Tag: #newbookreleases

Review: A Blacksmith’s Guide to Dragon-Rearing (Dragons of Safe Haven #2) by Julia Huni

Rating: 4⭐️

Not quite sure how you would categorize this, a cozy dragon fantasy? With a no spice romance aspect to it?

It has many interesting and well thought out elements to it, ones I really found intriguing but somehow got lost in the narrative here. 

The first book revealed the existence of this mysterious island where multiple species coexisted peacefully between warring magical countries, hidden by fae magic behind barriers none could penetrate unless they were fated to. Like a dying “retired” war witch from one country and an equally retired dragon rider soldier from the opposing side, whose life he feels is over, betrayed by his king. Both of whom find themselves on the island, and eventually become friends then wedded partners. From enemies to lovers.

It’s was a great tale that was made better by the discovery of sea dragons. 

Huni’s story contains a great deal of detailed backstory on the countries at war, war witches, dragon riders, the new king, the island’s political system, and the other beings who make up the community there . And the rules   I mean it’s a lot. Mostly in the first book.

But here it’s Nevan and Franisa Hearthwell’s story. Each one was a secondary character before, but they are, primarily due to Nevan becoming a dragon rider, into the forefront. It’s a romantic story but they don’t have much time for that to develop. It’s the community and friends who are telling each of them about how the other is feeling. Plus there’s an entire “fake engagement “ aspect to this story that launches their romance. 

It’s too much “as told to” to be believable. Where the first relationship between William and Cala was and is remains totally credible. They are so well established and intriguing people. 

The dragons element is reduced down to one important one and that’s Starlight. She’s developing into an amazing character. There appears to be a new element, the wounded fire dragon from William’s country and with one of his former unit squadron members. Unfortunately right now, that person is just a one dimensional character. Hopefully, he’ll grow some or this aspect of the series will end up very one note coded. 

I’m looking forward to seeing where this author goes next with all these characters and storylines. A definite recommendation. 

Cover designed by Mariah Sinclair Designs 

Dragons of Safe Haven (3 book series):

A Dragon Rider’s Guide to Retirement #1

A Blacksmith’s Guide to Dragon-Rearing #2

A Rider’s Guide to Dragon Healing #3 – Sept 30,2026

Buy link

 Book 2 of 3: Dragons of Safe Haven 

Blurb 

Raising dragons is easier than raising a five-year-old. Probably.

Nevan never planned on becoming a dragon rider. He was perfectly content swinging a hammer in the forge—until an injured dragon rider retired to Safe Haven. Now paired with the runt of the clutch, Nevan is supposed to help train the island’s brand new sea dragon fire brigade. That means long days, soaked clothing, and a growing suspicion that dragons like to play matchmaker.

Franisa Hearthwell has enough on her plate. Widowed at an early age, she’s running the island bakery, raising two children, and fending off a meddlesome dwarven in-law who thinks her son belongs in the mine. When desperation strikes, she blurts out a solution that’s equal parts brilliant and ridiculous: she’s betrothed to Nevan.

But Nevan has adored Franisa since childhood. And fake betrothals have a way of attracting real feelings, curious neighbors, and dragons who seem very invested in romantic outcomes.

As fire threatens the village, an injured war dragon seeks refuge, and Safe Haven rallies around its own, Nevan and Franisa discover that bravery comes in many forms—and that family can be forged as surely as iron.

Dragons, fresh bread, found family, and a seaside village full of heart—welcome back to Safe Haven.

A cozy fantasy with a reverse-age-gap, fake engagement, friends-to-lovers romance that won’t steam your glasses. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic, and Jane Austen’s Dragons—a cozy fantasy that smells faintly of woodsmoke, sea spray, and warm cinnamon rolls.

IPH Media, LLC

Publication date

March 31, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

324 pages

Book 2 of 3

Dragons of Safe Haven

Review: Vision & Venture: The Glyphwright Chronicles – Book 4 by Jeremy Fabiano

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Reading Jeremy Fabiano’s The Glyphwright Chronicles is like coming home, to a cosy warm village that feels like a somewhere you feel safe and comfortable, happy and wanted. Where the people are those you’ve gotten to know, the shops are now familiar, and when the carriages spot the turning wheel of the mill and the lights of the town on the return road home, your heart is just as filled with joy as that of the characters. 

The author rarely makes a single error in his series of two journeymen glyphwrights as they’ve become first friends, now partners, who have found themselves together with their fiancé or wives, friends and family members in a community that values them and their contributions. 

Vision & Venture picks up right after the events of the last story. Marcus and Felix are buying the building that will house their families, sister Rose, visitors, their businesses and warehouse as well as sales front. 

It’s a heartfelt narrative that brings both sides together, the science behind all the various aspects of the magic or technology each character has and the real power of community that Fabiano continues to grow here. We meet new people and shops, get ingenious new ideas and devices, and, of course, a dramatic challenge that each person here must face in their own way.   It’s realistic, engaging and the engineering and technology is incredibly interesting. And it’s always fiercely connected with the people who are working on it and with it. 

That’s what’s really exciting. There’s no separation of human elements from the technology or magical aspects of their work. They make mistakes, recognize when they need to go in another direction. 

In other words, this feels so relatable and we can really connect with each of them. 

The only misstep I could see was with Felix’s mother, who has been deeply abusive emotionally to him for years. His father has been reconnecting with him, without saying anything to his mother. But there’s an entire dramatic scene here where his mother changes her “attitude “ about his future wife, job, partner, in an emotional outburst. It’s very nice to see and have that happen. But is it realistic to think that after years of mental cruelty and emotional abuse she’s immediately going to be a different woman? I don’t think so.  That’s a child’s wish for everything to be okay, for things to be normal. A golden fairytale glow. 

But maybe that’s what the author is going for. The golden glow of the hearth, the warmth of the fire and the joy of friendship at the end of the day. A cozy little town at the end of the road. 

We will leave it there. And enjoy Vision & Venture: The Glyphwright Chronicles – Book 4 by Jeremy Fabiano for the heartwarming tale it is. 

Two more books to go. I’m there for all of them. 

 Cover design by Jacqueline Sweet Design

 Glyphwright Chronicles (4 book series):

  • Ashes & Anchors #0.5 (Erasmus’s backstory)
  • Ink & Intent  #1
  • Wards & Measures #2
  • Trades & Treaties #3 
  • Vision & Venture #4
  • Glyphs & Merit #5 – 
  • Legacy & Succession #6

Buy link

 Book 4 of 6: The Glyphwright Chronicles 

Blurb 

Marcus and Felix have a building to fix up, a best friend preparing for his Master certification, and a wedding that’s already taking on a life of its own. For the first time, everything feels like it’s falling into place.

Then the Guild rejects all four of their advancement applications. Instead of explanations, the Guild throws them into a public test against a real food shortage with real consequences.

Millbrook bets their food supply on them anyway.

Now they have to prove their methods work at scale, under full Guild scrutiny. Everything they’ve built depends on what happens next.

A cozy fantasy with LitRPG progression, found family, community trust, and the discovery that sometimes the people who believe in you are the ones you didn’t know were watching.

Pour yourself something warm, settle into your favorite reading spot, and discover that building a future is harder than saving a kingdom.

April 8, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

394 pages

Book 4 of 6

The Glyphwright Chronicles

Review: Penny For Your Thoughts (Shadowy Solutions #5) by Nicky James

Rating: 4.75🌈

Penny For Your Thoughts is the fifth book in Nicky James fantastic series , Shadowy Solutions. It’s a series that quickly became a hit with me, surpassing the original series it’s connected with, that of Valor and Doyle.  I feel parts of Valor and Doyle became repetitive, although Aslan is a huge hit with me.

But the complexity of the dynamic between Tallus Domingo and deeply damaged PI Diem Krause, each with a legacy of parental violence, family domestic abuse, and childhood trauma. But one who carries the deepest visible scars as well as the emotional traumatic memories. Ongoing pain and PTSD.  That’s Diem, who has tremendous anger issues and anxieties as well as substance abuse problems. 

Over the course of 5 novels, James has built up, albeit slowly and realistically, a hard won relationship between these two very different men. It’s been compelling to watch and read about as Diem fights with his demons, and both have to devise ways to make their lives work for themselves. 

Even here, Diem has to make the decisions about his use of alcohol and cigarettes, even as his father and family life has the greatest impact on his life. 

I’m not sure if James is finishing the series with the story or not. I would be happy if this was the finale.

It’s got a terrific storyline. All the crossover characters are here from Valor and Doyle in meaningful scenes. Aslan, Fox, Quaid, Costa and Kitty Lavender.

Then there’s Darcy Gingrick, Echo, and Baby the snake, that actually gives both Tallus and Diem as touching family, of sorts. Especially, Darcy, what an incredible element he turns out to be. 

This is one of my favorites of the series. And if it’s the finale, I’m absolutely satisfied with how everyone is left at the end. 

There’s an extra bonus story, The Baby Visit, linked at the end of the book.  Don’t miss out on this one. Sweet bonus and intimate window into a favorite side character. 

Highly recommended. 

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow Designs

Same Universe:

Valor and Doyle (8 book series)

 Shadowy Solutions (5 book series):

Skeletons in the Closet #1

Power of the Mind #2

Reading Between the Lines #3

A Breath of Life #4

Penny For Your Thoughts #5

Buy link

 Book 5 of 5: Shadowy Solutions 

Blurb 

Diem never thought he would have a steady boyfriend and enough cases to keep his business in the green. He never thought his nana would live to be ninety-three.

Life is, dare he say, good?

He could do to drink less, and he still needs to quit smoking, but he’s getting there.

He’s happy.

In love.

If he could manage his stress, life might even turn out to be… great?

But then Tallus arranges dinner with his parents, where Diem faces questions about commitment and weddings and a weekend bonding trip with a stepfather he doesn’t know.

And a resident of Nana’s nursing home ends up involved in a twisted version of a grandparent scheme, so Diem agrees to investigate. The police clearly aren’t doing their job.

It’s all downhill from there.

The case somehow leads to Diem figuratively adopting the most obnoxious teenager imaginable. A boy whose troubled life reflects Diem’s past. A boy who is deeply entwined in a con far more complex than he realizes.

One misstep tips their hand. The hunter becomes the hunted. Diem and Tallus—and their unfortunate sidekick—are in a race against the clock, desperate to nail the person responsible before he skips the country… or seeks revenge.

So much for reducing stress.

Amidst the chaos, Diem finds himself bonding with his petulant rescue-teen. Diem is nobody’s role model, but the boy’s incessant questions open Diem’s mind and heart to things he never thought possible.

Things that make him think that maybe life could be… amazing.

*This is the fifth installment in the Shadowy Solution series. It is a same-couple mystery series with mental health rep, size difference, and a sassy vs surly dynamic. The series should be read in order for full enjoyment*

March 26, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

461 pages

Book 5 of 5

Shadowy Solutions

Review:  This Guy (Wood Hollow Book 1) by Lane Hayes 

Rating: 4.5🌈

Lane Hayes has written narrative gold with her Vermont based Four Forest town’s universe, and I’m not talking maple syrup, although I won’t be surprised if this factors in eventually. 

First off, there was the 6 book fabulous series, The Elmwood Stories, which was written about NHL hockey players who found themselves in the small town of Elmwood, where they found love, happiness and established a hockey base for kids and players for the summer. It built slowly but surely over 6 novels and we started meeting people outside of town, including those from Wood Hollow, and the mill. 

Well, it’s Wood Hollow’s time! The town has begun its own restoration and become a great charming place to live, with the mill’s prosperity being a huge part of this.

Silas, a veteran NFL player who has come to the end of his career, is facing a difficult time in his life. Divorced, a career that has ended, and no idea how to go forward, the pressure sends him to his friend’s rental property in Wood Hollow, Vermont, for a break. 

His next door neighbor is Cooper, who is a bisexual divorced father of two children, and the manager of the Wood Hollow lumber mill. Cooper is a hometown man, who loves his community and his family. And isn’t prepared for the handsome football player he rescues from a snowstorm.

This Guy is an excellent romance and start into a new series in this universe. The men are relatable, their struggles are written in a way that makes them feel real and understandable. The pressures each of them are facing, whether it’s Silas from his ex-wife’s new publicity with her own relationship or, perhaps even more realistic, Cooper’s personal struggles with his dynamics with his ex-wife and the way they both feel about their separation from their children. 

Here’s what I find so well written by Hayes. There’s no demonizing of anyone’s ex’s here. Any potential for a traumatic event? It’s handled by communication, like adults, without involving the children. Thank you.  Same goes for Silas and his ex wife. They remain friends and understand why they didn’t work out as marriage partners. 

I know I shouldn’t have to point this out, but honestly, it’s rare enough that I see it in my stories that I point it out when I see it.

The children are beautifully animated and feel true to their ages. Adore them. 

That dramatic moment? Fabulous! Heartwarming and perfect for the couple and as a family we have come to love. 

I can’t wait for the next story to come out. I love this entire world that Hayes is creating! 

Highly recommended!

Cover Design by Sleepy Fox Studio

Four Forest towns  of Vermont Universe – see note below 

The Elmwood Stories (6 book series)- I love this series ❤️ it mentions the lumber mill and introduces the Four Forest towns. It’s hockey meets Vermont small town ❤️.

Wood Hollow Series:

This Guy #1

Sweet Something #2 – TBR summer 2026

Four Forest area of Vermont are : Wood Hollow, Elmwood, Pinecrest, and Fallbrook. The Elmwood Stories ❤️ series is complete

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 1: Wood Hollow Stories 

Blurb 

The football star, the lumberjack, and a small-town love story…

Silas

Not to sound dramatic, but I can’t decide if I’m a hot mess, a has-been…or both.

There’s nothing quite like being in the spotlight at my lowest point. I could use a break from LA and my agent—just for a little while.

But Vermont in the middle of a blizzard? Probably not a great idea. However, the sexy lumberjack who lives next door is a sweet surprise. And so are his kids and the town.

I like this place. I could be happy here…at least till my new season begins.

Cooper

My time is split between work and fatherhood. That’s it. Boss and Dad. Maybe that’s why the football star is a breath of fresh air. Silas is funny, charismatic, and cool.

My kids love having a celebrity living next door. And me? I can’t remember the last time I felt quite so alive.

Yes, I’m well aware this isn’t going anywhere. Our worlds are just too different.

Too bad, ’cause this guy feels like the real thing.

This Guy is an MM bisexual, single dad, small-town romance featuring a football hero, a sexy lumberjack, and some neighbor-friendly shenanigans.

date

March 25, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

304 pages

Book 1 of 1

Wood Hollow Stories

Review:  Relentlessly Vengeful Ghost (Mafia Bound Book 5) by K.M. Neuhold 

Rating: 4.5🌈

I have the feeling the Neuhold is wrapping up the series with book 6, so Relentlessly Vengeful Ghost is the penultimate story to start bringing the main series plots to a close and get all the Moretti family brothers or those who are famiglia happily mated and the crime clan successfully going forward. 

There’s many in this trope of Mafia crime family romance fiction, often it’s involving a fantasy or paranormal element. Here it’s straightforward and simple. It’s crime, their romantic partners are often those who have been greatly damaged by another criminal gang or person, and they are often as dangerous as the Moretti family member who comes to love them. 

There’s a lot of fun, D/s  relationships with most of the Moretti family being the sub in the dynamic. The author creates with each relationship, a great story, a heartfelt albeit intriguing dynamic, and always a fascinating plot that makes compelling reading.

Ghost, a young man who has “died” at the hands of the Sleepless Reaper gang, but was revived by doctors at the ER. Now, without memories of his former life, he’s vengeance and his mission is to annihilation of the gang that preyed on him and others. 

Alessio is the Moretti who is thought of as easygoing, a bit too much maybe. But that’s a just a role he plays in an organization full of big, talented and extremely brutal players. 

Then he encounters a thief in his penthouse and everything changes. 

I loved this book. The twists. The way the characters show growth and the ability to make real decisions and progress as adults. 

There are trigger warnings mentioned. Read them. 

All my other favorite characters are in here, not to the extent I’d want but it’s not their book. It’s Ghost and Alessio’s. And it’s terrific. 

Lots of dead bodies, bad memories, kinky sex, hot men, great dialogue, and those Moretti family . Including their partners. 

Fabulous! Highly recommended. Read them as they are written. It helps to understand how they all come together. 

Next up is Lorenzo Moretti, the head of the family. And the family. He’s left with a heartbreaking story here. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Cover Designer Natasha Snow

Mafia Bound (6 book series):

Deadly Little Sparrow #1❤️

Beautifully Savage Butterfly #2

Unhinged Little Angel #3 ❤️

Desperately Delicate Viper #4

Relentlessly Vengeful Ghost #5 ❤️

Devil in Armani #6 – Nov 6, 2026

Buy link

 Book 5 of 6: Mafia Bound 

Blurb 

I didn’t know the house I broke into belonged to a mafioso, and now my revenge arc is a lot more complicated.

7 years ago, I died. Nameless, forgotten, left in a ditch after an overdose. I don’t know who saved me or why. God? Satan? A good Samaritan whose name I’ll never know? It doesn’t really matter.

I don’t know who I used to be. My name, my past, they were buried. But somehow, I’m still here.

I’m not the only one the Sleepless Reapers have used and abused, but I will be the last, if I have anything to say about it.

I don’t need the attention of a mafioso. Even if Alessio is fun to play with, and even more fun to make beg. But I don’t have time for his devotion or his pretty, breathless pleas.

I have a score to settle, and I can’t rest until every last Sleepless Reaper is six feet under.

Alessio makes me feel something other than hatred for the first time that I can remember. He makes me hope one day I might be more than a ghost driven by vengeance. He can’t pull me out of the darkness, but maybe we can keep each other company in the shadows until all our demons are exorcized.

Review: Masquerade (Knight and Daywalker Book 3) by Sam Burns

Rating: 3.75🌈

Masquerade finishes out the urban fantasy trilogy of Knight and Daywalker by Sam Burns and I have to admit it’s a little underwhelming. 

Both Smokescreen and Façade were excellent. The plots were very well executed and the characters were engaging and the growing relationships between Flynn Knight and his day walker vampire boyfriend, Davin Byrne, just were so well done. And that goes for the intriguing side characters like the scary void kitten Twist and the paranormal siblings who run the confectionery shop. Love them. 

But this story feels rushed. As though Burns had so many elements and unfinished storylines that had big implications that were never really explored but had to go into this book anyway.  Some were lovely while introducing new characters.

But most of all the storylines were just too one layered. There was no substance to them. 

I suppose that’s because there’s no page time for many main series plots to be developed and executed at the last book, often in the very last chapters.  So it feels underwhelming and certainly rushed into an ending where the villain gets his comeuppance, the characters their happy ending but the reader isn’t exactly satisfied. 

Spoilers. Don’t read further if you don’t want to know. 

The villain is revealed, as is his longtime nefarious plan that heinously threatens to destroy all dragons and a terrible magical machine. None of these are given much as far as depth of in storyline knowledge or exploration of any other laid out foundation. It’s more here they are or someone says they exist. It’s very superficial. 

The “dramatic rescue” as well as the preceding arrival of Flynn’s father, missing for decades, again given short shrift narratively speaking. The father is used basically to give Flynn’s mother a HEA, but we know nothing about him or his captivity.  He appeared and it’s happy family once again.

The rescue and fight isn’t much fun. No one lives up to any expectations of power or possible magical growth. Even Twist falls short.  And worse, when the cells , full of traumatized broken dragons, plus others who’s got wounds to be healed, instead of dealing directly with their injuries, Flynn’s dithering about in his head with “stuff “, for pages.  Which makes me lose interest and patience. 

Burns has made a big deal of Flynn being neurodivergent, but , imo, this is the worst decision to make narratively in the scene. The dragons and others are suffering and Flynn’s not paying attention to what’s happening instead of getting things done right away. It’s Davin to the rescue instead.  

I believe had this been stretched out to four books instead of cramming everything together into a trilogy, things might have been better handled. Or maybe not.

But as is, Masquerade as a finale and a story is too rushed and underdeveloped. Which is unfortunate because this had so much potential to be outstanding. 

Read them in the order they were written. 

Cover art © 2025 by Natasha Snow 

Knight and Daywalker :

  • Smokescreen #1
  • Façade #2 
  • Masquerade #3 – finale 

Same universe as 

THE FANTASTIC FLUKE-complete ❤️

The Fantastic Fluke 

Fluke and the Faithless Father

 Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco

 Fluke and the Frontier Farce 

Fluke and the Fantastic Finale

Content Warning: gruesome deaths described in detail, violence, fraught parental relationships, serial killer & kidnapping (prior to book, off-page). 

Buy link

 Book 3 of 3: Knight & Daywalker 

Blurb 

Flynn is just out here trying to live his #bestlife. He’s feeding his cat, running his business, and dating his boyfriend . . . well, trying to date his boyfriend. Every time things start to get intimate, something seems to interrupt them, no matter where they are or how many cell phones they turn off.

When the interruption is Flynn’s cousin, having been attacked and drained of energy, Flynn realizes that the monster who’s been killing dragons isn’t just a distant thing, but a clear and present threat.

But can a man who’s always let other people fight his battles handle his own this time?

Masquerade is the final book in the Knight & Daywalker series, starring one scatterbrained detective, a spoiled kitten, a frustrated daywalking boyfriend who just wants a nice quiet dinner, the world’s most overprotective mother, and whole cast of other friends Flynn has made along the way, including a surprise or two. 

Review : Moonmagic (Witchwolf Book 2) by Sam Burns and W. M. Fawkes 

Rating: 3.75🌈

Moonmagic, the second of the Witchbook series by Sam Burns and W. M. Fawkes is a story I find a bit of a mixed bag. I really like the character of the witchwolf, Dakota, the Japanese mage, who found out about his tragic family history and the clan he was born into in the first book. 

Dakota has a layers to his personality, depths given to him by the two cultures, the one he was raised in, the other he is tied to by family. And the powers of his own magic and now as a shifter.  He’s continually trying to connect with the pack and work mentally through his inner struggles with his past. One of which appears here, in a new form. It’s a fantastic aspect of the story.

Dakota is a multicultural and layered character and when he is in the narrative, he elevates Moonmagic’s storylines beyond that of just a good story.

The issue comes in with his mate, Jax, the Alpha werewolf, and other main character.  After much inner debate, the best word I could come up with for him that explains or sums up his character is ineffectual.  Jax is supposed to be the head of a billionaire company, and Alpha of a pack of werewolves who separated from an abusive prior Alpha and left for a better life. 

But that strong, powerful Alpha isn’t here. Instead Jax is a bit of an emotional mess. Doesn’t come off as all that intelligent and with the same fluctuating emotions as you would associate with a hormonal teenager. He doesn’t spot where the dangers are coming from to his company and pack, clear and simple dangers. 

And when one traitor has been caught, after committing a heinous crime, he lets him go. Then after the fact, goes I should have torn him to pieces. Rawr. But I’m too nice. 

SMH.  He’s like this throughout the story. Had there been no Dakota this book would have been a DNF. 

Spoilers. Dakota actually wins the day because he was both strong and smart, knows his mate is too nice *cough* weak to do what is necessary and uses his powers to help felicitate the right outcome.

Jax wins a fight by accident but he’s so sorry. Boohoo. 

I like the other pack who’s more interesting. 

There’s a sample of the side story that has already been released. It’s fine but doesn’t have a lot of depth for one character, so it’s very uneven. Very much like this. 

Read it if you’re fans of the authors or to finish the series. 

Cover art © 2025 by Natasha Snow Designs

Witchwolf (2 book series)

Witchwolf #1

Moonmagic #2 

Side story:

Nerds, Words & Werecats (Witchwolf)

Buy link

 Book 2 of 2: Witchwolf 

Blurb 

After having his world rocked by a hot billionaire CEO werewolf and the unveiling of a world of magic he didn’t know existed, Dakota is finally settling into being the alpha mate of the Crescent pack. With Jax at his side, he can even handle being heir of the witchwolf legacy, but before he can catch his breath, life throws him another curveball.

First, Dakota returns home after their visit to Japan with a barnacle of a ghost, and his great-great-grandfather isn’t terribly impressed with his descendant leading a werewolf pack.

Worse, they disembark the plane to a bloody welcome home. A member of the wolf pack Jax fled from has been attacked, and he carries a dire warning: The Wildwood wolves are coming, and they plan to retake control of the Crescent pack.

To protect everything they’ve built and hope for, Dakota has to own both his legacy and his future, but if Jax can’t face the mistakes of his past, they could both lose it all.

Moonmagic is a direct sequel to Witchwolf and should be read in order. Get ready for an extra cuddly alpha werewolf, a comforting tray of mac and cheese, a snarky Japanese ghost who gets . . . less terrible, eventually, and a pack war our heroes wish they didn’t have to fight. This book has Jax and Dakota’s HEA, as well as a few other loose ends tied up, and introduces a whole new pack to explore in our next series, Wolves of the Wildwood.

March 19, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

264 pages

Book 2 of 2

Witchwolf

Review:  Dragon Blood Curse (Emperor’s Assassin Book 4) by Kai Butler 

Rating: 4.5🌈

Dragon Blood Curse was an exciting, immersive experience all around, as Butler’s penultimate story brings more mythical characters and magical regions into play with this fantasy action adventure.

Prince Airón and King Tallu have multiple schemes at work and not all are going according to their intended intentions. With their enemies bringing larger powers and armies against them,  Airón and Tallu race to find a cure for the deadly curse that affects both brothers.  And their own council falls into chaos and loyalties are divided as the enemy attacks.

It’s high politics, subterfuge, magical terrorists, and wars between enemies being waged across their borders and territories, and everything and everyone suffering. 

Of course, there’s a prophecy or two, sacrifices that figures mightily in the coming novel, angst and some really great layering of information and people (look to the North) that just ups the stakes here.

No spoilers but this just grabs the reader from start to finish. For me, the relationship between Airón and Tallu is the least compelling element here. So many other great aspects of the series and story to focus on.

Great job. And I love the Spider. Awesome. 

Cover by Hannah Latham at oexasart Lettering by Laura at Covers by Aura

Emperor’s Assassin (5 book series)

Betrothed to the Emperor #1

Emperor’s Wrath #2

Shadow Throne King #3

Dragon Blood Curse #4

Crown of Ash #5 – Oct 26,2026

Buy link

        Dragon Blood Curse (Emperor’s Assassin Book 4)

    

Blurb 

The generals that once served Emperor Tallu now pursue us across the continent. General Bemishu and Kacha have made their move and we find ourselves trapped by the role Tallu has been playing his entire life. As we search for allies, the rules of imperial politics force Tallu to act more and more like his deranged father.

Still, we have a hint of hope: somewhere in the dangerous Tavornai swamps, another animalia spins her webs and rearranges fate to her own desires. Can she change ours?

We have one chance to save our lives, one hope at a future that we both so desperately want. With new allies and old nemeses, we have to risk our lives to create a world for our love.

March 16, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

362 pages

Book 4 of 5

Emperor’s Assassin

Review:  His Mate By Defiance: MM Mafia Shifter PNR (Lunetti Pack Book 4) by Mel Aitchess

Rating: 4🌈

“The Lunetti Pack is a steamy MM Enemies to Lovers Paranormal Romance series set in New Trinity, a city ruled by three crime families: the Lunetti Pack of mafia wolf shifters, the vampire mobster Cruor Coven, and the witch Elemental Mayhem MC. It features knotting (and other paranormal fun) but no mpreg.”

His Mate By Defiance is the penultimate story in Mel Aitchess’ paranormal mafia crime fated mate series. The Lunetti Pack has followed several top level members of this criminal wolf shifter pack as they fight to keep their place and power in the trinity of politics that’s New Trinity City, a dark horror of a city where it’s divided into sections ruled by witches, vampires or shifters, depending on the territory. 

This is Rafe, the pack doctor’s romance, one that starts years prior with his first encounter with a badly injured young jaguar shifter in an underground fighting ring. 

This meeting is recapped here and then we come forward to present day, where the jaguar shifter, Adrian ,aka Adri, is still part of the fight scene. 

The author does an excellent job explaining Adri’s background and meshing that with the natural history/instincts of the jaguar to give Adri a distinctive personality and outlook from that of the other shifters.

And Rafe, as someone older and with different skill sets, has a perspective on what their relationship and how it might develop than Adri has. 

Their dynamic is excellent and is the best thing about the story. 

There’s also another aspect of the book, a continuation plot that’s not resolved here but will continue into the final story. It sets up the last fated mates match. 

But the lack of at least some sort of completion to some aspect of this complicated conspiracy left me frustrated. 

The romance was certainly completed but it’s a HFN, and far too many people were hurt and issues left unresolved. 

I am certainly looking forward to the last book to see how it all wraps up. If you like to binge, wait until it’s finished, and read right through. 

A definite winner. 

Lunetti Pack (5 book series) :

  • His Mate By Vengeance #1 – Angelo and Vin
  • His Mate By Resistance #2 – Luca and Cal
  • His Mate By Allegiance #3 – Rocco and Emilio 
  • His Mate By Defiance #4 – Rafe and Adri 
  • His Mate By Dominance #5 – Alpha Marco and Seth’s, the finale. Feb, 21,2027

Buy link

 Book 4 of 5: Lunetti Pack 

Blurb 

“For you? I will take it all. All your pain. All your desire. Everything. It’s all mine.”

Rafe is done giving Adri space. For thirteen years, he’s waited for his jaguar shifter mate to be ready to acknowledge what’s between them. Thirteen years of tracking the pack’s fighting ring and racing to respond whenever they need a doctor. The night he turns up to find Adri brutalised by a feral shifter in the ring, he knows he’ll never let him go again. Especially when shifters start going missing.

Adri told the doc he didn’t need saving over a decade ago, and nothing’s changed since. The last thing he needs is Rafe’s overbearing protectiveness when he’s trying to save his friends from a new unsanctioned fighting ring and whatever bioweapon is at play. Waking up in Rafe’s bed wasn’t in the plan. As soon as he’s healed, Adri’s out of there.

His Mate by Defiance is an MM paranormal romance with a bite. It features age gap, fated mates, and hurt/comfort

Publisher

Mel Aitchess

Publication date

March 11, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

254 pages

Book 4 of 5

Lunetti Pack

Review:  Witches With Benefits (A Nightshade Detective Agency Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Amanda M. Lee

Rating: 3⭐️

I enjoyed Witches With Benefits (A Nightshade Detective Agency Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Amanda M. Lee but it’s a novel that, once you finish it, you realize, it doesn’t really have a lot of substance to it. 

It’s like a bag of diet popcorn. You eat it. You enjoy eating it. You finish the bag. Then you think about the flavor that’s missing, the butter and the salt. All the ingredients, the great “stuff” that’s the reason why you eat popcorn. And then you realize you probably won’t be eating that brand anymore. 

This is exactly like that. 

It’s moves swiftly along with an interesting plot, on the surface. But then again, there’s no depth to anything. To the characters, the world building, the arc, the battles and especially the magic. 

The missing sister aspect of the story? The one that is supposed to be the most traumatic and polarizing? It’s also the most inconsistent. We know nothing about the sister. And to pull the reader into this family’s tragic story,we should be able to see how much that sister and the family dynamic were real and believable. But we get nothing. No understanding of anyone or any kind of relationship other than briefly superficial.

In the following years, the father , parents are understood to have let the sister disappearance go. But Freya is said to both have become a detective to continue looking for her and also considers her sister dead. It’s a 50/50 thing depending upon what page you are on.

The characters around her have no discernible layers. That includes an alligator shifter who works with her , and a rich girl best friend who’s extremely irritating. It’s she’s rich and he’s a good old boy gator shifter from a large New Orleans family. That’s pretty much it. And the main character isn’t better developed. 

Freya Holmes, a witch/vampire woman who has a hugely powerful vampire father (but only because we are told he is, no actual actions or abilities we see) and a powerful witch mother who is largely unknown. She has unique powers ( we’re told) that she “activates” the way that the Power Rangers do. As in “I’m going to be actively using my more powerful vampire powers now”. SMH

Then whoosh or whatever that powers are, it just happens. We don’t know what happens. It’s not written because Freya “blanks “ conveniently out. And any battle scene is over , bad guys are vanquished, and everyone is gazing at Freya in awe. That’s the scene. Everyone gazes at Freya in awe. Gods included. 

I kid you not. That’s how all the battles are fought. No real fights. No powers for anyone seen or written out. Not even a KaBam.  So poorly done. 

On top of no magical abilities designed or written, the local gods and powers are shortchanged as well. It’s all mouth work. I’m gonna tell you how bad I am. Not going to show you anything but I’m definitely going to tell you that I’m pretty darn scary. Boo. 

They are there but what they do? Not a clue.

Yes, there is a beginning of a romance. But they don’t have an adult relationship and the dialogue reads like 3 year olds in a sandbox. You did it, no I didn’t, yes you did. 

No it’s not intelligent or particularly snarky. 

So I’m leaving this here. There’s another book that will be published soon. But I don’t think it’s something I’m interested in. 

You be the judge if this is what you want to read. 

Nightshade Detective Agency Cozy Mystery :

Witches With Benefits #1

Survival of the Witchiest #2 – Aug 4,2026

Buy link

 Book 1 of 2: A Nightshade Detective Agency Cozy Mystery 

Blurb 

Freya Holmes is unique in an already eccentric city.

New Orleans may be a paranormal mecca but even in a world where every type of shifter and witch is commonplace, a vampire-witch hybrid is something to worship … and fear.

Freya has never been interested in her parents’ opulent world. She finds her power in magic, which is why she formed Nightshade Detective Agency in the first place. She’s interested in helping people … even when that help might come at the cost of her life.

Knox Cullen grew up on the poor side of New Orleans. His shifter genes allowed him to climb out of poverty and embrace a certain lifestyle as a paranormal bounty hunter. He can take a punch and throw one. He’s not ready for Freya, though.

When a local mobster ends up dead and the culprit appears to be a supernatural assassin, both Freya and Knox are on the case. Unfortunately, they have no intention of working together and two hard heads don’t make for a soft landing.

Freya has her hands full. In addition to Knox, who is hiding something big, there’s a paranormal investigation unit seeking a partnership that takes advantage of her hard work and their impressive reach. The Legacy Foundation has quite the reputation, as do the two people—Charlie and Jack—who approach her with an offer she might not be able to refuse. Can she trust them? Can she trust anybody?

The clock is ticking. Freya needs to save the French Quarter. Sadly, she might lose herself in the process.