Tag: #newbookreleases

Review: His Realm (House of Maedoc Book 3) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3🌈

As much as I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, His Realm was just a disconnect for me in many ways. From certain aspects of the character of Jason specifically to moments in the plot that weakens the couple and their dynamic, I just found I had issues here.

Which is a shame because I do enjoy so many of the scenes that the author has created here for the main characters and between others just as important.

House of Maedoc is an entertaining series that, in books one and two, creates a unique world and populates it with dynamic characters. It’s been wonderful to go along with Jason and Varic throughout their journey from their first meeting to their current position in their relationship. It’s been a tumultuous journey with both individuals undergoing major changes in their lives and their personal emotional development.

I’ve loved watching them. Up to now. Because it’s worked til now. Each story has contained huge amounts of dramatic elements and forward momentum in the vampire world and relationships. Even with characters who are not readily likable or beings seen as worthy of emotional connection, like the King himself.

It is Jason who should anchor his own story alongside his Prince, Varic. But Calmes makes some interesting choices for the story and characters that , for me as a reader, dilutes their impact as a strong couple and for their personalities, which spend so much time apart.

Here, Jason’s emotional responses to various highly complex or tragic situations just seem off. These ‘light hearted’ sort of particular personality traits are ones we’ve seen before in other Mary Calmes characters. But usually they were contemporary characters and the events that caused some of the same reactions were less likely to be as violent or extreme as the events that occurred here.

A grin or teasing comment from Jason when one would necessarily or reasonably expect a serious, thoughtful response to a question or situation where it’s been a an ongoing tragedy or people have lost their lives or subjected to loss.

It’s so jarring that it causes the reader to question whether the character’s actions are credible and think how shattered you’d be in the same situation.

There’s more. Repeatedly, Jason warns of serious threats and is dismissed. Even after being informed his advice won’t be ignored anymore. But Jason himself is a major problem. He,as the consort of the Prince, and therefore a member of the royal household, refuses to adhere to security measures and protocols. He constantly goes out without his guards, not reflecting on the ramifications of this for Varic and his staff.

He’s become an inconsistent character. As has Varic in relation with communication with Jason, what distance does to their relationship, etc.

It’s one element after another which weakens them, the story, their relationship, for the sake of a narrative drama that involves so many frustrating scenes and dysfunctional dynamics that it’s hard to care at times how it ends.

With a wedding and more things that just are pulled together quickly enough for the sake of the series rather than in keeping with everything that’s gone on before, with all the threads and characters’ personalities.

I like this author and feel that she has other, stronger series and characters to choose from.

Read this if you’re a fan, and to finish this series.

House of Maedoc :

✓ His Consort #1

✓ His Prince #2

✓ His Realm #3

Buy link

His Realm (House of Maedoc Book 3)

Blurb:

On their first meeting, Varic Maedoc, prince of the vampyrs, told Jason Thorpe that loving him was not for the faint of heart. He wasn’t kidding. In the past two years, Jason has been kidnapped, lived through several attempts on his life, and foiled a coup. Now, his new life as the prince’s consort and adviser to the king is made even harder by Varic’s prolonged absence. With his prince off hunting down a traitor, Jason must fend for himself.

While the separation doesn’t last, even Varic’s return won’t stave off the wicked plotting of others, and Jason soon finds himself—again—fighting for his life while navigating ancient betrayals and revenge put in motion before he was even born. And he must prevail because his prince needs him to bring a place without honor back into his realm.

But what festers in rage and bitterness is something Jason never expected, and nothing he’s experienced in his human life, or in the decadent court of the king, could’ve prepared him for the wrath that’s about to be unleashed.

Varic needs both his crown and his consort to be the king he’s always wanted to be, and it’s up to Jason to make sure their bond never breaks.

• Publication date: April 16, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 334 pages

Review: Curse of the Dragon’s Eye: An Epic Dragon Fantasy Saga (The Crystalline Dragons Saga) by Eoghan R. Cunningham

Rating: 4.5🌈

The Crystalline Dragons Saga by Eoghan R Cunningham (also released by the same author writing as Blake R. Wolfe) is new to me.

I’m so happy to have found this as a lover of fantasy novels and epic YA adventure series, as this one has the elements of all those stories done so well.

The character of Dusk is incredibly well written. Dusk’s is a haunting story, a young man captured at the age of 11 or 12, and brought to the infamous deadly mines as a slave for the next 10 perilous, darkened years of his life. If slaves survive to a certain point, they “age” out of the mines, in a worst case scenario. And we live in the moment with Dusk.

Of course, so many things happen. Horrible and magical things. Simple moments like a shining light that stuns a youth that’s been buried in darkness to magical scenes that’s clouded by a lack of knowledge.

Along the path to a new life, Dusk gathers a few friends, a lot more enemies, some astonishing new powers, and his journey becomes a rollicking adventure, sometimes nightmare, on the path to enlightenment and self discovery.

It’s a fascinating story. I’m onto book two and recommending this as a highly entertaining take on fantasy adventure.

Plus. There be dragons.

The Crystalline Dragons Saga-5 books:

✓ Curse of the Dragon’s Eye #1

◦ Mist, Shadow, and Deep #2

◦ Rise of the False King #3

◦ The Queen of Darkness #4 -May 9,2024

◦ Fall of the Crystal Moon #5-June 6,2024

Buy link:

Curse of the Dragon’s Eye: An Epic Dragon Fantasy Saga (The Crystalline Dragons Saga)

Blurb:

When the last dragon died over a thousand years ago, magic disappeared along with them. Alone and powerless, humanity was left to pick up the pieces of their once magnificent world.

But now magic returns in the hands of a young slave.

Ever since slave traders captured me as a small boy, I’ve worked in the salt mines. My destiny is hard labor and an early death. There is no escape.

Until I found the dragon.

Inside a natural cavern, I discovered an ancient dragon skeleton made entirely of crystal. Whispers in my mind told me to steal the gem from its eye. And I did, thinking I could use it to buy my freedom.

However, the moment it touches me, it fuses to my skin, and my entire world is turned upside down. Magic isn’t supposed to exist, but fire erupts from my hands every time someone tries to harm me.

Escaped from the mines at last, I form a shaky alliance when I encounter another traveler down on his luck. We are both determined to make it to the neighboring country, although we keep our reasons secret. Once there, I’ll be free. Then I can get rid of this cursed gem once and for all.

However, a mysterious sorcerer nips at our heels as we reach the final mountain pass. With a hired guide, we try to make it through without being detected. The magic of the dragon’s eye has saved us more than once, but this time, it might just be our downfall.

Curse of the Dragon’s Eye contains a diverse cast of characters and queer themes. It was previously published under the title “The Crystal Eye” by Blake R. Wolfe. Although the title and cover are different, the content remains the same.

• Publication date: February 1, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 299 pages

Review: Reading the Play (Watkins Glen Gladiators Book 5) by V. L. Locey

Rating: 4.5🌈

I’ve loved getting to know the latest of author V. L. Locey’s hockey team , the Watkins Glen Gladiators, and their various journeys into HEA.

Reading the Play actually involves two teams and players from each team, an old misunderstanding, and a white hot chemistry. On the ice, on skates with mad skills.

All of which, Locey does so beautifully.

The characters of competing ice hockey players, Watkins Glen Gladiators goalie Baskoro Huda and Comets goalie Marcus Newley are so good. Fleshed out, with personalities that have depth that makes them feel believable and interesting, these men make it easy to connect with each of their lives and situations.

The enemies to lovers trope and element here is one that is nicely resolved so that the storyline can move forward with the major thread, that of two men from opposing teams who are finding themselves in love with each other .

Each has complications that they bring into play with this dynamic. A daughter, a as yet to be announced sexuality, and much more. How everything is pulled together, and, along with introducing new characters, and giving the readers glimpses inside a troubled mind of another teammate, Locey carefully balances all the narrative needs of her characters and book to come up with another winner!

Baskoro Huda and Marcus Newley prove that goalies are indeed special, never more so than on their own path to love and family. I loved them.

More please.

I’m highly recommending this and the entire series

Watkins Glen Gladiators:

✓ Between The Pipes #1

✓ Defending The House #2

✓ Dump and Chase #3

✓ Taking The Body #4

✓ Reading The Play #5

Buy Link:

Reading the Play (Watkins Glen Gladiators 5)

Blurb:

Will there be kissing and making up or will Baskoro and Marcus be dropping the gloves?

A new season is about to kick off and Baskoro Huda is ready to win it all. As one half of the Watkins Glen Gladiators two-man tandem goalkeeping duo, Basky, as his teammates call him, is on track to deliver a winning season and everything is going his way. His summer training is paying off, his family and friends are warm and supportive, and his new nephew is the cutest thing ever. He’s even had a few casual dates. The only downside to this upcoming amazing season is the fact that he has to face goalie Marcus Newley and the Comets several times. To say there is no love lost between the two men would be an understatement. Granted, Marcus is incredibly handsome and skilled, but those qualities are overshadowed by the man’s ego. The tension between the two goalies has been percolating since senior year of college and one more pithy comment from Basky’s rival might just be all it takes for a reckoning that’s been a long time coming.

Marcus Newley has come a long way in a short time. He’s clawed his way to the top of the Comets roster and is now within reach of his dream: winning that championship cup and securing his chances for a call-up to the pros. The brass ring is within reach, and he is not about to let someone like Baskoro Huda and his team stand in his way. He’s got one very important person counting on him to make those dreams a reality. Unsure of what he ever did to twist the pretty but irritable Gladiators goalie’s shorts into such a tight knot, all he can do is fire back when the verbal barbs are launched from the other end of the ice. The time to focus on hockey is now, and he refuses to let Baskoro take up any more time in his head. It’s an all-out war as far as Marcus is concerned and nothing but complete surrender from Baskoro will satisfy those—and perhaps not so hidden—passions.

Reading the Play is a low angst, enemies-to-lovers, doting uncle and single dad queer hockey romance with two goalies who snipe at each other endlessly, one old misunderstanding, far too many sci-fi/fantasy TV show and movie references, several teammates trying to keep the peace, one goaltending coach who sees what all the others seem to be missing, and a hard won but oh-so gratifying happy ending.

• Publication date: April 18, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 189 pages

Review: Fanboy (Hot Off the Ice Book 8) by A. E. Wasp

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I love the Hot Off the Ice series by A. E. Wasp and the latest novel, Fan Boy, is just a reminder why it’s so fun and well written.

Wasp’s storylines never forgets that these characters as well as the series are grounded firmly in the sport of professional ice hockey. The team dynamics, the sheer physicality of the players and what it takes to maintain their peak performance levels while also being able to have a personal life. That last part is as important to the team and players stability as their physical conditioning.

Over and over, it’s the players who lack a support system outside of the team that fumbles their respective lives, professional and personal. Wasp has been able to explore different personalities, team dynamics and positions, and couples so far. It’s been a fascinating journey for so many different players.

Now it’s Thunder forward Alex Huberdeau, a sweet, immensely gifted hockey player. He’s just been dumped by his longtime fiancée, someone he’s known since his high school days. He’s lonely in the enormous house he bought for them after they were married, and drifting in the aftermath of this rejection.

In typical, wonderful Wasp fashion, Alex has been crafted as a character we not only can care about immediately but as he reveals more of the depth of his personality and inner voice, we fall even more deeply in love with him.

The same goes for Sunny Gonzales, a nonbinary fashion designer who’s working for their friend’s Phoebe’s cafe as a barista. Sunny is a character who is beautifully fluid, vibrantly articulate who transforms their appearance through their incredible fashion designs. Sunny’s relationship with Alex is one that incorporates humor, wonder, surprise, and growth, especially as they help Alex adjust to a new sense of awareness about his own sexuality.

It’s beautiful romance and such a great storyline. It’s got personal exploration, splendid communication between not just the two main characters but their friends who are just as much a part of them and their relationship.

There’s also laugh out loud scenes, courtesy of Alex’s best friend and fellow teammate, Devin and another couple from a previous story. Just hilarious.

We actually get two couples here. Plus plus!

Would I have been happy for an additional chapter or two? Why, yes. I wasn’t ready for this to be over. But I was satisfied with the outcome and the ending.

Fanboy (Hot Off the Ice Book 8) by A. E. Wasp is a fantastic story and source of reading happiness. A definite recommendation.

Hot Off the Ice:

✓ City Boy #1

✓ Country Boy #2

✓ Skater Boy #3

✓ Boy Toys #4

✓ Boy Next Door #5

✓ Boys of Summer #6

✓ Bad Boys #7

✓ Fanboy #8

Buy link

Fanboy (Hot Off the Ice Book 8)

Blurb:

Fashion, fake dates, and real stakes. Sometimes the only way to win is to break all the rules.

After being dumped by his fiance, Thunder forward Alex Huberdeau finds himself questioning the game of love entirely. Clueless about dating, disinterested in flings, and unable to have a normal conversation with women, Alex is convinced something’s broken inside him.

Enter Sunny Gonzales—a nonbinary, proudly polyamorous, fashion designer desperately searching for a big break. While their creativity blooms, love seems a luxury that’s eluded them, shaded by their fears of a world quick to shun people who color outside the lines.

When Alex learns that Sunny needs a partner for a game show that could be the answer to their prayers, he leaps at the chance to help. In return, Sunny will teach him all they know about love and romance.

With only three weeks to learn all they can about each other, Sunny and Alex embark on a crash course that blurs the lines between friendship and romance. As feelings grow and the game show’s climax looms, Alex and Sunny must decide if they’re playing to win or playing for keeps.

Fanboy is a story about breaking binaries and subverting expectations. It contains questionable coffee drinks, zoot suits, a talking car, and unauthorized use of a hot tub.

• Publication date: April 15, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 200 pages

Review: How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit: Bone 5 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy Book 11 by A.J. Sherwood

Rating : 4.5🌈

It’s the penultimate story and we have incredibly idiotic large emu-like demons ahead. Plus equally dense academia to mess with.

This means our family of sorcerers , young budding sorcerers included, have a blast, we find out what a Piemu is, and Steve is that much closer to being a whole skeleton.

I sort of missed him here. And the skelebabies in action. They are so adorable and great fun.

One more installment to go. I can’t wait. I do wish we’d found out what Tan had done when he was lingering on campus. Whatever it was, they deserved it.

Love these covers.

Series and side stories

💥How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy-6 books

💥How Tan Acquired an Apprentice

💥How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit:Bone series

Buy Link

How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit: Bone 5 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy Book 11)

Blurb:

You must negotiate return of dragon wing. Penalty levied against party members. Piemu unleashed. Accept quest? (YES) (no)

Tan: How is this harder than the pirates?

Devan: I’m looking at the reason.

Tan: Uncalled for. True, but still uncalled for.

Tags:

Academic types are stingy, demonic chickens, strange version of Whac-A-Mole, Niran acquires apprentices, Fa comes to play too, candy tastes best after murder, basically the corruption is spreading

• Publisher: (April 12, 2024)

• Publication date: April 12, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 56 pages

Review: Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.25🌈

Higher Demon begins a new a sequel series to the fantastic Ghostly Guardians, called The Collective. That’s the ancient hidden agency started to protect humanity from demons, including the hunters who tracked and killed them.

The book and series begins after the tumultuous and violent events of the previous Ghostly Guardians finale, where corruption was uncovered in the Collective and a plot to bring both the earth and the demonic realm into the same plane , which culminated in a vicious battle.

All those characters now migrate into this new series, either as main characters or as supporting but equally important players. So having the knowledge of their stories and the background is a necessity here.

The Higher Demon of the title is, of course, Marc, the higher demon we met books ago. What a fascinating character he’s been from the beginning.

Marc started as an enigma, moves into semi-villainous status, and then keeps evolving as more about him and his role is revealed. His demonic nature, however, is pleasingly unique and Marc’s. Ancient, arrogant, definitely not human, Masters’ is able to both show an evolution in his thinking and capacity to change while keeping his essence intact. I adore Marc.

Then there’s the brothers we have meet many times before, mostly when they were both younger and with their older brother, Con. There is Matty, who will be featured in book 2, and Ian, who is the main character here. Ian is a great character too. Snarky, hilarious, tempered by his years as a hunter and now teacher.

Ian has always had main character energy from the time he was 12 and used flowers to protect his older brother from Marc, a story that has it’s origins in the first series and gets retold here, multiple times . Now 6 years later, Ian is older and the strange wonderful dynamic that pulls him and Marc together gets stronger.

The relationship that builds between them is built on snark, history, appreciation of each other’s intelligence and respect, however unacknowledged.

Masters has created additional threats to the tenuous peace treaty that requires investigation from both sides, a romance between Ian and Marc that has huge implications for both species as well as both characters, and for Ian’s relationship with his family.

Masters is packing a lot of elements into this first book, so for me it feels as though some aspects weren’t as developed as they could have been. The investigation is one. It ends on a “as told by “ explanation after an intriguing start.

Another element is the character of Con, Ian’s older brother. This character has had 6 years to adapt and mature as an individual. Here, he comes perilously close to being a bully and hothead, he’s riding the line that could make him a negative narrative force rather than a positive one. It’s understandable in that ancient ghost of a relative. Him? Not so much.

Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1) by Louisa Masters is a good read. I love the main characters of Marc and Ian, and look forward to seeing them as well as Matty’s story.

I thought that there were a few things that needed more attention to detail, more development in the narrative. Also, anyone coming to this story needs to read the first series for the characters and foundation knowledge it brings here. While the author does some explaining on the backstory, it’s far too complicated with regard to the characters and plots not to read the series itself.

Both are recommended! Happy reading.

Ghostly Guardians:

✓ Spirited Situation #1

✓ Vortex Conundrum #2

✓ Conduit Crisis #3

✓ Gateway Catastrophe #4 -finale

The Collective, sequel series:

✓ Higher Demon #1

◦ Demon Hunter #2-Aug 29,2024

Buy link

Higher Demon (The Collective Book 1)

Blurb

No matter the demon, the hunter’s role is clear…

A thousand years ago, my great-something uncle founded the Collective, a secret organization dedicated to protecting humanity from demons. The hunter tradition has been passed down over the generations, from parent to child, secure in the knowledge that the Collective is a community of safety and knowledge.

But betrayal sucks, and six years ago, it turned my world—and the Collective—upside down. After generations of deception, the hunters left behind are picking up the pieces and trying something we’ve never done before—working side by side with our enemy.

Demons, just to be clear. They’re apparently “misunderstood,” but the jury is still out on that. And I—a twentysomething archivist with an addiction to hoodies—somehow ended up as liaison to the demon ambassador.

If it sounds like a nightmare, that’s because it is. The demon ambassador is a stuck-up, pretentious twat… not to mention he could kill me with a thought. Worst of all, he’s getting under my skin in ways I never expected. But I’m the only hunter who doesn’t actively want to kill him, so… tag, I’m it.

I’ve already been betrayed by those I should have been able to trust the most. How hard can hanging out with a higher demon be?

The author recommends reading the Ghostly Guardian series for full background on what happened six years ago, though it’s not essential.

• Publisher: (April 11, 2024)

• Publication date: April 11, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 246 pages

Review: Knowing You (Words We Never Said Book 1) by E. M. Lindsey

Rating: 3.5🌈

Knowing You is the first in a new series. Words We Never Said, by E.M. Lindsey. It’s a contemporary romance that has multiple core characters with the main characters here each having their own distinct struggles and personal challenges. This includes single dads or guardians as a core group and they have additional layered in issues that arise from their current situation.

Lindsey has developed a story and series that, just from the description, should be immediately relevant and easy to connect with. There’s single parenting, and children of a range of ages. They too have some depth of character, even though they don’t have as much storylines.

I came thinking I was going to have a quick, engaging experience with this book and characters. Instead, I kept questioning why I wasn’t completely convinced by certain characters or aspects of those character’s personality or even engaged by their storylines.

I was consistently made distant from the characters rather than fully invested by aspects of the story that just felt bulky . So many important elements were piled up on so few characters that it ultimately felt like a fabricated issue mountain rather than people who were just trying to make it with real life stuff.

That’s unfortunate because if you strip away some of the struggle floss, these characters work separately and together.

Let’s start with the manny/nanny (it’s an issue), it’s filled by next-door neighbor, Bowen Gallons. Bowen is the meet cute, sort of, when Lane’s 3year old daughter steals his prosthetic leg and brings it home. No spoilers, that’s in the description. He’s former stuntman who had a stunt go horribly wrong. Then got dumped on top of the loss of his leg and career.

Bowen has a lot to bring to the narrative. In this case, his own traumatic backstory as a recent amputee and being dumped by a ex boyfriend. There’s an adjustment to his body image and more. He’s a relatable character. I really like Bowen. His background with child development/education works too because of the personality he’s been given.

It’s Lane and Briar that had me questioning. Not just the father/daughter dynamic but also the label given to Lane for his behavior (four years or more) . DA is a serious topic. But we meet Lane just as he’s in the middle of a screaming match with an absent parent/spouse, Sana. Sana who has been absent for 2 years now on a “forever vacation” with no interest in coming home and had been mostly a visitor when she was younger in the relationship.

For me, she’s the missing link. What we see of her as either in “as told to” by friends or in the tiny scenes of one dimensional caricature of a scheming narcissist. But nothing of any substance or of their own dynamic to support the current situation’s labeling. Had the author given us more of them together, let us see their differences, their dynamics, and let Sana have layers. This would have made the thread a better fit and a little more accurate portrayal of what I believe the author was trying to convey.

But instead we don’t know enough of him and his story. We just see him as he is now. He’s a mess, his daughter is suffering from her own abandonment issues (there’s never any mention of getting her therapy here, although a kid who is stealing to get presents has issues), and he’s not dealing with anything in his real life. A absent spouse and mother. A daughter in trouble as well as a business who needs his attention.

There’s a lot going on here. He’s been a mess for years. So what happens? He “snaps” out of it immediately. From years of being a ‘spineless idiot’ (his words) to a man of action in a day. After years of ignoring advice/input from friends and alienating people and family.

That just doesn’t ring true for me. Then it’s followed up with a bisexual awakening, a new sexual , albeit hidden,relationship with Bowen while both are questioning their commitment to each other. Briar’s emotional issues are only intermittently mentioned here. She has been relegated to a lesser role until dramatically required for a scene. I have a quibble with that too.

Other characters that will obviously have their own stories are flowing in and out of the narrative and this couple’s relationship. Some to act as a Greek chorus, others to throw in a stumbling block or two on their path to romance.

The climax is one strange dramatic moment that drains directly into a birthday party celebration and a weird off page event that satisfies no one.

Knowing You (Words We Never Said Book 1) by E. M. Lindsey has some wonderful ideas and lovely characters. The potential for a great story is there. I just don’t think it succeeds as a whole.

Words We Never Said:

✓ Knowing You #1

◦ Resisting You #2 – Nov 30,2024

Buy link

Knowing You: A Single Dad Romance (Words We Never Said Book 1)

Blurb

“Oh my God, Briar! Where did you get that prosthetic leg?”

Things as a parent Lane thought he’d never say for four hundred, Alex.

But that’s par for the course in Lane Ashbury’s life considering everything is on the verge of falling apart. He not only has a toddler building her skills as a professional klepto, but he’s also on the verge of divorce, and hoping desperately to save his business before it goes under.

Luckily, the owner of the stolen leg might just be an angel in disguise when he offers to be Lane’s new nanny instead of pressing charges.

The whole thing would be perfect if Bowen Galanos didn’t make Lane feel things. If he didn’t make Lane question everything he thought he knew about himself every time Bowen’s touch lingered just a little too long.

And when Bowen offers some no-strings benefits to their friendship to see if maybe Lane’s not as straight as he thought, Lane finds it impossible to say no. I mean, it’s not like he’s going to realize he’s madly in love with his nanny, right?

That would be absurd.

That would be ridiculous.

And knowing him, that would be exactly his luck.

Knowing You is the first book in a light-hearted, single-dads romance series. It features a toddler with sticky fingers, a tired dad who just wants to be loved, a former stunt actor who craves to be needed, Henry Cavill man crushes, a hint of sweet, a twist of angst, a steamy bisexual awakening, and the happiest of happily ever afters.

• Publisher: (April 10, 2024)

• Publication date: April 10, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 257 pages

◦

Review: Shadow & Ghosts: City of Shadows Book 1 by Lex Veia

Rating: 5🌈

I’m not sure how I stumbled across this amazing book and author but Shadow & Ghosts, the first novel in the City of Shadows series by Lex Veia is the urban fantasy universe that I was most in need of.

The world building here is astonishing. I’m so intrigued by the many different ways Veia has combined recognizable elements, such as authentic US geographical features and locations with the author’s own unique narrative storylines. That Veia incorporates fantastic twisted historical creations of warfare and demonic rifts, along with a dark capital city run and divided by gangs makes this a tale you cannot put down.

“The city of monsters, mobsters, and dark magic. Oh, I know all about the witch-gangs of Las O.”

That’s the voice of Kit Winter, thief extraordinaire, aka The Shadow, and a captivating figure at the heart of this story and series. Once we make the connection with him, we can’t pull away from his vibrant character, that energetic, magnetic force that is so full of emotional/personal layers, that the author is still peeling them away even at the end of the story. Kit is someone who has hidden so much of himself for so long that , even the act of remembering is a complex act . One that never comes to fruition.

His opposite is Zach Riley, The Ghost, leader of the Renegades, the Elite Team gathered by Captain Emilie Brodie to fight demons and witches.

Zach’s background and legendary status as The Ghost is another rock solid element of this story. Zach is a constantly evolving and changing character, in part due to the revelations that are a part of his growing relationship with Kit. The two men, both different and yet so similar in emotional makeup and personality.

This is a very slow burn romance. And it works beautifully as it’s built around the team’s chemistry and the heavy lifting that comes from the missions they are sent on and the mysteries that they find.

The action sequences and the entire suspense that’s being built around the missions and the evils that the team faces is indescribably powerful. I started to go back to look at a few things in the book and before I knew it, I was sucked in , rereading it as though it was my first time.

And loving it as much if not more.

This is a story where the reader will feel the grimy surfaces, the dark magic, and poisoning of the light of the dangerous city, Las Oscura. And the author makes us take an emotional journey with all the characters through this city and all the events that occur.

What a wild, dark, intense journey it is.

I can’t wait for the next book to come.

City of Shadows:

✓ Shadow & Ghost #1

◦ Shadow & Ghost 2: City of Ghosts-coming July 2024

Buy Link:

Shadow & Ghost: City of Shadows: A Slow-Burn MM Urban Fantasy

Blurb:

Kit Winter does not get caught.

As the most infamous thief in America, Kit enjoys a carefree, transient lifestyle—or, he did, until someone slapped a pair of handcuffs around his wrists and offered him an impossible choice: Rot in prison or join the most dangerous division of the Darkmagic Investigation Agency, the Renegades.

Kit’s pretty sure he chose wrong. The Renegades are the most elite fighters in the world—none more so than their legendary dark-witch-killing lieutenant, Zach Riley. Kit is utterly outmatched and unprepared for hunting witches and demons through the dangerous, magic-riddled city of Las Oscura.

But when a routine hellhound hunt turns fatal, Kit’s criminal skillset might be the Renegades’ best shot at tracking a deadly new killer through the shadowy underground—and Kit’s chance to earn his place on the team. However, hunting witches is worlds away from Kit’s old life, and if he wants to survive, he’ll need to learn to trust his team—and balance his burgeoning feelings for a certain lieutenant.

This is an action-packed urban fantasy with slow-burn romance culminating in spicy scenes. Each book in the series will be increasingly spicy as the romance builds.

• Publisher: (February 29, 2024)

• Publication date: February 29, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 391 pages

Review: Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 5🌈

How to review or even begin to describe absolutely magnificent heartbreakingly extraordinary narrative chaos?

Vawn Cassidy brings this incredible series to a close in a story that has a reader in gut wrenching sobs, for heartbreaking reasons and for ones that spring from immense joy. There’s scenes of such high comedy as well as low, drunken hilarity and madcap humor to go along with moments of heart stopping fright and one’s of such intense pain that you feel like you’ll break.

The relationships the author has built between the characters in this series covers so many facets of love. It’s the depth of love between a father and son, now at the end of the father’s life from a disease that’s slowly torn through his mind, losing himself and his memories. It’s the love between best friends who have been through the best and worst of times together and are still there for each other. It’s the love of found family and friends supporting each other and the bond between them. And the deep connection and romantic love that comes from being with the best person you know is the one who knows you and accepts you for who you are.

Cassidy has given the reader all of this through many characters and their relationships. We’ve come to know each of them, watch them grow and the relationships develop through story after story. Our emotions are heavily invested and, here, we are in every single moment and scene as the final chapter in this series plays out.

Did I laugh so much at a certain point that my dog left the room? Why yes, I did. And did I cry so much at a certain moment, that it brought her back into the room to check on me? Also yes.

But this is a journey that is one that ended beautifully. Even better than I had imagined.

No spoilers . And we will be seeing more of the crew in new adventures to come.

Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy is a gorgeous book. It’s emotionally compelling and an exceptionally well written finale that’s one of the top books in my recommendations list as well as the series.

Read them in the order they were written.

Love the covers!

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed:

✓ Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey #1

✓ Dead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy #2

✓ Dead Serious Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes #3

✓ Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume #4

✓ The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan: Vol. 1 (a Dead Serious Companion novella) – Side story

✓ Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne – series finale but not the end

Crawshanks Guide to the Occult :

◦ The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object #1 – coming 2025

Buy Link:

Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed)

Blurb:

For one brief shining moment, the utter insanity that is Tristan Everett’s world makes sense.

He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light. He’s also averted an apocalypse, stopped Chaos from coming through a magic door, and drunk tequila with Death.

It’s all a bit bonkers, but it’s his life… and he loves it.

He’s flying high but, like Icarus, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought crashing down to earth with singed wings. The strange reality of his life intrudes once again when his friend, Madame Vivienne, is murdered, and it’s clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary killing.

Someone is using dark magic.

Viv’s soul has been bound, leaving her trapped and unable to communicate. Tristan, Danny, and their friends must uncover the truth and find the killer. But the deeper they delve into the old bookshop in Whitechapel, which has been in the Crawshanks family for generations, the darker and the more dangerous the secrets that begin to unravel.

And what they discover may just change their lives forever…

• Publisher: (April 3, 2024)

• Publication date: April 3, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 299 pages

Crawshanks Universe Novellas/ Spin offs

The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan Vol 1 (Website Exclusive)

Blue Thunder (Website Exclusive)”

Review: Under The Gun (Accidentally Undercover Novel) by Cari Z

Rating:3.75🌈

Part of a LGBTQIA espionage/spy thriller romance series, Under the Gun by Cari Z delivers the exciting action packed scenes and storylines we’d expect from this genre.

The romantic suspense plot line arrives in the form of museum art archivist, Joey Cole. He’s taken a side job for a Russian oligarch to catalog his private art collection for insurance purposes. However, everything about this job has Joey on edge and regretting taking it. From being on an isolated island to the man himself, who is making Joey uncomfortable.

Cari Z has an excellent setup and creates an empathetic character in Joey. He’s in trouble and everyone knows it.

The explosive energy and element that makes its way into the situation is the character of Adam, long ago ex-boyfriend and current spy with a complicated history of association with Joey’s family.

The author ramps up the explosive action and the emotional reunion as the story builds to a suspenseful finale.

It’s very entertaining and the characters are both engaging if not exactly grounded in their various careers. The grandmother, however, was exactly what she was supposed to be. Steely determination, cold intelligence, perfect.

While I had a few questions about the story, my real issue was the matter in which Joey’s hard won reputation and career was discarded. Or what happened with his career was better explained at the end, especially as it was such a big deal to Joey and the author made it a large part of the narrative. But we never find out if things were fixed with his friend, Melanie, the Museum, and the loss of the expensive equipment. Or what he’s even doing a year later. This is feels unfinished and unsatisfactory. Especially as we are told what happened to Adam’s career. And the grandmother.

Under the Gun by Cari Z is an enjoyable romantic suspense story that suffers from a ending that’s not exactly satisfying. Read it for the fun characters and action scenes.

Accidentally Undercover-6 books of a LGBTQ+ romantic suspense series.

✓ Under the Gun by Cari Z (m/m)

◦ Under Her Roof by Allison Temple (f/f)

◦ Under His Sheets by R.L. Merrill (m/m)

◦ Under the Table by Layla Rayne (f/f)

◦ Under His Name by MA Grant (m/m)

◦ Under the Radar by Linden Bell (m/m)

Buy Link

Under the Gun

Blurb:

Life is plenty exciting for Joey Cole. Everything that isn’t his day job revolves around having fun, but “fun” becomes complicated when Joey’s latest side gig turns into a gunfight between the handsy billionaire he’s working for and the ex-boyfriend who broke his heart and who’s now…smuggling drugs?

Turns out that Adam, Joey’s ex, is a spy for His Majesty’s government, and that Joey has fallen into a sting operation meant to take his shady employer down. Joey and Adam are hounded by assassins as they escape to a safe house in England, home to the woman who introduced Joey to Adam in the first place—his grandmother.

Who, it turns out, is also a spy. Huh, no wonder she made him get so good at untying knots with his hands tied behind his back.

Joey and Adam rekindle the romance that burned between them, but Adam is still a spy—he’s not his own man, and he’ll certainly never belong to Joey. The safest thing would be to break it off before Adam breaks his heart again…but the way they’re being hunted, safe is out of the question, and love may mean the difference between life and death.

Under the Gun is part of the Accidentally Undercover shared romantic suspense series.

• Publication date: April 2, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 166 pages