Tag: mystery

Review: Cherries Worth Getting (Keith Curry’s Case Files Book 1) by Nicole Kimberling

Rating: 4.5🌈

Nicole Kimberling is such an amazing author. I adored her Bellingham Mysteries and then lost track of her writings. But happily I’ve found her again through her series about a other-realm investigator who used to be a chef. That’s Keith Curry’s Case Files.

I believe the series started in a collection called Irregulars, 4 short stories by 4 authors about NIAD. That’s NATO Irregular Affairs Division. They police other-realm traffic, beings, and artifacts that come through portals to this world. The division’s are made up of many species including Faerie lawyers, rumpled magicians, business witches and weary specialists human agents.

That’s where Keith Curry comes in.

We get Keith’s dramatic and sickening introduction to the agency and how he came to be recruited here. To be honest, parts of the book aren’t for those who have a weak stomach or are highly sensitive. We are talking about cannibalism here as part of the mystery and narrative. Just a Fyi.

There’s several elements that are raised throughout the narrative that challenge Keith’s vision of himself as a neutral investigator. Species bigotry is brought up and examined through the viewpoint of different characters, very effectively. Whether it’s goblins or vampire, it forces Keith to look at his own judgments and review them for reactions he’s thought he’d worked through.

There’s reasons for his reasons. It’s in his past. And understandable by any standards.

It’s his new teammate and former hookup , Gunther, who has been assigned to help Keith figure out where the human dead (and butchered) bodies are coming from. A fellow agent who will make Keith aware of his suppressed feelings towards other species.

Kimberling sets her story in and around Portland, Oregon and her familiarity with the city and deep roots with the place shows. From the markets to the food trucks, it’s realistic, even when run by goblins. I found the idea of a goblin race that transformed to conform in utero a thought provoking idea. I’m certain this is just the beginning of this thread.

The author crafted so many interesting elements to fold into the story and world building of the series. We got just hints here and there about a topic, enough to pique our interest and imagination, but not enough to satisfy. Hopefully we’ll get more in the coming stories.

The mystery and investigation was crisp and complicated. I loved following the clues along with Keith and Gunther, his fellow investigator and perhaps future boyfriend.

Especially as the relationship that’s just starting here between Gunther and Keith continues.

Now I really need to locate that original collection as well. I’m sure that’s Keith’s origin story. Yikes.

And I’m onto the next in his series. But do be aware, unlike the Bellingham Mysteries, Keith Curry seems to see the absolute worst and often stomach churning cases . Be forewarned.

If you’re ok with that, I’m highly recommending this!

Keith Curry’s Case Files:

✓ Cherries Worth Getting #1

◦ Magically Delicious #2

◦ Grilled Cheese and Goblins:

Adventures of a Food Inspector

◦ Irregulars -a 4 story collection

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Cherries…Cherries Worth Getting (Keith Curry’s Case Files Book 1) – Kindle edition by Kimberling …

Description:

NATO’s Irregulars Affairs Division is a secret organization operating in thousands of cities around the globe. Its agents police relations between the earthly realm and those beyond this world, protecting us from terrible dangers as well as enthralling temptations. Agent Keith Curry is a former carnivore chef turned vegetarian. Keith must navigate Portland, Oregon’s culinary underworld to catch a killer bent on harvesting human flesh. But things get complicated when he hooks up with an old flame who he’s never been able to refuse.

Review: Nobody Rides For Free (An Angus Green Novel Book 2) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 4.25🌈

Nobody Rides For Free picks up after the events in The Next One Will Kill You, where rookie FBI agent helped close a big investigation, shot a perpetrator, and got shot during the final climactic moments.

Even though he was wearing a vest, he’s still recovering emotionally and physically from the effects of that incident. It takes a call from his mentor, Agent Roly Gutierrez, asking him for assistance in a new case that brings Angus back into active duty.

It starts with a series of overdoses that soon lead to several startling revelations. And soon, Angus is sifting through the data and evidence of multiple cases to find out what is happening and how all the people and cases connect with a growing number of gay men Angus thinks might be in danger.

In detective or police procedural novel (or tv show), you will hear the phrase that investigations are mostly boring, endlessly pouring over pages, numbers, data, and countless other information for evidence to solidify the case they are working on.

Here, as in the first novel, Plakcy does such a excellent job illustrating the hard and often tedious process of compiling the data legally to build the case against the criminal(s). And does it while making it suspenseful and compelling.

And real. Because not every lead pans out. Not every warrant goes as planned. Not everything works as you wanted or hoped.

And not every main character is a golden boy, without fault or failure or the ability to succeed in one area without losing in another. I think that is what makes Angus Green so interesting to me.

I’m not sure I always like him even as I understand him. He has a tendency to play loose with his roommate, be a user there instead of a friend when a case is involved. Even with others, unless it’s his brother (and that’s not been tested), it’s the FBI case loyalty first, then the others are staggered accordingly to their current position in his life. A precarious situation at times, as Lester, his on and off and now on again boyfriend has discovered. Very hard to be involved with them as a couple as it feels very superficial. I get the impression Lester might not last long.

There’s a few weak spots here. Other than the obvious romantic interest. Especially in the Russian community and mob section. The villain and his ex girlfriend needed more exposition at the end of the investigation to make sense. That includes the Dorje episode too.

Still Nobody Rides For Free (An Angus Green Novel Book 2) by Neil S. Plakcy is a strong read with a very complicated main character. I was totally invested in all the investigations and outcomes. So I’m onto the next. Can’t wait.

I’m definitely recommending this! Read the books in the order that they are written.

Angus Green series:

✓ The Next One Will Kill You #1

✓ Nobody Rides For Free #2

◦ Survival Is A Dying Art #3

◦ Brackish Water #4

Buy Link:

Nobody Rides for Free: An Angus Green Novel

Description:

With less than a year of experience under his belt and only one big case behind him, FBI Special Agent Angus Green has joined the rarefied group of agents who have been wounded in the line of duty. Now, assigned to a desk job while he recovers, Angus wonders if he’s chosen the right career. He’s been following his late father’s dream for a life of adventure and travel—and instead encountered danger, pain and heartbreak. But when he discovers that gay teens are being sexually abused by a pornographer in the same neighborhood where he lives, he has to step up and bring his intelligence, his determination and his unique insights to save these young men. The case takes him from Fort Lauderdale’s seamy underbelly to boisterous beachfront bars where big-fish Russian émigrés launder illegal cash. He’ll befriend a beautiful Russian-American undercover agent and rekindle a romance with a man who makes him feel protected. In the end, he’ll learn the truth of a saying he learned as a boy – there is a price to pay for every decision we make. Nobody rides for free.

Review: The Next One Will Kill You (An Angus Green Mystery, Book 1) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 4.5🌈

I found author Neil S. Plakcy through his incredible Mahu series. Set in Hawaii, Plakcy’s knowledge of the islands, the many cultures, the patois and just everyday life as lived by those who are Hawaiian on a cellular level, made that a book experience that has stayed with me.

So when I discovered another series, also thrillers, but set in another location, I was immediately hooked. How would Plakcy immerse himself into the diverse world of South Florida? How would it translate into a series and set of characters that fit the narrative and high visibility of that area?

Beautifully it seems.

Told from the perspective of rookie FBI agent Angus Green, who’s career has been sidelined into the agency’s accounting department. He’s longed to be a part of the field and actively involved in the investigations and gets his chance when another agent isn’t available.

But first Angus needs to raise funds to help his younger brother and to do that he enters a trivia/strip contest at a local gay bar. Where his life changes profoundly.

Angus is a terrific character and one I expect to see great development as far as depth of personality and revelations about his past. For now we get a young man who’s often underestimated because of his looks, has a intensity that can make him lose sight of those him, because the job is all encompassing.

He’s got several other people in his life . A younger brother he basically raised who’s often irresponsible and easy going. A roommate who’s increasingly envious of Angus and getting slack in other areas that aren’t necessarily legal. The potential here is far reaching for future stories.

But the best is the thrilling investigation into a missing person that generates a entire operation and inter agency cooperation. If the case and clues are a bit too slick and easily solved, I still enjoyed the rush to find all the pieces as well as the personalities involved in the case.

From the older FBI agents , Vito Mastroianni and Roly Gutierrez , that mentor him, to Tom, a rich older gay from South Beach with a knowledge of LGBTGIA history to bolster their case, the story is full of fascinating people with their own layers to them to further explore.

Brother Danny has his own storyline that carries with it a huge amount of anxiety and suspense for the reader and Angus when Danny comes under investigation for stolen money at his college.

Weaving Danny’s increasingly anguished calls with Angus’ involvement in the case makes for truly intense drama.

Was it perfect? No. There was a guy who after a date or two displayed jealousy or flag like behaviors. We don’t know enough about him or see any type of relationship to make us feel like we care about him or them together.

The Next One Will Kill You (An Angus Green Mystery, Book 1) by Neil S. Plakcy is a wonderful book and a great start to a series. The potential for new development and growth is substantial and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the imagery and narrative Plakcy lays down in future books.

I’m highly recommending this!

Angus Green series:

✓ The Next One Will Kill You #1

◦ Nobody Rides For Free #2

◦ Survival Is A Dying Art #3

◦ Brackish Water #4

Description:

If newly-minted special agent Angus Green is going to make it to a second case, he’s going to need to survive the first one. Angus wants a job with adventure, so after graduating with his master’s degree in accounting he completes the FBI’s academy at Quantico and is assigned to the Miami field office, where the caseload includes smugglers, drug runners, and gangs, but he starts out stuck behind a desk, an accountant with a badge and gun. Eager to raise some extra money for his college student brother, he enters a strip trivia contest at a gay bar in Fort Lauderdale. But when he’s caught with his pants down by a couple of fellow agents, he worries that his career is about to crash. Instead, as the office’s only openly gay agent, he’s recruited to find a missing informant with a reputation as “gay for pay.” It’s his first real case, and it takes him from the glitter of South Beach to the morgue on a desperate chase to catch a gang of criminals with their tentacles in everything from medical fraud to pill mills to jewel theft. As every twist in the case leads to more mayhem, the street quickly teaches him that the only way to face a challenge is to assume that he’ll survive this one–that it’ll be the next one that will kill him.

Review: Redeeming Nick (Dark Forest Pack Book 2) by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 4.5🌈

I’m so enjoying this series. I believe I found Redeeming Nick even more my favorite because of the characters and chemistry Jacobs creates here.

One caveat, a reader must bring a certain amount of information about the universe and characters history with them into each story. If you are new to Jacob’s’ werewolves world (and connected series), you will feel a bit lost or without a good foundation for the magic, politics, and overall series arc. That includes the Fae Realm.

That’s hugely important here when one of the main characters is a Fae guard, Dathal. Dathal is charged with the investigation into how such a rare powerful, lethal substance from the Fae Realm was smuggled through a portal into the human one, with deadly consequences.

Those events began in Claiming Rys Book 1 and the investigations continued here as it becomes apparent there’s a more complex plot behind the smuggling operation.

Dathal, cousin to Axel, a sexy, gorgeous Fae who’s been a part of the series from the beginning, is a great character. More serious, less aware or knowledgeable of the human world than Axel who lives here, Dathal’s personality and viewpoint is both humorous and fascinating. He’s definitely Fae, whereas some of the other Fae characters have softer “edges” to them from living in the human realm.

One of a two person POV format, Dathal’s perspective is distinctly Fae, with a genuine focus for his work and love for his realm, which contrasts well with that of Nick, a witch whose magical abilities hold a secret from his past.

Nick is also a terrific character. He’s demonstrated personal growth and courage in the course of this investigation as well as betrayal. He’s greatly invested in how the scheme has been implemented and who’s responsible.

When the two come together, the physical and emotional charge is remarkable. Jacobs does such a fantastic job in making this almost instant connection feel hot and genuine . That they fight it and fail comes across as absolutely believable.

I could have done with even more of their relationship but there did need to be some kind of storyline to move the smuggling theme forward and it does. Onto the next book. It’s turning out to be a very interesting and layered affair.

Next up is Axel’s story, hints of which we get here in this book. I can’t wait to read it.

Due to the series arc and story structure and character development, the books should be read in the order that they were written.

I’m highly recommending this series and book for all lovers of paranormal and fantasy fiction and romance.

Dark Forest Pack series:

🔷Claiming Rys #1

🔷Redeeming Nick #2

🔷Guarding Axel #3 – June 27, 2023

Buy Link:

Redeeming Nick (Dark Forest Pack Book 2)

Description:

A witch with a secret, a fae guard with a job to do.

Nick
As the new manager of paranormal club, Midnight, Nick Parker has his hands full. What he doesn’t have time for is an inconvenient attraction for the mysterious fae with violet eyes and the kind of magic that Nick yearns for.

Dathal
A fae guard with an affinity for seeking out the truth, Dathal has one purpose—to catch those responsible for smuggling a deadly plant out of the fae realm, and then return home. Falling for a witch isn’t on the cards, but something about Nick calls to him in a way he’s powerless to ignore.

Their paths cross as Nick is drawn into the investigation, and their connection is inevitable, but the consequences of being together are something neither of them could have foreseen.

Redeeming Nick is an MM paranormal romance featuring a hot, tattooed witch with attitude, and a silver-haired fae with a disdain for human rules. Full of magic, mystery, and sizzling UST, with a guaranteed HEA.

* For maximum enjoyment, the series should be read in order.

Review: The Heart’s Blood (San Amaro Investigations#5) by Kai Butler

Rating: 5🌈

The Heart’s Blood hits every marker, nails and surpasses all expectations I have for the characters, the storylines , and the journey Butler is taking us on. It’s a superlative narrative smorgasbord where Butler’s characters get to demonstrate genuine personal growth and maturity, often at huge emotional and physical cost. The imaginative series landscape broadens to embrace new mythic characters and their often murderous tumultuous history, new worlds and the refugee aliens who’ve fled them. But it also, in an equally outstanding manner, concentrates as well as on narrowing the storylines down to tangle with the intricacies of romantic and family relationships and the dynamics of love.

I couldn’t put this story down.

Fast paced, full of suspenseful moments and white knuckle action, it’s heart, as it always does, remains firmly centered around Parker Ferro, the PI who’s still adjusting to the idea of his heritage, Nick his alchemist PD boyfriend with his family dynamics, and the found family that Parker has been building around him.

There’s multiple storylines (all incredible and fully realized), new strides in Parker and Nick’s relationship, and entire aspects to the basics of the series foundation that get revealed.

The fifth in the San Amaro Investigations series, The Heart’s Blood dramatically increases the high risks and drama for everyone here. It’s such a superlative story.

Saffron Wilds, the 6th novel out in February 27,2023, certainly has a hard act to follow.

I’m highly recommending the series and definitely this story. But the books must be read in the order they are written in order for the relationships, characters, and events to make sense.

San Amara Investigations Series:

◦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5

◦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75

✓ Wormwood Summer #1

✓ A Belated Burial #1.5

✓ The Oak Wood Throne #2

✓ A Gilded Iron Blade #3

✓ A Shattered Silver Crown #4

✓ The Heart’s Blood Arrow #5

◦ Saffron Wilds #6 – 2/27/2023

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Heart’s Blood Arrow by Kai Butler

Description:

An old nemesis is out for blood…

Parker Ferro’s life would be easier if his enemies stayed gone. When the man responsible for the death of Parker’s mother breaks out of prison, Parker finds himself in the crosshairs of the Bureau of Paranormal Threats when he tracks the criminal down.

With succubae going missing, an old god on the loose, and his boyfriend’s mother in town, the last thing Parker has time for is human politics. But with a marriage proposal that he can’t quite figure out and mysteries that keep landing him in hot water with the feds, Parker must keep one step ahead or end up in handcuffs himself.

The Heart’s Blood Arrow is a 130k MM urban fantasy with a HFN ending and an ongoing storyline. It cannot be read as a standalone.

———-

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

Review: The Werewolf’s Heart (Supernatural Affairs Book 1) by F.N. Fanning

Rating: 3.5🌈

If you’re a lover of werewolf paranormal romances, then this new release, The Werewolf’s Heart by F.N. Fanning might just be the story for you.

The first in Fanning’s Supernatural Affairs series, it’s a quick flowing read that features a mystery, a mate bond, and magical evil doings.

Fanning doesn’t add any new elements to the werewolf accumulated species history here but does give us some very engaging characters in Aaron Honeywell, new to the neighborhood, and supernatural detective Merritt Slate, who’s team is “parked” across the street as part of a ongoing investigation into missing werewolves.

I enjoyed their romance but was missing a lot of world building and background on the universe they lived in, the sort of organization that employed Merritt, and well, just a good grounding in basics.

So I came away with having a enjoyable experience here with a romance that asks little from its reader other than a superficial entertainment. Sometimes that’s just fine.

It will continue in a book that focuses on Merritt’s brother, Chase, also a detective with the agency. This was fun so I expect to pick that one up as well.

Supernatural Affairs series:

✓ The Werewolf’s Heart #1

◦ Shifter for Brains #2 – August 21, 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Werewolf’s Heart by F.N. Manning – Goodreads

Synopsis:

A supernatural detective goes undercover to catch a predator… love was never part of the plan.
Being a new homeowner is nothing like Aaron Honeywell imagined. Instead of unpacking and decorating, he’s suddenly dodging handsy fox shifters and getting a crash course in the supernatural world. And his teacher is a drop-dead sexy werewolf who seems to crave him too. Except he’s sworn to put Aaron’s safety above everything else, including their desires.

Merritt Slate loves his job. Usually. It’s just impossible to remember why when stuck posing as bait in suburbia to catch a kidnapper powerful enough to abduct werewolves. He won’t let an innocent person get caught in the crossfire, so protecting Aaron is more important than his feelings, no matter what his wolf thinks.

But the threats lurking outside their cozy street are getting closer to home. Kidnapping shifters is just the beginning of a sinister magical plot that may require Aaron’s help to succeed… whether he’s willing to provide it or not. Can the werewolf protect his heart, or will evil forces shatter it forever?

The Werewolf’s Heart is the first spellbinding book in a series of passionate M/M paranormal romances. Fans of Eliot Grayson and The Chosen Champions Series by Macy Blake will love this modern fantasy novel featuring a fiercely protective wolf shifter, a sweet human searching for a place to call home, and the kind of love that’s worth risking everything for.

———-

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

Review: Rogue (A Mike Bravo Ops #2) by Eden Finley

Rating: 4.5🌈

Eden Finley’s done it again with another wildly entertaining and suspenseful black ops novel! This time, it’s Rogue, the second book in the Mike Bravo Ops series about a black ops security firm made up of LGBTGIA ex military.

While Rogue has some similarities to the first book , like the couple already knows each other, it also differs largely in topic and tone.

First, Travis West is the owner of the now well and highly established Mike Bravo Ops security company. He’s a millionaire plus, not just one of the company. Although he did meet Dylan Rodriguez years earlier.

But he’s secure and a man of substance. A ex military leader who’s seen the best and the absolute worst the service has offered. And has the scars and experience to prove it.

Dylan Rodriguez, a DEA agent, is someone we met in Iris. He’s younger, idealistic in the best, most believable way. He’s not naive, but someone with a code of ethics he’s trying to follow.

Their interactions are often hostile, entertaining, frustrating (for Dylan), and a cat and mouse game the DEA agent never seems to exactly understand.

Once they get together, they are engaging, supportive, and sexy. The communication that’s ongoing between them about their philosophical differences in their careers, black versus gray areas seems realistic. Especially considering the situation.

Finley’s threads gets complicated, wonderfully so, as this becomes a espionage/murder/law enforcement mystery as well as a romance entanglement.

With everyone not knowing who exactly they can trust.

Talk about high octane action! Especially as Dylan “ Rogue “ Rodriguez starts to figure out exactly who and what Trav West and his family of black ops stand for and can do at any given moment.

Most of the family as we’ve come to think of them are here. Atlas, Ghost, Angel, Domino, Zeus, and of course, my favorites Iris, Saint, and even Princess Smooshy Face. Say yes to that trio!

There were some issues here that were inconsistent with the first book and characterizations laid down there.

Atlas is given a job he’s absolutely uncomfortable with and yet Trav makes him go. That’s inconsistent with the observations and standards put down in the other story.

Trav himself didn’t always seem like the man we met in Iris. However, I’ll chalk that up to love on the run and a relationship under fire.

I’m hoping that Atlas will get the next book and we will see a family book for our favorite trio, Iris, Saint, and Princess Smooshy Face. They cry out for a sequel.

I’m recommending this and the series! Happy reading!

Check out the series below!

Mike Bravo Ops series:

✓ Iris #1

✓ Rogue #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showRogue (Mike Bravo Ops #2) by Eden Finley – Goodreads

Synopsis:

TRAV

I remember the first time I met Dylan Rodriguez. It was one sweaty encounter I’ll never forget.

The second time we met, he arrested me. I can still see the hot scowl on his beautiful face as he slapped handcuffs on me and realized I was … me.

Dylan’s main goal in life is to forget he ever met me. My goal is to make him mine.

Turns out, I’m better at this game than he is.


DYLAN

When my law enforcement career falls to pieces in front of my own eyes, I don’t know who I can trust.

I have nowhere to go. No one to turn to.

Asking Trav for help is a last resort, but I’m desperate.

If he can’t get me out of this mess, I may as well turn myself over to the guys hunting me down.

I’m not sure which will be more difficult: protecting my life or my heart.

Because when it comes to love, my heart wants what my brain doesn’t. It wants Travis West.

———-

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

Review: Where There’s a Witch There’s a Way (Cadenbury Town #2) by E. Broom

Rating: 3🌈

Where There’s a Witch There’s a Way dives right into a instant mate situation, albeit between two people who’ve known each other for a while.

One is Titus Compton, of the town’s Witches Council. The other is one of the many werewolf Stone brothers, Kean Stone, brother to the Alpha/Mayor Adhan.

There’s little background, Broom assumes you’ve read the first book in the series, The Crazy Bookshop, where everyone and everything was established.

You really do require that history there because all the drama and mystery coming into play here stems from the events there. You’re going to be pretty much lost without it.

All the characters, the warm-hearted relationships are back! The mystery, the villain and yes, the sex are all on the soft, PG-13 side. The group works together to learn magic, become a found family, and confront what looks to be a deepening series arc piece of villainy.

It’s fun, mostly light hearted, and not really scary.

I did have several issues here. Especially at the end , when the group goes off to discover what and where all the dark magic is coming from, they split up. The reader gets one group’s side of the action. The other more fabulous tale? With waaay more interesting things that occurred? It’s as told to.

I was absolutely dumbfounded. If I’d had the author there, this is how it would have gone.

Me: so there’s was zombies, an apocalypse, flames, ghouls, everything underground. Magical fighting galore?

Author: yup

Me: you gave us two , maybe 3 sentences. Of the best stuff?

Author: yup

Me: *blink blink* huh.

Walks to door, door closes.

Author: you’re coming back, right?

Hmmmm.

So utterly disappointing.

It also introduces a couple of new characters but we get nothing?

So either that going to be a whole new book to describe those happenings or we in the dark but either way, it’s a majorly flawed component here.

And it reduces the impact of that whole event. As does the way the author leaves many of the new and secondary characters.

So for me, Where There’s a Witch There’s a Way keeps adding new characters and new bits to the overall arc but I’m not sure it’s made the series any better. It’s lost some of the original charm, some of the whimsy and goofiness that I enjoyed so.

I’m sure I’ll be continuing on if only to see if it can recapture some of the joy that brought me into it.

If you’re a fan of this author, or of light fantasy, I’ll leave that decision up to you as well.

Cadenbury Town series:

🔹The Crazy Bookshop 1

🔹Where There’s a Witch There’s a Way 2

https://www.goodreads.com › showWhere There’s a Witch There’s a Way by E. Broom – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Who knew letting my walls down would change my life?

Titus Compton works for the Witches’ Council. He has nothing in his life but work with the occasional town witch meeting in Cadenbury thrown in.

However, Titus has a secret. He’s in love with Kean Stone, the sinfully handsome, fun-loving wolf shifter.

What would Kean want with a pompous, workaholic witch?

A phone call from his mother telling him his father is sick leads Titus back home, but no way are his new friends letting him go alone.

With secrets revealed and dark witches causing trouble, Kean is happy to lend his support to Titus and be his safe harbour. But it will take all his family and friends to stop disaster from striking, and along the way, they might just score perfect tens.

———-

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

Review: The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2) by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 4.5 🌈

“I pat his knee to comfort him, and then because that is not enough, I pull him into a tight hug, blind-typing, There there, Papa’s here.

“I swear I’m not an idiot,” Bellamy whispers, squeezing my hand.

“We’re a touchy family. And yes, we are a family, even if sometimes Bellamy prefers to pretend we aren’t. He pretends less and less with each week that passes.

Fox reaches past me and flicks Bellamy’s nose. “We don’t disparage ourselves,” he grunts.

We save that for the people we murder.

Fox reads my text and kisses the side of my head. “That’s right.”

— The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2) by Jennifer Cody

This series started as a lark for Cody but The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin sees a deepening of the relationships within the ever weird found family that Romily is building around him, as well as a complexity to the series arc as the author is adding characters and potential books into the universe.

I love it.

I mean who adopts a full grown enemy assassin as a son? Uh, why Romily did. And gets the assassin, Bellamy , as well as Fox (husband to be) , and Romily’s new family to accept Bellamy as a son, grand baby too? Sheer madcap awesomeness!

The interactions are hilarious. But what’s better is Bellamy’s emotional acceptance of his new status and family. It’s everything.

So when their son is threatened? It’s the family on alert and then to the rescue.

Which gives Cody the ability to enlarge each character’s supernatural elements as well as add the personal growth to their personalities that their new and stable relationships have had on them. Neither Romily or Fox are the same as they were when we met them in the first story. Each has shown measurable growth and revealed more about who they are, as people , and well, species.

I appreciate that element and the changes we see in them separately and together. We have mundane mysteries, that includes Romily’s engagement and missing ring.

Cody? Where’s the ring?

We get several great new additions to the series just as Romily adds to the family. “Edovard Durand Folange.” It’s French.” Who and what he is can be found within this terrific story. Trust me, he’s adorable.

So many wild elements here. Hopefully we will get to dive into them further as the series progresses.

The narrator changes, at least for Book 3, if the teaser at the end here is any indication. Should be wonderful. Can’t wait.

While we are waiting, pick up the preceding stories and get caught up. I’m happily recommending them all.

Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees series to date:

✓ The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer #1

✓ Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (And Falls in Love): A Short Story MSMD #1.5

✓ The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 2)

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Romily:

You know what I’d like to know? Where the hell my romantic, how-we-got-engaged story is. Am I going to get it any time soon? Where is my big ass diamond?

Unfortunately, all that romance-novel level relationship-angst gets put on (indefinite) hold when my beloved son, Bellamy, is targeted by who knows who, poisoned, and then abducted by a wolf-ish person I kinda like. Am I going to get my kid back? You betcha. The question is, how many people does Fox have to kill first?

The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin is a 65k M/M Paranormal Romance with plenty of sass, gore, and questionable decision-making skills (and now there are tiny tables too).

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

Review: Unraveling The Threads of Fate by Alice Winters

Rating: 4.75🌈

Unraveling The Threads of Fate by Alice Winters is an excellently written, highly suspenseful tale that contains a lot of moments of extreme anxiety and dread. It stretches over the all events that should be happening to the people in the universe here.

I say should because a major element is that one character, Alex Coleman, school teacher, has a gift. He can see invisible threads stretching from person to person. Red threads ties a person to their soulmate. But the black threads he also sees ties them to the one who will kill them. It’s a talent he’s had his entire life and one he’s hidden.

In this universe, those with special gifts are tested and tracked, starting at a early age. But Alex’s abusive childhood with a destitute drug dealer allowed him to evade it.

Bishop King, scion to a wealthy businessman, once was the only friend Alex had growing up, until a horrific event drove them apart.

Bishop too has a special talent. He can walk in people’s dreams. But in Alex’s dreams, he’s got the power to do more, see more.

When they meet again, at Career Day at Alex’s school, they set off a set of events that have a rippling effect for a multitude of characters as Alex and Bishop fight to find and change their fates, pulled along by the threads Alex is seeing.

Winters, in her inimitable manner, with wry, sarcastic, haunting, and heartbreaking dialogue and scenes gives us a scary and thrilling tale of fate altered at breakneck pace, a murderer on the loose, and two find trying to outwit both a murderer and plot they can’t understand, and deal with a abusive past that threatens them.

With alternating flashbacks that are chilling in their cruelty and ability to deliver the blows that continues to be felt in the future, and a present where dreams are nightmares of blood, black threads, and death, that the author manages to bring romance and fun into this is amazing.

All the characters are fantastic. It includes Alex’s sister, Cali, who he raised. Her friends. Even the adults the surround them, good and bad.

It’s a vile and fascinating mixture.

But watching them trying to figure out how to change the date of each person and event, it’s thrilling and scary and heart racing.

And that ending is so very satisfying.

I believe this is a standalone.

So pick it up and enjoy a great thrill ride!

I’m highly recommending it.

https://www.goodreads.com › showUnraveling the Threads of Fate by Alice Winters – Goodreads

Alex
Some people are born lucky.
Then there’s me, destined to be loved by the man who knows my darkest secret.
My gift has followed me my entire life—the ability to see the threads of fate. I can see the red thread tying together two people destined to love one another.
But my gift has another side to it. A darker side.
I can also see a simple black thread tied to the fingers of those who aren’t aware of it, connecting them to the person destined to kill them. And when I look down at my own finger, I can see the red thread stretched over to Bishop King. The man who is my soul mate.


But then why is the black thread also wrapped around our fingers?
Bishop is sweet and caring, and I can’t stop my heart from loving him. I just need to thwart fate before it separates us forever.

Bishop
I swore to never let myself be drawn back into Alex’s world, but the man is funny and charming and the moment we’re together I fall back into the familiarity we shared as teenagers.
I know this time is different; he’s hoping that I can help him walk through his dreams to figure out how an innocent girl is going to die.

While his dreams tell of the future, mine allow us to find the truth. But what happens when we save a life and change fate–will it affect our own future? I can’t keep myself from falling for Alex, but what if helping him leaves one of us dead?

Unraveling the Threads of Fate is a standalone romance with action, mystery, humor, and a happy ending.