Tag: fated mates

Review: A Sucker for Christmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance by J P Sayle

Rating: 3.5🌈

J P Sayle’s A Sucker for Christmas is a fun, sweet addition to the Winter Holiday Tentacle collection.

A best friends to lovers story with an added twist of one of them being an octopus shifter, there’s not a lot a universe building or exploration of the octopus shifter culture here. It’s a soulmate relationship, where the shifter recognizes his mate early on in life, in this case, at the age 4, but again no real background is known other than Fitch’s parents revealing their own human/octopus courtship.

However, even without a shifter framework, this does cutely work on the misunderstandings/doubts that occur between two established best friends who are afraid to take the next step into a romance.

There’s the sister Mandy to assist with this, and the madcap events that follow.

There are many questions about the relationship, the culture, that never really get answered. But the characters are adorable and the Australian location perfect for the romance.

Christmas down under style with octopus tentacles . Very cute.

Tinsel and Tentacles (11 books)

◦ Jingle Bells and Elder Gods by Kiernan Kelly

✓ All I Want for Christmas is Tentacles by Chloe Archer ❤️🫶

◦ Tentacles and Other Stocking Stuffers by Delaney Rain

◦ Tentacles Rock by K.C. Carmine

✓ A Sucker for Christmas by J.P. Sayle

✓ Kraken Klaus by Charlotte Brice

◦ Twelve Days of Squidmas by H.L. Hiers

◦ It’s a Tenta-ful Life by Amanda Muewissen

✓ Rebel without a Claus by L Eveland

✓ Cthulhu for Christmas by Meghan Maslow ❤️🫶

◦ Tentacle Wonderland by Reese Morrison – Jan 1,2024

Buy Link:

A Sucker for Christmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance

Blurb:

An annual Christmas vacation to Australia gives two long-term friends more than they bargained for—love. But one of them has a secret that could suck in more ways than one.

Fitch found his soulmate, Shaun, when they were both four years old, but they were separated by two things, a couple of oceans and their age. Not to mention the secret Fitch has been keeping. The fact you can turn into an octopus at will isn’t the kind of thing to be sprung on anyone, especially a soul mate.

Every winter, Shaun heads down under to spend Christmas with his family. For the last twenty years, he’s spent his favorite holiday surfing and lazing around on golden beaches with his best friend, Fitch. Shaun wants more than friendship, however, but has no clue how to get the man of his dreams to see him as more than a friend. Enter Mandy, Shaun’s sister, and Christmas is all set to become an adventure with hilarious consequences.

Fitch and Shaun are about to find out how to deal with the discovery that true love comes with suckers.

A Sucker for Christmas: A Winter Holiday MM Tentacle Romance is part of the Tinsel and Tentacles multi-author collaboration and a complete standalone. Expect to find steam worthy of an Olympian swimmer and laugh out loud moments that will make your ribs ache. Want more tantalizingly tentacular winter holiday romances? Grab the whole series!

• Publisher: (December 4, 2023)

• Publication date: December 4, 2023

• Print length: 222 pages

Review: Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds Book 1) by Marie Reynard

Rating: 4.75🌈

In the author’s notes, Reynard states that Accidental Bonds is her debut novel. Well, it’s a remarkable story, whether it’s her first book or one of many.

Accidental Bonds, the first in the Elemental Bonds series, follows the meeting of independent mage Elijah Lauring with Alpha Victor Mills of the nearby Mills pack. Victor has come to Elijah to contract for a mage’s help with failing pack wards.

That’s the basis for an exciting, extremely well written, and highly suspenseful paranormal tale. This contains so many great elements. It has a frenemies to bonded mates romance, a dark magical series mystery that’s, frankly, extremely frightening and well scripted, and multidimensional characters that continue to develop throughout the storyline.

Yes, please, I’m well and truly hooked.

There’s not just the standard wolf shifter mating, but another type to consider. The mage aspect is equally interesting and important for the story as is the pack/wolf shifter elements. There’s a lovely balance not just between Elijah and Victor, but also between their foundations, their history, and friends.

Every part of this narrative, Reynard creates a strong sense of definition to her characters and the storytelling, crafting layers that include foundation building for the series and backstories of the characters.

That mage shop, with its dust motes, odd vials, and weirdly intuitive cat becomes a place that’s believable and visually lush. The same goes for the Mills territory, the woods and the surrounding landscape and down to the small pack of endearing individuals we get to meet. Real, grounded in their stories, and the pack they are a part of.

The blackness and mystery that’s a great part of this story and series is truly frightening. Keeping it both real and unknown is a marvelous element.

My biggest frustration? I couldn’t go immediately to the next story! I loved this so much I wanted to see what happened next asap.

Reynard does give this couple a good HFN, meaning they are settled but the series mystery continues. The next book will follow different but connected characters, one from each group of friends. Like I said, I can’t wait.

I’m highly recommending Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds Book 1) by Marie Reynard. It’s an amazing book, especially as it’s her debut novel. Grab it up and enjoy!

Elemental Bonds:

✓ Accidental Bonds #1

◦ Impulsive Connections #2 – Oct 2024

Buy link:

Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds Book 1)

Blurb:

It was meant to be temporary. Fate had other ideas.

Victor Mills would do anything to protect his pack, even work with magic he detests. When the wards safeguarding his territory start to deteriorate, he’s forced to hire a local mage to fix them. He could tolerate the abrasive stench of sorcery, if only the mage didn’t also smell like everything his wolf has ever wanted.

Elijah Lauring has no intention of tying himself to a shifter pack; his neutrality pays the bills. Repairing the Mills pack wards should be a one-off job, but the spell he casts to tap into Victor’s energy stubbornly refuses to fade. The intoxicating connection that lingers between them plunges his magic into chaos right when he needs it the most.

As they grapple with their conflicting desires, they soon discover the wards aren’t the only thing decaying. An evil is infecting the pack land, and they must learn to trust each other and their growing bond to defeat it. If they fail, Victor’s pack will pay the ultimate price.

Accidental Bonds is a steamy 115k M/M paranormal romance featuring a broody wolf shifter, a headstrong mage, meddling friends, a perpetually unimpressed cat, and knotting. It’s perfect for readers who love thrilling action, snarky banter, and characters who rub each other in all the wrong ways before they realize the right ones are much more enjoyable. While it guarantees a happy ending for its main couple, the overarching plot does contain cliffhangers. Please look inside for content warnings. (This series does not contain mpreg.)

Trigger warning:

This book contains scenes with elements of dubious consent and mentions of rape in a historical context.

— Accidental Bonds (Elemental Bonds Book 1) by Marie Reynard

• Publisher: Peace Garden Publishing, LLC (July 15, 2023)

• Publication date: July 15, 2023

• Print length: 446 pages

Review: Pain In The Ice (Blackhaven Manor #8) by Arden Steele

Rating: 4.75🌈

This book is why I love this series so. Steele has written a strong story about the importance of the depths of friendships, loyalty, compassion for each other under the most extreme conditions, as well as how finding your own soulmate gives you comfort and support when you need it most.

Thade Maddock is leaving Blackhaven Manor for a cruise to Hawaii. However, it’s not a joyful occasion but rather to escort his oldest friend, a demon fury , to the place where he has decided to die.

Steele gets us into this amazing friendship in its last stages, when one is slowly losing his mind, then his life energies. And as they share these precious memories and time together, we can understand why Thade makes the sacrifices he does for his friend, Akira. Akira is multilayered, a tragically beautiful character.

Into this situation, there’s the humans Micah and his best friend, Lettie, on the cruise to celebrate her impending wedding and their friendship. Two different sets of close friends, two completely different occasions, one emotionally devastating and one so deeply happy. Steele writes about the dynamics of each set of friendships and lets the reader understand that they are real friends and family to each other.

Then they come together, when Micah and Thade turn out to be soulmates.

Pain In the Ice explores so many different emotions and layers of love. For some readers, the emotional sensitivity of having a character approaching death and die within a novel might be something that is triggering. Pls take note.

This is a genuine element of the story and part of Akira and Thade’s thousand years long journey.

I love the story and the way every part is developed. I cried and rejoiced, eventually. I hope Steele will consider a novel or more about that castle and how Thade and Micah are going to repurpose it in Akira’s name.

Pain In The Ice (Blackhaven Manor #8) by Arden Steele is got great characters, emotional elements folded into a well developed story, and love in all its forms. I’m highly recommending it.

And the series.

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

Sequel/adjacent series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

✓ Angels and Anarchy #1

✓ Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Buy Link :

Pain in the Ice (Blackhaven Manor Book 8)

Blurb:

Thade Maddock would literally rather die than spend four weeks aboard a cruise ship with nine hundred strangers in the middle of the Pacific. When it happens to be his best friend’s dying request, however, he can’t exactly refuse the invitation. On the bright side, the ship’s pool does offer some stunning views. Like the human male with fiery red hair and a smile to rival the sun.

Although he wouldn’t consider himself naïve, Micah Francis has led a rather insulated life. Having had limited contact with Otherlings and little knowledge about the paranormal world in general, meeting a dragon shifter his first day on the ship is nothing less than magical. Tall and brooding with a body made for sin, Thade is everything he had imagined a dragon would be. He didn’t, however, expect to feel so obsessively drawn to the guy after just one conversation.

But falling in love is the easy part. When Thade’s friend begins to deteriorate quicker than anticipated, the demon’s illness places the entire ship in danger. As pandemonium ensues and a multitude of dark emotions infects the passengers, happily-ever-after feels a long way off.

Because unless they can find a way to bring order to the madness, no one is making it out alive.

• Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (September 14, 2022)

• Publication date: September 14, 2022

• Print length: 204 pages

◦

Review: Pain In The Ice (Blackhaven Manor #8) by Arden Steele

Rating: 4.75🌈

This book is why I love this series so. Steele has written a strong story about the importance of the depths of friendships, loyalty, compassion for each other under the most extreme conditions, as well as how finding your own soulmate gives you comfort and support when you need it most.

Thade Maddock is leaving Blackhaven Manor for a cruise to Hawaii. However, it’s not a joyful occasion but rather to escort his oldest friend, a demon fury , to the place where he has decided to die.

Steele gets us into this amazing friendship in its last stages, when one is slowly losing his mind, then his life energies. And as they share these precious memories and time together, we can understand why Thade makes the sacrifices he does for his friend, Akira. Akira is multilayered, a tragically beautiful character.

Into this situation, there’s the humans Micah and his best friend, Lettie, on the cruise to celebrate her impending wedding and their friendship. Two different sets of close friends, two completely different occasions, one emotionally devastating and one so deeply happy. Steele writes about the dynamics of each set of friendships and lets the reader understand that they are real friends and family to each other.

Then they come together, when Micah and Thade turn out to be soulmates.

Pain In the Ice explores so many different emotions and layers of love. For some readers, the emotional sensitivity of having a character approaching death and die within a novel might be something that is triggering. Pls take note.

This is a genuine element of the story and part of Akira and Thade’s thousand years long journey.

I love the story and the way every part is developed. I cried and rejoiced, eventually. I hope Steele will consider a novel or more about that castle and how Thade and Micah are going to repurpose it in Akira’s name.

Pain In The Ice (Blackhaven Manor #8) by Arden Steele is got great characters, emotional elements folded into a well developed story, and love in all its forms. I’m highly recommending it.

And the series.

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

Sequel/adjacent series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

✓ Angels and Anarchy #1

✓ Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Buy Link :

Pain in the Ice (Blackhaven Manor Book 8)

Blurb:

Thade Maddock would literally rather die than spend four weeks aboard a cruise ship with nine hundred strangers in the middle of the Pacific. When it happens to be his best friend’s dying request, however, he can’t exactly refuse the invitation. On the bright side, the ship’s pool does offer some stunning views. Like the human male with fiery red hair and a smile to rival the sun.

Although he wouldn’t consider himself naïve, Micah Francis has led a rather insulated life. Having had limited contact with Otherlings and little knowledge about the paranormal world in general, meeting a dragon shifter his first day on the ship is nothing less than magical. Tall and brooding with a body made for sin, Thade is everything he had imagined a dragon would be. He didn’t, however, expect to feel so obsessively drawn to the guy after just one conversation.

But falling in love is the easy part. When Thade’s friend begins to deteriorate quicker than anticipated, the demon’s illness places the entire ship in danger. As pandemonium ensues and a multitude of dark emotions infects the passengers, happily-ever-after feels a long way off.

Because unless they can find a way to bring order to the madness, no one is making it out alive.

• Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (September 14, 2022)

• Publication date: September 14, 2022

• Print length: 204 pages

◦

Review: Walking a Tight Trope (Blackhaven Manor #9) by Arden Steele

Rating: 3.75🌈

In reading book 10, I realized I had missed two of the novels beforehand, so I’ve gone back to pick them up starting with Walking a Tight Trope (Blackhaven Manor #9).

for those who might be new to the series, this is a paranormal fated mates romance that’s located at a Colorado small town and at a huge estate nearby owned by three Dragons. The latter, Blackhaven Manor caters to the Otherworldly community, hosts their weddings, meetings, whatever else is needed, and festivals that draw huge audiences. Whether it’s vampires, pixies, werewolves, sirens, the Fae or something else, it’s got a sanctuary from human beings within the boundaries of Blackhaven Manor.

Jarrett Crawford, a werewolf, has been tasked by Skye Maddox, one of the dragon siblings, to build a gazebo for the upcoming royal Fae wedding. A event of political, social and power ramifications for the Otherworldly community so it’s got a lot of invitees and events happening around the marriage.

At the bar, fae Oliver McKenzie, part-time employee and writer, someone who’s there for observation but also hides a secret.

It’s an arranged meeting by Skye for the fated mates who start getting to know each other on a sweet, lower lusty note than the previous stories. More woo than rut. It’s instant mate without the intimacy.

But there’s another element, a mental one as Oliver is a telepath. This was an interesting aspect to his personality and their bond. And it plays out well in the mystery of the storyline too.

I wish the mystery and the attacks had been better integrated into the couple’s story but this is a short tale and it did very well for the length.

All in all, another enjoyable fated mates love story in the Blackhaven Manor series.

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

Sequel/adjacent series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

✓ Angels and Anarchy #1

✓ Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Buy Link :

Walking a Tight Trope (Blackhaven Manor Book 9)

Blurb:

In love with the idea of love, Oliver McKenzie has made a career out of crafting swoon-worthy romances. He doesn’t need to work at the café in Blackhaven Manor, but the daily interactions fuel his muse and provide him with an unlimited supply of inspiration. He just never imagined he would find his own happily-ever-after within the hotel walls.

Contracted to build a gazebo for the upcoming royal wedding, Jarrett Crawford assumes it’s a job like any other. He’ll find out the details, order the supplies, and finish with time to spare. It doesn’t occur to him that the meddlesome dragon who owns the place is setting him up for the hardest fall of his life. But that’s exactly what happens when he meets Oliver.

When his new mate comes under psychic attack, Jarrett, of course, takes it personally. While he might be ill-equipped to fight a battle of the mind, he’ll risk everything to protect his elf.

Even his own life.

• Publisher: PECCAVI PRESS (July 20, 2023)

• Publication date: July 20, 2023

• Print length: 158 pages

Review: Fated Mates and How to Woo Them (Fated Mates #1) by A. J. Sherwood

Rating: 4🌈

The Fated Mates duology (at the moment) is a weird one. Primarily due to the fact that the books were written and released out of order. So book two, Fated Mates and Where to Find Them , Zander and Max’s romance, preceded this one. And it felt like we were missing out on important things, like foundation history and grounding within a universe framework.

While not complete, Sherwood delivers more of the detailed layering about the VSP, true mates, and a certain matchmaker that was absent from book two. It helps make the story. This and really delightful characters who have wonderful chemistry with each other.

I actually enjoyed them and their story better because I got who they were, their backgrounds, and Sherwood made me believe in their instant connection and hot chemistry.

Chase, the overly extended, pushed to his physical and mental limits grad student, is so well defined. He is over scheduled, too many responsibilities, isn’t sleeping, and he’s exhausted. He may come across as young, and naive but always kind. Definitely not an “air head”, a term that has always carried a note of derision along with it. Tbh, I was surprised to see it in the tags/description.

Ronan, a vampire of many interests and talents, is a perfect choice for Chase. I enjoyed his pursuit of Chase and Ronan’s twin brother, who clearly needs his own story. Ronan is a great character all his own, from his interests in mechanics and racing to his interactions with Father, he has layers to go with Chase’s.

Their story is 153 pages but it could easily have been much longer or even have a sequel of their own.

I’m definitely recommending Fated Mates and How to Woo Them (Fated Mates #1) by A. J. Sherwood . It’s a delightful paranormal romance and has a wonderful couple of fated mates at its heart.

Fated Mates:

✓ Fated Mates and How to Woo Them #1

✓ Fated Mates and Where to Find Them #2

Buy Link:

Fated Mates and How to Woo Them

Blurb:

Chase is crazy busy behind the scenes at the fraternity get together, so when an alumni comes in, he just notes a hot man in his vicinity and goes right back to work.

When Ronan gets hurt, and Chase feeds him, Chase’s reaction opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Ones that Ronan wants to explore.

Is Chase compatible with vampires? Or could he possibly be something more?

Tags:

Vampire story, same universe as Max and Zander, because yes the plot bunnies absolutely ran wild with this one, I am not in charge of this trainwreck, just along for the ride like you are, Chase has his airheaded moments, there is absolutely no chill where Ronan is concerned, bad guys have human sacrifice written all over them, whole story is mindless violence and fluff, sorry not sorry for this

• Publisher: (December 8, 2023)

• Publication date: December 8, 2023

• Print length: 153 pages

Review: Uriel: Yule Lads Book Two by Macy Blake

Rating: 5🌈

Frosted Gingersnaps! Macy Blake outdid herself! Uriel: Yule Lads Book Two by Macy Blake is fabulous, just another fabulous fantasy Christmas read.

I loved last year’s Sprites finding their mates and reclaiming their magic in Mistletoe Falls but Macy Blake is being extra spicy with her Yule Lads!

The Yule Lads are that tiny bit of naughty to balance out the outstanding “nice” of the Sprites, the naughty falling more to playful pranks than anything else, with a twinkle in their eyes. Definitely up to “snow good”.

But with Uriel, Blake has fun not only with the pranks but with naughty book titles (Uriel owns Ornamentary Books and More). So we get hilarious Riding Rudolf, amongst others, that are shared with fellow book lover, Joe Watson. Joe, who loves his books, also runs the Snowda Shoppe, dispensing seasonal coffees and treats alike. But unlike the Yule Lads, Joe is very human with a human problem. One that comes to town.

Blake brings Uriel and his Joe together in a funny, magical way. It’s got puns galore, a mutual love of books and a slightly naughty perspective on things. Also fabulously , there’s red sparkles of magic coating everything as Uriel realizes he’s found himself a mate in Joe and got his magic back.

This is such a heartwarming romance and punny path to a magical HEA that’s it’s really going to keep a smile on the reader’s face and make them feel like they’re part of the whole Mistletoe Falls Christmas magic.

I hope Blake keeps this going past the Yule Lads, it’s a fantastic place to keep coming home to at Christmas time.

Love the covers.

Highly recommended.

Yule Lads:

✓ York #1

✓ Uriel #2

◦ Leif #3 TBD

◦ Edgar #4

Buy Link :

Uriel: Yule Lads Book Two

Blurb:

His holiday is about to go off-book…

Uriel Lad is single all the way. He enjoys his quiet life in the small town of Mistletoe Falls, running Ornamentary Books and More. This holiday, though, Uriel’s Yule Lad magic is back, which means making mischief throughout the season. It should be a perfect Christmas, until his new friend Joe begs for help with a problem.

Joe Watson loves his new life in the quaint little holiday town he’s come to call home. His happiness is threatened when his ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. In a panic, Joe claims that his closest friend in Mistletoe Falls is his boyfriend—his fake boyfriend who has snow interest in love or romance.

Uriel’s magic is causing havoc in his life, and his pretend relationship with Joe is complicating matters even further. He’ll have to use every trick in the book to save his heart and make sure Joe gets the happily ever after he’s always wanted.

If you love fake boyfriends, magical mischief, and friends to lovers, you’ll want lots myrrh of this sweet holiday romance

Review: Royally Flocked (Blackhaven Manor #10) by Arden Steele

Rating: 4🌈

It’s been a while since I dove into the Blackhaven Manor series. I’ve been enjoying the sequel series , Hunter’s Hollow, so seeing this release brings me back to the original foundation and characters.

If you’re a fan of paranormal fated mates, this series is a great read for you. It’s instant recognition for each being that the one in front of them is their mate. No questions. Boom. Mine. And wonderfully, Steele is able to capture the essence of the moment and passion of meeting one’s fated mate. No matter the species or timing.

With this series, there’s a feeling of building upon the previous story, so that when those characters appear or events are mentioned, the knowledge of who they are and what’s behind the plot is there already. Like former Guardian Thorne McIver , a bear shifter, and his adorable mate, Wren Covey (Grin and Bear It). This pair, a favorite of mine, pop up everywhere. As they do here.

That’s a lot of the fun of the series too.

So Royally Flocked’s fated mates goes straight to the elven court heir, Prince Orrin Nightstar who’s been having nonstop trouble keeping his Guardians because they end up happily mated off his service.

That’s a major problem for the one in charge of the Guardians, one Erus, also known as Cerberus, Guardian of the Underworld.

This is a delightful romp through both the human realm and the underworld, with a scheming Hades nearby. And two fated mates who sexily and happily find themselves together forever.

Royally Flocked (Blackhaven Manor #10) by Arden Steele reminded me why I enjoyed the original series so and that I may have missed a book or two. Going back to remedy this now.

These are terrific paranormal romances, especially if you’re a fan of the fated mate trope. They are quick smooth reads, with interesting plots and great characters. Start with the first one, if you’re new to the series. Enjoy!

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

Sequel/adjacent series:

Hunter’s Hollow:

✓ Angels and Anarchy #1

✓ Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Buy Link :

Royally Flocked (Blackhaven Manor Book 10)

Blurb:

Heir to the throne of the elven court, Prince Orrin Nightstar has enough on his plate without an everchanging Guard. Having lost a record number of Guardians to the wiles of love, he’s beginning to think he might be cursed, doomed to lead others to happiness while never finding it for himself.

It could be worse, though. He could be mated to the Guardian of the Underworld.

Erus—not Eros, thank you very much—hasn’t guarded the iron gates for millennium. It’s cold. Dark. Lonely. And frankly, boring AF. Besides, why should he limit himself when he can outsource the job? Instead, he devotes his time to overseeing the Guardians who protect the royal families.

And someone is screwing up the system.

He never expected that someone to be his own mate. Nor did he foresee the chain of events their meeting would set into motion. After thousands of years of playing by his own rules, the consequences of his arrogance are finally catching up to him.

Now that he has Orrin, the stakes are even higher, and unless he can restore order to the Underworld, his new mate will be the one to pay the price

Review: York: Yule Lads Book One by Macy Blake

Rating: 5🌈

“Frosted snickerdoodle antlers!”

And it’s back to Mistletoe Falls after last year’s terrific Christmas Sprites Series, but this time it’s the Sprites counterparts, the Yule Lads getting back their magic and mates.

York, the first Yule Lad we meet, is Christmas Falls mechanic. A mixture of grumbly mischief with a deep love for his cousins, and an appreciation for the weirdness of his town, he’s just perfect. I adore him and all the quirky little elements that Blake layered into him, carrot fondness included.

He’s balanced with the relatable human Gabriel Baum and his adorable corgi, Bogie, who has come to Christmas Falls to sell his beautiful hand crafted gifts and ornaments at the annual Christmas fair. Gabe is in desperate need of some help and maybe even some magic. He’s got a sad backstory but he’s landed in a town that is warm and welcoming.

Love this town and its inhabitants. More please.

Macy Blake has written a delightful, heartwarming story that has all the holiday charm and great elements woven into a perfect fantasy romance. It sparkles with magical moments and scenes of comfort as well as ones of comedy.

What a great start in a short Christmas present! I can’t wait to see what Uriel’s story brings.

Highly recommended.

Yule Lads:

✓ York #1

◦ Uriel #2 – December 7,2023

Buy Link:

York: Yule Lads Book One

Blurb:

Naughty but nice…

York Lad is stunned when his magic unexpectedly returns, but he’s ready to bring a little mischief to the small town of Mistletoe Falls. Along with his cousins, the other Yule Lads, York has spent the last year planning pranks to add their version of holiday cheer to the season.

Gabriel Baum needs to succeed at Mistletoe Falls annual craft fair. He doesn’t expect for the town’s quirky residents to embrace him with open arms, especially York, the town’s mechanic. When his beloved vehicle breaks down, Gabriel is stranded unless York can save him from certain doom.

York may not have been expecting to lose his heart over the holidays, but with his magic sparkling in the air and the man of his dreams at his side, he has a few new reasons to love the season…if his Yule Lad magic doesn’t get up to snow good.

If you love small towns, mischief makers, and holiday magic, your heart will melt over this feel-good Christmas romance.

The Chosen Universe is a group of interconnected series set in one universe. There is some overlap to the series, so it’s recommended to read the books in order. You can download a FREE reading order guide by clicking here

Sweet Nothings: The Chosen One Prequel–When Sam Baker discovers a small child at his backdoor, he learns that a world of magic and shifters exists all around him—including the alpha werewolf he had a one night stand with years before.

The Chosen One Series–The mythical Chosen One is set to return with his eight guardians and correct the magical wrongs done centuries before.

Hellhound Champions Series–As the champions of the fire goddess, the hellhounds have one task: keep the secret of the supernatural world safe.

Magical Mates Series–After the Chosen One returns, magic is in the air, and shifters are finally finding their fated mates… with a little help on the side.

Chosen Champions Series–With the magical realm in chaos, a new set of champions emerges to keep the human world secure.

Cosmo and the King–Cosmo never told any of his friends in the human realm that he ran away on his wedding day, leaving his king at the alter. Now Silenus has to track down Cosmo and convince him that they are meant for each other, even though his stubborn fiancé seems determined to challenge him at every turn.

Christmas Sprites Series–With magic in the human realm on the fritz, four Christmas Sprites find themselves trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive in Mistletoe Falls… and finding love along the way.

Yule Lads Series–You better watch out… the Yule Lads are coming to Mistletoe Falls this holiday season! A follow up to the pun-filled Christmas Sprites series, prepare for mischief, mayhem, and maybe a little love in time for Yule. If you prefer to read in chronological order, check out the Chosen Universe Box Sets

— York: Yule Lads Book One by Macy Blake

Review: Fated Mates and Where to Find Them (Fated Mates #2) by A J Sherwood

Rating: 3.75🌈

Fated Mates and Where to Find Them is sort of odd to begin with in that it’s book two of Sherwood’s Fated Mates series but book one hasn’t been released yet. And we get the couple from that first book in this novel in an interesting manner but what it does is highlight how much of the series world building is actually missing.

I did enjoy Fated Mates and Where to Find Them. I liked the couple, several of the secondary characters, and how fast paced the plot was. This story just flew by.

But it wasn’t supported by a strong foundation. I didn’t get anything as to the world structure. Vampire ruling class system? Human secondary status? Blood slaves? Where’d that come from? I’d have wanted more an idea of an overall portrait of the world in terms of paranormal development. I even knew who the villain was and what the dramatic event would be. How it would play out, no. But the general idea? Yes.

So really a just a tighter overall plan. Maybe that’s coming in the next book, which is book one. Normally it’s where we get a series foundation. I’m looking forward to seeing what Sherwood has in store for the characters we’ve already seen and how the author is going to handle a world where we’ve already been a visitor to.

Live fated mates, and vampires and humans as couples, this is a series you should check out.

Fated Mates:

◦ Fated Mates and How to Woo Them #1 – Dec 8,2023

✓ Fated Mates and Where to Find Them #2

Buy Link:

Fated Mates and Where to Find Them

Blurb:

Zander is in an auction house for the sole purpose of getting someone to sign a contract. He doesn’t have any interest in owning a blood slave—until he lays eyes on Max. That, he must have.

Max is there for reasons of his own, mostly desperate reasons, and he’s braced himself for a year of hell. Which doesn’t seem to be forthcoming.

Someone needs to explain to this vampire that he’s supposed to use Max, not spoil him. Zander doesn’t seem to get it.

Tags:

Paranormal romance, blood slave contract thing, except Zander doesn’t actually know how to own someone, I’m pretty sure he’d break out into hives if he couldn’t spoil Max, Max has no idea what just hit him, he just knows he’s somehow the responsible one, it’s definitely not Zander, sexy times incoming!, Zander is a walking green flag, sass, so much sass incoming, light angst, mostly as an excuse for cuddles, stubborn to lovers, part time soulmates, full time problem, whole story is just mindless violence and fluff, the summary really doesn’t get across how much sex is in this but it’s also not wrong, cinnamon protection squad, assemble!