Tag: A Lila Recommended Story

A Lila Review: Faeted by Shiloh Saddler

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Love is never easy and Blaze is faced with a difficult choice: Turn his back on his lover or the fairy realm.

John Butler is a lonely chandler’s apprentice in colonial Williamsburg. He doesn’t think that he’ll ever be respected let alone be loved. Trying to forget his troubles, he buries himself in his work and focuses on making candles.

Blaze Greymedow is a fire fairy. At first he was drawn to John’s candles, but is quickly smitten with the tall, muscular apprentice. He watches John from afar all the time wishing they could form a more intimate connection. It is unsafe for fairies to get too close to humans. If he breaks that rule, he knows there will be dire consequences.

Faeted is an interesting short set in a time when few stories take place. I’m familiar with colonial Williamsburg, and it was easy to see the references the author used to bring the reader into the story setting–from small details like their clothing to the differences between classes.

The characters are simple and the backstory doesn’t go as far as it could be, but it works in this case. We get to know the MCs well and we see why they were pulled to each other. They were both lonely and misunderstood, but small acts of kindness created a connection between them.

The consequences of John and Blaze getting together might seem dire to those in the fairy realm but it was the perfect ending for them. It allowed them to be together, filling that empty space in their lives.

A good story to read between longer books; with the right about of spice and love to make the reader smile at their HEA.

The cover by Melody Pond shows John and one of his candles. It goes nicely with the book description and the book’s feel.

Sale Links: MLR | Amazon | NOOK

ebook, 53 pages
Published: August 4, 2017, by MLR Press
ISBN: 9781370904563
Edition Language: English

A Lila Review: Prophecy (The King and Alpha #1) by A.E. Via

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

 

An Enemies to Lovers
Shifter, Vampire True Mates story.

Justice Volkov is the youngest Alpha Zenith to ever lead the wolf shifters. Following in his father’s large paw prints was a responsibility he met head on. Now at age thirty-three, he is alpha of the alphas. As a direct descendant of the original Siberian pack, his wolf is bigger and stronger than Justice, himself is sometimes able to control.

His wolf howled long and hard but Justice kept it inside. It felt like a bass drum beating against his rib cage. The harsh breaths, angry snarls and the determined pacing inside him was overtaking him.

Justice takes his role of leadership and his legacy very seriously. He has little time for romance, not to mention a true mate. His packs are his priority. With a human government trying to regulate them, an uprising of rogue shifters, and a violent team of scientists trying to experiment on them, Justice has his hands way too full.

Chadwick ‘Wick’ Bentley is not enthusiastic when the captain of his escort tells him he has to leave his comfortable London home and go back to the States. As the Vampire King, he has no choice but to get his species back in line before they cause anymore chaos. At over one-hundred years old, Wick is no one to trifle with, but his smooth, charismatic manner makes him quite unique, despite the negative reputation vampires have. Wick has had nothing but time up to this point. He doesn’t feel the need to make issues pressing. Nothing is urgent in his life. Until he meets Justice. His beloved.

“Natural enemies can’t be mates.” Or so Justice thought. He knows his skepticism and rejection is hurting his mate, so while he fights their connection, Wick gets help from a source very close to Justice to help him win his beloved’s heart. Wick is a force all on his own, but when he’s blessed with a special gift from the Mother herself, not even Justice’s powerful wolf can prevent the prophesy from being fulfilled.

 

Prophesy is a different type of fated mates and paranormal tropes. The relationship between vampires and werewolves is also different. As well, as how human perceive them. Some traditional elements like vampires staying away from the sun, and werewolves sense of smell are present, but the author did a good job mixing them with her own point of view.

 

I like the way Justice and Wick met for the first time. I wish their trepidation had been a little longer, but it worked. Their relationship is a very slow burn, but the enemies-to-lovers part moves pretty fast. They do take the time to know each other, and in the end, it helps them to bring their worlds together.

 

This book is character driven. The plot line is minimal, mostly, an introduction to all the characters and fractions. It’s not as action pack and her previous books, but there’s enough to keep you reading. Some parts were a bit slow and the world-built took a big part of the story. I enjoyed the details, but I wanted a bit more of a plot.

 

There’s still a lot more to come in this series. I’m hoping to learn more about this world and the new couples. The potential is there and the story is interesting enough to let the reader wanting more.

 

The author’s writing style still evident on the take-action alpha male characters. Overall, it’s a nice start to a series.

 

The cover by Jay Aheer have Justice and Wick. It also gives the reader a small window into their origins.

 

Sale Links: Amazon | Smashwords | Nook

 

Book Details:

 

ebook, 294 pages
Published: September 23, 2017, by Via Star Wings Books
ISBN: 9781370354856
Edition Language: English

 

Series: The King & Alpha
Book #1: Prophesy

A Lila Review: By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel by Meghan Maslow

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The last thing half-dragon, half-fairy private investigator Twig Starfig wants to do is retrieve a stolen enchanted horn from a treacherous fae, but there’s no denying the dazzlingly gorgeous unicorn who asks Twig to do just that. Literally, no denying, because compelling the reluctant detective is all part of a unicorn’s seductive magic.

To add to his woes, Twig is saddled with the unicorn’s cheeky indentured servant, Quinn Broomsparkle. Dragons are supposed to want to eat humans, but Twig’s half-dragon side only wants to gobble up Quinn in a more . . . personal way. Making matters worse, it’s obvious the smokin’ hot but untrustworthy sidekick is hiding something. Something big. And not what’s in his trousers. In the PI business, that means trouble with a capital Q.

Throw in gads of zombies, a creepy ghost pirate ship, a malfunctioning magic carpet, and Twig’s overbearing fairy father’s demands to live up to the illustrious Starfig name. Naturally, an old but abiding enemy chooses this time to resurface, too. Those inconveniences Twig can handle. The realization he’s falling for a human who isn’t free to return his affections and whose life may hang on the success of his latest case?

By Fairy Means or Foul was a nice surprise. I don’t read fantasy often, but the blurb for this story sounded interesting, and the author delivered. This isn’t your typical story. The mix of humor and dark moments make the story fun, and inviting.

Yes, the story is over the top but it goes with the characters, the settings, and the plot. Everything works together and the world-build enhances it. The author’s imagination brings to life a series of worlds within the main one that entice the reader to read one more page.

The main characters complemented each other and their differences help them in their journey. Quinn’s and Twig’s relationship is slow coming and their enemy-to-lovers arc is well written. Perhaps, a little less information would have made this story great.

The cover by Lou Harper fits the fantasy category and give us our first view of Twig and some of the worlds. .

Sale Links: Amazon

ebook, 280 pages
Published: September 29, 2017, by Meghan Maslow
ASIN: B074M4WNTV
Edition Language: English

A Lila Review: The Curse (Witches of Salem #1) by T.S. McKinney

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

 

Witches. Warlocks. Hocus Pocus.

 

I didn’t believe in any of those things. To be honest, the only thing I really believed in….really had faith in its existence, was bad luck. There was too much proof of it in my life to deny it.

 

As it turns out, the bad luck that accompanies me wherever I go escalated to a heightened level following a visit form a long-lost relative I didn’t even know existed. She starts spouting nonsense about my parents really loving me (even though they committed suicide a few days after my birth), how my mother tried using witchcraft to save their lives…and how there is a curse hanging over my head that requires my death on my twenty-fifth birthday. Supposedly all the Bailey men commit suicide on their twenty-fifth birthdays due to this curse.

 

Total craziness, right?

 

Wrong.

 

A small dash of intrigue and a heaping-helping of fear cause me to pack up and head to Salem, Massachusetts – where it all started. Here’s my biggest problem: my twenty-fifth birthday is only a couple of weeks away and I’m having these very sensual dreams about a man I don’t know.

 

I might not know him, but I sure want him.

 

The Curse is a fun take on the history of the Salem Witch Trials. The idea of a family curse and its consequences is an interesting way to bring a commonly known event into a contemporary setting. There’s magic, power, and some paranormal aspects, but together, the story brings a sense of magic realism to everyday events.

 

As a narrator, Nico is all over the place, but his thoughts and attitude go well with his life as a student and his age.  His need to learn more about his past, the curse, and Salem brings him to discovered a completed new world in which he plays an important part.

 

The plot unravels slowly and through many twists.  We get a bit of history mix with the action and some open threads for the next installment. I don’t want to get into the MCs relationship to avoid spoilers, but they worked well together. Their story is lovely and some insta-love is present but it’s to be expected.

 

The rest of the cast added to the overall story and everyone had a particular quirk that made them special. I’m looking forward to the next one.

 

The cover by E. Keith is pretty and goes with the story. The colors and the vanishing areas create a magical air.

 

Sale Links: Painted Hearts | Amazon | Smashwords

 

Book Details:

 

ebook, 166 pages
Published: August 3, 2017, by Painted Hearts Publishing
ISBN: 9781946379856
Edition Language: English

 

Series: The Witches of Salem
Book #1: The Curse

A Lila Review: Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2) by L.M. Somerton

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A warlock’s blood gives him life. It can also bring his death.

It’s no wonder Evrain Brookes, newly fledged warlock, is feeling the strain. A coven of power-hungry witches is after his blood. Literally. A psychotic warlock wants him dead. His godfather’s training regime is about as much fun as chewing on nettles and an overweight, scarily perceptive cat has moved into his house.

His boyfriend Dominic yearns for a normal life, or at least a safer one. He accepts his role both as Evrain’s submissive partner and as the conduit through which he channels his gift—but he’s afraid for his lover, and the lengths Evrain’s enemies might go to in order to fulfill their lust for power.

When Evrain falls victim to a plot between the Octis Coven and malevolent warlock Symeon Malus, it’s up to Dominic to rescue him. With the help of the two other North American warlocks, Shadow the cat and an old enemy, Dominic takes steps to get his lover back. There’s a high price to pay and no guarantee that the risks he must take will work out but Evrain is worth going through hell for, even if it costs Dominic his life.

Elemental Hope takes Evrain, Dominic, and the rest of the crew into another adventure against Symeon Malus–plus the Octis Coven. The story focuses on the relationship between Evrain and Dominic, and from there, we get to see Evrain growing into his powers, and how they all deal with the threats from the coven.

The plot is simple but it works well with the limited amount of characters and the world they’re in. The pacing adds to the suspense and helps keep the story from wandering or becoming tedious.

The D/s relationship continues to be a central point in the story, as well as their sexual interactions. The author did a good job keeping both aspects interesting and relevant. Even when there are multiple sex scenes, they all moved the story forward.

The cast of characters expanded a bit. In addition to Gregory and Coryn with have Nathaniel, Felix, and the return of Damon.  And don’t forget the witches. As before, the characterization was up to par and everyone played a role in the story. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nathaniel and Felix and how Damon fit with them.

This book definitely outdid the first one. I’m looking forward to more stories in this world.

The cover by Posh Gosh is similar to book #1 in the series. Once again depicting Evrain and a pseudo-cemetery.

Sale Links: Pride | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Details:

ebook, 165 pages
Published: August 15, 2017, by Pride Publishing
ISBN: 9781786516084
Edition Language: English

Series: Warlocks
Book #1: Elemental Love
Book #2: Elemental Hope

A Lila Review: Hopeless Romantic by Francis Gideon

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Nick Fraser is a true romantic. He wants the guy instead of the girl, but other than that, he wants everything his favorite rom-coms depict: the courtship, the passionate first kiss, the fairy-tale wedding. But after breaking up with the love of his life, Nick wonders if anything fairy-tale will ever happen for him.

Then he meets Katie, who’s just like a rom-com heroine. She’s sharp, funny, sweet, and as into music and punk culture as Nick is. What’s more, he’s incredibly attracted to her—even though she’s a woman. Nick has never considered that he might be bisexual, but his feelings for Katie are definitely real.

When Katie reveals that she’s transgender, Nick starts to see how much he doesn’t understand about the world, queer identity, and himself. He is hopelessly in love with Katie, but this isn’t a fairy tale, and Nick’s friends and family may not accept his new relationship. If he wants it all, he has to have the courage to make his fantasy a reality.

Hopeless Romantic has the feeling of a coming of age story, but the characters are older than average. Which created the illusion of reading to parallel stories. Nick’s re-discovery of his sexuality and how he acted around his friends being one and his conversations with Katie about philosophy and music showing their maturity, the other.

I’m not a music person, but I’m part of the same generation the characters used to connect with each other. I might not know all the references, but the author provided enough context to understand how their conversations were part of their self-expression. And since I am a perpetual student too, I love the over-the-top exchanges.

Both main characters had a strong arc. Not only we get to know them personally but in relationship to their friendships and families. They didn’t live in a vacuum. The world around them was as important as their intimate moments. Even when some of those aspects were too juvenile for their characterization.

I’m glad Katie felt comfortable enough to be open to a relationship with someone that didn’t know everything about what her transition meant to her and to others. She was patient and perhaps too ready to forgive him, but in the end, it worked for their particular situation.

Nick’s characterization started blatantly transphobic, biphobic, and uninformed in relation to asexuality and other areas of the spectrum, but I think he represents many people in and out of the LGBTQ community.  He reads as an insensitive prick, but I think that was the author’s intent. To show how misconceptions are hurtful and plain damaging. We get to experience Nick’s growth and how Katie and Tucker were there for him, even when it wasn’t their responsibility to educate him.

The secondary characters are lovely and the settings descriptions detailed enough to bring the reader into the different locations. There’s a lot happening in the story, many references to music and philosophical topics, but those never take over the story. Everything is interconnected to create a fictional atmosphere with enough consequence to be realistic.

There are some points the author is trying to show that seem a bit clinical. I think the book is more about Nick’s journey than anything else. As a couple, the main characters are sweet and their growing love ever present. Plus, they aren’t shy with each other. It’s one of the points they discovered/worked together.

The cover by Vivian Ng was the first thing that called my attention, together with the title. I like how it goes with the story and the scenes between Katie and Nick.

Sale Links: Riptide| Amazon | Kobo

ebook, 289 pages
Published: April 10, 2017, by Riptide Publishing
ISBN: 9781626495562
Edition Language: English