Review: Be Fairy Game( Starfig Investigations #2) by Meghan Maslow

Rating: 5🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

They’re baaacckk!

When a simple ‘find & fetch’ case throws private investigator Twig Starfig and newly-minted wizard, Quinn Broomsparkle, into the middle of an EBI murder investigation, it’s just another day in the Elder Realm.

If murder were Twig’s only problem, he’d be the luckiest half-dragon in the land. Murder he can handle. Fulfilling his promise to his scheming, power-hungry father to run for a seat on Lighthelm’s city council? Meh, he’d rather face a demon with a toothache.

On top of their case going sideways, and Twig running for a council seat he really doesn’t want, Twig and Quinn are forced to face some unpleasant realities about their budding romance, while still learning how to handle the wizard-familiar bond they now share. Throw in a red fury with abysmal taste in boyfriends, a ghost pirate-parrot who drinks too much, a murderer who will stop at nothing to get what they want, a host of new friends and enemies, and you’ve got a situation where no one is safe and everyone is Fairy Game.

Be Fairy Game, next book in the Starfig Investigations series by Meghan Maslow, picks up after the events that occurred to bring Half dragon half fairy PI Twig Starfig together with his lover and not as yet formalized mate, wizard Quinn Broomsparkles.

Now with their assistant, the demon Red Fury Bill, and Pie, ghost pirate parrot with a taste for the tavern, it’s another client that’s claiming their attention away from the personal issues they’ve yet to address about their complicated relationship.

Maslow is really such a great writer. Each story in this series builds on the preceding one, growing ever richer in its foundation universe, new characters, and expanding relationship dynamics within the current family and couple structures.

Here with what seems to be a simple case of find a object brings about absolute chaos in the very best (meaning murderous, hilarious, shocking, and surprisingly poignant) way. Maslow’s great blending of high fantasy (Fae, orcs,selkie etc) with horror (vampire professors) meshes so well together along with other beings we’ve yet to put names to. Honestly we need more of Cookie.

Combine breath-taking, white knuckle action with rollicking great sex, whimsical names, and storylines that are getting increasingly layered and complex and you have characters, story, and a series that’s positively addictive.

I need to know more about the relationship between Auric, Twig’s master manipulator of a father and his fierce Fae guard . A whole book as a matter of fact.

Plus there’s Leo, the EBI agent, lithe, highly intelligent and somehow always in the middle of things. Hmmmm.

Honestly the Elder Realm just keeps getting more snd more fascinating with each story and character. Plus Twig and Quinn’s relationship still has so many unanswered questions.

Onto His Fairy Share next!

Then I’ll be begging for more. I can already tell. It’s that type of series.

Need a new fantasy book and series? Start here. Highly recommended.

Starfig Investigations:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41003166-be-fairy-game

By Fairy Means or Foul

Be Fairy Game

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15284043.Meghan_Maslow

His Fairy Share

Fairy Impartial – coming in September

Review: Operation Meet Cute ( Operation HEA #1) by KM Neuhold

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

If you’re looking for something sweet, light hearted, filled with laughter and love, then grab up Operation Meet Cute, the first book in KM Neuhold’s new Operation HEA series.

Adorable Harlow , his parents ugly divorce haunting him, decides the way to HEA and his true love is through a movie “meet cute” moment. And he’s been busy staging his own for years….to no avail.

Teddy, his neighbor upstairs, has been watching Harlow’s search go unrewarded for 4 years, the same amount of time Teddy has been Harlow’s best friend. Only his heart wants more.

This best friends to lovers story is funny, engaging, full of great lines and captivating characters. Alternative POV work beautifully to move both the storylines and romance forward.

By the time we’ve reached the ending, both the couple and reader are satisfied and ready for the next step.

Which is arriving in December.

I can’t wait.

What a winner and a truly wonderful read.

Operation HEA series:

Operation Meet Cute #1

Operation Meet the Parents #2- coming in December

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58027717-operation-meet-cute

Review: Hope on the Rocks (Rainbow Cove #4) by Annabeth Albert

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

What can I say? What a outstanding story! And not the least of which because every element comes across as a fully adult intelligent relationship that’s being explored, grown, and in the end, committed to.

Hallelujah

Rainbow Cove is a terrific series, heartwarming, rainbow, and yes, kinky.

Hope on the Rocks delivers up the story of bartender/co owner of Rainbow Tavern, Adam Ringer’s, path to a very beautiful and somewhat kinky HEA.

His partner to be? Dr Quinn Strauss, the town’s GP who’s current heartbreak leads him to Adam’s bar, a load of cocktails and a drunken confession about his secret desire for a Daddy.

Which just so happens to fit beautifully in with Adam’s need to be a Daddy, especially to the appealing man before him so in need of being taken care of.

What follows is first an agreement for a summer friends with benefits arrangement, no ties, to help Quinn explore fully his sexual/emotional desire for a Daddy.

As with the previous story. Lumber Jacked, which explored rope kink, beautifully so, Hope on the Rocks focuses its men and their burgeoning relationship around their mutual desire/need for Daddy kink. Albert expertly uses her characters and their relationship to explain exactly what this type of kink means and how it fits into a committed partnership.

Far from any sort of sex tutelage into Daddy role play, we get a sexy, moving, and meaningful story, full of adult communication on each other’s needs, expectations, and secret desires. Safety and trust, patience and love. All seen and experienced by Quinn and Adam as their summer and relationship deepens.

What barriers there are to overcome are ones that are equally realistic and ones I appreciate as they affected their dynamic. Demands by family, fears generated by past history, even work schedules…..all that rings so true.

The men are so sympathetic and engaging, both separately and as a couple that I read this story from start to finish without stopping. That’s a true measure for me of how much I love a book and how fully I’m involved in that universe and couple.

Here? It was 100 percent, I was all in and didn’t want to leave them and Rainbow Cove behind at the end.

I have no idea how many more stories the author intends to write in this series but here’s hoping that Rainbow Cove’s future is bright, as shiny and wonderful as this story and all those before it.

Consider this and them highly recommended!🌈

Rainbow Cove series:

Trust with a Chaser

Trust with a Twist

Lumber Jacked

Hope On the Rocks (Rainbow Cove #4)

Hope

Hope on the Rocks (Rainbow Cove #4)

Review: Passions of a Papillon (Fuzzy Love #1) by Tara Lain

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

Tara Lain’s stories always leave me with warm, happy feelings. I certainly adore the characters she introduces her readers to in her books and series. And her storylines are well plotted and end satisfactory.

So it was with real anticipation that I started her Fuzzy Love series . The central character being a Papillon, huge bat earned tiny ball of high intelligence and energy. Yep, I’m all in immediately as I love books with animals as main or largely secondary characters.

Can I say right now I absolutely love Bat? That’s Batshit Crazy, the Queen of the Universe, yes, she’s amazing.

The rest of the universe and main couple, Em, the vet and the defense attorney, Finn Morgenstern, are so engaging and heartwarming that they not only deserve Bat but clearly each other and a HEA.

This story is full of suspense, action, character growth, romance, and dog on criminal adventures. It’s fast paced and so much fun.

I was fully involved with everyone and their relationships, and their HEA.

That includes the delightful glimpses we get of the people in the next books who inhabit Em’s sitting room .

I’m absolutely recommending this book and the series. The cover is on point. Look at that dog! The coloring exactly and the attitude! Pure sass! And the butterfly ears the breed is named for. Love it.

So grab up one or all 3 and get reading.

Fuzzy Love series.

🏆Passions of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/series/292832-fuzzy-love

🏆Prancing of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54375499-prancing-of-a-papillon

🏆Perils of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58447165-perils-of-a-papillon?from_search=true&from_srp=beKY1UPLYv&qid=1

Reviewers And Dog Lover/owners note: Like tv series and movies, a book can make a breed so irresistible that it makes people want one for themselves, without exactly checking out if that breed is right for you and your lifestyle.

Tara Lain does a responsible job here in noting aspects of the Papillon breed that make it not for everyone. They are highly energetic and intelligent. They are territorial, and yes bark…..a lot. Alarm barking, hey look what’s passing by, what’s that sound barking. It’s part of the breed and she had her characters mention that repeatedly, albeit fondly and sometimes with exasperation.

They do outstanding as agility dogs because they need an outlet for that intelligence and energy. Don’t confuse this breed with that of a lap dog. Uh no. 😂

Want to explore more ? YouTube Papillon in agility and Papillon dog facts. They are a fantastic breed….for the right people.

Prancing of a Papillon (Fuzzy Love 2) by Tara Lain

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

This story has such amazing energy! And I’m not just talking about that great title.

From the start I fell in love with the plot, characters, and settings for Prancing of a Papillon.

It was effortless to fall so throughly into the lives and relationships of the people here.

From the sad, vulnerable moment we meet Jericho Jones , with his mother’s Cairn terrier, Killer, and , of course, Batshit. He’s on a blind date and it’s awful. Jericho is sweet and gentle and introverted. The exact opposite of what his huge “Exterminator “ exterior projects. That sets up an immediate conflict between what the men he meets assumes he’s going to be and the withdrawing “old maid “ he considers himself. That chasm in expectations leads once more to disaster.

And a broken-hearted harshly rejected Jericho.

Fear not! Because this man and romance has a super Papillon on his side!

Bringing back Bat’s owners from Passions of a Papillon, Finn and Em, our gentle hearted first grade teacher Jericho proceeds to get involved in the wildly entertaining business of the professional dog show world. A former Best in Show and Champion in her former life, Bat has been missed on the circuit and who’s better to accompany Bat on her return as her handler then Jericho! But he needs training.

Enter Ichiko the trainer/handler for well known Papillon breeder and downright gorgeous Brees Apollonia., Rodolfo , his Champion Papillon in tow. Soon there’s romance, mystery, suspense, and fabulous dogs prancing their hearts out in show rings to cheers from the crowd. There’s even another wonderful secondary character, Kathy … new owner/handler of Papillon White Trash, to join in on the action..

Prancing of a Papillon! You got that right! If you’ve ever seen Westminster or Crufts Dog Show then you’ve seen this breed. All high energy, enormous butterfly ears at attention, the brightest eyes totally focused on the job and handler. Ah but put them down and let them start around the ring? Magic! Those tiny legs pumping , flying up high, prancing as fancy as anything imaginable, head held like royalty. And barking to let everyone know they are THERE! Always to the huge enjoyment of the people watching. YouTube it.

Tara Lain has captured this perfectly. The flow of communication between dog and handler. The judging and the various owners/ handlers. It’s quite the show and not just in the ring.

In fact everything about this story is just so fine. The characters that pour themselves into your heart ,

(Jericho Jones I truly adore), the many layered plot, the venue. The romance which swung from fragile to sexy to perfection …..woof!

And yes, the humor, bravery, and cheers for Bat and all the dogs involved.

Yes, this turned out to be my favorite after all.

That’s hard in a series I loved this much. Grab them all up and find your own.

A note about that outstanding cover! Yup that’s both Jericho and Brees to perfection. But the best? That Batshit Crazy is accurately pictured as fawn Papillon. That’s the brown and white coloring. Rodolfo is black and white , similar to the dog pictured on the other covers. Just one more reason this is the Best in Show!

They do outstanding as agility dogs because they need an outlet for that intelligence and energy. Don’t confuse this breed with that of a lap dog. Uh no. 😂

Want to explore more ? YouTube Papillon in agility and Papillon dog facts. They are a fantastic breed….for the right people.

Fuzzy Love series.

Passions of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50256127-passions-of-a-papillon

Prancing of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54375499-prancing-of-a-papillon

Perils of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58447165-perils-of-a-papillon

Review: Cowboy Logic by BA Tortuga

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

There’s no literary voice like BA Tortuga’s . As I read one of her stories, the richness of the regional dialect that rolls out from the mouths of her characters rings with such authenticity that I can still hear those words and sentences even now.

It’s not just a muttered “sweet baby Jesus” or a “all you all”. Nor is it all the many local dishes eaten, barbecue grilled ( btw I’m definitely taking up the pickled mustard seed tyvm), or even the Tex mex delicious drool worthy food her characters devour, nope, it’s more. It’s small town Texas itself, the good, the heartwarming, and yes, the ugly. BA Tortuga knows the land and it’s people on a truly cellular level and is able to take that knowledge and love and pour it into her books.

I always feel as though I honestly know these people, these flawed human beings she writes so well. Here it’s Jericho and his children, a rancher neighbor of Bailey’s. She’s got a stalker and called her brother Anderson back in California for help. A brother bullied as a youth in school there in that small Texas town and now reborn as Logic, a highly successful tv robotics Star, writer, and robot builder. The renewal of acquaintance sparking more, being in town pulling up old memories.

Both the sister and Jericho have children and again, these kids are so well written. Perfect for their ages, each voice memorable and funny, engaging and sweet. When Travis meets his hero Logic for the first time and thinks he’s being punked? Perfection!

I could read that and enjoy their relationship over and over.

In fact all the interplay between the families just draws you into this incredible dynamic and makes you want to be a huge part of it as well.

There’s drama, hurt/comfort elements. But also for me there’s that great ending..

I’ve really debated with myself over how much to say here about it. Because at one point I thought BA was going to go a certain way with it ( shame on me, should have known better) because hey, isn’t that what happens with romances like this.

I know I know. Wet noodle time. Trust in the Tortuga.

So yep, fantastic ending….. ok I wanted more but I say that about all her stories. Can’t stop now. That’s because I never want them to end. Sue me.

But this one? It’s so special. One of my favorites out of so many of hers. Read it and I think you’ll agree.l

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58563910

Perils of a Papillon (Fuzzy Love 3) by Tara Lain

Rating: 5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

A series that’s centered around the smarts of a Papillon? One called the Queen of The Universe, aka Batshit Crazy? Love it!

As someone familiar with the breed ( a groomer of mine had 3 he brought to work with him), the author captured their high intelligence and marvelous personality to perfection. Loved the way Lain wove the antics of this wonder dog into her plot of suspense and mystery. With its aspects of academia job applicants , stress/joy of teaching and then the romance with all the characters, human and animal…well, it’s is just so entertaining and quite wonderful.

Animals done well in books always add that extra layer of warmth and layers for me. Here Bat, Harry, and Cat were the perfect characters and plot foils time after time. Paired with their humans, their dynamics allows us a window into each person’s character and sometimes current emotional state, showing us a vulnerability we might not see otherwise.

Cat the abandoned Abyssinian works so beautifully with Jack Sparks, a human being, isolated by history and need. Harry the ingratiating pit bull in love with Bat works perfectly as a foil for the twins, the adorable Toby Albertine and his sister Molly. Toby the twin in need of a fake boyfriend and a real love life. And Batshit the super Papillon who brings everything and everyone together.

Humor is also a lovely part of the storyline, especially with regard to the animals and their association with each other . Bat is after all Harry’s true ❤️.

It’s a fast paced, emotionally satisfying, well written story. And it ties up the 3-book series in a way that everyone will love. Including me.

This is a marvelous story. Read them all and see for yourself which of Bat’s capers come the closest to your heart.

They do outstanding as agility dogs because they need an outlet for that intelligence and energy. Don’t confuse this breed with that of a lap dog. Uh no. 😂

Want to explore more ? YouTube Papillon in agility and Papillon dog facts. They are a fantastic breed….for the right people.

Fuzzy Love Series:

Passions of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50256127-passions-of-a-papillon

Prancing of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54375499-prancing-of-a-papillon

Perils of a Papillon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58447165-perils-of-a-papillon

Find all your buying options for the series here:

Treble Maker (Perfect Harmony #1) by Annabeth Albert

Rating: 4 🌈🌈🌈🌈

I adore this author and eagerly grab up each new offering as she releases it. Doesn’t matter what trope or character type, I’ll know that the author’s engaging style, her well layered characters and terrific plot will have me deeply entertained and throughly meshed with whatever universe and romance she’s created.

So it was with real interest that I saw a chance to read Albert’s very first story and series. I wanted to see what her first book and couple looks like and how much I could learn about the beginnings of a author I admire.

Here we have the story of a tv singing competition, a cobbled-together singing group and the two wildly different young men in it who go on to romance and hopefully a HEA . One flamboyant, desperately competitive and definitely out gay. The other quiet, from a conservative religious family that accepts he’s homosexual but only within a strict set of guidelines. And away from home for the first time.

That’s the barest story framework. Then Albert works a lovely sort of magic.

All the elements I expect from Annabeth Albert now in her series I can see here. Not fully . Not yet but the rough, lovely start of the complex, flawed people who we will meet in all the stories and series to come.

The messy personal dynamics? Check. The personal growth and self revelation? Check. Here the epiphany and hard choices seem to arrive and resolve themselves too quickly for all the history that both the men have and the sea changes each has to undergo.

But it’s her first book. So yes I get it. All that is a new author, one who’s works will , one after another, settle, show growth themselves, a strength and depth that here glimmers as promise.

Is this still a very sweet and lovely story to read. Absolutely. A must is the list of songs from the author at the end. Don’t miss them or any of the videos she listed. They enrich the story and will make you smile.

So a definite yes. I’m recommending it and will finish the series.

I need to know how it ends. So will you

Perfect Harmony series;

Treble Maker

Love Me Tenor

All Note Long

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert

Review: Catch Me (Kitchen Gods Book 2) Kindle Editionby Beth Bolden

Rating: 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 5

I had been reading all the other stories in several series that mentioned this couple, chef Wyatt Blake and out MLB player Ryan Flores (Food Truck series and Kitchen God) but had never quite gotten around to their story.

Until now.

What a wonderful story it is. I’m so sorry I’ve missed out on all the references, not understanding what they meant until now. So many 🤦🏼‍♀️.

Because now I get them, and the impact on this couple as their relationship continues.

It’s only a sports story in that Ryan plays MLB. It does discuss his continuing impact as the first out MLB player and his negotiating with the team owner. Nothing about his dynamics within the team. Shame

Unlike other stories with hockey and football where the sport itself is a featured player, baseball here is missing as a story element. I sort of wished that had been more of a stronger aspect of Ryan’s character here but , as it wasn’t really a passion of his, I get leaving it out.

There’s a lot here to dive into, food , food /recipes of Puerto Rico ,inability to trust and communication, even to understand what it is to truly love and commit to another person. That’s an enormous narrative load for any couple and book to carry.

There’s so much to unpack here narratively speaking. It’s funny, real, harsh, heartbreaking, and ultimately so warm and loving.

It’s exactly why I read this author’s stories.

Honestly I should have gotten to Wyatt and Ryan sooner but better late than never.

Don’t you make that mistake. Read about their love story now. I highly recommend it and this author.

Kitchen Gods Series:

Bite Me – Miles and Evans story

Catch Me – Wyatt and Ryan

Worship Me – short about Matt and Alex

Savor Me – Xander and Damon

Indulge Me – Kian and Bastian

https://www.goodreads.com/series/224661-kitchen-gods

See the link above for the buy links to all the stories.

Review: Bite Me (Kitchen Gods #1) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 5

Grab a great Chardonnay and a chocolate sweet of your choice before you settle in to read the delightful romance of pastry chef Miles and producer Evan.

Honestly, these stories of Beth Bolden’s just make you want to grab for a wine glass and a bite of something sinful to go along with her heartwarming romances such as Bite Me, Miles and Evan’s tumultuous road to HEA.

As with all of this series books, you get the entire circle of characters from the series included in the storyline as well as the main characters, their backgrounds, and current dynamics.

In this case, it’s the development of the online cooking show Pastry by Miles,with all the elements it takes to develop a successful show. Between that and the rough and tumble romance, Bite Me is a hugely entertaining story with a great couple at its center and recipes to make one drool.

I loved the ending and the epilogue sets up Wyatt for his story and romance while giving Miles and Evan a terrific ending for theirs.

Bite Me is a another winner is a series I can’t stop reading. Love this!

https://www.goodreads.com/series/224661-kitchen-gods

Go above for the complete series ~ all recommended

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