Tag: fated mates

Review:  How to Tame a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #3) by Shannon Mae

Rating: 4🌈

How to Tame a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #3) by Shannon Mae continues this fated mates series with the next couple, two damaged people, Atlas the Hellhound who’s mostly feral, and Aiden, the human being who is still recovering from his ordeal from his time as a prisoner and kidnap victim. 

Shannon Mae, an author who’s written many of the series I have reviewed and highly recommended, writes here about some very disturbing and very sensitive topics with genuine compassion and respect.  She does it well and I think within a therapeutic framework.  FYI for those readers who should look at TW going forward. 

Fluffy and Aiden’s growing relationship started in the previous books, with Aiden going on walks in the woods and dog-like Atlas as his companion, Fluffy.  Aiden not yet understanding who or what Fluffy really is, a mostly feral Atlas who’s found his mate in the wounded Aiden.

Mae has always done a good job in presenting the Hellhounds, or a section of them, as truly otherworldly beings lacking the necessary social knowledge or understanding that allows humans to interact with others and interpret their behavior. 

So the scenes and dialogue between the Hellhounds and their mates or SO’s are humorous but serve a better purpose to underscore their own Otherworldly ignorance. It works here really well. 

Aiden and Atlas’s personal experiences with trauma and pain help them to find their own way through to a deeper relationship. It makes sense to us as readers. 

The author has multiple storylines included here, ones that are still playing out for the next book.

It’s a highly emotional, suspense filled and satisfying story. 

I was so happy for Atlas and Aiden to get their HEA.  

Paradise Falls is Shannon Mae’s favorite location to play in. Can’t wait to see what happens next here. 

A definite recommendation!

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls:

How To Flirt With A Hellhound #1

How To Hack A Hellhound #2

How To Tame A Hellhound #3

How To Trust A Hellhound #4 – Oct 4,2025

What else takes place in Paradise Falls? 

Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series)

Buy link

        How to Tame a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Aiden

Apparently, the trauma from being kidnapped doesn’t end when you’re rescued, although I’m doing better. I have a roommate who has become family, and we’ve been adopted by a pack of otherworldly creatures who protect us. I’m still a little jumpy, and most people make me uncomfortable, but baking, therapy, and my daily walks are all helping. The sweet guard dog who follows me around in the woods helps, too. I can tell him anything I want—even how scared I am of my own family. I’m afraid to bring trouble to my new family’s doorstep, but I can’t end up caged again.

Atlas (aka Fluffy)

I have never belonged. I never knew my parents, and I grew up with a pack of wolves. (Yes, I was literally raised by wolves. Believe me, I see the humor in that too.) Wilder found me and adopted me, and I have a pack and a good life. People still make me uncomfortable, though, unless I’m torturing and killing them (only hellbound people—I’m not just some random serial killer). I just like solitude. But there’s something about Aiden that calls to my hellhound, and I can’t help wanting to protect the sweet human. I’ll even put up with being nicknamed Fluffy so long as I get to stay close to him. When I find out he’s in danger, I know I can’t sit back any longer. The only problem? How will my traumatized human react to finding out I’m not just a guard dog?

Tags: Both characters have tragic backstories and need lots of comfort; Aiden loves cuddles and Fluffy is totally cuddle material; Atlas kind of likes being called Fluffy by his human, but he’ll maim anyone else who tries it; there’s torture and death (but only of really bad people); hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them.

  • Publication date: May 1, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 234 pages

Review:  Witchwolf by Sam Burns and W. M. Fawkes 

Rating: 4🌈

Normally I’m not one for the “virgin trope” storyline but Burns and Fawkes are two of my favorite authors and in their hands, it turns into Witchwolf, a delightful urban fantasy romance about a young man who in looking for a hot night out before a new job finds far more than he ever imagined.

Dakota Morris is the young man, recently graduated from college, and ready for his dream job and adventure. But before then? He wants that hot date and experience he’s denied himself by concentrating on his college and studies.

Burns and Fawkes have created a wonderful exuberant character in Dakota and then given him the absolutely best possible place to explore his new life and possibilities for his future. 

Of course he doesn’t expect his future to come with werewolves, mages and a ton of magic. 

The corporate world and culture the authors are laying down will be expanding with the next book , a chapter of which is included at the end of Witchwolf. 

But we get the outline of how the company works and its origins. Pack owned and operated but not exclusively employed by just werewolves.  This is a rich universe Burns and Fawkes are building and I’m hopeful that we get more than just two books here. 

Dakota’s story has mysteries and some drama associated with it.  I wish we could have had more details about his background but understand why that wasn’t given. There’s so much more here that cries out for greater detail and exploration, into the mage history and paranormal being rivalries. 

I’m hoping that future stories dive into this element.

The romance between Dakota and Alpha Ajax is hot, fun, and the dynamic between them makes us absolutely love this couple. Want to throttle Ajax occasionally because of his lack of communication skills but still Dakota makes up for it. 

Love the ending and energy going forward. But having the entire first chapter of Book 2 (great chapter too) and not the book? Argh.  

I will be watching out for that book next. 

A definite winner for lovers of urban fantasy and these authors.

Witchwolf series:

  • Witchwolf #1
  • Word, Nerds, & Werecats #2 – coming early 2026 – chapter 1 included in the first book. ❤️

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://a.coWitchwolf – Kindle edition by Burns, Sam, Fawkes, W.M.. Romance …

Blurb 

Dakota Morris has decided it’s time he lost that pesky virginity.

He’s a college graduate, and he’s tired of being a virgin. So he goes out to a club his friends don’t frequent, and picks up the hottest man he’s ever seen. It’s truly a night to remember . . . until he walks into the boardroom for his new job the next morning and wishes he could forget it, because his hot pick-up is also his new boss and CEO, Ajax Fyse.

The fact that he unknowingly slept with his newest employee is the least of Jax’s problems right now. Not only is he trying to navigate a merger with a mage family who disdains werewolves as beasts, it turns out the mage he took home last night didn’t even believe magic existed till this morning.

This morning, when his magic abilities manifested.

Now, Dakota’s stapler is flying across the room, and Jax has landed himself in the position of ushering his gorgeous new hire into the realm of magic. If only sleeping with a werewolf wouldn’t ruin Dakota’s reputation among other mages . . .

  • Publication date: May 1, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 253 pages

Review:  Demon (Mystic Guardians Book 3) by Rinda Elliott

Rating:3🌈

Demon (Mystic Guardians Book 3) by Rinda Elliott is a series that started out strong but has wobbled narratively with each following story.

Details and drama surrounding this couple isn’t clearly defined or well established. And unfortunately the ending is very unsatisfactory.

Which is sad because Demon has the potential to be a good paranormal romance and this couple is extremely engaging. 

This series and novel is a fated mates, instant love romance/relationship between a human being who can see preternatural beings and the other beings who’re their fated mate. 

Lonnie Russell, a professor of writing, has a scary stalker so his sister, a successful author,has hired the otherworldly agency to supply a bodyguard for him. That bodyguard happens to be the demon, Demon Callan Ambrose, who’s desperate for a mate.

Cute aspects to the story and relationship? Lonnie collects anime figurines, including demons, from his favorite shows and comics. And introduces Callan to anime, a great element which was underutilized. 

They were sweet and really had the potential for a better romance here. The author gave Lonnie’s character some serious issues that instead of being addressed were lightly touched on. He has ADHD admittedly, body image issues (although Callan finds him sexy), and a writer’s block that has been around for a while. Then a stalker who has been watching him 24/7 that he didn’t take seriously at first so more than just body image issues.  None of this is actually well defined or explored in the storyline or the relationship. 

If as a author you don’t have that much page time to authentically talk about the serious elements that you have used to help create a character, then perhaps it better not to use them in this book at all.  Save it for a longer novel and different character. 

The same lack of development goes for the dramatic element of the story. It comes out of nowhere. No foundation for it. 

Spoiler. 

But as the villain is, even excluding the main aspect of his character, highly obsessive and delusional, to end this with him able to recover , remaining just as cemented in his delusion, and ready to go forward makes zero sense. 

The excuses the head of the agency makes are just as bad. It throws the reader out of any plausible connection that’s remaining to the story and this scenario. 

I doubt I’m going forward with any further books in the series. 

Too bad because there’s some good things here but nothing is carried through to the any of its full potential. 

Cover by Rinda Elliott  Created with Vellum

Mystic Guardians:

Basilisk #1

Elf #2

Demon #3

Buy link

 Book 3 of 3: Mystic Guardians 

Blurb 

Demon Callan Ambrose wants a soulmate more than anything but is sure he’ll never find his. One of his brothers is mated and soulmates are rare, so the odds are against him. Then he takes a job protecting Lonnie Russell, a creative writing professor who is quirky, and sweet, and just…perfect. But someone is terrorizing Lonnie with threatening notes. 

Lonnie has always been able to see the preternaturals in the world and he’s always been fascinated with them. Especially demons. He even has an entire room dedicated to them. So he’s thrilled when his new bodyguard turns out to be one. Callan is big and gruff, his grumpy exterior a mask for someone who’s really a cuddle monster. And the gifts? He sure would like to know what that’s all about. 

What started out as vague threats quickly escalates and when they realize what they’re up against, Callan is determined to keep his newfound treasure safe. 

Demon is a long MM paranormal romance novella with a grumpy/sunshine pairing, traditional demon courting, and plenty of steam. It’s the third in the Mystic Guardians series, but can be read as a standalone

  • Publication date: April 6, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 145 pages

Review:  The Vampire’s Delicious Fae (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 2) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 4🌈

I absolutely enjoyed this fantasy romance of miscommunication resolved between an ancient vampire and a green fae, both of which have their own families to share.  

It’s a sort of fantasy With Eight You Get Eggrolls, but with drama, plants, and mate bonds. 

Anton and Keryth were both very great characters and wonderful together, quickly figuring out why they were so drawn together (fated mates).  It wasn’t the normal fast paced relationship I expected in a fated mate story. I loved the way Notaro let them go down a slower path than an immediate step into a full blown love match. Each has a family to consider and those kids (young and old) were part of the bigger picture (and discussions) as they grew together.

Ker’s children are a more well known group (from previous stories) than Anton’s with the exception of Jed, Anton’s youngest. 

The full found family Ker and  Keryth’s young sisters Alsira, Gemma, Saranor, and Zellya, and Anton has his fledglings Phaeron, Beshiro, Katja, Jedediah. Then there’s one more youngster who becomes a major character and storyline here. 

All played out while a series or universe drama /mysteries is going on around them, including them in its horror. 

There is one book left in this trilogy and I can’t see how the huge overall plot is tied together within that book.  It’s just that big. 

But the author already has another series coming to follow this one, about the vampires. Which makes sense because vampires are the focus of the ongoing mystery and arc plot. 

So I expect a switch in locations and characters. What fun! And more crossovers as well. 

Looking forward to the final book in this series and the next series.

A definite winner. 

Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala (3 book series):

The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon #1

The Vampire’s Delicious Fae #2

The Dragon’s Devoted Defender #3 – March 17,2026

Buy link 

        The Vampire’s Delicious Fae (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 2)

    

Blurb 

I hate vampires. Well, just one in particular. But I do kinda love how his eyes follow me whenever he’s around… Sigh.

Step One: Find a hot vampire. Check.

Step Two: Get the hot vamp to drink from me. Check. 

Step Three: Try to forget his stupid face. Ugh. This one’s impossible to check. F my life. Sigh. 

Anton is beyond frustrating. He was so sweet when we first met, and I’d thought we had a real connection. But then he had to ruin everything with his big mouth and jerky face. Ugh.

I can’t get him out of my head. Even when I’m beyond angry at him, I still feel a pull to be near him. A pull I can’t seem to ignore.

And when my entire world gets turned upside-down, I can’t help but reach for the ancient vampire and hope that together, we can conquer anything that’s thrown at us… anything that’s coming for us.

The Vampire’s Delicious Fae is Book 2 of the MM urban fantasy series, Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala. It follows a new couple in each book with a guaranteed HEA. It takes place in the Brinnswick world in the far away country of Gauhala and brings a whole new cast of characters, so you don’t need to read the other series first. But don’t worry, there will absolutely be some cameos along the way.

  • Publication date: March 27, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 360 pages

Review:  Draken the Rules (Blackhaven Manor Book 13) by Arden Steele

Rating: 4🌈

Draken the Rules is a sweet, sexy paranormal novella in Arden Steele’s long running fated mates Blackhaven Manor universe.  

It’s a quick read and I really enjoyed the characters, especially as Arden added another dragon shifter to the universe who a total powerhouse! 

Up until now, we had only the original dragon siblings acknowledged and now we know that there are others out there. Fantastic expansion of this series and universe.  Also intriguing little toy , a fabulous tiny dragon that used blood magic to animate it.  Was it sentient or not? Could have used an entire story on it alone. 

Minor drama that was easily removed but the couple was adorable and Itri Lockwood , Storm dragon shifter , morally grey magic item dealer needs a series. Especially now that his mate has decided to work with him. 

That would be great!

Another recommendation!

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
  • Dewitched #12
  • Draken the Rules #13

Sequel/adjacent  series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

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

Buy link

        Draken the Rules (Blackhaven Manor Book 13)

    

Blurb 

Welcome to Hell Week. 

For Arlo Eichen, the annual Heritage Festival is less of a beloved tradition and more of a weeklong exercise in patience. The crowds are insane, the chaos is overwhelming, and the sense of entitlement is off the charts. So, when an honest-to-the-gods storm erupts inside one of the ballrooms? Just another day at Blackhaven Manor.

Until he sets eyes on the source of the storm. 

Six-and-half feet of brooding, lightning-throwing dragon shifter, Itri Lockwood has a bad-boy reputation and a temper as short as his patience. And he doesn’t take kindly to threats against what’s his—especially when it comes to Arlo.

Mixing business with pleasure was never part of the plan. He came for a distraction, but now he’s juggling a coveted artifact, a deal gone sideways, and a mate who went from an unexpected temptation to a primal obsession.

Itri might be able to control the storm but keeping Arlo out of trouble…

That’s going to take a miracle.

  • Publisher: Peccavi Press (March 27, 2025)
  • Publication date: March 27, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 144 pages

Review:  Full Color (ORCA #3) by Vinni George

 

Rating: 3.5🌈

Full Color is the penultimate book in George’s ORCA series. It’s a paranormal fated mates shifter romance series that involves a family of Orca whale brothers and a mysterious family painting, The Evolution of Man, that’s being heavily sought after the the world art community, thieves and billionaires collectors as well as their own family. 

Along the way, the brothers have come together to pool their talents to form the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA). And book by book and mission by mission, find their fated mate. 

In the last book, twin Cal Hunter found his fated mate in great white shark shifter, Jack, leaving his twin brother Quinn shaken by a sudden change in their twin bond and brotherly dynamic. 

Quinn, an art dealer and forger, gets a call about the lost painting they have been searching for and the team is on a mission for recovery and investigation. 

Quinn finds his fated mate during the search and mission to retrieve the painting, a chameleon shifter, Dimitri Crysanthos. 

The romance is the quick instant recognition fated mates one with little time for a relationship or connection to be made. Dimitri has a sister in danger that isn’t a factor other than we know she’s somewhere at the city where the action scenes are taking place. She’s a non entity otherwise. 

George creates some nice elements around Dimitri’s shifting character that involves art and painting but leaves too many holes in the characters backstory and abilities to really make him and his sister believable.  Dimitri is sweet and one dimensional. 

It wraps up quickly with enough information to move the series arc forward towards the series finale and the final couple and brother to get his fated mate. 

The story and romance was just fine but the other plots were better imo. This feels rushed and incomplete in many aspects. 

I’m looking forward to the finale and seeing how everything gets pulled together. 

ORCA series:

Black & White #1

Grayscale #2

Full Color #3

Monochrome #4 – series finale- Sept 30,2025

Buy link

        Full Color: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 3)

    

Blurb

Quin Hunter likes the quiet life. He runs his gallery, forges famous art, and operates a fence where black market buyers get fakes and the real pieces get returned to their rightful owners. Nice and simple. He doesn’t do field work. But a call from his twin thrusts him into the action, and now he and his brothers are racing the clock to steal a painting from someone who never should have had it in the first place.

Dimitri Crysanthos is no stranger to mistakes. All he wanted to do was make life easier for his sister. Instead, he ended up making everything harder for both of them. With his life and his sister’s hanging in the balance, he has no choice but to do whatever one of the most ruthless men in Amsterdam tells him to do. All Dimitri wants is to stay alive…until a stranger changes everything. Now Dimitri craves something terrifying, something that will put him and his sister in even more danger—his freedom.

The stakes of the heist have changed, and Quin refuses to quit until Dimitri is safe for good. Can the ORCA team get the art and Quin’s fated mate out of Amsterdam, or are the odds too stacked against them?

Full Color is book three in the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA) series, featuring an orca shifter art forger who isn’t keen on field work, a chameleon shifter with a lucrative secret talent, and a heist where the target is far more valuable than a stolen painting!

Review:  Alphas Never Hide (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 5) by Lori Ames

Rating: 4.5🌈

Alphas Never Hide brings Lori Ames’ wonderful Willow Lake Supernaturals series to a end by featuring the reluctant Alpha Hayden finally accepting his mantle as the Alpha of the Willow Lake Supernaturals and finding his fated mate in a newly discovered hostage, Ryley, a faun. 

I’ll be the first to admit I was finding Hayden tedious. His constant denial about his Alpha status and the continuing pity party about how everything was his fault was off putting.  And Ames starts off with Hayden in the same pattern here. Lone wolf, whining about the past and his criminal brother. Got it.

Thankfully, a new character offers a change in direction and growth for Hayden. That’s Ryley, a faun who’s been abducted as part of Robbie’s supernatural trafficking operation and freed himself. 

Ryley has some speciesism issues due to his dreadful herd’s behavior and the author works through these issues skillfully to highlight what’s special about Willow Lake and to recap the inhabitants of the community. Really good work!

I absolutely loved Ryley and thought this character redeemed Hayden’s, allowing some long overdue personality growth and character development. 

One of my highlights is the scene where we see the magic of the moment when Hayden accepts his Alpha status flowing through the air and the community. That’s was remarkable. 

I’m not sure if this is the end of the trafficking storyline or not.  It’s the end of Robbie’s part in it.  But there is a sequel series coming out soon.  The Willow Lake Pack series and the fated mate romance of Parker and Levi launches that one. 

Stay tuned!

I’m sure the characters will cross over and be in everyone’s business and storylines. I’m definitely looking forward to this. 

I enjoyed seeing Hayden accomplish his goal and become the Alpha and get such a fantastic fated mate in Ryley.  

A definite winner.

Willow Lake Supernaturals Series

Note: Books in this series are best enjoyed when read in order.

Hellhounds Never Lie #1  (Ash and Dillon)

Wolves Always Bite #2  (Jeremy and Adrian)

Oracles Always Win #3  (Jake and Gage)

Cats Never Fly #4 (Simon and Ogden)

Alphas Never Hide #5 (Hayden and Ryley) – series finale 

Buy link

        Alphas Never Hide (Willow Lake Supernaturals Book 5)

    

Blurb 

The wolf who refuses to be Alpha.

Hayden Walker might be trapped in Willow Lake by guilt and duty, but he’s no one’s alpha. It doesn’t matter how many times people call him Alpha, with a capital A like it’s his name, he just isn’t—just ask his last pack. They had no problem rejecting him to follow his traitorous brother, Robbie, twelve years ago.

Hayden thought he’d come to terms with what happened back then, but it turns out some things don’t get easier to accept with time. After discovering his brother’s latest sinister activities, Hayden can’t hide from the truth anymore. He has to stop him, particularly when Ryley Bell, his fated mate, is his brother’s latest victim.

Hayden can’t let his brother harm anyone else. Robbie won’t take anyone else from him. Not again. Never again.

Tags: MM Fated Mates Paranormal Romance, a wolf who refuses to be Alpha, a faun who doesn’t put up with his mate’s nonsense, let’s pretend a kick in the face is a sign of love at first sight, the Eternal Magic is a persistent diva, the confrontation between brothers we’ve all been waiting for, Hayden has a pack whether he wants one or not, he will also get his happily-ever-after whether he wants one or not, wolves should listen to their clever mates, and, most importantly, not all fauns play flutes.

Willow Lake Supernaturals Series

Note: Books in this series are best enjoyed when read in order.

Book 1 – Hellhounds Never Lie (Ash and Dillon)

Book 2 – Wolves Always Bite (Jeremy and Adrian)

Book 3 – Oracles Always Win (Jake and Gage)

Book 4 – Cats Never Fly (Simon and Ogden)

Book 5 – Alphas Never Hide (Hayden and Ryley)

Alphas Never Hide is the fifth and final book in the Willow Lake Supernaturals series, but DON’T WORRY! We aren’t leaving Willow Lake, not when there are still so many characters waiting for their happily-ever-afters! Levi and Parker’s book will be the first release the new 

Willow Lake Pack series! It is coming soon!

Review:  Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1) by Callie Hart

Rating:  4.5 ⭐️

The world building by Callie Hart in Quicksilver is truly astonishing. Incredibly detailed and rich in imagery, Hart’s worlds, yes multiple connected ones, so well crafted that each feels absolutely unique. Fundamentally different from their species of beings, mythological perspectives, life spans even their suns in the sky . 

 Hart’s female main character is a stunning figure.  Saeris Fane is a thief, a fierce fighter, a resourceful woman. She’s had to do what it takes to survive and protect herself and her irresponsible younger brother in a walled off section of the City where the worst of their kingdom is concentrated by authority of the Queen. 

Saeris’  sad history and that of dangerous diseased slum , The Third Ward, of Zilvaren City, are heavily intertwined. How will be slowly revealed throughout this story with great impact. It’s enough that we see how living in such conditions has formed her, including the fact she’s able to work a forge. And it introduces other great characters that have been important figures in her life. 

How dramatically the Fae and the figure of The Kingfisher is brought into this narrative is something I’ll leave to the story but it’s a fantastic one.  So is the creation of the element of quicksilver and all the unusual aspects of this magical material.  It’s one astounding revelation after another, and I absolutely loved it because it was so unexpected. 

The relationship between Saeris and Fisher is complex and uneasy.  I liked the way there’s a fated mate storyline but it’s not automatically acceptable. Given the circumstances and, a lack of communication, it shouldn’t be.

Main characters who don’t communicate are an issue for me but here the rationale and the foundation laid for any such actions are part of the beautifully crafted storytelling.  

There’s passion, mythology, battles, magical horrifying creatures, and a cliffhanger. 

Did I have a quibble? Yes. Fisher calls Saeris “Little Osha”, a shorter version of the name of a short lived butterfly.  He uses that instead of Saeris for most of the story.  Why he does this is explained in the story, however, I’m generally, and certainly not here,  a fan of male characters calling female characters “little” anything. It’s intentionally dismissive (as it is here) and turning it into some kind of weird cute nickname doesn’t work. 

The ending is stunning and unexpected. It’s a cliffhanger that leaves a reader wondering how the next book will go forward from these events.  I can’t wait.

Highly recommended. And what a gorgeous cover.

Fae & Alchemy:

Quicksilver #1

Brimstone #2 – Nov 18, 2025

Buy link

        Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy Book 1)

    

Blurb 

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

The global phenomenon by Callie Hart–a highly addicting enemies-to-lovers Romantasy with razor-sharp banter, heart-stopping action, and blistering hot romance. 

Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water. But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her. Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child. The devil is in the details…

Review: Elf (Mystic Guardians Book 2) by Rinda Elliott 

Rating: 3🌈

Elf is the second of Rinda Elliott’s novels in her Mystic Guardians series and honestly I’m at a loss here with the series.  It’s a series that contains a fated mate/soulmates relationship between preternaturals and humans who can see through their glamour because somewhere in their family history is a preternatural connection. 

The Guardians, all preternaturals of various species, work for a powerful sorcerer, where they track heinous criminals and solve horrific crimes. 

I like the preternaturals. Mostly.  It’s an interesting group and the first novel, Basilisk, was very enjoyable. I did note that the human fated mate character there ,Clive, felt under developed, especially with his special needs. He’s barely mentioned here. 

That aspect of the series continues here with Ezra Forsberg, the human main character of Elf.  While Alaric, the elf who works for ancient sorcerer, Xavier, is well defined in terms of personality, magic and capabilities. His is a layered storyline in a way that cannot be said for Ezra. 

Elliott’s Ezra has a number of troubling elements in his character’s life and story that’s addressed facetiously, especially for their topic. Ezra has been basically sold off by his crime family to another in marriage and for the past 3 years had been living with a murderous psychopath.  He’s just escaped from that marriage prison and falls into immediate danger. 

Ezra’s answer to extreme violence, trauma, tragedy, everyday betrayal, family emotional abandonment? He either throws up or he’s just sad.  He’s just not particularly believable as a victim of the types of abuses and inflicted horrors that the author has written for him.  Elliott writes that he’s been affected but never makes any case for it in the slightest.   Ezra as a character and his family or his history with his husband just doesn’t make sense. 

Nor does it make sense that it’s the boss blurting the sensitive news to Ezra about fated mates instead of Alaric.  

This story came very close to a much lower ranking.  

If the author was to layer a character with all these aspects to his storyline, then give the narrative ample room to fully explore the necessary details and plot points to make it and him feel believable.

For me, this didn’t happen. It’s the second time the human being got the underdeveloped part of the story and  undermines the book. 

I give it one more chance. 

Mystic Guardians:

Basilisk #1

Elf #2

Buy link

        Elf (Mystic Guardians Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Alaric Denman is determined not to let himself care for another human, especially not one like Ezra Forsberg. Ezra is a rich playboy without ambition, someone he could never respect. Why he’s intensely attracted to the man is beyond his understanding—but he is. So much so, it’s affecting his job to protect him.

Ezra isn’t sure who’s trying to kill him, but he has a pretty good idea. After growing up in one crime family and being forced to marry into another, his guess is his ex. He hires a bodyguard and gets a sexy elf. Yeah, he can see past the elf’s glamour, despite Alaric’s attempt to hide those elegantly pointed ears. But Alaric irks him with his stoic nature and he can’t resist poking at him.

While they’re busy clashing, a two million dollar price goes out on Ezra’s head, which brings out powerful preternaturals. Someone really wants Ezra dead, so it’s time they work together to figure out who.

Elf is a MM paranormal romance long novella with a reluctant elf, a snippy-mouthed human, and a soulmate passion that takes them both by surprise. It’s the second in the Mystic Guardians series, but can be read as a stand alone.

  • Publication date: February 4, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 139 pages

Review:  Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow Book 3) by Arden Steele 

Rating: 4.5🌈

Hunters Hollow, a sequel series to Arden Steele’s ongoing terrific Blackhaven Manor paranormal novels, is a successful crossover world.  I’m really enjoying this series. I love the way Steele created new engaging characters, while maintaining the many established characters/couples it’s brought over from its original series.  

These characters, all well defined in terms of personality and history, as well as the shared universe beings that have continued impactful roles to play , like Hades, in the storylines, keep the books intriguing and exciting.

Curses and Casualties, the third book in this series, demonstrates all the best qualities of the two worlds, with the established mythology and a great murder mystery to investigate. 

Necromancer Elliot Church has a secret parentage and a familiar, Dax. It’s his father whose request for an investigation brings him first to New Orleans, then to Hunters Hollow. 

It’s where he meets his fated mate, Tenn, an incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry.  Tenn, now a tattoo artist in Hunters Hollow, and Elliott have a great fated mate moment and start to a developing relationship.  I enjoyed that Steele has layers to them. There’s issues that need to be addressed.  Dax’ bond and Dax’s feelings as part of the dynamic for one. That’s just the beginning.  

The mystery is good although the villain is easily guessed at. Why they are so bad is a better story. 

And there’s other scenes and aspects of Curses and Casualties that will just tug at your heart.  Especially the ending that added just more things to think about and explore in this expanding universe. 

I look forward to the next chapter in this series and couple to get their fated mate HEA. 

Highly recommended!

Hunters Hollow:

Angels and Anarchy #1

Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Curses and Casualties #3

Buy Link

        Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Fame is a curse. 

At least, that’s the way Elliot Church feels. A powerful mage with a gift for necromancy, he’s made a name for himself as a successful private investigator. And he fails to see how smiling in front of a camera or answering the same banal questions has any bearing on his performance.

It’s nothing more than a distraction, and one he doesn’t need, especially when strange things start happening in New Orleans.

There are dead Otherlings in the Quarter, their bodies mummified and their souls fragmented. A Reaper stands on every corner, and more are pouring into the city daily, which can only mean one thing. Mass casualties.

When his search for answers leads him to Hunters Hollow, the last thing he expects to find in the backwater town is his mate. Incubus and retired bounty hunter for the Ministry, Lysander Tennison—Tenn to the locals—is everything he never knew he wanted, but the timing couldn’t be more wrong. Yet, he can no more turn his back on the demon than he can ignore what’s going on in the city. 

Even when every road in front of him leads straight to hell.

  • Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (January 26, 2025)
  • Publication date: January 26, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 260 pages