Tag: A MelanieM Review

Review:  What the Hex (Blackhaven Manor #11) by Arden Steele

Rating: 3.5🌈

I’ve always enjoyed Arden Steele’s fated mates series, Blackhaven Manor.  They are entertaining, have a fast/instant connection, fated mate romance with a neat twist or two found within the story.  The location, Blackhaven Manor, is a safe haven location destination for otherworldly beings run by dragon siblings.  

I have my definite favorites here so it’s nice that the author often brings characters/couples back from the previous stories to share in the new couples romance.  Which absolutely happens here.

What the Hex as a whole has some wonderful elements and has some things that are problematic.  The beginning , that utter rushed mated matchup, left both the reader and the mates, especially one, with no connection to each other, no time for anyone to learn much about the other characters. Just boom and done.  Without us even being sure we liked the actor.

It actually takes a crisis, a visit to a family, and a couple of hilarious scenes later in the story where the couple acquire their own depths of personality, growth in character, and honestly, a bit of chemistry, that it feels believable.  But much has passed in the narrative to get to that point. 

Storm Black (actor) and Kingston Mathers (human) are the fated pair. King has several issues that include self consciousness about his body image, dysfunctional parenting, and basic insecurities.  However, these get treated both ways here . Hes a good character, where the author has built a foundation for his underlying issues.  But solves them too easily.  

I get part of that is the book length but mate bond shouldn’t be a panacea for deep development problems. 

The romance between them does become cute as they become more familiar with each other. I liked this aspect of the book.

But the one thing at the end about the semi-villain (nice twist) is odd.  Either Steele is going to include him in the next book or this just doesn’t make sense.  If there’s no future plans for him, then the way this is handled is plain annoying.

So I’ll wait for the next book to come out and see who the main characters are.  

Check out the full list below.

Blackhaven Manor:

  • Purrfect Harmony #1
  • Night and Fae #2
  • Dragon It Out #3
  • Grin and Bear It #4
  • Pixie Little Liar #5
  • Dead Over Heals #6
  • Silent Knight #7
  • Pain in the Ice #8
  • Walking a Tight Rope #9
  • Royally Flocked #10
  • What The Hex? #11

Sequel/adjacent  series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

  • Angels and Anarchy #1
  • Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Buy link

        What the Hex (Blackhaven Manor Book 11)

    

Blurb

Driven and ambitious are not words anyone would use to describe Kingston Mathers, but he’s content with his lot in life. So, of course, fate throws him a curve ball that threatens to wreak havoc on his carefully constructed neutrality. Because there’s no way in heaven or hell that someone like him should end up mated to an internationally beloved actor with legions of adoring fans.

Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Storm Black can attest to that. Even after years of monitoring his every word, action, and even his facial expressions, the lifestyle doesn’t come naturally. Frankly, he’s still not entirely sure how he stumbled into the limelight in the first place. When his latest role leads him right into the arms of his destiny, however, he’s never been more grateful for the detour.

But strange things are happening at Blackhaven Manor. When Storm suddenly forgets everything about who he is, it’s up to King to find the answers. He just hopes that when the hex is finally lifted, his mate’s newfound obsession with him doesn’t disappear with it.

  • Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (August 29, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 29, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 150 pages

Review:  Secondhand Skin (A Soulbound Universe novel) by Hailey Turner 

Rating: 5🌈

I forget how much I love the Soulbound series until Hailey Turner brings out another great story about the characters from that complicated magical universe . Then I want to go back and read them all over again.  

Especially when it comes to Wade Espinoza, a character who we watch get rescued as a young, horribly abused otherworldly teen.  When Wade is practically adopted by Patrick and Jono, and the rest of the core of the NYC god pack, the reader follows his recovery, growth, and progress , book after book, through the events , years of therapy and support, to the circumstances we find him in today.

Wade is that character we loved from the beginning and we always remembered.  And wanted to see what happened to him next. That he’s a young dragon? In a universe where dragons are rarely seen, we get the amazing emotional journey from scarred damaged youngster to the confident loved 23 year old Wade, one who’s experienced unbelievable battles, met Gods, helped saved the world, and found himself part of a warm, loving family and pack. 

Now he’s being trusted with a mission to save missing alphas in Boston, and he leaves with a smile, a belief in himself, a ton of snacks, and the backing of his pack.  

Can you tell I adore Wade? I could read books about him. But Turner goes and delivers an entirely different city of otherworldly beings that honestly I found intriguing and great characters on their own.  Plus a fascinating selkie clan that includes Riordan Maguire.

Riordan is a well written character, layered, so beautifully crafted with his selkie personality/fae history embedded into him, with the sea and Irish heritage as much a part of him as his physical appearance.  Turner has always been able to capture the essence of the otherworldly characters in the stories, whether it’s selkie, werewolf or dragon.  They become real and vibrant.

The struggles against the villain of this piece are genuinely fierce and complicated by political forces that have to be dealt with in a timely manner.  It makes the narrative more compelling, the drama more powerful, and all the various aspects of the story more complex.

That includes a romance that has to balance the knowledge of Wade’s past abuse with sensitivity before anything can happen between fated mates Riordan and Wade.   Plus that ending is logical for them both given their respective roles and responsibilities.  

I love this story so much.  I really hope that Turner is up for more stories in Boston with Riordan and Wade because all this did was whet my appetite for more. 

10/10 and more please!

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Secon…Secondhand Skin: A Soulbound Universe Novel eBook : Turner, Hailey: Kindle Store

Blurb 

Nothing says you can’t steal a heart. Keeping it though? That’s another problem.

Wade Espinoza knows a thing or two about hoards. As a dragon, he’s got plenty. What he doesn’t have is a relationship, and he swears he’s not looking for one. But when he’s sent to Boston to answer a cry for help from another pack, he’s drawn into a mess of fae bargains centered around a selkie who Wade instantly becomes obsessed with.

Riordan Maguire is struggling to keep his selkie clan out of the clutches of a fae lord who will do anything to take over their territory. Partnering with the Boston god pack means coming face-to-face with the first person he’s ever wanted to willingly give his sealskin. Too bad Wade isn’t local and is something altogether strange that Riordan isn’t sure he can trust.

Amidst a growing danger in the streets and Boston Harbor, Wade and Riordan are desperate to find a way to keep everyone safe. For bargains are dangerous things to break, but so are hearts. Wade isn’t willing to shatter either of theirs in a race against time that could see Riordan torn from him forever.

Secondhand Skin is an exciting new standalone novel set in Hailey Turner’s best-selling Soulbound Universe focusing on Wade Espinoza.

  • Publication date: September 4, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 362 pages

Review:  The Blame Game (Relationship Goals Book 5) by Brigham Vaughn

 

Rating: 4🌈

The Blame Game is the finale story in 

Brigham Vaughn’s wonderful Relationship Goals series.  

Vaughn ends the series with line center Dominic Olson, who came out to two of his teammates in the last story. The Blame Game picks up with those events,  giving the reader insight into exactly how secretive Dom is about his private life, his sexuality and how shut off he’s become from his those around him.

Determined to keep his interactions with others at a superficial level, dramatic moments at the beginning of The Blame Game start to implode this mentality of his.  It begins with his relationship with Sawyer Barnett aka Shea, the man he’s been paying to be his stylist as well as his escort.  

Only Shea has his own secrets, plus a new sports physiotherapist day job. He’s got his own decisions to make.

I admit I found this relationship and story a bit frustrating and long.  As a finale book I’m sure the author wanted to bring in all the other couples (and did), tie up loose arc plot threads, and give this team a rousing send off. Yes to that ending, absolutely. That takes a certain amount of length to execute the plot and characters.

But that long slog to an acknowledged relationship, outside of the fake boyfriend scenario, just wasn’t as satisfying as the other couples that came before. It’s a 2 person POV so we get that it’s a lopsided affair from the start. Shea has always loved him, even when it’s been a transactional relationship. 

Maybe it’s that Dom is just written as spectacularly closed off and damaged but the reasons behind it are so to be revealed and his own actions in the narrative make it hard to connect with him. 

Bright spots will always be Dustin and Charlie from The Husband Game, my favorite of the series.  I love seeing them together and the important roles they play here. Actually it fantastic seeing all of the couples come together to share their experiences to support Dom and Shea through this process of finding a HEA.

For me, all of them were the best and that last game was everything!

This maybe leaving this team but another is set to arrive!  I’m definitely looking forward for this series and that relationship which is set up here. Should be drama on the ice!

Great series, good story. A definite winner.

Buy link

        The Blame Game: An M/M Hockey Romance (Relationship Goals Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Fiery Rescue: Fisher Cats Player Heating Up the Sheets with Handsome Stranger?

Fourth line center, Dominic Olson, was spotted with an unidentified man following a fire at the High Park Towers building in Liberty Village late last night.

The fire was contained to the fifth floor where—according to firefighters from Toronto Fire Station 346—it began in one of the condo’s kitchens. Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported.

After being treated by paramedics, Olson escorted the mystery man to a black SUV and helped him inside. Although they left together, their destination is also unknown.

Traded to Toronto from the Los Angeles Suns, Olson was a major player in the team’s 2013 Stanley Cup win.

However, it’s become obvious in recent years that the aging forward is no longer the superstar he once was.

But what exactly was Olson doing at High Park Towers in the wee hours of the morning with a strange man? “Just friends,” or something more?

Though Olson has been notoriously tight-lipped about his personal life, rarely choosing to attend events with a plus one, we all know the old adage: where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS:

The Blame Game contains scenes with an apartment fire, parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalized homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a health scare, and two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character.

This romance also includes found family, fake relationship, out for you, and he falls first/he falls harder tropes, along with a positive attitude toward escort work as a career (MCs are only with each other in the book).

  • Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (August 30, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 30, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 649 pages

Review:  How to Flirt with a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #1) by Shannon Mae

Rating: 4.5🌈

Shannon Mae’s latest book is the first in a new paranormal series, Hellhounds of Paradise Falls, a universe where many of her other characters and series are located in. 

I love crossover series when I’m heavily invested in the universe and characters I’ve been following already, so it’s so much fun to see a new group arrive to get their fated mates and HEA.  In this case a pack of Hellhounds, starting with Dexter, who’s just fabulous in a bunch of weirdly supernatural and supportive ways. 

Dexter’s has a pack of brother hellhounds which are all introduced as well here into How to Flirt with a Hellhound. This is the romance of human author Toby and Dex, the Hellhound who lives next door to him in Paradise Falls.

We get a recap of all the many wonderful elements and otherworldly couples that live in Paradise Falls, why it’s so special.  And the fun that begins with Toby speculating on his hot new neighbor as he writes his paranormal novel.

It’s funny, and a great way to bring the characters together. Who are engaging, have amazing chemistry, and are simply a couple we can invest in.

Dex is at times just unaffected with his outlook and straight on personality. The author must have had such fun creating Dex, and his dialogue!

As Dex comes with his intriguing four brother hellhounds so does Toby come with his own group of equally complex friends who I expect will factor into this series. That’s including the new people who are rescued from events that occurred during this story.

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls:

  • How to Flirt with a Hellhound #1
  • How to Hack a Hellhound #2 – January 2,2025

Buy link

        How to Flirt with a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls Book 1)

    

Blurb

Toby

Maybe I have an overactive imagination, but the hot guy next door totally gives off serial killer vibes. Why else would he know how long it takes to bleed out from a wound? Yeah, ok, so I asked, but it was research. Being an author definitely makes for some odd questions (someone had better clear my browser history when I die, that’s all I’m saying). It’s not like I’m stalking my hot neighbor or anything—there’s nothing wrong with watching him out my window. Although I might have my own stalker (and not the cute harmless kind), which is kind of terrifying. Even if he isn’t a serial killer, maybe my seriously sexy neighbor whose eyes seem to glow red (a trick of the light, I’m sure) can help me out.

Dexter

How do you tell your cute neighbor that cutting off fingers probably won’t cause a victim to bleed out? I don’t know if trying out Toby’s writing ideas is a good method of flirting, but there’s just something about him that calls to my hellhound. He’s adorable, awkward, and all kinds of clueless. He brings out my protective instincts, and I find myself wanting to please him, even if that means figuring out some of the answers to his rather bloodthirsty questions. When I find out Toby might actually be in danger, nothing will stop my hellhound from protecting him. He’s mine, even if he doesn’t know it, and I’ll tear apart anyone who even thinks of hurting him.

Tags: Socially awkward writer and serial killer(ish) hellhound fall in love; talking about dismemberment totally counts as flirting, right?; there’s death and maiming, but only of really bad people; Dex would literally burn the world down for those he cares about; Toby is adorably clueless; hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them.

  • Publication date: September 2, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 237 pages

Review:  All Out of Flux (Stolen Hearts Book 3) by Nazri Noor

Rating : 4.5🌈

All Out of Flux is the final book in Nazri Noor’s Stolen Hearts trilogy.  In this story, brujo witch Leon Alcantara and mage Max Drake are still in pursuit of the Quartz Spider , a time mage who threatens existence itself.  

Noor’s narrative has been building up to this, including the amazing sea dragons that inhabit Leon for a spell in exchange for powerful magic.  This element expands as another dragon is introduced and a scary scenario is unveiled for their appearance.

This is a fast paced, action packed book, where if you skip a sentence or two, you’ve missed an important step or aspect of the game that’s playing out in the narrative.  

I find the entire Las Lunas universe endlessly imaginative.  The spider beings, from the Jade and Amethyst Spiders to the very Queen herself, this is such a uniquely fascinating element that I love and could wish for additional exploration. 

And also there’s Max’s criminal, entertaining, persistent family to dive into as well.  Tons of characters waiting for their own input into Max and Leon’s lives and further adventures.

That final battle and scenes left me with some major issues but it was most definitely dramatic and memorable.  Did I have several questions about how it was possible and why it was happening in the first place? Yes.  Did know one know about the Masque? However, everything is satisfactory and maybe any further series will bring answers for us.  You never know.

If you love fantasy fiction, magical stories, here’s a trilogy you won’t want to miss. 

Stolen Hearts:

Hex and the City #1

Elixir of Strife #2

All Out Of Flux #3 – finale

Buy link

        All Out of Flux (Stolen Hearts Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Time is running out.

Leon Alcantara and Max Drake are finding help in the most unlikely of places. A third dragon has manifested, promising Leon untold elemental power. Another specter from Max’s past returns to haunt him, presenting a tempting offer.

But everything comes with a price.

Perhaps the risk is worth the reward. More anomalies are erupting across Dos Lunas. The boys need all the help they can get against the rogue time mage responsible. The Quartz Spider has finally shown his hand, and only Max and Leon can stop him.

But how can they stop the enemy when the enemy is time itself?

  • Publication date: August 30, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 148 pages

Review:  Signed, I’m Yours! (Subpar Superhero story) By Rhys Lawless

Rating: 4.5🌈

Well, this was simply adorable.  I absolutely adored Signed, I’m Yours! (Subpar Superhero story) By Rhys Lawless.  One of the most enjoyable in this series.

The journey of Seojun, Mr Sinister, a not so very super villain, who wants to find the family he left behind in South Korea turns into a funny, heartfelt story about a man who instead finds love, respect, and a new found family when he never expected it.

Seojun, fabulous in Pink, meet the SPAM agent Jack “Happy” Lewis, signs Jack up for some internal secret investigation, that goes immediately rightfully wrong. 

This wonderful story is so well written. The beautifully crafted characters have so much heart, including the many fabulous side characters, that it’s hard not to wish for more from this universe and gang of heroes.

Even the main villain of this piece is a man isn’t what you expect.  Instead he’s poignant, the crimes also contain an unexpected twist.

Honestly, the story and characters were a total joy that it was an absolute pleasure reading this.

A winner for the series and as a whole for the author to the readers. 

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt 

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper❤️

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land 

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple ❤️❤️

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️❤️

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan   

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless❤️

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy link:

        Signed, I’m Yours!: A supervillainous romcom

    

Blurb

I’m The Sinister Signature. New York City’s biggest supervillain. And anything I sign is mine!

Including the hunky, happy-go-lucky SPAM agent with the bear-bod who catches me red-handed.

Jack “Happy” Lewis.

The man who can never turn his smile into a frown and who’s way too excited to be tied to me for the foreseeable future.

He drives me up the wall, but at least I’ve got a guy on the inside who can help me with my mission.

In my search for my missing family, SPAM, the mysterious agency that handles super-powered individuals, and Happy are my only recourse.

There is one problem however.

With Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes stuck by my side, I’m starting to feel…things and I don’t like it.

It gets worse when we have to pretend we’re engaged.

The last thing I need right now is to fall head over heels and quit my search. Or give up my criminal empire and go over to the good side.

Ew. That’s not me.

I’m a supervillain, damn it. I won’t fall victim to Jack’s charms.

No, I won’t.

Signed, I’m Yours is a standalone paranormal romcom with a grumpy supervillain, an always-happy good guy literally stuck together on a case, a fake instant engagement, a very convenient bi-awakening, and only one bed.

Part of the multi-author Subparheroes MM romance series.

  • Publisher: Rhys Writes Romance (August 29, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 29, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 284 pages

Review:  Demon Hunter (The Collective Book 2) by Louisa Masters 

Rating: 3🌈

Demon Hunter and this series so far has been a semi-winner for me.  The characters that have been carried over from Ghostly Guardians have been a mixed bag as some have shown little development in character, while others have shown significant growth through their respective relationships and roles in the series and arc storylines. 

That continues here with main characters still showing antagonism towards higher demons like Marc, a fascinating higher being who’s has been and continues to be portrayed as being supportive of them and their family.  Marc is not only the reason why this group has successfully taken down their collective enemies but also as a bonded mate to one of their own. But despite this, since the finale, the hostile behavior of several members has not changed towards him, despite the events and ongoing conflicts within the Collective. 

It makes little sense for the group and serves to reinforce a certain stagnation of their personalities. 

Matt and Dylan are in a relationship, one that they are hiding from their friends and family members.  The reasons for, given the situation and circumstances of this group and the Collective will seem not particularly well thought out. Masters has a traumatic event occurring that impacts Matt, then Dylan and their group as an unseen threat to everyone is identified.

The aspect of this book that’s interesting and important for future stories is the thread about the threat/enemy uncovered and how it’s handled . Especially in what it represents in terms of loose ends and the challenges going forward.  I really like the other higher demon as well as my favorite couple of Marc and Ian.  They are heavily involved in this book and plot thread. 

Less engaging for me is the issues I have with Matt and Dylan’s relationship dynamics.  The constant lack of communication between them, the avoidance of major confrontation with each other over intimate matters, and in general, their refusal to acknowledge issues that might impact their own lives as well as endanger others around them.

That would be one thing if the author utilized this aspect of their relationship with regard to the storyline and made it easier for them to understand and move forward, but instead it’s Marc who is the most influential factor here.  It sort of happens, but it takes the entire plot and that’s entirely too long for this reader. 

Marc remaining the most epic and entertaining character of the series and group.  I look forward to seeing more of him, his relationship and dialogue. And more higher demons. 

Ghostly Guardians:

  • Spirited Situation #1
  • Vortex Conundrum #2
  • Conduit Crisis #3
  • Gateway Catastrophe #4 -finale 

The Collective, sequel series:

  • Higher Demon #1
  • Demon Hunter #2

Buy link

        Demon Hunter (The Collective Book 2)

    

Blurb

What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted? 

Before that night, there wasn’t much in my life I could complain about. I hunt rogue demons for a living, which is the coolest thing ever, and my brothers are the best. Sure, there was that thing with our parents betraying humanity, and okay, I wasn’t thrilled when my brother-bestie hooked up with a demon, but everything else was amazing.

Except that Dylan, the person I love more than anything, wanted to keep our relationship secret.

I got it; I really did. He’s lost all his family, and he was afraid if my family adopted him, he might lose them too. It’s not like we’ve got the world’s safest jobs. I was sure he’d change his mind eventually.

That decision was taken from him one awful night. Now, everyone knows, but Dylan’s more worried about the people trying to kill me. Unidentified and vicious; that’s all we know. Oh, and they hacked The Collective’s server.

How does a demon hunter fight a virtual threat? He doesn’t… that’s his kickass techie boyfriend’s job. Dylan will find these people, and then we’ll deal with them.

Even if there is more going on than we know about.

  • Publication date: August 29, 2024
  • Language: English
  • File size: 2748 KB
  • Print length: 253 pages

Review:  Best Laid Plans by E M Leya

Rating: 3🌈

I know this author by her wonderful paranormal Ghostly series so when I saw this story I picked it up.  

Unfortunately it had lost the many elements that make the series so special and its characters so engaging.  Best Laid Plans is a contemporary romance that’s sweet and predictable.  

Uncle gets custody of his niece by tragic circumstances. Finds out his sister never told the father of his niece about her. Contacts that man, who immediately loves the kid, huge family loves her, they fall into an instant rushed relationship, events happen, they move in together. The end. All so quickly that you blink and the timeline has them getting engaged. 

While this isn’t unusual in contemporary romance, these characters have little depth and less chemistry.  We don’t get much history that adds to the plot or understanding of the sister.  So it doesn’t really encourage the reader to connect with the story or characters in an emotional way. 

Except that as a dog lover, I found myself disagreeing with many aspects of the narrative that concerns the puppy and the dynamics of the family/character interactions.  Honestly, having a father threatening to put a puppy outside unless a two year old eats her vegetables? Just no. 

If you’re a fan of this author or contemporary stories, there’s other books out there that I find I would recommend reading instead of this one.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Best-L…Best Laid Plans – Kindle edition by Leya, E.M. . Romance Kindle eBooks …

Blurb

Conner never thought much about being a father, at least not until a stranger showed up in his office and tells him he is one. It had been years since he dated the guy’s sister, but he won’t deny the possibility that Kayla is his child.

Dave just wants to right the wrong his sister made and give Conner a chance to be the father he never knew he was. While mourning the loss of his sister, he’s also angry she never told Conner about the baby.

As the two try to figure out how to handle the mess his sister left them, the men form a friendship and a bond as they try to make the transition as easy on Kayla as they can. What they didn’t expect was the feelings that spending so much time together might cause. Working through the maze of emotions, they struggle to not only keep Kayla’s heart safe, but also their own.

  • Publication date: July 14, 2023
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 205 pages

Review: Clean Finish (Goliaths of Wrestling book 2) by Lily Mayne

Rating:4.5🌈

Clean Finish is the second book in Lily Mayne’s Goliaths of Wrestling paranormal romcom series and it’s another winner, fabulous cover including.

This time the comedic romance is an age gap, first time storyline with the main characters being a young flighty sweet Fae assistant and an older werewolf bodyguard. 

Larkin, the young, not very focused, elf assistant of Holt’s, is an engaging character who we met in book 1.  Sunny, kind, and effervescent in outlook, Larkin is also scattered in his thought processes, not quite able to complete his tasks with all the gorgeous wrestlers about, and his hormones on overdrive.

Seb, an older thoughtful werewolf, is Holt’s bodyguard. He’s quiet, observant, a crossword puzzle enthusiast, and has been nurturing a deep abiding crush/love for Larkin from the moment he first saw him. 

When Larkin decides he needs a tutor in sex, it’s Seb he turns to and starts a journey to a wonderful subtly developing friendship.  Mayne creates a funny, remarkably moving, and relatable story here between Seb and Larkin that becomes a deeply passionate and loving relationship.  It’s built over home-made bread, cross word puzzles, a combined love of their warmhearted supportive families, and yes, lots of very sexy exploration and personal revelations.

We also get to see our other favorite couple, Holt and Taylor , continuing their story as they work together on making Goliaths of Wrestling a better place and their own life together richer.  The wrestling scene and wrestlers are front and center as important players here and as found family.

A teaser for the next book shows a slight increase as the characters aren’t in the same place or personality as these.  Should be fascinating. Can’t wait.

Again fantastic artwork on this cover!

Cover illustration: Vic Gray/Bloodwrit

Goliaths of Wrestling: 

🔷Impromptu Match #1

🔷Clean Finish #2

🔷Cheap Heat #3 – September 27,2024

Buy link

        Clean Finish (Goliaths of Wrestling Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Larkin

Look, here’s the thing.

I’m young, carefree, and my job as the assistant to Holt, manager and owner of the Goliaths of Wrestling, means I’m surrounded by half-naked beefcake wrestlers all day. Of courseI’m going to be interested in… getting to know them all better. It would be, like, illegal for me to not lust after them all, right?

There’s just one hurdle I have to get over first before I can… get to knowthe wrestlers in the way I want. And that hurdle makes me really, really freaking nervous.

So I come up with an amazing idea. Holt’s bodyguard Seb, a werewolf, is the quiet, dependable, calm presence in the office. He’s safe. He’s not as intimidating as the wrestlers, and we’re kind ofbuddies, so I decide to ask him for help with my little… predicament.

Just for some practice. Before I move onto the big leagues. That’s all it is. Practice.

Seb

I’m the foolish old wolf who’s pined after Larkin since the moment he started working here. I’ve had to watch him flirt with all the wrestlers, listen to him talk about how much he wants them, act like I didn’t care, and it’s never gotten easier.

At least no one knows. And I can never tell him. He’s too young for me, too carefree and irresponsible, and he’s never shown even a hint of being interested in me that way. Mentally, I’ve accepted it. My heart, however, is a different matter.

And then he comes to me with a ridiculous proposition. Something I never thought I’d get to experience, something I should absolutely turn down, but I can’t. I’m not strong enough to deny myself. And I want to help Larkin in any way I can.

It’s just practice for him. I have to keep reminding myself of that, every time I get to touch him—every time he’s pressed against me, every time he falls asleep on my chest. He doesn’t want me. He just wants… lessons. Practice.

That’s all it is. Practice.

  • Publication date: August 6, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 461 pages

Review: The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1) by Vawn Cassidy 

Rating: 4.5🌈

We first met all these people (alive and ghostly ) at the very haunted Ashton-Drake Manor House  in  the Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed). 

That was a fabulous supernatural murder mystery romp that was absolutely entertaining, romantic, and gave us an entirely new cast of characters to love.

The Haunted Hotel picks up in the aftermath of those events, the unwanted publicity and the trouble it’s brought to the Manor. And the unexpected surprises too. 

One is a leftover guest, the horror book author Mr Pennington, whose writer’s block has vanished since the last events and his creative sparks are flowing!  He’s decided to stay and write. The most important new element is the new arrival at the Manor. 

Morgan Ashton-Drake has returned home after his mother took him to America when he was a young boy. Now he’s come home, only he can’t remember the ancient manor that holds both his history and memories and perhaps his future.

While Morgan is dealing with renewed relations with his grandfather, and his past, Ellis Sparks, and the rest of the found family of staff and ghosts of Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel have their own challenges to face.  

Vawn Cassidy weaves in intimate relationships of family dynamics, romance, friendship, and ghostly goings on to come up with a warm-hearted, layered story of families, history, and love in believable terms. Even when there’s ghosts involved.

By the end, a new resolve has set in, an additional chapter begins, and someone else has come home.  I love this book so much.

The Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) gives a wonderful foundation for this book as well as being a terrific story in a fantastic series. Don’t miss out on any of those stories.

I highly recommend reading them and this, the gorgeously crafted The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1) by Vawn Cassidy .  Now I can’t wait to see where the next novel takes everyone.

Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits:

  • The Haunted Hotel #1

Buy link

        The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Have a frightfully good stay…

Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if he’s all work and no play. He’s not missing out on anything important.

But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, he’s not keen to confront his past. What he didn’t count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfather’s hotel.

Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, he’s never met a frown he can’t turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer.

With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking as an incentive to get him to stay. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine?

From the creator of Dead Serious comes this hilarious grumpy/sunshine spin off which will leave you wanting to book your own room at The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.

  • Publisher: Underside Press (August 24, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 24, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 277 pages