Join us for the tour for Feuds and Interludes“ by R.L. Merrill (Other Worlds Ink Tour )

R.L. Merrill has a new MM contemporary rock ‘n’ roll romance out in the Road to Rocktoberfest series: Feuds and Interludes.

From the award-winning author of Hurricane Reese, Summer of Hush, and You Can Do Magic comes a new rock star romance series inspired by legendary rock ‘n’ roll love affairs. Feuds and Interludes is a rivals-to-lovers, hurt/comfort love story complete with adorable septuagenarian lovebirds and beloved characters from Merrill’s previous rock-inspired series.

Boone Collins and Shane Butler are two of rock music’s brightest stars today. Their grandfathers founded a powerhouse rock supergroup that ruled the airwaves in the late 1970s, and the grandsons grew up in their shadows to become frontmen of their own successful bands. The epic rivalry between Boone and Shane is notorious, and it’s about to blow up.

When Shane’s grandfather Bruce inducts his deceased bandmate into the Rock Music Hall of Fame, he admits to the world that he wrote the band’s biggest hit about his best friend’s widow—Boone’s grandmother Vera Jean. The two want to rekindle their relationship, and their grandsons are determined to keep them apart. Only, working together for a common goal reveals surprising similarities between the rock stars as well as a chemistry they cannot ignore. Shane sees behind Boone’s glittery facade to the secrets he hides from his bandmates, and Boone is there to pick up the pieces when Shane’s professional world implodes. Together, they plot a musical collaboration to celebrate their grandfathers’ accomplishments instead of fighting—a star-studded tribute at the storied Rocktoberfest event in the Nevada desert—but will being in the spotlight prove to be too much for their fledgling romance to handle?

About the Series:

Feuds and Interludes is part of the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle, and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

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Giveaway

R.L. is giving away $25 Amazon gift card with this tour:

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Excerpt

“Boone, honey, will you zip me up?”

Vera Jean Collins had the kind of beauty that turned heads, the grace of a royal, and the unshakeable poise to shrug off even the most rabid paparazzi. And tonight, all those characteristics would be put to the test.

I’d never get over how beautiful my grandmother was. The only constant in my life, she was my home, my role model, and my best friend. Wearing a form-fitting, sleeveless black dress adorned with iridescent rainbow sparkles, she had a youthful glow about her at sixty-eight years old and still commanded attention. A statuesque former actress, beleaguered rockstar wife, and now passionate philanthropist, Vera Jean Collins carried herself with an elegance that belied her years spent married to my lovable scoundrel of a grandfather.

“That tuxedo is very flattering,” she said as I stepped behind her and carefully zipped her dress to the nape of her neck. She’d pulled her long silver hair into a twist that looked professionally done, and with her heels on, she stood nearly eye-to-eye with my five-eleven frame. “I love the vest, too.”

I looked down at the navy velvet suit and gold brocade vest and smiled. “The tailor did a nice job taking it in. I think Papa would get a kick out of me wearing this. He loved this one.”

I held up the matching tie and she took it from me, gesturing for me to let her tie it. She looped it over my head and went to work, a wistful smile on her face.

“He certainly did. He bought it to irritate me, and then was frustrated when I told him that I loved how it brought out the blue in his eyes. He was always trying to pull a fast one on me.”

“And you’d always call his bluff.”

She handed me her diamond choker to fasten, and I winced when I noticed her hands were shaking. She was so brave, no matter the challenge before her, but I’d learned to notice the subtle traces of her struggles. Tonight her task would be smiling and waving at her deceased husband’s adoring fans and colleagues as he was posthumously inducted into the Rock Hall. I knew she missed him terribly. We both did.

“Kept things fun,” she said with a little shrug. She ran her fingers over her choker and relaxed her shoulders. “Always kept him guessing.”

I had my own reason for being nervous. My band, Stellar, was chosen to lead the tribute performance. In a few hours, I would be performing for an arena full of my musical heroes. With Bruce Duncan. I usually did my best when under pressure, but this was ridiculous.

“It was weird seeing Bruce at rehearsal.”

I’d grown up hearing the stories of when he and my grandfather ruled the world, but I hadn’t seen him in years and had no idea what to make of him as a person.

“Oh? How so?”

Gran stopped what she was doing and turned to face me.

“He talked to everyone else in the room but me. Well, he scolded me about the timing on one of the songs.”

“Relax, darling,” she said as she fastened her bracelet. “He’s probably just as nervous as you.”

“I’m not nervous. I know these songs like the back of my hand.”

“Right,” she said as she looked me up and down. “And that’s why your shirt is misbuttoned.”

I ran my hand down my shirt, and sure enough, I’d missed a button and the thing had a big bump in the middle sticking out from my vest. I went about undoing and redoing my shirt and vest. You’d think by the age of thirty, I’d be able to dress myself. You’d be wrong, apparently.

“Yeah, well, his infuriating grandson has probably told him terrible things about me.”

“Oh, nonsense. Shane is a good boy.”

“Boy? He’s two years older than me.”

“You two have more in common than you’d think.”

“He’s determined to be rude to me, so I guess I’ll never know.”

She was right in the sense that we came from similar backgrounds, but that’s where the similarities ended. I put together a band of unique artists interested in playing smart rock music with a point and a backbone. Shane was a hotheaded, brilliant musician who, instead of following in his grandfather’s virtuoso footsteps, had chosen to while away his time in a mediocre albeit popular metal band, making record after record of predictable drivel. He could do so much better.

“Maybe if you two walked a mile in each other’s shoes, you’d get along better. Speaking of which, do you have to wear those shoes?”

I looked at my feet and back at her. “My Chucks? Of course, I’m wearing my Chucks. They’re custom-made. Most comfortable shoes I own.” I’d chosen my gold sparkly ones tonight to match the tuxedo, so they really stood out.

She exhaled through her nose and raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re lucky you’re so handsome,” she said as she fastened her dangly diamond earrings. “You get away with a lot more that way.”

“And you wouldn’t let just anyone escort you tonight. Right. You said that already.” She could tease me all she wanted. I knew how much she loved me.

“Are you almost ready? Or do you have more metal to put in your head?”

She smiled sweetly at me and I rolled my eyes. I adjusted my septum piercing and ran my fingers over the thick silver rings in both ears. I had a stud through my tongue as well.

“I think I’m good.” I crossed my eyes at her and she wrinkled her nose. Then her smile morphed into that grandmotherly look I recognized.

“How about you, Boone? How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. All good.”

I’m not changing the shoes, though. I mentally stuck my tongue out at her.

Gran slipped her hand through my offered arm and I leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.

“Chin up, tits out,” she muttered.

“I’ll try to remember that.”

She subtly hip-bumped me and put on her most dazzling smile, no doubt practicing for the evening ahead.

I loved this woman, owed her my life, and I would stand by her side no matter what. I wanted her to be happy. She deserved happy.

As for me? I just needed to survive without making a fool of myself. I knew I was good enough to keep up with the likes of Bruce Duncan, but he’d rattled me more than I let on at that rehearsal. The idea that I wouldn’t do my grandfather’s music justice terrified me.

Papa taught me everything I needed to know to launch my career. I would do him proud tonight.

And if that meant dealing with the likes of Bruce Duncan or his aggravating grandson, Shane Butler, so be it.

Author Bio

Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling, diverse, and inclusive stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Rockstar Romance for You Can Do Magic, and Daphne DuMaurier finalist for Connection, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, cruising around town with Great Dane Velma, cuddling with twin black cat familiars Frankenstein and Dracula, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…

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

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

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

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828914.R_L_Merrill

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/R.L.-Merrill/author/B00PI6Q1LI

Review: Newly Tied (Marshals Book 7) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 4.5🌈

I have loved this series for a long time and was so happy to see another story and couple added to this expanding law enforcement community and universe. According to the author, this is just the beginning of the journey for Del and Lang in terms of books which is appropriate because the beginning of their partnership and romantic relationship is exactly what Calmes delivers here.

We enter as relocated Texan, Delroy “Del” McCabe, begins a new chapter of his life. Del’s in Chicago as one of a group of law enforcement officers on probation as they hoping for the permanent assignment as US federal Marshals. They’re on probation and training under the office of Sam Kage, the deputy chief of the Northern District of Illinois, basically head of all the Marshals in the area.

Another member of that group is a local Chicago officer, Langston “Lang” Ross, a man whose family and roots run deep and whose connection with Del is instantly apparent and solid.

Calmes delivers an emotional journey of friendship, and emotional connection as Del and Lang go from action packed case to case, exploring their own experiences as relationships as regards to their careers and each other.

Of course, other Marshals and their partners and families are also involved in this journey and story, a wonderful aspect of the series and Calmes’ writing that sees crossover characters.

Other elements of the story include Lang’s discovery of his bisexuality or pansexuality because of his love for Del. Del’s recognition and acceptance of the need for therapy for the parental abuse he suffered during his childhood, and Lang’s support for his own PTSD issues. It’s sensitively written and folded realistically into their characters and storylines.

I love Calmes’ novels and her characters tend to be heroes. Right now I needed to read this. And I definitely want to read more about this couple and their relationship going forward.

Highly recommended.

Marshals series to date:

🔹All Kinds Of Tied Down #1

🔹Fit To Be Tied #2

🔹Tied Up In Knots #3

🔹Twisted and Tied #4 – Miro Jones and Ian Doyle (1 through 4)

🔹Balanced and Tied #5 – Eli Kohn and Celso Harrington, ballet dancer

🔹Tied Over #6 – Josiah Redeker and Bodhi Callahan

🔹Newly Tied #7 – Delroy “Del” McCabe and Langston “Lang” Ross

Covers by Reese Dante

Buy link

Newly Tied (Marshals Book 7)

Blurb

For the last six months, Deputy US Marshal Delroy McCabe has been secretly pining for his partner, Langston Ross. He’s kept his desires to himself because he wants to do a good job and prove himself at work. More importantly, if Lang were to find out his true feelings, maybe the person he cares for the most might walk away.

Between the understanding and support Lang gives him, as well as time with his family, Del can’t afford to slip up. But then, why does his partner and best friend care who Del sleeps with? Why, if given a choice, would Lang prefer to do anything with him? Maybe Del’s been missing something important, and perhaps Lang’s not the only one who’s not seeing what’s right in front of him.

Because sometimes the strongest ties are the ones that bind our hearts.

Publication date: November 4, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 246 pages

Review: Raising the Sun (Tales from the Tarot) by Eryn Hawk

Rating: 4🌈

The major arcana card THE SUN.

Another novel in the wonderful series, Tales from the Tarot, Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk got off to a slightly slow start but finished strong and fabulous!

Most of that was due to the character of Isaac Miller, a florist down on his luck who summons a demon for a chance to change things up.

At first, Isaac just isn’t that likable. He’s whiny, rude, and defeated. But his personality and development, especially in tandem with that of the demon prince Ash, just works so well. It’s their chemistry and their friendship that makes this both a warmhearted, sexy read.

Each being/person has a path of discovery and growth ahead of them. What they will realize is that they have needed each other to bring out the best qualities to fulfill their potential together. There’s no fated mates. Just a relationship that is lovely and meaningful. And sexy and fun. And full of flowers.

The Magic Shop and The Owner as an element is minimal at best but I enjoyed how the card was employed during the story.

I would have enjoyed more exploration of their future plans but where the author left them was satisfying as was that last event. Absolutely loved it.

Another sexy , fun paranormal adventure and romance in this series to recommend!

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

❤️by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon ❤️by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun ❤️by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

Raising The Sun

Blurb

Isaac Miller is a failure—in business and life—but he’ll be damned if he asks for help. When his older brother sends him to an occult shop of all things, the cryptic man behind the counter offers up a spell that’ll supposedly lead him down the path of success. Isaac doesn’t believe in magic, but when the incantation causes a demon to show up in his bedroom through a puff of smoke, he may have to reassess his beliefs.

The beautiful yet arrogant menace holds the key to all of Isaac’s desires, but apparently, the morally grey don’t work for free.

Amadeus, ‘Ash,’ is growing weary of his usual mischief and mayhem, and is in need of some thrilling venture to sink his fangs into. When he finds himself summoned to the human realm by a delightfully desperate florist, it’s as if fate has dropped an entertaining new endeavour into his lap. Luring the innocent man into his bed would be one way to cure his boredom, so what’s the harm in pretending it’s part of the deal?

What Ash doesn’t expect is to feel compelled to heal the defeated creature, and discover that doing so might just fill the void in his soul.

Could this accidental summoning turn into the perfect arrangement? Or is the road to happiness paved with malicious intentions and wilted blooms? There’s one way to find out.

RAISING THE SUN is a standalone MM romance with size difference, flower shows, and magic spells. It features a sassy phoenix-demon contracted into helping a human realise his worth and a self-conscious florist who is struggling to keep his crumbling business afloat. It’s part of the multi-author collaboration TALES FROM THE TAROT. This novel is based on the major arcana card THE SUN.

If you want to know more about what to expect with this story, visit my website for a full, in-depth content list

Publication date: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 251 pages

Review: Winnie Takes Paris (Love and Travels #2) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 5🌈

I just love this and fell deeply under the spell of Winnie Rodriquez as he conquered not only Paris but his wonderful, brilliant professor, Dr. Alistair Creighton.

One of the many things I appreciate about this novel is the absolute joy I can see the author took in writing this. It’s everywhere, in every aspect of the book. The places that Winnie and Alistair travel to and visit while in Paris are all museums, shops, and special spaces that Hayes herself has been and the affection and love shines in her descriptions. Her views of Paris and the surrounding areas mirror Winnie’s in so many ways in the wonderful outlook and appreciation.

I can also see the creativity and passion for this story in the outright hilarity of the conversations, dialogue’s between Winnie and Alistair as they learn about each other, that joyful and deeply rooted in how special each is.

These characters are beautifully real, aware, vividly written, gorgeous characters. I couldn’t look away from the pages and their journey into a relationship and love. And Paris was a stunning background for them to discover that they were perfect for each other and fit together.

I could see both Winnie and Alistair so clearly, their personalities and clothes were as finely detailed as everything else.

My one quibble is I wanted more. One book isn’t nearly enough for this couple who’s spread across multiple countries. I would love to see them together again in books to come.

Highly recommended, along with Raine’s story.

Love and Travels :

Falling for Raine #1

Winnie Takes Paris #2

Buy link

Winnie Takes Paris

Blurb

The fabulous stylist, the absentminded professor, and a Parisian adventure…

Winnie

Someone once said, when life gets you down and you’re feeling blue, brush yourself off and go to Paris!

Okay, maybe that was me.

Hey, I don’t regret taking an oddball assignment to assist a British professor abroad. I could use a break from my life as an aspiring hair and style guru in LA. The only worrisome snag is that the professor is determined to do everything on his own.

Not acceptable. I’m here to help the impossibly smart geek with mismatched socks who just happens to be my best friend’s boss.

No, I don’t know nothing about history, but I’m nothing if not resourceful. What could go wrong?

Alistair

I’ve been called an absent-minded professor more than once. I don’t mind at all. My work is important and living on a diet of biscuits and tea while delving into ancient civilizations doesn’t seem so terrible. But Paris calls. And somehow, I have a new temporary assistant.

Winnie is a technicolor, whirlwind American with a wicked laugh and the subtlety of a steamroller. He’s brash and ridiculous and…funny, warm, lovely, and—

Oh no. This can’t be happening. I swore I’d never fall for anyone again.

Winnie can take Paris, but he can’t take my heart.

Or can he?

Lane Hayes

November 7, 2024

220

pages

Review: Skip Trace (Chaos Station Book 3) by Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen

Rating: 4.5🌈

Skip Trace had several hurdles to overcome just by being the book that followed Lonely Shore, a novel that was full of huge emotional storylines, momentous moments, and blockbuster payoffs in terms of narrative development and character development.

Skip Trace picks up after Lonely Shore’s events , which saw the return of Zander Anatolius and the highly emotional reunion that is still unsettled between Zan and Felix.

Felix/Fix/Flick (this constantly changing name is a frustrating element here) is a man of numerous talents and untold problems. He has never dealt with the time he spent as a POW in a stin prison, the torture he endured and the long term effects that it’s had on him, like his mangled hand. And he hasn’t had time to process emotionally the impact that Zander return, his physical condition and abuse suffered has had on his mental health too.

The authors do a great job of writing a man who is mentally, physically, and emotionally under siege. The stress is unbearable, he’s not communicating with Zan or Elias or any of his friends/crew of the Chaos and he’s breaking down.

Zan, who is dealing with his own mental and physical issues, has some of the same challenges in that his own life is far more problematic and complicated. As written, he’s not a type of person who seeks understanding, or in terms of Felix, doesn’t understand the scope of his breakdown because there’s been a severe lack of communication.

The narrative has this complicated challenging relationship that’s trying to sustain itself amid a tangled galactic conflict between species and the world governing body still trying to hide its experiments on the soldiers.

Skip Trace starts off a with establishing the events of the last book and then dives right into the emotional state of Felix and Zan, and the crew as it tries to accomplish the missions and hold onto both men and their ship.

I enjoy how tough and realistic this story is about the effects of trauma and the need for healing and help. That time isn’t enough to overcome the horrors that war has inflicted upon the world and individual. Felix the Fixer isn’t fixed. But he realizes that he needs help. And to communicate.

Burke and Jensen don’t forget about the other aspects of their series arc as new characters and development are added to come together in another absolutely satisfying, dramatic climatic ending.

It’s not perfect. As I mentioned earlier, the ongoing usage of multiple names for the same character is frustrating and often irritating. While I understand that each is chosen to separate a different section of his life and where someone might stand in his life by what they call him, having to deal with a series of names for Felix in just a paragraph is annoying. It’s book three. By now this aspect of his story could have been explored and put away.

Two more books to go and a whole new adventure has just begun.

Can’t wait and I’m definitely recommending this for all lovers of science fiction adventures and romance. Read them in the order they are written.

Series – read them in the order below:

Chaos Station 1
Lonely Shore 2
Skip Trace 3
Inversion Point 4
Phase Shift 5 – series finale

Buy link

Skip Trace (Chaos Station Book 3)

Blurb

Zander Anatolius has been revived from the fatal effects of the super-soldier program, but now he has to face his estranged family and tell a story few would believe. With his lover and the crew of the Chaos at his side, Zander returns home to a media frenzy, threats from the military and pressure to join the family business.

Felix Ingesson still struggles with the horror of believing Zander dead. And no matter how strong their emotional connection is, Felix feels out of place in the glittery world of Zander’s rich family. His lover would be better off without a broken, low-class ship’s engineer holding him back.

When the crew receives word that another of Zander’s former teammates needs rescue, Felix travels with the Chaos…setting Zander free. But when Zander is arrested for treason, the men realize they need each other as much as ever—not only to survive, but to make their lives worth living.

Publisher: Ghost Ship Books; 2nd edition (July 30, 2024)
Publication date: July 30, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 319 pages

Review: Review: Heart & Soulless (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 7) by K. Sterling

Rating: 3🌈

I had high expectations for this story given the main character of Russ Dorian, but several elements made Heart & Soulless just not work for me.

First, Russ is a very interesting, compelling character that Sterling’s been developing over the series of stories. I’m sure that all the readers have been waiting for his backstory to be revealed to explain parts of his character and behaviors.

The horrific background supplied certainly supports the narrative of his current life and actions. Russ remains throughout a multi-dimensional character with the ability to show depth and different facets of his personality to the people important to him here in this story. That’s great character building.

The issue is that it didn’t extend to the other main character of Dr. Cassius Ambrose, who’s basically a one note character. It’s “oh no, the past sucked, my fault, my brother’s fault, I blame you too for your own destruction. (Insert red flag here) we can’t forget the past “ . Same conversation and over again. Flags. A personality Sterling has created that wasn’t relatable. IMO , so much so that I couldn’t understand what Russ saw in him except an old horrible past when he was 20 years old. And Cassius was much older who could have prevented some of the worst moments. More flags.

Sterling, even at the end, never has Cassius improve on his dubious personality. And it hurts the entire story. One in which the reader can see the “surprise “ coming a mile away.

The story written in 2021 even dates itself by its continual references to a character’s Tesla in a highly positive light without other context.

So Owen’s story is next and I believe that the last of the Bisbee Bachelors. The town is amazing and the central characters a wonderful group. This just happens to be not a favorite.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4
Riddles & Rivals #5
Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

Heart & Soulless (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 7)

Blurb

Russell Dorian’s dark past has finally come back to haunt him. An old enemy arrives in Bisbee with a grudge and what may be a cursed object and Russ has no one to blame but himself. As usual. Russ has always played by his own rules but he’s never played with hearts and hopes because he knows what it’s like to be cheated and to lose everything. But all those painful wounds are ripped open when Dr. Cassius Ambrose turns up, looking just like his deceased older brother and Russ’s former lover, Kingsley Ambrose.

That’s what one does when they receive a cursed object in the mail and are nearly killed by it. Right? Cassius’s house was burned down so he’s come to Bisbee to return the Pompeiian fresco to the sender and settle the score. But a mystery and a murder leave Cassius stranded in the quirky former mining town and he has to turn to Russ and the rest of the Bisbee Bachelors’ Club for help. Can Russ and Cassius let go of the past and solve the mystery before the fresco finds its next victim? There’s no denying the heat or escaping their history when they touch, but will Russ give his heart one more chance and learn he’s not as soulless as he believes?

Publisher: Bawdy Books (October 21, 2021)
Publication date: October 21, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 193 pages

Review: Review: Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

The ranks of the Bisbee Bachelor’s Club continues to shrink with Shadows & Reservations, the story of

Hadley Granger, owner of the most haunted house and hotel in Bisbee and his romantic love story with Lyle Hewer. Lyle Hewer is someone who is an outsider to the close knit Bisbee community but has been working his way into their lives book by book.

Sterling’s story focus is Granger and The Sullivan House, a place he rarely leaves and one that’s rightfully earned the reputation as the most haunted place in the town. Full of spirits that cannot rest and constantly haunt both Granger and anyone who steps on the property, its anguished history is a great part of the story.

That’s where the mystery and murders are and the relationship between the two men will be built. When the story concentrates on Granger, a sad, tormented man with a broken past, the book is terrific. Lyle, for me, no matter what story he’s appeared in, has been more a problematic character. That continues here.

His ex and the issues that come up with Lyle aren’t as realistic, amazingly given that Granger’s are ghostly. But Granger is such a great character and the support group of the rest of the Bisbee community works really well to make him and this an interesting mystery and satisfying story.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4
Riddles & Rivals #5
Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6)

Blurb

What happened to Dottie Granger and why is her son still trapped in The Sullivan House?

The people of Bisbee have spent forty years whispering about the reclusive Hadley Granger, and the night his mother disappeared from The Sullivan House. The shy inn keeper has done his best to keep her memory, and the haunted bed and breakfast, alive by any means necessary. When the town learns that Hadley is also a best-selling author, his private life and all his secrets begin to bleed off the page.

Hadley’s latest guest is a stoic engineer protecting a few secrets of his own. Lyle Hewer’s come to Bisbee to escape a collapsing affair and to determine if the Queen Mine is safe enough to reopen. But trouble follows him to the quirky former mining town when his ex arrives and books a room at The Sullivan House.

The chivalrous inn keeper volunteers for the part of Lyle’s new boyfriend to help him save face, but their plan goes awry almost immediately. Lyle has been in love with the gentle inn keeper from the first moment he stepped foot in The Sullivan House, and Hadley finds himself falling for his prickly guest too. But Hadley has one very big problem: Lyle has to leave before it’s too late and the secrets of The Sullivan House shatters both of their lives.

Warning: brief scenes depicting domestic violence against women and children.

Publisher: Bawdy Books (September 16, 2021)
Publication date: September 16, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 216 pages

Review: Isaac: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 1) by N. N. Britt

Rating: 3.75🌈

Im a fan of the dark mafia romance trope, including a sub group where one of the main characters is an undercover agent and the other is the mafia boss or something similar. So when I ran across an author I hadn’t read before and this series with a great cover, I had to check it out.

I normally have an issue with stories where the law enforcement officers or their agencies don’t come across as being particularly realistic. Especially when the agent is undercover and there’s intelligence and support staff involved. Having a writer take this element and treat it carelessly usually takes me out of the narrative.

But N. N. Britt chooses to go a different route from the beginning and state upfront that her goal isn’t a “gritty authenticity” but instead a love story about “passion, betrayal, and redemption.” She’s not incorporating real basic law enforcement protocols here, let that be understood. The author is letting the reader know that upfront. So don’t go looking for any. She also places her trigger warnings in the description, which I like.

So a reader is well informed before they read the book. No looking for something that the author never said you should expect to find. And don’t.

What I did find was a good story. Dramatic, half a tale actually, about a two men starting towards a relationship in a highly dangerous situation and unstable world.

Britt sets it up as the undercover agent gets his assignment with a minimum of intelligence and time frame to get in and get the job done.

Special Agent Dallas Bradley has his doubts but accepts the job and his target. And becomes Hawk.

His target is the recently released from prison, Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss. His crime? That involves the fact his father is no longer the crime boss but he is.

Isaac had a brutal, abusive relationship with his father that’s revealed in past memories throughout the story. A new mafia boss in an unsettled state, Isaac is someone whose layers are constantly being peeled off. The two person perspective narrative helps create the complex connection/relationship that’s building between them.

The hellhounds, the bodyguards surrounding Isaac, are memorable in their own right, especially Jeremy. He helps cut into some of the more overly descriptive passages and wordy thought processes of Hawk/Dallas with his concise statements and ill-concealed dislike for the agent in disguise.

To read the book you have to “go with the flow “ narratively speaking and not look at the mafia, law enforcement, or legal systems for any realistic scenarios. Like Britt said, it’s not there. There’s plenty of emotional moments, action sequences, and doubts of self awareness to make the storylines work.

Britt does get overly descriptive and sometimes makes the passages a bit repetitive in the wordings chosen but she’s telling a passionate love story, one that will have its end in the second book, Dallas.

I enjoyed this, it’s entertaining but not so dark that it feels realistic or that dramatic as much happens “off the page “. I’m definitely heading to the next book to see how the characters and plot plays out.

Great cover.

Cover Design by Sarah Kil

Light & Shadow series:

Isaac #1

Dallas #2

Forbidden #3 – different set of characters

Buy link

Isaac: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 1)

Blurb

In the heart of Sin City, two men on opposite sides of the law collide in a dangerous game of power, passion, and betrayal.

Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss, has spent nine years behind bars for his father’s murder. Driven, cunning, and unfeeling, he’s now back to claim what’s rightfully his. But when an enigmatic security guard named Hawk is hired to work at his nightclub, Isaac finds himself distracted… and inexplicably drawn to Hawk, despite his best efforts to resist.

Special Agent Dallas Bradley’s mission is clear: infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring their leader, Isaac Thoreau, to justice. Posing as Hawk, Dallas is determined to uncover the secrets of the Thoreau criminal empire. But as he delves deeper into Isaac’s world, the lines between right and wrong blur, and soon an undeniable attraction grows between the two men, forcing Dallas to question everything.

Walking away before he’s compromised would be the smart choice, but Dallas can’t resist Isaac’s magnetic pull, even if it means risking his life.

As love and duty clash, only one question remains: will Isaac and Dallas survive the fallout?

***

Isaac is the first installment of the Light & Shadow Duet. It can not be read as standalone. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc.

Review: Dead Serious Halloween Special (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed Book 6) by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 4.75 🌈

Vawn Cassidy’s Dead Serious Halloween Special delivers that wonderful blend of serious elements and delicious zany otherworldly storytelling that makes this series and the characters such a joy.

It’s Halloween or Samhain. Obviously. And all our group of fabulous characters, that found family of humans, ghosts, witches, and otherworldly beings will be gathering together for a party.

But we get an intimate glimpse first into a scene between Tristan and Danny that not only shows the aftermath of the traumatic events from Viv’s death but also how the revelations of the paranormal world has changed Danny’s life. It’s a highly emotional and impactful scene. Beautifully written and while not a huge part of the story, it reverberates throughout this book.

That’s in keeping with the spirit of the series and how this author weaves all the emotional layers into the narrative and lives . Especially as what comes next is wildly unexpected and vividly imagined. That’s speaking as someone who never thought that those childhood fairytales were very fun but scary. As they were often meant to be.

There’s some potentially frightening moments, new characters, old friends reappearing, and happily a resolution that sees everyone safe.

But not without a dark mention of a “something “ in everyone’s lives that is to be discovered in a new series coming soon. So a mini- cliffhanger.

This was a terrific story, I rushed through it because I couldn’t stop reading, from scene to scene. Then again, to get all the small details I missed the first time. And there’s lots of great stuff in there that moves characters forward in growth and development in their own ways.

So don’t miss out. Grab Dead Serious Halloween Special (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed Book 6) by Vawn Cassidy and get ready for the next series to arrive.

Cover design by Natasha Snow @NatashaSnowDesigns

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed :

🔹Dead Serious Case# 1 Miz Dusty Le Frey

🔹Dead Serious Case# 2 Mrs Delores Abanathy

🔹Dead Serious Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes

🔹Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume

🔹Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne

🔹Dead Serious-Just the Extras

🔹Dead Serious-Halloween

Special Crawshanks Guide to the Occult :

🔹The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object #1 – coming soon

Crawshanks Universe Novellas/ Spin offs (only available from the Vawn Cassidy website )

The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 1

The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 2

Blue Thunder

Dead Serious The True Fan

Dead Serious Official Companion

Buy link

Dead Serious Halloween Special (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed Book 6)

Blurb

It’s Halloween and Chan’s hosting a party at Harrison’s newly inherited occult bookshop. Tristan is looking forward to a night of music, food and fun costumes with his husband and their friends.

What they actually get is chaos on the streets of Whitechapel when they accidentally open the Gospodar, the master copy of all fairy tales and let all of the creatures loose.

It’s not the first time they’ve escaped but this time, they’re determined not to go back.

They’ve only got until midnight. Tick tock goes the clock…

This Halloween special picks up after the events of book five and leads into the spin off series, The Little Shop of Curiosities.

Publication date: October 30, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 141 pages

Review: Operation Magma: A PNR / Special Forces / Protector MM Romance (Operation Volcano Book 1) by Annabella Stone

Rating: 4🌈

I just recently finished my first LGBTQIA military suspense romance book from Annabella Stone when I noticed she had taken her love and passion for military service relationships and turned it towards a PNR series. Operation Magma is the first in her new paranormal black ops special forces series. I really enjoyed it, especially as Stone approaches the shifter character element from a very different and interesting perspective.

Taylor *Trace* Reeves is an ancient warrior who fought for the honor of being the one left behind to guard the gate after the King of the Fianna and all the others left for Tyr Na Og. He is the Hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, both man and fearsome wolf, two distinct beings in one.

Most shifters have their beasts an integrated aspect of their characters. They might shift from one form to another but the basic “personality” remains the same. Here they are completely separate, two different personalities, right down to their own names. The man is Travis, and the wolf is Bran. They coexist within the same body and have conversations about their situations.

It might take some adjustment for readers who are more familiar with shifters of the first description but once you have made the connection, it’s fascinating and easy to invest in this aspect of the story.

Stone’s creativity about the Hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the mythology and foundation behind his life is layered and fascinating. I’m hoping that because of the storylines, the connections to the other characters, we will get further exploration to fill in some of the gaps left here.

This is a fated mate’s romance built in with a special forces operation that’s also , I expect, finding a new mission. So many elements and characters have to be introduced in this story that it’s a bit jam packed. Some holes are bound to be left open.

But the important elements are all there. All the characters are great, not just the main characters and couple. I love the journey of Travis/Bran and John “Juice “ O’Leary, his fated mate take. Really it’s just getting started as this book ends. There we see a new tighter unit being developed in special forces Volcano with the great characters we have gotten to know.

I’m assuming each getting their own story. Viper is next up.

I’m highly recommending this book and series.

Volcano unit:

CO Kelvin “Viper “ Dare Volcano 1

John “Juice“ O’Leary,Volcano 2

Kazan “Kaze” Black Volcano 3

Michael “Reaper” Rodriquez 4

Zane “Zero” Morgan Volcano 5

Taylor *Trace* Reeves/Bran , Volcano 6

Cover Art: Golden Czermak

Operation Volcano series:

🔹Operation Magma #1

🔹Operation Caldera #2 – July 1,2025

Buy link

Operation Magma: A PNR / Special Forces / Protector MM Romance (Operation Volcano Book 1)

Blurb

Taylor *Trace* Reeves has served in various branches of the military, and in multiple human wars over his life time which spans millennia. Once the faithful hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Trace continues to protect the innocent and fight the wars of man. He will continue to keep his presence a secret from humans, even the ones he calls brothers.

Over time, the return of Fionn and The Fianna has faded out of the memories of man and into their myths and legends. Yet Trace and his wolf, Bran, still wait for the sound of the Dord Fiann, the hunting horn of the Fianna, to sound three times.

When the call comes, The Fianna will arise and Trace and Bran will once more be the hound of The Fianna. Until then, his mission is to keep the men he guards alive, by any means necessary.

Operation Magma is the prequel novella to Operation Volcano.

Publisher: Embers Romance LLC (November 5, 2023)
Publication date: November 5, 2023
Language: English
Print length: 178 pages

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