Review: A Stealthy Situation (Franklin U 2) by Saxon James

Rating: 3🌈

Please note I’ve got spoilers for the story below.

Franklin U is getting a second set of couples and the twins from a famous hockey family , seen previously in James and Eden Finley’s hockey series (Puckboys and CU Hockey). Think the brothers Westley Dalton / Asher Dalton combination from CU Hockey which along with their partners, bled over into the other series.

Now the twins Emmett and Benny are grown and in college. This is primarily Benny’s book with a good deal of Emmett thrown in. Emmett’s story is the romance that ends this year’s crop of couples.

Honestly, while I liked the character of Harrison/Bowser and his story which carried plenty of interesting elements. For me, the rest of the narrative was filled with storylines that had issues.

It begins with the twins. The idea of interchangeable identical twins who swap out parts of their lives , think Parent Trap, is really cute and fun. When the characters are kids or preteens. And the reason they do so is one the reader or viewer finds relatable.

But then age those kids into adults, college students. And they are still pulling the same trick. Only this time , it’s college classes. One takes an English course for one, the other takes math. Because it’s easier and they’ve always done it for each other.

Cool right? Except it’s cheating. They are doing it for a degree. No one knows about it. That it’s wrong is something that isn’t brought up until it the book is almost done and they’ve been caught by Benny’s boyfriend.

Now this the peculiar thing about the story. Almost at the end , it’s discovered that Benny has a serious learning disability. The author gives it a name and has the brother see a therapist to get tested. But it’s at the end of the story and so much goodwill and exploration into his troubles with math are completely ignored over the need for cute texts, twin stories, and Greek life. Had the reader known about this issue earlier, it would have changed everything. But no. The author wanted a shocking revelation late in the narrative.

This story and the twin’s life is full of explanations that need further detail and exploration as to why they were left to their own development, one that has served them so poorly. But any references to their parent’s death and its impact are quickly glossed over and forgotten.

Over and over again, when any element or aspect of their lives comes up that could have been used to give depth to the story, it’s discarded or used as a brief sentence or two in discussion.

Perhaps it’s the added pressure to get both of the brothers involved in the story, along with Harrison. Harrison, imo, has the best developed thread and well defined character of the three of them. Then that weird Epilogue that jumps ten years into the future.

It’s just one strange choice by this author after another.

Emmett ,who disappears from the scene , has his own story from Eden Finley, that is released last. I read the description and it’s very much along the lines of the one set out here.

I think this is one story readers will either like or not really be invested in. Count me among the latter.

MEET ALL THE COUPLES OF FRANKLIN U2!

🔷The Hookup Mix-up by Riley Hart (Perry and Theo)

🔷A Stealthy Situation by Saxon James (Harrison and Benny)

🔷Batting Style by Louisa Masters (Blaise and Jordan)

🔷Level Up by Max Walker (Jay and Ryan)

🔷Full Service by Cora Rose (Silas and Everly)

🔷Tongue-Tied by Christina Lee (Dex and Austin)

🔷Method Acting by N R Walker (Chase and Amos)

🔷Twincerely Yours by Eden Finely (Emmett and Jonah)

Buy link

A Stealthy Situation (Franklin U 2)

Blurb:

Harrison

My life’s goal? Make plants fun!

I’m gonna be fighting for flora when I’m older and it all starts with auditing stats so I can level up for my masters, and lucky for me, the intriguing guy in my class is a math whizz.

He’s standoffish at first, but after a class where I bet my sitcoms can make him laugh, one bet leads to another and we’re hanging out all the time. Even though I know he’s interested in me, we’re easy friends, until I start to think I might be a little interested in him, too.

The only problem? He seems like a totally different guy in class to when we hang out. I brush it off as him trying to concentrate, but then I spot something I can’t explain away.

A scar. On his palm.

One I’m positive Benny has never had before.

Benny

Since we were little, my twin brother and I have always switched things up–literally. It started as funsies, and now we’re college juniors and still taking each other’s classes. I suck at Math, he sucks at English, and we both have a rule not to make friends in class as the other person. Our system is perfect.

Only Emmett has the audacity to get sick right before stats and I have to actually show up for my own class–where I meet my future husband.

Harrison is smart, weirdly into plants, and we instantly hit it off like old friends.

Only of course the gorgeous mountain of a nerd is straight.

Just when I’m telling myself to let my dreams of matching rings go, our text messages become constant, flirtier, deeper than I’ve had with any other guy before. My butterflies have butterflies every time we catch up.

And then I get a text from Emmett: I’m so sorry. I think I messed up.

• Publisher: May Books (June 14, 2024)

• Publication date: June 14, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 294 pages

Review: An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling (Subpar Heroes story) by Jenn Burke

Rating: 5🌈

As a fan of this author, I couldn’t wait for her contribution to the multi-author Subpar Heroes series. It’s excellent! One of my favorites so far.

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling includes the two ends of the super hero spectrum. One, Ward Sullivan aka Firefox, a man’s whose talent was so powerful that it’s got him damaged permanently. Now Ward’s bitter and angry about his past and the loss of what he once had.

The other? So little is thought of his talent that he hasn’t even been assigned a superhero code name. He’s just been shunted off to Thunder Bay for minor tasks , where he’s content to living his life in a small Canadian community he’s called home. That’s, cheery, bearded, outfitted in plaid, ax wielding Devlin Campbell.

A weird case of arson in the middle of a park campground in winter brings Devlin together with Ward who’s sent to investigate the case, in what’s probably his last venture with SPAM.

Burke takes interesting characters, a great location full of small town culture as well as the frigid winter conditions then just starts layering on all the necessary elements as well as adding the details that give the story the fantastic depth.

She brings to Ward, Dev and a certain young Hallie, as the story develops, all personality growth and needed revelations that make the reader feel like we have an immediate connection to them. And Dev’s oh so inconsequential talent soon is seen to be not so inconsiderable after all.

That’s one of the best qualities of Burke’s narrative. She slyly feeds us several truths about the characters. The way they are being treated or perceived as well as the way the character are truly defined. These are not portraits that form at once but ones that may take almost the entire plot to reveal, giving the reader plenty of time to form their own thoughts and become more fully involved in this journey to love and HEA.

A special note about how Burke treats Ward’s issues and injuries. This is a choice the author made to go realistic with the outcome and I absolutely agree and appreciate that she went with it. It’s in keeping with his hard won journey, with the theme of the series (these aren’t Superheros) , and it’s reflective of the trauma that he has been through.

I just loved these characters, their relationship and their journey. Hallie is fabulous too.

Top of this series! A must read. And that cover is everything.

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy links:

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling

Blurb

No more Mr. Nice Hero

Ex-hero Ward Sullivan used to be a household name before his career went up in smoke. Now he’s stuck hunting for the cause of mysterious fires in Northern Ontario. Worse still is his new partner, an overly cheery Canadian named Devlin Campbell.

Dev’s a lumberjack and he’s okay with that. It sure beats working in an office where his not-so-super power forced everyone to be nice to him. Partnering with the famous ex-hero Firefox is a dream come true. Not only is he one of Dev’s idols, he’s immune to his niceness.

Dev’s upbeat vibe soothes Ward’s grumpy soul, but he’d never admit it. Nor would he admit that he really likes the way Dev handles an axe. But when a threat from the past comes roaring into Ward’s present, it’s no more Mr. Nice Hero. Ward may have to give up a future with the nicest guy he knows to save the world one last time.

An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe-Handling is a part of the multi-author Subparheroes MM romance series.

• Publication date: June 13, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 192 pages

Reviews: The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt and Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp (Subpar Heroes Stories)

Rating: DNF for both

The Subpar Heroes series has been a real hit or miss for me, with having liked 2 books and finding I absolutely couldn’t finish 2 others.

I’m combining the reviews for the DNF because neither requires a full on review as you will see.

The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt is a DNF simply because I was appalled by its application of the theme and overall plot. If you are a cat lover, pet owner or just love animals, this is not the story for you. The main character accidentally raises road kills, they follow him home. Opening scene of a roadkill cat now pitifully mewing, detailed missing parts showing exactly what happened to it, following him home. He sighs because yeah, again. Adds it to a room with other dead roadkill animals . Then follows episodes with the hot one dimensional SPAM vet. Poor dialogue.

But mainly pathetic really horribly dead animals.

Why would author think that this is a good idea? Especially considering readers who might have lost beloved pets? Just no. DNF

Next up an author I’m a fan of except for this nonsensical piece where there’s no clear idea of the characters or even who’s speaking most of the time .

2. Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp

This is from Harlan’s pov and his voice included as well to further muddle the conversation. So three different people speaking and basically the reader will have no idea who they are from this passage. And that’s not unusual.

“Dash and DT exchanged glances. “Stop looking at each other that way. It’s making me insane.”

I took a long drink of coffee and lost track of what I was saying.

“Fuck me, this is good coffee.”

I know, right?” DT agreed.

“Where’d you get it?”

“That’s classified, soldier.” The corners of his mouth tilted up.”

“I forced the memory of how that mouth had tasted back into the lockbox in my brain. “Asshole.” Banter was good. It gave us some familiarity and some distance at the same time.”

— Behind the 8-Ball: A Subpar Heroes Story by A. E. Wasp

It should be a good story but the framework and how Wasp lays out the characters and storylines will just give the reader a headache. I’m sure the author is going for a certain narrative style but it’s hard to tell because it lacks substance and flow.

DNF

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp 5/30/2024

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple 6/6/2024

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke 6/13/2024

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy links:

The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

The Accidental Necromancer

Behind the 8-Ball: A Subpar Heroes Story by A. E. Wasp

Behind the 8-Ball: A Subpar Heroes Story

Review: A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden: Fortune Favors the Fae Book 1 by A. J. Sherwood

Rating: 5🌈

Well, this was an absolute blast! A beautifully crafted, well written, and wildly entertaining fantasy story that I really didn’t want to see end.

A. J. Sherwood, a author I’m an enormous fan of, just has a fabulous time with the theme of this multi author collection and gives us a tale of a man ripped out of his own life and into a new world! It’s one complete with talking magical fae coin, peopled with many species in need of some dire, or in this case divine intervention, a handsome intelligent warrior/Duke, and a quest the displaced businessman is surprisingly well suited to solve.

There’s so many great layers to this world and Sherwood’s story. The characters alone are ones I could write pages about, not just the main characters but all the well defined but important ones. Like the child Izzy, Grandma the Herb Master, Mina and her grandfather, Grandpa Hawes, a farmer, Boss Melva, and so many others. Each voice distinct and memorable. Their personalities and presence made this book and world real and vibrant with emotion.

However it’s Jake Alexander, soon to be divorced from a disastrous marriage, who’s hit by a truck and transported by a mischievous fae coin to another realm where a quest and new life awaits him. Jake is someone who, no matter what his family or his beleaguered life has delivered, has always been able to make the best of what he has been dealt. That attitude, and with his own personality and integrity makes Jake a character we cheer on, especially as we learn more about his past life and upbringing.

The person who is supporting Jake, in his new role as the gay Holy Maiden (that’s a hilarious aspect I’ll leave to the story), is Theon, a warrior who, in his own right, is the only person who has treated Jake the way that he has been hoping for. Theon who’s responsible, intelligent and warmhearted. Worried about the welfare of his people yet still has the same caring attitude towards Jake. It’s a marvelous relationship to watch evolve. Humorous, warm hearted and , slow to kick in. Loved it

There’s several terrific surprises. Every person, every being is treated with respect and kindness. Here you’ll find yourself and the world you are meant to live in.

So yes, I wasn’t finished with this crew or world when the end hit. I could have kept going. I so hope that there’s a sequel somewhere someday. Fingers crossed

Highly recommend!

Great cover!

Look at what’s coming up next!

Fortune Favors the Fae – 15 books:

✓ A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden by AJ Sherwood #1

◦ The Wolf’s (Un)Lucky Fae by Michele Notaro #2 June 6

◦ Bound to the Wild Fae by Tavia Lark #3 June 13

◦ The Sorcerer’s Thief by Lee Colgin #4 – June 20, 2024

◦ The Fae Menagerie by Edie Montreaux #5 – June 27,2024

◦ Never Darling by Sam Burns #6 – July 4,2024

◦ Prince of Poison by Alice Winters #7 – July 11,2024

◦ Grave Misfortune by Nazri Noor #8 – July 18,2024

◦ Fae for Pay by Meaghan Maslow #9 – July 23,2024

◦ Kisses at the Crossroad by Morgan Lysand #10 – August 1,2024

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Kai Butler #11 – August 8, 2024

◦ Siren in the Rain by Chloe Archer #12 – Aug 15,2024

◦ I Destroyed the Elf Prince’s Harem by Jocelynn Drake #13 – Aug 22,2024

◦ A Fae Called Wylder by Michelle Frost #14 – Aug 29,2024

◦ Lucky or Knot by Eliot Grayson #15 – September 5,2024

Buy link

A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I’m the Gay Holy Maiden: Fortune Favors the Fae Book 1

Blurb

What happens when you fall and hit the webtoons trope tree? You get killed by Truck-kun, get transported to a fantasy world by a sentient Fae coin, and become the first gay holy maiden.

Jake Alexander is Not Happy to be sure. Fortunately in Jake’s case, part of the trope tree includes the gorgeous Duke of the North, Theon. And starting a business from scratch, which he’s always wanted to do. And revitalizing his new country which is on the verge of collapse.

He could do without the killer miasma and corrupted kings and the singing magic and a sentient coin that doesn’t shut up, however.

Jake’s not sure if he should thank or melt the Fae coin into *ahem* something more useful.

Tags:

Fell on the trope tree and hit every branch going down, truck-kun, fae duke of the north, holy maiden, miasma threat, Jakes needs singing lessons, duke needs to take a business course, magic coin is about to be melted into a cock ring, bingo card for tropes, dragons, contracts are Jake’s love language, potato soup cures all, potatoes are friends, fourth wall who, basically I took all of the webtoon tropes and crammed them in

Gay Holy Maiden is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.

• Publication date: May 30, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 394 pages

Review: Impossible Things (A Subparheroes Novel) by Alexis Land

Rating: 4.5🌈

“As I sprinted up Telegraph Hill with about two dozen overly enthusiastic raccoons in hot pursuit, I muttered, “Not again.”

So opens Impossible Things by Alexa Land and our introduction to Anderson “Andy” Chen, our appealing subpar hero.

This is the second in the Subpar Heroes multi author series that I’ve read and each has taken a different approach to this decidedly engaging theme. I absolutely adore Impossible Things by Alexa Land .

Land’s story acknowledges the existence of SPAM, Special Processing and Management of superheroes or just about anyone with paranormal abilities. And that’s where we meet Andy , a librarian who has landed a “upper mobility “ job in heading the Archives for SPAM. We meet his mom and her girlfriend (with their powers and backgrounds), his bestie and her issues. He’s a great character, fully established in his culture, layered in personality and his own baggage. Land has left him room to develop and that’s exactly what Andy does. He blooms throughout this story.

Next comes Samaritan “Sam” Miller, a man of many talents who is a new hire at SPAM, and who gets assigned to help Andy wade through the mess down in Archives. Sam is another character who is multi dimensional and grows as the story and their relationship develops. They are both perfect for each other.

After a rough start connecting with each other, a mysterious file and some research send the pair of them on a mission that’s helping them bond, revealing to the reader and each other so much about their lives and opening themselves up to new possibilities for themselves and a romantic relationship.

This journey is so exciting and well plotted. We get villains, family involvement, new friends (Arden), more mysteries, action-packed sequences, and a sweet romance.

I don’t think I’ve read much by Land but this will see me seeking out this author’s catalog.

I’m highly recommending Impossible Things (A Subparheroes Novel) by Alexis Land. Engaging couple, well written story and wonderful cast of supporting characters. Lovely!

Love this cover too!

Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:

🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt

🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp 5/30/2024

🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper

🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land

🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple 6/6/2024

🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke 6/13/2024

🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024

🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024

🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024

🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024

🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024

🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024

🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024

🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024

Buy Link:

Impossible Things (Subparheroes)

Blurb:

I chose to be a librarian for a reason. All I want is a quiet life, surrounded by books. But when I stumble across a scientist’s journal that could have dire consequences for superheroes everywhere, my whole world gets knocked off its axis.

Suddenly, bad guys are closing in, and I find myself on the run with my coworker Sam–a big, loud ex-jock with more conspiracy theories than common sense. He says he’ll keep me safe, but how? I’m the one with a superpower, even if it’s total crap.

To complicate matters, there’s an undeniable spark of attraction between us. We don’t need the distraction, not when we’re running for our lives. But it’s hard to resist temptation when we’re stuck with each other day after day. And I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to Sam than meets the eye…

Do Sam and I have what it takes to stay ahead of a supervillain, protect each other, and keep the information we possess out of the wrong hands? It seems impossible. But maybe we’ll end up surprising ourselves–and each other.

Impossible Things is a part of the multi-author Subparheroes MM romance series.

• Publisher: (May 16, 2024)

• Publication date: May 16, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 196 pages

Review: — My Demon Husband: An MM Paranormal Romance by Jax Stuart

Rating: 4🌈

Possessive Love is a 15 multi-author book series about demons in love. I love to explore a collection like this because of the opportunities to find a new author like Jax Stuart who wrote the wonderful My Demon Husband in this group.

Stuart begins by drawing us into the life of witch Toby and the small magical town he’s growing up in. It’s not a happy life. Year after year, Toby is unable to summon a familiar on his birthday, his magic not working properly.

The manner in which Stuart cuts away from year to year, allowing the reader a window into the pain and frustration that’s been felt throughout Toby’s adolescence is remarkable. He’s become a real person to us and his suffering is now something we can connect with.

For Prince Zephyrin, the same can be said. The glimpses the author gives the reader into his life offers up much more insight into his own personal issues as well as his own family’s sufferings.

Two beings are about to be connected in the most unexpected way. This element of Stuart’s narrative is such a powerful and compelling one. It’s a part of the overall mystery. How both are connected becomes a strength of the relationship and, imo, one of the book. Because it prompts one necessary discussion about consent, status, sexuality, equality , and dominance. All of these things could have been ignored or avoided in a lesser story.

The romance between Toby and Zeph really comes together as they fight for their bond and right to stay as a magical couple as they define it. It just feels so believable and engaging to read as they grow into their dynamic. I just love them.

The mystery behind Toby’s failures is not as well developed as most of the other storylines, and it has just as many questions left unanswered at the end of the novel.

The author fills up this book with so much detail and depth in the world building that it calls out for additional novels. The covens that appeared later on with their own fascinating characters, Zephyrin’s Mother’s “queendom” and his family, and even the questions left behind as to what will happen to that village of Toby’s, it all seems to cry out for more storylines!

My Demon Husband: An MM Paranormal Romance by Jax Stuart is highly entertaining and well written. I throughly enjoyed the characters and the world built around them. I hope Stuart will revisit them someday to catch up on the loose ends and how this couple is faring.

This is a definite recommendation and for the rest in the collection, check out the list below.

Check out the rest of the Possessive Love series! 15 books by 15 authors

◦ A Slice For My Demon by K.L. Hiers & Mozzarus Scout

◦ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart

◦ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day

◦ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

◦ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

◦ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

My Demon Husband: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

He was supposed to summon a familiar, not a husband!

After numerous failed attempts to summon a familiar necessary to guide his considerable magic, Toby was down to his very last try. They would never accept him as a full-fledged member of his birth coven without a familiar. He didn’t know which punishment was worse; exile or binding his powers forever. Everything was against him, including his abnormally powerful magic and an enemy hiding in plain sight. When the spell takes a dramatic turn, poor Toby is unprepared for the consequences.

Zephyrin is desperate to no longer be the screw up of the family. His parents have had enough on their plate dealing with a family curse. Even knowing that he could be lost to them forever, Zephyrin answers the surprising call for his summoning. After meeting his summoner, Toby, he’s positive that he is destined to be by his side as his husband. Maybe having a witch in his corner could break the curse, that is, if Toby lets him visit home.

Unfortunately, Toby has troubles of his own. Can they work together to find a solution to both their problems before the Witch Council tears them apart?

My Demon Husband is a standalone paranormal romance between an overpowered witch and a demon with control issues in the multi-author Possessive Love series.

Check out the latest Carnival of Mysteries novel, You Can Do Magic by R. L. Merrill (tour and excerpt)

R.L. Merrill has a new MM rock ‘n roll fantasy/paranormal romance (bi, gay) out in the Carnival of Mysteries shared universe: You Can Do Magic. This is also book three in Merrill’s Summer of Hush series. And there’s a giveaway.

Musical prodigy Kallos Alexandrou has played his calliope for countless visitors at Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, but his one-year residency has come to an end. Scars from a terrible tragedy in his past are the only explanation he has for his loss of speech and memory, but it’s time to move on, so when a music festival sets up next to the carnival, Mr. Ame sends him off with identification, a bottomless billfold, and a set of new clothes. Outside the carnival’s perimeter, Kal finds himself in an unfamiliar world surrounded by strange instruments and vibrant people like nothing he’s ever seen.

Ryan Wells is the troubled and celebrated lead singer of the metal band Backdrop Silhouette. He’s brought more than his share of baggage on the last cross-country Warped Tour, including harsh restrictions placed on him by his parole officer and the band’s label, but it’s the treatment from his bandmates that have him feeling unsettled. After a tough morning, he spots a strange young man playing carnival music on a keyboard backstage, and the sound takes him back to a particularly vulnerable time in his youth. Intrigued, Ryan asks the young man’s name, but he flees only to appear later as a replacement stagehand for the tour.

You Can Do Magic is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a Depression-era calliaphone, a Ouija board with a purpose, and tour bus hijinks that will warm your heart and make you gigglesnort. Reading Summer of Hush and Brains and Brawn before this book will give you the full Warped Tour experience, but You Can Do Magic can be read as a standalone as well as the other books in the shared universe. Recommended 18+.

Warnings: Mention of prior sexual abuse, off-page, no descriptions

About the Series

Welcome, everyone, to the Carnival of Mysteries! In this shared element multiverse, we invite you to partake of an array of stories by an eclectic group of authors. You’ll find action, intrigue, mystery, danger, sweetness, and sorrow, but, above all, true love! So grab your ticket, indulge in some treats, experience a few thrills, maybe have your fortune read… there is something for everyone at the Carnival!

Get It On Amazon

Giveaway

R.L. is giving away a $30 Spotify gift card with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47298/?

Excerpt

Chapter One
Kal

A new day breaks
Under the blue skies above
A new crowd waits
All they need is a little shove
The Carnival is here
With mysteries galore
To satisfy your cravings
To leave you wanting more
We’re here today, gone the next,
Taking along our magic and song.
Come inside, take a peek
Surprises like these won’t wait long
Here we have the fantastical calliope,
come dance with our talented Kal
His music will delight and seduce you
With the power of the siren’s call
So step right up, and don’t be shy
For his time is coming to a close
Come shimmy and shake with this talented guy
And celebrate the last of his shows…

I’d memorized the ringmaster’s introduction, though it was more sensational than I deserved. And last night’s version had a new ending, one I’d been expecting, but hearing it brought a sliver of anxiety to my bones.

The instrument I played was actually a calliaphone—a more efficient and portable version of the forced-air organ—and I’d built it myself, that much I knew. It was my voice. It spoke all I knew to say, my own words lacking. I possessed the ability to speak, but I’d mostly forgotten how, therefore I preferred to let my music speak for me. I played for the crowds. I smiled for them, but I was transparent to the onlooker.

One year had passed in this way, one year of my life, and I had nothing of my own. No friends to help, no family to love, and no safe place to lay my head away from the carnival. What would I do, where would I go, and would someone see me for me?

The boss, Mr. Ame, told me soon it would be time to move on to the next phase. I’d no clue what that meant other than I would no longer travel with the carnival. There was nothing to pack, nothing to carry, only the clothes—and the scars—I wore on my body. I would miss my calliaphone and the crowds, but I knew it was time. My stay had been healing, educational. My time taught me plenty. The carnival would go on without me and my music, on to the next place to entertain…and seduce the locals. They’d fall under the spell of my fellow travelers. Some might even be chosen to come along.

I remembered little from my time before I, too, had joined the carnival. Humiliation and regret reverberated within the structures of my cells, but I didn’t recall more than that, much less the reason for the debt that forced me into servitude. The boss took me away from the darkness, and promised to set me free one day. But what was free, what would it mean, who would I be? A musician, a man, alone? I’d forgotten my past. I’d learned all I could in this place. Would I survive what lay ahead?

I took my questions to the man in charge, the one they call Errante Ame, and he confirmed that my time with the carnival was at an end.

“My dear, Kallos,” the boss said to me. “The world has done you wrong, not the other way around. You have been a part of something important here, and we shall never forget the joy your music has brought to our clan and our guests. But now it is time for you to move on, as all in the crew must do.

It is your choice where you’ll go once you leave the perimeter, what you will do with the time you have left.

“You have been invisible to our guests for so long, adored for your playing, of course, but who you are remains unseen, unspoken. A blank canvas, a puzzle. Only you can solve the riddle of your life. The time is near when you will set out on your greatest adventure, the journey to find your purpose. Being reborn can be frightening. You will have questions, but the answers you seek can be found within yourself. All you must do is follow your instincts, and your heart’s desire. Do what you feel is right and true. Be good to yourself and your fellow creatures, and walk the path of least harm.

“When the next sun rises, you will step outside the bounds of the carnival. You will have all that you need to begin anew. By the following sunrise, our carnival will have moved on. A traveling music festival will share these grounds with us tomorrow. Perhaps you can start there.”

I knew down deep in my bones that he was correct, that something momentous was about to occur.

Author Bio

Whether she’s writing swoon-worthy contemporary romance featuring quirky, queer, and relatable characters or diving deep into the supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after closing the book. Ro writes inclusive romance for the Happily Ever After collective, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired tales and music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net. A mom, wife, daughter, and former educator, you can find her rocking out in her Bronco with Great Dane pup Velma, being terrorized by feline twins Dracula and Frankenstein, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…

Author Website: https://www.rlmerrillauthor.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/rochellerlmerrill/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/rlmerrillauthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828914.R_L_Merrill

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/r-l-merrill/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/R.L.-Merrill/author/B00PI6Q1LI

Review: You Can Do Magic (Carnival of Mysteries) by R. J. Merrill

Rating: 4.5🌈

I wasn’t aware that You Can Do Magic was a part of author Merrill’s Summer of Hush series when I began reading but it’s not required knowledge for enjoying the story. Much of the background information is offered up throughout the book on the characters and relationships between the series couples that I wasn’t even familiar with the fact this was tied to another universe until the end notes.

You Can Do Magic has so much to offer on own as a standalone book. That starts with how fabulously Merrill uses the central theme of the Carnival of Mysteries. With its cast of circus characters and sideshows as a major part of the narrative here, time and again, it’s woven into the narrative pulling all the plot threads together. Starting with the power of the Carnival to protect and provide shelter to those in need, until the mysterious Ames feels it’s time for them to move on.

Kallos Alexandrou, the Carnival’s magical calliope player, is being told he’s healed and his time with the Carnival is over. What a beginning! It’s haunting, shrouded in secrecy and pain, with a young man who can’t remember, being told he’s got a new life ahead of him. How incredibly scary.

Music is the key for Kallos. To his past and his new journey forward as well. Merrill does a fantastic job in creating in Kal a person who feels like an innocent out of time , yet someone we can still emotionally connect with.

Dumped with a wallet and the ability to have within what he needs (read the book), it’s a music festival that starts his journey. And a couple of bands.

One Ryan Wells, lead singer in the metal band Backdrop Silhouette. He’s also released from prison and in recovery from substance abuse, facts that are well documented and a source of contention within the band. Especially since the cause is a serious accident which tragically changed their lives.

Merrill gets us into the head and emotions of Ryan in the tough moments back when it’s obvious he’s not going to be able to retrieve the friendships and relationships he had with the band before the accident and prison time occurred.

We get a mixture of emotional distress, connections, a sense of wonder at new things from Kal and puzzlement from Ryan and deeply moving shared experiences that build their relationship.

All while keeping an otherworldly sense that something or someone is helping to guide these events.

The closure for Kal on his past history was emotional as far as his family but a tad lacking when it came down to that which caused his pain and suffering. I thought that could have been more a more fully resolved or explained element. I was left with more questions than answers.

As for Ryan, the Carnival left him with some very serious thoughts about his future life. As the story ends on a HFN, I wonder if the author intends to do something further with this couple in mind. I’d be interested in reading more about them.

You Can Do Magic (Carnival of Mysteries) by R. J. Merrill is one of the highlights of this series. Merrill does an excellent job in incorporating the series theme into the storyline all the way through to the end. The characters are extremely well executed and the relationships are easy to connect with. Just marvelous!

And one more great cover in a group of beautiful images.

Don’t forget to check out the music link for the author’s playlist for the book. Absolutely amazing.

If you haven’t already guessed, it’s a yes recommendation.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy link:

You Can Do Magic: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

From the author of Foreword Indies Finalist Summer of Hush and BookLife Prize Quarterfinalist Brains and Brawn comes a new installment in the series, a contemporary gay romance with a side of time travel and magic.

Musical prodigy Kallos Alexandrou has played his calliope for countless visitors at Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, but his one-year residency has come to an end. Scars from a terrible tragedy in his past are the only explanation he has for his loss of speech and memory, but it’s time to move on, so when a music festival sets up next to the carnival, Mr. Ame sends him off with identification, a bottomless billfold, and a set of new clothes. Outside the carnival’s perimeter, Kal finds himself in an unfamiliar world surrounded by strange instruments and vibrant people like nothing he’s ever seen.

An invitation from the band Hush to ride on their bus gives Ryan and Kal a welcome distraction. They find the camaraderie and support they’ve both been craving…as well as a little magic and a fresh new romance. But personal secrets and the music business make relationships difficult to maintain, and when the tour ends, Ryan and Kal will have to make a choice: move forward together on an uncertain path, or let fear keep them from trusting that sometimes you really can have everything you desire.

You Can Do Magic is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a Depression-era calliaphone, a Ouija board with a purpose, and tour bus hijinks that will warm your heart and make you gigglesnort. Reading Summer of Hush and Brains and Brawn before this book will give you the full Warped Tour experience, but You Can Do Magic can be read as a standalone as well as the other books in the shared universe. Recommended 18+

Review: Smoke and Mirrors (Carnival of Mysteries) by Elizabeth Silver

Rating: 2.5🌈

Smoke and Mirrors is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Silvers and I had quite a few issues with it, starting at the beginning.

It’s a two-person point of view narrative. The first voice the reader is introduced to sets the stage in many ways for the story to come. But Smoke and Mirrors stumbles immediately when it’s Justus, who lives on another planet with magic. He’s telling us about a magical explosion, citizens of Arcania, some Aquaspire Mountains, a town of Lumia, and how he joins the Luminere Squad. Honestly, right there, the author is losing me. I’m picturing dancing candlesticks, watery mountains, and all things Disney.

Not what Silver had in mind, obviously, but , there’s a lesson there in how not to name things if you’re creating another world. Don’t do that!

It gets progressively worse when the author delivers up the next main character. That’s Xander back on Earth. We met him as he’s bemoaning his terrible taste in men, while preparing to go on a date with someone who’s got a reputation in his office for, wait for it, treating people badly. This is “Dorian, the hottie from accounting who no one seems to like.” He will go on for pages about how he knows this won’t go well but he’s going to do it anyway.

Yes, immediately, we have a TSTL character that’s making me think this is a DNF story. At 3%. Honestly, I’ve had as much of the TSTL character in my books as I’ve had billionaires recently asking people for money. Both need to go.

Plus the author has made Xander (another quibble of mine, pls find another name) someone with dyslexia, which is not a problem by itself. Only issue with this is his dyslexia is such that Xander can’t read at all for reasons we will find out later. It’s so bad he has had to tattoo left and right on his hands as a guide. (except for he can’t read) . So what’s his job? He went into Library Science and does reference. The dyslexia is less a real problem than an element stuck on purely out of necessity for the storyline .

Spoiler: How a reader might feel about a deeply serious learning disorder being treated as merely a mild case of “oh look I’m an alien “ is up to each individual. However, I find it a tad insensitive.

Silver just doesn’t seem to have a good handle on the logical flow of her storyline. Xander goes from not reading, to no magic to THE magical power . All without much training. I won’t go into the holes the dot the narrative landscape here but it’s a veritable pothole Main Street of storytelling.

Justus and Xander are all very cute and instant love in their relationship. There’s a secondary relationship that’s one dimensional and comes out of nowhere. As do several agencies, agents, and frankly, most of the world building.

As to the Carnival of Mysteries element? Blink and you will miss it.

Even what happened to the villain was unsatisfying. He was an intelligent delusional mass murderer so,yes, let him go somewhere else . It’s not like you gave him a personality transplant. What harm could he possibly do? SMH.

Like I said, it’s choices like these that Silver makes that leave a reader confused and frustrated instead of wanting more.

No recommendation.

Even that cover is off. If that’s Xander, and I’m sure it is, he’s in his early twenties in the book. One of the few misses in a group of fabulous covers.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

◦ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill – September 27

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link :

Smoke and Mirrors: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

Two things I know for sure: Magic isn’t real and never date your coworkers.

Xander knows for a fact magic belongs solely in the realm of fiction. But fate has other plans when he finds himself reluctantly going on a date to a mysterious traveling carnival. Little does he know that this seemingly harmless outing will thrust him into an entirely different dimension, where magic is very much a reality—though its practitioners label it as science.

As Xander navigates this extraordinary new world, he finds himself accompanied by distractingly attractive government agent Justus Farhill, whose good looks and honest heart make it challenging to keep those pesky emotions in check. Their undeniable chemistry grows the more they work together, and even though he knows he should be fighting to find his way home, Xander instead finds himself with one heck of a reason to stay.

But amidst the blossoming romance, the veil of tranquility over this strange realm has begun to fracture. A cataclysmic battle decades in the making looms on the horizon, where the balance of power between science and magic threatens the very fabric of existence if the wrong side gains control.

As alliances shift and loyalties are tested, Xander finds himself questioning what’s real… and what’s really worth fighting for. With the fate of multiple dimensions at stake, both Xander and Justus must confront doubts and insecurities about themselves and where they belong.

Even if that means sacrificing everything in the end.

Smoke and Mirrors is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a roller-coaster ride of magic, science, and heart-pounding romance—are you ready to take the plunge?

Review: The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray: Carnival of Mysteries by Kayleigh Sky

Rating: 3🌈

Here’s a book I wanted to like and rate much higher than I eventually did. And it came after much thought, dissecting the book until I realized what exactly kept bothering me about the narrative and the characters.

The plot, some of the issues:

🔹Some major elements treated like minor aspects: Jay, the locket, spirit appearances, different townspeople.

🔹Some sections made no sense except that it was part of the series. Why was the Carnival of Mysteries involved? The boy made an appearance but it wasn’t explained. The main characters went there but it didn’t make much of an impact on the story except for a fight scene that could have happened outside anyway.

🔹That Carnival is supposed to have a protective effect. Didn’t have much of one . Carnival isn’t a well layered in element.

Characters:

🔹The main characters have no chemistry imo. Immediately jump into sex with no relationship.

🔹One mc is actively plotting to steal money from the other if he can find it. 🔹This continues until almost 47%. Even knowing that the other person is in financial trouble.

🔹This same MC has anger management issues, and a “self first”approach that Sky thinks the reader should find connectable. Not for this reader.

Even with supplying a sad back history of rejection for Wade, his shady behavior and intentions just make him cringe worthy rather than a good character to invest our emotional energy in.

Eli on the other hand is a well conceived character. Haunted, his memory jumbled, in financial stress, with a beloved cat in tow, he’s so beautifully written that he almost makes the story. Eli and his ghost.

The ghost too is poignancy itself. A ghost named Jay. And this entire thread is both a great one and an excellent example of how Sky’s story went wrong.

We get bits of Jay. But he’s so much of the heart of the story, why not more. Jay’s the past and it’s present. Sky starts and stops with Jay’s voice, and his history, making it a muddle instead of a clearly defined bridge between Eli and his own troubles. Even the locket of the title is a element that’s not used to fullest. The author trots out a tiny bit at the end of the book, and then it becomes a item that made me ask more questions about the ending than it answers.

Really, where’s Rob been all this time? How’d that spirit get vanquished? Spoiler alert 🚨 A group of men, not just one, trespass and commit arson, and one gets off with a tap on the wrist? That’s satisfying?

Another thing that really made me think about the choices made here. Over and over.

When I thought it through, one character I liked, one character , Jay, whose potential I thought was wasted, and a feline character I liked, wasn’t enough to raise the rating higher than a 3. Too many issues,too muddy a plot, too unbalanced a relationship.

Too bad there is some things that are horrifically interesting. But the way in which the story is written dims the lights on the best this book has to offer.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

◦ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis – Sept 13

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

◦ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver – September 20

◦ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill – September 27

◦ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore – October 4

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link :

The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

Don’t look. It isn’t there.

On the day Eli almost drowned in Coup d’Oeil Lake, a boy pulled him to shore and took him to a carnival. Nobody saw the boy or the carnival—not the lights, not the crowds, not the rides. So Eli kept quiet and ignored what he’d seen. He’s good at ignoring things now…

Except for the shadows.

Those he can’t ignore.

One step from homelessness and flirting with assault and battery every time somebody pisses him off makes the caretaker gig on out-of-the-way Greenwood Glen a safe place for Wade to cool his jets for a while. All he has to do is take care of a ramshackle house nobody lives in. Easy peasy.

At first.

The house was quiet until the prickly Elijah Gray returned home with his fluffy cat and woke something up.

Something dark and mysterious… and deadly.

The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a lonely artist who sees ghosts, a fuzzy black cat, a disgruntled caretaker, and a guaranteed HEA.

NOTE: Expect some dark “horror” scenes, but Gus the cat will be living a very long and very happy life.

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