Tag: fated mates

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

Review: The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 1) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon is the sequel we’ve been waiting for since Notaro introduced the new location and it’s characters to us in the wonderful book, The Wolf’s (Un) Lucky Fae from the Fortune Favors The Fae series.

There those side characters cried out for their own stories and romances amidst a magical world that was in a societal crisis of class and speciesism. 

That lead in book showed us the perspective of those, the Fae, who are a distinct lower class and Remi who is among those who try to help them.

Here the view of society is flipped, we’re seeing it from the top of the government and society. Or rather as it’s been viewed by its ruler, Dragon king shifter Garrick Von Stein, his friend/right hand Roman, and then by the one they hire to help them.

That’s Remi Ellwood’s best friend, Tanyl “Tan” Helegolor, a  powerful witch with death magic.  Along with his fabulous familiar, Orangelica, his bonded one, Notaro sets the reader up for a fantastic mated relationship and high new fantasy adventure.

There’s a heartbreaking story behind the King, a fated mate romance, some real magical battles that are just amazing, and a great cast of characters, past, present, and new to keep the reader totally engaged with the many storylines and relationships as they develop.

There’s a critical,  very emotional divide within the society here, and the turnaround that needs to happen, by the King and in the current administration to effect change, that’s addressed in the book. Notaro is realistic in acknowledging that believable change is slow moving however forward everything else is occurring. I love it when an author keeps all the threads complete and throughly explored in the narrative. So well written.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out.  That’s an intriguing pair , Anton the vampire and Keryth, a fae related to Bel, that was actually set up in Bel and Remi’s book and has a mystery about them that’s been following them throughout the series.  Need it now.

 I highly recommend reading this and the books I have listed below as leads to the universe.  And the author, who is an auto read for me. 

Happy reading!

Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala:

  • The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon #1
  • The Vampire’s Delicious Fae #2 – Sept 9,2025

Connected series and stories:

🔷The Wolf’s (Un) Lucky Fae (Fortune Favors The Fae) – Remi and Bel’s story ❤️

🔷The Enchanter’s Flame (The Ellwood Chronicles I) – Ailin and Seb’s story❤️

Buy Link

        The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon (Brinnswick: Tales From Gauhala Book 1)

    

Blurb

I have never in my life met anyone as infuriating as that dragon. So then why do I keep wanting to spend time with him?

Step One: Find a gorgeous guy. Check.

Step Two: Talk to said gorgeous guy. Check. 

Step Three: Try not to strangle him. Uh… do I really have to check this one? Because I really want to wrap my fingers around his—ugh. 

Garrick Von Stein is the most frustrating person I’ve ever met, and yet, as soon as he calls me for help, I jump right in. Every single time. Why? I have no idea. I mean, I really do like to look at the dragon shifter king, but that doesn’t explain this strange pull, this need, I feel to be near him.

He doesn’t even like me—believe me, I’d know—but for some reason he trusts me. And the weirdest thing of all? I trust him too.

Now if only we could find a way to work together to keep him and everyone else safe.

The Witch’s Grumpy Dragon is Book 1 of the new 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. But don’t worry, there will be some cameos along the way.

  • Publisher: (September 26, 2024)
  • Publication date: September 26, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 386 pages

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

Rating: 3.5🌈

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check out the full list below.

Blackhaven Manor:

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

Sequel/adjacent  series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

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

Buy link

        What the Hex (Blackhaven Manor Book 11)

    

Blurb

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5🌈

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10 and more please!

Buy link

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

Blurb 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4.5🌈

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls:

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

Buy link

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

    

Blurb

Toby

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

Dexter

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

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

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

Review:  Where Fools Have Tread (Tales From The Tarot novel) by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 4.5🌈 

Jennifer Cody’s new book, Where Fools Have Tread, is featured in the new multi author series, Tales From The Tarot.  

Situated in the author’s Murder Sprees and Mute Degrees universe with crossover characters, this is an absolutely engaging story that promises to bring the reader additional books about this world and gargoyle guardians. 

Cody weaves magic, science fiction, romance and the mystical powers of the Tarot cards into a narrative where a lonely young man of indecision finds his path, his origins, a fated mate,  and a family. All with a little magical charm and assistance.

I’m a longtime fan of Cody’s, especially her ability to create beautifully realized characters and then deliver a highly imaginative, engaging storyline for them to explore and journey to their own endpoint, whatever that means.

Here Dec Scion, an aimless young man,  still mourning the loss of his uncle who raised him, ends up a butler working for the unusual wealthy Staiano family. Who happen to be guardian gargoyles. 

Dec, a great character who continues to reveal depths of personality and strengths of his own, meets Thoren, and the attraction sets off an highly snarky, fun relationship that allows each to learn about each other as it turns into a fated mates relationship. 

There’s other gargoyle brothers and uncle, Maxime, who clearly need further exploration and stories.  And great housekeeping staff equally well developed and crying for more details.

I was thoroughly entertained and delighted with this couple and new beginnings.  I look forward to more novels, both in this series and from Cody.

Love love this cover!

Cover art: Fae Quin 

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees (4 book series)

Buy Link:

        Where Fools Have Tread

    

Blurb

Dec:

I’ve never really had much in the way of direction in my life, until I walk into an eerie shop where a strange man charges me more than I should pay for a tarot reading of one card. Next thing I know, I’m graduating school to be a domestic servant and find myself employed by someone else’s weird uncle in the strangest mansion. Everyone is great even if they’re all a little… off. Except Thoren. He’s a thorn in my side, and I’m not sure how I feel about him dropping his cards all the time just to make me pick them up for him. (My ass is not what he’s looking at because… what?)

Thoren:

I’ve known since I was a child the path I would take in life. I’m a guardian, one of the Trustworthy, and I am excellent at my job. I take my pleasure wherever I can find it, because I’ve earned every second of my leisure with the hours, days, and weeks of work I put in on every mission. Finding pleasure in teasing the new butler is new, but Dec seems to like it just as much as I do, no matter how often he tries to hide in the cleaning closet. (I’m definitely looking at dat ass because… yum.)

Where Fools Have Tread is an MM paranormal romance set in the Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees universe with a human butler who finds his calling serving a household full of paranormal protectors and a gargoyle with resting bitch face who takes delight in teasing him.

Where Fools Have Tread 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 Fool.

  • Publication date: August 19, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 179 pages

Tales from the Tarot is a massive multi-author paranormal & fantasy MM romance collaboration. These 22 books, each by a different author, highlight the Major Arcana cards in a traditional Tarot deck – with some liberties taken, such as The Empress card being The Consort, for an all MM or gay romance focus.

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

Review:  Fated Mates and When to Keep Them by AJ Sherwood

Rating: 4🌈

Fated Mates and When to Keep Them by AJ Sherwood is both the third book in the series and the first one that should be read.  It’s a topsy-turvey world in this series in which Sherwood wrote the series in backwards order.  

It’s a blame the characters who shuffled for the loudest voices writing moment.

I read them backwards, of course, and absolutely enjoyed Fated Mates and When to Keep Them, where I got the vampire origin story, at least from Fernando’s family’s perspective centuries ago.  We also get the adorable romance between Fernando and Noel, a couple we’ve seen only as an established mate powerful duo in the other books. 

I really enjoyed reading their journey. If a mafia boss and an orphan can have a violence filled relationship, that’s equally filled with smooching, cookies , music, and flying bodies, this was it! A highly entertaining romantic adventure!

I’d love to see a continuation of this, with some of the other, equally interesting and exciting characters get their own romances.  

A definite rec! 

Correct Reading Order (per the author and characters)

  • Fated Mates and When to Keep Them #3
  • Fated Mates and How to Woo Them #2
  • Fated Mates and Where to Find Them #1

Buy Link:

        Fated Mates and When to Keep Them

    

Blurb

Noel is desperate for cash. So PA for the mafia boss it is, or he risks losing his childhood home. Too bad the job also comes with a grumpy vampire boss. 

Family has been Fernando’s priority for centuries, so why does his adorable PA suddenly stir long-forgotten feelings?

Killing anyone that endangers Noel counts as a romantic gesture, right? Asking for a vampire. 

Tags: 

I am apparently writing this series backwards, so have book zero everyone, mafia, vampires, cute boys in trouble, this story is pure crack, I’m not even sorry, blood and sex, dino nuggies, hurt and comfort, bad guys get karma, stubborn to lovers, music is their love language, mindless violence and fluff, cinnamon roll protection squad assemble!, boss-employee trope

  • Publisher: Raconteur House LLC (August 16, 2024)
  • Publication date: August 16, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 205 pages