Tag: fated mates

Review:  Cast A Spell (Mages and Mates Book 4) by Andy Gallo

Rating: 4.75🌈

Andy Gallo writes about family love, family dynamics and relationships so beautifully, no matter what the theme or situations his characters are facing.  Whether it’s a fantasy story, paranormal romance or something completely different, it’s in the realistic relationships between the characters he’s creating and the firm, strong foundations on which their lives have been set that we believe in, magical or not. 

And that’s never more apparent than in his Mages and Mates series and this novel in particular.  

Throughout this series, book by book, we’ve gotten to know the politically powerful , magical Hollen family as the brothers discover their mates and the fact that they’re part of a larger plan to save their world. 

Each novel, by design, has slowly been revealing more of a sinister plot to destroy the Great Ward along with the other thread of the ancient guardians, four  magical fated mate couple in a designated place, who are being replaced by the newly mated Hollen brothers. But there’s also more to this still evolving series arc and we get more of those elements here.

In Cast A Spell, Gallo delivers several great new twists and it really makes this series even better in terms of character development and the depths of the storylines.  It also derives from the family, on two sides at its core. 

The Hollen family, the mages , with Otto now being the brother in line to make his own match and potentially be another chosen new guardian along with whoever is his mate.  But there’s a secret or maybe a danger he’s hiding.

The other side is a family or herd of unicorns, one known more for its isolation out in Montana. Its oldest son and heir, Thalion Eisenwald, knows he might be the one the Hollens are looking to as a possible match for Otto, or one of his other brothers. 

I don’t want to get into the specifics of this wonderfully fascinating and complex story but it’s got brotherly dynamics that feel very familiar and real even when based in a fantasy setting, as well as realistic emotional moments and inner turmoil that comes from the same places that we can relate to. Fear for those we love. 

Gallo has given us a strong narrative, full of excitement, great action, and believable character development that happens between brothers and lovers and multiple characters. All that while bringing together the major elements and characters that’s required to move everything forward to a higher, even darker and more complex storyline for the series. 

I believe there’s only one book left. And it comes out next year.  That’s Spellbound.  I can’t wait for that story. But this amazing universe deserves far more attention than this series. And these characters and magical creatures need more attention and stories.  I hope that happens. 

I highly recommend this series and the book but none are standalones. All must be read in the order they are written in order to understand the characters and the arc development.

Cover Art by Alex Forza

Mages and Mates series:

Break the Spell #1

It Spells Trouble #2

Under a Spell #3

Cast A Spell #4

Spellbound #5 – June 26,2025

Buy link:

        Cast A Spell: An MM Paranormal Romance (Mages and Mates Book 4)

    

Blurb 

Otto Hollen has always protected his younger brothers. Three of them have been chosen to be guardians for the next Great Ward, and Otto’s determined to avoid the final position. Yes, being chosen is a great honor, but Otto’s convinced it will force Owen, his youngest brother, to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Otto would rather die himself than let that happen – even if he has to fight the Earth itself.

Thalion Eisenwald should be celebrating. His father, the unicorn alpha, named Thalion to be his heir. It’s what he’s wanted his entire life. So why does the arrival of two Hollen brothers make him uneasy? He’s heard rumors of new guardians being chosen, but those are stories. Besides, Thalion plans to be the next alpha of the herd, not a guardian for the world.

When the Earth chooses Otto as Thalion’s mate, Otto shockingly rejects the bond. Thalion is furious, hurt, and grudgingly impressed. But their brothers’ capture changes everything. To save them, Otto will need to accept the bond with Thalion. Faced with an impossible choice, they desperately search for search for a third option. One that doesn’t result in those they love ending up dead.

Cast a Spell is a 75K word fated mates romance with high-stakes magical battles and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. This fourth and penultimate book in the Mages and Mates series. It can be read as a stand alone, but it’s best to read the series in order. Cast a Spell includes talking swords, ancient curses, and a no nonsense unicorn grandmother who dishes out life lessons with a large scoop of tough love.

  • Publisher: ; 1st edition (November 21, 2024)
  • Publication date: November 21, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 290 pages

Review: Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1) by Rinda Elliot 

Rating: 3.75🌈

Although Rinda Elliot has co authored stories with a writer, Jocelynn Drake, on my auto read list, this is the first book I think I’ve read of hers.  It’s the beginning of a new paranormal soulmates series and I enjoyed Basilisk, the first book.

The series central premise is an otherworldly security agency headed by an ancient sorcerer, Xavier, whose employees will be finding their soulmates, story by story. 

Magical beings, here called Preternaturals, exist side by side with an unaware human society. There’s a vague history that is relayed by Xavier about the past and conflicts but it’s not well explored. 

Basilisk is the first book and I would expect more world building from Elliott in letting the reader understand the universe in which these characters coexist.  Because while beings like Bain get a wonderful description and fully developed history, he seems not to realize himself the extent of the universe he lives in despite the long years he’s lived.   

And the reason why Clive Manning, human accountant, proves to be so special needs further explanation as well. I hopeful that these elements will become further developed in the stories to come. 

The relationship between Clive and Bain was full of chemistry and felt believable.  Although that short time and dramatic aspect of their relationship didn’t ring true towards the end of the story.  Communication had been key up until then between them.  And the villain got wrapped up too easily without much resolution.

I enjoyed Basilisk. I liked the characters and the series premise while thinking it needs more world building and further development. I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the series when it’s available. 

If you’re a fan of the author and this trope, definitely check out this book and series.

Buy link

        Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1)

    

Blurb 

As a basilisk, Bain Ophion has lived over two hundred years. For the last ten, he’s worked for his best friend, a sorcerer who runs Protective Solutions. Bain loves his work as a bodyguard and especially loves proving his skills when clients take one look at him and doubt. Yeah, he may dress flashy and have androgynous looks, but he also comes with preternatural strength. Humans don’t know that, though. Because, like all his fellow bodyguards, he uses a glamour to hide what doesn’t blend. Most humans aren’t ready to know about the supernatural world around them, but he’s about to learn that there are a few who are special.

Clive Manning has no idea which of his new clients is threatening his life, but when they send someone to break into his home, he knows he can’t handle this alone. He lives a perfectly ordered life and works from home for a reason. Lifelong fear. He calls Protective Solutions and hires a bodyguard, and when that man shows up, Clive is shocked. He expected something like a man in black and instead, he got a rockstar. 

But Clive is highly attracted to this colorful bodyguard and soon Bain proves he’s very good at his job…among other things.

Basilisk is a long novella with a sexy shapeshifter who’s stunned by his fierce attraction to an uptight accountant and the accountant who learns his lifetime of fear had good reason.

  • Publication date: September 28, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 148 pages

Review:  Zero Judgment (Tales from the Tarot story) by Kota Quinn

Rating: 3.5🌈

Major arcana card : Judgement 

Zero Judgement is short paranormal romance in the Tales from the Tarot series.  It’s a sequel or side story to Quinn’s novel, Love Potions and Moonlight.  That story, which I haven’t read, is from another multi-author series and shared universe, Cauldrons and Kisses. 

Zero Judgment highlights how a story is often hurt by a author’s decision to make a new book’s storyline a crossover from another universe, complete with those characters and world building, without fully laying down all the knowledge and details needed for new readers to understand and appreciate the characters, relationships in this world and local setting. 

I enjoyed the story and characters and was able to see the connections that carried over from the first book but I also missed the details and depth this might have had if it would be a world unto itself. 

Example of this is the character of Calix, the childhood friend who’s had a tragic history that led to him being kidnapped, becoming a prisoner and being turned into a vampire.  There’s enormous amounts of information and trauma associated with Calix and his background, most of which is “off page” information.  His story and character is connected to another person’s story, Nico, who turns out to be a witch.  How they came to be together, there’s a significant connection between them (friendship, not romance) but hugely important to the story, but then Nicole basically disappears except for one more reoccurring scene.  

But there’s enough missing narrative here for a book or two, the least of which is that Calix was a witch himself. 

But the trauma, and most of the realistically induced emotional distress is done away with when the other main character makes his entrance . At The Magic Shop.

The Owner, The Magic Shop and pertinent tarot card are included in the story and get their important part to play. Quinn does a good job of incorporating the series elements into the book.

The fated mates aspect happens immediately which serves to speed up the relationship and romance between the characters of Calix and Zero, the dragon shifter/former vampire hunter.  

I think, for me, the reunion part of this was my favorite and could have used further exploration and time spent on their renewed connection. 

There’s a dramatic element that brings the main theme back into play but the villain and his story wasn’t really that well explored.

Overall, a nice story with potential but with an attached book that I probably should have read beforehand to get all the characters and universe firmly connected. 

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always 

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books 

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley 

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

❤️by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon ❤️by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun ❤️by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

        Zero Judgment

    

Blurb 

Zero is a tracker for the Elite Guard, the supernatural police that hunts down rogues. Zero’s number one goal was to work for the Elite and seek revenge on the vampires who killed his childhood friend.

But after so many years of moving from place to place, he wants to settle down. Zero volunteers to help guard one of the magical small towns where paranormals and humans live together openly.

He’s settled in this new town, has a life, friends, and hopefully, soon he’ll meet his mate. But what he doesn’t expect to find is his childhood friend alive and well. Except his friend isn’t alive. He’s undead, just like all the creatures he’s hunted down.

Zero Judgment is a standalone MM romance novel as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Judgment.

  • Publication date: November 7, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 129 pages

Note: some purchasers were saying that their copies were incomplete at 75 pages or less. Some had it corrected. Pls double check your copy. 

Connected to :

Love Potions and Moonlight (Cauldrons and Kisses novel) – 8 books in a multi author series 

Review:  Trust in the Moon (Tales from the Tarot story) by Delaney Rain

Rating: 4.5🌈

Major arcana card The Moon

Trust in the Moon (Tales from the Tarot story) by Delaney Rain was just adorable.  It had just the right amount of charm, engaging characters, and a great story that had a cute little twist or two in it that made me laugh and want more.

Honestly? Miami drag queen wedding in a Colorado mountain resort setting? Yes! Add in fated mates, spicy best friends, shifters and a mystery and I just enjoyed every minute of this.

Rain did a lovely job adding in the series theme and carryover element of The Magic Shop, The Owner, and the tarot cards. In fact, here there are some things i wished had further exploration, like those volumes of family history that are passed on at the end of the book. 

The author has included so many other things I really enjoyed. Other characters that caught my eye because of their personality or story (Fabian and Matt-the wedding couple, Charlie, one of the “bridesmaids”), unusual elements written into the shifts and recovery, all contributed to making me love the story and wishing that the book was longer.  Or that Rain would consider making this a series in its own. 

Gavril, Sacha’s little brother, needs more attention. And members of both sides of the aisle of the wedding. Just a prequel too because  Fabian’s drag queen name is a thing of beauty! 

So I really enjoyed Trust in the Moon (Tales from the Tarot story) by Delaney Rain.  Another highly recommended book in this fantastic series. 

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always 

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books 

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley 

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

❤️by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon ❤️by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

        Trust in the Moon

    

Blurb 

Fresh off of a bad breakup, Zeke Castro is done with men and love even though he’s in a resort town in Colorado for his cousin’s big gay wedding. After a ruggedly handsome man kisses him in the hotel lobby, though, Zeke realizes his heart might not be so frozen after all.

Sacha Lupescu knows he’s found his fated mate and though he’s thrilled, he already knows that his mother won’t be. He needs to find a way to change her mind while also revealing his truth to Zeke without losing him.

Secrets ruined Zeke’s last relationship, and he’s started to notice that Sacha has a lot of secrets. But when the truth finally comes out, Zeke will need to decide if he can accept that fate is real and that he has a place in a world more magical than he ever could’ve dreamed.

Trust in the Moon is a standalone MM romance novel as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card The Moon with elements of trust issues, instalust/instalove, a bisexual awakening, pack politics, knotting and biting, shifted shenanigans, and a happily ever after.

  • Publication date: October 21, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 148 pages

Review: Dewitched (Blackhaven Manor Book 12) by Arden Steele

Rating: 3.5🌈

The fated mates romance of Owen Zhas, an Accipere (an out of control syphon witch) and Felix Hohlt, Guardian, begun in the previous book What the Hex?  There Owen ends up being at the center of all the magical issues and leads to the fated mate  relationship of the main couple.

Owen’s a sympathetic character with a real problem that potentially makes him a danger to other magical beings around him. 

It’s one of my issues with the storyline actually.  Steele’s Blackhaven Manor series foundation element is that dragon magic is drawing the fated mates there at the right time to get the HEA under the right circumstances.  But in this case that meant sending Owen off for a year by himself , after the dramatic events that could have seen him jailed, with his magic still out of his control. And his mindset in a worsening situation.

Yes he’s back at Halloween because of an invitation. But now he’s fearful and subdued. Steele’s written a character that realistic in his depression and isolation. But Dewitched isn’t got the length of a storyline to make that transition and fated mates work in relation to the character presented.

It’s good, got terrific elements and the potential for more is there. So it’s close. I loved the couple and the Princess.  But for all his pain, we needed more.

The series continues to intrigue with people/couples like this and that’s why I read it.

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

Sequel/adjacent  series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

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

Buy link

        Dewitched (Blackhaven Manor Book 12)

    

Blurb 

Ever since an unfortunate incident at Blackhaven Manor, Owen Zhas has closed himself off from the rest of the world. It’s not that he has anything against Otherlings, but he never asked to be one, and honestly, he’s barely even a witch. With no magic of his own, he’s stuck stealing it from others, whether he wants to or not. Unable to control it, he finds it easier to just avoid people altogether.

But when a certain female dragon shifter invites him to one of the hotel’s famous festivals, he can’t exactly say no.

As a Guardian, Fenix Hohlt has spent more than two decades watching over the youngest Nightstar, and when the precocious princess wants something, she usually gets it. Which is how he ends up in Colorado for the spookiest event of the year. He just never expected the journey to change the course of his future. One look at Owen, however, and he knows there is no going back.

While their first meeting went about as smooth as sandpaper, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to help Owen fight his demons. Even if that means banishing them to the deepest corners of the Underworld. He does have connections, after all.

With a hotel full of unsuspecting Otherlings, time is running out to find a solution, and he has a bad feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

  • Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (October 20, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 20, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 119 pages

Review:  Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3) by AJ Sherwood, Jocelynn Drake

Rating:  3.5🌈

I’m not sure if Soar is the end of the Wings ‘N’ Wands series but it does read as if it is.  With all the previous couples and all the dragon clans and mages being present here in one role or another , it’s got the essence of a finale story.  Especially that epilogue and speech. 

So that’s how I will treat it.  I’ve enjoyed reading the three stories immensely, with Sam and Dimitri’s probably being my favorite (Ruins).  So it’s fitting that Soar concludes with a return to Sam’s story by way of his twin brother, Salem, a pediatric surgeon in the US. 

Salem’s  in Brazil for a celebration for his brother, Sam and Dimitri, meets ice dragon Gregori, and after a fabulous one night stand, finds himself with a fated mate he doesn’t want. 

There’s several aspects of the story I enjoyed and others I didn’t connect with as well.  It starts with the main characters and storyline.  If you consider Sam and Dimitri’s (my favorite) , the elements in Ruins are similar but Sam’s character is far more appealing.  Sam’s magical core is broken but Salem’s isn’t.  So while Sam and Dimitri’s relationship dynamic is reflective of the same snark and behavior that Salem and Gregori demonstrate to begin with, the issues they faced, the dangers and unknown terrain made their journey more complex, and their struggles more understandable in emotional terms.  

However , while many of us could understand not wanting to overturn our lives, jobs etc, it’s Sam’s continued conflicting and often abrasive or self-centered towards Gregori that’s the issue.  The authors made it an important part of his character, a factor that left me feeling less than invested in his life and journey.  The authors may have wanted to separate his character from his twin but it felt as though they went as far as they could in the opposite direction, sympathetically speaking.  He’s just not as relatable with his constant references to himself and his actions as being a “a-hole” or something in that sense. Not that he’s wrong as he’s written.  The narrative makes vague mentions as to some bad relationships in his past but the authors give no evidence of any, nothing to suggest that outright nastiness that’s been ongoing. 

Yes, no one wants to overturn their lives. So communication is key. Doesn’t happen.  Gregori is given more depth and better communication skills. He’s seen expanding his social circle and committing to the community. We get one well rounded character and one that needs more dimension to him. 

Same unbalanced aspects of the storyline and relationship occur when (spoiler alert) Gregori starts to feel ill. Why he does is a well written element of the book.

Again Salem’s responses doesn’t always match a physician’s  ethic.  Although, it was a narrative choice to have Salem choose to become a doctor/pediatric surgeon because of his competitive nature with his brother.  Salem is written as excellent doctor, however he began.

The comparisons do add up. For me, Sam’s a problematic factor throughout the book.  Right up almost to the end.  

There’s some thrilling scenes of flying dragons, additional dragon information about clans and physiology, and a grand reunion of all the dragons and mages we’ve gotten to know at the finish.  I adore that.

I don’t know if there’s going to be any further stories in this universe.  They’ve entered a new age.  I’m sure new characters will be coming out and asked to be heard. But probably not here. 

If you love dragons , instant fated mates, and fantasy love stories, check out the series as well as the fantastic series that started it, Scales ’N’ Spells .  Ruins remains my favorite of this series, as does its couple.  But read this for that ending and to see everyone once again.  Plus dragon twins! Adorable. 

Happy reading.

Cover by Katie Griffin.

Scales ’N’ Spells Series 

  • Origin #1
  • Breath #2
  • Wish: A Novella #3
  • Blood #4
  • Embers #5

Wings ’N’ Wands :

  • Dawn: A Prequel Novella (Ha Na and King Rodrigo)
  • Ruins #1 – Sam and Dimitri’s book 
  • Rise #2 – Vasily & Luka & Amura
  • Soar #3 – Salem and Gregori

Buy link

        Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3)

    

blurb

Salem’s guide to making a dragon break up with him:

Step 1: Don’t sleep with him. (No, seriously, don’t.) And definitely don’t let him into your apartment, he won’t leave.

Step 2: Deny being mates and don’t fall in love with him.

…Step one and two failed. Gregori is too stubborn and irresistable.

Salem is currently taking suggestions that don’t involve giving in to his feelings.

(Please note, do not try making the dragon jealous. Jealousy sex is too much fun and cannot be resisted. This will backfire.)

Tags:

One-night stand, ha! just kidding, surgeons be stubborn, no seriously Salem is the king of stubborn, Gregori is stubborn too, how to woo a reluctant mage 101, idiots to lovers, idiots to still idiots, no change on that front, ice dragons can burn up the sheets, more dragon cuddles, broken magic, Brazil, medical magic, mate fog can be dangerous, Rodrigo despairs of his dragons, Ha Na is Very Disappointed, that scares everyone, Sam is ready to throat punch Salem, Russian food is magical, all the cameos, age of mages, Ravi and his twins haven’t burned down the world, yet, 3 a.m. is a perfectly valid time for naked bonding ceremonies

  • Publication date: October 18, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 312 pages

Review:  Burned (Drake Security Book 5) by Mika Nix

Rating: 4.25🌈

Burned is a fitting way to end the Drake Security series, with Lord’s story and his tortured enemies to lovers, fated mates romance. 

Lord’s been that character with the older brother syndrome. Stolid, serious, constantly in control and ever watchful over the family business as well as all over the family, including his brothers, their mates, and younger clutchings. 

So it makes sense that his story is the very antithesis of his life and nature. It’s dramatic, compulsive, and absolutely terrifying, the opposite of how he’s been living and taught.   

Mika Nix , aka authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, mirrored his impulsive acts toward a specific target, his fated mate who happens to be his worst enemy, a dragon hunter. That’s a fatally wounded Alrick Havaror, a young Viking from a notorious dragon hunter family.

Lord and Alrick have matching angst filled emotions towards each other as they fight their own battles with the bond and their backgrounds.  I really enjoyed this element of the story. They were well suited and their journey was full of chemistry and communication.

While we are very familiar with the Drake family and their mates, Alrick’s history and family background could have used more development, especially given that ending.  Considering the foul deeds his father, older brother, grandfather etc have committed, that end wasn’t exactly satisfying, even with the overlaying factor of kinship.

New wonderful characters included Viggo (middle brother of Alrick’s), and Xanthis, a powerful Scottish dragon mage who promptly flirts with Dahlia. And while the authors let us know what happened with the two women, Viggo, who had an important role and his own journey here, oddly vanished from the story. After being told he was from now on a permanent member of the Drake family. SMH

If they say he went home with good old dad and brother. No. That doesn’t track as both authors had him say he wanted to remember the events and what they had done and everything that had occurred. So no.

Big narrative hole here and missing character. 

So Burned ends up a good story but not a great one. I enjoyed the couple but there’s quite a few stumbles narratively speaking that keeps this shy of 5 stars. Still a lovely series and one I’m recommending.

Drake Security series:

  • Hot Head #1
  • Smoulder #2
  • Wild Fire #3
  • Inferno #4
  • Burned #5 – series finale 

Buy link

        Burned (Drake Security Book 5)

    

Blurb

Of all the creatures I could have accidentally mate bonded with, did it have to be a dragon slayer?

I never let my dragon take control. Never. Distraught after the death of a friend, I made a mistake…

Finding a beautiful, broken viking on the verge of death in the middle of a forest, all of my instincts screamed at me to save him. My dragon wouldn’t have it any other way. For two-thousand years I’ve saved my mating fire, waiting for fate to bring me true, binding love. But with this stranger only a breath away from the afterlife, I didn’t have a choice.

I can’t really be mated to a dragon slayer, can I? There has to be a way to break this bond before his brothers come looking for him or mine realize what I’ve done.

The only problem is, the more time I spend with the captivating, big hearted man, the more I think that fate might have had a hand in things after all…

Is he feeling it too, or am I about to get burned?

  • Publication date: October 16, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 254 pages

Review: How To Summon A Boyfriend (Gods of Chaos Book 1) by Aja Foxx

Rating: 4.25 🌈

A combination of adorable cover, terrific author, and fun title lead me to How To Summon a Boyfriend by Aja Foxx .  It was everything I had hoped for.

Foxx actually had me at the idea of someone summoning a potential fake boyfriend but throw in the moniker Herby for the cute guy in need ?  I’m all in.

A two person POV, we get a wide-eyed Herby who definitely sees things through a uniquely wonderful “Herby” perspective as well as a bored Hades, who’s role as the Ruler of the Underworld had gotten a tad tedious.  It’s Herby who’s arrival shakes things up fundamentally.

The characters are well done, the dialogue snappy and the plot extremely well paced.

There’s so many terrific secondary characters from Lionid, to Abigor, Cerberus, and other figures of mythology.

I wish there was a bit more about Herby’s family, and those books.  But it’s shorter length works against that.

I’m still so happy to have read this book.  It was entertaining, a fun romance, with an exciting storyline.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I’m recommending How To Summon a Boyfriend by Aja Foxx !

Gods of Chaos:

How To Summon A Boyfriend #1

Demon-In-Law #2

Buy link

        How To Summon A Boyfriend (Gods of Chaos Book 1)

    

Blurb

Herby

I needed a boyfriend to keep my father from marrying me off to a man handpicked by him. What better way to get one than to summon a demon? When I found a book of shadows in my grandfather’s attic, I knew I’d found the answer, but something went wrong. Instead of summoning a demon, I ended up in hell. What was I supposed to do now?

Hades

Judging souls was boring. Ruling the underworld was boring. Everything was boring. I needed something to happen to keep me from going insane. I never imagined the fates would answer my unspoken prayer by dropping a human into the underworld, and I’d certainly never met a human quite like Herby. He confused me, amused me, and drove me crazy. Why else would I agree to be his boyfriend?

Note: This story was originally part of the Fate’s Call Anthology – Manlove Edition. It has been revised and extended by 21,000 words.

Warning: Gay erotic romance. The material in this book contains explicit sexual content that is intended for mature audiences only. All characters involved are adults capable of consent, are over the age of eighteen, and are willing participants.

  • Publication date: May 6, 2022
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 23

Review:  Grayscale: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 2) by Vinni George

Rating: 4.25🌈

Grayscale is the second book in Vinni George’s action adventure fated mate shifter series, ORCA.  That’s both a family of orca shifters and an agency that they’ve formed to work together, Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA).

Each novel is working on an overall series mystery involving a family painting and matriarch while the brothers investigate and find their fated mates. 

 I believe I enjoyed Grayscale even more than Black & White, the first book in the series.  Grayscale, which picks up right after the conclusion of Black & White, starts right in on enlarging the characters of orca shifter, Cal Hunter and his sometimes lover/competitive enemy, great white shark shifter, Jack Grayson.  They’ve been in and out of each other’s missions and beds for 2 years, but Cal has been hiding from Jack and his family the fact that Jack is his fated mate.

This is one of those pull me/pull you relationships, where neither person is exactly communicating but their reasons makes sense actually.  Their chemistry is hot, the fact they are fated mates totally believable as is the dynamic between them. Jack Grayson, confident of Rueben the enigmatic shifter who has been directing the team, has his own secrets too. 

The characters are engaging, their personalities perfectly made for each other, and the story pulls in all the different characters as well as continuing the overall theme of the mysterious paintings and the grandmother’s connection.

I really got into this one. Loved the romance and characters and it really set up the next book to come.

Was it perfect? No. There’s a tremendous amount of subplots and history that was relayed in the first novel that was missing from this book, but the dynamic couple and adventure are still powerful enough to keep me connected from beginning to end.

Highly recommended.  And loving the covers.

ORCA:

  • Black & White #1
  • Grayscale #2
  • Full Color #3 – TBR early 2025
  • Outside the Lines (short story)

Cover Design: Alison Millsaps, Ozark Witch Cover Design

Buy link

        Grayscale: An MM Shifter Romantic Suspense Novel (ORCA Book 2)

    

Blurb

Cal Hunter didn’t hate Jack Grayson the moment he met him. He actually kind of liked the arrogant great white shark shifter… until Jack left Cal zip-tied to a bed and stole Cal’s job. Now, every time their paths cross, things get heated, and they both have the scars to prove it.

Jack has always worked better alone, but there is something about Cal he can’t get out of his system. So it shouldn’t be a problem when they are forced to work together to figure out who is after one of the most famous pieces of stolen art in the world.

But both men are keeping secrets that compromise their mission, and when Jack’s life is threatened, Cal has to decide if holding on to his own secrets is worth it. Turns out fate has one hell of a sense of humor.

Grayscale is book two in the Organization for the Return of Criminals and Assets (ORCA) series, featuring an orca shifter former mercenary who hates taking orders, a great white shark shifter who’d rather work solo, and a worldwide chase to track down a missing painting that ultimately forces them to cooperate in more ways than one!

  • Publisher: (October 3, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 3, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 215 pages

Review:  His Mate By Vengeance (Lunetti Pack, #1) by Mel Aitchess

Rating: 4.5🌈

Mel Aitchess isn’t an author I’ve read often, if ever before, but based on how much I enjoyed His Mate By Vengeance, I’m adding Aitchess to my list of musts.

This is the first book in a new paranormal fated mate crime family romance series (that’s a mouthful), and I loved it.

His Mate By Vengeance (Lunetti Pack, #1) by Mel Aitchess has individual mobs/packs of werewolves, vampires, witches, each with their own crime bosses, etc, all living their best criminal lives alongside an oblivious human society.  There’s a very cool map included of the City and distinct territories.

Aitchess does an excellent job of laying out the disputes that are occurring, internally whether from political or power struggles , or from outside factors that are affecting the various criminal families. The author does this, through the well written characters and their interactions, but also with revelations about their history through dialogue with others.

It’s a multi dimensional narrative that gives the reader beautifully balanced characters that inhabit a developing universe along with a growing mystery.

The main characters? Hot, so so hot. Equally emotionally damaged, murderously skilled, insanely sexy, with horrendous past histories that make them a perfect fit.  Assassin Vampire to guardian werewolf. That’s both Vin, the vampire assassin, and Angelo, the adopted werewolf protector of the Lunetti pack. Theirs is a fated mate enemy to lover romance that’s one I easily engaged with and found that I not only enjoyed the relationship but the storylines being built up around them. 

That includes Marco, the Alpha’s,  and the next book to be released, His Mate By Resistance, which is Luca’s story .

I’m absolutely looking forward to reading this. 

Final notes. These are crime families so expect certain events or elements to happen.  See warnings.  No mpreg. 

A definite recommend.

Lunetti Pack:

  • His Mate By Vengeance #1
  • His Mate By Resistance #2 – Nov 19,2024

Buy link

        His Mate By Vengeance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 1)

    

Blurb

I have lived for centuries. I have used and been used. Had countless lovers. And I have never wanted more. Not once. Not until today. Not until you.

Angelo is a protector—head of the Lunetti Pack’s security. He walks a delicate line avoiding the darker side of his mafia shifter pack’s business, but there’s no grey area in his hatred of vampires. Not after what they did to his family. When his Alpha orders him to keep one safe, it takes everything in him to obey. So, why is his wolf so intoxicated by the sassy vampire assassin’s scent permeating the safe house? And did there have to be only one damn bed?

Vin doesn’t know who’s trying to frame him for the bombing targeting the head of the local vampire coven, but he’s got the skills and ruthlessness to figure it out. When he called in a favour for somewhere to lay low, he hadn’t intended it to come equipped with a wolf shifter bodyguard, but he isn’t complaining. Angelo is as easy on the eyes as he is to rile up. Seduction is a game and Vin’s always loved a challenge. Until Angelo does something no one ever has before. He cares.

Now, all bets are off. Angelo is his.

His Mate By Vengeance is a steamy enemies to lovers, fated mates, MM paranormal romance between a grumpy wolf shifter and a murder sunshine vampire assassin. It features forced proximity, only one bed, and knotting. There is no mpreg in this world.

  • Publisher: Mel Aitchess (September 19, 2024)
  • Publication date: September 19, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 156 pages