself on campus and into his life to await his awakening and fell to my knees in supplication once he did. Pity Avi is so set on denying his destiny.

But I can convince him. I will serve and aid and arouse my master in whatever manner necessary to get what I want. I’ve been an underling, a doormat, a lesser demon for far too long, and his path to glory is going to be mine.

Son of the Arch Demon is part of the MM paranormal romance collaboration Possessive Love.

Review: Curiosity Caught the Demon (Possessive Love) by Travis Beaudoin

Rating: 3.5 🌈

Travis Beaudoin is another new to me author and I liked his story in the Possessive Love collection.

But I didn’t love it. Or emotionally connect with the characters. And I think that’s due to manner in which the first person point of view was written. The author had the main character addressing the reader directly which has the effect of throwing the reader out of the immediate situation or context. In the many scenes , it felt “as told to” because Gremory the Prince of Hell ended up describing the actions he had taken/would take to the reader or his boyfriend, Scotty Campbell.

That distance from the source of the drama kept me from “seeing” what was happening in real time. It removes the reader from the actual events, disconnecting us because we are listening to Gremory’s thoughts or conversations. If it’s a conversation, the demon is editing it to accommodate his human’s feelings and needs. So Scotty and us are getting a tame PG or milder version than what you would expect from a demon Prince bent on revenge and a bit of destruction.

Same goes for the relationship. It’s PG 13, while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s hard for me to reconcile that with a demon prince who’s decided on a mate and course of action.

So I feel the potential for a deeper, more complex relationship and storyline exists here (the Curiosity shop is well done, with lovely touches like the photos with Scotty and his grandmother). But it’s never fully realized and in most cases, that potential is lost.

A two person pov might have been better to see a wider picture. I’m not talking about the weird body sharing as that raised more questions than it answered.

But it had some interesting elements and neat details that make it stand out.

Sampling the novels from the Possessive Love collection? Check out Curiosity Caught the Demon (Possessive Love) by Travis Beaudoin and see what you think.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

Curiosity Caught the Demon: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

He pulled me into his world by mistake. Now I’m trying like hell to bring him into mine.

It’s hard to surprise Gremory. He’s been around for millennia, after all. But when this Duke of Hell is accidentally summoned by Scotty Campbell, the big-hearted owner of a struggling antique shop, he realizes there are still people in the world who can provoke his curiosity.

As Gremory lets himself get tangled up in human emotions and earthly delights, Scotty’s big heart and quiet strength become irresistible. What started out as strictly business will blossom into a connection that will stretch the laws of Heaven, Hell, and the local village council.

From witty banter to steamy encounters to the genuine joy two kindred souls find when they work toward a common goal, their relationship will push them farther than they ever expected to go. Sparks will fly, but will they be able to save Scotty’s shop in time for the town’s annual Halloween Festival?

Review: Cuddly Demon by (Possessive Love) by Aster Rae

Rating: 2 DNF

From the author’s notes, she normally writes contemporary Daddy kink stories and this is her first paranormal romance without any of her usual sexual elements.

As I’ve never read any of her books, I have nothing to compare this with, but the idea of writing outside of a contemporary fiction story is looking problematic.

Immediately there’s questions popping into my head. Mostly about character development and background. Or lack of.

A blue demon called Onyx (black) who after being sealed away for 3,000 years immediately knows what modern cities (New York, cardigans , libraries) and objects are by name and use. The oceans now have western names for them in his mind after 3, 000 years of being entombed. But ok. Nothing seems to bother him. He accepts the modern world Saint inhabits and the wishes he grants (make him terrific at the new online game that just came out for example) but is flummoxed over other technologies? Made no sense.

So it acts like a djinn but a millions year old demon who knows things. And immediately they are kissing. Right after some of the worst dialogue I’ve read in a while.

Keep in mind Saint has just summoned this demon off of a TikTok, they just talked and it’s straight to boyfriend status. SMH

“I’m a virgin. I’ve never been with a man, and that makes me a loser to most other humans.” My eyes never leave his. “

“You’re wrong. Demons can’t control who they’re attracted to. Like you’d expect, my brothers were attracted to bad boys. Ones who walked the streets of Etruria picking up married men. They liked correcting their behavior, typically through spankings. I’m different.” “

I like that you’re different.” “

I’m a softer, more sensitive demon. Bad boys have their appeal, but I like sweeter guys. Ones who know how to cuddle, be open with their feelings,….””

— Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae

I’m flipping page’s now because there’s no real depth here. They are tip toeing thru the tulips, holding hands across the campus. I’m thinking you summoned a demon. Where’s the surprise? The amazement? The denial? Nopes. It’s look at the blue hottie!

That blue hottie is supposedly from Hell. Are we getting any fumes here?

No just more nonsensical stuff like:

“What language is that?” I ask, lifting my gaze to meet his. “It’s Etruscan,” he responds, his voice soft. “I picked it up after I left Hell as a young demon. It’s like a second nature to me.””

Or language. But ok.

When Saint actually says hell scares him with all those flames and dead people , I burst out laughing (not that he knows what he is talking about). I don’t think I was meant to. Especially since Onyx tells him it’s not that bad and makes it sound like a daycare but really hot.

And I knew then I wasn’t going to finish the book. Life is too short and there’s so many more books to read.

If you’re a fan of this author, then go ahead and pick it up. That’s my only suggestion.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley ❤️

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

◦ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

Cuddly Demon

Blurb:

I didn’t expect the summoning spell I found on Tik Tok to work.

I’m Saint. I’m your average, run-of-the-mill, overstressed college sophomore. My boyfriend prospects are nil, and that’s assuming I even have time for a partner.

Ha. An English major with free time. That’s a good one.

When I use a spell I found in a viral Tik Tok video to help me with an assignment, the last thing I expect is for a super ripped blue-skinned demon to show up in the campus library.

My demon’s name is Onyx, and his last master locked him in an Etruscan tomb three thousand years ago. Onyx tells me that he’s here to do my bidding and I think that sounds great, to be honest. He quickly finishes my classwork and even makes a new game I’ve wanted appear out of nowhere.

Onyx’s assistance comes with a price. As it turns out, he was shut up in the cave because his last master refused to pay up.

I ask Onyx what his price is, and he tells me he demands… cuddles. And kisses. And lots and lots of… other things.

Looks like I conjured up more than I bargained for…

Cuddly Demon is a paranormal MM romance with a sweet college student who needs hugs, a demon with a gentle hand, a wedding in Hell, and a sugary sweet guaranteed happily ever after. It’s part of the multi-author Possessive Love series.

Review: Drop Dead Demon by (Possessive Love) by B. Ripley

Rating: 4.25🌈

Ripley’s Drop Dead Demon is another good installment in the Possessive Love collection.

It starts with a familiar thread about a young boy , a toddler, in an impoverished situation . His young mother needs to work so leaves him alone in a poor hotel for long periods of time. He’s scared and unhappy until out of the dark his imaginary friend comes.

Usually in other books it’s an adult but here, what emerges from the darkness is a little being the same age as himself.

What a great idea and way for the narrative to go forward.

Both Brady, the human, and Roth, the demon, interact as children at the beginning of the story. While Roth has more knowledge about what Brady is to him, he’s still a child, and he’s listens to Brady with a child’s heart, however otherworldly.

That Ripley lets us meet them at this stage makes the next step in their journey even more painful.

The narrative necessarily moves ahead in time to Brady as a successful model.

What happened to Roth is something I’ll leave to the story.

Ripley does a good job reacquainting the main characters with each other but there’s so much else going on, that it’s pushed back to make page time for other elements to be addressed. There’s a prophecy, a demon brother for Roth who’s been “topside” for years with a sudden dramatic backstory to deal with, and Legion , an entity who is literally a cast of thousands.

Somewhere, our main focus , the bond between Brady and Roth, starts to get a little bit fuzzy.

When the story pulls back towards them, it refocuses our connection to the characters, their relationship, and the perils they face.

There’s several twists that Ripley has in store for the readers and characters. A few were, I thought, bittersweet at the end but realistic given the damage done. One wasn’t as thought through or as well executed as it seemed. A all powerful being that couldn’t fully set everything right or destroy the one thing that set things up? I wondered about that.

Anyway, I was left with a few questions about the overall storytelling that I felt was unresolved at the end.

But the relationship, the main characters, how it all began? Wonderful. And so many other smaller things that made this a really enjoyable read.

Check it out. The entire collection is listed below.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

◦ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain ❤️

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

◦ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

Drop Dead Demon: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Roth

From the moment I first saw Brady, I knew he was my mate. He thought I was just his imaginary friend and I let him believe that because at his side, I felt more complete than I ever had before. I didn’t mean to ever leave him, but I didn’t have much of a choice. I may be a Prince of Hell, but my father’s rule is absolute and out of his fear that I will someday overpower him, he had me imprisoned when I was just a child.

But, I was freed.

Rescued from where I’ve been held for far too many years, the only thing on my mind is claiming Brady as mine. I have lingered in the darkness without him for so long that seeing him now is like a breath of fresh air, but he’s starting to change. My father may have worried about who I would become, but it’s my mate he truly should have feared.

He is beautiful.

He is terrifying.

He is mine.

Brady

As a lonely child, Roth was the only thing I could count on. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t real, my imaginary friend was there when I needed someone. Roth meant everything when nobody else would let themselves get close to me. When I got older, he disappeared as make-believe things are supposed to and I put childhood behind me, moving on into a career on the runway as a sought after fashion model.

But Roth is back.

He says he’s a demon and I am his mate. We were created for each other, he tells me, but there are beings conspiring to keep us apart. They’re scared of what he will become when he claims me, but they should have feared me instead because I am no longer the lonely little boy I once was.

I am loved.

I am powerful.

I am his.

Review: The Demon’s Dealbreaker (Possessive Love) by Delaney Rain

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Books like these are a reason I enjoy reading collections. The Demon’s Dealbreaker (Possessive Love) by Delaney Rain is written by an author I’ve never read before and now I can add them to my list of writers I whose works I find very entertaining.

It starts with what should be a heartbreaking story and reveal to the main character on his birthday. His parents have sold him eight times to eight different otherworldly beings in exchange for various gifts/items. Without his knowledge and without each of the other beings knowing about the deals his parents made with the others.

It’s a dramatic open onto the moment where Dwyer Eamonn’s life shatters with the knowledge of his parents actions and the fact he’s been sold. To more than one person. To be specific to a witch, two fairies, a minor god, and four demons all of which have arrived to claim him.

To say they aren’t happy with the situation and his parents is an understatement.

Rain immediately sets about introducing the reader to all the claimants as well as giving us insight into Dwyer and his family history. It’s clear from the beginning that Dwyer’s parents have viewed him not as a child but as an asset and treated him just as coldly.

The format the author has constructed to allow him and us to learn more about the other characters brings a sense of urgency and connection to his fate. He has to learn about them and so must the reader. It’s a wonderful element.

However, it comes with the trigger warnings mentioned. There’s a scenario with a non con sex scene. I have issues with the ramifications from this episode in that I don’t think it shows the being ever realizing the cause and effect of his actions. And, imo, this is the only aspect of the storyline where I think the author doesn’t either fully explore here the gravity of a non consensual moment or it’s so weakens it with other elements that it might as well not have been used as all.

I think it’s supposed to be that, yes, all these otherworldly beings aren’t exactly “nice people” or have the greatest of personalities, at least on the surface. Our impression of them evolves as Dwyer spends time getting to know each of them in their respective worlds.

Some naturally are more powerful as characters because of the fact that they have bigger roles in the storyline and in Dwyer’s present life. But each of them is interesting and layered with a unique background.

Rain is also fond of creating unusual sexual body shapes for the beings here, tentacles do sort of make an appearance, even if it’s just one. Just an fyi.

I so enjoyed the ending. Did I wish for a bit more of a revenge aspect? Sure but it still feels very satisfying. And I could certainly do with seeing more of the rest of the crew.

The collection is an odd mix but this one is a definite winner. Grab it up but do heed the warnings.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

◦ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

◦ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

The Demon’s Dealbreaker: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

A witch, two fairies, a minor god, and four demons walk into a bar and suddenly Dwyer Eamonn’s life will never be the same.

Turns out that Dwyer’s parents promised him—their firstborn—as payment when they made eight different deals with various supernatural beings. At the stroke of midnight on his twenty-first birthday, every single claimant comes calling, ready to make Dwyer their heir.

Unable to deny them all, it’s up to Dwyer to choose which supernatural being he wants to become by spending time with each of them. What does a witch do all day? Do crossroads demons really hang out on street corners? He has eight hours to learn about them one at a time before he must make a decision.

Right away, one of them draws Dwyer in like no one ever has. He doesn’t want to become a demon, but he does want to be with one. Is that even possible? And since choosing an heir means these people want to shuffle off their mortal coil, is love reason enough to make one of them stay? After all, they’ll have forever once Dwyer makes his choice.

The Demon’s Dealbreaker is a M/M paranormal romance featuring a cranky cast of supernatural beings who thought they’d all made deals for a firstborn son, a human man who knew magic existed but not at this level, parents who deserve what they get, and the revelation of several incredible secrets as the dealbreaker becomes who he was always meant to be.

Content Warnings: See my website, gaymonsterromance.com