A Vampire Called Leander wraps up Michelle Frost’s trilogy about a Paranormal Council’s arranged matings between paranormal beings and humans in order to unify their world.
It’s been a while since I read this series but it was easy to fall back into the universe and characters. At only 90 pages, Frost gets immediately into the storyline, the first meeting and mating of the two characters.
The short length doesn’t allow for much background or depth of culture, but the characters are engaging and the nature of their mating process intriguing.
It’s a fated mates without the buildup of anticipating or the recognition by one that normally occurs. There’s an ongoing conflict by a Human only faction that’s a series element and a fabulous side character, Ammon, who’s a bodyguard of both Leander and his human mate, Merrick.
The ending sets the stage for a sequel series to come. I can only hope that one of those characters that gets a story will be Ammon.
Vampire Called Leander (Mated to a Human Book 3) by Michelle Frost is highly entertaining and I recommend it and the series. Read them in the order they are written to understand the events and characters.
Can an uptight vampire and a free-spirited human find some common ground?
Merrick’s family name is one of the oldest and most influential in Solston, but maintaining an empire has never interested him. He prefers his books, the company of his cat, and to his surprise, his new prickly vampire mate.
Leander refuses to take part in the Council’s arranged matings until the most alluring scent catches his nose. Once their mating is finalized though, he finds he has no idea how to meld their two lives together.
A Vampire Called Leander is the third and final book in this fast-paced novella series where the paranormals are all deliciously protective of their humans…no matter what type of trouble they get into. Series is best read in order.
It’s hard to rate exactly which of Sherwood’s many series are my favorites, but The Sorcerer’s Grimoire is, even at two books, among those I hold dear.
It’s in the universe she’s created, so recognizable and yet not, magical, imaginative and with our histories carefully bound together. It’s in the beautifully crafted, multidimensional characters she’s created and then given such emotional histories that, as readers we can’t help but attach ourselves to them, investing in their lives and stories.
Whether it’s the boys, Julian and MacMallin, and their horrific start on the streets before Adrien’s rescue or Adrien himself and his abysmal family life, there’s so many backstories to these characters. The strength and wonder of this dynamic that builds between the three of them is such a heartwarming element. The boys each develop into young men with their own unique powers and interests while gaining confidence in themselves. The same goes for Adrien and his new relationship with Hugh.
That’s Sir Hugh Quartermain, a businessman, engineer extraordinaire, and someone who’s coming to love Adrien, despite all the barriers he’s raised. And in a time and land when homosexuality isn’t legal.
The tapestry on which these relationships play out is a magical trip to Brazil to a manganese mine. There’s jungle monsters holding up the mining, killing the workers, and Hugh needs their help.
It’s everyone off to an epic adventure! The first one abroad for the boys and an old enemy and a meeting with even older friends for Adrien.
Sherwood even gives us some major drama on the home front which will lead into the next book.
I will say that I was surprised but happy to see that Adrien and Hugh were able to move forward with their relationship. I thought Sherwood was going to stretch out the romance into a really slow burn. But it makes sense given the context.
The boys are such an amazing aspect of this series. They show such growth in their personalities and interests, yet retain the same fears still that the horrors of the street instilled in them. Julian and MacMallin are truly unforgettable young men. So are their Masters, Adrien and Hugh. I need more of all four plus their dog, Darby.
I’m highly recommending this book but read the series in order to understand the universe and the relationships.
As Shakespeare once said, the course of true love never did run smooth.
Since parting with Adrien after their first case, Hugh Quartermain has committed himself to one fact: he wants Adrien. With the months’ long trip to Brazil ahead of them, Hugh should have no problem confessing, right?
The problem is the universe seems determined to thwart Hugh. Between creatures terrorizing his worksite, bothersome Americans, and not having any alone time with Adrien, Hugh’s foiled at every turn. When Hugh does get Adrien one-on-one, his advances always hit the wall Adrien refuses to lower, but the rare flare of desire in Adrien’s gaze motivates him to keep trying.
Come hell or highwater, Hugh will confess to Adrien. He just has to figure out how first. Tags:
Adventures in Brazil, commence!, magical AU, friends to lovers, healthy communication, Hugh’s genius saves the day, confessions in unusual locations, apprentices being awesome, Prince Henry to the rescue, and yes he quite enjoyed that, portals, fights, and shenanigans, oh my!, monsters are always in the most inconvenient locations, romantic getaway in Thailand, oh look relationship development, pesky Americans, romantic getaway, cheeky apprentices, minor home renovations as a romantic gift, Darby is best girl.
What a wonderful story and fantastic way to send off the series and this team.
The interactions between holdover player, defensive end Deacon Harris and the new owner of the Charleston Condors, security industry billionaire Grant Green, has been a subtle but significant part of the series and team’s dynamic. It was always clear that the two men had a strong connection and attraction to each other. But, throughout each book it was clear that they never actually had acted on it due to their roles in the organization. And we wanted them to have their romance.
The Play returns us to the beginning of their history together, back in college as student tutor and college football player needing help. The chemistry that’s never acknowledged but present is cut short by choices made for career reasons that will quickly separate them until years later. Because of the realness of these scenes we feel every bit of the pain and frustration of this unexpected change in this new relationship. And the startling moment when they meet once more.
Bolden’s writing has never been better. Her characters go from uncertain college youth with the future ahead of them to seasoned men who have been living full lives. One, Grant, now at the pinnacle of his career and the other , Deacon, ready to retire after a shattering year of betrayal and disappointment. Each has made big impacts in their professional careers but their emotional relationships haven’t been as successful. The reason is because they have been only interested in one person.
How Bolden works the past and present together, weaving the emotions that never left either man back together into a tight layered narrative of sports, team dynamics, partnership, and a deep bond between them is a read that can’t be missed.
We get the present day run for a playoff spot, as intense as can be and fantastically realistic. Bolden gives us boardroom NFL drama such as what might be likely to be played out across CNN and sports coverage alike, and then while all that is happening, layers into the story, all the human drama we love.
Grant and Deacon trying to find a way to each other in an organization where Grant is the owner and Deacon a player, albeit a retiring player who wants to continue to work with the club. This is a complicated situation that’s believable and loving. They are great, they communicate, and we love them.
And finally, as if I hadn’t just bawled my eyes out over Jason Kelce’s retirement speech, here comes another. Deacon’s speech was a fabulous second. And all the players from the other series who meant so much to the readers are there as well as the important individuals from this series. It’s a testament to Bolden’s ability to create great characters and deeply moving moments that everything about the scene is beautiful and real. And I was bawling again.
Tissues had a workout this week.
Read this book. But not without reading the stories that come before. It’s a great series. And Bolden’s an auto read for me. The Play is simply another example why.
Charleston Condors:
✓ The Star #1
✓ The Game #2
✓ The Score #3
✓ The Play #4 – finale
Bolden’s connected Football series in order they are written:
Last year, defensive end Deacon Harris witnessed the very worst of the Charleston Condors. After everything he and the team went through, he promised himself he’d walk away from football. But before he can retire, the team is sold to the last person he ever expected to see again.
Deacon stays because the Condors are going into major rebuilding mode. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.
But one rule hasn’t changed: don’t fall in love with the owner of your football team.
Grant might be brilliant and a billionaire, but Deacon only remembers Grant as his tutor in college—and as the one who got away.
In all his dreams about reconnecting, he never imagined that Grant would end up as his boss. Both his downfall, and also his salvation.
Or that they’d be forced into confronting the Condors’ most difficult challenge yet—but that they’d face it together, hand in hand, tackling their critics and proving once and for all that love doesn’t take sides.
“Hanahaki: A fictional disease popular in the fanfiction community. According to the lore, a person develops Hanahaki when they fall in love with a person so deeply that they can’t live without them.”
Well, this was just adorable. From the cover to the predictably cute HEA ending, Fated was a quick fun fantasy short .
Zile Elliven is a new author for me and immediately introduced me to the fictional disease of Hanahaki. Lovesickness in all its floral glory. Or is it gory? Hmmm.
Anyway. Max and his gamer friends are instantly recognizable, cheerful and funny. Max’s fated mate? A glorious fantasy that has been waiting for him.
And it’s even got a cute dog too.
I’m definitely seeking out more from this author and recommending this for all lovers of fantasy fiction.
Me? In love with a fictional character? Of course not! So why was I coughing up flowers every time I thought about the fictional character from my favorite video game?
Areth was a sexy, badass monster and utterly perfect, but none of that mattered because he wasn’t real. If I really was in love with him, I was going die, and there was nothing I could do about it.
This story contains:
• Unrealistic size difference resolved by magic
• Fated mates
• A very small dog
• Monster love
• Dimension hopping
• Wanton destruction of furniture
• So very many flowers
Fated is a ridiculous 16,000-word novella with super heckin’ gay monster sexy times.
I had real trouble arriving at this rating. Matrimonial Merriment is the last Valor and Doyle book by Nicky James. It’s a 7 book series that I found incredibly strong and emotionally compelling at the start, only, imo, to chart a very strange path for the characters and their various storylines.
This story has its strengths and its weaknesses, much like its characters.
Quaid Valor was a tragic character. His young sister had been kidnapped while he and his father were ‘in charge’ of her during a parade. But he was a child himself and his father was a policeman at the parade occupied with security. It destroyed his family and him emotionally, as his mother left them shortly afterwards, abandoning him. Also the devastating betrayal by a man Quaid thought loved him. These events reverberate throughout the series, including finding out how the events happened and who the kidnappers were.
Then there’s Anslan Doyle who has his own personal demons to fight. That includes his professional reputation, the on the job abuse of alcohol, his alcoholism, his emotional recovery on and off the job. He is the opposite of Quaid. Where the Doyle clan is loud and boisterous, it’s just Quaid and his now retired father, quietly playing chess in a house that’s frozen in time.
The journey that takes them through the start of their relationship, the beginnings of understanding of each other’s faults , severe struggles and strengths , all while solving missing persons cases and murders, that’s what makes the series and this couple.
But then as the author wove their personal histories and solved their mysteries into the cases each book was featuring, certain things started to unravel. The very strengths and failures that led to them becoming more powerful and complete individuals were starting to be forgotten in parts of their dynamics . In their interactions the forward movement in overcoming certain obstacles or challenges now seems stalled or even moving back towards what they were in the books that were written earlier.
Especially the penultimate book when Aslan actually caused Quaid to have an emotional breakdown over a poorly thought out proposal. In fact most of that book came close to a DNF as it felt like the author had backtracked the relationship between the two characters and their understanding of each other. The astonishing lack of communication and understanding that brought about a crushing emotional breakdown of Quaid should have been unthinkable by this point in their relationship.
Now comes the finale story and a couple of different issues. Both seen here, one of word choice and another again of author’s characterization. The word is one that’s shown itself increasingly throughout this series.
Imagine a story where the author uses the term ‘purple orb’ every few sentences. Or at least, ten times a page when speaking with regard to a character. Now how distracting would that be?
Sneering is James’s purple orb. It’s everywhere. It’s a feature of Quaid. He sneers constantly. He even smiles sneeringly. It should have been retired. The “sneering”. The overuse of this word is beyond tired. It starts in the first book as a part of Quaid’s common facial expression.
“Can you bring the binder?”
“What binder?”
I stalled and sneered at my phone. “Please tell me you’re joking. It has been attached to my hip morning, noon, and night for a week.”
“Gross. Save it, Valor.” Jordyn’s sneer won a solid silver medal on the sneer-scale, but it would never surpass the master’s.
Quaid sneered back—proving my point—then closed his eyes and let me continue to work.”
So many sneers.
Also, although I get why, James turns Quaid from a thoughtful interesting layered character with issues to caricature bridezilla. For the majority of this book he’s beyond frantic over the wedding planning process . All due to the fact that Doyle decided they must be married before Christmas.
Solution? Don’t get married before Christmas. No one is forcing them to do this, except a whimsical decision (by Aslan and the author). But no, per the author’s storyline, it increases the stress on Quaid to the point he lands in the hospital, again.
Yet, it’s never acknowledged that at least some of the issues lie with the fact that the short deadline was his partner’s choice and could be changed.
It’s all on Quaid, here. The imbalance is stark. And while the push to have Quaid seek therapy is a good sign, there’s also another side that’s being ignored.
From men who fought to get a deep understanding of each other and their relationship dynamics to people who seem to forget they know each other and each other’s foibles.
There’s good elements here. The gardener’s who marrying them. Quade’s relationship with Ruiz, something that has greatly evolved over the series has Ruiz will talk about here. That’s a remarkable and heartwarming thread.
It’s also setting up the new sequel series, which will feature Ruiz’ cousin and a ex police officer.
So this raises the question. The rating. It’s a finale book. Yes, the final part of the story with Aslan and Quaid finally getting married was heartwarming and satisfying. I think it was the best part of the story and made me happy to see this come to an end. It was time.
The narrative before was a mix of lovely bits of storytelling that reminded me why I loved this series and couple entwined with sections of scenes and moments that made me want to stop reading, remembering why I thought it had lost its charm.
So read it for all the above. To finish the series, to see the couple off, and, if you’re curious, get an introduction to the new series to come.
Quaid Andrew Valor and Aslan Ronan Doyle cordially invite you to be an honorary guest as they join their lives in matrimony. The ceremony is set to take place at Strongwind Castle on December 23rd. Save the date!
Time is short. Quaid has less than three months to plan the wedding of his dreams. A wedding that happens to land two days before Christmas. Don’t be fooled. It is not a Christmas wedding—at least not if Quaid has anything to say about it.
The wedding binder is fat and the list of things that need to be done is long, so when the department decides to implement a mandatory team-building Secret Santa event that will take up every one of Quaid’s available Saturdays, he is livid. There is no time for nonsense on his tight schedule.
When Aslan sees what the stress is doing to his fiancé, he calls in the cavalry to help plan the wedding. What could possibly go wrong with Ruiz and Torin on their side?
Relationships grow deeper. Friends and family come together to celebrate. And Quaid and Aslan finally tie the knot.
**Matrimonial Merriment is the seventh book in the Valor and Doyle series. Unlike the other books, this one does not contain a mystery and is wholly focused on our two favorite detectives finally getting married. It was meant as a bonus book but somehow came in at over 100k words. Oops. More of them to love.**
One of these days by Ofelia Gränd is going to surprise me and deliver a full length novel and I won’t know what to do. I’ll be overwhelmed and overjoyed, of course, but still. Someone will have to pick me off the floor first.
Until then, I’ll settle for these short tales of whimsical romance or whatever she decides to call them. Her mind is a decidedly different and wonderful place.
Here it has created a bar on an unknown world, The Ruby Tooth, a place where all the species can have a drink and mix, but under the most rigid rules that only the doorkeepers understand.
How I love how weirdly quirky Grand’s imagination is. The Ruby Tooth is divided into two bars, a good side and those that belong on the bad side. The veritas, the doorkeepers, with their intense glaze that see into the soul, say left or right, good or bad. And that’s where the beings go for their side of the bar, unable to switch for the night. The veritas give no clues or rationale for their actions, just the words. Left or Right.
Which is all the more intriguing when two widely different beings, one human (I’m assuming) and one a werewolf bounty hunter, each end up on the wrong side of the bar. Thats approximately where the author’s short story begins.
But it’s full of boundless possibilities, wild elements , fanciful ideas, and great characters. Honestly, why is Ilya Lewis the only one in an Elf costume and why does that bring immediate dislike? I need to know!
And don’t get me started on his friend who ends up with two bear shifters. Nope.
But even better is the new fated mate’s romance that’s a “take it slow” road romance. What a great change of pace.
There’s even more going on. Fast paced action, heart stopping fights, and a happy ending. All well done in 45 pages.
Sigh. I need a full length book so badly!
Read this quirky, imaginative paranormal romance and enjoy!
I highly recommend this author in all her flights of narrative fancy.
Ilya Lewis is gonna kill his best friend Vera. She not only persuaded him off his couch and into the creepiest nightclub in the city, she also didn’t show. When Ilya learns the bar is split into two halves, and he’s been let into the wrong side, it doesn’t make things any better. Once the doorman determines which half to let you into, he won’t let you into the other.
Ulric Moon hates the Ruby Tooth. But as a bounty hunter, he must go where the trails lead him, and tonight it’s landed him in the worst nightclub in the universe. All he wants is to catch the vampire he’s hunting, but despite trying to convince the veritas doorman examining his soul that he needs to be let into the good side of the club, he’s shown to the bad. As if that wasn’t enough, his destined mate somehow manages to sneak into the bad side where he doesn’t belong.Ilya finds a way to the other side of the bar, but one look at the patrons there has him regretting ever leaving his apartment. When he tries to leave, a scary-looking man who does nothing but growl follows him.
Ulric knows he’s freaking Ilya out, but Ilya has inadvertently caught the interest of the vampire Ulric is hunting, and he has to protect him. How will Ulric keep Ilya safe when he doesn’t believe Ulric is a bounty hunter? And how do you tell someone they’re your mate when they don’t believe you’re a werewolf?
When it comes fiction that’s categorized as vigilante justice thrillers or found family psychopathic vigilantes, author Onley James’ books are at the top of the list. They are there because of the depth of characterization, the complexity of their storylines, the inclusion of therapy when possible, and that the damage and trauma dealt out is met, if possible, by an equally powerful or more violent ending for those monsters involved. It’s dark fiction for a reason.
It starts with the seven dark fantastic books of the Necessary Evils series and then leads here to Jericho’s Boys, now on its second successful novel.
Jericho, married to Atticus Mulvaney, who became an adopted guardian to a group of troubled teenagers, now young men. They were a part of Jericho’s story in Necessary Evils and the subsequent books.
Paladin was Arseny Lebedev and Ever’s story. Rogue belongs to Levi Akira, a familiar character, and Shiloh
Mizrahi, who becomes the new addition to the growing found family of Jericho and Atticus.
As with each book, James reveals the deep emotional landscape of Levi Akira in every aspect of his personality and history. From his tortured childhood to his current deeply dysfunctional dynamic with his homeless, alcoholic mother, the author’s treatment of Levi is an raw painful , constantly evolving portrayal of a young man who’s never been able to express his complex feelings about himself and what he has been and continues to go through internally.
Add to that, James has created a new monstrous family comprised of a sadistic middle brother, and two other brothers each with their own unique sets of traits and issues. None of which I’ll mention because they are an integral part of the story. But all are so well crafted, cruelly real in one way, and heartbreakingly raw in another. As to the oldest? I’m hoping we get so much more of him.
It starts with a small surprising situation. And then continues to escalate until eventually the Mulvaney’s are involved as well,as they should be. After all, it’s one big family.
The epilogue is very satisfying because it’s HFN, as it could be given their ages and length of time together. They are a work in progress. Luckily we will see them again in the next book and whatever action the Mulvaney family gets involved with.
I’m highly anticipating both. And recommending Rogue (Jericho’s Boys, #2) by Onley James as a must read. But that’s including Necessary Evils as the foundation series.
Jericho’s Boys:
✓ Paladin #1
✓ Rogue #2
◦ Bard #3 – tbd
*Necessary Evils (7 book series) – this is the foundation series for Jericho’s Boys. Many ,if not all , of the couples and characters from this series play important roles in Jericho’s Boy books. So it helps to have read the books first.
Levi Akira’s existence is far from ideal. His mother’s addiction consumes their lives, his academic standing is crumbling, and the convenience store he works at is a constant target for ruthless robberies. But amidst the chaos, Levi finds solace in only three things: his tight-knit group of friends, protecting his neighborhood as one of Jericho’s Boys, and streaming his favorite video game, where he assumes the role of Rogue—a hero who will break the rules for the greater good.
Shiloh Mizrahi’s hope has all but dwindled. With one brother unjustly imprisoned, and the other a sadistic puppeteer, he endures daily torment at the hands of the latter. And his latest demand? Get close to Levi at any cost.
In the midst of another ordinary night shift, Levi’s world is upended when a captivating and terrified stranger appears, brandishing a weapon and claiming he has been forced to kill Levi by his own brother. Levi, torn between self-preservation and an instinctive aversion to harming the vulnerable boy, takes a bold leap—he kisses him. And then, just like that, the boy disappears into the night, leaving Levi haunted by his memory.
Driven by an unshakeable connection, Levi’s path crosses with Shiloh’s once more, igniting a passionate bond that refuses to be extinguished. However, Shiloh harbors a labyrinth of secrets, torn between loyalty and desire. With his brother’s freedom dangling in the balance, can Levi and Shiloh navigate the treacherous path to be together, or will Levi forever remain a hero confined to the online realm?
“Fisher Cats’ Hale and Brewer Engaged: College Sweethearts or Fake Relationship?”
Faked engagement, best friends to lovers , bi-sexual awakening, hurt/comfort m/m hockey contemporary romance time! That’s a lot of tropes for a novel, and it’s not even close to covering the best elements that Vaughn includes in The Waiting Game.
This is the third in Brigham Vaughn’s Relationship Goals series, and I really enjoyed the two previous stories.
The Waiting Game has some great elements woven into its characters and narrative as well as some things I found a bit problematic.
Let’s dive into the positive aspects of this story first.
Korean Canadian history and culture that’s been used for the background and creation of Jonah Brewer , a Canadian Korean hockey player with a strong sense of community and a heartwarming grandmother who’s a great central figure in the novel. From the Korean food his grandmother, Jonah and Felix fix, to the house and gardens that mean home, the Korean culture is well established within the storyline.
Next is the story thread of Felix’s drunk driving, his temporary suspension from the team, and his ongoing treatment for alcoholism. Vaughn’s created in Felix a man still very much in the beginning stages of his recovery. This is Felix dealing with his sobriety and his alcoholism by going to his AA meetings, making those calls to his sponsor, Ismael, when he needs help, and generally within Felix’s storyline, making his journey as realistic as possible. His stress, fears, and doubts are all understandable.
Jonah too has some huge emotional baggage. His parents died in a plane crash when he was young and his life was uprooted from one culture to another. Loss upon loss. That deep seated fear of losing loved ones comes through, especially with his relationship with his remarkable Grandma Ji-min. The author’s making use of the three of them as the heart of this book is a great decision because as a family unit they are the best aspect of the story.
Now to the next part, the issues. It’s the romance that I feel wasn’t working as well. At least for about 20% of the book. From the 45 percent to about 65 percentage or over, where there’s almost no communication between them about what is happening between them, the book would have lost me except for Grandma Ji-min.
It was a great framework and friendship up to that point. Then fake engagement which was strange the way it was handled. Then more avoidance about talking. Then finally exploring new bisexuality and going forward at around 70 or so percent. When the romance felt grounded and believable.
There was, naturally, a several dramatic elements towards the end, and then moments to pull everything back together. That was terrific , and some of it was very moving.
But for me, that large passage of non communication almost derailed it. Which was a shame because, as I said, there’s so much that’s absolutely wonderful here.
The Waiting Game is a good book in the series, although not my favorite. I’m recommending it and it’s great to see diverse representations in hockey .
Fisher Cats’ Hale and Brewer Engaged: College Sweethearts or Fake Relationship?
On the eve of their first playoff game this post-season, the Toronto Fisher Cats organization sent out a press release announcing the engagement of their top D-pair.
The release insinuates the childhood friends may have been involved as far back as college and makes it clear the front office supports the relationship. “We are confident that such a longstanding relationship will be nothing but beneficial to Felix in his recovery.”
Reactions are mixed.
An anonymous inside source stated, “Legit? No way. This whole thing’s a PR stunt to soften the public’s perception of Hale.”
One fan commented, “Hale & Brewer have always been so adorable together! It’s great they finally feel comfortable being out about their relationship!”
While many fans are similarly supportive, others speculate that the announcement is tied to the Cats’ shaky play of late. “We all know they’re not gonna make it past the first round,” one fan stated. “It’s just an attempt to distract from how weak the team is.”
Adding fuel to the controversy, Hale shared an image of the players naked in bed together and captioned, “Pre-game nap with Jonah before we take on the Montreal Lynx. Go, Cats!”
PR stunt or happily engaged couple? Only time will tell.
TRIGGER WARNING: Frank discussion of alcoholism, past death of parents, and emotionally neglectful parents.
“Welcome to the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.”
Code Name Jack Rabbit is a book the starts a new chapter in the lives of the couples and characters from Anne Barwell and Elizabeth Noble’s excellent paranormal series, The Sleepless City.
There, along the banks of Lake Erie in the town of Boggslake, Ohio, there was a haunted mansion called Bogg’s Castle. Home to a werewolf, several ancient vampires, a human, a dog, and the ghostly original owner, they solved murders, had many found family dramatic perilous moments, and found their mates.
Code Name Jack Rabbit picks up from the end of tumultuous events in Shifting Chaos. While recovered, each is dealing with the aftermath.
I enjoyed this and was somewhat sorry to see that the intriguing town and full found family is going to be left behind for the trilogy.
Two couples, Jonas Forge and Blair Turner (both vampires) and Henri de Fluer aka Declan and Lucas Coate (vampire and werewolf) are recruited by an ancient agency. And moved, along with Moose the dog, to another location.
Left behind in Bogg’s Castle is Simon and Ben (vampire and human). And the ghost of course. And while Noble’s storyline and the characters discussions themselves have this separation make perfect sense, they are after all extremely long lived, if not eternal species, it’s not as easy for the reader who loves them as family.
So it’s a major adjustment to have a new crew of people and players. They also are a foundation of their own, like those of Bogg’s Castle.
The mystery plays well against the type of paranormal creatures and murders they have already faced prior. And I’m sensing a link that may be forming between the series villains.
Anyway, it’s shaping up to be another exciting new series and a fast paced new group of characters.
I’m definitely recommending it. And read The Sleepless City too. It a much needed foundation for this.
It’s a rec for me. It a good lead in to a terrific sequel series. Read them in the order they are written.
The Sleepless City:
✓ Shades of Sepia #1 by Elizabeth Noble
✓ Electric Candle #2 by Elizabeth Noble
✓ Family and Reflection #3 by Anne Barwell
◦ Shifting Chaos #4 by Anne Barwell
Sequel Series:
The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble:
The Vampire Guard:
✓ Code Name Jack Rabbit #1
◦ Quarry #2
◦ Endosymbiont #3
Buy Link:
Blurb:
Vampires and werewolves live long lives. The Sleepless City saga might have ended but the story continues…
Welcome to the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.
Vampires make the best spies. Throw a smart-mouthed werewolf in with three vampires, mix well, and The Vampire Guard’s newest team is bound to become one of their greatest assets. Super spies with a full range of skills. Warrior, hacker, thief, and scientist. They get in, do the job, and get out before the bad guys ever know what hit them.
Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas are thrust into the world of high-tech spies and top-secret espionage conspiracies. Recruited into the world’s most elite and secret organization with one singular mission. Protect those who can’t defend themselves from ruin.
Together they must thwart an assassination attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiguan—a weapon which may very well mean death for one of them.
Need a smile? A absolutely feel happy to the , well , bones , reading experience? Look no further than A. J. Sherwood’s latest serialized book, How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu and Profit : Bone 2 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy.
Now on chapter 8, the epic adventure is really about to start, especially since Tan, his necromancer brother Niran, and Devan, have accepted that their tiny charges, the powerful budding sorcerers-in-training, Lesia and Zi Rui, are coming with them.
That together, with a chatty sentient dragon skull, Steve, in search of his bone body. And barbarians everywhere! And it’s fabulous and funny! With fireballs.
And always over way too soon. But that’s the way of serialized fiction. It’s a quick, addictive tasty morsel that leaves you happy with the bite you had and wanting more. As this one does.
Bring on chapter 9!!!!
Love these covers.
💥How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy-6 books
💥How Tan Acquired an Apprentice
💥How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit
Ribs located! Penalty activated if you refuse. Proceed with quest? (YES) (no)
Devan: But the ribs are in the middle of a barbarian village.
Tan: Historically speaking, fireball would fix–
Niran: Charred bone. No.
Devan: Time to do this the hard way.
Tags: BoooOOOooones, trekking through barbarian lands to find dragon bones is not as fun as it sounds, they marrowly escape, yes all the bad bone puns, Niran can’t help himself, dragon ribs are big, Niran has more bones in his workshop than a collector, whole story is just mindless violence and fluff, and fireballs
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 