E.J. Russell begins a new series, Ghost Townies, with Ghostridden, a wonderful paranormal mystery that introduces the delightful denizens, mysteriously quirky history of this remote small town thatās Ghost, Oregon.
It begins when ghostwriter Maz Amani, accompanied by his ginger cat Gilgamesh, arrives at the house he inherited from an Uncle Oren he barely knew.
That house, a gorgeous Queen Anne, is its own character and promptly becomes a magnet as it pulls in neighbors and townsfolk to meet the new owner.
Russell does such a splendid job building a sense of community by way a of a great cast of characters. Each one has a special role and warmth to them, whether itās Tia Sophia, Saul Pasternak and Jerry McHale and their daughter, Taryn, to the other shop owners, these are folk we want to know and spend time with.
The main characters too. Maz Amani who so desperately wants a home, finds himself in the middle of a mystery. The story of the house he inherited is more than it appears. I love that we discover along with Maz as he learns about the house, the couple (his Uncle included), and the town through research and revelations. Some bittersweet and heartfelt.
Thereās a few elements that caught me off guard. In one point in a conversation, Maz says
āAre you taking the piss?ā
This is a distinctly UK/English phrase, definitely not one youād hear an American say. So its appearance in a dialogue, from an American to another, in this context is very jarring and took me out of the moment.
Another is that I felt the āvillainā of this book was easily tagged. While the motivation behind the villainy isnāt clear until the end (great dramatic scenes), I feel I knew the āwhoā straight away.
Not a bad element because we get that wonderful storytelling about Avi and Oren in between, and itās amazing.
I hope for much more of this going forward. Of the main couple and characters too. I think this will be a great series.
When ghostwriter Maz Amani inherits a house from an uncle heās never heard of, he offers heartfelt thanks to the universe, packs up his car, his cat, and his skepticism about mysterious uncles leaving all their worldly goods to unknown nephews, and high-tails it to a small town halfway to the Oregon coast.
Anything would be better than week after week of couch surfing his way around Portland. Even if the alleged house is a rundown shack ridden with termites, spiders, andāshudderārats, heāll deal. Because hey, he owns a house!
And when his legacy turns out to be a pristine Queen Anne beauty with nary a termite, spider, or rat in sight, heās ready to stand the universe unlimited vodka shots.
Except not so fast.
Because instead, his house is ridden with something a little more on-brand for a place called Ghostā¦
I was looking for something quick and different from the fantasy/paranormal fiction Iād been reading, so I grabbed up Bound To His Oath (Mafia Mayhem – The Italian Connection, #1) by Aja Foxx.
It was enjoyable, definitely a quick read, and tons of characters as well as various other elements as Foxx is setting up the universe for the series.
After reading the story, it seems we will be following the romances of several mafia bosses and their respective partners, ones we meet already ācoupled upā here at the end.
But itās Nico and Lucaās story that comes first. Itās a young love, established from childhood, thatās been crushed by one manās ambitiously cruel parents. The background is revealed by the characters as events play out.
Iām not sure how logical or even plausible some of these events are given the publication date is August 24 , 2024. A big deal is made of gay marriage being legal in Canada (with the couple fleeing to the border) at a time itās perfectly legal in the USA. Also, Luca,as a juvenile, was falsely imprisoned and his criminally connected family were not informed/involved or retaliated. That element is not explained enough here.
The couple and their relationship is very romantic. The beginning, the rescue, sweeping Nico literally off his feet into a plane and away to a new home. That theyāre reunited after years apart but seemingly just fine felt too āCinderfellaā , but in line with the rest of the book.
Of course, thereās much more to it. A villainous family, a loving Italian mafia family and fabulous villa, a veritable chest of superficially crafted characters and plots lines lay within.
Itās enjoyable without having to be invested in the plot or characters. Thereās just not enough depth or discernible growth written into the relationship or events to make the characters actions feel realistic. Entertaining? Certainly. And thatās how I took it.
One of the coupleās met here and who played important roles towards the end are the focus of the next book. It tells the tale of they got together. I expect thatās the format for each couple seen as an established pair here.
Foxx also has an arc mystery plot and thatās interesting enough for me to continue reading the series.
“Do you honestly think I’d let you marry someone else? You’ve been mine since I took your first kiss. I was just giving you time to grow up.”
~ Nico ~
I was five years old the day we met, twelve when I figured out that I was going to love him for the rest of my life. When I turned sixteen, he gave me my first kiss…and then my world ended. I never believed the things people had said about him. He was not the bad boy everyone seemed to think he was. I’d seen his heart and it was pure gold. I just wish I’d had a chance to keep it before they took him away from me.
~ Luca ~
I was ten years old the day we met. By the time I was twelve I knew that I was going to love him for the rest of my life. When he turned sixteen, I gave him his first kiss…and then my world was ripped apart. I wasn’t the bad boy everyone seemed to think I was, but I refused to show anyone my heart except him, and they had taken him away from me.
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.
F N Manning has quickly become a must read author for me, so I was interested in seeing what this paranormal romance story would hold. Itās the first book in a new series, and itās got so many of the great qualities that make this authorās work a must for me.
Manningās characters are relatable, whether they be mages or werewolf, they have depth in the inner struggles they must face and overcome. Personal issues of self determination and self doubt translate well here with both of the main characters.
Manning works within the framework of the story to build a sympathetic narrative so we can make that clear emotional connection with both wizard Jack Blanchard and werewolf Ewan Oakley. They meet, make recognizable frustrating errors of judgment and inner turmoil, then slowly work their way through their own battles to be able to win out together in the end.
Thereās some really lovely stuff here. Jackās parents (no spoilers), a magical thread about choosing a brand and element that I so love, including the idea that the elements are pushing their own agenda.
I did wish weād gotten more of the Oakley pack and I feel that ending is only loosely resolved because we will see more of that character.
I found I was very enthusiastic about Frost or The Bite (Elementally Yours Book 1) by FN Manning and am looking forward to the next in the series.
Fate brought them together but will frost tear them apart?
Jack Blanchard is almost a real wizard. First, he needs to choose between the potential of earth magic and centuries of icy family tradition. The decision seems impossible until wolf shifter Ewan Oakley stumbles into his garden and starts awakening all his innermost desires.
Ewan Oakleyās pack is on the brink of ruin after a series of frosty magical attacks. Spending one night relaxing with an adorably uptight wizard is the most fun heās had in ages, but the shifter canāt ask for more, not while his pack struggles to survive.
Ewan opens Jackās eyes to new possibilities and they create beautiful magic together. But following his heart may put a target on Jackās back. Will Ewan and Jackās love have a chance to blossom, or will the frost freeze them first?
The Frost or The Bite is a thrilling gay paranormal romance featuring forbidden romance, a supernatural feud, action, and steam. This is the first novel in the Elementally Yours series, and all novels in this series can be read as standalones.
We first met all these people (alive and ghostly ) at the very haunted Ashton-Drake Manor House in the Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed).
That was a fabulous supernatural murder mystery romp that was absolutely entertaining, romantic, and gave us an entirely new cast of characters to love.
The Haunted Hotel picks up in the aftermath of those events, the unwanted publicity and the trouble itās brought to the Manor. And the unexpected surprises too.
One is a leftover guest, the horror book author Mr Pennington, whose writerās block has vanished since the last events and his creative sparks are flowing! Heās decided to stay and write. The most important new element is the new arrival at the Manor.
Morgan Ashton-Drake has returned home after his mother took him to America when he was a young boy. Now heās come home, only he canāt remember the ancient manor that holds both his history and memories and perhaps his future.
While Morgan is dealing with renewed relations with his grandfather, and his past, Ellis Sparks, and the rest of the found family of staff and ghosts of Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel have their own challenges to face.
Vawn Cassidy weaves in intimate relationships of family dynamics, romance, friendship, and ghostly goings on to come up with a warm-hearted, layered story of families, history, and love in believable terms. Even when thereās ghosts involved.
By the end, a new resolve has set in, an additional chapter begins, and someone else has come home. I love this book so much.
The Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) gives a wonderful foundation for this book as well as being a terrific story in a fantastic series. Donāt miss out on any of those stories.
I highly recommend reading them and this, the gorgeously crafted The Haunted Hotel (Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits Book 1) by Vawn Cassidy . Now I canāt wait to see where the next novel takes everyone.
Crawshanks Guide to Mischievous Spectres & Spirits:
Morgan Ashton-Drake hasnāt given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if heās all work and no play. Heās not missing out on anything important.
But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, heās not keen to confront his past. What he didnāt count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfatherās hotel.
Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, heās never met a frown he canāt turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer.
With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking as an incentive to get him to stay. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine?
From the creator of Dead Serious comes this hilarious grumpy/sunshine spin off which will leave you wanting to book your own room at The Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel.
The āI was abducted by aliens ā trope isnāt one I normally read but the reviews for this were good and the author is new to me.
Science fiction can be a tricky subject, especially where the world building and species is concerned. I read other books where the aliens just resemble funny colored humans living in their own humanistic world instead of actually describing what a truly alien world or species might be like.
It does depend upon a specific authorās take on scify but it comes down to the theme. Iāll admit I really enjoyed Mars Quinnās quirky perspective on this element.
Itās a fated mates science fiction romance, the first book in a new series. So Quinnās story has to lay out not just the characters, and their respective histories, but establish the series foundation with various worlds, different species, and the entire Crystal religion that sparks young Kalvoxrencol āKalā on his journey through space to find his fated mate.
That would be Seth, nigh to starved, recently dumped, with his emotional rescue cat, Lucy. The background the author has created for Sethās adolescence has continued emotional ramifications for his adult life. He has had anxiety or panic attacks since he was young, and a controlling ex left him with further issues and emotional damage. All of this is slowly revealed through the process of his being abducted, then having to deal with this event and communicating with his new companion and those on the ship.
Kal, the alien who was determined to take his fated mate away from Earth and back home, also undergoes his own transformation. Turns out heās young, prone to mistakes, the younger of all his siblings, and the more the reader and Seth learns about Kal, the more we like and connect with him. Alien, scaled, winged even but with behaviors that make him relatable. Are some of his early misadventures a tad too āhumanā in this regard? Sure but by this point as a reader, youāve already made a decision about whether you are invested in this book and charactersā journey or not.
I was and enjoyed how the author was drawing comparisons with the stages of rebelling adolescence, no matter what the species.
This was absolutely true with respect to the character of Ensign Wyn (who Iām sure belongs on Below Decks) who became a good friend of Sethās. His ongoing experiences, especially with drinking constantly made me laugh out loud. I need his book. Please.
So many special characters that Quinn crafted and made memorable, including NAID, the AI program that gained intelligence and became a being. I really hope that we see more of her. Quinn made sure thereās different species and different worlds that are seen and visited, as well as languages and religions. I appreciate that.
That romance was a very interesting one, built of respect, communication, commitment, and consent. That was upmost importance here so any intimacy didnāt really come until around 75 percent of the book was finished. They had literally covered a lot of space by then and Seth had the choice of returning to Earth.
Of the many siblings, only one other is mated so we get a scene that certainly leads us into the next book and sibling to get their story. It sounds fascinating and I canāt wait. Totally different.
Iām recommending this , itās quirky, the characters are well done, easy to understand, and invest in their lives. I really enjoyed their journey to HEA. Iām still laughing about Wyn.
One second Iām walking to work, and the next Iām on a spaceship. I have no idea whatās going on, but this scaled alien claims Iām his mate. Thatās not going to happen. I have until we reach his planet to accept or reject him. If I donāt want him, I can go back to Earth. But six months is a long time when the alien Kal is determined to woo me.
Kalvoxrencol
The Crystal sent me to the far reaches of the universe for my soulmate, and now that I have him, I will not surrender him. I will do whatever I can to win his love and keep him by my side, where he belongs. I will not let anything from my past or his keep us apart.
This is a standalone sci-fi romance with a socially anxious human, his protective winged alien mate, a black cat companion, a slow burn with a spicy payoff, and a guaranteed HEA. This is an MM romance with explicit content intended for adult readers only. Some of the trigger warnings include: panic attacks, anxiety, swearing, and adult content (Full list inside).
It took a short time for me to find my way to really connecting with both of these characters in Sanctuary, Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkesā new book and series.
At first, Paris comes across as a cosseted, naive young nobleman whoās just lost his father, a man who is the hidden lover of the heir to the throne. But quickly, through the means of a political mission, the authors start him towards a journey of astonishing personal growth.
Paris travels to the land of Nemeda, where heās to make a peace treaty with the unknown southern tribes, who are said to be bird worshippers. This is absolutely where the narrative pulls the reader into this amazing universe, giving us a window into his development as he opens up himself to new cultures, uses his ingenuity and knowledge to create opportunities for himself and to help others.
We get to watch him grow and fall in love with the person heās becoming.
The same goes for head of the Hawk clan, Brett. Brett was a harder character for me to invest in to start. Part of this is the disconnect between the clan bird/Avatar and what this clan is known for. It also ties into Brettās personality. They are the Hawk clan. However, instead of being known for their warrior spirit or their fierce nature, this clan is one of farmers and land oriented talents. It absolutely doesnāt match up with the Hawk as a species.
Other clans do match better with their namesake. Cranes, Ducks, Eagles and especially the Crows, all beautifully suited to their clanās needs and abilities. So why stray so far off from the Hawkās? As a someone in the field (wildlife biologist) this is an irritating factor, but not the only one. More on this at the end.
Anyway, Brett comes off as clueless or hapless as a clan leader when he first starts making his appearance in the novel. The worst of it involves how heās handled the wife he was dealt with. This is a important storyline that will thread throughout the novel, especially how itās handled by him at the beginning of the story. Does Brett improve in character development as the novel continues? Yes, but for me, this is a very weak beginning point.
Burns and Fawkes have just begun with their world building, as the various clans are introduced, along with their histories and the territorial/clan wars reveal themselves. So to the geographical and climate changes that are typical of each region that impacts each clan and kingdom. Itās fascinating, detailed, and gives depth to the characters in ways that makes them relatable.
I enjoyed and was very engaged with many of the other characters here, definitely wanting more of the Crow Clan and their fierce leader. There is so much more of the magical side to be explored. And thatās the spoilers side too that I wonāt be going into. Fantastic if not wholly unexpected.
The relationship, slowly growing, the respect for each otherās privacy and culture is something I enjoyed watching unfold and look forward to seeing more of in future stories.
Finally, my last words to the authors (other writers too), please rethink wise owl usage. I can tell you that is absolutely not the case. A alpha predator? Positively. Fierce? Beyond measure. But wise? Nope, I blame Disney and that face! SMH. Letās try to keep the owl more in tune with its natural behaviors, same as you do with the other birds here. With the exception of that pesky Hawk.
Otherwise, a terrific read and wonderful adventure.
Parisās path is clear, his future settled. Heās trained his whole life in politics and the running of a kingdom. Heās going to be an adviser to the future king, his beloved prince. But when his father dies unexpectedly, the current king takes the opportunity to get rid of him, sending him to the barbaric southern tribe lands of Nemeda as a diplomat.
No one has ever returned from the tribes alive.
But he wonāt give up on true love. If it costs him everything, heāll bargain his way back to the arms of Prince Tybalt. Only what he finds when he arrives in Nemeda is not what he expected. The tribes arenāt barbaric at all, and their chief is . . . well, Paris canāt be distracted by the manās rugged beauty that easily. Can he?
āBased within the Kincaid Pack series’s universe, the Silver Oak Pack features a pack first introduced in The Enforcer and His Mate. Led by Alpha Liam Amato, the Silver Oak Pack is small but fierce as they work to rebuild under Liam’s newfound leadership.ā
Clark is starting a new series that expands on the events that have happened within the Kincaid pack universe, a paranormal worldās organizational structure, The Council, was recently brought down by the Alpha of the Kincaid Pack. Rebuilding has been slow, leaving chaos and damaging ramifications behind.
Thatās the situation Tempest finds the Silver Oak pack, dealing with the fallout, full of suspicion of change, outsiders, and the result is a pack thatās in stasis.
The portrait of a community frozen by its fears, history, and prejudice is clearly defined by the author. We understand the ramifications and the ugly consequences of this continuing pack identity will have on its members.
But that makes it hard to connect with others in this story. Or any sudden reversals in behavior or decision making.
The main character of Ore, the golden eagle shifter, who shows up wounded and unable to remember what happened, is an engaging one. His background is probably one of the issues here. While i like him, his storyline is also both interesting and not so well developed. It has potential but is wrapped up so quickly, for all the buildup, that you as a reader wonder what the problem was. Itās over in minutes. And it leaves another aspect of his story unresolved.
Cash, a felidae shifter, comes from a terrible background of parental abandonment. Thatās contributed to his current situation as Enforcer and attitude of Pack first mindset. So his inability to accept his mate that literally falls into his arms because heās not a feline, is both frustrating and understandable . To a point.
The author misses the mark here because, thereās a real lack of communication between almost everyone. Mates, friends, family, and importantly, the Alpha and those that are supposed to advocate for the pack or themselves.
So for most of the book no one talks to anyone. About important things. Yes, they do talk about if Oreās getting his memory back. But other things? Nope.
Thereās something else. The Mobsterās Mate, which is listed as a standalone really isnāt. It leads into this series as sort of a prequel, and should be read as such. Characters from that appear here and events there are important references here.
In fact itās a better developed story and its characters have more chemistry and relationship than those here
Read The Mobsterās Mate, then read this. Tempest has potential, especially with its main couple but itās got quite a few issues with its narrative that highlights the flawed development in plot and shortcuts.
Read it because you enjoy this universe and want to see where the ongoing mystery flows and how it develops.
Silver Oak Pack:
ā Tempest #1
Kincaid Pack-6 books
ā The Alpha and His King #1
ā The Second and His Bonded #2
ā The Deputy and His Enforcer #3
ā The Hunter and His Mates #4
ā The Enforcer and His Heart #5
ā The Witch and His Doctor #6
ā The Mobsterās Mate -standalone within the Kincaid universe, so not really
ā A New Pack for New Year (Kincaid Pack) prequel
When duty and desire clash, fated mates are caught in the middle.
Cashās loyalty to his pack is unwavering. Heād sacrifice anything to protect his packmates. Do anything to keep them safe. Put their needs above his ownāalways.
It is the life he was born for, and the one heās worked years to achieve. As an Enforcer, he swore an oath to his alpha: pack before self.
Not once has he regretted his choices.
Until an injured eagle shifter lands in his lap, and his protective instincts get torn in two.
He knows he canāt risk the safety of his packāno matter what his panther demands. Once the little bird is all healed up, Cash will have to send him on his way.
For the good of his pack.
But dark, frightened eyes and a sweet smile call to his cat in a hungry, possessive way and challenge everything heās ever thought he knew.
For the first time in his life, he might just have to put himself first.
Tempest is the first book in the Silver Oak Pack series, set within the Kincaid Pack Universe but able to be read and enjoyed completely on its own. It features an overly protective panther trapped by his own responsibility-driven morals, an eagle who canāt remember much but knows the surly cat makes him feel spine-tingling safe, magical tattoos, skinny dipping, a delicious age-gap, gobs of scenting, and a swoon-worthy happily ever after.
Iām not sure how I stumbled across this amazing book and author but Shadow & Ghosts, the first novel in the City of Shadows series by Lex Veia is the urban fantasy universe that I was most in need of.
The world building here is astonishing. Iām so intrigued by the many different ways Veia has combined recognizable elements, such as authentic US geographical features and locations with the authorās own unique narrative storylines. That Veia incorporates fantastic twisted historical creations of warfare and demonic rifts, along with a dark capital city run and divided by gangs makes this a tale you cannot put down.
āThe city of monsters, mobsters, and dark magic. Oh, I know all about the witch-gangs of Las O.ā
Thatās the voice of Kit Winter, thief extraordinaire, aka The Shadow, and a captivating figure at the heart of this story and series. Once we make the connection with him, we canāt pull away from his vibrant character, that energetic, magnetic force that is so full of emotional/personal layers, that the author is still peeling them away even at the end of the story. Kit is someone who has hidden so much of himself for so long that , even the act of remembering is a complex act . One that never comes to fruition.
His opposite is Zach Riley, The Ghost, leader of the Renegades, the Elite Team gathered by Captain Emilie Brodie to fight demons and witches.
Zachās background and legendary status as The Ghost is another rock solid element of this story. Zach is a constantly evolving and changing character, in part due to the revelations that are a part of his growing relationship with Kit. The two men, both different and yet so similar in emotional makeup and personality.
This is a very slow burn romance. And it works beautifully as itās built around the teamās chemistry and the heavy lifting that comes from the missions they are sent on and the mysteries that they find.
The action sequences and the entire suspense thatās being built around the missions and the evils that the team faces is indescribably powerful. I started to go back to look at a few things in the book and before I knew it, I was sucked in , rereading it as though it was my first time.
And loving it as much if not more.
This is a story where the reader will feel the grimy surfaces, the dark magic, and poisoning of the light of the dangerous city, Las Oscura. And the author makes us take an emotional journey with all the characters through this city and all the events that occur.
What a wild, dark, intense journey it is.
I canāt wait for the next book to come.
City of Shadows:
ā Shadow & Ghost #1
ā¦ Shadow & Ghost 2: City of Ghosts-coming July 2024
As the most infamous thief in America, Kit enjoys a carefree, transient lifestyleāor, he did, until someone slapped a pair of handcuffs around his wrists and offered him an impossible choice: Rot in prison or join the most dangerous division of the Darkmagic Investigation Agency, the Renegades.
Kitās pretty sure he chose wrong. The Renegades are the most elite fighters in the worldānone more so than their legendary dark-witch-killing lieutenant, Zach Riley. Kit is utterly outmatched and unprepared for hunting witches and demons through the dangerous, magic-riddled city of Las Oscura.
But when a routine hellhound hunt turns fatal, Kitās criminal skillset might be the Renegadesā best shot at tracking a deadly new killer through the shadowy undergroundāand Kitās chance to earn his place on the team. However, hunting witches is worlds away from Kitās old life, and if he wants to survive, heāll need to learn to trust his teamāand balance his burgeoning feelings for a certain lieutenant.
This is an action-packed urban fantasy with slow-burn romance culminating in spicy scenes. Each book in the series will be increasingly spicy as the romance builds.
Up All Night begins a new series called Mount Hope by Annabeth Albert about a small town near Portland, Oregon and a close knit group of longtime friends who have recently come back together.
Up All Night is described as a low-angst, small town romance, and it does work on that level. The small town community is nicely represented, especially through the dinerās various clientele and hospital staff.
I like the newly divorced older former fire captain, Sean Murphy, that Albert has created as a main character. Heās a very familiar figure, the sort of guy whoās recognizable around in a community. The divorced dad of now adult offspring, who is trying to make his way into a future he didnāt expect and isnāt ready for. Heās returning home to help out a recently widowed friend and father deal with the aftermath of his husbandās death. Thatās a wonderfully sweet, compelling storyline.
Everything about Sean feels very real. Except for the fact that his wife, a scientist, late in their marriage, both discovers sheās asexual, and, also has a shot at a dream job in Antartica. So she ends the marriage, making Sean give up his dream of his job, sell his beloved Craftsman home, and leave the area. Thatās a lot. All that fallout from the divorce and heās not mad or even mildly irritated. Heās sad and confused. That feels like a problem.
Thatās just one of the issues Iām having with the story and characters here. Itās that Albert canāt stop with the complications and drama but the story itself is supposed to be low angst and sort of low drama, sweet small town romance. The authorās words.
Itās pulls in separate directions narratively because of the consistent heavy loads the author writes onto her characters and plots. This makes several of the storylines feel under explored and understandably cut short in important elements. Not just in certain aspects of Seanās personality.
Thereās considerably more along these exact same lines.
Denver Rucker, the ex foster kid with huge abandonment issues, who is now one of the short order cooks at Honey’s Hotcake Hut. Heās the other main character and his problems with commitment run deep. Thereās a small Dom/sub element here within the developing relationship between Denver and Seanās as Sean enjoys exploring his sexuality as a gay man for the first time.
Yes, itās also a sexual coming out, first times, sexual experience storyline. So much is packed into this book.
Foster care, foster children, giving children up for adoption, all those delicate topics are major themes here. The well defined family of their widower friend,Eric, all his four children (each one with their own well defined personality from jock to āneurospicyā) came from the foster care system. But thatās not gone into detail here.
Then there is Denver himself, whose background is painful and left him emotionally vulnerable. And there is another , lesser established thread of substance abuse, that flows through several characters as too. Sometimes itās just a sentence about no longer using/drinking something.
But again, in a low angst story, to introduce such emotional, and potentially triggering topics in a way thatās underwhelming or not thoroughly explored, doesnāt make sense. For me as a reader, either commit fully to a more complex story and well developed narrative. Or realize that, for a contemporary low angst, low drama romance, a little less complexity/issues in the characters history and relationships journey is just fine.
I like many aspects of the story, like the characters and relationships , whether itās romantic or the friendship between the group of men. But for each of the pluses, I get a scene that will raise a question about the character or a relationship. Such as a feeling of homophobia that comes from Seanās son but left unanswered.
Or, smh, that Albert has the younger offspring Wren, in the story, find and put a turtle in a small tank for observation purposes, possibly adding another. Thatās my button being pushed.
If you canāt write animals in a manner that is satisfying (continuity in letting main animal characters exist right up to the end of the story) or in a way thatās realistic and respectful, please donāt. It might be a small thing, but reptiles ,especially native turtles, are increasingly endangered and itās discouraged to take them for pets or any reason. PSA over
Up All Night (Mount Hope Book 1) by Annabeth Albert was on some levels, a nice romantic story, a good start on a new series . In the other hand, it was overpacked with too many sensitive issues, potentially triggering themes and emotionally charged scenes that were, imo, not fully explored or developed for this book and itās overall low angst storyline.
Read it because you are a fan of the author, love a new series by, or any of the many themes here.
I had a stable life as a fire captain in Seattle, married to one of my best friends and raising two awesome kids. Now, my kids are grown, and my marriage is toast. I’m solidly past forty and back in my tiny hometown of Mount Hope, Oregon, filling in as a firefighter. My future is one big question mark keeping me up at night.
Also keeping me up? The short-order cook at Honey’s Hotcake Hut.
Denver might be close to my age, but we’re total opposites. The former rock roadie runs from stability, never puts down roots, and lives for the moment. Point in case, we barely speak before he invites me into his shower.
I’ve never been with a man, but my fresh start has me trying all sorts of new thingsāincluding Denverās shower.
Our future? Hopeless.
Denver doesn’t do repeats, but I convince him to have a fling since we’re both in Mount Hope short-term. The more time we spend together, the deeper our friendship and bond grows. Our time together outside of the bedroom, reveals a caring side to the grumpy cook. Even better, my sunshine-y optimism softens him like butter.
Should a fling give me these deep feelings? Nope.
Worse, the feelings are mutual. Big decisions loom for both our futures, and our time together grows short. I might have Denver’s heart, but his trust is far harder to win. He’s the answer to all my question marks, and I need him to believe in us. Can I convince him to give our love a chance?
UP ALL NIGHT features a grumpy/sunshine pairing for a forty-something firefighter on a path of self-discovery with an UP ALL NIGHT short-order cook. It contains loads of first-time feels with sexual awakening and exploration with a heaping helping of personal growth and deep connection for this opposites-attract couple.
Iāve read this series out of order and this probably has hurt the way in which I have viewed the first story, Shades of Sepia.
Iām already familiar with the couple and characters here. Also how the events of this story unfolded and were resolved. I read it basically to complete the series and grab up any new information or missing details before heading into the series finale.
I liked getting to know Ben Leyton, a New Zealand human drawn to Boggslake, Ohio because of an old photograph from his grandfather. Heās a wonderful, relatable character. Simon Hawthorne, vampire with a terrifying past, is a quiet presence here against the vibrancy thatās Ben.
I liked them but my main quibble here is the rushed relationship. Thereās no foundation, no chemistry at the beginning. Yes a feel for a realistic dynamic comes later in the book, but at the beginning, itās all soulmate, insta-love āoh, I love youā type of relationship and I just think it comes across as flawed and flat.
Especially when viewed against the funny, partly antagonistic tone of the one that emerges from Electric Candle with Blair and Forge. That is one thatās slowly grown and, even with a soulmate bond, definitely not an instant love connection. As I said, series should be read in order.
I thought the second half of the story and plot was better constructed. But again, I had the advantage of reading books 2 and 3 . For me, I enjoyed it but got frustrated that the investigation into the murders was simply too slow to see what was going on around the main characters. And major plot points werenāt followed through on, another issue which bothered me.
For me , thereās a large amount of sex to the exclusion of character and relationship development. Instead of giving the reader information about what exactly happened to certain characters, what did the investigation reveal, and some more vampire bonding details, we get sex.
Itās not as satisfying as it sounds.
So while there are some good things about this book. The characters themselves are lovely, some really nice moments individually, the whole story doesnāt come across as strongly as the book that follow.
Itās still a rec for me. It a good lead in to a terrific series. Read them in the order they are written.
A serial killer stalks the streets of Boggslake, Ohio. The victims are always found in pairs, one human and one vampire.
Simon Hawthorne has been a vampire for nearly a hundred years, and he has never seen anything like it. Neither have the other supernaturals he works with to keep the streets safe for both their kind and the humans.
One meeting with Simon finds Ben Leyton falling for a man he knows is keeping secrets, but he can’t ignore the growing attraction between them. A recent arrival in Boggslake, Ben finds it very different from his native New Zealand, but something about Simon makes Ben feel as though he’s found a new home.
After a close friend falls victim to the killer, Simon is torn between revealing his true nature to Ben, and walking away to avoid the reaction he fears. But with the body count rising and the murders becoming more frequent, either, or both of them, could be the killer’s next target.
Authorās note: This story was originally released in 2014 by another publisher. This edition has been revised and re-edited with the end result being a better, stronger story.
