Review: A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star (Tales from the Tarot story) by Chloe Archer

Rating: 4🌈

A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star, while definitely in the Tales from the Tarot multi-author series, is firmly rooted in Chloe Archer’s Monster Hollow universe and her latest novel from that, The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer.

The main gargoyle characters here (and an unfortunate member under going punishment here), are met for the first time in that book. And in a delightful fashion, several characters get mentioned here too in terms of written passages from their own books or novels. It will make the reader seek out those novels to see what happens with them and their romantic adventures.

But there’s plenty to keep a reader entertained and invested in the shenanigans and adventures of one outgoing, positive human, Noah Price , and his gargoyle fated mate, Elryk DarkWing.

From the moment he connects with The Magic Shop and its mysterious Owner who, with the gift of a tarot reading, Noah gets a renewed happy energy and direction in his life that sees him flying off to Scotland and his fate.

Archer’s character of Noah is instantly likable. Positive and outgoing without being naive, able to take care of himself, he’s so easy to connect with. Easily that American abroad in Scotland or human amidst a bunch of otherworldly beings, he’s that person who can make it work either way.

This is a fated mate instant bonding relationship but it does work here because of Noah and Elryk. Archer has them in an isolated place and precarious situation, and then creates other characters we can equally enjoy and relate to as a support group for them.

As this is the first is a new sequel series set in Scotland, I can’t wait to see the others get their partners/fated mates too. Should be entertaining as this one.

If you’re a fan of Archer’s Monster Hollow series or the author, definitely grab this up. The characters are charming, the story entertaining, and the ending satisfying. I look forward to the next one in this series.

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley

🔷Arcanum by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

Blurb

A gargoyle hotter than Goliath (IYKYK) meets a human bad luck magnet with a coveted power that attracts trouble like catnip does cats. Is it destiny or disaster?

Noah Price

When a mysterious magic shop owner draws the lucky tarot Star card for me, I drop everything and hop on a plane to Scotland for the bucket-list trip of my dreams. Outlander (and Highlander, for my fellow nerds), eat your heart out!

Chaos ensues from the moment I arrive and before I know it, the danger turns deadly. Then a smoking hot gargoyle-slash-Highland warrior swoops (literally) in to rescue me—and in a super sexy kilt, no less. Swoon!

My bad luck must be turning good because I’ve finally met the man–I mean, gargoyle–of my dreams. But Elryk DarkWing doesn’t share my optimistic outlook on life and our budding relationship soon has to take a back seat to a threat to our world. I believe in destiny, though–and I’ll make sure we get our HEA!

Elryk DarkWing

Guarding a powerful magic ley line in the heart of the Highlands has been the responsibility of the DarkWing clan for centuries. This wasn’t the path I’d wanted for my life, but here I am.

That is, until my fated mate shows up, an attractive wee human with a surprising ability and all kinds of trouble hot on his heels.

Can such a delicate being survive among battle-hardened gargoyles that risk life and limb every time there’s a threat to the ley line we protect? Can he adapt to this isolated life, removed from most of human society? Answer—not bloody likely.

Noah’s unique power has drawn the unwanted attention of friend and foe alike, and I soon realize keeping Noah safe is a Herculean task. I won’t back down though, because maybe…just maybe…Noah’s right, and our destiny’s is written in the stars.

A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star is the first book (72k) in a spinoff series set in the Monsters Hollow universe and featuring the DarkWing gargoyle clan in Scotland.

Publication date: October 17, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 278 pages

Review: Guardian (On the Wind Book 2) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes

Rating: 4.5🌈

Guardian is not the book I expected it to be. Knowing that Hector was going to The Wall, with the Crane Clan, to defend the borders of Nemeda against the southerners in their never ending war, I expected non-stop battles, bloodshed, and angst.

Especially from Hector, a man who has lost everything and has arrived in a new land where he has no status, no martial skills. And the youngest, most gentle sibling he’s always protected, due to love and responsibility, is the one who has ended up rescuing not only himself but Hector and their sister (Sanctuary). He’s a very tragic, wounded figure in many ways.

But Burns and Fawkes delivers a great story and fantastic characters in a narrative that will go into a more intimate, emotionally powerful world, rather than a larger, action packed adventure.

Hector, in a story that sees himself redefining his thinking about his life and future, is paired with a man who, once the layered are revealed, is similar in his own mind and history. That’s Killian, war Chief of the Crane Clan, whose interesting internal family and child raising structure has produced a person who understands the burdens of responsibility that Hector has borne since adolescence.

Having Hector and Killian work together and struggle with their own issues as well as Hector’s need to redefine who he is as a man in a new world, needing new ideas and skills, is a brilliant way to bring them closer together and to make them relatable to the reader. Hector’s insights into why he’s so torn, unhappy, and confused are thoughts that anyone can understand. So too are those of Killian’s as he seeks to help Hector while still struggling to stay apart emotionally. It all makes sense and their relationship is one I couldn’t get enough of. The authors writing is so skilled in detailing their emotions and dynamics.

I was thrilled to see both siblings again in important roles and emotional moments together. That sister has found her home in Nemeda as the fierce consort to the Chief of the Raven Clan, is no surprise as we saw the women together at the end of the first novel. Men and women rule Clans in Nemeda, something that’s not true to the north and south, so I wonder if it will play into future plans.

The authors have created such a great background and culture for the Crane Clan (along with the many other clans) that it’s easy to get sidetracked imagining more than just the cultural tidbits that are being given out. There’s a wealth of riches here throughout the whole story and series, and it’s goes into making this a beautiful, compelling book.

The ending was as astonishing and satisfying as the storylines that led up to it. And it made me anticipate the next in this fabulous series even more.

Guardian (On the Wind Book 2) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes is an excellent read as is the series. Absolutely recommend!

On The Wind series:

Sanctuary #1

Guardian #2

Harbor #3 – November 14,2024

Buy link

Guardian (On the Wind Book 2)

Blurb

Only months ago, Hector was in his deathbed. Now, he’s fled his home, abandoning everything he’s ever known to protect his family. But in Nemeda, Paris and Helena don’t need their older brother to provide for them. Unmoored, Hector struggles to find his purpose, until a conniving Nemedan chief questions their legitimacy in the clans. The three refugee siblings must each serve a year on the wall, fighting in the unending war with Nemeda’s southern enemies, but Paris and Helena have carved a place for themselves in their new home. Hector alone is unanchored, and to keep his family safe, determines to serve all three years himself.

The chance to get close to formidable silver-haired chief of the Crane Clan—a man who looked at Hector at his weakest and saw value still—is only a faraway dream.

Killian has led the Nemedan war effort for twenty years. Duty and fairness surpass every other concern, but with Hector of Urial stationed in his lands, he finds himself bending rules that have kept Nemeda secure for generations. While Hector tests his boundaries, he also makes Killian question his assumption that love has no place in war, or in his life.

Killian will move armies to see Hector safe, but with a war looming and the threat of an illness that might steal Hector’s life as easily as any enemy blade, they’re on a collision course with fate that will change the whole land.

Publication date: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 299 pages

Review: Immortal Sentry by Eden Winters

Rating: 3.25🌈

While I’m a huge fan of this author, unfortunately Immortal Sentry doesn’t seem to have the same energy or narrative features as this author’s many other books.

The story of a lone survivor, Prince Eron, of his royal family’s betrayal and demise and subsequent struggles to regain the throne, are densely worded and dull “as told to” scenarios instead of being lively, vividly illustrated with memorable scenes, and emotional moments.

It was indeed a struggle to connect with the characters and storylines. The language and dialogue was stiff and uninteresting. It lacked emotional overtones and saps any semblance of life from the characters and storylines.

It’s a huge difference from the author’s other novels I adore and rec. Those have a highly satisfying narrative, vastly better dynamics between characters that are relevant and believable on paper. Everyone here is dry and one dimensional. The plot is well written, as it’s definitely had many characters and storylines woven together to create a wider story. But the couple and its main action sequences didn’t really work well. That’s my main issue.

I enjoyed Winters previous novels, contemporary or fantasy driven, but this turned out to be not my cup of coffee.

Check it out if you’re a fan of the author, maybe it will be yours.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Immor…Immortal Sentry – Kindle edition by Winters, Eden. Romance …

Blurb

Honor, redemption, destiny, and magic.

As captain of the king’s guard, Kerric should have laid down his life for the royal family. Now, the king and his heirs lie dead. Kerric deserves death, too, yet the court mage has another punishment in mind. For their failure on the fateful day an enemy invasion killed the king, Captain Kerric and his men will forever guard the castle as gargoyles, both as a curse and as a warning. His one chance for redemption is to put a rightful heir on the throne. How can that happen when there are no living heirs, and he’s encased in stone?

Eron doesn’t remember much about his time before being rescued by notorious highwayman Lord Night and taught to live the life of a noble by day and brigand by night. There’s much more to Lord Night than meets the eye and much more to Eron’s destiny than purses of gold and nightly conquests.

A mysterious mage appears, saying it’s time for Eron to return home, overthrow an evil usurper, and take his rightful place.

As king.

Publication date: October 19, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 259 pages

Review: The Nøkk and the Jock (Creepin U Book 1) by Leslie McAdam

Rating: 4.5🌈

I love it when I learn about different cultures or areas of mythology through stories. Here it’s about the Nøkk, a Scandinavian or Norse being that shapeshifts into a water dwelling human form that lures people by violin playing and/or drowning by screaming. That’s a simplified version of a complex, widely accepted concept of a being used in gaming , storytelling derived from mythology.

Even better when I get to know them through a series that will introduce a cast of characters, inhuman and otherwise, as they study for various degrees and live together in the dorms of Creelin University, aka Creepin U.

The characters, human and otherworldly, are well defined and their personalities are absolutely engaging, especially as they grow and develop the more they interact with each other and the other beings/community around them.

The Nøkk, Steve Job as he’s originally called at the beginning because he had to choose a human name , is a wonderful creation. A thoughtful unhappy young person who has chosen to separate himself from his country and species because he doesn’t want to be like them or follow traditional Nøkk ways. It’s guitar and songwriting over the violin, and he definitely doesn’t want to gather up any souls.

Steve is a great character. Leslie McAdam has made his true name as well as his natural form a important part of the narrative, a definitive element of not only Steve and Brandon’s relationship but of Steve’ growth personally throughout the story.

Brandon, the human roommate and water polo player is another character that has hidden depths to his character. Too easily framed out as a “golden retriever “ personality, that glosses over the many layers the author has created for him here. He is, in fact, a complex person, and that’s a factor in making not only the relationship work but this story as well.

There’s so much to him, Steve, and the framework that McAdams has laid down in the book that makes me want further exploration and tales from this universe and couple. They are now surrounded by friends, a supportive family and a great journey ahead of them. I would love to see more of them in another story.

This series is turning out to be splendid and The Nøkk and the Jock (Creepin U Book 1) by Leslie McAdam is a definite recommendation. Check them out!

Cover Art & Formatting by Whimsical Reverie Design LLC. Fabulous work. Love the cover.

Creepin U series:

The Nøkk and the Jock by Leslie McAdam #1

Dryad, Try Again by C.D. Rachels #2
Vexing the Viper by Ashley Rayne #3
Penn and Incubus by Essie Sloane #4
Surviving His Gaze by Rorie Kage #5

Buy link:

The Nøkk and the Jock

Blurb

You’re formally admitted to Creelin University—known locally as “Creepin U.” The only things wilder than the monster shifters prowling around campus are the spicy male-male love stories unfolding between classes. The Nøkk and the Jock is book one, starring an emo shapeshifter and a sunshine human. Each book is a stand-alone M/M spooky romance, but we hope you enroll in them all.

Brandon:

I’m pumped to be one of the first humans to attend a monster university, but a minor, negligible, insignificant issue arises almost immediately: My new roommate wants to drag me to his underground realm and take my soul.

He’s a nøkk who could almost pass for human, except his webbed fingers and entirely black eyes give him away. In my attempt to befriend him, I give him three drops of my blood, a black animal, and a bottle of vodka (I hear it’s a nøkk thing). Which apparently triggers some ancient bonding ritual. My bad.

I must admit I’m into him. Maybe those online tests that say I’m only mostly straight are right. But there are a few hiccups: I can’t know his real name. He won’t show me his true form. And he’s both an omen and a cause of drowning … which is troubling, since he’s on the water polo team with me.

Still, something about him calls to me, even if it shouldn’t.

The Nøkk:

This human is mine.

Stay away from him.

The Nøkk and the Jock is a monster-human bi-awakening M/M romance starring Brandon Fernandez, a golden retriever of a human being, and the prickly, melancholy nøkk. It features puzzling emoji text conversations, a monster who can stop waterfalls in midair, and drunken scareoke (monster karaoke). HEA guaranteed.

Publication date: October 1, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 264 pages

Review: Arcanum (Tales from the Tarot story) by Ashlyn Drewek

Rating: 4.5🌈

Tarot card: Temperance

I’m familiar with Ashlyn Drewek’s other dark paranormal novels so I was thrilled to see her work here in this series. Arcanum is exactly what I hoped for and a story I enjoyed immensely.

Drewek’s novel is gripping and so well written. From start to finish, it pulls the reader into a suspenseful plot that’s grows into a larger anxiety ridden, terrifying, complicated element, as we get to know the characters and their histories.

The author has also created a town that becomes as much of a living entity as the characters are. We get to explore the streets and atmosphere of small town Mapleton, with its hair salons, tight knit community, and townspeople. All of which we have taken to heart as much as we have the main couple.

Drewek’s characters include a haunted witch of the fabulous name, Greyson Darkholme. Now there’s a name to remember. He’s fled to town hoping for a new start in life, for reasons I’ll leave to the storylines. His next door neighbor is a K-9 police officer, Chris Brandt and partner Nitro. Extremely relatable and believable characters, man and dog . Love them both. In fact, Chris’ character and his role as a police officer is beautifully executed. His suspicions, fact checking, everything about his behavior screams cop. Especially when it pertains to family and town. Which makes Greyson’s later statements and observation about the importance to Chris of the badge and uniform even more interesting and on point.

There’s so many elements and different storylines that Drewek’s woven into a complex novel that makes it all work. A bisexual awakening, a magical revelation, a way of writing a ex girlfriend in a manner that makes us understand and appreciate her . Monica is a treasure! All the details here that just keep adding up, the characters, the baking, the warmth and reality of community.

Is it perfect? No. I absolutely disagreed over the choice of having Greyson withhold so much information from Chris. That was frustrating.

But the rest ? Loved it and I really wish that Drewek will revisit the characters and location in a future story. It’s too fantastic to remain one book.

Last note: Excellent use of the tarot cards, deck , and chosen card as well as The Magic Shop and The Owner. One of the best yet.

Highly recommended!

Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always

Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books

🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️

🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson

🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️

🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand

🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin

🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso

🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie

🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers

🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose

🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat

🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella

🔷Death Song by B. Ripley

🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek

🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams

🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews

🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star

by Chloe Archer

🔷Trust in the Moon by Delaney Rain

🔷Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk

🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn

🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque

Buy link

Arcanum

Blurb

From the moment his new neighbor moves in, K9 officer Chris Brandt senses there’s something not quite right about the guy. His instincts are confirmed when he discovers the mysterious Greyson Darkholme is the prime suspect in a murder investigation—a murder that wiped out his entire family.

Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, Chris is captivated by Greyson’s eccentric charm, awakening desires he never knew he had. As they grow closer, it becomes evident that Greyson is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, Chris faces a shocking dilemma when Greyson’s secrets come to light.

To protect the man of his dreams, the dedicated officer must confront the ultimate question: how far will he go for love?

ARCANUM is a standalone paranormal MM romance novel and part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Temperance.

This book contains themes intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list can be found in the front matter of the book and on my website under Tropes & Triggers.

Publisher: Fox Hollow Books (October 7, 2024)
Publication date: October 7, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 450 pages

Review: Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3) by AJ Sherwood, Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 3.5🌈

I’m not sure if Soar is the end of the Wings ‘N’ Wands series but it does read as if it is. With all the previous couples and all the dragon clans and mages being present here in one role or another , it’s got the essence of a finale story. Especially that epilogue and speech.

So that’s how I will treat it. I’ve enjoyed reading the three stories immensely, with Sam and Dimitri’s probably being my favorite (Ruins). So it’s fitting that Soar concludes with a return to Sam’s story by way of his twin brother, Salem, a pediatric surgeon in the US.

Salem’s in Brazil for a celebration for his brother, Sam and Dimitri, meets ice dragon Gregori, and after a fabulous one night stand, finds himself with a fated mate he doesn’t want.

There’s several aspects of the story I enjoyed and others I didn’t connect with as well. It starts with the main characters and storyline. If you consider Sam and Dimitri’s (my favorite) , the elements in Ruins are similar but Sam’s character is far more appealing. Sam’s magical core is broken but Salem’s isn’t. So while Sam and Dimitri’s relationship dynamic is reflective of the same snark and behavior that Salem and Gregori demonstrate to begin with, the issues they faced, the dangers and unknown terrain made their journey more complex, and their struggles more understandable in emotional terms.

However , while many of us could understand not wanting to overturn our lives, jobs etc, it’s Sam’s continued conflicting and often abrasive or self-centered towards Gregori that’s the issue. The authors made it an important part of his character, a factor that left me feeling less than invested in his life and journey. The authors may have wanted to separate his character from his twin but it felt as though they went as far as they could in the opposite direction, sympathetically speaking. He’s just not as relatable with his constant references to himself and his actions as being a “a-hole” or something in that sense. Not that he’s wrong as he’s written. The narrative makes vague mentions as to some bad relationships in his past but the authors give no evidence of any, nothing to suggest that outright nastiness that’s been ongoing.

Yes, no one wants to overturn their lives. So communication is key. Doesn’t happen. Gregori is given more depth and better communication skills. He’s seen expanding his social circle and committing to the community. We get one well rounded character and one that needs more dimension to him.

Same unbalanced aspects of the storyline and relationship occur when (spoiler alert) Gregori starts to feel ill. Why he does is a well written element of the book.

Again Salem’s responses doesn’t always match a physician’s ethic. Although, it was a narrative choice to have Salem choose to become a doctor/pediatric surgeon because of his competitive nature with his brother. Salem is written as excellent doctor, however he began.

The comparisons do add up. For me, Sam’s a problematic factor throughout the book. Right up almost to the end.

There’s some thrilling scenes of flying dragons, additional dragon information about clans and physiology, and a grand reunion of all the dragons and mages we’ve gotten to know at the finish. I adore that.

I don’t know if there’s going to be any further stories in this universe. They’ve entered a new age. I’m sure new characters will be coming out and asked to be heard. But probably not here.

If you love dragons , instant fated mates, and fantasy love stories, check out the series as well as the fantastic series that started it, Scales ’N’ Spells . Ruins remains my favorite of this series, as does its couple. But read this for that ending and to see everyone once again. Plus dragon twins! Adorable.

Happy reading.

Cover by Katie Griffin.

Scales ’N’ Spells Series

Origin #1
Breath #2
Wish: A Novella #3
Blood #4
Embers #5

Wings ’N’ Wands :

Dawn: A Prequel Novella (Ha Na and King Rodrigo)
Ruins #1 – Sam and Dimitri’s book
Rise #2 – Vasily & Luka & Amura
Soar #3 – Salem and Gregori

Buy link

Soar (Wings ‘N’ Wands Book 3)

blurb

Salem’s guide to making a dragon break up with him:

Step 1: Don’t sleep with him. (No, seriously, don’t.) And definitely don’t let him into your apartment, he won’t leave.

Step 2: Deny being mates and don’t fall in love with him.

…Step one and two failed. Gregori is too stubborn and irresistable.

Salem is currently taking suggestions that don’t involve giving in to his feelings.

(Please note, do not try making the dragon jealous. Jealousy sex is too much fun and cannot be resisted. This will backfire.)

Tags:

One-night stand, ha! just kidding, surgeons be stubborn, no seriously Salem is the king of stubborn, Gregori is stubborn too, how to woo a reluctant mage 101, idiots to lovers, idiots to still idiots, no change on that front, ice dragons can burn up the sheets, more dragon cuddles, broken magic, Brazil, medical magic, mate fog can be dangerous, Rodrigo despairs of his dragons, Ha Na is Very Disappointed, that scares everyone, Sam is ready to throat punch Salem, Russian food is magical, all the cameos, age of mages, Ravi and his twins haven’t burned down the world, yet, 3 a.m. is a perfectly valid time for naked bonding ceremonies

Publication date: October 18, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 312 pages

Review: Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4🌈

Author V.L. Locey is off to a terrific start on her new paranormal romance series with Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee.

It begins with Archimedes Kee ‘Archie’ Kee , Asian American, who helps run his grandfather’s failing family business, Kee’s Book Store in Liverswell, MA. Archie can interact with ghosts, a family gift passes down through generations that’s now especially relevant as Archie’s current location has several resident ghosts to converse with.

There’s Reggie, who died in 1778, he haunts the bookstore, reads the latest books, and considers himself part of the establishment and family. Also the ghosts in the streets,along with a spectral cat that comes and goes, as cats do.

But it’s the living that have issues to contend with, bills to pay, and Archie’s fluency in Mandarin brings him a handsome college football player, Phil Kestrel ,seeking help and a tutor for his Asian studies class.

Archie and Phil’s developing relationship is wonderful, especially when Phil is let in on the truth about Archie’s gift and the bookstore’s resident ghosts. As the plot switches over into a investigation into the mysterious presence in the lake, and what it means for the town’s inhabitants (living and non-corporeal), it picks up speed but starts to lose some depth in the background and plot.

I liked how Locey created and then wove in the various ethnic languages and historical references from the town to make the paranormal stories and investigations the deepest, and saddest part of the story. It could have been even more detailed, but perhaps that is going to be part of the next book. It’s certainly got my attention. And it introduces certain families of the town who might have a part to play in future stories as well.

Most of my quibbles have to do with the relationship between Archie and Phil, and Archie’s gift. Archie and Phil are just getting to know each other, they admit that they really like each other, which seems reasonable and , actually quite adorable.

But, as in too many stories I’ve read, they jump immediately into the “I love you “ conversation and confessions stage which hadn’t, imo, had a the same amount of narrative time or believable aspect to their relationship that other elements had. Really like on the way to something else? Yes, absolutely. Instant love? No. That case wasn’t made. Especially when there’s so much else going on around them.

And we really know very little about Phil here. What’s the background on him?

So in Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee I feel that V.L. Locey is setting up a terrific location, characters and themes for a new adventure and series. There’s so much she wants to lay down that not all got fully developed or explained, just put in place for future adventures and books to make use of. I absolutely adore Archie , his grandfather, Reggie, and look forward to learning more about Phil and the rest of the town.

This is a definite recommend for lovers of paranormal romance.

Cover by Meredith Russell. Love the cover.

Buy Link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Kestrel…Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) The Siren of Lake Killikee

Blurb:

Kestrel & Kee (Paranormal Investigators) :

One speaks to the dead, the other talks to everyone else. Both have hearts that are whispering to each other’s.

Archimedes Kee has always had the gift. From his youngest days, he has been able to communicate with the dearly departed. Most of the time, they seek him as a way to correct wrongs or for help moving over to the next plane. Some just want to complain about badly written books. Generally, he does his best to aid the stranded spirits as he juggles working part-time at his grandfather’s bookstore, a job he adores, with attending a local college. Stuck in the grind of the day-to-day, he is totally unprepared for the arrival of Phil Kestrel, who blows into the shop like a hurricane with his blond hair, blue eyes, and unparalleled exuberance.

For the first time in forever, Archie can’t pull back into the protective shell he has learned to keep up. Phil is not only a charmingly sweet and sexy man, but he’s also slowly winning Archie’s heart one 80’s song at a time. After witnessing an unearthly book club meeting late one night the football star slash film major discovers Archie’s secret and proposes a plan. They make a ghost hunter show for extra credit and to bring much-needed foot traffic to the old bookstore. The plan has merit, so they seek out a local legend and face off against an anguished soul who puts their new bond to the test.

Kestrel and Kee – The Siren of Lake Killikee is an opposites attract queer paranormal romance starring a shy medium, a gregarious footballer, a resident bookstore specter with a decidedly wicked mind, one otherworldly feline, a small town filled with ghostly goings on, an elderly family member eager to play matchmaker, a haunted lake, and a spirited happy ending.

Publication date: October 17, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 211 pages

Review: Just Bromantically Invested (Accidental Love, #4) by Saxon James

Rating: 3.5🌈

Saxon James Accidental Love series is drawing to an end, with the penultimate book, Just Bromantically Invested. As one by one the “lost boys” of Big Bertha are finding their partners and HEA, it’s time for Madden and Penn to get their own story.

Madden, with his free wheeling approach to life, aversion to clothes, and large heart, has been a challenging character for me to connect with. For some reason I just haven’t found him as interesting as the others. This book does help give Madden the depth of character and background into why the nudity is so important to him that’s been lacking.

James’ narrative has a number of other elements to bring to the table. It’s got a best friends to lovers relationship with one of them discovering that he’s not exactly straight but bisexual. I’m not sure the author makes the full argument for this quick turnaround on Penn’s behalf. They may have been friends but based on the behavior seen Penn’s clueless mostly so it feels more importantly based on the needs of the plot line. They work together fluidly as friends, lovers not so much.

But probably because the romance needs more exploration as the other aspects of their lives and struggles that need so much clarification. That house dynamics is a mess, Madden’s inability to separate himself from the others to see a separate role for others is an issue that continues past that ending. And has an impact on the rest of the characters, especially Penn.

I do love the support and communication that finally comes when Madden is able to convey what he needs going forward, including explaining why being naked is so important as a major part of that.

Penn , anxiety prone and introvert that he is, however, is the one that is repeatedly given the reduced role here. In Madden’s head, Penn comes in after his relationships with his found brothers/family members of Big Bertha. Even at the end, that feeling that Penn is not as much of an embedded player in Madden’s life as he is in Penn’s seems clear.

So it left me tentatively connected to both and actually feeling irritated by the continuing drama with Xander, who’s still refusing help. Xander has the last book and that’s the wrap. Should be interesting.

I enjoyed the earlier stories better than I have the recent ones . I look forward to seeing how James closes out the series.

Accidental Love:

The Husband Hoax #1
Not Dating Material #2
The Revenge Agenda #3
Just Bromantically Invested #4
Not Catching Love #5 – Jan 30,2025

Buy link

Just Bromantically Invested (Accidental Love Book 4)

Blurb

Madden

My best friend is uptight, gorgeous, the greatest person I know … and I might be a smidge in love with him. Just a small amount. Barely worth the mention.

Which is a stupid choice on my part when the guy is straight.

Starting a landscaping company with him was the perfect mix of doing what I love and an excuse to spend time with him, only it hasn’t completely taken off yet and now he’s telling me he’s lonely.

Lonely.

Apparently having one friend in your life isn’t enough.

So I’m determined to help him find love. With someone other than me. Maybe if I can pull that off, it’ll mean my heart will finally get the message and move on.

Or finish breaking into a hundred pieces.

Same thing, right?

Penn

Being besties with an overenthusiastic, gold-hearted, nudist of a man is a challenge sometimes. Madden makes everything sunshine when he’s around.

The problem is that he hasn’t been around as much lately. We work together, sure, but he’s got his roommates and I have … no one. Just him. So I feel the distance acutely.

My one reassurance is that we have work tying us together, but when an old client calls with a proposition for us, it feels like our once solid friendship is unraveling fast.

He wants Madden to help him open a nudist resort, and if Madden’s doing that, he won’t be working with me.

I’m trying not to panic over the thought of losing him, which is a typical, common best friend reaction. Nothing out of the ordinary.

And neither is the way my body has been reacting to him lately.

Everything is totally, completely normal between us.

While there’s still an us at all.

Publisher: May Books (October 17, 2024)
Publication date: October 17, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 268 pages

Review: Burned (Drake Security Book 5) by Mika Nix

Rating: 4.25🌈

Burned is a fitting way to end the Drake Security series, with Lord’s story and his tortured enemies to lovers, fated mates romance.

Lord’s been that character with the older brother syndrome. Stolid, serious, constantly in control and ever watchful over the family business as well as all over the family, including his brothers, their mates, and younger clutchings.

So it makes sense that his story is the very antithesis of his life and nature. It’s dramatic, compulsive, and absolutely terrifying, the opposite of how he’s been living and taught.

Mika Nix , aka authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, mirrored his impulsive acts toward a specific target, his fated mate who happens to be his worst enemy, a dragon hunter. That’s a fatally wounded Alrick Havaror, a young Viking from a notorious dragon hunter family.

Lord and Alrick have matching angst filled emotions towards each other as they fight their own battles with the bond and their backgrounds. I really enjoyed this element of the story. They were well suited and their journey was full of chemistry and communication.

While we are very familiar with the Drake family and their mates, Alrick’s history and family background could have used more development, especially given that ending. Considering the foul deeds his father, older brother, grandfather etc have committed, that end wasn’t exactly satisfying, even with the overlaying factor of kinship.

New wonderful characters included Viggo (middle brother of Alrick’s), and Xanthis, a powerful Scottish dragon mage who promptly flirts with Dahlia. And while the authors let us know what happened with the two women, Viggo, who had an important role and his own journey here, oddly vanished from the story. After being told he was from now on a permanent member of the Drake family. SMH

If they say he went home with good old dad and brother. No. That doesn’t track as both authors had him say he wanted to remember the events and what they had done and everything that had occurred. So no.

Big narrative hole here and missing character.

So Burned ends up a good story but not a great one. I enjoyed the couple but there’s quite a few stumbles narratively speaking that keeps this shy of 5 stars. Still a lovely series and one I’m recommending.

Drake Security series:

Hot Head #1
Smoulder #2
Wild Fire #3
Inferno #4
Burned #5 – series finale

Buy link

Burned (Drake Security Book 5)

Blurb

Of all the creatures I could have accidentally mate bonded with, did it have to be a dragon slayer?

I never let my dragon take control. Never. Distraught after the death of a friend, I made a mistake…

Finding a beautiful, broken viking on the verge of death in the middle of a forest, all of my instincts screamed at me to save him. My dragon wouldn’t have it any other way. For two-thousand years I’ve saved my mating fire, waiting for fate to bring me true, binding love. But with this stranger only a breath away from the afterlife, I didn’t have a choice.

I can’t really be mated to a dragon slayer, can I? There has to be a way to break this bond before his brothers come looking for him or mine realize what I’ve done.

The only problem is, the more time I spend with the captivating, big hearted man, the more I think that fate might have had a hand in things after all…

Is he feeling it too, or am I about to get burned?

Publication date: October 16, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 254 pages

Review: Passing Through Purgatory: Passing Through Cafe #1 by Nik Knight

Rating: 5🌈

Nik Knight’s new rom-com urban fantasy new novel and the first installment in her new series is utterly stunning. Passing Through Purgatory: Passing Through Cafe #1 by Nik Knight caught my eye by that cover and then by the description.

But the actual story surpassed all my expectations by being not just a great story, but one that brought such immensely diverse, believable cast of characters, human and otherworldly. Each with their own unique and fully defined sense of being. Complete physical elements, emotional and spiritual elements, and often, as I think Knight will explore further, some hurtful, damaging aspects to their background and histories in the Hell Universe (just another world where trains run late and bigotry exists that feels very familiar).

The universe and characters are ones I connected with immediately. It starts with human Oliver Barnes, living in Chicago with friends (love Jude). He goes for a job interview in Greed district of Hell’s Pentagram but in one realistic scenario (even if it’s in Purgatory), he misses his train.

And in doing so, finds something else that is, everything he could possibly want. But first he needs to go through the doors of the Passing Through Cafe.

There Knight gives us the most chaotic place, a cafe of owners and employees who will become Oliver’s found family. Each one such a distinctive being who quickly find a place in our hearts. I found myself forgetting that the lovable Gem, is an Araknis (think spider with a great butt) as well as many eyes and arms. After a while, it was Gem, who actually had a fragility about him that endeared him even more. Same thing with Rusty the Pyclon, a pink walking Care Bear with a snarky attitude that hides a damaged past. I mean there’s

Tad the Anura, a tough dishwasher,

Willow the empath dyad who’s a baker assistant to the fabulously gorgeous Glyma the succubus baker.

And Zef the asexual winged Mantodea , who is sometimes a drag Queen and cafe greeter, along with the handful, handsome demon Toni the Elas.

Quinn, owner and partner to Glyma, along with Bob, a question mark of a species who lives in the office and resembles a bug, complete the cafe found family.

It seems like a lot, but how Knight introduces them to Oliver (and the reader) folds them beautifully into his new dynamic and the world view we are seeing. Their lives and respective personalities as well as personal backgrounds will start to be revealed the more Oliver becomes a deeply entrenched part of their lives.

Because the Hell world has its intricacies as far as status, bigotry, speciesism, and it’s divided along racial or specific lines and into territories. This element is still being explored. But the basic concept is laid down and it’s ugly in its reality. And how it impacts our little group.

I look forward to seeing what happens next. Because while there are scenes of absolute hilarity here, there’s some of moments of such pain, of past history that’s so bad that it’s unmentionable. Both hit hard because we’ve come to care so much about our group of characters.

And that includes the final one I haven’t mentioned yet. Liel Karakis the Gymnot lawyer from the Greed district. He’s the one that Oliver falls for. A fantastic relationship and romance, but albeit not human in its sexual scenes. As it should be because Liel isn’t human. But for Oliver, it’s the person who matters, not the body. And Knight has been as imaginative in this element as she is in every other aspect of the story.

Beautifully executed and well done.

I’ll end this saying I was so excited to see the narrative flow to the ranch, every part of that storyline, and the family. A glimpse into the Christmas visit would be amazing, because you know the gang is going to have to go too. Just saying, pretty please?

I honestly need Gratification in Gluttony now. I highly recommend this and the author. Just fabulous.

The Passing Through Cafe

Passing Through Purgatory #1
Gratification in Gluttony #2 (Coming winter 2024

Buy link:

Passing Through Purgatory: Passing Through Cafe #1

Blurb

When Oliver applied for a job in the Hell dimension on a whim, he didn’t expect it to turn his whole world—or his heart—entirely upside down.

Recently graduated at twenty-six, and two months behind on rent, Oliver Barnes is desperate. So desperate, in fact, that he applies for a job in the Greed district of Hell’s Pentagram. But when he misses his train and, subsequently, his job interview, he stumbles, instead, upon a strange little coffee shop in the middle of Purgatory’s barren desert—and into an unexpected opportunity.

It isn’t the job he came to Hell for, but maybe it’s exactly the job he needs.

As he navigates the demon dimension and tries to survive the ridiculous shenanigans of his unholy co-workers, Oliver soon falls head-over-ass for a tentacled lawyer with electric fingers and a deadly-sharp grin. Together, they discover that, sometimes, love and happiness can be just a train ride away.

Join Oliver and the rest of the eccentric staff of The Passing Through Cafe in Nik Knight’s new rom-com urban fantasy series, full of found family, embarrassing encounters, spicy situations, and love that crosses dimensions.

Publication date: September 13, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 395 pages

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