Review: Like I Pictured (Heather Bay, #0.5) by Charlie Novak

Rating: 3.5🌈

Like I Pictured is the prequel to Novak’s Heather Bay series. It introduces the reader to the series setting, a richly detailed and glorious scenic Yorkshire coastal landscape, complete with horseshoe bay, quaint village and hilltop castle.

We meet several of the series regulars including the two main characters here in this romance. That’s the fantasy author Anders Flynn, who’s from Heather Bay and photographer Bastian Roche, whose home it will become because of Anders.

I liked this story because of the introduction Novak gives us to Heather Bay. We see it in far greater depth and detail than we do in the later stories. From the moment Bastian views it from his car to his walks through the streets exploring shops and looking at the residences, it’s an closeup portrait of this village we won’t see again. And it’s one that will resonate with the reader, making Heather Bay come alive in every way.

Like I Pictured also does an amazing job in defining both main characters. Each totally different in from their age and outlook, Novak is able to create fully dimensional personalities with realistic backgrounds and depth of character. It’s easy to believe in them , their professions, and the manner in which they interact with each other.

Alas, it’s the last the suffers from the shortness of length here. While Novak has written a splendid location, given the story two fully realized, well defined characters, it’s in their relationship development where the romance faltered.

It starts off promising. I love the texts between them as they get closer to each other. But for the majority of the exploratory conversations and important part of the relationship, it happens “off page “. So the other aspect is one of a “meet, one night, move in” sequence. It just doesn’t do justice to the rest of the story and foundation work.

Rushed? Uh yes.

Like I Pictured (Heather Bay, #0.5) by Charlie Novak lays the groundwork for the series and the group of people that will be the found family of friends to find their HEA in this magical world Novak has created.

In truth, it’s a lovely romance and I enjoyed it. It’s just I had read the other books and backtracked to this one so I knew the voices and had them as an established couple already.

For me this is Heather Bay light compared to the other stories. But I wouldn’t have readers who are fans of the series or author miss out on it. It’s very lovely and a recommendation for you.

Heather Bay series :

✓ Like I Pictured #0.5

✓ Like I Promised #1

✓ Like I Wished #2

✓ Like I Needed #3

✓ Like I Pretended #4

◦ Like I Wanted #5 – Sept 28,2023

Buy Link:

Like I Pictured

Related to: Heather Bay

Blurb:

What if taking a chance photo led to love?

Bastian Roche is lonely and drifting. While he adores his photography job, he still hasn’t found a place to call home. Until he takes a chance photo of the elusive fantasy author Anders Flynn and makes a life changing connection.

Anders is grumpy, reclusive, and convinced he’s better off alone. But that doesn’t stop him from replying to Bastian’s emails. When Anders suggests Bastian scouts out his hometown of Heather Bay as a shoot location, Anders realises he’s falling fast for the man who brings sunshine into his life.

As Heather Bay pulls them together, both men must make a choice. Can a chance meeting give them the life they’ve always pictured?

Like I Pictured is a contemporary MM novella and is a prequel to the Heather Bay series but can be read as a standalone. It’s got a sweetness, steam, a small, British seaside town, and some grumpy cats.

Review: They Call Him Levity (Welcome Boulevard, #1) by Davidson King

Rating: 4🌈

I enjoyed They Call Him Levity (Welcome Boulevard, #1) by Davidson King. I thought King’s characters were all very well defined, given fully fleshed out personalities and lives.

It didn’t matter whether the character was crime boss Salvatore Grillo, or the professional beggars Levity, Clove and Muse with their poverty level lives and realistic low expectations for their future, or the endearing Jaquelyn, Sal’s on the spectrum younger step sister. Each one felt real, and grounded in a real life vision of the world.

The romance as it develops between Levity and Sal is sweet and feels genuine, despite the imbalance in their status and age. Somehow the author lessens that impact in their dynamic enough that it’s not the thing that matters.

Another positive is Sal’s relationship with his step sister, Jaquelyn. King wrote her as being a functioning on the spectrum individual but treated within her family as someone to be ashamed of because of her disability. We see Jaquelyn with her hobbies, her friends, as any 17 year old girl would have, even with a crush. The mistreatment here comes from a parent, which makes it also seem realistic, unfortunately.

My cons are with the aspect of Levity that deal with Sal’s father, Sal’s stepmother, their characters and that entire storyline.

While the others plot threads felt more full developed, the whole bit with the step mother came across as forced . She was already “hissing “ from the moment we met her. Everything else was perfectly transparent as to where the plot was headed next. It just needed more work.

The ending was lovely. And we get set up for Clove’s book to come.

If you like a sweet romance with a hint of gangster and suspense, Levity might be a good choice for you.

Welcome Boulevard:

✓ Levity #1

◦ Breathe My Name #2 – Clove’s story

Buy Link:

They Call Him Levity (Welcome Boulevard Book 1)

Description:

Levity works the streets of Welcome Boulevard, begging people for money. It keeps food in his belly, a leaky roof over his head, and he gets to do it with his best friend, Clove. No, it’s not the ideal life, but he does what he must to survive.

Salvatore Grillo is a man who is used to getting what he wants. He’s a loyal brother to his autistic sister, runs numerous business empires, and knows how to make people to bend to his will. It’s not often someone comes along and shakes things up. And then Levity smiles at him.

Levity’s idea to pull in more money draws Salvatore’s attention, and while being the focus of a crime boss should be terrifying, Levity is intrigued by the man. Not to mention, Sal is as gorgeous as he is powerful. The two gravitate toward one another and soon are wrapped up tightly in each other’s worlds. When enemies try to break through their doors and their lives, Salvatore has to do everything in his power to save not just himself but Levity too.

Not knowing who is behind all the chaos or when they will strike makes their happily ever after almost impossible. Time’s running out for Sal and Levity. Will they survive, or will their story end before it’s even begun?

Review: Bring Me Home (Safe Harbor Book 1) by Annabeth Albert

Rating: 4.75🌈

I probably wouldn’t have picked up this story except that the author is Annabeth Albert, an auto read.

While age gap is a trope I read, something about dating the sons of best friends hasn’t set right with me, especially when paired with a substantial age gap. Add in other factors of familiarity of knowing the person as a child and those stories ride a fine line.

But Albert’s story, the first of a new series, successfully addresses every aspect of those issues and has written a very moving romance. It’s also a fascinating one, in that one element, a ongoing cold mystery case investigation, is left to run into the next novel and appears to be a connecting bridge to all the books in Safe Harbor.

Give me a mystery and I’m a happy reader!

Albert has always been able to get intimately into the mindset of military men. Whether they are still in service, or in the case of Monroe, a recently retired Lieutenant in the NCIS unit of the Navy. He’s returned to Safe Harbor, near Portland, Oregon, to handle the sale of the old Victorian he inherited from his great aunt and then move to San Francisco, where he plans to live an anonymously contented gay life.

Albert paints Monroe’s return to Safe Harbor as a choice both joyous as he connects with his friends and tumultuous as aspects of his plans start to become less manageable. And things he thought he knew about his aunt and life make him rethink his perspectives.

Monroe is a multifaceted person. Far from the expected textbook of a naval officer, Albert gives us a man of emotional riches and dimensions. Those sensitive layers are revealed from the beginning. And to a person we absolutely know to be Knox. Whose own personality and character traits are the yin to Monroe’s yang.

Love Knox as deeply as I do Monroe. He’s another well crafted character who keeps revealing more depths and details to his personality and background as the story progresses.

Albert is able to build a believable relationship between two men, equal in intensity and intelligence, whose passion for each other overrides any consideration for age differences.

The reader gets invested in the relationship because of the chemistry and excellence of the dynamics being shared between them. The history of needing to feeling safe as a child that’s never left behind as an adult. That deep desire to have a true home. That all rings true.

As does the power of the fear of rejection that comes from losing the love of a friend or parent who doesn’t approve.

All this great storytelling that encompasses a romantic relationship, a town and its people, and an ongoing mystery. I’m 100 percent in and invested.

I can’t wait for the next book to be released. The listed books can be found below.

Until then, I’m highly recommending Bring Me Home (Safe Harbor Book 1) by Annabeth Albert.

Note. Two person POV until it switches at the end to include a third person to set up the next story in the series. I understand why but it’s still strange to switch format that late in the book.

Safe Harbor:

✓ Bring Me Home #1

◦ Make Me Stay #2 – June 15, 2023

◦ Find Me Worthy #3 – Sept 7, 2023

Buy Link:

Bring Me Home: A Dad’s Best Friend Small Town MM Romance (Safe Harbor Book 1)

Description:

Help!

I’ve inherited my aunt’s historic house in small-town Oregon, and I need to fix it up and sell it fast before I move on to my big-city dreams. I’m one of the navy’s best investigators, but twenty years of living in base housing means DIY isn’t part of my extensive skill set.

Luckily, my best friend has the solution: his twenty-three-year-old son. Knox recently graduated from college, needs a room for the summer, and comes with a giant cat and years of remodeling experience.

Not only is Knox all grown up and hot as sin, but I recognize him. He’s the bossy, bearded guy I shared the hottest kiss of my life with. No way can my buddy find out I’ve got it bad for his son. But with all the stripping, hammering, and drilling, my defenses crumble one dance break at a time.

As our sexy secret summer fling continues, Knox also proves himself handy at fixing my grumpy mood and wounded heart. Now I can’t imagine a future without him. I can solve any problem the navy throws at me, but I have no clue what to do about loving Knox or the damage this could do to my decades-long friendship.

Can we build a forever together, or are we destined to go our separate ways?

BRING ME HOME is a small-town Dad’s-best-friend MM romance. It features a forty-something grumpy former naval investigator, a much younger ray of sunshine, a matchmaking cat, sexy times in unusual locations, enough heat to burn the neighborhood, and a warm fuzzy hug’s worth of found-family feels. Dual point-of-view and big fluffy HEA guaranteed!

BRING ME HOME launches the brand-new Safe Harbor series from acclaimed author Annabeth Albert. Knox, Monroe, and the rest of Safe Harbor, Oregon, welcome readers to a historic town with a tight friend group, memorable secondary characters, quirky businesses, and long-held secrets. Each book stands alone with a fresh couple, but the background mystery of the town’s secrets ties the series together.

Review: Renovating the Model (Forestville Silver Foxes Book 1) by Nora Phoenix

Rating: 4.75 🌈

Nora Phoenix has released the first book in her new series about older men finding their HEA and it’s a sweet , smartly crafted romantic read.

I found myself liking every aspect of the world building she’s putting in place for her series and the small engaging group of long term friends I’m sure she will pull from to get her stories.

The location is Forestville, Washington. A small town with a river dissecting its Main Street from its outlying edge with some houses, park edge , and auto shop. The author has supplied a charming hand drawn map that helps place all the houses, and really shows how small Forestville is. I love that detail.

Then comes the foundation group of school friends. Boys that have been essentially family to each other since childhood. The story begins in the past, at their senior prom. We see the group dynamics, who they are hooking up with, and plans for their future. Tiago and Tomas , the gorgeous Banner twins are already headed for model fame and fortune. Two other friends,Essex and Auden, are headed into different branches of the military. Marnin’s future was unsettled.

Flash forward 30 years to a class reunion that brings those left together again and we see what the years have changed those teenagers into.

Tiago, along with his twin, are still internationally recognized and sought after super models. But for Tiago, the lifestyle has become increasingly difficult and one he’s tired of.

Renovating the Model Is a smart contemporary romance that contains elements of personal struggles with a learning disability and power inequality within a brotherly dynamic. It’s done with a realistic portrayal of a loving but insecure person who’s been made to feel inferior his entire life because of his severe dyslexia.

There’s other strong aspects to consider here in the narrative, each with varying levels of complexity. Cas’ scars, an inner circle character’s bullying, and even a minor character’s domestic abuse. Each one woven into the story with a gentleness and attention to detail that makes it seem as though they have the emotional impact that they should.

This story is sweet, sexy, convincing, and engaging. I loved the characters, the age gap , here Tiago is 47 or 48 with Cas , the contractor being 18 years younger. But as written, the deep connection and great chemistry between them makes any age gap seem insignificant.

Two final notes. Authors often say books like these are or can be read as standalone stories within the series. But I disagree. There’s a personal connection, emotional history that’s being built into the narrative here. Lines of dialogue and friendship that dates years of change between people who will have important relationships with each person even if it’s not the romantic ones. So read them in order, it just makes sense.

A word choice that bothered me. The author used unpractical. That word by any dictionary’s definition should be impractical.

“Trust me, most of the stuff I model is unpractical, and I’d never wear it in private.”

That’s it. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and absolutely recommend it for all lovers of contemporary romance. I can’t wait for the next story to be released.

Forestville Silver Foxes:

✓ Renovating the Model #1

◦ Awakening the Sheriff #2 – July 29, 2023

Buy Link:

Renovating the Model (Forestville Silver Foxes Book 1)

Description:

Everyone knows my face. No one knows the real me.

All people see when they look at me is a beautiful man, a supermodel, half of the world’s most famous twins. No one sees the man underneath.

When I return to Forestville, the small town I grew up in, for my high school reunion, I impulsively decide to stay.

I’m now the proud owner of a house, an absolute fixer-upper. Never mind that I have two left hands.

Thank god for Cas, the local contractor, who agrees to help me out. We come from completely different worlds and are almost twenty years apart, yet we somehow connect.

Cas sees me, the real me.

We hook up…

Then become friends…

With benefits (courtesy of a snowstorm)…

And a fake relationship (long story)…

But when fake becomes real and pretending turns into feelings I can’t deny, I’m left wondering if what we have stands a chance.

Renovating the Model is the first book in the new Forestville Silver Foxes series, a contemporary small-town MM romance series featuring hot silver foxes and the men who fall in love with them. Each book can be read as a standalone.

Review: Loki and his Master (Demon Gods Book One) by Rhys Lawless

Rating: 4.5🌈

Rhys Lawless has gotten to be a must read for me so I picked up this latest book not realizing it’s part of a much larger world of two , now three , connected series, set in the Cursed Hearts universe.

I haven’t read those but found it didn’t handicap me as much as I expected in terms of background. Lawless fills in much here in terms of foundation for the story’s structure so it’s easy to mentally files bits and pieces away as the tale progresses.

And what an entertaining story it is.

Combining various mythologies, particularly Norse, Polish, and adding in twists and mashups to the story narrative makes this fantastic storytelling.

Creating a fantasy landscape of demon gods, witches, and a host of other paranormal beings to use as characters is exciting, imaginative and dangerous while still being a titch familiar for grasping that being’s history. And that works for the reader in every aspect of the storyline.

Especially when the book opens upon a tragedy of immense personal pain and suffering. The loss of one young witch’s entire family by a brutal attack.

Tomasz, a young witch who’s never been able to utilize his powers, is filled with the need to find his family’s killers and get his revenge. But how?

Here comes along a central character who’s a bridge between every book. A ancient witch who lives under a bridge with the answers.

Tomasz needs help and gets it in the form of a demon mate. In this case, it’s Loki, the master trickster! They are sealed together in a master/slave relationship that’s a complicated forced binding.

It’s explored on several levels here by Lawless. The guilty feeling it causes in Tomasz that he’s forcing/must force Loki into the position of having no will, no say , complete servitude. It’s an anathema, especially as their affection grows stronger towards each other.

With Loki, a slave status or that of being forced into a submissive relationship, fills him with rage. He’s a god on a personal mission. It also will turn out that this element will have further philosophical implications, as certain plot points are revealed , that Lawless could but doesn’t fully give narrative voice or space to all the deeper issues it brings up.

Things like if a god has been forced into servitude for all the wrong reasons but it still has ended up being the right thing to do, should it have happened? Does one have the right to take away someone’s freedom for the greater good?

That’s not sufficiently clear or explored here despite being raised several times by more than one person and in more than one way.

However, there’s so many other plot threads to deal with that things like this get overlooked or handled in a way that doesn’t quite have the necessary support for such heavy questions.

The plot lines converge swiftly towards the end, leaving the climax feeling a bit too rushed for all the characters and great plot twists involved. I hope to have more of the children and a certain “not cat “ in future stories. They were fantastic.

Lawless sets us up for the next pair and development in this series. I guess I’ll be spending some of the time looking into those preceding series.

I’m recommending Loki and his Master (Demon Gods Book One) by Rhys Lawless for the levels of detail, the mythology, the characters, and the fast paced, highly entertaining story. Oh and the kinky sexy storyline.

That too. D/s hurt/comfort anyone?

Demon Gods:

✓ Loki and his Master #1

◦ Hades and His Witch #2 – TBD release date

Buy Link:

Loki and his Master: A contemporary fantasy romance (Demon Gods Book 1)

Description:

The trickster god is free and he’s under my command.

When I asked the old witch under Camden Lock for help with avenging my family’s murder I didn’t expect her solution would be to invoke a powerful god.

Loki is big, strong and pissed!

Thankfully he’s bound to me so he can’t hurt me.

But the only way he’ll ever help me get my revenge is if I help him find someone really important first.

The problem is the more time I spend with him, the less I’m able to resist him.

But I can’t let my guard down.

He might say all he wants from me is to punch my V-card and end the people that killed my family, but I know he wants something more.

And I’m scared it has the potential to destroy everything.

How can a young, meek little witch like me tame a god like him?

Loki and his Master is the first book in the Demon Gods series, a spin-off series set in the Cursed Hearts universe.

Demon Gods is a contemporary fantasy MM romance/urban fantasy MM romance series where mythical gods are re-incarnated into the 21st century and let loose to destroy, avenge and fall in love with young little witches. Written in British English with US spelling and grammar.

Tags:

mythical gods modernized, witches, demons, master/servant, Ds, age gap, punching his v-card, hurt/comfort, forced co-operation, beauty and the beast vibes, alpha protector, tragic past, big/small pairing, lover in peril, trouble magnet, I don’t know if I can trust you, urban fantasy world, morally gray main characters, Polish folklore, Norse mythology

Review: Got Me Talking (Vet Shop Boys Book 7) by Casey Cox

Rating: 4.5🌈

Got Me Talking is the penultimate story in Casey Cox’s heartwarming series about a small Virginia town Veterinary Clinic’s doctors search for and finding their HEA.

You can feel the series winding down as the last of the characters find their partners and lasting relationships. Yet Cox’s stories remain strong and compelling, with each person getting a new chapter of their lives to move forward with their biggest dream, a person to love who loves them back.

Jeremy has been a staple in the series as this quiet baker behind the wonderful baked goods at Daley’s Bakery, a place that’s been featured throughout the series. He’s grown as a character but now gets his story and HEA.

One of the major element here is stuttering. Jeremy has suffered in the past because of the rejection and mistreatment he’s endured due to his struggles with speech. Only with Tyler, a former Vet Shop Boy veterinarian and his best friend, and the other vets and partners, does he feel accepted.

The newest hire at the Vet Shop Boys is an older English veterinarian, who’s relocating to the US for personal reasons. Montgomery is in storage, emotionally and almost physically. He’s committed to a rental property and still grieving the loss of his mother, as well as getting over his divorce.

Cox sets up a chance meeting with both men that’s believable, incredibly sexy, and lets us inside each of their minds as something unexpected happens between them.

It also helps us understand the need for communication when the logical moment arrives where they meet again. And the difficulties that arise when it doesn’t happen.

I love the way Cox is able to pull the reader into the world of these characters to the point where we sense their insecurities, their need for shielding themselves from being exposed emotionally. That’s on both sides. Montgomery is also frail, but his quiet, almost frozen demeanor hides the turmoil threatening to come out whereas Jeremy’s fears carry forth with every word he utters.

Their relationship is slow and moving. I wish it was longer. The age gap and health issues had some surprises towards the end.

It’s that ending that’s shows more than anything the series is almost at a close. We’re not in Virginia anymore.

And that’s ok.

One more unhappy vet to get his HEA in Got Me Feeling and then the series is done.

It’s a lovely show. I’m thrilled to see Jeremy get his romance and happy ending. There’s realistic elements but I expect that from the series and author.

It’s why I’m recommending this and the entire series. Well written, wonderful characters and plots of interesting elements, moving scenes, sexy, and warm-hearted. Love it!

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

✓ Got Me Hoping #1

✓ Got Me Wishing #2

✓ Got Me Looking #3

✓ Got Me Thinking #4

✓ Got Me Going #5

✓ Got Me Merry #6

✓ Got Me Talking #7

◦ Got Me Feeling #8 – finale Oct 23,2023

Buy Link:

Got Me Talking (Vet Shop Boys Book 7)

Description:

What do you call a herd of rhinos? A crash. That about sums up my life, too.

Having spent the last three years caring for my dying mother, I need a new leash on life. So I say goodbye to the UK and take a job opening at a small-town vet clinic in the US.

Via a layover in New York. Where I get, ahem, laid over.

With a man.

Not something I’ve ever done in my forty-three years.

Not something I intend on repeating.

Which won’t be a problem since I’ll never see the guy again… Until I step into the local bakery.

There’s no way anything can happen between Jeremy and me. I’m lost, grieving, and, oh yeah, straight. He also happens to be fifteen years younger than me. So what is it about the sexy baker that’s suddenly got me talking?

Got Me Talking is book 7 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect a silver fox British vet having a bi awakening, an adorable baker with a stutter, age gap, plenty of humor, found family, and a heartwarming happily ever after!

Review: Got Me Talking (Vet Shop Boys Book 7) by Casey Cox

Rating: 4.5🌈

Got Me Talking is the penultimate story in Casey Cox’s heartwarming series about a small Virginia town Veterinary Clinic’s doctors search for and finding their HEA.

Cox sets up a chance meeting with both men that’s believable, incredibly sexy, and lets us inside each of their minds as something unexpected happens between them.

It also helps us understand the need for communication when the logical moment arrives where they meet again. And the difficulties that arise when it doesn’t happen.

Their relationship is slow and moving. I wish it was longer. The age gap and health issues had some surprises towards the end.

It’s that ending that’s shows more than anything the series is almost at a close. We’re not in Virginia anymore.

And that’s ok.

One more unhappy vet to get his HEA in Got Me Feeling and then the series is done.

It’s a lovely show. I’m thrilled to see Jeremy get his romance and happy ending. There’s realistic elements but I expect that from the series and author.

It’s why I’m recommending this and the entire series. Well written, wonderful characters and plots of interesting elements, moving scenes, sexy, and warm-hearted. Love it!

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

✓ Got Me Hoping #1

✓ Got Me Wishing #2

✓ Got Me Looking #3

✓ Got Me Thinking #4

✓ Got Me Going #5

✓ Got Me Merry #6

✓ Got Me Talking #7

◦ Got Me Feeling #8 – finale Oct 23,2023

Buy Link:

Got Me Talking (Vet Shop Boys Book 7)

Description:

Review: The Magic That Binds (Haelan Book 1) by A.J. Sherwood

Rating: 4.75🌈

The Magic That Binds is the first in a new series by A.J. Sherwood and it’s an excellent story. By the author’s own admission, it’s been a long time coming. A fact made clear by the detailed nature of the book’s world building and the way in which Sherwood slowly creates this incredible, intimate bond between three unusual, and extremely distinct individuals.

This bond, a threefold relationship that forms from wary friendships and tenuous business/political connections then strengthens through mutual attraction, deepening connections, mysterious events, and ultimately love.

Sherwood’s beautifully plotted tale of a poly romantic journey is founded upon a backdrop of intricate magical intrigue and political power struggles. We are given a prologue as a base for our world knowledge before we jump into the high drama and mysteries that will bring the three men together in a fascinating, satisfying romantic tale.

It’s starts with Dag Gates, rogue healer, on the run in Nova Scotia, a country only recently having found peace and stability under new rule. Dag, an orphaned boy, a powerful healer, and a bit of an enigma, might start off as a favorite character. He’s all damaged soul, PTSD, and yet so bright and caring. A great character. Yet the two men coming into his life shortly after are different, in looks, backgrounds, and power. And will slide into the reader’s heart as well. Maegan Stefan Bjorne, powerful mage, of a large loving theatrical family and possessing a heart wary of affection and commitment. Dark, strong and instantly drawn to Dag.

I felt their chemistry immediately.

Then came the bad boy or man. Businessman Mikkel Vinters, with two families, of which one is his chosen found family of a less lustrous reputation. Vinters so layered , his found family so fascinating , his mind so open to the possibilities both men represent to him and the future, that you are all in where he’s concerned.

With each perspective, we get to know intimately the way each man thinks and feels, about the others and the increasingly precarious situations they find themselves in .

I just couldn’t put this book down.

They grow together, Dag ‘s new stable life lets him start to settle down emotionally, and that impacts the others. I really don’t see how Sherwood missed out on the natural progression here with the men and their poly relationship. Even the sexual scenes, which have the added element of one man being a virgin, feel believable , sexy, and loving.

I’m thrilled that Sherwood isn’t done with these men and this universe. I honestly need more . The author teases us with fabulous glimpses of family life, personal history, and castle home life. But we know that there’s so much more happening.

And we want to be a part of it. And them. Whenever we may get it.

The Magic That Binds (Haelan Book 1) by A.J. Sherwood is a fabulous book and one I’m highly recommending!

Buy Link:

The Magic That Binds (Haelan Book 1)

Description:

All Dag Gates wants is a place to call home. (And to practice magic freely.)

All Stefan Bjorne wants is peace in his adoptive country. (And less paperwork.)

All Mikkel Vinters wants is both of them. (No, really, he could do wedding bells.)

So why, pray tell, is half the magical community set on denying them all their wishes?

Tags:

Urban fantasy anyone?, slow burn, Mikkel is dying its so slow, pray for him, age gap, millionaire CEO is loose with no limits, cinnamon roll protection squad assemble!, polyamory at its best, Dag wants to eat all the things, all, magic, healing, childhood trauma, who’s chasing who is the question, Dag’s shy, Stefan’s a little insecure, thankfully Mikkel is neither, there is far too much food in this book, short but mighty, rules are established, Mikkel’s type in men is sexy and dangerous, it hasn’t killed him yet, accidental husband acquisition, magical bindings, shenanigans shall now commence

Review: Scorched (a Lunar Wolves novel) by Kiki Burrell

Rating: 3.5🌈

Scorched by Kiki Burrell is my first visit into this author’s Lunar Wolves series. It is described as a standalone novel so I approached it from that perspective, wanting to see what sort of story comes from such a interesting melding of elements.

There’s magic, solar wolves from another dimension/world/planet, fragile peace between humans and paranormals, a witch/wolf maté bond, a gate the alchemists/witches/scientists are trying to build to get the Solar Wolves home. There’s a city for the paranormals called Crescent City with self governing rules. And unbelievably even more.

Much of the above doesn’t come with much explanation or foundation. I cobbled that together from things mentioned throughout the book. So I really don’t think this exists as a standalone except perhaps if the author is talking about the couple.

And we need more here because the Wolves society seems to be a very rigidly conservative group at the highest levels, with a cultural outlook and ingrained values ,that to outsiders and those of status below them , seem not just imperious but richly oppressive. That seems to include a witch society too, but I’m not sure.

The two main characters of Scorched are from widely different backgrounds as well as cultures. One, Magnus, is a struggling human alchemist. He’s overwhelmed with bills, family obligations, and a adolescence full of secrets that he’s still carrying around.

The other is Calore Fier, first generation Solar, billionaire, retired at 45. Powerful, restless, and sure he’s discovered his mate in a human that wants nothing to do with him.

Burrell does an good job with the characters but she starts out with too many elements and then just doesn’t have the narrative time or space to carry out on these aspects. So they get dropped.

That’s not a bad thing. Just something I noticed. In the case of Magnus, early on the author said his upbringing had instilled a need for “humiliation and submission “.

That need for submission is started to be addressed in the first stages of a relationship with Calore. But any need to be humiliated is forgotten. And then submission aspect is relegated to a tiny corner of the development of the story.

Burrell has so many good ideas and storylines to work through that other threads started get lost. Like the ones above. There’s a shattered peace between races? Not sure. Issues with building the gate? I don’t know. Do witches and wolves have to mate? Don’t know. None of those things are certain or anything but hints here.

The ones that remain are wonderful and really require more page space. Magnus’s family, the painful loss of his mother, his father’s health and stance against the supernatural, and all the warm-hearted scenes with Magnus, Calore, and the siblings. Yes, pls. Couldn’t get enough. They were so well written with the characters, children especially, being fully fleshed out.

Scenes with Calore trying to adjust to Magnus and the opposite, also felt like a couple making tentative moves towards a mutual goal.

But for all that well developed narrative, Burrell gives us scenes with Lunar Wolf society which pulled the exposition rug out from under the reader. Suddenly we meet a “close friend “ of Magnus’ who’s a Solar/Lunar ? wolf too ( not sure how he fits in other than he’s a scientist), unheard of grandparents suddenly appear, we get a mating ceremony we have no idea about, as well as references from the gathered high society about the Solar Wolf world, which apparently still exists. Why everybody is on Earth I’ve no clue. Plus there’s hints some do want a gate home and others not so much. But that too disappears, another thread gone.

The characters were very good. As I said, Burrell didn’t have the chance or space or , to be honest, need, to follow through on all the character traits she intended for Magnus. It worked out fine. He was overloaded and we didn’t get enough of the man the alchemist, especially as he was so famous for his skill. I wish that had been explored more.

Same for Calore. We didn’t get enough of him personally. More of his background, his personality, his interests. He wasn’t anywhere near as multi dimensional as Magnus was. Only in the scenes with the family did he become a person with depth.

So how to sum up a book I very much enjoyed but got occasionally frustrated with? Don’t treat this like a standalone. I’m going to have to go back to the series and get more of the world building to get answers the the questions this book raises.

If you’re a fan of Lunar Wolves, you should be fine. And you’re probably going to enjoy the story as I did. More so because you have the background I was missing.

I’m recommending Scorched (a Lunar Wolves novel) by Kiki Burrell with some asterisks.

Buy Link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Scorch-…Scorch: Lunar Wolves Novella – Kindle edition by Burrelli, Kiki. Paranormal …

Description:

Magnus’s human family would despise him if they found out how deep he’s fallen into the supernatural world. The witching world had been nothing but cruel to his late mother and now his human family wants nothing to do with it. But with an ailing father and siblings who need his help, Magnus doesn’t have a choice. He can’t make enough outside the magic world to support them but he refuses to watch them suffer over something as stupid as money. He’s lucky to live safe and isolated in Crescent City among other witches and werewolves where he has a steady stream of both income and men to call when he needs to let off steam. Magnus never lets himself become overly attached to any one partner, his life is stressful enough without the addition of emotions.

Calore Fier is a billionaire werewolf with his sights set on Magnus. The sexy witch calls to him in a way no one ever has, except, Magnus is resistant to Calore’s charms. He claims he can’t feel the draw that Calore can’t ignore but he didn’t build his empire by giving up. Calore will find out why Magnus is holding back and he’ll tear down those walls until nothing stands between him and his mate.

Every second near Calore is a mistake. The older wolf is pure desire and Magnus’s body aches whenever he is around, but they could never become more. Calore has no idea who Magnus really is or the baggage he carries, and as a solar werewolf, Calore’s life is about elegance and luxury. He wouldn’t understand Magnus’s generic brand upbringing, his need to hide his magic, nor his penny pinching ways. Besides, if his family ever found out he’d embraced the witching world, they’d hate him more than Magnus would hate himself.

Scorch is a standalone novella in the gay, paranormal romance series, Lunar Wolves. It features a sarcastic, proud witch and an arrogant wolf who won’t stop until he gets what he wants.

Other books in the Lunar Wolves series:
Pressure
Tension
Force
Thrust

Review: A Demon for Midwinter by K.L. Noone

Rating: 4.75🌈

First thing. This book should come with a trigger warning for domestic assault/violence. While the assault happens off page the immediate physical damage and emotional effects upon the victim ,a main character, is on page . The resulting trauma and continuing aftermath, for the victim, his family and the man who loves him is a major part of the storyline. It’s just one of several elements that readers might not be aware of from reading the description.

Another potentially triggering storyline is one where Noone explores the devastating consequences of outing a person, no matter why, by using Justin Moore’s genetic makeup instead of his sexuality to demonstrate just how dangerous and devastating outing a person can be. It’s realistic, especially when some States now are trying to roll back rights for LGBTGIA , non-white races , and Women (no order involved). Jobs lost, housing lost, even more. So this becomes even more involved with bullying and harassment.

Both the D/A , D/V, and outing storylines are well written and handled with sensitivity and respect.

Readers who find these are triggering elements should consider whether this is a book they should read.

Having dealt with the warnings, onto the main characters and narratives. It’s a very well written story and the characters have depth and dimension I hadn’t anticipated.

In fact, the entire story surprised me.

It begins with a famous, has been rocker, Kris Starr, trying and failing to come out with a holiday album of his ex-bands hits. It’s familiar story territory . It gets more so with the addition of a beautiful young music record company assistant , Justin , who’s been working with Kris to produce it.

Justin Moore, the young music assistant, has had a long time crush on the older singer. This also isn’t new ground. But it’s what Noone does with these easily recognizable character models that elevates their personalities and relationship.

I would love to say it’s done in tandem, that Noone builds the characters to their final depths together. And to a degree, that happens. But as Starr pulls out of his depression and stasis as a person and musician , it’s a path he’s started on . He wants a recovery of the soul, as he’s reconnecting with the people important to him. It’s Justin that helps with his continued emergence, and it will be Kris in turn who will join in committing to helping another’s survival and restoration.

However, as Kris and Justin wobble along a obstacle strewn path, the author surrounds both with a veritable banquet of memorable multi layered people and scenes of heart searing moments. Jason’s family is superb.

From the many siblings, the scarily wonderful twins being my favorite, the parents, and yes, those Aunts, to the emotional support that Kris is shown to be able to bring, Noone swings the characters from one dramatic twist to another , often with heart wrenching detail. The author lets the readers feel fully immersed and invested in the lives and emotions as the events unfold through the pages.

Does this sounds like that simplistic, perhaps humorous synopsis written for this book? No it does not, and it is not.

There’s light hearted moments here as it needs to because otherwise the pain and trauma the person and characters are experiencing would be overwhelming. As they acknowledge. Doesn’t matter what species you are, trauma is trauma.

There’s a section at the end that might give some people pause. But again, it’s all about asking for permission, it’s about control, and no matter what, think about perspective.

Another great example of how this book tilts one way when you’d expect to go another.

I was unaware of The Demon Universe until I read Snowed In: Kit and Harry, a superb book about a magical Regency mystery. That seems to have no bearing on this, so perhaps they are all standalones.

I intend to find out. This one and Snowed In set the bar high indeed.

I’m highly impressed and recommending both.

Pls do read my trigger warnings.

The Demon Universe (nine books):

✓ A Demon for Midwinter #1

◦ Lightning in a Bottle #2

◦ Love Songs for Everyday #3

◦ Sunlight and Gold #4

✓ Snowed In: Kit and Harry #5

◦ A Demon Forever #6

◦ A Demon’s Choice #7

◦ Bedknobs and Brimstone #8

◦ A Demon’s Very Good Morning #9

Buy Link:

A Demon for Midwinter

Description:

Kris Starr used to be famous. Rock and roll. Sold-out shows. Literal magic. Empathic talents and screaming fans.

But he has a problem or two. He’s having a hard time writing new music. It’s Midwinter, which means he’s surrounded by depressing holiday cheer. And he’s in love with Justin, his manager, who has a talent for rescuing almost- or once-famous bands … and who’s hiding secrets of his own.

Justin Moore, on the other hand, is very good at keeping those secrets — he’s had to be for years. One secret involves a demonic inheritance that would make him a target of suspicion. Another involves his past.

And the third involves Justin’s feelings for Kris Starr, rock and roll icon and now his client … and a powerful empath of his own.

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