Cosy & Chill by Jackie Keswick really conveys so much of what I really think is authentic when it comes to the holidays. Itâs never just that glitteringly happy, fun filled holiday. full of congenial family gatherings and mountains of gifts. No, thereâs also the elements of melancholy, feelings of bitterness, loneliness, exclusion, family dysfunction, and outright pain and loss.
Yes, what the holidays can and does mean to people runs the emotional spectrum depending upon the person and their history. Judy Garlandâs âHave Yourself A Merry Christmasâ anyone?
Keswick brings us into Cosy & Chill as one being, a Fae, experiences the pain of betrayal, and extreme loss. Sheâs now trapped in the human realm by a theft of her amulet, her key home. Her anguish, loss, her rage is bone deep and as her search becomes ever fruitless⊠we connect deeply with her grief and loss of hope.
Thatâs just the beginning of this outstanding tale of renewed heart, new paths, personal growth, and learning how to reach for your dreams. While finding love and friends along the way.
Done through knitting and making ice cream! Oh, and a hunt for a silver amulet!
All the characters here are so remarkable. Whether itâs the Fae Roisen determinedly searching for her amulet through a mysterious clue, drawn to a house by magic, Finn Wooten, with his Cosy Etsy knitting store or Leo Wetherall of Chill organic ice creams, these beings and people come alive through their struggles and all the obstacles, small to large, past and present, they must overcome.
Really Keswickâs storytelling will captivate you!
Both Finn and Leo each had a wonderful supportive grandmother in their past as well as dysfunctional families. How badly dysfunctional varied. Each manâs past is rolled out and dealt with slowly as their relationship progresses and it gets closer to many important dates for all involved.
I found myself forgetting my own lists, things I really need to get to, as I sank into this tale of discovery, self determination, courage, hope, love, and, of course, Holiday spiritâŠ.in a Fae sort of way.
As the author put The End to this story I couldnât help but hope that next Christmas Keswick sees us making a return to a certain shop on High Street, Number 13 to be exact. And all who live overtop and within.
Iâd love to catch up with them. You will be enchanted and wish for that too!
Cosy & Chill by Jackie Keswick goes to my top five holiday reads this year. Iâm highly recommending you out it in your own stocking and your TBR pile!
What a joy!
Synopsis:
Knitting. Ice Cream. And a Matchmaking Fae.
Quiet, industrious Finn dreams of his own knitting store. He needs Leoâs enthusiasm to make him reach for what he wants.
Cheerful, adventurous Leo sells artisan ice cream but shies away from fulfilling his grandmotherâs last wish. He needs Finnâs love and support to put his past to rest for good.
Add a Saxon treasure, a fae stranded in the human world, and an empty store with very unusual rental terms – and falling in love is not the only challenge Finn and Leo have to face.
Making a dream come true takes work. But there’s magic in dreams if Finn and Leo can hold on tight.
***
Tags: I’m only here for socks and ice cream. Sometimes you just click with another guy even if you’re opposites. I look at you and know what I’ll be knitting. How to share a house with someone you’ve just met. Utensils don’t sparkle, right? Grandmas rock. Making a deal with a burglar. Roisin is a decorating wiz and Finn worries about antique furniture. If you don’t talk to me, I can’t help you. Finding treasure at inopportune moments. And yes, there’s a happy ending
I love a good fantasy fairytale romance and Yours, Forever After by Beth Bolden definitely fits that category.
It has young royalty fleeing great evil that wants their blood. It has a Prince who will lose his kingdom if he doesnât get help. And it has magic.
Those are the basics that Bolden uses to build a grand emotional journey for two men towards a HEA for themselves and two kingdoms. And perhaps one magical being.
It contains anger, loss, betrayal, issues with communication, and all the usual barriers that occur with new relationships under stress. Also sword fighting , cause fairy tale!
Itâs main characters under go personal growth and change into men determined to make their commitment to each other and their people work.
I was connected to Gray from his perilous flight away from his castle as a young boy and then to Rory as his true nature slowly reveals itself to Gray as they tackle obstacles together. They figure out how to communicate.. eventually. As the story and their pursuit of justice., for themselves, and to rid their lands of the evil battling against them, everything about their roles and their relationship feels real.
I love them so much . And was delighted with the promise of a continuation of their story with a sequel to come.
Itâs a novel Iâll eagerly await.
Until then, if you like fantasy romance and fairytales, this is a story youâre to enjoy. Well written, terrific plots and characters I love. Iâm definitely recommending it.
Synopsis:
Fifteen years ago, Prince Graham of Ardglass barely escaped from the ancestral castle with his young life. Rescued by a magical creature and spirited off to a faraway valley, he grew into a strong, capable manânever shirking his duties on the farm, but forever bitter over his fatherâs betrayal. But just when he has finally come to terms with being lost and staying lost, a visitor arrives in his valley and changes everything.
After a lifetime spent lost in his beloved books, Prince Emory awakens to find his villainous aunt working to usurp the throne of Fontaine. When she sends him on a dangerous quest, heâs certain the journey is a trap, but heâs not willing to accept defeat without a fight.
But a fight is something Rory is unprepared and untrained for, until heâs saved by a handsome, unassuming farmhand and his snooty, smug, and surprisingly talkative unicorn.
Yours, Forever After now includes an epilogue novella, completing Gray and Roryâs magical quest for true love.
Ah, time for that all important second book in a series review. So many questions and weighted hopes hangs on this follow up novel if the author is continuing an overall series arc.
Is there continuity and character growth? Does it flow somehow out from the events of the first book? Does it empower not only the characters but our imagination in the same manner the original launches us into this journey?
Hmmm, with Spellbound, the answers are a bit mixed.
Letâs tackle them one by one.
Plots.
The storyline that takes up the majority of this novel is wonderful. It contains so much depth and emotional layering that I expected. Thereâs a serious mother/daughter flawed relationship built on lies, love, and a great tragedy. Eden, the daughter is so relatable in her anger, pain, and apparent maternal abandonment. Her rage is both poignant and deeply frightening. We get it. This aspect of the novel, and everything that surrounds Eden is absolutely terrific. With an exception.
Eden is a high school student. At the end of this story, sheâs found herself in a serious permanent as in forever relationship. With a ancient being. Now while we are all smacking our heads over that flag, I will say the author has several characters bring up the illegality of that issue as well as the idea that sheâs not emotionally ready. Ok good.
But thereâs no real resolution. So perhaps thatâs to be addressed in upcoming novels but Eden clearly deserves a more defined finish here. Sheâs a marvelous character and so is this entire element of the arc.
Which brings me to
Series Arc plots .
As best I can tell, Salinger is slowly adding bits of pieces to her overall arc mosaic much like a 1.000 piece table puzzle . You fit a bit in here, several snap in together there. So hopefully, Eden and her new Dryad Prince are part of the huge battle group that will be needed to fight the Evil whoever who is trying to do whatever. Still not a clue. But Salingerâs strengths are in her ingenious storylines and layerings. She knows how to build a suspenseful scene, and then top it off with high action.
However , this didnât move the overall arc along hugely. Did confirm new information about our main characters though.
That brings us to the aspect of characterization. What I thought worked and, frankly, what I felt didnât.
Edenâs group and storyline. Those characters were new , including her BFF Lois and her family. All the beings that gravitated around Eden and her drama? They really worked as far as realistic emotional scenes and reactions to her dilemma. Again great job.
But, unfortunately, in what should be solid, continuing .character growth for Cassius and Morgan, our main couple and the series biggest heart as well as mystery? It felt as though we got a stripping off of layers instead of a depth of dimension.
In the first story, we saw the ages of wisdom, the compassion and pain coming through for Cassius. Now heâs a pouty, insecure lovesick being? What happened to the serious character of the other novel? He seems to have vanished, replaced by a boyfriend of Morganâs. Who occasionally transforms into something cool. Morgan too is undergoing a bit of a metamorphosis, although into what exactly is anyoneâs guess. But the gravity of these downright elemental or idk other worldly transformations seems to be missing.
Idk maybe they should actually stop having sex for a moâ and figure out if this pertains to their missing memories, and maybe even the bad guy! Good grief.
Definitely not the same beings I liked in book one. They need to regain their gravitas, their focus, and personalities.
Almost missing main character. You all know how I feel about this. Here itâs Loki the magical cat, a main player in book one and the series arc. He lives with Cassius now. When do we see and here about him here? When the book is about 74% complete. Then Loki is mentioned as part of the growing mystery so , yes, he has to be trotted out in one scene so everyone sees heâs still around. Thatâs it. Done. He disappears again back into the apartment not to be mentioned again. It fed or whatever. So Loki could have starved because heâs not seen or mentioned even when they are back in the apartment. A huge change from book one when heâs a constant presence, weaving catlike around the feet or in their laps. SMH. Continuity and consistency!
All of which finally brings me to my last bit of griping. Since I had time to notice all the above, then the issues I had with the repetition of adjectives and certain authorâs fondness of terms definitely continues on here.
Pls, someone either tell her about how to find and replace a word within a document, Thesauruses our old friend , (and edit) or point a great editor her way.
We are back to muscles jumping in every characterâs face and often. Adrianne is saying things âleadenlyâagain. I pity poor Adrianne. No sex and the worst lines. A couple of female characters always âsmile softly â.
Thereâs also a lot of âshe___fill in the name___snarled,â âso and so hissedâ,
Lots of hissing and no they arenât snake shifters.
Also âgrowling â. Cedric growled. But it could have been and usually is another.
Plus a host of clenched whatever⊠jaw, fist⊠whatever can be clenched.
You get the idea. Salinger once she uses a word or term in a certain manner, it stays used. To the detriment of the story. And the readerâs, at least this readerâs concentration.
And thatâs a shame, because the plots? Both one the book and overall series arc scale are imaginative and layered. They have grabbed my attention and the potential for a really great series shows everywhereâŠ.
But thereâs some definite tidying up to be done. Both in the major characters personalities and language. I look forward to see what book three brings.
High marks mostly for Eden and her journey.
Fallen Messenger series:
Unbound #0.5
Fractured Souls #1
Spellbound #2
Edge Lines #3
Oathbreaker #4
Synopsis:
Can Cassius and Morgan overcome an elusive enemy and save a young girlâs life?
Eden Monroe has spent her entire existence believing she has no magic. Shunned by her mother Brianna and the magical bureau Hexa, she runs away from home when she is forced to embrace a future she never chose, only to fall into the hands of ghastly monsters from the Nine Hells. After being rescued by a mysterious Dryad with secrets of his own, Eden realizes there is more to her past and future than she could ever have imagined.
When San Francisco PD asks Argonaut to assist them in solving a series of strange bank robberies, Cassius Black and Morgan King uncover a disturbing plot that points to an unknown artifact hidden somewhere in the city. Their investigation soon has them crossing paths with a desperate Brianna, who seeks their help in finding her missing daughter. When the witch reveals the shocking circumstances surrounding her daughterâs birth as well as the deadly magic sealed inside the young girlâs body, the Argonaut agents realize their case is linked to Eden and the weapon of devastating power the bank robbers are after.
Can Cassius and Morgan defeat the malevolent organization behind it all and save Eden from her cursed fate? Or will the young girl suffer a destiny worse than death itself?
Spellbound is the second novel in the gay urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like your paranormal adventures full of action, magic, snark, and a host of steamy angels and demons, then youâre not going to want to miss this jaw-dropping, fun-filled ride!
The Professor’s Dragon is a sweet, often funny, low angst fantasy romance. A part of the Hidden Species series universe, this novelâs events picks up from the end of Dragon Ever After.
Thatâs the book that launched this series and frankly was my introduction to this universe and Louisa Masters. Make sure you start there, if unfamiliar with this series. Itâs a winner and youâll need the background established there to help with all aspects of the characters and romance here.
The Prologue gives us Dustinâs first look at his soon-to-be all consuming crush/love Professor Rob Sarris on Dustinâs first day of class at a human college.
Fast forward two years and things are only more intense for Dustin. Heâs still deeply emotionally attached, but still from afar and itâs all one sided.
Dustin has grown from overly exuberant youth we met in the stories of the Great Migration to a more responsible, yet totally adorable one here. The character growth continues while maintaining all aspects of his personality that makes Dustin such an engaging and endearing being.
Rob is the new and wonderful element here. Before he was just the object of adoration. Now heâs an actual person, with a family and history. Heâs become fascinating in his own right and I wanted more, actually of him as I got to know him and his family dynamics and history. Charming, heartwarming, funny⊠Robâs family has its own story to tell.
Together, along with the madcap denizens of Here Be Dragons, Dustin and Robâs courtship plays out, with all its wide ramifications, to great and romantic fun.
I will admit I keep waiting for some type of element of suspense or mystery to enter, much like that of Hidden Species. But maybe this series is the authorâs gift to the characters for all they went through there so itâs going to be low angst all the way. Except for bit of a craziness from Steff now or then.
Next up? Thatâs the slightly weird, always entertaining Fabianâs story, The Dragon Experiment coming in 2022. Canât wait to see what hilarity that brings!
Until then, Iâm recommending this series and novels. And all the Hidden Soecies stories too if you havenât read them as well.
Read them all in the order they were written and enjoy a grand journey through a fantasy series and a multitude of marvelous characters.
It was love at first sight⊠with my professor. Whatâs a dragon to do?
For two years, Iâve been pining over Professor Sarris. I knew the moment I saw him that we were meant for each other, but itâs not to be. For one thing, I was his student, and heâs the most ethical man I know. For another, he has no idea Iâm actually a four-thousand-year-old dragon from another dimension.
When my people fled to Earth to avoid extinction, I vowed to clean up my life and stop acting like a fledgling. Itâs bad enough that nobody takes me seriously⊠sure, maybe I used to be flighty and irresponsible and caused a few interspecies incidents, but thatâs all in the past. I have big plans for the future, and this college gig is the first step in proving myself. Iâm not endangering this fresh start for anyone.
But then my professor and I wind up at the same party, and suddenly it seems heâs not completely out of reach. Except Iâm still the adorable flirt nobody wants to rely on, and convincing him we should be together while proving Iâm a changed dragon is a monumental task.
Gentle, sweet , lovingly well crafted story of acceptance and love, Geoffrey the Very Strange is certainly a Angel Martinez tale!
By that I mean it contains all the signature elements I have learned to expect and frankly hope to see in one of her stories. Quixotic humor, recognizable fantasy beings with that Martinez twist to them, like a necromancer whoâs not exactly what youâd bring to mind when conjuring up said necromancers.
And situations that speak of hilarity as well as horror, poignancy as well as soft joy.
Geoffrey the Very Strangeâs journey towards acceptable, community, and love is lovely and sweet. And funny.
Fairy and Impartial picks up right after the events of book 3, His Fairy Share.
So first thing right off? Read all previous stories if you havenât done so already. In the exact order they are written so all the characters relationships, growth, and overall developing series themes make sense.
Trust me, there are some wonderfully complicated doings happening here and I suspect only Auric, that manipulative bastard, has a clue about most of them.
This is a densely packed series, epic themes of world salvation, good versus evil, line up closely along with those of forever love and found family.
Honestly, I treasure this series and love this new story. It adds onto the growing mysteries of conspiracy against Auric and his politics and family as well as introduces us to incredible new main characters that will have important roles to play , not only here but in the upcoming stories. This is one wicked, well told epic!
Twig and Quinnâs relationship continueâs to deepen and thrive here as they face new battles and explore new dimensions to their powers and roles. Really, each is so amazing because they have such depth of character and yet still are showing such capacity for growth.
Actually that applies to all the beings here who are undergoing so many spurts of development simply because of the demanding times and villainous challenges they are facing. Zak , Quinnâs younger brother, has to learn accept certain things about his pursuit of love without asking if itâs wanted, Bill , all patchwork soul, needs to adjust to heartbreak for the first time and find his way forward, and well, there are othersâŠ.
I donât know how many books Maslow has planned for this series, personally Iâd be thrilled if they just kept coming because this universe is so rich and diverse that it easily could host series after series even based on the different realms.
But this expanding found family or should I say clan? It has found its way into my heart. Now I want Twig to add a couple more⊠and I need to know more. I have questions, need answers! And always want more of each and every one of these fabulous beings.
You will too. But you absolutely need to read these stories in the order they are written to appreciate the characters, understand the relationships, the growth and , frankly, the series arc.
Itâs fantastic and Iâm highly recommending this and all of them.
All Twig Starfig wants is to settle into mated life with his wizard and be a good leader to his clan. No drama. No heartache. A happily-ever-after fit for a dragon. Or half-dragon, at any rate.
Instead, Twig and Quinn get roped into a new case involving missing orc stones. Yes, those really are a thing. Twigâs dad is on the PR warpath . . . again. Quinn’s little brother can’t seem to stop pining over their housemate. Someoneâor somethingâseems to be following them. And getting quality time alone with his wizard is more difficult than keeping oneâs virginity at an incubus party.
To make matters worse, Twig’s old enemies start dropping like fairyflies, and they find themselves smack in the middle of an inconvenient murder investigation with a certain red fury as the main suspect. With everyone in Lighthelm convinced of Billâs guiltâand by association TwigâsâStarfig Investigations is on the case.
Is there no one in the Elder Realm whoâs fairy and impartial?
Major characters not in any order:
Greyclover , elf and Auricâs lover and guard
Auric Starfig, Twigâs fairy father and powerful leader of well everyone
Agent Hatheral âLeoâ Leotoris, elf and investigator at EBI
Quinn Broomsparkles, wizard, former High Rei, mate to Twig
Twig Starfig , half fairy half dragon now City Council Member and head of his own expanding clan
Zak Broomsparkles, younger brother to Quinn, also a wizard
Here we are at the Hidden Species finale and usually Iâm a very mopey reader at this stage because Iâm saying goodbye to characters and a universe Iâve fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with.
However, thank you, Louisa Masters, I know that the fabulous sequel series Here Be Dragons ensures that both this universe and characters and romances will happily and eagerly be something I can look forward to, book after book. SighâŠ. More Hellhounds and dragons!
At any rateâŠ. FocusingâŠ.
Sorcerers Always Satisfy brings to the fore one of the steadiest, grounded characters of this series. The one man we probably have known the least about but also never really thought that much about either.
David Carew, sorcerer and all around steadfast albeit a tad boring friend to everyone in the Luciferâs inner circle, including Percy Caraway himself. David has been a bit of a blank page, while all his friends supplied the glitter, flash, angst, age, or samba lines.
Now Davidâs past comes roaring back and explains his need , nope, love and need for order instead of chaos. And itâs revealed that heâs not exactly just âa sorcererâ but something extraordinary as sorcerers go. Yeah, heâs inner circle for a reason, we really should have seen that one.
Davidâs true strengths and past is revealed during a time of disaster and dimension peril so extreme that no one could have foreseen it.
The elf Caolan ,who appeared in Alistairâs story , is now a full partner is the Alliance to stop the enemies plan. I wonât spoil all that entails because itâs complicated, imaginative, and well, encapsulates four books. Read them all in the order they are written.
But Caolan is also adoring of David. Before you go itâs too soon, as David does actually, thereâs a host of explanations that cover exactly why itâs not. Just another outstanding element here. Elf loves David, itâs perfectly reasonable, I love this couple. And well the Elves. And their love of cell phones⊠just wait.
This story easily engages with the heartbreak of a young David and his adolescence, the impending doom of a world, and what that shattering event will do emotionally to several species . Themes both intimate such as couple love to enormous, along the lines of dimension death, are woven into the storylines here. Al itâs done so beautifully.
Again written with amazing poignancy and humor. You want to cry and then laugh , both . Often at the same time. Because the author realizes how close both emotions are to each other.
There is joy, there is sadness.
I think thatâs a Taylor Swift song.
Sorcerers Always Satisfy is a fantastic story and series finale. It gives David the romance and mate he deserves and this outstanding series the closure to this complicated fantasy epic adventure the send off we need before journeying onto Here Be Dragons!
Letâs raise a glass to our heroes until we meet them again! Hereâs to an amazing journey! Thanks for the Grand times! See you all soon!
Yes⊠Iâm recommending every single one. Read them often!
đ¶Hidden Species series:
Demons Do It Better #1
One Bite with A Vampire #2
Hijinks With A Hellhound #3
Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4
đ¶Sequel Series:
Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)
Dragon Ever After#1
Hidden Species Cast of Characters:
Community of Species Government-CSG
Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane
Senior Investigators Team:
Sam Tiller – team admin
Gideon Bailey, Demon
Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair
David Carew, sorcerer
Lily Heath, succubus
Andrew Turner, Vampire
Alistair Smythe, Hellhound
Noah Cage, human
Aiden Byrne, Felix shifter-Shifter Species Leader
Caolan, Elf
Brandt. Wing leader of all dragons
King Radulfr, King of all Elves
Synopsis:Just because I enjoy planning and researching doesnât mean Iâm not the most dangerous badass mothercracker around.
The world sees me as boring, dependable David. And I like it that way. I know things and Iâm organized. Plus, Iâve seen firsthand the harm a chaotic life can inflict, and Iâd rather have my lists and be called dull.
Which is what makes it all the more disconcerting when a sexy elf declares his adoration and begins to âwooâ me. What am I supposed to do?
Hide, mostly. Itâs hard, though, because Caolan and I are supposed to be working together. And heâs tough to resist: sweet, competent, and so incredibly beautiful. He sees something in me that no one else does. Would it really be such a bad thing if I gave in to temptation?
My personal life canât be the priority right now, though. The bad guys are gearing up to strike, and if we donât stop them, the end of the world could be nigh. I need to focus on that, not on letting Caolan show me the benefits of spontaneity. Or do I?
Hellhounds. If for no other reason to pick these amazing stories up, itâs to meet hellhounds.
These are not the beings or species that are coming to mind when the name Hellhound pops up. Nopes.
The Hellhound species here? Welp,that wasnât originally their name. But turns out itâs a racial uh soecist slur that was flung at them sometime around the huge Species War. They thought it humorous so their Species Leader renamed their ENTIRE species! Yep Hellhounds.
Itâs just the thing a Hellhound would do⊠see? I treat them as if the exist!
They and Alistair deserve to be real!
Itâs almost painful on a cellular level they donât.
Alistair Smythe, covert op, top Investigator and part of the inner circle of the Lucifer is 6â5â of gorgeous muscular shifter energy!Sure most of the time heâs so adorable, whether itâs Karaoke nite or doing the Macarena, that we forget how incredibly utterly fantastic Alistair is at his job.
While still being absolutely Alistair, in all his magnificently quirky glory.
Hijinks With a Hellhound is Alistairâs time to shine. It also brings him into close working conditions with Aiden Byrne, Felid shifter-Shifter Species Leader. At first what starts out as a clash of personalities turns, upon reflection and a little advice, into a journey of lust, espionage, and eventually love.
Itâs a hellâŠhound of a ride!
Plus this incredible adventure introduces a new cast of important characters leading into the finale. Especially one species that will have you going oh no.. them and hellhounds? đ±đ€Ł. The anticipation is off the charts!
Aiden and Alistair are so perfect together, and this story sets the foundation for the revelation and narrative explosions to come.
How could you not love this? And them? Hellhounds!
It goes without saying⊠absolutely recommended.
Along with the entire series!
If I only had a magic wandâŠ..
Cover notes. Best cover of them all. That is Alistair! Absolute perfection!
đ¶Hidden Species series:
Demons Do It Better #1
One Bite with A Vampire #2
Hijinks With A Hellhound #3
Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4
đ¶Sequel Series:
Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)
Dragon Ever After#1
Synopsis: Iâm a one-and-done kind of hellhound⊠I donât catch feeeeeeeelingsâŠ
Once upon a time, my first and last relationship taught me that romantic love isnât enough to stop your boyfriend from trying to kill you. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. My awesomeness is now strictly reserved for one-nighters and casual hookups. Sure, my friends seem to be matching up in romantic bliss, but screw thatâIâm not interested.
Besides, things are heating up at the Community of Species Government, and Iâm right in the thick of it all. Those bad guys are going downâand not in the good way. They might seem to have the drop on us right now, but weâre going to turn the tables on them. Even if it means going on a mission with Aidan Byrne.
Iâm still not happy about the way Aidan handled things with my bestest bestie a few months back, even if he did turn out to be right. Plus, thereâs something about him that rubs my fur in the wrong direction. Heâs the kind of guy who thinks karaoke is only for college kids and looks down on me for licking my own balls. He also thinks that just because heâs the species leader, heâs in charge.
Too bad for him, Iâve never backed away from a challenge⊠even if it is unnervingly sexy and really bendy. A hookup wonât lead to feelings⊠right?
One Bite With a Vsmpire introduces us to Noah Cage, a human who is one of the most fascinating characters of the Hidden Species series. Noahâs personality and character is one of unknown depths, continual growth, and unexpected revelation.
Honestly, even at the end of the series finale, I felt as though the life force and Louisa Masters wasnât done with Noah yet.
Heâs almost mesmerizing in his grumpiness, painful past of which we are never fully cognizant, and inability to fully trust.
His scary journey here to the CSG and the found family of species within the inner circle of the Lucifer is a white knuckle ride.
That itâs Andrew Turner, the 800 year old vampire, with a fondness for cake and snark whoâs the being thatâs the one at Noahâs side? Both a touch of perfection and source of poignancy.
For as irritation slides into lust and then something more, whatâs continually highlighted is Noahâs humanity and short lifespan against Andrewâs great age and continued longevity.
And we watch as both Andrew and Noah each try to deal with this element of their relationship in their own way, unsuccessfully, however subtly.
Masters can, with just a few sentences, create a scene of such emotional fragility , containing both despair and hope, you will want to weep.
And she does it over and over again.
Book after book here in this series.
Then follow it up with one of equal hilarity.
Goddess love those hellhounds!
While I have focused on Noah here as a character, Andrew Turner , vampire, is just as complicated as his years would have made him. More of his background and history as it relates to other members of the inner circle comes out in another vastly important and emotional story. But much like Noah, Andrew has just as many depths and dimensions to him waiting for us to discover.
They are a truly great pair.
This story doesnât so much end on a solid note so much as it gets ready to flow into the next book.
This is a ending youâre going to see until the finale as the huge investigation ramps up and the horror begins to unveil.
So yes run immediately to Hijinks With A Hellhound because you need to know what happens next and well, itâs Alistair. Thatâs reason enough.
Honestly Alistair became alive to me as did all the Hellhounds. I physically hurt over the fact they donât exist. We really need Hellhounds in our lives. Especially Alistair.
At any rate. Noahâs journey which starts here is a compelling and emotional story. So is his romance with Andrew, full of snarky love, pain and surprise.
Iâm highly recommending One Bite with A Vampire and the entire Hidden Species series.
They are must reading for me.
đ¶Hidden Species series:
Demons Do It Better #1
One Bite with A Vampire #2
Hijinks With A Hellhound #3
Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4
đ¶Sequel Series:
Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)
Dragon Ever After#1
Synopsis:Getting kidnapped was never part of my life plan. But being rescued opened up a whole world of crazy.
Itâs not easy being the only human at the Community of Species Governmentâand especially not when youâre the rescue case. Two years ago, I was planning to go to college, have a wild time, then settle into a normal life. Instead, I was kidnapped, spent months being a test subject, was in hiding for nearly a year, and then found out that my whole existence is a science experiment conducted by the bad guys. Itâs definitely time to reassess.
My rescuers at CSG have been awesome⊠mostly. They gave me a job, a home, and a support network. But the whole demons, vampires, shifters thing is not easy to get used to. Especially when one particular vampire makes me want to take up stake sharpening for a hobby. How can someone be over eight centuries old and have the maturity of a drunk frat boy?
The thing is, teenage mentality or not, Andrew is a fierce protector. With the bad guys still on the loose, I need someone like that on my side. Plus, did I mention that heâs not hard to look at? I could stare at him all day if only he never opened his mouth.
As we race to find my former captor before he can find me, life takes another twist and upends my world all over again. This time, though, Iâm readyâafter all, Iâve got an eight-hundred-year-old vampire at my back. What could possibly go wrong?
Author Meghan Maslow is a writer I only recently became familiar with but already sheâs a must read and highly recommended one. Iâm quickly gobbling up anything from her that Iâve not read yet. Which is how I came across this outstanding story.
The Demon’s in the Details
by Meghan Maslow was previously published in the Fables Retold Anthology, which I somehow missed.
Now rereleased as a stand-alone story, itâs fairytale storylines, outstanding characters and great location of Baltimore all combines into one fantasy to remember.
Honestly, basing this in Baltimore? Epic idea! From all the memorable historic locations in and around Baltimore that get used, beautifully I might add, in this story and plots, you have the authorâs use of Raven shifters and a major character with the name of Poe.
Edgar Allen Poe , the author and poet is synonymous with Baltimore and heâs buried there. To locate a clan of Raven shifters there? Perfection! And have as one of its main characters a Raven shifter in need whoâs also a theft? Genius!
The demon Tommy is such a well developed character and has so many well defined layers to his personality that it was marvelous watching the tiny reveals. Almost as fascinating and wonderful as it was watching the dance of attraction/passions play out between Poe and Tommy while all the other clan and territorial drama ignites around them.
Maslow doesnât shortchange any character here, all get plenty of attention to detail and admirable depth to each. So much that we learn to anticipate and enjoy each one as we see them and their interactions with our couple. Whether itâs Carter or Kennedy or Lucy, one of the twins. Itâs more, pls, of everyone, well, except Ethan. That stepfather was pure evil.
I really do need a sequel here. Need to know what happens to certain other characters and how the roost is doing. Even how a certain crow is enjoying his new digsâŠ.
Maslow made these beings come alive and Baltimore, itâs history and plain weirdness, never came across better.
What a grand story, what fantastic beings, how I love this!
And highly recommend it!
Synopsis:Can a sexy demon really spin straw into gold?
Poe Dupin, raven shifter and thief extraordinaire, is in trouble with a capital âT.â Not only did he get his wing caught in the cookie jar during his latest heist, but his loser stepdad, the alpha, seems determined to run their roost into the ground. And Baltimore is many things, but forgiving is not on the list.
When his stepdad puts the roost in peril, Poe sees no choice but to bargain with Charm Cityâs only demon, Tommy Tittoti. Rumors are that Tommy eats the souls of those foolish enough to try. Three strikes and youâre out. But really, Poe wasnât using his soul anyway. And if it saves his roost? Worth it.
Tommy isnât what Poe expects. Demonâhuge, horned, hairy, and scary, right? Nope. Blond, gorgeous, with a bubble butt, and a lilting drawl that beckons Poe to come play. Total hookup-app fantasy material. Even if he is a murder twink.
Poeâs no angel, but Tommy . . . well heâs more devil than demon. Yet, Poe just canât seem to keep his feathers out of the fire. As one bargain turns into two, and then a third tragedy strikes the ravens, Poe finds himself falling for a guy who may very literally be the death of him. Or maybe the flames will burn them both.
The Demonâs in the Details is a fast-paced, roller coaster of a romance with a guaranteed HEA and lots of steam. Shenanigans include: a gold object that is definitely not a ring, a best friend whoâs trigger-happy, and a demon whoâs got a few surprises up his, uh, sleeve.
**Previously published in the Fables Retold Anthology. ~60,000 words. No new content has been added
