Review: Midlife Demon Hunter (Forty Proof 3 by Shannon Mayer

Rating: 2.75⭐️

I tried. I tried really hard. And I’ll get around eventually to writing my review for Midlife Fairy Hunter, book 2.

But this book, Midlife Demon Hunter is where I stop. With the series and the author.

I’m done.

And it’s not because there’s not some good elements here or creative aspects of the storytelling. But at its foundation, there’s some very problematic things that, imo, will keep me from going forward.

They circle around how the main character of Bree, her perspective on ageism and gender, and her relationship with men. Specifically the men in her life here in the series.

She’s in her forties but acts as though she’s someone who is in her sixties or seventies, viewing herself as elderly. Yet also excuses the “flirtatious/jump their bones “ way she interacts with men as due to her “hormones” acting up as though she’s in heat. Which is honestly offensive. Normal healthy (whatever you choose it to be) sexuality doesn’t seem to be part of the narrative here.

Don’t get me started on that poor gay werewolf. That’s another issue here.

Additionally, Bree is someone who, no matter what a man has done to her, against her, she’s excused their behavior and actions. This includes some really reprehensible actions. There’s three men, each of them have currently lied to her, been abusive physically and or mentally, and are involved in shady activities. But she’s highly aware and hot for them, physically engaging with them.

Here, Cody, who disappeared for a week without any communication (as has another one, Crash) reveals he’s the person responsible for her despicable ex-husband’s knowledge of the otherworld, which he then used to strip Bree of everything she had. But oh no, Bree says it’s not Cody’s fault. Even absolving Cody of his abusive behavior towards her because he’s related to her ex.

All this while cuddling. Just no.

Between the ageism, the excuses for abusive behavior and seemingly continuous support of patriarchal values (Crash , the Fae blacksmith “saves” a female character by making her his slave), this is a series, character, and author that I can’t go forward with.

The problematic outweighs the good here.

That might not be the case for everyone but it is for me.

There are many other authors and series that have the same elements but without the issues I’ve found here. I’m working my way through those.

The Forty Proof Series (9 book series):

Midlife Bounty Hunter #1

Midlife Fairy Hunter #2

Midlife Demon Hunter #3

Midlife Ghost Hunter #4

Midlife Zombie Hunter #5

Midlife Witch Hunter #6

Midlife Magic Hunter #7

Midlife Soul Hunter #8

Midlife Vampire Hunter #9

Buy link

Midlife Demon Hunter: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel (The Forty Proof Series Book 3)

Blurb

Goblins and ghouls and magic, oh my! Hang tight to your britches, this laugh out loud adventure is about to light you up!

Ousted from the Hollows Group, the shadow world has officially taken notice of me.

With loan sharks sniffing around and knocking on my door, I need to figure out how my ex-husband pushed all his debt onto me, because it stinks of black magic and back alley dealings.

Until I can get some answers there, I distract myself with a new job—working for a goblin. The job is as simple as hiding some paperwork for him. Only . . . someone else wants what he gave me. And they are playing dangerously dirty to get what they want.

Throw in a lovesick bigfoot, a siren going through menopause, a demon next door, and two hot guys vying for my attention, and you’ve got my life in a nutshell.

Well, that is if you don’t count on Robert showing up and saving my bacon again. Which he has to, because this time . . .this time I’ve really put my foot in it.

Review: How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts

Rating: 3.25⭐️

How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon by Trista Ricketts is the first book by the author and it’s a cute little story. If you like the cover, then you have a great idea of what the story is about.

The author wrote a note telling the reader what prompted her writing this book, and I remember that meme. It was a good one.

The story about a K-9 officer who inadvertently adopts a demon made dog as part of his punishment is pretty cute. However, the writing doesn’t really live up to the potential of the theme.

The demon dog doesn’t really act like a rescue dog but like a demon in a dog’s body, carrying out duties and activities a rescue animal wouldn’t be able to perform. And the K-9 Officer, Chuck, isn’t bothered by the fact she’s got a paranormal being instead of a rescue dog.

This happens almost immediately into the story. Would have been more interesting had the dog and Chuck had time to develop a relationship and working partnership. But no, immediately into a bond and recognition process. And there’s a pug who watches daily tv with them who appears to be something else.

There’s a mystery about Chuck’s dad, a police officer who died while on duty, and Malachi who has been charged by his own hellish command with corrupting Chuck’s soul. Which is never believable. A golden retriever is more believable in this role than Malachi.

It all works out in the end. Cute and happily funny.

The reader will be able to know what will happen from page 1. It’s cute but predictable. If this is something you enjoy, then grab it up.

Cover Art: White Rose Publishing Service

Trista Ricketts notes:

“In 2025, I was lurking in a social media forum for lovers of Fantasy and Romance books. Someone posted a picture of a female police officer kneeling next to her K-9, a solid black dog who was “smiling” for his photo. The caption read, “Imagine you’re running from the police, and you hear ‘Fetch me his soul’, then you turn and see this.” The person who posted it commented they would love to read that book. A lot of other people chimed in saying the same. I commented and said, “I’ll write it!” Now I wish I had saved that post so I could thank that person for the prompt because otherwise, Malachi might have been adopted by someone else.”

Buy link

Blurb

She went to adopt a K-9 partner.

She did not mean to adopt a demon.

Officer Kelly “Chuck” Charles thought choosing her new K-9 would be straightforward.

Obedient. Loyal. Not possessed by ancient evil.

She was wrong.

Her new K-9 partner growls in dead languages, smirks like he’s plotting world domination, and reacts to holy water like it personally insulted his ancestors.

Because Malachi isn’t just a dog.

He’s a centuries-old demon trapped in a canine body — morally black, dangerously clever, and very annoyed about it.

The problem?

Chuck doesn’t know any of that yet.

She’s just a cop trying to survive long shifts, bad coffee, and a partner who may or may not be judging her soul.

She definitely doesn’t know she’s part angel.

And she absolutely isn’t prepared for the supernatural chaos headed straight for her life.

When a well-meaning witch gives Malachi his body back, everything goes from “weird dog behavior” to full-blown celestial disaster.

Redeem him.

Banish him.

Or fall for the demon who was never meant to have a heart.

How To Tell If Your K-9 Is A Demon is a laugh-out-loud paranormal romantic comedy packed with:

Accidental demon adoption
Snarky banter and slow-burn tension
A morally black demon with opinions
A strong female cop who didn’t sign up for destiny
Celestial Hijinks

If you love paranormal rom-coms with heart, humor, and just enough hellfire — this book will have you laughing, swooning, and side-eyeing every dog you meet.

Review; How to Reap a Soul (And Fail Miserably) Soul Management Bureau Book One by April Kelley

Rating: 3🌈

How to Reap a Soul (And Fail Miserably) is the first book in the urban fantasy series, Soul Management Bureau by April Kelley.

It’s a fated mate romance between reaper and their soul mates, so it’s instant love/instant sex romance with a plot that’s not always easy to follow because Kelley is trying hard to lay down all her histories and plotting for multiple characters, not just the main couple, and her world building into one story.

And it’s not always effective because someone gets lost in the narrative. Some connection between her characters, some chemistry is left behind in the rush to get it all accomplished.

It’s interesting but I’m not sure I’m really engaged with this world or characters.

Try it out and see for yourself if Grym and Elliot Coyne work together for you.

Cover artist: Miblart

Soul Management Bureau

How to Reap a Soul and Fail Miserably #1

How to Reap a Soul (And Lose an Assistant) #2 – Dec 29,2026

Buy link

Book 1 of 2: Soul Management Bureau

Blurb

Love was never on my to-do list, but now that I have it, I’ll let the world burn before I let anything happen to him.

Grym

I’ve reaped souls for three hundred years without a single mistake. Until Elliot Coyne. I’m supposed to ferry him into the afterlife, not bring him back to life and turn him immortal.

Now HR is threatening me, the world is acting like it might explode, and my reaper brothers are stress-snacking like it’s Armageddon.

Even worse? My soul insists Elliot is my beloved. Reapers aren’t supposed to have those. Are they? Regardless, it’s wildly inconvenient.

Elliot
So I die, wake up immortal and able to walk between realms, not that I know what those actually are.

The guy responsible is an annoyingly hot reaper who apparently broke the universe just to keep me breathing.

We’re suddenly stuck together, hunted by his supernatural bosses, and if we fall for each other it might tear reality apart.

Love isn’t supposed to end the world. Yet here we are.

January 14, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

187 pages

Book 1 of 2

Soul Management Bureau

Review: The Goblin in the Sink (Groom and Doom Book 2) by Hailey Edwards

Rating: 3⭐️

The Goblin in the Sink (Groom and Doom Book 2) by Hailey Edwards is a good example of how a series can lose their initial momentum with the second book and all plot potential.

That seems to be a frequent element with some of Edwards writing in her various series. She can strike hot and the entire series is excellent all the way through or the first is promising but falters as it progresses.

Here it’s the later. The first novel had so many interesting moments and potentially intriguing characters that I wondered how Edwards’ next book was going to move the various plots and mysteries forward.

Then the 2nd book releases and the choices made for the characters and plot just end up frustrating and unlikely thought out from multiple standpoints.

Let’s have dragons but deny them the very characteristics and abilities that make them so powerful and memorable so that the villains can act without fear of retaliation for the majority of the story. They might as well be Guinea pigs.

Until boom, suddenly, dragons act sorta like dragons. Or one does. Kinda.

However, it’s turning the main character of Ana Sartori into a person who suddenly puts her own needs above the safety of others, even in the face of overwhelming danger and extreme stupidity. Where it’s clear to everyone it’s a highly threatening trap to do certain things, ones where she’s going to knowingly bring friends into a situation where they might not even survive, but she says , yep let’s go. SMH.

It’s the equivalent of that commercial where there’s choice to go for a garage with swinging horror equipment or a running car and the teenagers choose the garage. It’s like that. Over and over.

Oh no, do you think it’s a trap, trick. I just led my friend who’s now being tortured. Oh no. Wait I knew that was coming.

It’s a constant SMH from a main character who starts coming off as incredibly self absorbed and TSTL.

So it’s barely a 3. And not going forward.

I enjoyed Edwards last series. And I’ll check out the others. But this is a pass.

Groom & Doom (3 book series)

The Vampire in the Potting Shed #1

The Goblin in the Sink #2

The Mermaid in the Shot Glass #3

Buy link

The Goblin in the Sink Drain (Groom & Doom Book 2)

Blurb

Everything Ana Sartori knows about herself, and her father, is a lie. Or so the Walsh clan would have her believe. Their claims are convincing, the details too vivid to dismiss outright, but she can’t imagine her father as the villain of her story.

Carmichael Sartori is a lot of things. Ruthless. Merciless. Pitiless. But alphas aren’t known for being pushovers. Ana knows pack law is brutal for a reason, and her father enforces the rules with tooth and claw to protect his people. Including her.

But the more time she spends with the Walsh clan, the wider her eyes open to the possibilities of what an alpha could be, what a pack should be, and it makes her wonder if the Walshes are right about other things. The only way for Ana to be certain is to face her father. She’ll have to throw herself to the wolves and hope she makes it out alive with her answers.

Black Dog Books, LLC.

Publication date

October 31, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

150 pages

Book 2 of 3

Groom & Doom

Review : Pack Challenge (Magnus Pack #1) by Shelly Laurenston

Rating: 4⭐️

I’m continuing my journey through Shelly Laurenston’s catalog and started in on the Magnus Pack trilogy as it’s focused on three closely knit girlfriends. Each has her own story, only one of which is a shifter but there are shifters in each connected story.

Things to consider first. These are sexy, sexy tough women and the stories are full of scenes that flow accordingly. If you’re looking for sweet content, you might want to look elsewhere.

Considering my favorite series is Laurenston’s honey badger series I really enjoyed it. IYKYK.

The first character and girlfriend is a heavily scarred, damaged, pain-filled woman, Sara Morrighan. With scars across her face and a limp from a badly damaged leg when she and her dad were attacked by mountain lions and she was left for dead.

Sara, along with her best friends, Miki Kendric and Angelina Santiago, keep an eye out for each other, keeping each other safe and supporting them. Especially Sara, raised by a crazy grandmother and has an employer/surrogate father, Marrec, owner of a local motorcycle shop.

But the small Texas town has secrets. Sara’s life is about to change, she’s getting aggressive and her leg is still full of pain.

Then a group of people on motorcycles rides into town. Zack, one of them, shows an immediate reaction to Sara. One that’s returned.

This is a very good fast paced story about someone who doesn’t know what she is. And is about to find out the hard way. There’s shifter battles, tons of great sex scenes and wonderful chemistry between characters that makes the instant lust realistic.

The three women are hilarious together. The sisterhood is alive and well and relatable here. We absolutely believe these women grew up together and know each other inside and out. The dialogue is amazing.

Some world building feels under explored as does the shifter universe here. But on the individual level, it’s exciting and sexy storytelling.

A definite winner.

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design.

Magnus Pack:

Pack Challenge

Go Fetch
Here Kitty, Kitty
“Miss Congeniality” in When He Was Bad anthology

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Magnus Pack

Blurb

What’s an Alpha Male to do when he meets the Alpha Female of his dreams? Step one, hide all sharp objects.

All Zach Sheridan ever wanted was to become Alpha Male of his Pack and to be left alone. What he definitely didn’t need in his life was some needy female demanding his attention. What he never saw coming was the vicious, scarred female who not only demanded his attention but knew exactly how to get it.

Sara Morrighan knew this was the best she could expect from her life. Good friends. A nice place to live. And a safe job. But when Zach rode into her small Texas town with his motorcycle club, Sara knew she wanted more. She knew she wanted him. But after one sexy encounter with her dream biker, everything is starting to change. Her body. Her strength. That new thing she’s doing with the snarling. Even her best friends are starting to wonder what’s going on with her.

But this is only the beginning. Sara’s about to find out her life was meant for so much more. And Zach’s about to find true love with the one woman who makes him absolutely insane.

Review: The Vampire in the Potting Shed (Groom & Doom Book 1) by Hailey Edwards

Rating: 4⭐️

Hailey Edwards has a really great new start on a series with her new paranormal novella, The Vampire in the Potting Shed.

The first in the Groom & Doom series, we don’t get much of a world foundation, although I saw mention that it’s set in the same universe as the author’s Black Hat Bureau (10 book) series.

This particular story is tied to one small town and territory, and focuses on Ana Sartori, who runs Gwinnett Street Groomers, a small pet grooming business and has an Alpha wolf shifter as an overprotective father. She herself can’t shift so remains outside of the pack business and affairs.

At 125 pages, Edwards packs a lot of information, interesting characters, and relationship dynamics into her storyline. That includes some neat twists and reveals.

It’s a quick, highly entertaining story and it makes you wish the next book was ready for reading.

I’m definitely reading it when it’s available.

A new winner for an author I enjoy.

Cover by Damonza

Groom & Doom

The Vampire in the Potting Shed #1

Buy link

The Vampire in the Potting Shed (Groom & Doom Book 1)

Blurb

There are two things Ana Sartori knows for certain. She can’t shapeshift into a wolf like her father or his pack. And, despite her being a latent, little more than human, he loves her despite her faults. She’s never going to be an alpha like him, but she can still hold her own in a fight. Not that her life is violent. He makes sure of that. Aside from occasionally wrestling pets into a headlock when it’s time to trim their nails at Gwinnett Street Groomers, Ana leads a simple life.

At least that was the case until someone broke into her pet resort and spa, leaving a mystery dog behind in one of the bougie boarding suites. Not to mention there’s a vampire hiding in the potting shed. A very tall, very handsome vampire. He even smells nice, minus the blood drenching his clothes.

Ana could handle those things, probably, but now there’s a new alpha determined to claim the town—and Ana—as his territory. Either she stands and fights for her home, or she runs to her father with her (metaphorical) tail tucked between her legs. Life is a lot of things, but for Ana, simple isn’t one of them anymore.

Publisher: Black Dog Books, LLC.
Publication date: June 16, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 125 pages
Book 1 of 1: Groom & Doom

Review: For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

Rating: 5✨⭐️

It’s taking me a while to review this as I adore it so much. I’m not familiar with Jaysea Lynn’s TikTok comedy/drama skits that launched these characters prior to the Covid lockdown but I’ll have to seek it out because these beautifully realized characters, especially Lily in her journey through the afterlife and Hell, are ones that make a memorable impression on the reader.

For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn is incredibly moving in its depiction of one woman’s journey through trauma to healing, recovery and the discovery of love, self worth and a found family. All in the afterlife.

I can’t even begin to describe how powerful and inspiring this book is. It’s also funny, dark, sexy, and truly beautiful.

Lily dies of cancer. Then her story begins. But what her life was like when she was alive, that a slow reveal throughout the narrative. In bits of memory flashing into her mind as she navigates her new journey through her afterlife and adventures in Hell. Which is another outstanding element here.

Everything, the mythological world and religions are represented differently than typically imagined. It’s one I think is incredibly rich and unique in its variety and depth of knowledge.

The characters of Lily and Bel, as well as Sharky, how they develop and grow, as individuals and as a family is stunning. It’s written so emotionally and powerfully that these are characters that will just inhabit my heart . As will so many others here.

Yes, I’ve ordered the special hard back edition already. It’s that book for me.

Highly recommended. There’s some trigger warnings. Read them. This does deal with some traumatic situations and events, though they are mentioned throughout as memories.

Interior design by Meryll Preposi

Maps: Jamie Noble Frier at The Noble Artist

Buy link

For Whom the Belle Tolls (Hell’s Belles, 1)$16.48Amazon.com

Blurb

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAYBESTSELLER!

From Hell’s Belles BookTok sensation Jaysea Lynn comes a hotter-than-hell romantasy about love, magic, and found family in the Afterlife, perfect for fans of Sarah A. Parker and Callie Hart.

They told her to go to Hell.

She went, but on her own terms.

Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife, but what awaits her there is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined: Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As she explores the many corners of the Afterlife, Lily finds herself surprisingly drawn to a place most people would avoid at all costs: Hell. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves a job out for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass.

Lily’s expectations are subverted every day in Hell—especially by Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice. The two meet by chance and form an immediate, deeply healing friendship, but the undeniable heat between them threatens to combust.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve known and everything that could be…unless they fight like Hell to stop it.

This debut novel from BookTok sensation Jaysea Lynn invites you to lose yourself in a world where love ignites in the unlikeliest of places, magic defies the rules, and the Afterlife proves more thrilling than anyone could imagine.

Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Publication date: January 28, 2025
Language: English
Print length: 640 pages
Book 1 of 1: Hell’s Belles

Review: Three Dog Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower Book 2) by Annabel Chase

Rating: 4⭐️

I really enjoy this author and her characters and series in Midnight Empire: The Tower are getting more interesting with each book.

Three Dog Night’s best elements are involved in its main mystery and investigation, that of what’s making the local werewolf population go out of control.

It’s both a werewolf Alpha that seeks out Knights of Boudicca, specifically London Hayes, to solve the mystery. And that means bringing, unfortunately, the vampire royalty into this in the form of Prince Callan.

Chase has this investigation go incredibly complicated, takes the odd couple on the road, across territorial borders, which gives the author a chance to expand her universe and explore additional possibilities for other paranormal creatures and magical powers.

London herself emotionally doesn’t evolve that much but everything else around her is changing and it ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. Not unexpected as this story has some wonderful twists and surprises to it.

Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

Cover design by Trif

Books in the Midnight Empire: The Tower series include:

Wild Knight

Three Dog Knight

Deadly Knight

One Knight Stand

Buy link

Three Dog Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower Book 2)

Blurb

I survived a job for royal vampires with my life and identity intact. That means I can return to my normal life as a knight, right?

Wrong.

When a group of werewolves goes berserk in our local pub, there’s a new threat in the city and the local pack hires me to find out what it is.

Unfortunately that decision draws the attention of a certain vampire prince who likes to keep tabs on the most powerful pack in the city. Just when I thought I was free of the Demon of House Duncan, we’re embarking on a road trip together to investigate.

And what we discover changes everything—as well as each other.

Three Dog Knight is the second book in the Midnight Empire: The Tower series. Don’t miss this supernatural joy ride that features a kick-butt heroine, a powerful hero with a deadly past, and a quirky cast of characters.

Review: Midnight Auto Parts (The Body Shop Book 3) by Hailey Edwards

Rating: 4.75⭐️

It’s hard to say no spoilers when the blurb just goes ahead with the most shocking element of this book as well as the ending of the last.

But where most novels would have a hard time finding a storyline that then raises the narrative bar for the characters and series arc, Hailey Edwards has no problem moving forward with another great book that’s thrilling, emotionally compelling and plot wise extremely complex.

This is a fantastic story that I had to read twice, and then immediately regretted it because the next in the series isn’t released yet. It’s that incredible a series that I need to go straight into the next book.

Frankie’s development goes into areas I hadn’t even considered, making me even more excited about the future. There’s new mythology, new gods and powers but even greater depth to the relationships and family dynamics.

Hailey Edwards is writing an excellent series and an amazing character arc with Frankie.

A must read.

Great cover art both for storytelling and characters.

Cover by Damonza

Illustration by Marouane Hs

The Body Shop series:

Fair Market Value #1

Amber Gambler #2

Midnight Auto Parts #3

Cheater Slicks #4 – Dec 25,2025

Review: Dead Heat (Crossroads Queen Book 7) by Annabel Chase

Rating: 5⭐️

Dead Heat really escalates the overall danger that’s been created and implies that the many serious threats towards Lorelei and her found family are more imminent and deadly.

There are a boatload of plot lines here, from an incubus bartender with a strange mark on his chest that needs a bit of investigation to a new visitor in need of a place to stay, and as always, The villainous Corporation wanting Lorelei and sending its minions after her. But of course, there’s more, and it’s Kane, her demon boyfriend, who might be in trouble.

Dead Heat (Crossroads Queen Book 7) by Annabel Chase superbly increases the level of danger, suspense and chaos for all the characters going forward. Chase has brought Lorelei into the Fairhaven fold, made her its guardian, and given her a found family of vampires, assassins, witches, werewolves, ghosts and the odd paranormal beings. Even a human sheriff and demon boyfriend.

And now the largest threat is to the very people and things she came there to avoid happening and having.

Great job and story.

I’m reading two books at a time. And I’ve heard that Half Dead #8 ends on a cliffhanger and Dead End #9 isn’t released yet. So I’ll wait until both are available and then read right through.

Until then, this is one amazing series. Binge them or just read them one by one. Fab stuff. Great character development and plotting. A true winner.

Cover by Trif Designs, which has changed to reflect the fact that the word has gotten out that Lorelei Clay is a demigod. So great touch with that head halo/crown addition.

Crossroads Queen series:

Dead to the World #1

Dead of Night #2

Dead Last #3

Dead Wrong #4

Dead Weight #5

Play Dead #6

Dead Heat #7

Half Dead #8

Dead End #9 – April 17,2025

Buy link

Dead Heat (Crossroads Queen Book 7)

Blurb

It isn’t easy being the liminal deity of a multirealm crossroads, as Lorelei Clay can attest. There are the typical issues, of course, like a wayward god stumbling into Wild Acres, and then there are the more pressing ones…

Like an incubus who wakes up with a mysterious mark on his chest and a timer on his life.

And the demon with an urgent message for Kane.

And the mysterious flying monsters with vengeance in their hearts that threaten the peace and tranquility of Fairhaven.

And last, but definitely not least, a visit from The Corporation’s latest minion, who might finally make Lorelei an offer she can’t refuse.

Don’t miss Dead Heat, Crossroads Queen, book 7. For fans of quaint small towns chock full of vampires, fae, witches, werewolves, mage assassins, ghosts, and the clueless humans they protect

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