Review: Oberon (Christmas Sprites #2) by Macy Blake

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Oberon , the second in Blake’s Christmas Sprite’s series, is an even more enjoyable and engaging story than the the first. We’ve had our introduction to magical Mistletoe Falls, the family of four Sprites on course to find their forever mates, and the fantastic experience that awaits us and their mates as the romance begins.

Here is it’s a family of three, each one captivating and lively in their own way. There’s Dr. Miles Lane who has come to Mistletoe Falls to take over the veterinary clinic of Paws and Claus from it’s retired owner, a certain Nickolas Claus and wife šŸ‘€. He’s brought his adorable young daughter, Holly, and their Saint Bernard, Ivy. It’s a match made for the town and the spritely handyman, Oberon, who’s there to welcome them and make sure their new home is everything they envisioned for their new life.

This is a heartwarming story, full of family moments and charming scenes as Holly, Ivy and the Doc find themselves adopted by the sprites as part of their family and the town itself. Eldon especially finds himself in a situation where he adopts the entire Lane family and we get to see new sides to his personality.

Which sets him up nicely for the next installment, Eldon. His romance.

Christmas Sprites are low angst, full on magical romance holiday glow storylines. They are warm-hearted and full of cuteness and mysteries that aren’t very mysterious.

They are fast reads and a wonderful holiday Bon Bon to treat yourself to , especially if you’re a fan of Macy Blake.

Christmas Sprites:

āœ“ Nyall #1

āœ“ Oberon #2

ā—¦ Eldon #3 – Dec 15, 2022

ā—¦ Linus #4 – Dec 22, 2022

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showOberon (Christmas Sprites #2) by Macy Blake

Description:

Santa Paws is coming to town.

When Dr. Miles Lane purchases Paws and Claus, a veterinary clinic in the quirky town of Mistletoe Falls, he doesn’t quite know what he’s in for.

The small town offers a fresh start for Miles, his seven year old daughter, Holly, and their rambunctious Saint Bernard. What Miles doesn’t count on is his immediate attraction to the local handyman, Oberon, who he hires to do some work on their new home and clinic.

Oberon finds himself falling hard for the town’s new vet and his adorable family. There’s only one problem: Oberon is a sprite, a magical being tasked with bringing holiday spirit to the human realm. Every time he’s around Miles and Holly, his chemis-tree goes a bit haywire.

But when a pet-tastrophe strikes Mistletoe Falls, Miles and Oberon must team up to make sure the town and all of it’s furry residents have the ulti-mutt holiday.

If you love fated mates, pets who like to play matchmaker, and magical elves, er, sprites, who make the season bright, you’ll have a pawsitively wonderful Christmas time with this holiday romance.

Review: Nyall (Christmas Sprites Book 1) by Macy Blake

Rating: 4🌈

Nyall is a sweet holiday romance, an adorable beginning to a new Christmas series about a holiday village, Mistletoe Falls, and a special magical family of sprites looking for their HEA’s.

First up is the village baker, Nyall, who meets reporter Aaron Newton, banished to the village to write holiday fluff by his father for a past byline mistake. It becomes a delightful romance as Nyall , and his cousins, show Aaron the Christmas experience by way of all the events and the festivities that happen in Mistletoe Falls.

Of course, there’s a certain magical charm and glamour that occurs to spice things up. There’s a tiny mystery (not much of one) as well as a itty bitty drama about their relationship.

This is pretty much angst free, and a quick easy holiday read. It also sets up the next story which is cousin Oberon’s romance. There’s four books in total. I’m looking forward to reading them all.

Christmas Sprites:

Nyall #1

Oberon #2

Eldon #3 – Dec 15, 2022

Linus #4 – Dec 22, 2022

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showNyall (Christmas Sprites #1) by Macy Blake

Description:

Good things come to those who bake.

At least that’s what the sign hanging in Mistledough, the bakery owned by the gorgeous and mysterious Nyall claims.

When reporter Aaron Newton is banished to Mistletoe Falls for the holidays and forced to provide fluffy and lighthearted stories without a hint of scandal, or else, he finds himself drawn to both the bakery and the sweet taste of the man who runs it.

Aaron may not have come to the small Christmas town for love, but a little holiday magic is in the air, and the season may bring Aaron everything he’s ever wanted… if he’s willing to get whisked away by the handsome baker whose family has a secret to rival Santa Claus himself.

If you love opposites attract, small towns with holiday traditions galore, and magical elves, er, sprites, who make the season bright, you’ll fall head-over-mixing bowl for this feel good Christmas romance.

Author’s Note: Although this series takes place in the Chosen Universe, it is completely stand-alone.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Con Riley has quickly become a go to author for me for contemporary romance. Riley’s characters and movingly detailed plots manage to capture my attention as well as my imagination. I end up loving the couples, their stories, and the cast around them.

His Last Christmas in London is a perfect example. After a bitter experience with a mentor who took credit for his work and then refused him references when he wanted out, Ian Fisher, photographer, is forced to face reality and a move back home to Cornwall. In a short period, Riley gives us a intimate glimpse into a man who is hurting, full of self doubt, and questioning his own abilities.

It takes his friends, and one last chance, a job for a well known food critic, for everything to change course, albeit slowly.

Guy Parsons, food critic, widower, man of amazing depths, if you can get the chance to see beyond his walls. Guy is another amazing character and one I could easily spend another book with. The two of them , together, exploring London, is magical.

I truly wasn’t ready to let them or their romance go. I wanted to tag along aside as they wandered through Cornwall, or perhaps France. It honestly didn’t matter. They charmed me.

I suspect they will you too.

It’s why I’m definitely recommending His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley. It’s a holiday read to take to heart!

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showHis Last Christmas in London by Con Riley

Description:

Falling for his final client won’t make leaving London easy…

Ian ~ A talented, young photographer desperate to stay in London.

Guy ~ An older, fierce food critic, determined to keep him in his city.

Ian shouldn’t be attracted to a scathing food critic like Guy Parsons, not after the last time he fell for someone older, arrogant, and gorgeous. He knows better than to let dramatic good looks sway him since his last heartbreak. Besides, he’s accepted a new job at the far end of the country and won’t be staying in London.

Having one month left doesn’t seem enough now Ian’s fallen in love with the city. Working as Guy’s photographer for December might help him afford to stay for longer, even if he hates Guy’s brand of restaurant reviewing. When Guy turns out to be worlds away from the last man Ian fell for, shared meals soon result in shared secrets and feelings.

More than attraction sparks between them as Christmas approaches. Intimate moments lead to intense passion, but is being well matched in the bedroom enough to stop the clock counting down to Ian leaving London, and Guy, for good?

♄ Steamy, snarky, and sweet, His Last Christmas in London is an utterly British, low-angst, age-gap, workplace gay romance set in London and Cornwall. ♄

Celebrate the holidays with a lovely long novella full of heartfelt hurt/comfort and second chances from Con Riley, author of the much adored Charles: Learning to Love.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: Christmas Spirit by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 4🌈

Christmas Spirit by Annabelle Jacobs is another delightful holiday romance. Set In Cornwall, a favorite location of mine, this low angst age gap tale has a bit of the magical holiday spirit that takes this a tad into the supernatural with a merry matchmaking ghost!

Dylan tears his Achilles tendon and ends up recovering at his best friend’s uncle’s house In Cornwall.

The uncle is younger that expected and hot! And someone Dylan had met-cute before arriving.

Gareth is drawn to his nephew’s best friend, the first one since his bad breakup. The vet has his newly purchased older house under renovation, with the help of his nephew and others . But it Dylan he can’t keep his eyes off.

The men maneuver through the minefield of emotions that’s the best friend/nephew’s feelings about them, the idea of any permanence, guided by the actions of a ghostly matchmaker.

It’s sweet, funny, and sexy. Accompanied by several side stories that involve Dylan’s dad and Gareth’s ex’s father about moving on with your life. Believable and lovely.

I’m recommending Christmas Spirit by Annabelle Jacobs as another heartwarming holiday read. Add it to your list!

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showChristmas Spirit by Annabelle Jacobs

Description :

Dylan’s Cornish retreat wasn’t supposed to include a hot bloke and a cupid-playing ghost…

After tearing his Achilles tendon, recuperating by the sea sounds like a fantastic idea, and Dylan happily accepts his best mate’s offer to stay with him and his uncle for a few weeks. But he hadn’t counted on the uncle being smoking hot, or the fierce attraction that blossoms between them.

Swapping the busy streets of London for the easy pace of Cornish life is exactly what Gareth needs to move on with his own life. His new home requires a little TLC, but he’d expected that. What he hadn’t expected was the ghostly resident already living there.

A ten-year age gap isn’t the only issue standing between Dylan and Gareth. Their time together has an expiration date. By Christmas, Dylan will be back home in Bristol spending the holidays with his dad, leaving Gareth all alone. Luckily for them, a matchmaking Christmas Spirit has other ideas.

A Christmas MM romance featuring a meet-cute, pining, a meddling ghost, a teeny bit of angst, and a festive HEA

—-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: Got Me Merry (Vet Shop Boys Book 6) by Casey Cox

Rating: 4.5🌈

A wonderful series just continues on its own hopeful, warm-hearted journey with two new characters and latest members of the Vet Shop Boys found family of vets and their partners and pets.

Well, almost latest. There’s been an Aussie vet with marriage issues added but his story is later.

Now we are treated to the heartwarming story of the deepest best friends to lovers romance and a renewal of the Christmas spirit for one and all.

The one lacking in holiday’s cheer (for all the depressing and heartbreaking reasons) is Lawson Barnes, last year vet student and best friend of the ever positive, very handsome Chester Mathews. Chess is also in his last year of vet school and they both apply for the one internship at the Vet Shop Boys. Their interesting interviews and Gus’s big heart sees both of them working together with two internships and suddenly they’re finding a new home and family around them.

The 2-person POV works beautifully to bring the initial mindsets of each man into clarity so as Law and Chess grow and change, we see it reflected in each other’s thoughts and emotions, and actions.

It starts with Chester’s plan to make Law learn to love Christmas, a season Law’s never really experienced due to his parental negligence and sad adolescence. He, obviously, pulls on all the other vets and partners to aid in his plan.

Cox’s storylines shine spotlights on the other couples while giving focus to Chester and Lawson’s journey to HEA.

This is full of fun, joy, love and a reminder of what the Christmas spirit is all about.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend Got Me Merry (Vet Shop Boys Book 6) by Casey Cox . Pick it and the rest of the series up for great contemporary romance reading.

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

āœ“ Got Me Hoping #1

āœ“ Got Me Wishing #2

āœ“ Got Me Looking #3

āœ“ Got Me Thinking #4

āœ“ Got Me Going #5

āœ“ Got Me Merry #6

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showGot Me Merry (Vet Shop Boys #6) by Casey Cox

Description:

Can my best friend get me to enjoy the holidays? Ho… Ho… Um…No?

Christmas just isn’t my jam. The crowds. The cold. That Mariah Carey song blasting everywhere I go. Thanks, but no thanks.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m no Grinch. The holidays are awesome if you have a great family and money to shower them with gifts. Unfortunately for me, I have neither of those things.

All I want for Christmas (great, now I’m quoting that damn Mariah song) is to focus on my internship at the Vet Shop Boys clinic and hanging out with my best friend and roommate.

Turns out Chester has got other ideas. Along with a crew of loved-up vets, he’s on a mission to get me to enjoy the holidays and fall in love with him.

Wait… What?!

There’s no way I’ll ever become one of those festive people who likes Christmas, but who knows? Maybe this will be the first holiday season that actually gets me merry?

Got Me Merry is book 6 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, best-friends-to-lovers, a grumpy Christmas Grinch, a sunshiny Christmas lover, some very wacky Christmas traditions, a sizzling hot fun run on a freezing winter day, a two-legged dog with a heart of gold, meddling vets determined to add a sprinkling of love to the holidays, and a heartwarming happily ever after!

—-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer

Review: The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.5 🌈

The first in a new series, The Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch Book 1) by B.A. Tortuga is another in this author’s lovely cozy cowboy contemporary romances.

This one sets itself apart in that it’s low angst with little to no high drama but instead relies almost solely on the real , relatable characters and elements of foster care and the issues children have when adapting into their new environment.

It does start off with the premise of contract husband but that is quickly discarded when the foster children come into play and their needs as well as troubled history takes center stage.

As it should.

Former bull riders, star Ryder Vittor who was forced into retirement by a broken neck, and , Kase McDaniel, who’s major wreck crushed so many bones in his body, that retiring was never in doubt, are a perfect pairing.

As superbly crafted by Tortuga, they are so familiar with each other, so in sync and comfortable with their actions and thoughts it’s as though they’ve been together for a longer time period. Which they have as bull riders on the circuit. Extremely realistic and easy.

She makes these men absolutely believable in every way, from their speech to their relationship and how they relate to those around them.

That includes the marvelous lesbian married grandmothers who raised Ryder and help run both the ranch and rodeo enterprises. Strong, impactful women and wonderful characters .

However, your heart will truly belong to the four foster children that comes into the lives of everyone who lives on the Chiara ranch. That’s a orphaned family of four. Charlie, a sixteen-year-old girl. Elijah, an eleven-year-old boy, Dani, eight-year-old girl, and tiny Nell, a two-year-old baby girl.

They arrive with a heartbreaking history, separate issues and sets of challenges, and personalities to endear themselves to the family at the ranch and readers alike.

Of course, there’s animals like adorable dogs, goats, and horses too.

This is one sweet, moving, heartwarming romance. You will want to just curl up and sink into this group of characters and children as they work their way into becoming a family .

It’s a marvelous journey and one you won’t want to miss.

I highly recommend it. And wonder what the next story in this series will bring.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showThe Cowboy Contract (Foster Ranch, #1) by B.A. Tortuga

Description:

Ryder Vittor has almost everything he could ever want. He was a successful bull rider, he runs a rodeo company and a ranch for his family, and he’s right where he wants to be. Until his grandmother issues him an ultimatum. Now he has to get married and have kids if he wants to keep the life he loves, but he can’t exactly produce a man and a baby out of thin air, can he? So he sets out to hire a husband in order to get what he needs.

Kase McDaniel is at the end of his rope. His bull riding career has ended in a bad crash, his family doesn’t want him back, and he has nowhere to go. When Ryder offers to let him come stay at Ryder’s New Mexico ranch, he’s grateful, but he’s stunned when he finds out Ryder intends to make a contract with a stranger to marry him and raise kids with him. Kase has been in love with Ryder for years, so why shouldn’t he put in for the job?

Neither one of them has any idea what they’re setting in motion when they tie the knot, and soon they’re overrun with foster kids, rodeo family, and more. Can Kase and Ryder find something real in all the chaos, or will they be parting ways when the contract ends?

Review: The Crazy Bookshop (Cadenbury Town #1) by E. Broom

Rating: 4🌈

E. Broom is a new author and I picked up this novel based on the reviews. It’s basically a light, humorous supernatural fantasy romp.

Nothing to take too seriously, but it has fun with its characters, using the typical trope of witch/werewolf instant mate elements, along with a hint of fairytale overlay!

Low on the angst, quick on the action and relationship, and it’s warm-hearted to boot.

There’s a bookstore that’s the center of a small village with all sorts of magical goings on. Naturally.

Ernest Turnball gets fired from one job then decides a change of career is needed. He answers a ad for help needed in a bookstore and finds himself in Cadenbury. A quaint village full of welcoming if a bit odd people and a terrific job at The Crazy Bookshop.

In the matter of one day, his perception of the world goes sideways and upside down. What a marvelous thing to happen.

Ernest is rather unflappable. He’s kind, and rather funny.

And it turns out he’s got a rather unique set of connections to Cadenbury. Not the least of which is the sparks going off between him and the hunky Mayor!

There’s a mystery, lots of magical fun, family, and a growing cast of characters to enjoy.

I found the story very entertaining and a quick read.

There’s a second novel out so I’ll head over to see what the author has in store for Titus.

If you like all the above elements mixed together for light fun fare, this might be the book for you.

Cadenbury Town series:

šŸ”¹The Crazy Bookshop 1

šŸ”¹Where There’s a Witch There’s a Way 2

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Crazy Bookshop (Cadenbury Town, #1) by E. Broom – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Who knew when I threw a latte in my boss’s face, my life would change forever?

After being fired from his job for Gross Misconduct, Ernest Turnball decided to try something different and applied for a job at The Crazy Bookshop.

Starting his new life as a bookshop assistant, Ernest meets some interesting characters, like Mollyanne, who looks like the wicked stepmother from Snow White, when she turns into the crone, but without the big nose. What she does have is a crow, owl, fox, and German shepherd. One of whom is always with her. Or his new boss Alfred, who reminds him of an excitable puppy.

A prediction from one of the town witches puts the town on it’s guard, but strange things are still occurring. It seems someone is spell casting and causing havoc to the town and its people.

Having found out he is a witch, Ernest is determined to find out who is behind spells, and if the town mayor and Alpha wolf shifter, Adhan Stone, wants to help him, who is he to say no?

With the town looking on, scorecards at the ready, can Ernest and Adhan save the town, and reach a perfect ten score?

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Rookie Move (Playing For Keeps #1) by Riley Hart & Neve Wilder

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I’m such a sucker for stories like this one. Sports romance, younger hot, super talented brother that ends up on the same team as brother’s friend. Who he’s had a crush on.

Doesn’t matter the sports.

This time it’s the NFL and a Denver team with a hot Quarterback, Warner Ramsey, who’s hiding his sexuality, his best friend & teammate,Houston, who’s the only person who knows his secrets. And Houston’s younger brother, Garrett, a talented player himself, who finds out he’s bisexual on the eve of his high school graduation at a professional player’s party.

It’s easy to see from the marvelous humor, great dialogue, and just plain out fantastic scenes, from high on the field action to sexy bedroom, that the authors loved writing this.

It’s both a romp and delicious romance. There’s plenty of heart, from Ramsay’s issues with his father to Garrett’s wrestling with wanting not to always be the McRae coming after his brother’s accomplishments.

Even the locker room problems and arguments are handled with moments of realness and believability.

Ramsey and Garrett are just chemical greatness. You love reading about them. Whether they are making things happen on the field or off, they are a captivating couple.

Hart and Wilder have a fabulous start to the series with these two. I’m highly recommending Rookie Move (Playing For Keeps #1) by Riley Hart & Neve Wilder .

And keeping my eyes peeled for the next in the series!

Playing For Keeps:

Rookie Move #1

https://www.goodreads.com › showRookie Move (Playing for Keeps, #1) by Neve Wilder – Goodreads

Falling for a teammate who also happens to be your brother’s best friend? Total rookie move.

McRAE: I’ve had a crush on my brother’s best friend since the moment I laid eyes on him four years ago.

Warner Ramsey is 225 pounds of pure hotness, a media darling, and one of the best NFL quarterbacks in the league.

Hell, he’s the reason I figured out I’m solidly bi.

It was easy to keep my crush under control when I was in college. Now, we play for the same team, and every time he talks smack, I want to shut him up. With my mouth.

But I’ve got other things I should be focusing on, like dominating my rookie year with the Denver Rush and finally stepping out of my brother’s shadow.

Besides, Ramsey’s straight.

RAMSEY: I’ve never tapped into my bisexuality—never told anyone except my best friend that I’m bi. All I want is to play football and not draw media attention like my dad, who got ousted from the league.

Garrett McRae is my biggest temptation. He’s gotten under my skin for years.

I’m supposed to be looking out for him, not thinking about getting him naked.

And definitely not the kiss we shared.

That I somehow instigated.

It was stupid, and not like me, but God, it was hot.

We’re teammates, with million-dollar contracts on the line. And yet…is a little experimentation really so bad?

Rookie Move is a low-angst, high-heat sports romance in the Playing for Keeps series.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Last Gasp (Kip O’Connor Mystery #1) by S.C. Wynne

Rating: 3.5🌈

I’m a fan of the cozy mystery so I was interested when I saw this series by author S.C. Wynne.

It has all the elements one expects of the cozy mystery. Small town , Pearl Bay, where everyone knows everybody. Main character, Kip O’Connor, who’s lived there his entire life. And has a semi-unusual job, in this case a dog walking and animal day care business. With chatty employees who have a pipeline to the town’s gossip!

And a small town/village police chief who’s the would be romantic interest. Here it’s Police Chief Merrick Dawson, best friend of Kip’s older brother.

There’s a lot of history between Kip and Merrick, none of it pleasant as Kip was bullied by his brother and friends as a child. Something they’ve never apologized for.

I enjoyed the author’s characters and plots. It’s right along the lines of a cozy with several mysteries happening at once. And like any main character in this type of mystery,Kip, at one point, goes off to investigate on his own.

Unlike other novels where the plots and details are more gritty and the investigations are tightly realistic (and my expectations higher), the holes both in the exposition as well as in the small town police work just sort of blend together.

I think what bothers me most about the dynamics here between Kip and Merrick is the lack of communication. Merrick has known Kip all their lives. Merrick and Kip’s older brother played ā€œpranksā€ on the much younger brother that to the present have caused emotional harm. Neither older man has ever apologized but expected Kip to ā€œget over itā€.

Even towards the end, after an explanation, there’s not a real connection or understanding of the harm that bullying causes.

Thats not a relationship or character that’s relatable for me.

The mysteries also had little complexity. While some might think that’s not a issue with a cozy, I’ve read many a cozy mysteries that layered their mysteries with greater depth and I’m missing that here.

The book ends with a promise of a friendship. And two more books in the trilogy.

I’ll probably save the rest for late summer reading.

If light cozy mystery with no romance is the thing for you, pick up Last Gasp (Kip O’Connor Mystery #1) by S.C. Wynne.

Kip O’Connor Mysteries :

šŸ”¹Last Gasp #1

šŸ”¹Last Date #2

šŸ”¹Last Chance #3

https://www.goodreads.com › showLast Gasp (Kip O’Connor M/M Mystery, #1) by S.C. Wynne | Goodreads

Cozy gay mystery romance.

Kip O’Connor lives a simple life in the little seaside town of Pearl Bay. Unless it’s tourist season, things tend to be pretty peaceful. There is, however, one never ending source of irritation in the form of Police Chief Merrick Dawson.

Merrick is Kip’s older brother’s BFF, and nothing seems to bring Merrick more joy than nagging Kip about silly things. You’d think a Police Chief would have more important things to do than lecture Kip on parking tickets and picking up pet waste, but somehow Merrick always finds the time.

Kip decides to take an art class at the local community college, and he’s annoyed to find Merrick has also enrolled in the course. The instructor takes a shine to Kip, and soon they become friends outside of class. Merrick warns Kip of the dangers of blurring those lines and befriending his teacher, but Kip is flattered by the attention.

When his art teacher is found stabbed through the forehead with a palette knife, Kip is determined to figure out who killed his new friend. Merrick naturally thinks Kip getting involved in the investigation is a horrible idea, but when has Kip ever listened to that irksome, pig-headed Merrick Dawson?

This is book one in my brand new Kip O’Connor M/M Cozy Mystery series. Each book has a cozy feel to it and there is a strong romantic (slow burn) story-line in each book. No on page steam but some mild violence. I hope you enjoy reading this series as much as I enjoy writing it.

Review: My Dragon Mate: (Mages of Ravenshire 1.5) by Stella Rainbow

Rating: 3.25🌈

When I was skimming through various titles, looking for a new author and quick story to read, I came across My Dragon Mate by Stella Rainbow, listed as a standalone Bi-awakening Fated Mates Romance. No reference to a series. Not in the title I was looking at.

New author, fantasy romance with a found family. I’m in.

What I noticed immediately is the author’s note , inside, that says this story is part of a connected series and should be read in order and as part of that universe.

Hmmm, ok. That needs to mentioned in the description. Because it’s absolutely true. For several reasons.

The child, Cam, is one of the three POV narrations here, and recovering from cancer. Her storyline is a major element we don’t completely understand as it’s part of the last series. Here she’s done, apparently recovered. All good except for a dad who isn’t recovered from that.

We aren’t given her history of her illness, her recovery, or what happened to her mother. All in the other series and necessary reading. It’s assumed we know it. Pop up characters? No idea who they are. What they are. What their relationships are.

It is obvious that this story alone can’t be enough to form a idea of what Stella Rainbow is as a author in terms of writing, although a reader gets a definite understanding of her preference for low angst and very happy, sunny romances.

There’s absolutely nothing as far as real emotional drama. Anything that starts to swerve into that territory is then quickly taken back into the comfort, sweet zone. A slight argument between the adults is remedied by the adorable daughter and dragon and father are back , happily, on the path to HEA.

Sweet, low angst romances with a found family element, such as a Interfering child, make for endearing stories. My Dragon Mate is that short Bon Bon of a tale, with several things that will make you seek out its previous stories.

Honestly, though, that description needs revising. Not a standalone by any standards.

If you’re a reader who wants a quick tale of love and family with a fantasy take? Try this. If you’re looking for lots of depth or storylines with complexity, this probably isn’t for you.

You know which reader you are.

Note: There is one element at the end with regard to Cam. I won’t go into it here as it’s a spoiler. But I’m still trying to decide if the way it’s handled (very much in keeping with the happy, poof, anything that’s realistic or anguish causing is eliminated manner) is disrespectful to those who make that life changing decision or something they would wish they had the ability to do themselves. I really don’t know.

Probably tells me stories like this are too sunny for me and even my fantasy books needs a darker element.

https://www.goodreads.com › showMy Dragon Mate (Mages of Ravenshire #1.5) by Stella Rainbow – Goodreads

Synopsis:

A human single father. A 2000-year-old storm dragon. A nine-year-old who wants them as fathers.

William
When I stopped the gray-eyed investor from leaving my home in the middle of a storm, I had no idea I was playing right into Fate’s hands.

Raiden
When I stepped into William Hawthorne’s house for a meeting, I did not know I was stepping into the home of my fated one.

Camille
When my dad rejected his fated mate—a man who didn’t just seem like the sweetest person I’d ever met, but was also a dragon—I knew I needed to take matters into my own hands.

Tags:
William is a single-dad, Raiden is way too old for first love flutters, we’re talking like 2000 years too old, Raph calls William an idiot (He’s a DRAGON, Will!), Cam is a little matchmaker, Raiden can be anything you want baby,_ Bi-Awakening, dragons are SO COOL, age gap for days, fated mates, Raiden makes the sky go boom, low angst, lots of fluff.

My Dragon Mate is a 24k words novella starring a slightly confused human; a sweet, 2000-year-old dragon; and a nine-year-old girl who’s determined to make sure they get their happily ever after. It’s a spin-off to Stella Rainbow’s Mages of Ravenshire series, and can be read as a standalone.

Note: Revised in Dec 2021. No new content was added.