Tag: #newbookreleases

Review: I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc: Crack Fantasy Adventure Chapter Three by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 5🌈

Necromancer Prince Lawton, his lover, the half Orc barbarian and founding member of the League of Extraordinary Rage, Berklak, and their merry crew of mismatched otherworldly beings are off on an adventure, I’m mean, mission to find out what’s plaguing the Kingdom of Fasgard. Turns out, it’s quite a lot.

So many mysteries , bodies, zombies, and magic gone awry.

Cody’s having a blast rolling the dice in a serialized story that’s , in the author’s words, playing out in a “lighthearted, fun TTRPG vibe”. For those who don’t know what this is, it’s a tabletop role-playing game. You grab paper, pencil or pens, and game is on with a bunch of people in various roles. Dungeon & Dragons being the hallmark here.

This has all the feels and more. I love the characters and, especially in this chapter, we get more growth and history along with the “event a minute “ storyline. Dwarves and every aspect that even has a side dwarven element is just amazing. From the dwarven mead to their ability to accept any other being as a dwarf if they have grown up in a dwarven environment is incredible. We absolutely believe in these dwarves, yes, we do.

Armus and Inghram’s relationship is looking intriguing, Darian, Frost (the Unbearded, which I’m still giggling about) and Tavia, all the crew members are developing further. So is the sexy bond between Lawton and Berklak.

Cody’s expanding the boundaries of the darkness plaguing the Kingdom while giving us and the intrepid crew very little answers. Hopefully more will come soon in the next chapter.

Until then, enjoy these short wonderfully entertaining stories for the format as well as the spontaneity that it narratively captures so well!

Buy Link:

I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc: Crack Fantasy Adventure Chapter Three

Blurb:

Lawton:

I expected challenges along the way in this adventure, but I didn’t expect to come face to corpse with the work of another necromancer. It pains me, but I can’t let just anyone carry on creating potential wights and contagious zombies. Fortunately, I know exactly how to fix the problem, even if it drains me dry. Thankfully, I have a Berklak to help me recover.

Berklak:

Mead—that’s all I need. At least that’s what I think, until my little necromancer reaches for a weapon that could kill him, and I realize that I might need a little bit more in life than the drink of orcs. It’s a good thing Lawton’s ok with me setting boundaries, because I need him to be safe, whole, and energetic, even if I have to give him everything I am to make that happen.

I Went on an Adventure and All I Got Was This Barbarian Orc is a five chapter serial fantasy adventure with a light-hearted, fun TTRPG vibe. Expect big magic, lots of cuddles, plenty of steam, and a team of characters that might not get a natural 20 on every roll, but they make up for it with creative solutions to both magical and mundane problems.

Review: Light from the Grave by Sara Dobie Bauer

Rating: 5🌈

What a stunner! Sara Dobie Bauer’s recent release, Light from the Grave is such fabulous cornucopia of paranormal elements of powerful magical families, beautifully crafted characters textured with layers of darkness, grief, and death, set into the mossy, old southern landscape of Charleston, South Carolina. Bauer’s plot is a thriller of horrifying beauty.

I was immediately entranced by the characters, the raw emotion that the author keeps pulling out of her scenes and how she can carry those heart wrenching memories over into a new situation that becomes an entirely different experience. One that may have humorous overtones.

Everyone here, each character, from childhood to adulthood, has experienced gut wrenching loss. And that pain, that overwhelming grief continues to haunt them deeply in various ways.

Dylan Quinn’s lost his foster mother and he’s unable to process her loss. It’s not the first or last deep grief he’s had to deal with but it’s the most devastating.

Bauer’s nightmarish descriptions of Dylan’s pain feels so real, the emotional turmoil and endless loop of mourning raw and believable. The power of the memories doesn’t have to be magical to make us feel what it’s putting him through.

More subtle, and deadlier is Keller Rex. Keller too has deeply suffered, and ,in turn , caused unbelievable losses. He’s been sent to bring Dylan to the Zaine ancestral home in Charleston. What type of magical creature he is should be left to the story as it’s so much a part of the powerful narrative.

But it’s the growth and revelations that Kelley’s presence and the death of Vivian Zayne start to bring about in Dylan that’s brings the darkness and magic to this story.

I just wanted to jump in and start reading it again after I finished to see what I’d missed the first time around.

There’s battles, zombies, crazy families, familiars (wish more had been done with the bobcats), and quite a few bittersweet moments. And a fierce young girl, Raven, who needs more page time, as she’s a great character on her own.

Actually, Light from the Grave by Sara Dobie Bauer is bursting with darkly detailed and fabulous scenes that make a reader want more than was left on the page. More of the characters in that army, more backgrounds, just more. Because what we did get was so imaginative and marvelous that we naturally needed more. Of everything and everyone.

Yes, this beautifully written and plotted book is a must read. It’s dark fiction and romance, just a reminder. So if grief, dying and death isn’t your thing, this might not be either.

It’s definitely mine.

Buy Link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Light-G…Light From The Grave – Kindle edition by Bauer, Sara Dobie. Paranormal Romance …

Blurb:

I’m what nightmares are made of, but I’m not sure who’s more dangerous: him or me.

In the world of witches, Keller Rex is a legendary monster—a dark sorcerer with a gift for suffering. He has long been the protector of the Zayne coven and their ancestral home in Charleston, South Carolina. When the family matriarch, Vivian Zayne, dies under mysterious circumstances, he is tasked with finding the only person who can open her sealed Book of Shadows: the son no one knew she had.

Dylan Quinn has never bothered to figure out why cats follow him everywhere, but it’s been that way for as long as he can remember. After the unexpected passing of his adoptive mother, he had to make a new home for himself in small-town Ohio. Things have been quiet ever since, but lately, there are strange voices in his dreams and a sense of being watched.

When a striking Southern gent appears in town, Dylan welcomes the distraction. Keller is handsome and charming, but Dylan can tell there’s something else, something eerie about him. And he discovers he’s right, as Keller goes from being Dylan’s seducer… to his abductor.

Now back in Charleston, Dylan’s newfound family is shocked when it’s discovered his magical affinity is for death itself. Despite his fears, he’ll need to learn to control his terrifying powers in order to open the Zayne Book of Shadows. He also needs to keep his coven safe, and time is running out. The estate’s protective wards expire on Halloween, and power-hungry witches from all over are ready to pounce.

While Dylan’s awakening darkness threatens to overwhelm him, Keller finds himself confronted by feelings he thought long dead. Keller will do anything to protect his young necromancer and open Vivian’s Book of Shadows, but the Zaynes are in for a surprise when Dylan resurrects someone he shouldn’t.

• Publisher: Carnation Books (October 24, 2023)

• Publication date: October 24, 2023

• Print length: 352 pages

Review: Beauty and Bad Blood (Hunters Hollow Book 2) by Arden Steele

Rating: 4.5🌈

Arden Steele’s Hunter Hollow series continues with Beauty and Bad Blood. With some characters transplanted from the original series, Blackhaven Manor, we now have more paranormal stories about romance, mystery, and murder to get invested in.

This time, our new location is Hunters Hollow, owned by one of the Dragon siblings, and its township of mostly Otherlings. They tend to work for Ministry of Otherling Affairs in various fields. Now a new case has emerged and investigation team has been formed.

Among that team, newly arrived vampire, Agent Rogue. He’s among a team of MOA Otherlings agents assigned the task of finding what or who are killing young people , leaving them drained of blood.

Human Dylan Murray, true crime podcaster, is having a personal crisis. His best friend, Braeden, mate of nephillim Inspector Zarrik Cox, has been constantly telling him to come stay with them until he knows what he’s going to do next.

Two totally different personalities, one coffee shop, and one unassailable attraction. And several horrific murders to solve.

Steele’s narrative once again brings dramatic storylines to the fated mate trope. Dylan made an impression in Braeden’s book and he becomes an even more engaging, vulnerable character here. The author gives Dylan that layer of armor formed by parental negligence and emotional abuse that feels realistic along with a very real sense that he could still somehow get the love he wants.

Rogue’s backstory is not as fully explored but he’s a powerful character in the present. Especially as it pertains to his quickly evolving feelings towards Dylan.

Dylan’s reaction to Rogue and his actions, and how each handled their dynamics in developing their relationship was a good touch. Each side was open to communicating with each other and with other people. Absolutely beats the no communication approach in other situations.

I thought the mysteries and the murders were interesting but could have used further context or explanation. But that dramatic scene? Heart breaking, emotionally. No way around it.

Nothing that came later could take away from the power of that moment. And frankly, from there, everything was anticlimactic. I enjoyed the rest, but it was already over.

I can’t wait to see what and for who the next book is for. I’m sort of rooting for the new head elf Bastille. You never know. Steele keeps surprising me.

In the meantime, if you’re not already familiar with this universe, you can catch up by reading these in order . See below. Or go all in and go way back to the original series, read all nine books and join in the migration to Hunters Hollow!

I’m highly recommending them all.

Hunter’s Hollow:

✓ Angels and Anarchy #1

✓ Beauty and Bad Blood #2

Connected To:

Blackhaven Manor series-9 books

Blackhaven Manor9 booksArden Steele

Buy Link:

Beauty and Bad Blood (Hunters Hollow Book 2)

Blurb:

When a young woman turns up dead on the banks of the river with half her blood missing, vampires are the obvious suspects. Rogue Masters, however, doesn’t think the case is all that open and shut. As a special agent for the MOA Intelligence Division, it’s his job to find the truth. To do that, the last thing he needs is distractions.

So, of course, the most tempting distraction he’s ever seen strolls through the door of the local bakery, not just flipping the script, but rewriting it completely.

Stuck in a rut and drowning in his own insignificance, Dylan Murray needs a change. For starters, he needs to make a clean break from his selfish and demanding mother. It’s also probably a good time to swear off men, at least until he can get his life back on track. Spending some time in Hunters Hollow with his best friend is exactly what he needs to turn things around. The small town is quiet, a little boring, and completely free of the drama that plagued him in the city.

Now, if he can just stop thinking about a certain sexy vampire with penetrating eyes and a devilish smile, everything would be perfect.

Navigating the ups and downs of any new relationship is challenging. Doing so while searching for a killer will test more than just their commitment. When the worst happens, and Dylan joins the list of humans to mysteriously vanish from the French Quarter, Rogue will do whatever it takes to get his new mate back safely.

Even if that means becoming the very monster he’s meant to be hunting.

Review: Got Me Feeling(Vet Shop Boys Book 8) by Casey Cox

Rating: 3.75🌈

Got Me Feeling is the series finale for the sexy, heartwarming series by Casey Cox about a group of veterinarians, their clinic, and each man’s journey to HEA.

I’ve adored this series, found each story fascinating, and the manner in which each vet found their happiness a joy to read. Cats, funny t-shirts, lube soaps, twins, bakers, piglets, weddings gone wrong, the author has taken us and these caring people on quite the path to love.

Their stories have been written so that we feel like we know them. They’ve been humorous, serious, often thoughtful, sometimes very painful in what the different individuals have gone through, but always ultimately loving and satisfying in the end.

I don’t know why but I expected more from a finale story than I got with Locky and Roman, but I wanted a wrap up book that had a relationship that left me feeling a little more comfortable and happy than the one that was written here.

Maybe it’s just the elements that Cox introduced into the storyline for Roman’s character that weren’t conducive to the type of character and personality traits that he was supposed to have within him. He literally stalked Locky in the story. And instead of communicating to his brother, or Locky, the fact that he’s “investigating” Locky’s shady ex husband, he’s keeping secrets. Letting Locky continue to feel vulnerable and insecure as he heads towards his divorce. The voice that keeps telling Roman he’s a thug is the one I started to agree with, and not the one that everyone else says is a person who is in recovery.

Those issues are waived away in the book as “ok” because well, Roman loves Locky, and was doing things in his best interest. Am I the only one who thinks that these are flags?

Had more time been taken to explore these aspects of the relationship, I might have been more inclined to think that they were realistic in the dynamic and partnership. But so much was glossed over here.

Roman was straight until Locky, then he’s bi? Locky sexual? Pan? Was never straight. I’m not a fan of the GFY but this is another aspect that wasn’t really given depth. I’m attracted to you, let’s have sex. Ok.

The kitten thing was cute. The ex husband was a dramatic hurdle that was almost nonexistent.

Then everyone had a party to celebrate. Series over.

It all felt so rushed. From the relationship to the storyline and all the elements in between. Nothing seems especially well developed or balanced with aspects of each character trait left feeling a bit unsettled or unfulfilled.

Never felt realistic. And I thought as a finale I should have come away feeling happier and with a better overall picture of the group at this stage of their lives.

So final thoughts. It was a nice story but wasn’t one I would have expected from a series finale. Vet Shop Boys is a sexy, warm-hearted series and I found the tales very entertaining. Read them and enjoy.

Vet Shop Boys series so far:

✓ Got Me Hoping #1

✓ Got Me Wishing #2

✓ Got Me Looking #3

✓ Got Me Thinking #4

✓ Got Me Going #5

✓ Got Me Merry #6

✓ Got Me Talking #7

✓ Got Me Feeling #8 – finale

Buy Link:

Got Me Feeling (Vet Shop Boys Book 8)

Blurb:

I’m a thug. I’ve done bad things. And I’m straight… So why can’t I get the sexy Aussie vet out of my head?

When I showed up on my brother’s doorstep three years ago, I’d hit rock bottom. Broke and homeless, with a miles-long trail of destruction in my wake.

Those days are behind me. I’m rebuilding my life. Staying focused. Disciplined. Busy. If I’m not working to pay back my debts, I’m helping out at my brother’s animal shelter. Whatever it takes to keep my impulses under control.

And then I meet Locky, the new Aussie vet. His husband cheated, kicked him out, and is threatening to turn their divorce nuclear.

My newfound control snaps. I have to help, even if the smart thing to do would be to stay away.

I definitely shouldn’t give Locky a place to stay.
Or offer to be his wingman…with benefits.
Or get involved in his messy divorce.

Too late.

I may be straight, but Locky’s triggered every possessive instinct I have. And that’s what makes this situation dangerous. Because I do very bad things to protect the people I care about.

I’ve worked hard to start over, so why has Locky got me feeling I’d be willing to blow it all up for him?

Got Me Feeling is book 8 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, bi-awakening, forced proximity, a possessive thug who’s hiding a kitty-cute secret, and a heartwarming happily ever after!

Review: Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Rating:5+🌈

TA Moore, what a story! I love this so much! Although I feel I should put a titch of a warning out there for anyone looking for a feel good, cozy hearted romantic tale that they won’t get the book they’re looking for here.

A whopping fabulous story that has huge elements of horror, murder, mystery, and the paranormal. A bittersweetness and just plain bitterness, yes. All so beautifully written. But warm and fuzzy? Uh no.

But you kind of have to figure that goes hand in hand with a story who’s centered around a dead serial killer and his son who has to deal with the ramifications of the father’s debts. Not that his son isn’t as morally ambiguous a figure as dear old dad. He’s just not a serial killer.

Not in the entirety of this collection or in any recent books I’ve read have I met as intriguing and layered a character as Ledger Conroy. Moore could write legions of stories about him and Wren and never be done.

Ledger, son of convicted killer, Bell Conroy, returned to dispose of the old family house and the ghastly things that his dad might have left hidden inside. Why? Because , considering what they are, they would bring a profit. Ledger’s in the business of selling darkness, in the form of items, to people and beings who can use them. Yes, magic is real. And dear old dad dealt with the worst.

Every paragraph, every page adds depth and clarity of purpose to our character and history. Even as we get more information, I begrudge the the space the author isn’t able to give to the small elements introduced to fill out Ledger’s backstory. I need to know more about that sister!

Then there’s Wren, an otherworldly figure in service to a truly horrifying creature. I’ll leave Earl to the book. Make no mistake, Earl is one of the scarier nightmares to haunt any narrative.

Wren is a very complex being. One whose relationship with Ledger grows them emotionally in an unexpected manner , but doesn’t change what or who they are fundamentally just as it doesn’t Ledger.

This aspect of the story is probably the most interesting part about this. Moore stays true to her creations, neither of them becoming something they’re not but continuing to act /or emotionally maneuver within their respective personalities.

The plot is fantastic, a hunt for an object that belongs to Earl. Plus a short timetable and a horrific bargain that was made by Ledger. During this process, the Carnival of Mysteries is introduced and employed in a perfect way that not only is important to the game but has a profound impact on the outcome. Another exemplary usage of the overall theme.

There are several different storylines woven into the main theme of that have compelling endings, almost endings. There’s a tenuous quality to them, a vagueness that’s so satisfying and horrifying because, that’s what this tale calls for. You wish it wasn’t so but how else would it end?

Ledger and Wren have made it clear of the present danger. That’s the only spoiler I’ll give.

But what wouldn’t I give for Moore to send Ledger and Wren off on more murderous magical missions. Horror awaits. I hope the author is listening.

I’m highly recommending this to lovers of dark fiction and paranormal romance. I only wish I could rate it higher.

Spectacular cover. This collection’s artwork is amazing.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy link:

Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

The Carnival of Mysteries just arrived in Sutton County. They say if you cross the fortune teller’s palm with silver she can read your future like a map. Right now all Ledger Conroy wants to know is if he has a future.

Back in Sutton after over a decade, Ledger’s plan had been to bury his father–recently deceased convicted serial killer and less-well known warlock, Bell Conroy–clear the property, and then finally wash his hands of being a Conroy. Instead there’s a cured human heart in the larder, a pissed off pretty boy who is definitely not human at the door, and a debt to the devil that Ledger’s just inherited.

Devil. Monster. Something like that. He’d not asked for its pedigree

Whatever it was, it’s given Ledger a week to fulfill the terms of his father’s contract. Or else he’s never going to leave Sutton again. With pretty-boy Wren at his heels, more to make sure Ledger doesn’t skip town than to provide assistance, Ledger tries to track his father’s sins across Sutton. The problem is there’s so many of them.

Ledger is faced with old grudges, a Sheriff that thinks Ledger knows more about his father’s crimes than he’s ever said (and isn’t wrong), and a dead man with a book shop. Not to mention the on-going distraction of Wren, who can’t decide whether to be a hindrance, a help, or just hot.

Luckily Ledger has a nose for this sort of work.

Sting in the Tail is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a dealer in dark collectibles, a man who’s NOT people, and a monster with a debt it expects to be paid.”

— Sting in the Tail: Carnival of Mysteries by TA Moore

Review: The Black Robe of Flanders (Carnival of Mysteries) by Sara Ellis

Rating: 3.25🌈

The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis, part of the Carnival of Mysteries collection, has so much potential in its themes and characters but ultimately just doesn’t fulfill what it sets out to accomplish.

Set in 1936, the world is filled with pre WW2 political figures and elements. Hitler and his party is on the rise, the dangers he represents is being ignored by many of the world’s biggest corporations, while Jewish communities abroad as well as other marginalized groups are being targeted by the German government.

What makes this story different is the inclusion of a paranormal aspect. There’s individuals, on both sides, who are gifted with different abilities or Talents as they are called here. The US has the Council for the Promotion of Unusual Talents for example.

The UK has folded their operatives into side branches of their respective organizations. But this is an alternative universe in that respect.

But we get no idea where or how it happened. No historical record for this. That lack of foundation follows the same pattern throughout the entire story. It just all is. So why can’t we talk WWI? Anyway.

The two individuals that form the main couple are UK agent Alexander Skavadale, the most believable character here. And American author, Valentine Ford, who’s also a foreign correspondent. This character isn’t realistic in either role. There’s literally no groundwork laid down for him to make him feel or look like a foreign correspondent or even an author. Except to have someone say they have a book of his. He’s not credible.

The time period is 1936. But it should feel like 1936 in every aspect of the story. And except for the fact that they are running about trying to find “holy relics “ and prevent some Gestapo from doing some mystical things while mentioning Hitler, it really doesn’t feel like 1936. Not even close, including that dialogue.

Historical writing , especially including events, if you’re a writer locating everything in a certain country and context, is tricky to get right. Want to put everything in Germany or Belgium? Ok then make the assumption that everyone is speaking that language or sneak it into the narrative that your characters speak the language.

What not to do? Throw in the word “Danke” or “mein gott “ out of nowhere when literally there’s been no word of German spoken anywhere in the book. That will startle you and not in a good way. “Mein gott”. Then never see another foreign word again. SMH.

The Carnival shows up to deliver a play that should deliver a message but doesn’t make any sense. The first time they appeared was more on target. The second? Not so much. Actually they didn’t even need to be in the book at all.

The elements of the story that were nicely written are the ones that were focused on families. Val’s estrangement with his mother and subsequent reconciliation was heartwarming and believable. So were the scenes from the family home. All the felt emotionally satisfying and real.

Less so were the undercover agents and espionage elements. Indiana Jones comes across as more realistic and hardcore than most of this stuff does.

So what do we have? A good premise that wasn’t well executed imo. One good character, no real world building, but some lovely smaller elements. A bit of a mixed bag of a narrative. And a central collection theme that might as well have been not even mentioned.

I think Ellis set the bar high for herself and that’s wonderful. I look forward to seeing what she might do with her next story.

Fabulous covers, this one included.

Carnival of Mysteries series:

✓ Crow’s Fate by Kim Fielding❤️

✓ Step Right Up by L.A. Witt

✓ Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️

✓ Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr

✓ Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️

✓ Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️

✓ Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️

✓ Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️

✓ The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky

✓ Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver

✓ You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill♥️

✓ Sting in the Tail by TA Moore ♥️♥️

✓ The Black Robe of Flanders by Sara Ellis

◦ Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella – October 25

Buy Link:

The Black Robe of Flanders: Carnival of Mysteries

Blurb:

It’s the summer of 1936. Europe is at peace. Prosperity is beginning to return after the long, hungry years of the Great Depression, and new leaders have brought fresh ideas and what might actually be hope to country after country. People have enough money to spend at the shops, the cafes, even the shabby little kermesse that goes from town to town.

Life is good again, or will be soon….

Valentine Ford is a foreign correspondent who’s been on the Continent for almost a decade. He sees the warning signs of trouble to come, the cracks beginning to form in the happy facade, but no one will listen….

Alexander Skavadale is a covert agent who’s been on the job since the Great War. He’s heard rumors of trouble brewing, of rare artifacts disappearing to further a diabolical plan that no one can quite explain….

Two men from different worlds.

Two men with a common goal.

Two men facing an enemy they cannot imagine, forced to work together to stop a plot that could seal the fate of Europe, and the world, for generations to come.

And might just seal their fate as well.

Review: The Demon Undertaker (Possessive Love) by Alex J. Adams

Rating: 2.5 🌈

The Demon Undertaker (Possessive Love) by Alex J. Adam’s is another book in the Possessive Love collection that’s written by an author new to me.

I thought the premise of a mortuary run by demon brothers a terrific idea. Bury the bodies, collect the souls of the nasty ones. Or whatever. Doesn’t mention what happens to all the other souls of the people they bury, which should be a lot.

Even better, the author had the demons locate the whole business to a section of town where the population was old and aging out. But there’s an issue logically here only slightly mentioned as business getting slow. The errors are in the design and development here.

It was also noted that it was a bad sector of town but that went nowhere in the narrative and I thought it was a missed opportunity.

There’s so many elements here that are not very well explained or even understood. That includes the characters.

There’s poor Kieran who lost his beloved husband of 5 years to cancer and is still lost in his grief. That’s natural. There’s no timetable for mourning the loss of someone you’ve deeply loved. And everyone here is pushing him to move forward as they are worried about him.

However, as the story goes, Kieran is lost in his grief so deeply he’ll make a deal with a demon to bring hubby back to immediately he’s fine now and having sexual relations. Was any of that believable? No. Just no foundation work laid out for this transition to make sense.

Let’s talk demons. Who aren’t particularly demonic. Or scary even. They have a caring Mom and Dad down in Hell looking after them, and a cute Hellhound who’s not particularly hellish itself. I find some trick or treaters more frightening.

Mal doesn’t like humans until he does, because, look Kieran is his fated mate!!

Then drama from out of the blue arrives because, idk, it was needed, but had no foundation.

The lesbian couple Kieran worked with was the best part of the story aside from the premise which went nowhere and was wasted.

That was the real shame here. Because that original premise of this story? Interesting, and ultimately lost.

What happens when you are in a neighborhood that ages out and the turnover is all younger? If you’re only taking the nasty souls, what’s going on with the souls of the other bodies that you are burying? So many questions that could have been raised and answered in a story that was written with that premise in mind.

Not a recommendation unless you are a fan of the author. Then it’s up to you.

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

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

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

✓ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen ❤️♥️

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

✓ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link :

The Demon Undertaker: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour: Where we bury the bodies and reap the SOULS!

Mal

Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, the family business; we bury the bodies and reap the souls, it’s what we do.

“Be nice to the humans, Mal.” My father insists. “Humans are our business.”

I don’t do humans. I don’t like humans. They’re tedious, but I’m cold and unfeeling. They mean nothing to me.

But then he walks in; sad eyes, sallow skin, a man grieving for his lost love. It’s all I can do not to hide him away and take care of him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen; now I don’t know how to handle these feelings.

Doesn’t he know I’m a demon, not a lover?

Jason

“It’s time to move on, Jase.” Kristine’s words ring in my ears as I enter Perfect Shores Funeral Parlour, but that isn’t what I have in mind.

You see, I’ve heard of a man that can bring him back from the dead and I’ll do anything to hold him in my arms again. Kieran was my world until his ended.

But then there he is. Tall, dark and brooding, but he’s not the one I’m here to see. He’s not the one that can bring Kieran back to me.

Something about him, though. I can’t explain how he brings a long-forgotten smile to my face, how my stone-cold heart beats a little faster.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to happen.

But he’s a demon, not my dead lover.

The Demon Undertaker is part of the Possessive Love series featuring a demon and a human.

An MM standalone featuring a demon with no clue, a human with no clue, an annoying brother and a cute hellhound! Plenty of steam abounds!

TW – mentions the death of a loved one

Review: Son of the Arch Demon (Possessive Love) by Amanda Meuwissen

Rating: 5 🌈

Well, this made me exceptionally happy. In a collection about demons from hell finding a mate and a relationship, in whatever form that may take, I have a story where the characters are actually coming across as demonic. With a few minor exceptions. And hell’s no vacation spot.

Amanda Meuwissen’s tale of love and demons is an intriguing affair. I love it when a collection reacquaints me with an author I haven’t read in a while with outstanding results, and that’s what I found here.

Immediately the author gives us a compelling opening . It’s Avriel’s 21st birthday and he’s feeling a bit out of sorts, even for him. From beautifully detailed descriptions of the characters and their personalities and lives , the reader is intimately familiar with the situation as the story begins and understands the types of people involved. Avi is immediately real and grounded in his small group of friends and college town.

And when he dies, it’s gut wrenching. That’s not a spoiler. It’s in the blurb and how he changes into his true self. But are we still prepared for it? No.

Then there’s Marchosias, the demon imp, also known as Marc. He’s the other half of this incredibly complicated, emotional narrative. From the start, Marc has a surprising history and agenda that prompts a character development that’s both in keeping with his demonic tendencies and newfound sense of self worth. It’s an exceptional journey.

But it’s done in tandem with the changes brought forth by the death and rebirth of Avi’s demon nature. And the battles they face from the Princes of Hell.

Meuwissen was so clever in using the seven deadly sins as avatars for the Princes of Hell. How they manifested themselves in the earthly realm I’ll leave to the book as well as those formidable battles. Just outstanding on every level.

Even the other characters that support Avi and Marc are so good in their roles and depth of personality. The father who is just glimpsed until the later stages still has a strong sense of self. The cast is believable and grounded in emotion and real life, even given the paranormal nature of the situations.

Let’s get to the part where there’s pain, blood, suffering, and death, because yes, these are demons. There may be a beauty in their brutality and otherworldly physicality but they are definitely demons. It’s reflected in the evolving relationship between Avi and Marc, the conflicted nature of their roles as Avi changes and Marc becomes more aware of his own feelings. Such an emotional connection and excellent element of this story.

Avi and Marc have decisions to make if possible. That’s part of the amazing story and the author’s ability to create a great narrative. I won’t spoil it but will say this is my favorite of the collection. And I’m delighted to have rediscovered this author once more.

Grab this one up if paranormal fiction and romances are your wheelhouse.

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

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

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

✓ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen ❤️♥️

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

✓ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link :

Son of the Arch Demon: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Sometimes the high road leads straight to Hell.

Avriel

Turning twenty-one is almost universally seen as the age of transformation, of coming into one’s own, reaching adulthood, and sometimes even as a symbol of death and rebirth. I never knew how literal that last part could be until, on my twenty-first birthday, I died and was resurrected as a demon.

Well, half-demon and would have died if I wasn’t prophesized to become the Antichrist and take over the world. All I wanted was to survive graduation, achieve my dream of becoming an artist, and maybe have Marc, the hot new guy who I thought liked me for me, be anything other than a lust demon hoping to guide me on my path to the apocalypse.

Marchosias

Occasionally, ya gotta make yer own destiny, my lovelies, so when I found a thin spot in the veil between Hell and earth, I leapt right through it. Sensing the soon-to-be successor to the throne of Hell, I insinuated myself on campus and into his life to await his awakening and fell to my knees in supplication once he did. Pity Avi is so set on denying his destiny.

But I can convince him. I will serve and aid and arouse my master in whatever manner necessary to get what I want. I’ve been an underling, a doormat, a lesser demon for far too long, and his path to glory is going to be mine.

Son of the Arch Demon is part of the MM paranormal romance collaboration Possessive Love.

Review: Curiosity Caught the Demon (Possessive Love) by Travis Beaudoin

Rating: 3.5 🌈

Travis Beaudoin is another new to me author and I liked his story in the Possessive Love collection.

But I didn’t love it. Or emotionally connect with the characters. And I think that’s due to manner in which the first person point of view was written. The author had the main character addressing the reader directly which has the effect of throwing the reader out of the immediate situation or context. In the many scenes , it felt “as told to” because Gremory the Prince of Hell ended up describing the actions he had taken/would take to the reader or his boyfriend, Scotty Campbell.

That distance from the source of the drama kept me from “seeing” what was happening in real time. It removes the reader from the actual events, disconnecting us because we are listening to Gremory’s thoughts or conversations. If it’s a conversation, the demon is editing it to accommodate his human’s feelings and needs. So Scotty and us are getting a tame PG or milder version than what you would expect from a demon Prince bent on revenge and a bit of destruction.

Same goes for the relationship. It’s PG 13, while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s hard for me to reconcile that with a demon prince who’s decided on a mate and course of action.

So I feel the potential for a deeper, more complex relationship and storyline exists here (the Curiosity shop is well done, with lovely touches like the photos with Scotty and his grandmother). But it’s never fully realized and in most cases, that potential is lost.

A two person pov might have been better to see a wider picture. I’m not talking about the weird body sharing as that raised more questions than it answered.

But it had some interesting elements and neat details that make it stand out.

Sampling the novels from the Possessive Love collection? Check out Curiosity Caught the Demon (Possessive Love) by Travis Beaudoin and see what you think.

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

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

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae – DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

✓ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

Curiosity Caught the Demon: An MM Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

He pulled me into his world by mistake. Now I’m trying like hell to bring him into mine.

It’s hard to surprise Gremory. He’s been around for millennia, after all. But when this Duke of Hell is accidentally summoned by Scotty Campbell, the big-hearted owner of a struggling antique shop, he realizes there are still people in the world who can provoke his curiosity.

As Gremory lets himself get tangled up in human emotions and earthly delights, Scotty’s big heart and quiet strength become irresistible. What started out as strictly business will blossom into a connection that will stretch the laws of Heaven, Hell, and the local village council.

From witty banter to steamy encounters to the genuine joy two kindred souls find when they work toward a common goal, their relationship will push them farther than they ever expected to go. Sparks will fly, but will they be able to save Scotty’s shop in time for the town’s annual Halloween Festival?

Review: Cuddly Demon by (Possessive Love) by Aster Rae

Rating: 2 DNF

From the author’s notes, she normally writes contemporary Daddy kink stories and this is her first paranormal romance without any of her usual sexual elements.

As I’ve never read any of her books, I have nothing to compare this with, but the idea of writing outside of a contemporary fiction story is looking problematic.

Immediately there’s questions popping into my head. Mostly about character development and background. Or lack of.

A blue demon called Onyx (black) who after being sealed away for 3,000 years immediately knows what modern cities (New York, cardigans , libraries) and objects are by name and use. The oceans now have western names for them in his mind after 3, 000 years of being entombed. But ok. Nothing seems to bother him. He accepts the modern world Saint inhabits and the wishes he grants (make him terrific at the new online game that just came out for example) but is flummoxed over other technologies? Made no sense.

So it acts like a djinn but a millions year old demon who knows things. And immediately they are kissing. Right after some of the worst dialogue I’ve read in a while.

Keep in mind Saint has just summoned this demon off of a TikTok, they just talked and it’s straight to boyfriend status. SMH

“I’m a virgin. I’ve never been with a man, and that makes me a loser to most other humans.” My eyes never leave his. “

“You’re wrong. Demons can’t control who they’re attracted to. Like you’d expect, my brothers were attracted to bad boys. Ones who walked the streets of Etruria picking up married men. They liked correcting their behavior, typically through spankings. I’m different.” “

I like that you’re different.” “

I’m a softer, more sensitive demon. Bad boys have their appeal, but I like sweeter guys. Ones who know how to cuddle, be open with their feelings,….””

— Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae

I’m flipping page’s now because there’s no real depth here. They are tip toeing thru the tulips, holding hands across the campus. I’m thinking you summoned a demon. Where’s the surprise? The amazement? The denial? Nopes. It’s look at the blue hottie!

That blue hottie is supposedly from Hell. Are we getting any fumes here?

No just more nonsensical stuff like:

“What language is that?” I ask, lifting my gaze to meet his. “It’s Etruscan,” he responds, his voice soft. “I picked it up after I left Hell as a young demon. It’s like a second nature to me.””

Or language. But ok.

When Saint actually says hell scares him with all those flames and dead people , I burst out laughing (not that he knows what he is talking about). I don’t think I was meant to. Especially since Onyx tells him it’s not that bad and makes it sound like a daycare but really hot.

And I knew then I wasn’t going to finish the book. Life is too short and there’s so many more books to read.

If you’re a fan of this author, then go ahead and pick it up. That’s my only suggestion.

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

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

✓ Cuddly Demon by Aster Rae DNF

✓ My Demon Husband by Jax Stuart ♥️

✓ Exercising A Demon by H.L Day ♥️

✓ Drop Dead Demon by B. Ripley ❤️

✓ The Demon’s Dealbreaker by Delaney Rain

◦ My Demon Rebound by Ashlynn Mills

◦ Curiosity Caught the Demon by Travis Beaudoin

◦ My Saintly Demon by RM Neill

◦ Terrible Lovely Demon by Odessa Hywell

◦ Son of the Arch Demon by Amanda Meuwissen

◦ Recalling My Demon by Colette Davison

◦ The Demon Undertaker by Alex J. Adams

◦ Gift for a Demon by Emily Alter

Buy Link:

Cuddly Demon

Blurb:

I didn’t expect the summoning spell I found on Tik Tok to work.

I’m Saint. I’m your average, run-of-the-mill, overstressed college sophomore. My boyfriend prospects are nil, and that’s assuming I even have time for a partner.

Ha. An English major with free time. That’s a good one.

When I use a spell I found in a viral Tik Tok video to help me with an assignment, the last thing I expect is for a super ripped blue-skinned demon to show up in the campus library.

My demon’s name is Onyx, and his last master locked him in an Etruscan tomb three thousand years ago. Onyx tells me that he’s here to do my bidding and I think that sounds great, to be honest. He quickly finishes my classwork and even makes a new game I’ve wanted appear out of nowhere.

Onyx’s assistance comes with a price. As it turns out, he was shut up in the cave because his last master refused to pay up.

I ask Onyx what his price is, and he tells me he demands… cuddles. And kisses. And lots and lots of… other things.

Looks like I conjured up more than I bargained for…

Cuddly Demon is a paranormal MM romance with a sweet college student who needs hugs, a demon with a gentle hand, a wedding in Hell, and a sugary sweet guaranteed happily ever after. It’s part of the multi-author Possessive Love series.