Rating: 5🌈

Fanged Mistakes is everything I love about an Alice Winters universe and series. Fanged Mistakes incorporates humor (high and low), relatable complicated family relationships, interspecies courtship, drama, murder, psychological trauma, and layers upon layers of emotional, often tragic back histories.

These are all further entwined with some of the most memorable, surprisingly written characters, ones which, during both the course of each book and over the series, make decisions that challenge the reader’s perceptions of what we thought we knew about them. Instead, we get another layer of depth and generosity of spirit we didn’t see coming.

It’s not just the main characters this happens to either. More than once, I saw a scene or moment reveal a character’s real identity, one not previously seen. It’s done swiftly and succinctly and with impact. I can name every scene it happens in. The writing is that successful and great.

Dire Straits and Entwined Fates charts the next stage in Julian and Casamir’s relationship. Julian’s family is adjusting, albeit maybe not his father, to their mating, and things are doing well.

Naturally, here comes the past to throw up the biggest challenges they have faced yet. This was briefly hinted at in Faked Dates and Fanged Mistakes but Casamir’s past is back in one roaring, fast paced, action packed, emotional thriller of a ride.

Winters manages to keep all the heavy elements like Julian’s PTSD from his past attacks, the continuing emotional fallout, the devastating impact the return of his past is having on Casamir, the changing dynamics of their relationship, all of this raw material, is kept real and believable.

But interwoven into this is moments of hilarity, scenes of wonderful silliness and outrageous fun with their found family. It’s an eclectic group of friends and family formed of human detective, vampire sidekick, poodle, and a surprising newcomer. This allows a break from the tension and drama. And gives us some truly heartwarming scenes.

The ending and villain of this story are as compelling and complex as the themes and narrative calls for. It’s thoughtful storytelling that makes this a fantastic novel and these memorable characters.

I really need more. There’s that pesky question that keeps rearing its head of what exactly is Julian? No one seems to have the answer. More books please.

I’m highly recommending this and the series but read them in the order they are written for the events and relationships.

Fanged Mistakes:

✓ Faked Dates and Fanged Mistakes #1

✓ Dire Straits and Entwined Fates # 2

Buy Link

Dire Straits and Entwined Fates (Fanged Mistakes Book 2)

Blurb

Julian

When did fake-then-real dating an ancient vampire become the easy part?

Casimir’s ridiculously sweet now that he’s conquered “the art of the flirt,” as he calls it. He tries hard to fit in with my family—if we forget about those silly threatening chocolates he sent my father—and he even makes me popcorn… okay, he tried. I know, I know, I’m just bragging at this point.

Everything is perfect until we stumble upon a half-dead vampire who is being hunted by someone. And I’m afraid the person hunting him knows all about Casimir’s history. Casimir has fought so hard to drive the darkness away, but we both know that he needs to bury his past… one last time.

Casimir

I never saw myself in a relationship, let alone with a pesky werewolf. He’s funny and sweet, has questionable friends, and phenomenal taste in dog bandanas. After five hundred years, I think I’ve finally convinced myself that I deserve this.

However, someone else isn’t quite certain I do. Julian has assured me that it’s time to move forward, but when there’s a masked man waiting in the shadows for me, I find it hard to ignore my past mistakes.

But I have something I didn’t have the last time I faced him.

Someone who loves me.

Dire Straits and Entwined Fates has a cheerful werewolf who seems to have an aversion to clothes; a vampire leader who overuses speedy delivery services; board games with a little too much exhibitionism; and animals that are too cute to be eaten.

• Publisher: (March 12, 2024)

• Publication date: March 12, 2024

• Print length: 368 pages