Riptide: a Super Bowl Year (The Riptide) by Beth Bolden was written by Bolden for her fans of her series, as a final way to say goodbye and to show that all important Super Bowl game from the many perspectives of the characters we have come to understand and love.
We see Sam Crawford and Heath Harris, settled into their respective roles and relationship. As well as all the other teammates from the series who have come to mean so much. It’s the Super Bowl. But more importantly it’s seeing the characters and the impact on their lives one last time.
It’s a fitting tribute and a wonderful addition to the finale story.
For all the fans, it’s a must read.
Riptide series:
The Rivalry #1
Rough Contact #2
The Red Zone #3
Bolden’s connected Football series in order they are written:
I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of Silver & Blood: An Infinite Arcana Novella by Sheena Jolie ( formerly writing under the pen name SJ Himes). It’s been a long while since I read their Infinite Arcana novels, so getting to dive back into this universe was exciting.
It’s not essential to have read the other books to understand the world of the characters and the foundation behind the storytelling. Jolie’s narrative does a splendid job of explaining the history of the world and otherworldly beings living there.
Curse of Silver & Blood literally has an explosive start, one that has our main characters on a collision course with fate.
Alec, an elf is escaping horrific captivity, and Leif, a cursed ancient werewolf, who hears the explosion on the edge of his territory, are two fantastic, well defined characters. Beautifully rendered, from their personalities to their own backgrounds, it’s easy to slip into connecting with each of them and their fated mates relationship.
Their fated mate relationship is built in the story in a way that’s makes the reader accept their bond and their growing chemistry. These characters work together. Jolie also creates magical elements that feel realistic in that situation but fascinating enough that I would want this couple to have additional stories.
The ending is solid and holds so much promise for the characters and their future together. I loved it.
I highly recommend Curse of Silver & Blood: An Infinite Arcana Novella by Sheena Jolie and the others in this universe.
Cover designed by Kelley York of Sleepy Fox Studio
An Infinite Arcana Novel series:
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer*
The Necromancer’s Dance
The Necromancer’s Dilemma
The Necromancer’s Reckoning
A History of Trouble Collection Mastering the Flames
Alec has been held prisoner for months, coerced into using his magic to manufacture illegal drugs for the mountain mafia. His gifts are profitable and dangerous, and his captors have no intention of letting him go. Alec engineers his escape–which lands him in the territory of a local legend–an ancient werewolf, a lone alpha cursed by silver and blood.
Leif has been alone for a thousand years. Forced to keep his distance from his own people, Leif settles into the depths of the Appalachian Mountains and spends his endless days patrolling his territory. One night the forest is rattled by an explosion, and the sudden appearance of a bedraggled fae running for his life.
Neither expected to come face to face with their fated mate in the cold, dark woods.
Fate has a hand in uniting Alec and Leif–but it’ll be up to them to forge the nascent mate bond between them, and Alec and Leif have a fight on their hands–the mafia wants Alec back, and the curse laid on Leif is out for blood.
The expanded version of the FATED MATES Charity Anthology short story, set in the Infinite Arcana Universe by bestselling author Sheena Jolie (formerly SJ Himes.) Contains new content. Novella, MM Paranormal Fantasy Romance. 36k words.
Recalling My Demon: An MM paranormal romance by Colette Davison is part of a multi-author 12 book paranormal series called Possessive Love.
Colette Davison does several things here with this charming kinky novella that make it surprisingly different in many ways from the rest of the typical stories involved demon romances.
It’s a ex priest and demon romance with many twists. There’s a daddy kink, an innocent character, and the church isn’t involved in the story.
Who’s the innocent? Well, it’s the demon. That’s Brin, a bratty, loving demon who lives with his human mother, isolated behind wards for his safety and hers. In Brin, Davison has created such a lovable engaging character. Naughty and innocent. A total scamp.
Ian, the ex-priest turned nurse is an interesting personality. He’s a caring individual, made his peace with his faith, and went into nursing to continue to help others. But he’s got a kinky side. Guess who gets to explain sex to a demon?
There’s more emotional side stories, including the one that involves Brian’s aging mother.
I didn’t find the end as well realized as the rest of the story but it’s definitely a HEA.
If you are a fan of the author and trope, don’t pass up Recalling My Demon: An MM paranormal romance by Colette Davison. A fun entertaining read.
Possessive Love series:
A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae
My Demon Husband by Jan 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 Howell
I’m told Nethermire House is haunted, but the truth is even stranger.
Nethermire is home to an eccentric 80-year-old and the young man she claims is her great-nephew.
Except he’s not.
He’s a demon.
Brin’s chaotic, bratty ways draw me to him. When he calls me Daddy, I’m a goner. I want to protect him, take care of him, and call him mine.
But when he gets summoned to hell, our happiness is shattered.
Can I recall him to my side, or will I lose him forever?
Recalling My Demon is a standalone MM paranormal romance in the Possessive Love multi-author series. It has an age-gap relationship between a bratty demon who needs someone to love him more than he realises and an ex-priest who’s now a Daddy.
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (October 19, 2023)
V.L. Locey has written a new MM fantasy romance in The Pastel Prince, the first novel in her Crowns of Melowynn series.
It’s an age gap, slow burn romantasy that’s setting the stage and foundation for the world and stories to follow.
Locey has managed a magical horrifying journey, a terrifying mystery, an epic adventure, and a developing relationship to engage the reader’s imagination and hold our attention.
Mages, elves, pixies, and various other creatures and types of magical elements that will continue to be explored as the series deepens its knowledge of the political system and its history, little of which is set down here.
Kenton, the young Druid and Beirach , the archdruid , were a solid well written couple and strong start to a new series.
If you love fantasy romance, check them out and this series from VL Locey!
Kenton, a young druid prince, feels trapped in the bustling city life, a world away from the forests of his birth. Despite his royal duties keeping him tethered to the urban sprawl, his spirit remains tangled with the whispering trees and the ancient, mystical rhythms of the forest. But when a sinister threat endangers his people’s land and lives, Kenton embarks on a perilous journey to track down a powerful and ancient being; the lone archdruid powerful enough to stop the darkness.
Only, Beirach is nothing like the archdruids of old tales. Instead of withered and world-weary, he is younger than expected, vital, and has a magnetic charm that Kenton can’t ignore. Thrown together by fate and bound by a shared mission, Kenton and Beirach find themselves in the heart of a battle to save nature. As the dark mage’s shadow looms over the forest, they fight together and find a love as raw and wild as the forest itself.
The Pastel Prince is an M/M age gap romantasy set in a faraway land with magicks and mythical beasts, a belligerent pixie, a young druid on an epic quest, an older archdruid who’s not as washed up as he thought, Elven castles, long glances over a campfire, and a fey-tastic happily-ever-after.
Deliciously demented! Alice Winters has another great book and character with A Simple Mistake, the first novel in her new Deadly Mistakes series.
Dark humor and psychopathic main characters are my jam. That makes Winters’ A Simple Mistake and Homicide Det Liam Paige, the psychopath who’s one delicious side of this two POV narrative definitely my new favorite. The other voice being the , shakes head, engagingly normal, law abiding Detective Gabriel Hyde and his cat,Lucille Pawl aka Lucy Fur.
Clearly you see what side I fall on.
Liam’s POV and dialogue, clearly non empathetic as it should be unless it relates to Gabriel, often had me cackling. My enjoyment ran deep. And Winters, while laying down the traumatic scenes and background for Liam, doesn’t ask us or Liam for remorse or for him to change his behavior or actions. He simply is what he is. It’s only from Gabriel that he’s slightly willing to make alterations.
I’ll be so fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as the series and their relationship develops.
The murderer and the investigations are complex, wonderfully detailed and constructed. Winters built so much suspense, intelligent psychological drama and horror into a story with equal amounts of gleeful dialogue and great action that it’s a must read!
Alice Winters is an auto buy and this fantastic book is just one more reason why. Highly recommended!
Great characters, fantastic writing, excellent story. Win, win, win.
Weirdly, people don’t react overly well when you’re caught standing over the dead body of a murderer who’d walked free.
It’s not that I thought my fellow homicide detective would rejoice when he saw what I’d done, but is a pat on the back too much to ask for? Maybe a gold star at the very least?
The problem is that the person who caught me is Gabriel, the only person I care for and adore… and he’s prepared to look the other way if I leave homicide and promise to never kill again. Yet when Gabriel gets taken by a serial killer, there’s absolutely no way I can sit back while this parasite takes what is mine.
But what the killer doesn’t know is that I’m coming for him and that I would destroy the world to keep Gabriel safe. After all, who could hunt a serial killer better than another one?
Gabriel
Drawing Liam back into homicide is the last thing I thought I’d ever do, but the killer is picking off my fellow detectives, and the only way we’re going to make it out of this is with Liam heading the case (even if there’s one—or five—coworkers he’d rather not save).
Liam is smart, sarcastic, and the most dangerous man I’ve ever met, and yet I can’t look away—even if he calls my adorable cat Lucy Fur. No one has any idea just how far Liam will go for me, especially not the killer, who won’t realize until too late that the prey he hunts is actually a predator.
A Spell for Heartsickness (The Rune Tithe #1) by Alastair Reeves is a fantasy romance or romantasy written by an author I’ve never read before.
The story is preceded by a lengthy author’s note, which I always read. This one was informative, but somewhat overly detailed, especially equating curses to debilitating illnesses. More on this later.
For two thirds of this story, Reeves had me absorbed into the lives of the characters and the magical mysteries of the island of Coill Darragh. There’s well crafted engaging ghost witch, Gretchen. She’s a character with a huge role here, as well as part of a horrific mystery needed to solve that’s got multiple layers to it.
The main characters start out astonishingly well. Witch Briar Wyngrave’s personality and character is reflected by his painful reality and dire circumstances. He’s cursed which has resulted in a incurable physical illness . And Briar wants to achieve his life goals within a certain time period.
The history and the ramifications of this curse will be revealed slowly by events and by Briar, the narrator of the story. How Briar handles living with his increasingly debilitating physical condition, the impact of his curse has on his life emotionally and mentally, is very well written. It helps bring him closer to the reader’s perspective, understanding his mindset as he deals with his life as the curse worsens.
However , there’s a flip side to this approach. As the only pov , to stay connected, Briar’s actions need to be relatable and consistent with his personality and storytelling. . By making Briar carry the sole responsibility and weight of this narrative, the author risks losing some appeal to the readers when Briar’s actions become either mind numbingly inconceivable (read SMH dumb) or ones certain readers won’t get over (like knowingly sleeping with the villain).
That starts to happen just as he’s gotten to the point this reader was able to understand his background and his new positive life choices.
The others characters , including damaged Rowan , the mysteriously scarred alderman,his wonderful sister and her family, are fantastic in their vivid characters and beautifully crafted locations. Plus let’s not forget Gretchen, the ghost witch whose involvement starts strong and then storyline goes sideways. That’s a real shame.
The wild, enraged magical forest, the angry vines, all these elements are wonderfully brought to life, vibrant and horrifying.
I wish I could say the same about the villain. From the moment he appears he’s got a capital V stamped on him that inescapable. It’s a matter of oh yeah, there the bad guy immediately which makes Briar’s actions even worse.
So there’s much here to enjoy and admire. There’s also quite a bit of elements in the characters and storytelling that make the narrative puzzling and less appealing.
If the author and their books are in your TBR folder, add this to it.
In this charming MM romantic fantasy, cursed witch Briar Wyngrave has a date with destiny―but isn’t totally sure which man that date is with.
Witch Briar Wyngrave’s time is limited. The wasting curse that killed his mother is coming for him too, consuming his magic bit by bit. At least he’ll have the chance to make his name as a magical fashion designer with an elite placement in Pentawynn, the country’s glittering capital, after graduation. Until, that is, a prophecy sends him to the remote island of Coill Darragh instead, in search of a predestined lover with a mysterious mask.
When Briar arrives with his grumpy magpie familiar, Vatii, he finds an unwelcoming town, a murdered poltergeist named Gretchen in his apartment, and a handsome alderman named Rowan with a haunting scar. He also gets pulled into the mysterious magic of the darkly enchanted forest that surrounds the town and seems to have something to do with his curse . . . As if all that weren’t enough, famous witch Linden Fairchild has come to town, complete with a charismatic smile, an unreadable aura, and a surefire plan to cure curses.
How’s a cursed witch to know which enchanting man is his destiny? And can Briar possibly make an impact as a magical fashion designer in this tiny town? One thing is certain: a witch’s magic requires a tithe―a berry, a feather, a cut into flesh―and Coill Darragh may take tithes Briar isn’t ready to give . . .
Prince, Charmed by Duckie Mack has a very strong start on a potentially engaging fantasy romance but several elements ending up making it fall short.
The storyline revolves around an embittered witch who lives on the edge of a forest. Florian once was a young child in the castle and best friend of Prince Malachi. Until he was thrown out into the streets, when he was 13, sick, and without resources or some place to go. He faced twenty years of fighting homelessness, poverty, and finding himself isolated and a witch in a world that didn’t understand magic.
That’s a good plot and character. Florian has many character traits that make him relatable to the reader and a strong background.
Then Malachi appears, and what could be a terrific romance starts to lose its appeal. This is a 20 year old separation, a traumatic one and the scene should be emotionally reflective of the situation. It’s not. They could be coming off a misunderstanding over a bagel choice. It’s that low key.
The rest of the author’s story takes the same approach. A high drama plot that has little of that in the narrative. It’s so low angst that even the mystery maladies that affect the Prince are comical.
The Queen is the final issue here. And I’ll admit that in her behavior she’s a personal flag for me.
After chucking a hurting, sick 13 year old out of the only home he’d ever had and never following up on him afterwards, what does this person say 20 years later to him. Any apologies? No. Just this . Framed out that she’s feeling better about herself now that she’s sees that her son is determined Florian is staying so as he’s the next King there’s little she can do.
“For what it’s worth, I really am happy to see you again, Florian. It broke my heart to send you away, but seeing you two together again has mended a tiny piece of that.””
— Prince, Charmed by Duckie Mack
It’s basically oh, you survived being tossed out, suffering homelessness as a sick child. Then poverty and discovering that you are a witch in isolation. We lied about you and no one , except for our son, cared. It ends well, so I can feel better about myself and my despicable actions.
For me, I’d rather they tossed her out. But no. And it appears Florian gives us his cottage to treat all the castle royals.
There’s just too much that’s unexplored or left at a one-dimensional element while being a subject that requires a deeper or more detailed explanation.
On one side a child thrown away, suffering and hardship. The other ? Magical hilarity from parsley and croaking frog noises. Child abandonment and years of trauma versus instant love and quirky humor.
It’s too incongruous. To work well, imo, this needs more layers and exposition. Just way more length.
Read it because you’re a fan of the author. Or reading the series.
Malachi is a prince and next in line for the throne, but as his coronation gets closer, strange things keep happening to him.
Florian grew up in the palace alongside the prince. The two were always together until it was discovered that Florian had magic.
The young witch was torn away from his friend and cast out from the only home he’d known. Despite the turn his life had taken, he has worked hard to build a reputation for helping people.
When Malachi realizes his problems are magical, he seeks out his childhood friend. As Florian works to undo the charms controlling the prince, that bond they once had comes back even stronger than before.
Prince, Charmed is a low angst MM friends to lovers romance. Cauldrons & Kisses is a multi-author series of MM magical standalone stories. Each low angst read will feature a witch finding love.
Santano’s been away from his mate and boyfriends, now it’s the New Year. It’s time for his family and all the minions to celebrate with a special party! Mostly sans clothes, lots of sex and energy to celebrate his return and the New Year!
It’s all charming characters on board and their new family dynamic on sexy loving display.
Fun, sexy and a great addition to this series.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees :
The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2
The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion #3
The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger #4
The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest
How to Start the New Year Right: According to the Minions
In preparation for Santanos’s return from a retreat in the Alps, the minions are putting on a New Year’s Eve party, but if one more person touches Edovard, the celebration is going to get bloody.
Hassan:
My mate is adorable, but he’d be even cuter with bloody hands. If only that wouldn’t upset Edovard.
How to Start the New Year Right is a 6k short story featuring a New Year’s Eve party with fewer clothes than people and the minions’ evil New Year’s resolutions.
Well, this was just adorable. Like holding a lively lovable golden retriever but in narrative form . Grae Bryan’s short fantasy story is a quick delight of a romance.
That’s totally due to the author’s engaging couple and a common theme given a fun twist.
Benny, the human golden retriever main character, is one who has appeared in this author’s other terrific series, Demon Bound. I’m so delighted that Benny gets his HEA here. Benny is a joy. Bryan has created in Benny someone who’s enthusiastic about everything new that comes his way. His brilliant positive energy jumps off the page.
So of course, he doesn’t really know what he’s getting into when he meets this gorgeous man in a bar who’s paying attention to him. Helio, someone who listens and asks questions, and lets him do his thing.
Helio is that other hilariously funny character, a frustrated Fae where nothing he’s doing is working on the happiest human he’s ever seen.
There’s not a lot of world building or layers to the backstory but it’s short and honestly, these two (plus a misbehaving villa) are fabulous together.
I loved it and would hope they pop up together in the Demon Bound series in some future roles.
Or maybe a tiny sequel. Highly recommended! Just adorable.
Never give your name. Never accept a gift or favor. Never eat the food of the realm.
Benny is having the best summer ever. He’s made a new friend, and now he’s getting an extended vacation at a private island. And sure, his buddy didn’t ask Benny’s permission before taking him there, but what could be so bad about exclusive sandy beaches and a free stay in a fancy villa?
Helio is having the worst time of his life. Here he’s gone to all the trouble of kidnapping a human to the fae realm, and the man doesn’t even have the decency to be afraid. Benny’s broken all the rules, and Helio has a right to keep him, but his prey doesn’t even realize he’s been captured. Is this human messing with Helio, or is it truly possible for one man to be so damned oblivious?
AN UNWITTING BARGAIN IS A 15K NOVELLA FEATURING AN OBLIVIOUS HIMBO HUMAN AND THE MORALLY GRAY FAE HE’S ACCIDENTALLY DRIVING A WEE BIT MAD. THERE’S A KIDNAPPING THAT GOES UNNOTICED, A MAGICAL VILLA WITH A CRUSH, AND AN EXTREMELY WHOLESOME HUMAN WHO JUST WANTS TO MAKE HIS NEW FRIEND HAPPY.
Jenn Burke is an auto read/buy author for me so I needed to read this novella I hadn’t gotten to before.
Varuna Das, half human half Dimeti, and Major Kerrick StarCourser, human UTS officer, have had an ongoing relationship whenever Kerrick’s path leads him back to Varuna’s space station. Now Varuna is transferring off, ready for a new life and a new job planet side as Sheriff of Shard Hills.
Surprisingly, a bruised Kerrick arrives from his last mission just as Varuna is shipping out, and somehow a companion is acquired.
Kerrick is seen through Varuna’s eyes, famous soldier for his war exploits, fabulous makeup and popularity. Yet he’s a layered figure with his own personality and surprises.
Varuna or Run as Kerrick refers to him, has had a tough life, rising up to the stage he’s in now. Half the species the humans have been warring, a lifetime of racism and hate on his path.
There’s a terrific town and population, great Sheriff’s Office and its staff, as well as a dramatic storyline with a surprising twist or two.
This is one of those books that I wished would have been longer or had a sequel to. I found everything about this engaging and fascinating.
Space station cop Varuna Das is different. He’s half-human, half-dimeti, and the mix of DNA has had some interesting consequences…like a tail he does his best to keep hidden. Well into middle age, he’s used to being treated badly because of his looks, and as much as he hates it, he understands it. Humans and dimeti just finished a twenty-year war, after all.
What he doesn’t understand is why Major Kerrick StarCourser, a young, beautiful war hero, keeps coming back to him for no-strings sexy fun. Or why Kerrick’s suddenly shown up, bruised and battered, just as Varuna transfers to Shard Hills, a small town on a nearby planet, to take over as sheriff. Kerrick doesn’t show any sign of leaving this time, settling into Varuna’s new home and cooking up a storm. It’s as though he was never a special forces officer.
Confused as he is, Varuna loves having Kerrick there. His life in Shard Hills is shaping up to provide everything he’s ever wanted: a home, a purpose, a family. But when Varuna’s dark past catches up to him, will Kerrick’s heroic integrity let him forgive and forget…and stay?
The Sheriff of Shard Hills is a 30,000 word novella with a middle-aged, half-alien cop who doesn’t see his own value, a young, fem war hero who does, and a happily ever after. Once the shooting stops, of course.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 