Review: The Night Vision: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

The Night Vision: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K Sterling really improved upon the previous story and those characters here, especially Lord Smoak who, along with his Park Ranger lover have important roles here and show huge character developments or make that revelations.

The Moon Murder Mysteries is evolving into a group of powerful characters that Demi Sun God/anthropology professor Lennox “Nox” MacIlwraith, and his mate, Agent Nelson, along with Merlin, one of their magikal found family of witches, hellhounds, and medics is gathering together, book by book to help him fight the darkness.

Sterling’s is a rich tapestry of Irish mythology, Celtic lore and language as well as literature . She then matches this with the deep historical context of the American mountain culture and tapping into the world of the paranormal and ancient traditions for a dark, compelling mystical tale.

It can work too well as it does here with the Wolves of the Ossery, a horrific element that needs further foundation as well as exploration to due justice to such a uniquely powerful piece of this narrative. Its introduction is detailed and memorable. Dark and damaging. And pieces of it, history and their culture pops up in the story in various ways. But there’s no resolution, no insight into what happened to them.

What Sterling crafts so beautifully is a mystery. Here with visions from the Oracle (another story and person brought into the circle), is used by Nox and Parks Service investigator, Agent Silas Shelby to locate a mysterious man they believe will be killed soon if they don’t help him, Tighe Ossor.

Silas was featured heavily in the previous story, Dead Air, which was about the Ranger, Niall, and the demon, Cenn, aka Lord Smoak. Here, Lord Smoak becomes the character who is worthy of the name. Here, his character evolves to become the overwhelming threatening force with its own agenda, something that we didn’t see before in his and Niall’s book.

Other characters are showing signs of their own new powerful abilities and adaptations as new threats emerge.

The instant connection between Silas and Tighe Ossor is believable, intimate and even mystical. So the reader is eager to see how this relationship develops between them. I would liked to have had actually less sex and more time spent with them getting to know each other, especially as Tighe is so much a man “out of time “.

The Night Vision suffers from having too much of a narrative agenda to get through and not enough pages with which to get it done throughly and with all the storylines well developed.

Sterling has offered up fantastic content and ideas here. So much to think about and take into consideration. Just the idea of the emergence of a new god, its evolution and what it means for the universe and other realities is mentioned here.How much control does that god have over its own creation?

That’s just a small part of the story.

The villain is barely a part of the book. Blink twice and you will miss him. A dramatic moment and what’s highly anticipated about it is glossed over, but it’s there. One sentence.

This is a small narrative suitcase that’s bulging with all important storyline things, the sides are separating as stuff is trying to fall out. But even more is needed.

It ends on a sort of cliffhanger. Which will lead to an explosive start I’m sure to the next in the series.

We’re on the journey of an evolution of a god that started with the first trilogy, now he’s gathering his set of warriors.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

No, not one is a standalone story.

Definitely recommend. But there’s many trigger warnings for multiple reasons. Read them.

Great covers.

Cover art by @KillerLaurent

Moon Mysteries 1 – 3 (first series)

Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries sequel series)

Back in the Hunt #1

The Tides of March #2

Dead Air #3

The Night Vision #4

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Night Vision: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder …

Blurb

A vision of a corpse in a stream. A man with a heart too wild and a soul too pure for this world.

Parks Service investigator, Agent Silas Shelby, isn’t supposed to chase prophecies. But when an oracle named Tony shows him the skull of a man he’s never met, obsession takes hold. The trail leads him to Tighe Ossor—a descendant of ancient warrior-hunters hiding in the Appalachian wilds.

Tighe walked away from his brutal pack to live free, only to be hunted by a necromancer bent on power. To protect him, Silas must rely on anthropology professor Lennox MacIlwraith, Agent Nelson, and their magikal found family of witches, hellhounds, and medics.

Together, they must outwit dark sorcery before the oracle’s vision comes true. But with destiny, danger, and desire colliding, can Silas save a man fate has already marked for death?

The Night Vision can be read as a standalone but it includes numerous spoilers for the rest of the series and the original trilogy.

* [ inserting note of my own: imo not one of these complexly interwoven books can be read as a standalone story. Why this author and others seem to be adding this comment to blurbs for their series as a standardized note is puzzling, especially considering taken on their own merits, essentially all the characters foundation and the world building is lost without each others story ]

Publisher

Bawdy Books

Publication date

November 20, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

201 pages

Review: Dead Air: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K. Sterling

Rating: 3.25🌈

While I’m really enjoying this subset of paranormal fantasy novels in the Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery universe, this book doesn’t have the same level of complexity and depth for all the main characters as previous stories. And that lack hurts my connection to the narrative.

K Sterling is a fantastic author. Her ability to weave together a coherent and compelling narrative is a huge factor in her success. She uses her unique background of investigations, murders then adds more layers of natural history, geography, multicultural history, and mythology to create a unique world and experiences.

This is where I recommend readers not to forget to include reading all Sterling’s author’s notes at the beginning of this book. On this being a love note to our parks and its Rangers, but also to their own complex, oppressive history with our indigenous people and communities over lands that were confiscated by the government.

And, there’s a dictionary for those who want to know how to pronounce some of these Irish Gaelic words seen throughout the novel and series. Honestly, I loved this.

Now to the pluses and minuses of the book.

The plot is excellent but almost too removed from actual action and its deep roots in a nefarious bargain. We should have seen more of that. And perhaps less sex, more detailed work on a real relationship.

It’s framed in that the Oracle has seen that an innocent, a Park Ranger in the Shenandoah’s, will be in danger from a demon.

That’s more than enough for the crew of Demi Sun god MacIlwraith, Nelson, Merlin, the two hellhounds and their mates to make the trip to investigate and save him. This group is always a great source for the story and dialogue. And we see Nox MacIlwraith’s powers growing.

However, thing is , the main story revolves around the Ranger, Niall, and the demon, Cenn, aka Lord Smoak. Of the two, we get one fascinating character and one bland one dimensional character. Guess who is the one note person? Niall the human.

He’s got a great background story, but that not well represented in his actual personality. The dark damage he fled from wouldn’t be the same as someone who really just comes across as an introvert from a conservative background. It’s not believable as written.

Who is on point is Cenn, the demon Lord Smoak. First of all demons, arguably murderous, arrogant, dark and complex. And flexible in his ways and character to show the ability to make choices and changes as he sees fit.

Silas, a Sheriff and new character has the next book in the series and it’s already an interesting one from the small excerpt included here.

This left one aspect of Cenn and Niall’s relationship open as well as what happened to the first villain, an ongoing conflict.

So my take on Dead Air: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K. Sterling is that it’s interesting but doesn’t hold up well next to the preceding stories.

Read it as a bridge between the books, for the new characters and to see how the group is evolving. Nox especially.

Exquisite covers.

Cover art by @KillerLaurent

Moon Mysteries 1 – 3 (first series)

Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries sequel series)

Back in the Hunt #1

The Tides of March #2

Dead Air #3

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comDead Air: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Blurb

He hid in the woods to escape a monster but found a demon in his bed.

Six years ago, rising political star Niall Gilpatrick was living a lie. A fearless and vocal activist, he hid that he was himself a victim. After a brush with death, Niall ran, starting over as a park ranger in the Shenandoah Mountains.

But now, strange dreams and an impossibly dashing biologist have upended his tranquil existence.

And that was the point.

An ancient Irish demon, Chance Curn was sent to tempt this surprisingly wholesome mortal into selling his soul.

He’s haunting Niall’s dreams and playing with his heart, but it is Chance who finds himself in a dangerous trap.

Since when did demons have feelings?

Now, Chance has to decide if he’s willing to risk it all for a mortal and Niall must face his fears to trust a demon with his heart and his life. Can they save each other or will they become dead air?

Dead Air is a paranormal MM romance set in the mountains of rural Virginia. There’s Celtic mythology, an evil plot to foil, and an isolated cabin where no one can hear you scream. Dead Air is set in the world of Nelson & MacIlwraith, but can be read as a standalone.

Publisher: Bawdy Books
Publication date: August 19, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 247 pages

Review: The Tides of March: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Tides of March picks up right after the events from Back in the Hunt, the first book to feature the secondary characters from the original Moon Mysteries Trilogy featuring Nelson and Nox. At the end of that story, Nox’s TA Tony was severely injured and was taken out to Poole’s Island, hoping that Ronan, a merrow who lives there, could heal him.

That’s where The Tides of March picks up. But the time frame is somewhat flexible with the narrative flowing back and forth in time to the two important parts of Tony and Ronan relationship, that when they met and the current situation of events.

K Sterling became a go to author for a number of reasons, excellence in writing being one, but Sterling’s work when it comes to mythology, religion, cultural history and the depths of this author’s research is phenomenal. Then to take that knowledge and give it a unique twist, spinning it into epic tale of fantasy , horror, and murder mysteries? Fantastic.

That concept and mythological storytelling is furthered by Tony’s wounding and his unceremonious dumping on Poole’s Island, hoping that Ronan will have no other choice but to help him as a male merrow.

Their relationship will be built around Maryland’s history, Celtic mythology, especially those that pertain to merrows, and Tony’s own revelations about his family background. It’s an astonishing blend of mythology, history, and legends that works for the story, the relationship and its characters. It will also help more over , at the end, move the series arc mystery forward into another story and nearby location.

The vivid imagery and Sterling’s vision for the characters comes together in emotional detail and moments that make them and their situation seem believable.

That battle that brought many of Nox’s inner circle together (and our favorites) was a truly action filled and exciting.

All of these stories are based on locations near to me , something that rarely occurs in books I read. Silver Spring, Maryland? Almost unheard of.

The ending was lovely way to bring the story to a close , give Tony a new beginning and to launch the next adventure, Dead Air.

I’m all in when everyone heads to the Shenandoah Mountains.

Another fantastic story to add to the growing mythology mystery surrounding Nox and company. Highly recommended.

Exquisite covers. No idea who to credit them to.

Moon Mysteries 1 – 3 (first series)

Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries sequel series)

Back in the Hunt #1

The Tides of March #2

Dead Air #3 – Aug 19,2025

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Tides of March: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon …

Blurb

Welcome to Pooles Island.

Population: 1 very grumpy merrow.

That’s all that Anthony Costa knows about his destination. Weak and barely clinging to consciousness after being attacked by an undead changeling, Tony is left in the care of Ronan O’Sullivan. The young anthropology professor’s fate hangs by a thread and the hideous merrow is Tony’s last hope.

Scorned and abandoned, Ronan has no use for men until he finds a beautiful Roman castaway on his beach. Bound by an ancient oath, Ronan has no choice but to care for Tony. But being a merrow means that Ronan is also burdened by a strong desire to claim the human inhabiting his bed.

There’s more to Tony’s story than he ever imagined and Ronan finds out he’s more than an ugly face, but a mysterious foe has unleashed an ancient horror upon Pooles Island. Ronan sets Tony free in an attempt to fight it on his own and finds himself outmatched by a kraken. Will Tony and his friends make it back in time to save Ronan, or will their love story get swept away with the tide?

**Tides Of March is part of the Nelson & MacIlwraith universe and includes MANY spoilers for the original trilogy.**

Publisher: Bawdy Books (March 15, 2025)
Publication date: March 15, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 183 pages

Review: Truth or Spare: Princes Take New York Book 2 by K. Sterling

Rating: 5🌈

Second story into K. Sterling’s Princes Take New York series and I have a favorite already. Funny, heartwarming, beautifully written, full of characters that make you feel invested in their lives and the story. And even side appearances from delightful people who have just become star players in this universe! Muriel, I’m looking at you!

Sterling’s series is exploring the future of each von Hessen prince. There’s four brothers and a cousin, Max, living in Manhattan, who abdicated his duties and title to Leo, the oldest. Leo’s story and romance was the first one in the series.

Still single are Theobald (this book), Matteo, and finally younger, brilliant brother Elio aka Eli. And that’s the order that the author looks to be following for their stories.

As Truth or Spare opens, the setting is once again, The Olympia, an elegant well known apartment building on 72nd Ave in Manhattan on the Upper West side. It’s home to many characters and couples of both series but it’s Muriel Hornby’s apartment where Matteo and Theo are currently staying. Muriel is now family and ,hilariously, an intimidating sidekick when needed.

Theobald Anton Christoph Aelbehrt von Hessen is feeling restless. Sterling gives the reader an immediate impression of a man cut loose from his life’s purpose. That of raising his brothers who are now young men and capable of making their own decisions.

His interactions with Matteo show the brotherly dynamic and immense love that they feel for each other. And Theo’s loss of purpose for himself.

His personality and strength of character will only be further enhanced as he decides on a choice of actions that take him on a bus ride to tiny Oslo, New York and the old lanes of Brooks Family Bowling.

Never have I loved a fish out of water tale so much as I have watching an Austrian , albeit anonymous, prince wander into an American small town, multiple suitcases in hand, with a joyous, exuberant outlook. And lots of German words. With some very astonished people there to welcome him.

Dewey Brooks, owner and operator of Brooks Family Bowling has his own issues to deal with. Dewey also has a deep love of his fractured family, his tiny town, and the Brook’s legacy as represented by the family’s bowling alley, which he’s determined to keep alive whatever the cost to him personally. How much he’s struggling isn’t fully understood at first. Or exactly what are the issues he’s been battling. Those get revealed slowly, by others and as forced by events during the narrative.

Theo and Dewey’s relationship as employer/employee is hilarious. As something more? Sweet, sexy, utterly heartwarming and engaging. So well written it felt intimate to be a part of their lives and journey. And Walter? More please.

I could just continue on. About the customers, family members, town. Oslo, New York just has something special. And so does this amazing book.

It’s funny, it’s generous of spirit, it’s kind hearted, sexy and sweet.

I’m hoping we make a beeline back here soon in Matteo’s novel. Until then, pick up this fantastic romantic comedy. It’s one I’m highly recommending. The author too. She’s on my auto read list.

Nannies of New York (6 book series) and must read.

Princes Take New York (connected and sequel series):

Jonathon, After All #1
Truth or Spare #2

Buy link:

Truth or Spare: Princes Take New York Book 2

Blurb:

Split happens.

Too cynical to pin his hopes on a miracle, Dewey “Doobie” Brooks has his doubts when a charming stranger arrives in Oslo, New York, looking for a job and a place to stay. Running the family bowling alley, raising his brother’s son, and hiding an autoimmune disorder have left him in need of help—but finding a capable, reliable adult in his small town has been hopeless.

Theo von Hessen is neither capable nor reliable. An Austrian prince and philanthropist with a reputation for being an unrepentant playboy, he has never held a real job and is clueless about manual labor. But the moment he sees a “help wanted” sign and Oslo’s tired town hero, Theo’s convinced fate sent him there to make a difference.

It isn’t all fun and games at Brooks Family Bowling. Dewey is at his wits’ end and doesn’t know what to make of his new employee. Is Theo on the run, or is this some reality-show stunt? Neither can deny their attraction and romance strikes, but will Theo wind up in the gutter when his true identity is revealed—or has he finally found his purpose and a chance to rewrite his own story?

Publisher: Bawdy Books (February 4, 2025)
Publication date: February 4, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 267 pages

Review: Review: Heart & Soulless (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 7) by K. Sterling

Rating: 3🌈

I had high expectations for this story given the main character of Russ Dorian, but several elements made Heart & Soulless just not work for me.

First, Russ is a very interesting, compelling character that Sterling’s been developing over the series of stories. I’m sure that all the readers have been waiting for his backstory to be revealed to explain parts of his character and behaviors.

The horrific background supplied certainly supports the narrative of his current life and actions. Russ remains throughout a multi-dimensional character with the ability to show depth and different facets of his personality to the people important to him here in this story. That’s great character building.

The issue is that it didn’t extend to the other main character of Dr. Cassius Ambrose, who’s basically a one note character. It’s “oh no, the past sucked, my fault, my brother’s fault, I blame you too for your own destruction. (Insert red flag here) we can’t forget the past “ . Same conversation and over again. Flags. A personality Sterling has created that wasn’t relatable. IMO , so much so that I couldn’t understand what Russ saw in him except an old horrible past when he was 20 years old. And Cassius was much older who could have prevented some of the worst moments. More flags.

Sterling, even at the end, never has Cassius improve on his dubious personality. And it hurts the entire story. One in which the reader can see the “surprise “ coming a mile away.

The story written in 2021 even dates itself by its continual references to a character’s Tesla in a highly positive light without other context.

So Owen’s story is next and I believe that the last of the Bisbee Bachelors. The town is amazing and the central characters a wonderful group. This just happens to be not a favorite.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4
Riddles & Rivals #5
Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

Heart & Soulless (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 7)

Blurb

Russell Dorian’s dark past has finally come back to haunt him. An old enemy arrives in Bisbee with a grudge and what may be a cursed object and Russ has no one to blame but himself. As usual. Russ has always played by his own rules but he’s never played with hearts and hopes because he knows what it’s like to be cheated and to lose everything. But all those painful wounds are ripped open when Dr. Cassius Ambrose turns up, looking just like his deceased older brother and Russ’s former lover, Kingsley Ambrose.

That’s what one does when they receive a cursed object in the mail and are nearly killed by it. Right? Cassius’s house was burned down so he’s come to Bisbee to return the Pompeiian fresco to the sender and settle the score. But a mystery and a murder leave Cassius stranded in the quirky former mining town and he has to turn to Russ and the rest of the Bisbee Bachelors’ Club for help. Can Russ and Cassius let go of the past and solve the mystery before the fresco finds its next victim? There’s no denying the heat or escaping their history when they touch, but will Russ give his heart one more chance and learn he’s not as soulless as he believes?

Publisher: Bawdy Books (October 21, 2021)
Publication date: October 21, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 193 pages

Review: Review: Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

The ranks of the Bisbee Bachelor’s Club continues to shrink with Shadows & Reservations, the story of

Hadley Granger, owner of the most haunted house and hotel in Bisbee and his romantic love story with Lyle Hewer. Lyle Hewer is someone who is an outsider to the close knit Bisbee community but has been working his way into their lives book by book.

Sterling’s story focus is Granger and The Sullivan House, a place he rarely leaves and one that’s rightfully earned the reputation as the most haunted place in the town. Full of spirits that cannot rest and constantly haunt both Granger and anyone who steps on the property, its anguished history is a great part of the story.

That’s where the mystery and murders are and the relationship between the two men will be built. When the story concentrates on Granger, a sad, tormented man with a broken past, the book is terrific. Lyle, for me, no matter what story he’s appeared in, has been more a problematic character. That continues here.

His ex and the issues that come up with Lyle aren’t as realistic, amazingly given that Granger’s are ghostly. But Granger is such a great character and the support group of the rest of the Bisbee community works really well to make him and this an interesting mystery and satisfying story.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4
Riddles & Rivals #5
Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6)

Blurb

What happened to Dottie Granger and why is her son still trapped in The Sullivan House?

The people of Bisbee have spent forty years whispering about the reclusive Hadley Granger, and the night his mother disappeared from The Sullivan House. The shy inn keeper has done his best to keep her memory, and the haunted bed and breakfast, alive by any means necessary. When the town learns that Hadley is also a best-selling author, his private life and all his secrets begin to bleed off the page.

Hadley’s latest guest is a stoic engineer protecting a few secrets of his own. Lyle Hewer’s come to Bisbee to escape a collapsing affair and to determine if the Queen Mine is safe enough to reopen. But trouble follows him to the quirky former mining town when his ex arrives and books a room at The Sullivan House.

The chivalrous inn keeper volunteers for the part of Lyle’s new boyfriend to help him save face, but their plan goes awry almost immediately. Lyle has been in love with the gentle inn keeper from the first moment he stepped foot in The Sullivan House, and Hadley finds himself falling for his prickly guest too. But Hadley has one very big problem: Lyle has to leave before it’s too late and the secrets of The Sullivan House shatters both of their lives.

Warning: brief scenes depicting domestic violence against women and children.

Publisher: Bawdy Books (September 16, 2021)
Publication date: September 16, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 216 pages

Review: Back In The Hunt: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4🌈

Back In The Hunt both continues the overall themes and universe started with the Moon Murder Mysteries (3 book series) that introduces the characters, locations and incredible complex mythologies and cultural linguistic concepts/elements that are at the heart of everything here.

That each book needs at the beginning of the story its own introduction to the various aspects of the mythologies in use, the translations of the old Gaelic terms in casual usage, witch lore is testament to Sterling’s dedication to a well crafted universe and the depth of detail and development that’s being explored here.

This achievement of increasingly complex concepts and character dimensions does several things to this story and new series. It makes it necessary for a reader to have read the preceding Moon Murder Mysteries before arriving here so they have the right background information and understanding of the circle of characters that is the basis for this book and group of people.

The other aspect of this densely packed narrative is that you must be able to carry that knowledge with you throughout the story, so even that minutiae from a prior book is available to pull out when a character, say Merlin, mentions it in a throw away bit of conversation here.

For me, it engages my brain in absolute appreciation even if I’m not completely emotionally attached to the characters. Odd how that has worked out, at least for me. I’m so fascinated by the conceptual context and issues that it’s removed me from the emotional connection.

Did I enjoy reading this? Absolutely. Thought the entire aspect of the changeling and how Sterling saw them was imaginative and well constructed.

I did find that it was resolved too quickly and in a way we didn’t quite find out what happened to the two “troublesome “ beings. That felt unsatisfying to me. Perhaps in the future stories we will find some further resolution.

Until the next book, which I’m really anticipating, I am content to leave the group of Prof Lennox ‘Nox’ MacIlwraith ,FBI Agent Grady Nelson,

Merlin Oglethorpe ,Prof Darrach Clancy , Bryn Cadwallader and Everly Wells, Bryn’s twin brother, Arawn, surgeon, married to

Dr Fletcher Bixby, gathered together as yet another personal case is ready for their attention.

I’m definitely recommending this but please ignore that sentence in the description that states it can be read as a standalone. No. Why do they keep putting those things on books that absolutely aren’t standalone stories. SMH.

Cover Art isn’t credited but I love it.

Moon Murder Mysteries (3 book series):

Nelson & MacIlwraith #1, 2, and 3

A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries related)

Back In The Hunt #1
The Tides of March #2 – March 15,2025

Buy link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Back-…Back In The Hunt: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Your soul is his to take. And he takes that very seriously.

After a string of gutting losses, Everly Wells has given up on life. But a near-death experience and an encounter with a cocky paramedic with glowing green eyes, gives Everly a new reason to live…and powerful allies fighting to keep him out of danger.

Bryn Cadwallader and his twin brother might be descended from the hounds of the Wild Hunt, but there are limits to their powers. When Bryn saves Everly’s life, refusing to take the lost mortal’s soul onwards, he realises darker, stranger forces are at work. Rattled but determined to save Everly’s life, Bryn looks to a very different, but uniquely qualified pair of investigators.

FBI Agent Grady Nelson and Professor Nox MacIlwraith.

To track a foe who uses both modern and ancient means, Nelson and Nox must use their knowledge of the occult and experience fighting crime and evil to help Bryn thwart this new, mystical threat. Can they save Everly, or will Bryn be cursed to an eternity hunting for his lost love?

Formerly listed as The Case of the Curious Cadwallader, Back In The Hunt is a hurt-comfort, paranormal mystery romance. It overlaps with the epilogue of Nelson & MacIlwraith: Moon Murder Mysteries #3, and references some events from the Moon Murder Mysteries trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone.

*From me: no, just no. They absolutely can’t be read as a standalone. Why do they insist on putting this in? SMH

Review: Jonathon, After All: Princes Take New York Book 1 by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

From K Sterling’s forward:

“All the books in this series are meant to be modern adaptations of classic fairy tales with the primary focus on the king of all tropes: Prince Charming. He’s the king for me, at least. And if there is one thing that is consistent with Charming, it’s insta love. He believes in love at first sight and he is often blindly noble. Occasionally, to his and his true love’s detriment.”

Other classical elements of the Prince Charming fairy tale story are included. A in-distress character who’s been wronged, knights,wicked stepmothers, etc, but all given a contemporary twist with the characters and storyline elements to make Jonathon, After All: Princes Take New York Book 1 a entertaining start to a new series.

The aspects of this story I absolutely loved were seeing the real relationship between Jonathon and his formidable aunt Muriel. In the preceding series and stories, both Jonathon and his intimidating Aunt Muriel, and her apricot poodle, had by their own accounts here, given a very different, oftentimes off putting impression. But here we see and understand the truth of the matter. That they love each other and Aunt Muriel has always been Jonathon’s most loyal supporter, even when she hasn’t understood his actions.

Sterling presents an older, mischievous, highly intelligent woman, one determined to make sure that her beloved nephew is taken care of and safe. If you can’t tell, I’d be throughly thrilled with a novel about Muriel , Tilly (her devoted staff), and that poodle as the go invest things!

And add in Jonathon, who has a great, wounded backstory, but a loving history with Muriel and that building that they live in Manhattan, well, I’m totally invested in this family. It gets better when Jonathon meets and is “acquired” as part of the Nanny found family by Riley and Giles. Again, another superb pairing and part of the story. Beautiful work with in this narrative, and so great to see this family again.

Only the romance was a little less developed for me. I think this has to do with how the flashbacks were worked into the present day storyline. For me, the transitions weren’t particularly smooth between the decade they met and the time now when Leo is trying to figure out what happened and get Jonathon back.

It’s too jumbled and it takes away from the story as it’s happening now between them. The best part is all about Jonathon. Then separately about Leo. It’s not until later that any real new relationship can begin again. And reasonably, a decade and a lot of misdeeds have happened.

More development would have been nice for them both afterwards and a better cohesive format for the flashbacks to really make this relationship stronger than it comes across. Especially with the kink and their background.

I’m looking forward to reading the new books in the series and hopefully Aunt Muriel pops up again to save the day in some way. What an amazing character and turnaround! I adore her so much!

A definite recommendation.

Nannies of New York (6 book series) and must read.

Princes Take New York (connected and sequel series):

Jonathon, After All #1

Buy link

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Blurb

What do you say to the man who took your virginity, broke your heart, and ruined your life?

For ten years, Jonathon hid his pain, acting out in ridiculous ways in hopes that one day, his prince would rescue him. But when the day finally came, it was too little, too late after being pushed at and rejected by every eligible bachelor in Manhattan.

Leopold, the new Margrave of Hessen, was the gala’s guest of honor but he didn’t give a damn until he spotted the love of his life at the bar. After nearly a decade apart, Leo’s delight quickly turns into confusion when he’s doused by a cocktail and Jonathon flees the gala.

What happened, all those years ago in Austria? And what went wrong? Both men must confront the truth about their secret, month-long affair and break the spell that’s kept them apart. Is it too late for them to turn back the clock, or will Jonathon get his happily ever after, after all?

A spin-off of K. Sterling’s Nannies of New York series, Jonathan, After All is a contemporary fairytale romance about a young artist hiding a broken heart behind an influencer persona, and a valiant, misguided prince trying to save the world from climate change. There’s meddling family and staff, a metaphorical tower, a wicked aunt, and two lovers separated by an evil spell.

Publisher: Bawdy Books (August 20, 2024)
Publication date: August 20, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 303 pages

Review: Riddles & Rivals (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 5) by K. Sterling

Rating: 5🌈

Riddles & Rivals, an enemies to lovers story, was everything I anticipated it to be and more. Involving two of the most compelling and layered individuals in this series, Sterling delves deeply into the men’s heavily woven lives that includes their families connected thru their often dark histories. As the last of the original mine owning founding families of Bisbee, Mercer and Baxter’s animosity started in their adolescence. Fueled by the difference in their backgrounds, the deep religious beliefs, and the disparity climate of the household in which each man was raised.

Riddles & Rivals sees Mayor Mercer Hathaway asking his longtime enemy Baxter Dawson for help. Mercer is tearing down the ominous Hathaway House and wants an answer to the famous old unsolved crime of what really happened to Julia Lowell. A crime that has long been thought to have been committed by a Hathaway. The answers might be in Hathaway House and they have a weekend to find out before it’s torn down.

That’s the bare minimum of this complex, character driven, beautifully crafted mystery. It’s got ghosts determined by their own agendas, ancient passions and two men who find themselves in a strange place where they unravel long held secrets and their own destiny.

Sterling’s forward asks reviewers not to divulge the spoilers of the story and I won’t. They are far too fantastic.

I thought the men, their strengths and struggles with their pasts, especially Mercer’s inner voice as he wrestles with the events and his emotions, are so vivid and powerful.

Riddles & Rivals (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 5) by K. Sterling is a highlight of the series and a fabulous read. A must in itself and in the series.

Loving the covers.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4
Riddles & Rivals #5

Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

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Riddles & Rivals (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 5)

Blurb

One haunted mansion. Two lifelong enemies. Three days to solve one of Bisbee’s most notorious mysteries.It’s nearly Valentine’s Day but it might as well be Christmas for Baxter Dawson when Bisbee’s mayor, Mercer Hathaway, knocks on his door with an irresistible proposition for the town’s favorite crime solver. Mercer’s planning to tear down The Hathaway House and burn everything inside it to free himself of his family’s dark legacy. But first, Mercer wants to find the answer to a riddle that’s plagued him for decades: who killed Julia Lowell and why does she haunt him every time he’s a guest at The Copper Queen Hotel? The answer is somewhere inside The Hathaway House but the real mystery is: can these two bitter rivals survive a weekend together in a mansion full of ghosts and Hathaway Family skeletons without killing each other?

Publisher: Bawdy Books (June 30, 2021)
Publication date: June 30, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 178 pages

Review: Grave Expectations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 4) by K. Sterling

Rating: 3.5🌈

I really am invested in K Sterling’s universe she’s creating for The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club series but the characters relationship, or specifically the character of Dr. Flip Satis really didn’t work well for me. Or his storyline.

It’s unfortunate because the character paired with him, Dr Wallace Brinkley, Bisbee’s ME, is one I’ve become very fond of. He’s quirky, older, knowledgeable, and his way of thinking and understanding his patients in the morgue is fascinating.

So having Sterling him in an age gap developing relationship with someone who’s been, it turns out, stalking him because of a crush, is problematic for starters. The issues with Dr. Flip Satis continues because every time there’s an instance where he might be a little bit more appealing, it turns out that he’s still full of secrets. Ones he’s keeping hidden, even from the “man he loves “.

This we learn from Flip’s inner monologue, a conversation that is full of hints about how he should be spilling secrets but doesn’t. That gets old fast, in the narrative and with the character.

This also impacts on how I perceive the relationship and the investigation proceedings.

All in all, this wasn’t one of the strongest stories and I didn’t find Flip a character I liked. Maybe if more of his history and background had been written in, but instead as is, Flip was a person I didn’t connect with.

But it does explore the personality of another ambiguous character and sets him up nicely for a book to come. Can’t wait for that story.

The town and support cast are always interesting in these roles and investigations. Read it for that.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

Haunted Hearts #1
Moonlight & Madness #2
Unhappy Medium #3
Grave Expectations #4

Riddles & Rivals #5
Shadows & Reservations #6
Heart & Soulless #7
Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

Grave Expectations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 4)

Blurb

Dr. Flip Satis is in Bisbee for all the wrong reasons, but he’s chasing the right man. He’s wanted Dr. Wallace Brinkley since Flip sat in Dr. Brinkley’s anatomy class but the chivalrous older medical examiner never acted on the chemistry between them. After making a deal with the devil to be closer to his mentor and eternal crush, a summer monsoon and a dead body throw Flip’s plans into disarray.

Wallace came to Bisbee looking for a slower pace, but now his one temptation has arrived in the eccentric former mining town. When Flip needs his help, Wallace can’t turn his back on the beguiling young doctor with the haunting blue eyes.

As Flip becomes the primary suspect in the murder of a notorious businessman, Wallace turns to the Bachelors’ club for assistance. Can he solve the crime without giving into temptation, or will falling for Flip lead to grave expectations…

Publisher: Bawdy Books (April 29, 2021)
Publication date: April 29, 2021
Language: English
Print length: 140 pages

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