Tag: A MelanieM Review

Review: Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas #3 ) by Leslie McAdam

Rating: 4.5🌈

Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas #3 ) by Leslie McAdam is another terrific contemporary romance in a series solid with them.

There’s several elements here that immediately spoke to me.

Luke Lagomarsino and his ex-wife Kira have a young daughter, Addison. McAdams makes Kira a complicated, loving individual and mother who deserves to thrive in a rewarding professional career. And has Luke acknowledge that it’s time for him to make the changes and decisions necessary for Kira to be able to take a job that’s important to her emotionally and career wise.

I love a story that doesn’t demonize the wife or any ex for that matter but looks at a family situation from a layered perspective.

That continues to happen with Luke as he has to adjust to returning to his small hometown, being a full time father, and a less “ hands on “ business career.

It’s a great portrait of a man in flux. It’s identifiable and makes Luke someone we can relate to.

Scott Malone, the romantic, sweet younger man who’s both rescued by and rescuer of Luke is a vulnerable and engaging character. So overwhelmed by debt that he’s incapable of facing it or knowing how to ask for help, he’s generous of heart and loving nature. The scenes written with him and Addison, the daughter, feel incredibly believable and grounded in reality.

Luke and Scott’s path to love and family is heartwarming and thoughtful. It’s got layers of realistic personal growth that needs to happen, and communicating between men and family for everyone to come together.

It’s wonderful to read and their happiness is everything!

I’m highly recommending this and the series. There’s something for everyone here.

I’ve listed them below. Check them out and happy reading.

In Vino Veritas series 2:

✓ Wildfire #1 – Garrett Leigh

✓ Counterpoint #2 – JE Birk

✓ Unmanageable #3 – Leslie McAdam

◦ Underdog #4 – LA Witt

◦ Wonderland #5 – Rachel Ember

◦ Dauntless #6 – Victoria DeNault

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showUnmanageable (In Vino Veritas, #3) by Leslie McAdam

Description:

I’ve never been romantic. Just ask my ex-wife.

Since she broke up with me, I get my needs met any time I want, without putting my heart on the line. Exactly how I like it.

But when she is called overseas and leaves me with our child, my bachelor lifestyle ends faster than you can say, “Daddy, I want a pony.”

I need help.

Problem is, help’s come in the form of an incredibly hot nanny.

My employee.

Who is much younger than me.

And also … a guy.

I watch Scott care for my kid and can’t help feeling like he clicks into place in her life.

When he looks at me, though … I get an entirely different feeling. One that makes me long for things I can’t have.

Like him.

Unmanageable is a contemporary m/m age gap romance about a starry-eyed nanny who wants hot-air balloon rides and singing telegrams and a grumpy single dad who most definitely does not.

The first series:

Vino and Veritas #1:

🔵Featherbed (Vino and Veritas 1) by Annabeth Albert

🔵Heartscape #2 by Garrett Leigh

🔵Headstrong #3 by Eden Finley

🔵Undercover #4 by Eliot Grayson

🔵Aftermath #5 by LA Witt

🔵Booklover #6 by JE Birk

🔵Flipcup #7 by Kim Hartfield f/f

🔵Hideaway #8 by Rachel Lacey f/f

🔵Turnabout #9 by Laurel Greer

🔵Unguarded #10 by Jay Hogan

🔵Insatiable #11 by Rhys Everly

🔵Daybreak #12 by Kate Hawthorne

🔵Heartsong #13 by AE Wasp

🔵Stronghold #14 by Ana Ashley

🔵Limelight #15 by E Davis

🔵Unforgettable #16 by Marley Valentine

🔵Showstopper #17 by Regina Kyle

🔵Undone #18 by Leslie McAdams

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: The Dragon King’s Assassin (The Dragons of Serai Book 1) by Amy Sumida

Rating: 4🌈

Amy Sumida is a new author for me. My introduction to her writing is the first book in her series, The Dragons of Serai. I found many things here to recommend and some aspects that are just a bit much.

Sumida gives us a world where dragons are the apex being and humanity is among the lowest. Magic is taken for granted and the form of government among the various kingdoms is the Dragon Kings, a title hard fought for in a tournament.

The first story begins in the Kingdom of Racul where assassin Locrian Mahvis has been hired to kill dragon King Tarocvar Verres.

The characters and descriptions are lush and well defined. You can picture each immediately. Loch the King is all self assured power and amusement.

Everything the failed assassin is not. Except that he’s incredibly attracted to the King.

Instant lust , not love, but lust, is understandable here. The author makes a good case for Locrian’s feelings.

But this is the first instance in the book where the author’s leaning towards a certain type of purple prose starts to appear.

“Speaking of thrusting, that piece of man-flesh between those thighs would fill me as I’d never been filled before.”

— The Dragon King’s Assassin: An MM Fantasy Romance (The Dragons of Serai Book 1) by Amy Sumida

Shouldn’t that be dragon flesh? And why do those florid statements make me want to giggle instead of sigh?

There will be other instances where “he painted me with his hot desire.” So you see a pattern here.

Luckily, the fast paced action, terrific characters, magical storylines, and charisma between the leads overcome the tendency towards purple prose. Or maybe just make you accept that’s the world where that’s a statement would flourish!

I almost wish this had been a two being pov because I’d love to have had the King’s perspective on his “little mouse” throughout the relationship as it built. As it is, we only get Locrian’s and I think by not including the Dragon it lessens the impact.

There’s a great guardian hound, Ran. A group of pirates, and a setup for the next novel with a Necromancer sailing to help out a friend of the King, another Royal Dragon.

I found this and the couple entertaining so I’m onto the next. Honestly, it’s Dragons. I find them hard to resist.

I’m recommending it!

The Dragons of Serai series:

✓ The Dragon King’s Assassin #1

◦ The Dragon Prince’s Necromancer #2

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Dragon King’s Assassin by Amy Sumida

Description:

My life changed the day I tried to take his.

Mhavenna is a glorious city but, like every city on the face of Serai, it’s run by Dragons. As a human, I’m on the lowest rung of the racial ladder here, as far from an illustrious Dragon as I could be, and I’ve made me peace with that. I don’t like Dragons much, but like or dislike has nothing to do with my work. So when my broker offered me the task of killing the Dragon King, I took it. It was the sort of kill that could make an assassin’s career, and I was certain that I had the skills for it.

I was wrong, nearly dead wrong.

The King caught me before I could finish the job, but instead of killing me, he made me his. I’m now the Dragon King’s assassin. A warning and a weapon. A way for him to bypass his own laws without personally breaking them. But that’s not all. He’s tasked me with guarding him against future attacks. Who better to stop an assassin than another assassin? And who better to find the one who hired us? If only the King didn’t have a body that made me salivate, a face that made my knees weak, and a pair of teal eyes that made me whimper. If only he didn’t stare at me with those stunning eyes as if I could be more than property to him. Maybe then I could do my job, find the person who wants him dead, and save my own life. But I don’t believe in miracles.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: The Train (The Spell Saga: Book 1) by Cari Z

Rating: 4.5🌈

What a exciting and suspenseful story! From the moment we dive into the harried life of young Anton Seiber, journeyman thaumaturge, we are plunged into a world of murder, spies, Royal espionage, and magical weaponry! On a train!

The Train (The Spell Saga: Book 1) by Cari Z has a nonstop fast action plot that’s rich with excellent characters, a multitude of themes, from those peoples wishing freedom from Royalty to dangerously magical weaponry and spells to imminent continental war. With a the hint of a romance as well.

Mystery, murder, and magic!

I’ll go ahead and throw in the mayhem that occurs when Anton Seiber misses his train to Zurich from a Paris layover. He’s got a hard earned scholarship to the Masters of Thaumaturgy program at the prestigious Universität Zürich and he must be there precisely on time or all will be lost.

So when the occasion arises where he assumes the identity of a man that will be traveling on the last train to get him there? He takes it.

Anton Seiber is such a fabulous character. He’s worked hard to become the best thaumaturge he can and you absolutely believe in his pursuit of knowledge and his magical abilities. He’s a vivid personality that makes you wonder what’s happening within his head, and heart!

The person to bring out the most confusing emotions and the best of his abilities is the French Emperor’s spy ,Lord Camille Lumière . It’s their joint investigations aboard the train, the murders and murderous attempts that keep this story rocking along at a fast pace . It also keeps us guessing as to who the next target is and where the danger is coming from. And are they ever going to kiss?

The Train and our heroes work through all the investigations to a highly satisfying ending that starts a hint of a romance for the series.

The Train leaves me in great anticipation for The Tower, coming out soon.

Until then, I’m highly recommending The Train, the first in this new series by Cari Z. It’s magical, suspenseful, murderous, and more entertaining then you can imagine!

The Spell Saga series:

✓ The Train #1

◦ The Tower #2 -October 11, 2022

◦ The Tank #3-October 25, 2022

The Train: The Spell Saga: Book Oneby Cari Z

Description:

Anton Seiber, journeyman thaumaturge, has finally escaped his dead-end job identifying bodies in the morgues of London. He’s off to seek a brighter future…or he would be, if he hadn’t just been robbed, mugged, and turned away from the only train that will help him reach that future on time.

A random meeting turns into a fight for his life and gifts Anton with two things: a knife that always kills whatever it stabs, and the chance to assume the identity of the man who just tried to kill him and board the train in his place.

He wasn’t counting on being found out by a lumière, one of the French emperor’s most powerful and intriguing spies. He wasn’t betting on a murder being committed on the train, or on being asked for his help identifying the culprits. He wasn’t asking to be drawn into a web of simmering insurrection, and he certainly didn’t want to find Lord Lumière so irresistible, but there’s no denying it.

Perhaps Anton will even tell him so…if he survives to the end of this journey.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Demon House by Mia Monroe

Rating: 2.75🌈

Demon House by Mia Monroe is a quick mildly entertaining Holiday read. It’s a short story with no real drama and , nothing that’s going to ask anything of a reader more then a casual connection to the characters.

There’s some nice elements, and the witch character has real promise but Monroe doesn’t go into any depth of detail in character layering or foundation that would elevate Demon House above the uninspired or just another passable paranormal story.

Issues (Spoilers ahead fyi)

🔹Demon Zeno is sad. He must stay inside the house for breaking demon rules. His prior relationship could have been mined for real depth of character and foundation. Was it? Nope. We get pieces. Nothing on the person. Or them together.

🔹Demon sad. So human ghost hunter thinks let’s have sex asap because, you know. Sexy Demon sad.SMH.

🔹instant love- no depth. No relationship. I wuv you. Let’s have more sex.

🔹 problems solved instantly. While there’s no wands there might as well have been.

So basically. While it is a paranormal romance, there’s ways to bring depth to the characters and layering to any foundation a author is trying to create. Didn’t happen here imo.

If you don’t care, just want to zip through a story, and put it down. This just might be your story.

I’ll leave it up to you.

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Demon-…Demon House – Kindle edition by Monroe, Mia. Romance Kindle eBooks …

Description:

This house has BDE all over it. That is one big… Demon.

Bash:

One night in the most haunted house in the country could be our ticket to fame and fortune. As a group of paranormal investigators, this could be our big break. If the hauntings are real, Peaches, Chaos, and I are expecting to be terrified and catch all of it on video for our fledgling channel.

When the rumors prove to be true, and I come face to face with the resident demon, all bets are off. Turns out, demons have feelings too, and this one is possessive, touchy, and huh, kind of hot. Did I mention he has big… horns?

To make it through this night in one piece, I have to do what I can to keep him happy. Looks like our viewers are going to get way more than they signed up for, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do.

Now the only question is, when the sun comes up, will I want to walk away and will the demon let me.

Demon House is an MM paranormal romance featuring a horny demon with a taste for mortals, a paranormal investigator in over his head, a haunted house that lives up to the rumors, and enough heat to make Hades jealous. It is a standalone novella.

Review: Best Love by Lily Morton

Rating: 4.75🌈

Best Love is a previously published short story (Heart2Heart Anthology, old title The Tattoo Artist and the Writer) that’s been reworked, along with a epilogue.

It’s new title, Best Love, is absolutely fitting for the love story of writer Noah Sutton and tattoo artist Sage Higgins. Best friends and soul mates since Sage’s mother and his brothers moved next door to Noah and his single mother at age seven, they’ve been inseparable except for certain college years and Sage’s time spent traveling.

A Valentine’s Day blind date arranged by a app goes wrong and they end up together, going on the dates they would have taken their dates on.

One of Lily Morton’s many gifts is the ability to write a relationship that feels emotionally entwined. One grounded in years together spent in getting to know each other so deeply that the stage where the reader comes in upon them feels rich in shared history and lives spent in a bond that’s become deeply part of each man.

Morton can accomplish this skill of writing a multidimensional relationship and beautifully defined characters in a short length of page space. Some richly crafted scenes, accompanied by dialogue that enlivens both the characters yet heightens whatever emotions the author’s narrative has in store for them (and the reader). All done precisely but with a true palette of a word artist.

In a short time, we know these men intimately. We know their history together and the feelings they’ve hidden from each other.

And we care immediately for them and the relationship.

Then Morton takes all of us on a journey to HEA.

If you’re not familiar with this author, then you might not realize you’re about to visit some fascinating locations and find out some intriguing elements about whatever place the couple ends up strolling around.

*cracks knuckles, readies Google fu*

It never ever comes across as a travelogue but is seamlessly folded into Noah and Sage’s journey to love and happiness.

Here we both climb up the Minster’s Tower tour in York (a real tour) for a breathtaking sight of all of York below. Then it’s off to Staithes for Captain Cook, artists, and the incredible Painted Illusion Trail.

But that’s all secondary, to the depth of the changes that this long relationship is undergoing as the men slowly open up as they spend all this time together showing the other things about themselves.

Best Love is a short story that manages to feel as though you’re taking a long journey with a couple you’ve known for a long time.

It’s moving, heartwarming, and so rewarding.

It’s one I’m highly recommending.

Plus Google those trips and be prepared to want to visit there yourself. Just as I do.

Bonus:

WordPress.comhttps://environmentalsculptures.wordpress.com › …Staithes Painted Illusion Trail

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showBest Love by Lily Morton

Description:

Noah and Sage have been best friends since they were seven when Sage climbed over the wall between their childhood homes. They know everything about each other apart from one small thing. Noah is hopelessly in love with Sage and doesn’t ever intend to tell him.

However, fate has other plans. A dating website with a glitch in its system leads Sage to challenge Noah. Two days in which they will show each other their best dates. What could possibly go wrong?

At the end of these two days will the men discover that the best love comes with someone who really knows you, or will they fall back into being just good friends?

Review: Prince of Flowers (Wild Hearts #1) by Nazri Noor

Rating: 2.25🌈

I really like this author’s other stories but this is a real miss on so many levels. Frankly I’m astonished.

This was a almost DNF for me. Only the fact that I always hope for a turn for the better keeps me from stopping at my real “I’m done “ point in each book this happens at.

Here it was at about 62% when the Goddess Aphrodite appeared, smug , and making all sorts of declarations about the situation the incompetent summoner has entwined the poor Princely Elf and himself in.

It came at a poor place in the narrative. After a series of tasks the idiot Summoner has forced the elf to accomplish, getting him hurt in the process.

It starts with student Lochlann Wilde, someone who’s less than studious nature has caused him to be one the the college’s oldest students and one who’s so far behind in his levels that he hasn’t earned his Crest.

The story goes on about how fabulous a summoner his father is and what enormous stress it is to live up to that. But you know what? Loch hasn’t memorized his spells, hasn’t put in the work.

So nope. No connection here. And Noor is going with the golden, gorgeous, lazy boy main character first person point of view. So you automatically must forgive his faults and sloppy behavior, because golden boy. This smacks regrettably close to a Gary Stu.

It’s a little bit much.

He decides to summon a eidolon without knowing what he’s summoning. Instead of a animal to be his familiar he summons a actual person, a being. A elf.

Which then becomes his basic captive/slave. Unable to fight back or return home due to the summoning. Instead of breaking the spell like a reasonable, rational human would when confronted with having a living sentient being accidentally enslaved, Loch takes advantage and decides he’s going to get his Crest and extra credits at College by treating the Elf like a specimen/slave/forced eidolon. As well as telling the College it’s their chance to see what a elf is all about.

Right.

So. This whole storyline has a definite bad taste to it.

If you flip the characters. Say have the Fae be the one to enslave the summoner/student by accident, then immediately, the Elf is always dark or evil because they have taken away consent. It’s entrapment. All sorts of flags.

But here, it’s supposed to be ok, because it’s a human. He has needs.

And don’t get me started on the sexual aspect that starts on Loch’s part almost immediately. That on top of the non consensual aspect of this story that gets overlooked is mind boggling.

So no. The Fae isn’t some cute pet to be treated as something to be “tamed”. Another narrative theme that is tired and is sorely overdue to be retired.

Along with the entire story.

So done.

I’m extremely disappointed with so many old, distasteful, or poorly executed elements and characters here.

◦ Main Character that’s selfish, lazy, and vain.

◦ That another race needs to be “tamed”

◦ That another sentient being can be enslaved and that’s fine by both a MC, a college, and apparently a Goddess.

◦ Old themes and thoughts on racism and sex. Especially when one has the power over another.

I’m definitely not continuing further. It’s doesn’t matter how it’s resolved because excuses are made for all of the above.

For me, those are things that shouldn’t be excused.

Any of these things sound appealing, maybe none of this will bother you, then investigate the story for yourself.

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Prince-F…Prince of Flowers (Wild Hearts Book 1) eBook : Noor, Nazri: Kindle Store

He captured a fae prince. But can he capture his heart?

Lochlann Wilde walks in the shadow of his father, a legendary summoner who commanded mythical beasts in battle. But Locke isn’t legendary. He’s barely a summoner, never passing his academy’s trial of the elements.

And then he accidentally summons a fae prince with a beautiful body and a bad attitude.

Sylvain is fiery and ferocious, stronger than anything Locke has ever encountered. And hotter, too. But time is running out. Locke must tame the prince’s wild heart. If he fails his trial, he’ll lose his inheritance and ruin his family’s name.

Without Sylvain, Locke could lose his chance to become a true summoner… along with his shot at true love.

Prince of Flowers is a contemporary fantasy romance with an HFN ending. Can a snarky summoner and a fickle fae prince endure mythical creatures, meddling goddesses, the fury of the elements, and each other? Only one way to find out. If you like sorcery, spice, and everything nice, you’ve come to the right place. Start the Wild Hearts series today.

Review: The Last Nanny in Manhattan (Nannies of New York #1) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Last Nanny in Manhattan, the first in the Nannies of New York series by K. Sterling, is a snappy, sexy, sweet contemporary romance by a author that’s new to me.

I enjoyed this journey immensely. It’s got age gap, wickedly intelligent 6 year old triplets , a widower who’s overwhelmed by work but most by a sense of failure when it comes to fatherhood and parenting. And , importantly, a gay, effervescent, highly competent Mary Poppins of a nanny in need of a family to fix and fall in love with.

It helps that Fin the irrepressible, remarkable nanny has a thing for gorgeous SavageFenty underwear as well as the ability to bring the chaos the demon triplets have caused to a heartwarming close through understanding, and love.

Finley Marshall comes with an entire faction of fantastic people to support him and to act as main characters in the succeeding novels. There’s Reid, Fin’s oldest brother. Reilly, his best friend. Pennsylvania aka Penn the Gandalf of nannies. And more. The LGBTGIA nanny network of New York and the solid basis for this series. Each one a highly intelligent, and star of the nanny network of the Manhattan wealthy clientele.

What a fabulous start!

Walker Cameron III is the other side. He brings his amazing bisexual sister who I’m hoping we see a great deal more of. Plus his butler, who slowly unbends to Fin, his unusual style of doing things and welcomes Fin into the household. But it’s really about Walker. And his dysfunctional relationship to his children. Walker is a tightly wrapped bundle of pain, stress, mourning, and fear.

Sterling does an excellent job in making these characters and their relationships with all the people around them clear, layered with history and emotional, and relatable.

Walker maybe wealthy but he’s a father who’s inability to connect with his girls is hurting them all. He’s lost his way and the reader hurts for all four of them even as we might be snickering at the ingenious damage the triplets are inflicting on the household.

Watching Fin come in, assess the situation, amidst the turmoil and incoming weapons the children hurl, is amazing. So is the journey the girls and Walker start on back to being a family and normalcy. With one special addition.

It’s got obstacles of course, some drama, but there’s a HEA at the end that so wonderful and heartwarming.

Nannies of New York Book series:

✓ The Last Nanny in Manhattan #1

◦ Giles Ashby Needs A Nanny #2 – January 26, 2023

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Last Nanny In Manhattan (Nannies of New York, #1) by K. Sterling

Description:

Walker Cameron III might be one of the most feared men in Manhattan, but he’s no match for his six-year-old triplets. After exhausting all other options, Finley Marshall is the grumpy widower’s last hope.

Luckily for the Camerons, Fin is a master of chaos and can calm even the most beastly of children. But Fin soon learns that the girls aren’t the problem; it’s their father. Still grieving and easily overwhelmed, Walker leaves the servants to cope with his little hellions. Fin wants to prove he’s the best nanny in the city and that his older brother, Reid, should start his own agency. Is Fin willing to risk life and limb to do it, though?

Afraid to lose the most competent caregiver to ever cross his threshold, Walker agrees to an unusual set of terms. He’ll give the girls more of his time and practice better parenting with Fin as his guide. But Walker finds himself with a new and unexpected problem. For the first time in years, he’s having very improper thoughts and can’t stop thinking about Fin. Can he keep his feelings to himself or will Walker fall for the last nanny in Manhattan willing to take on the cursed Camerons?

*The paperback edition will include additional illustrations by Jayla, a short story featuring the Camerons, recipes from the book, and a soundtrack!

Review: The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.5 🌈

The first in a new series, The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga is another in this author’s lovely cozy cowboy contemporary romances.

This one sets itself apart in that it’s low angst with little to no high drama but instead relies almost solely on the real , relatable characters and elements of foster care and the issues children have when adapting into their new environment.

It does start off with the premise of contract husband but that is quickly discarded when the foster children come into play and their needs as well as troubled history takes center stage.

As it should.

Former bull riders, star Ryder Vittor who was forced into retirement by a broken neck, and , Kase McDaniel, who’s major wreck crushed so many bones in his body, that retiring was never in doubt, are a perfect pairing.

As superbly crafted by Tortuga, they are so familiar with each other, so in sync and comfortable with their actions and thoughts it’s as though they’ve been together for a longer time period. Which they have as bull riders on the circuit. Extremely realistic and easy.

She makes these men absolutely believable in every way, from their speech to their relationship and how they relate to those around them.

That includes the marvelous lesbian married grandmothers who raised Ryder and help run both the ranch and rodeo enterprises. Strong, impactful women and wonderful characters .

However, your heart will truly belong to the four foster children that comes into the lives of everyone who lives on the Chiara ranch. That’s a orphaned family of four. Charlie, a sixteen-year-old girl. Elijah, an eleven-year-old boy, Dani, eight-year-old girl, and tiny Nell, a two-year-old baby girl.

They arrive with a heartbreaking history, separate issues and sets of challenges, and personalities to endear themselves to the family at the ranch and readers alike.

Of course, there’s animals like adorable dogs, goats, and horses too.

This is one sweet, moving, heartwarming romance. You will want to just curl up and sink into this group of characters and children as they work their way into becoming a family .

It’s a marvelous journey and one you won’t want to miss.

I highly recommend it. And wonder what the next story in this series will bring.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch, #1) by B.A. Tortuga

Description:

Ryder Vittor has almost everything he could ever want. He was a successful bull rider, he runs a rodeo company and a ranch for his family, and he’s right where he wants to be. Until his grandmother issues him an ultimatum. Now he has to get married and have kids if he wants to keep the life he loves, but he can’t exactly produce a man and a baby out of thin air, can he? So he sets out to hire a husband in order to get what he needs.

Kase McDaniel is at the end of his rope. His bull riding career has ended in a bad crash, his family doesn’t want him back, and he has nowhere to go. When Ryder offers to let him come stay at Ryder’s New Mexico ranch, he’s grateful, but he’s stunned when he finds out Ryder intends to make a contract with a stranger to marry him and raise kids with him. Kase has been in love with Ryder for years, so why shouldn’t he put in for the job?

Neither one of them has any idea what they’re setting in motion when they tie the knot, and soon they’re overrun with foster kids, rodeo family, and more. Can Kase and Ryder find something real in all the chaos, or will they be parting ways when the contract ends?

Review: How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 2 By A.J. Sherwood

Rating: 4.5🌈

The second installment of A.J. Sherwood’s 6 part series, How I Stole The Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him To Villainy: Miracle 2, gives us a little more insight into our main characters and enlarges our cast with three wonderful new personalities.

Devante Salvino, First Knight of Goodwine, or Devan has been sent off by the evil Princess to the Hunter’s Woods for a dangerous,suicidal quest as punishment. The bodies have been piling up there and Devan has been tasked with finding and killing the culprit(s). By himself and his trusty stallion, Dan.

It goes immediately seriously wrong as the Princess anticipated.

Sherwood does a great job with the scary creature at the heart of the woods and the attack on Devan.

Our slow burn, adorable romance is still proceeding at a snail’s pace between Devan and Tan the Black Sorcerer , one of the three most feared sorcerers known.

The other two? We get to meet them here. Because, of course, they are Tan’s brother and sister. Two more characters that are just incredibly entertaining. Especially sister Fa,The Black Sorcereress of Crila. She gets a crush of her own.

Then there’s Brother Niran the Necromancer, sorcerer of Sol who’s very interested in peoples spines and has a bunch of semi smart skeletons who come with him.

There’s more of course. Another lovely character on Devan’s side, Wells, his best friend. A monster to quell, a relationship to move slowly a bit along, and a new joint quest at the end that will advance them and the series further.

It’s a short, splendid affair. Entertaining, a bit scary, with flooffy purring cats, a maze, and really slow burn romance and fabulous characters.

Can’t wait for Miracle 3. Bring it on!

I’d give you all a list but basically it says Miracle 1 to 6.

I’m highly recommending them all. No surprise. I find them exceedingly entertaining.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Prince in Disguise (Perilous Courts #2) by Tavia Lark

Rating: 4.25🌈

Tavia Lark’s Perilous Courts became a new favorite based solely on its first book, Prince and Assassin. That story had a depth of layering to its storylines that began with Whisper, a infamous Hound of the Kennel. That’s a group of highly prized assassins owned by blood curse , since they bought or stolen at a young age, by a Blood mage. Their fees afforded only by the richest of men or rulers.

His background and that of some of the other Hounds provided a pathos and dimension to Whisper and the story that gave both his mission and romance a heft narratively speaking and made the novel sing with promise.

Prince in Disguise moves from Prince Julien to the youngest of the three princes of the Kingdom of Silaise. That’s Prince Bellamy. He’s had a problematic history, having been kidnapped by his biological father when younger, and prone to headaches brought on by magic. He’s been away and now been sent for due to illness among his mothers. That we knew from the first story.

We get a reminder of his history and recap here, which is good because Bellamy wasn’t a big element in that story.

I throughly enjoyed this book. While lacking the depth and layers of the first novel, the sheer chemistry between the two main characters and the addition of a blinkmink as well as dragons more than compensates for it.

It’s a rousing grand tale!

Bellamy is completely different from Julien. Lark is able to bring us a young man who’s illnesses and trouble in adolescence has made his mothers and older brothers overprotective and solicitous to the point he’s rarely alone . Until a weather related accident and a curious pet insures that he is.

Bellamy goes from scared, naive, unprepared Prince to a determined, self aware, brave individual in love. And we buy into it because we’ve been there for the growth.

The same goes for Rakos Tem, dragonrider of House Dire. I can’t go into particulars because his situation is central to so many storylines but who he is, the development of their relationship, and his personality is just as remarkable.

Plus didn’t I say there were dragons?

My only issue here is that the dragons, their true nature and bond with their riders isn’t fully explored here as I would have expected or hoped for. Especially for such a exciting and popular element.

The dragon fights are plenty great though!

There are a few weak story threads that could be tighter and I hope that their potential will be used in another story.

Prince in Disguise (Perilous Courts #2) by Tavia Lark has much to recommend it. A couple with fantastic chemistry, a blinkmink, dragons, and the potential for more to come. Plus we got to see Whisper and Julien again.

Next is Audric’s story and Bellamy falling in love has put him in a bit of a bind.

I can’t wait to see what happens.

So far , it’s been a great journey. One I’m highly recommending! Read them in the order they are written.

I’m still hoping Lark will give us more on the Hounds of the Kennel. They have never left me for a second.

Perilous Courts:

✓ Prince and Assassin #1 (Prince Julien and Whisper )

✓ Prince in Disguise #2 – (Prince Bellamy and Rakos)

◦ Prince and Pawn #3 – Jan 30, 2033 (Prince Audric and Corin)

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showPrince in Disguise (Perilous Courts, #2) by Tavia Lark

Description:

Rakos isn’t really a farmer. Bellamy definitely isn’t a minstrel.

Sheltered, sickly Prince Bellamy dreams of adventure—but not like this. Captured in enemy territory, his royal identity will get him killed. When his dangerously attractive fellow prisoner asks who he is, Bellamy claims to be a minstrel.

Except he can’t carry a tune to save his life. He panicked, okay?

Rakos was a dragonrider until betrayal landed him in chains. Now, he knows two things for certain: he can’t trust anyone, and he wants his dragon back. When the fragile minstrel asks who he is, Rakos claims he’s a farmer. When Bellamy begs for help reaching the border, Rakos refuses.

Until he can’t resist how much Bellamy needs him.

Stormy nights and deadly masquerades forge Rakos and Bellamy’s unlikely partnership into something more. Something exhilarating. Rakos treats Bellamy like a person, not a weak, untouchable prince, even as he protects him.

But Rakos’s enemies are circling in, and that very protection might be Bellamy’s undoing.

Prince in Disguise is a high fantasy gay romance, with double secret identities, Only One Bed, and a teleporting ferret. The Perilous Courts series is best read in order, but each book follows a different prince and his Happily Ever After.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.