Father F’in’ Christmas: A Minded Story by R.L. Merrill is a short story about loss, grief, and redemption. From the perspective of a deceased firefighter looking back at his life, especially on his grieving wife whoâs been struggling since his death.
Merrillâs story is one I wish was longer as it ends just as I want to see more of the characters as they move forward. Thereâs pain, recognition of oneâs own faults and failures, and also the ways in which we have been successful. Itâs a human journey full of otherworldly beings and human struggles. And cats. Lots of cats.
Iâm definitely heading to read the rest of the Minded stories, more of Louis and Maggie.
A holiday story for those not very fond of the holidays. Put this and the author on your TBR list.
Isnât that a wonderful cover?
Cover Illustration: Art By Regan Kubecek
Cover Design: Yosbe Designs
Wonder what happens in the afterlife? Follow the adventures of the recently deceased and their Intervention Specialists, Maggie Boudreaux and Louis Sheffield.
Fans of Minded and Blossomed will enjoy seeing one of Louis’s early solo Interventions in this wacky and sweet new tale from the afterlife.
When deceased firefighter Tommy Quintana wakes up in a gymnasium and is told he suffers from Death Denial Syndrome, he knows the one thing he must do in order to move on: mind his wife, Kimberly. Assigned to work with Intervention Specialist Louis Sheffield, he soon learns that he has much more to make up for than he thought as his widow is literally dying of a broken heart. With the help of a 1980s-era punk rocker, a gargoyle, and an alley cat, Tommy will attempt a friggin’ Christmas miracle to save her.
Publisher: Celie Bay Publications LLC; 1st edition (August 13, 2017)
If I thought the dark curses of Like a House on Fire were terrifying, Rose takes this story and goes into another magical lane of darkness and curses.
Fool Me Twice by A. M. Rose, the second book in the Cursebreakers, Inc. series, has two main characters we met in book one. Cain, the brutal, anger filled owner of an illegal underground fighting club (where Ash fought in book 1), and Hart, the uber polished, always controlled unofficial head of his family of Cursebreakers.
Of the two main storylines, the relationship aspect between Cain and Hart doesnât really work (imo) as well as the magical curse plot line.
Aside from a instant heavy D/s element, thereâs other parts of this relationship, that as written, makes it harder, imo, to create a connection between them as a couple and a reader. One is the missing history or background between them. Itâs implied here but itâs not clear what happened. Thereâs a short story that a reader can access after finishing the book that fills this in, but itâs lack of details in the narrative leaves a deep gap between the present day emotional complexity and intensity of the actions of the characters to make their interactions believable. For Hart to break down, abandoning his character, there needed to be a foundation laid out for this to be something that could be understood. Especially when Cain is the key.
I donât think that happened. The characters apart are intriguing. Together, not so sure.
What was incredible about the story is the curse , the mystery and once again, the escalating suspense and horror that surrounds the curse and those affected by it. Itâs so well written, the tension and horror so intense as well as the puzzling nature and scrambling for a solution.
That last part of the narrative is a true white knuckle ride. Itâs emotional, compelling ,and very dangerous. And the reader is all in.
Aside from the romantic thread, thereâs other things that really matter here. The authors bring us more background information about how the Cursebreakers were formed as a unit, we see more of the agency and its members, and get a feel for stories to come.
The various members of the remarkable Cursebreakers are still being fleshed out. The first being Ash with Morgan. Now Hart, still polished house family manager alongside his partner Cain. Next up is the affable Fix, the large Cursebreaker whoâs helped hold them together during a formative period/history thatâs slowly being revealed.
Wren, an intriguing Cursebreaker who works with cursed creatures, has important clues released here about his past and a new character that was introduced. Canât wait for their story to be released.
Iâm excited for this series and recommending this story. Read them in the order they are written for character development and event content.
Hart, perhaps, took that quote a bit too much to heart. In the midst of drama and the constant restlessness of his family, he chose to present himself as unwavering. Poised. Controlled. Even when inside, heâs anything but. There are layers to him underneath the perfection. Layers heâs desperately craving for someone to peel away.
Itâs just his luck that the only person who knows how to do that lives his life in shades of gray. Morally gray.
Cane punches first. Period. What question would he even need to ask?
Only, it seems like his tried-and-true method isnât working so well for him anymore. With an empire to run in the underbelly of Slatehollow, the last thing he needs is a curse placed on his head and drawing attention to the details of hisâŚbusiness ventures.
But when it starts to do more than just that, he knows there is only one person he can call. Hart. And with Hart, inevitably, comes a realization. Cane wants so much more than cursebreaking from him.
Will Hart let him have it? Or will the curse destroy them both first?
Cursebreakers, Inc is a series that has released books 1 and 2 in the terrific new paranormal fantasy romances from the authors known as A.M. Rose. Sexy, fascinating, dystopian in the world setting, magical and often horrifying, Rose grabbed me from the beginning of this novel.
The Cursebreakers, a group of men (in this case) who are born with a mark that lets the magical governing agency know what they are and what they might be capable of magically as they develop. The history and backgrounds of each Cursebreaker is relayed by the characters in their stories, in most cases not very pleasant ones. And, as we find out in Book 2, how exactly this group was formed.
Like a House on Fire sets down the basic foundations of the world and agency. Itâs a tantalizing framework that immediately begs for more exploration and detailed knowledge because of the defining features Rose lets us see through the lens of their creations.
The first of the Cursebreakers is Ash, who has an affinity with fire and fighting. Heâs impulsive and highly skilled in a certain type of curses as is everyone in their group. Each having a specific skill set or sets of magical abilities to breaking curses.
Itâs a two person POV, and the magical drama, which is horrifyingly subtle at first, is built skillfully as the scenes bounce between the two protagonists.
Morgan and his bff, Brea, arrive at a dilapidated house heâs just inherited by an aunt he barely knew. Itâs not an ordinary house, fyi. Various things happen and heâs trapped inside.
In a panic, Brea calls the Cursebreakers and Ash is sent to handle whatâs assumed to be a simple case. Itâs not.
From the central point of a strange situation, an unknown magical force which happens to be a house, Rose writes a novel that tells multiple stories. Ash and Morgan develop into fascinating layered characters, people with depths able to develop different aspects of their personalities as they explore and deal with each new frightening situation.
Then thereâs all the magical elements, the spells and craftwork, the tools and techniques created to enhance the characters and world building. Itâs remarkable and feels believable in such a dark fantasy environment.
As the terror and suspense keeps multiplying, more series knowledge and intense magical energy becomes available that pulls in other members of the Cursebreakers so we meet them and lays a foundation for new plots going forward.
Thereâs a trigger warning for people with issues with tight spaces and claustrophobia. Take note because I found parts, ok many parts, of this story terrifying.
I just was so invested in this story and the characters. A definite page turner and a must read for all lovers of paranormal or fantasy dark romance.
Right, soâŚletâs see how he got himself in this mess.
An estranged family member left him a house. Which is great. The house looks like itâs a soft breeze away from crumbling. Less great. The house is cursed and now Morgan is trapped inside it. Anything BUT great.
Cursebreaker, please! And make him hot. Morganâs been through a lot.
Herbs? Check. Fire? Check. Being the best at his job and knowing it? Double effing check.
Ash had everything he needed to get his client out of a cursed house. So how in the world did he get himself trapped inside with him? Why is the house so against them leaving? And why is his client the hottest thing since wildfire?
Time for a new plan.
One that involves breaking the curse, and breaking the bed. Not necessarily in that order.
K.M. Averyâs Beyond the Veil series is one of my favorites, not only because of its narrative complexity in terms of the themes, intensity of its layered paranormal characters, and the well crafted conceptual elements that Avery has created for the series and continues to explore as each new book releases.
Itâs also the interesting way the author has formatted the series. Avery sections it into 3 book miniseries that revolve around a certain character or coupleâs arduous emotional journey. Each one moves the many plot lines of mystery and drama of the series forward through the various lives of the couple and characters we are focusing on.
Currently, the one that weâre in is the one of the most emotionally charged and compelling segment of the series so far. Mostly due to the nature of the narrative and we see intimately and feel full connected to a person who has contracted the virus during the series. Thatâs huge in a group of brilliantly written storylines with full of memorable characters and oftentimes heartbreaking scenes.
It starts with the unforgettable events in The Turning of the Tables that lead to shattering changes to Seth Mays, and the beginning of his relationship with Elliott Crane, badger shifter and best friend of Hart.
The Badger in His Burrow follows Seth in his quest for new beginnings, including a job and control to the small Wisconsin town where Elliott Crane lives, Hart is from, and Seth has a tiny familiarity with because of his association with Hartâs investigation into the murder case involving Elliotâs father.
Avery picks up the storylines, characters and township from that previous story and weaves it into something deeper, different but still familiar. Itâs now a mystery, a search for Seth for a new start, and for Elliot too.
All the emotions, physically charged elements in adapting to the new identity, the having to adjust to others judgements, it is all worked realistically into this world and Sethâs character.
Thereâs also more horror, more mystery and suspense to go with a developing relationship as the Arcanavirus continues to divide the populace. What makes Averyâs series so relevant and compelling is that the reactions and immediate responses to the Arcanavirus, for those itâs impacted in every aspect, can be viewed through the lenses of the current events today. Racism, sexism , highlighting the deep fears and hatred that is directed towards the LGBTQIA by some people, AIDS, all the experiences the pandemicâs produced are reflected in the ways the Arcanavirus has affected the world in the series.
The story is raw, moving, complicated and thoughtful. And thereâs another story to come in Seth and Elliottâs 3-book group.
I highly recommend this entire series. They must be read in the order they are written in order to understand the events, the relationships and the developments in the series themes.
Iâll be reading the preceding book again as I want to go back to the beginning of Sethâs journey.
What an epic deeply rooted emotional experience this book turns out to be.
I moved halfway across the country for this guyâknowing that he wasnât interested. And thatâs probably not even the stupidest thing Iâve ever done.
The stupidest thing Iâve ever done is seriously contemplate telling him that Iâm falling in love with him. While also trying to find a job and keep my new coworkers from finding out that Iâm a shifter. In a small town where everybody knows everybody else⌠except me.
The same small town where Elliotâs dad was murdered, where Elliot was almost murdered, and those people have family and friends who are still openly anti-shifter. The town is divided over whether it wants to embrace its shifter citizens or watch them literally be torn apart. I know which side has my vote, but Iâm clearly the outsider here.
So here I am, in a tiny midwestern town with more cows than people, trying not to get fired, not to get outed, and not to get killed⌠all while hoping to somehow figure out a way to make Elliot Crane fall in love with me.
The second book in Marie Reynardâs excellent paranormal fated mate mystery series, Impulsive Connections is one of those stories that kept me up til the early morning hours. Then ended on a thrilling cliffhanger. I wasnât expecting that.
Reynard has been building a superb paranormal mystery that borders on the horror for this series. Itâs a fated mate romance that has an overlying series plot about a disappearing shifters, shifter territories under siege by mysterious dark forces, and entire packs suffering or sometimes failing from odd magical symptoms.
With each new book and couple (a mage/shifter fated mate storyline), more of the complex arc plot and its elements are revealed.
Reynardâs characterizations and plot lines are excellent. Both in terms of how the author builds the relationship between scholarly mage Liam Batiste and the extroverted romantic wolf shifter, Kade Mills, weaving series foundation knowledge and mystery elements into it while maintaining the core plot of a fated mate couple. Our attention is secured, our emotions engaged.
The author never fails to let her characters grow as the relationship develops, letting them reveal more of their inner lives and desires be communicated as the story progresses. This is true for not just the main characters but the equally important side characters as well, like Aran, and the other mages and shifters.
Another well done aspect of the series and the story is the magical elements. The various spells, the crafting abilities, and even the deep lore and research, stressing the importance for resources, itâs all realistic and exciting. It makes sense and grounds this magical world.
Liam and Kadeâs relationship is one I absolutely connected with, while enjoying their friendships with other people, including the close knit group of mages that arrived to help the Mills pack with their dark spirits troubling their territory.
Thereâs a cliffhanger I hadnât expected after the first book, and itâs a heartbreaking moment. Itâs times like this when I love having a fully finished series to read.
However, Iâll be waiting in mad anticipation for the third book to arrive and probably re-visiting this one to be ready!
Iâm highly recommending this series and story for all lovers of the fated mate trope and paranormal romance novels. No mpreg. Thereâs plenty of great suspense and magical battles to look forward to.
Read them in the order they are written for plot and character development.
Ignited by accident, fueled by fate. Some bonds burn brighter than any flame.
Kade Mills has spent over a decade dreaming of his ideal meet-cute. Surely the universe wouldn’t toss the perfect mage at him while he’s a scarred shadow of his former flirtatious self, recovering from his last encounter with the malicious spirits haunting his pack’s territory.
Liam Batiste is a man of simple pleasures; a quiet room and a stack of books are all he needs to be happy. He’s only in Lost Creek to help his friend save the Mills pack from the unknown evil infesting their land, but everything changes when he and Kade are paired up to capture the supernatural threat.
After a run-in with a spirit leaves them entangledâphysically and magicallyâthey must learn to control the newfound power their unwanted connection grants them. As they struggle to resist the heady pull of their bond, they begin to realize it may hold the key to defeating the dark forces that are endangering far more than just Kade’s pack⌠and perhaps it’s not as unwelcome as they first thought.
Impulsive Connections is a steamy 149k M/M paranormal romance featuring a playboy wolf shifter, a nerdy mage, and friends who are trying their very best not to meddle. This simmering slow burn is perfect for readers who love reluctant mates, unintended bonds, forced proximity, unfortunate bed shortages, and knotting. While it guarantees a happy ending for its main couple, the overarching plot does contain cliffhangers, and the series should be read in order. Please look inside for content warnings. (This series does not contain mpreg.)
Weâre at the penultimate book in Jocelynn Drakeâs fantastic epic paranormal series of ancient Chinese vampires, terrifying Fae dynastic plots, realm invasions, dragons, fated mates , witches and paranormal beings of all sorts of magical mythology.
What a mesmerizing wild explosive fantasy romantic ride this series is. And with Two Thousand Shadows we get both answers to a series long puzzle and an agonizing cliffhanger to angst over until the finale is released.
Two Thousand Shadows has a lot of storylines and elements to it, particularly with Drake having to concentrate on pulling together the entire series dramatic plots and characters for huge battles and storyline climaxes that will resolve the majority of the series main crucial issues.
Does Drake pull it off? Absolutely!
With the addition of new characters, cat shifters with magical abilities that are slowly revealed throughout the narrative, and a new couple who are (already formed in the readerâs imagination) a more substantial force in both personalities and character growth.
Junjie, whoâs a seer and warrior, has his own painful past revisited here through memories and conversations with his clan. The cat shifter is revealed to be Leo, the stray cat Junjie has been feeding a surprise that came at the end of the previous story.
Leoâs character and shifter background is rolled out as Leo decides what he wants to do with the clan and his affinity for Junjie. Itâs interesting how Drake again is able to write Leo feelings and thoughts as a paranormal character with a different nature than a human being. Leoâs story feels very different from anything else that has come from before, that includes the dragon, who also acts as it should.
What or who is delightfully written is an orphan cat shifter who acts as a bridge between Leo and the clan, especially Junjie, pulling Leo into the found family in a relatable manner.
When it comes to the all important details and climatic moments, Drake has the power of the many magical beings and surprisingly great twists to make them so satisfying. Did I want more? Sure. But this is so complicated, so many elements and elaborate layers of storylines leading up the result that I probably wouldnât be happy unless there was a couple more books.
These are fabulous characters and itâs hard to believe that with all their potential for growth and more importantly additional content, this is leading up to the end. Hopefully with a break, Drake will think about new stories.
Thereâs another story coming because as I said this ends on a cliffhanger. A unexpected twist.
Until that book drops, grab up this fantastic series. Read them in the order they were written and enjoy the journey into an incredible universe and amazing characters.
Love the covers, the concept. Fantastic.
The Kings of Chaos :
Two Thousand Dreams #1
Two Thousand Tears #2
Two Thousand Blades #3
Two Thousand Shadows #4
Two Thousand Promises #5 – Feb 21,2025 – finale I think.
The âstray catâ Junjie has been feeding and cuddling for months is actually an extremely rare cat shifter.
Of course, Leo would have preferred to continue their arrangement of Junjie feeding him choice bits of fish and rubbing his belly, but he needs Junjieâs help and that means revealing his secret.
An orphaned kitten needs a home after the fae killed his parents, and Leo is the most irresponsible, feckless, lazy creature in existence.
In short, heâs a terrible choice for raising a two-year-old cat shifter.
No. The WORST choice.
Yet, even after the little boy is settled with Junjie and the rest of the Zhang clan, Leo canât walk away.
Thereâs just something about that sweet, bashful vampire with the too-soft heart and sexy eyes. And that kid is stealing chunks of his heart, too.
The war with the fae is about to tear the world apart and an old dark shadow has fallen over the Zhang clan, threatening to destroy them all.
Leo must stay to protect his new family. Even if it means giving up all his secrets to the vampire who is steadily stealing away his heart.
Two Thousand Shadows is the fourth novel in the Kings of Chaos series. This book contains a gentle, shy vampire who will stop at nothing to protect those he loves, a shifter with a secret, a nosy family who wants all the spilled tea, other non-human surprises, snark, angst, magic, found family, brotherly bickering, chaos, cuddles, secrets, and an endless love.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees is one of my favorite unhinged series. Jennifer Codyâs fabulously eccentric characters and wildly imaginative
storylines that swing from the humorous to the horrifying to the absurd and adventurous and back are always captivating.
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch, the fifth book in the series, is another resounding hit. With one twist after another popping up in the story, the reader is still firmly centered on the growing relationship between otherworldly finder Darcy Hellspinner and very chill human Elijah Penn as they face numerous challenges and overcome attacks from villains unknown.
Itâs a wildly chaotic journey thatâs well constructed, layered with strange creatures and beings, and goes to unexpected places that even our main characters didnât anticipate.
I believe that there is one more book in the series. Thereâs a wedding that still needs to happen for Arlington Fox and Romily, our original couple. That should be utter joy and a great universal celebration of the most unhinged storylines and these fabulous zany characters. I canât wait.
I highly recommend this series and story. Read these in order, it does help. Great covers.
Cover Design by Tammy, Aspen Tree E.A.S.
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees :
The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1
The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin #2
The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion #3
The Trouble With Trying to Hook a Harbinger #4
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch #5
The Adventure of Sterling Jones: A Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Sidequest
Imagine coming home from an extended stay in a foreign country to find a letter from a house sitter you didnât hire warning you to get a protection order against your ex and informing you that youâre a terrible plant dad.
I mean, I am a terrible plant dad, and I probably should get a protection order against Stalker Steve, but that letter isnât the weirdest thing to happen to me today. I think the teleporting alien baby whoâs decided to make me their perch probably takes the prize for Weirdest Thing in Elijah Pennâs Life.
Fortunately, the babyâs parents hired a bounty hunter to bring me and my new buddy back. Unfortunately, Darcy Hellspinner might be the sexiest man Iâve ever met in real life, and if it isnât clear from the fact I call my ex Stalker Steve, I have terrible taste in men. I have the sneaking suspicion that Darcyâs going to be my next big mistake, but thatâs okâIâm probably going to be his too.
The Trouble With Trying to Bag a Blood Witch is a 87k paranormal romance with a little bit of sci-fi mixed in, two MCs who think this is just an extended hook up, and a baby alien with impeccable timing. The Foxily family is growing again. Itâs Darcyâs turn to bring in a mate, but heâs lodging an official complaint because this isnât what he signed up for.
The Firedancer is my first dive into Rye Coxâs Black Cat Circus series, a paranormal world of outcasts that travel through worlds finding their true loves.
The setup is simple, the author establishes the characters and fundamentals of the series early on in the book, so even if the reader, like myself is new to the series, we understand setting of the circus and the concept of the story.
Coal, a Vermillion Bird, a fire being of ancient Chinese mythology. But his full background is slightly hidden under Coalâs painful personal history as a half human/half Fire Bird and what that meant for him growing up. I do wish that Rye had further explored his fiery magical powers, especially with regard to the mark on his chest. While what the author achieved was intriguing, the potential for something stunning was very real.
The same occurred with the great character of Rhett. Rhett is an engaging, warm, layered character. Of smaller stature, this human chef has the personality that invigorates each scene he appears in. From the food scenes to the awe in which heâs viewing the circus acts, we just connect to him. That includes the very realistic background that Cox has crafted for Rhett with a found father as a kid on his own.
The Ringmaster is suitably mysterious yet charming. The other circus performers/found family members are interesting and ones who will have stories of their own.
I enjoyed Rhett and Coalâs romantic journey together but as good as they are thereâs so much potential for even more magical exploration of the fire that brings them together. As well as the nice twist that comes at the end of the book. Really needed more of this too.
A definite recommendation. But a wider range or more detailed explanations would have made this exceptional.
Coal was drawn to the circus after being driven out of the only home he knew. He was the outcast, the half-blood that shouldn’t have survived the fire that burned inside him. At Black Cat Circus, he finds a family of people just like him, of those who accept him just the way he is. However, the scars that were buried deep in his heart keep him from letting anyone get too close. He is fire, and he’s afraid of once again losing control of the thing that makes up the very essence of himself.
Rhett never knew his parents or had a family. Having grown up in foster care, he’s determined to find a place he can finally call home. When he sees the ad looking for a chef for a certain traveling circus, he’s compelled to apply despite never once having left the little town he grew up in. What he doesn’t expect is to find friends shrouded in mystery, and a beautiful man who burns so brightly but tries to dampen his flames.
The two can’t resist the mutual attraction, but are terrified of what it means to want more. When playing with fire, they must be careful or risk getting burned.
The Firedancer is a paranormal MM romance that features light temperature play, size difference, hurt/comfort themes, and learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin. It is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series that features found family and a magical cast of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed as a series.
Honestly only the promise of an equally warped, wonderfully dark new series has kept me from absolutely bewailing the ending of this series as it came to its fabulous finale.
Am I ready to say goodbye to the ancient incubus warrior, winged purple flamboyance himself, Zee? Or the magnificent vampire businessman, âFancy Fangsâ Victor? And, importantly ,their love, Adam Vex, âyes, sure Iâm humanâ. No. No, Iâm not. And not to Tom Collins, the murderous AI djinn bartender , and all the other otherworldly beings who have made an impact throughout the series are here now in the final showdown with the villain to save the world! And itâs everything I wanted it to be.
Itâs sexy, sarcastic, explosive, funny, horrifying, over the top entertaining, emotional, and downright fabulous. And I never wanted it to end.
Coats were flared, buildings destroyed, sex was had, prophecyâs fulfilled, and love wins.
Let me spare a moment to wipe away a tear in sheer joy and appreciation for this absolutely amazing and zany world and series. Iâll probably need to go back and re-read this series and see what I missed in the final reading.
But seeing Adam, Vee, Victor, and the
SOS HOTEL as they were at the end of this book? So so satisfying. A grand finale. I wish I could rate it higher.
A must read for all lovers of this author and genre. Donât miss out on all the notes beforehand and afterwards. As usual.
Cover design by Ariana Nash
SOS Hotel:
For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
Sleep with Us #3Â
Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
No Rest for the Wicked #5Â
Ho, Ho, No #5.5
Luxury To Die For #6
Your Final Resting Place #7 – tbd
Holiday release!
SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nashâ¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
An ex-adult movie star, a broke vampire daddy, and a boring human are about to try and save the world…
It’s probably our fault your world is doomed, if I’m honest. Sorry about that. Sticking with honesty, we’re not great at saving people, or ourselves. You should probably pack a bag and head for the hills.
You know, just in case…
My name is Adam Vex, and I’m definitely not the hero we all need, but along with Zee and Victor, a whole bunch of s*x demons, one shadow beast, a sassy AI bartender, and some uncontrollable gremlins, we’re all you’ve got.
Welcome to the end of the world at the SOS Hotel.
We hope you enjoy your final resting place.
*
Advisory: SOS Hotel contains explicit language, situations, and content that some readers may find uncomfortable, including frogs. There will likely be a few instances of unaliving, a whole lot of swearing (Zee does not have a profanity filter), and Sebastien being Sebastien.
If you haven’t read the previous books, definitely do not start here. This is the final book in the series.
The Tales from the Tarot series delivers another interesting new paranormal romance in The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams. I did enjoy Adamsâ story about a bored Devil casino owner and a mysterious lucky visitor making way too many successful bets. Itâs got an abundance of interesting elements to the narrative, the characters themselves have an equal amount of unusual aspects to their histories and current lives to make this a book that engages the readerâs imagination and attention.
I especially enjoyed the character of Austin. Morally gray, but fairly good, loving, but not especially with perspective qualities or introspection. Awful criminal bent friends being the first example. The Devil is strangely evil. Bored , incredibly powerful but as the plot progresses, this aspect of the Devilâs character becomes oddly weaker when presented with the events and villainy that arises.
Thatâs the issue with a lot of the storylines and characters here. Adams has created some very promising characters and plot threads but doesnât really fully explain or execute them to their full potential.
For every single thing that happens that I think is a good idea, there is one where I also go âwhat happened to that character â or why didnât whatever come into play. Something gets dropped.
Thereâs a lot going on here, so much that the author brought in crossover characters from another series and books to help explain certain plot points, to the characters and readers. So yes, this is an enjoyable story, it just feels like more should have been written into it or aspects of the characters better defined.
Tarot card is obviously The Devil.
Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always
Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen
Tales from the Tarot- 22 books
đˇ Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Codyâ¤ď¸
That cheating low life. I swore when I got my hands on him, his life wouldnât be worth living.
How dare he steal from me? Doesn’t he know who I am?
Only coming close to him, seeing him shudder at my touch. I’m drawn to him in ways I never imagined.
He’s an enigma and not at all what he seems.
But what I made him do. He’ll never forgive me, he’ll hate me, but if that’s all he can give me… I’ll take it.
Austin
He was filthy rich! He didnât need the money, probably wouldnât even miss it. How wrong could I be?
Now here I am, unable to flee and I hate him for what he made me do.
But I can’t help myself. I crave his touch and attention. I need everything he can give me.
I think I love him, but if this is all he can give me⌠Iâll take it, gladly.
DEVIL’S DILEMMA 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 DEVIL.
HEA GUARANTEED.
TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR VIOLENCE, CAPTIVITY, KIDNAPPING AND STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 