Review: Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker

Rating: 4.75🌈

I just love this story! It just ticks so many of the “make me gush out loud” boxes when I think of stories that just hit me right in the heart.

Starting with the fact that, yeah, it’s N.R.Walker, who’s able to do that book after book.

Then it’s that dead letter theme. Beautifully written, emotionally fraught messages from the past that emerge, lightly dust laden, to prompt an incredible journey , one that also turns into one of self discovery and often love. Whether it ends in a bittersweet , heartbreaking revelation or one of heart-stopping joy, those letters from the past represent a haunting mystery that grabs both at your mind and heart.

I can name movies, tv series, novels,…and this theme never becomes tired or shallow. Because the potential for pain and for hope is too huge here no matter the media. Our minds are already reaching out for the ending, we want to know what happens….

In Walker’s hands, we’re in for an emotional, heartwarming journey. Our introduction to the “dead letter office “ is through the amazing, delightful, effervescent character, Malachi Keogh as he’s being ushered onto its premises and his first day on the job by his father.

I’ll not go into the details as I’ll leave that to Malachi and the story to relate. It’s a gem by the way.

There, Malachi meets his boss, Julian Pollard, all sexy and well, beige. Then a cast of characters to charm your socks off, co workers you will become so intimately familiar with as to feel they are part of your regular lives. Much as they become a deep part of Malachi’s.

Julian’s , eyes gleaming with quiet humor and enjoyment, is an absolute jewel of a man and character. Such a memorable Walker personality in a ocean of them! He’s so perfect for Malachi!

I love that their romance proceeds with communication, humor to go with outstanding chemistry and off the charts dynamics! Love this couple.

The letters at the heart of the mystery and story title grabs your heart and rattles poignantly to get your attention . You can easily imagine the era they were written in and the couple involved.

And like Malachi, you fear for the outcome and the revelation as you get closer to finding the person who wrote them.

No spoilers here. But this romance is all about finding your place and true love as Malachi does.

It’s a story you will want to put under comfort reads. And recommend to others.

That’s exactly what I’m doing now. Beautifully written, memorable characters, incredible story. Pick it up and read it now.

Just a small picky note: one thing that is sure to get me is the disappearing animal character in a story, it sort of happens here. It surprised me because Walker is huge with her animals in books. So when Buster is a fun, very much alive animal character I was disappointed not to see that Malachi hadn’t in some way appropriated him for themselves because clearly he was theirs and not the neighbors.

I imagine him still waiting by that window door for it to be opened and I’m so sad.

Review: Got Me Hoping (Vet Shop Boys #1) by Casey Cox

Rating: 4.25🌈

New author, new story, new series!

Got Me Hoping is the first in Casey Cox’s new Vet Shop Boys contemporary romance series and it’s a winner.

Sweet, heartwarming, light, and romantic! Plus animals! Because it centers around a veterinary clinic and the vets that work there.

Vet Shop Boys is the name of the clinic, a twist on the 80’s boy band .

I liked the series setup and characters immediately. Each one engaging and adorable. Plus soooo in need of a HEA that you can’t wait for each person’s story.

First up is Noah Walters, 34 year old vet with three broken relationships behind him. He’s gorgeous, kind, giving, and uncertain about opening up to another heartbreak.

He’s also owner to the adorable Buddy, a golden retriever!

It’s at the vets favorite bar, where a game of Never Have I Ever reveals that Noah’s a complete stranger to one-night stands. It’s not something he would do.

But a meeting that night changes his mind and future.

Haze Adams is at a bar when he sees a gorgeous man and has a one night stand that changes his world. The man is gorgeous, kind, funny, and their connection is unlike anything Haze has ever experienced.

Haze is a terrific character. Full of doubts about himself, his own direction in life, and pain caused by his last relationship, he too is caught unaware by his feelings towards Noah.

This wonderful tale of unexpected love, rearranged goals and a new combined future is just so lovely.

We get to know everyone at the clinic, plus people important to Haze who will, I expect, be popping up in stories down in the series….*cough* Tate.

There’s Gus the clinic owner, what a mess,there’s Chase, and of course, Fulton , Noah’s BFF vet with all his hilarious t-shirts. Honestly, the author must have had a great time looking at Etsy and other sites for the sayings and those exact shirts! Plus I need now to know what’s the mystery about Fulton?

Luckily, his story is up next! So I don’t have to wait long.

I love finding new authors and books! Here I get a series too! So happy!

I’m definitely recommending it!

Vet Shop Boys series:

Got Me Hoping (Vet Shop Boys, #1)

Got Me Wishing (Vet Shop Boys #2) out Oct 4th

Synopsis: It’s just a one-night stand, they said. It’ll be simple, no-strings fun, they said. They. Lied.

I’m done with love and being broken-hearted. The only dogs I want to deal with are the ones I treat in the veterinary clinic I work at.

But at thirty-four, having my first one-night stand can’t hurt. Right? The rules are pretty simple.

1. Don’t spend the night.

2. Don’t see him again.

3. Don’t share anything personal.

4. Don’t fall in love with him.

But when Haze, the guy I spent a blazing hot night with and haven’t been able to forget about, shows up as our new receptionist, the rules fly out the window.

There’s no way one night could lead to anything more. So why has Haze got me hoping this might just last?

Got Me Hoping is book 1 in the Vet Shop Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. Expect plenty of humor, found family, an adorable golden retriever, a foul-mouthed parrot, a whole new way of getting clean (as well as very, very dirty) and a heartwarming happily ever after

Review: Cowboy’s Law by B.A.Tortuga

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I love BA Tortuga’s cowboy and kids stories. The warmth, the amazing feel of love and family comes flowing through every scene and situation the characters encounter.

Whether it’s one of awkwardness, anger, fear, humiliation ( families, remember), hilarity, pain, and love, the overwhelming atmosphere is that of people who deeply respect and love each other. No matter what the exact nature of their biological ties might be. It’s family at its finest.

When bull rider Seth Rodgers adopts the family of his best friend, Pistol McMann when he died of cancer, his life was forever changed. He became Uncle Seth , in fact, dad, to five kids, overnight. It’s a life he’s found he was made for and he loves more than life.

Seth. And everyone of those children are intricately crafted to feel as alive and realistic as they come. Seth, tiny, wiry, energetic, determined, is every inch the ex bull rider, now organized family man with ranches to run. You can see him, weary , napping in front of the tv so clearly.

And every kid, yep, you will know them too. Each with their fears, strengths, funny moments, and ability to see through the grownup fabrications that occasionally get thrown out there. Love each and every one.

Law McMann , ex Army, disabled vet trying to see where he’s got a future, is a character easy to connect with. As he’s trying to reconnect with civilian life, he’s also trying to find himself a spot back into a family he’s never really known.

This is an emotional story of loss, recovery, reconnection, family, and love.

And on every level, at every stage, the author brings those challenges and themes together with our characters in a heartwarming story that will leave you smiling and happy.

Yes, I throughly enjoyed this! And am recommending it.

B.A. Tortuga

Synopsis: When rodeo cowboy Seth’s best friend dies unexpectedly from cancer, he finds himself taking on a ranch and a bunch of his friend’s younger siblings, because they have nowhere else to turn. Seth loves those kids like they’re his own, and he settles in well to his new life, which is why he’s pretty wary when his buddy’s older brother finally makes it home from a long stint in the military.

Law knows he might get a chilly reception at his brother Pistol’s old ranch, even if the kids living there are his half-siblings. He didn’t make it to his brother’s funeral, after all, but to his credit, he was blown up trying to come home to do just that. He’s fighting injuries and insecurity, but when Seth welcomes him to the family ranch, Law knows he’s pretty much in love. Even if he thinks Seth was his brother’s lover. Can these two find a way to let their emotions out before tragedy strikes their family again?

Review: Sorcerers Always Satisfy (Hidden Species #4) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 5🌈

Series finale

Here we are at the Hidden Species finale and usually I’m a very mopey reader at this stage because I’m saying goodbye to characters and a universe I’ve fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with.

However, thank you, Louisa Masters, I know that the fabulous sequel series Here Be Dragons ensures that both this universe and characters and romances will happily and eagerly be something I can look forward to, book after book. Sigh…. More Hellhounds and dragons!

At any rate…. Focusing….

Sorcerers Always Satisfy brings to the fore one of the steadiest, grounded characters of this series. The one man we probably have known the least about but also never really thought that much about either.

David Carew, sorcerer and all around steadfast albeit a tad boring friend to everyone in the Lucifer’s inner circle, including Percy Caraway himself. David has been a bit of a blank page, while all his friends supplied the glitter, flash, angst, age, or samba lines.

Now David’s past comes roaring back and explains his need , nope, love and need for order instead of chaos. And it’s revealed that he’s not exactly just “a sorcerer” but something extraordinary as sorcerers go. Yeah, he’s inner circle for a reason, we really should have seen that one.

David’s true strengths and past is revealed during a time of disaster and dimension peril so extreme that no one could have foreseen it.

The elf Caolan ,who appeared in Alistair’s story , is now a full partner is the Alliance to stop the enemies plan. I won’t spoil all that entails because it’s complicated, imaginative, and well, encapsulates four books. Read them all in the order they are written.

But Caolan is also adoring of David. Before you go it’s too soon, as David does actually, there’s a host of explanations that cover exactly why it’s not. Just another outstanding element here. Elf loves David, it’s perfectly reasonable, I love this couple. And well the Elves. And their love of cell phones… just wait.

This story easily engages with the heartbreak of a young David and his adolescence, the impending doom of a world, and what that shattering event will do emotionally to several species . Themes both intimate such as couple love to enormous, along the lines of dimension death, are woven into the storylines here. Al it’s done so beautifully.

Again written with amazing poignancy and humor. You want to cry and then laugh , both . Often at the same time. Because the author realizes how close both emotions are to each other.

There is joy, there is sadness.

I think that’s a Taylor Swift song.

Sorcerers Always Satisfy is a fantastic story and series finale. It gives David the romance and mate he deserves and this outstanding series the closure to this complicated fantasy epic adventure the send off we need before journeying onto Here Be Dragons!

Let’s raise a glass to our heroes until we meet them again! Here’s to an amazing journey! Thanks for the Grand times! See you all soon!

Yes… I’m recommending every single one. Read them often!

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Hidden Species Cast of Characters:

Community of Species Government-CSG

Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane

Senior Investigators Team:

Sam Tiller – team admin

Gideon Bailey, Demon

Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair

David Carew, sorcerer

Lily Heath, succubus

Andrew Turner, Vampire

Alistair Smythe, Hellhound

Noah Cage, human

Aiden Byrne, Felix shifter-Shifter Species Leader

Caolan, Elf

Brandt. Wing leader of all dragons

King Radulfr, King of all Elves

Synopsis:Just because I enjoy planning and researching doesn’t mean I’m not the most dangerous badass mothercracker around.

The world sees me as boring, dependable David. And I like it that way. I know things and I’m organized. Plus, I’ve seen firsthand the harm a chaotic life can inflict, and I’d rather have my lists and be called dull.

Which is what makes it all the more disconcerting when a sexy elf declares his adoration and begins to “woo” me. What am I supposed to do?

Hide, mostly. It’s hard, though, because Caolan and I are supposed to be working together. And he’s tough to resist: sweet, competent, and so incredibly beautiful. He sees something in me that no one else does. Would it really be such a bad thing if I gave in to temptation?

My personal life can’t be the priority right now, though. The bad guys are gearing up to strike, and if we don’t stop them, the end of the world could be nigh. I need to focus on that, not on letting Caolan show me the benefits of spontaneity. Or do I?

Sorcerers Always Satisfy

Review: Hijinks With a Hellhound (Hidden Species #3) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.75 🌈

Hellhounds. If for no other reason to pick these amazing stories up, it’s to meet hellhounds.

These are not the beings or species that are coming to mind when the name Hellhound pops up. Nopes.

The Hellhound species here? Welp,that wasn’t originally their name. But turns out it’s a racial uh soecist slur that was flung at them sometime around the huge Species War. They thought it humorous so their Species Leader renamed their ENTIRE species! Yep Hellhounds.

It’s just the thing a Hellhound would do… see? I treat them as if the exist!

They and Alistair deserve to be real!

It’s almost painful on a cellular level they don’t.

Alistair Smythe, covert op, top Investigator and part of the inner circle of the Lucifer is 6’5” of gorgeous muscular shifter energy!Sure most of the time he’s so adorable, whether it’s Karaoke nite or doing the Macarena, that we forget how incredibly utterly fantastic Alistair is at his job.

While still being absolutely Alistair, in all his magnificently quirky glory.

Hijinks With a Hellhound is Alistair’s time to shine. It also brings him into close working conditions with Aiden Byrne, Felid shifter-Shifter Species Leader. At first what starts out as a clash of personalities turns, upon reflection and a little advice, into a journey of lust, espionage, and eventually love.

It’s a hell…hound of a ride!

Plus this incredible adventure introduces a new cast of important characters leading into the finale. Especially one species that will have you going oh no.. them and hellhounds? 😱🤣. The anticipation is off the charts!

Aiden and Alistair are so perfect together, and this story sets the foundation for the revelation and narrative explosions to come.

How could you not love this? And them? Hellhounds!

It goes without saying… absolutely recommended.

Along with the entire series!

If I only had a magic wand…..

Cover notes. Best cover of them all. That is Alistair! Absolute perfection!

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Synopsis: I’m a one-and-done kind of hellhound… I don’t catch feeeeeeeelings…

Once upon a time, my first and last relationship taught me that romantic love isn’t enough to stop your boyfriend from trying to kill you. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. My awesomeness is now strictly reserved for one-nighters and casual hookups. Sure, my friends seem to be matching up in romantic bliss, but screw that—I’m not interested.

Besides, things are heating up at the Community of Species Government, and I’m right in the thick of it all. Those bad guys are going down—and not in the good way. They might seem to have the drop on us right now, but we’re going to turn the tables on them. Even if it means going on a mission with Aidan Byrne.

I’m still not happy about the way Aidan handled things with my bestest bestie a few months back, even if he did turn out to be right. Plus, there’s something about him that rubs my fur in the wrong direction. He’s the kind of guy who thinks karaoke is only for college kids and looks down on me for licking my own balls. He also thinks that just because he’s the species leader, he’s in charge.

Too bad for him, I’ve never backed away from a challenge… even if it is unnervingly sexy and really bendy. A hookup won’t lead to feelings… right?

Hijinks With a Hellhound

Hidden Species Cast of Characters:

Community of Species Government-CSG

Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane

Senior Investigators Team:

Sam Tiller – team admin

Gideon Bailey, Demon

Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair

David Carew, sorcerer

Lily Heath, succubus

Andrew Turner, Vampire

Alistair Smythe, Hellhound

Noah Cage, human

Aiden Byrne, Felid shifter-Shifter Species Leader

Review: One Bite With a Vampire (Hidden Species #2) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 5 🌈

One Bite With a Vsmpire introduces us to Noah Cage, a human who is one of the most fascinating characters of the Hidden Species series. Noah’s personality and character is one of unknown depths, continual growth, and unexpected revelation.

Honestly, even at the end of the series finale, I felt as though the life force and Louisa Masters wasn’t done with Noah yet.

He’s almost mesmerizing in his grumpiness, painful past of which we are never fully cognizant, and inability to fully trust.

His scary journey here to the CSG and the found family of species within the inner circle of the Lucifer is a white knuckle ride.

That it’s Andrew Turner, the 800 year old vampire, with a fondness for cake and snark who’s the being that’s the one at Noah’s side? Both a touch of perfection and source of poignancy.

For as irritation slides into lust and then something more, what’s continually highlighted is Noah’s humanity and short lifespan against Andrew’s great age and continued longevity.

And we watch as both Andrew and Noah each try to deal with this element of their relationship in their own way, unsuccessfully, however subtly.

Masters can, with just a few sentences, create a scene of such emotional fragility , containing both despair and hope, you will want to weep.

And she does it over and over again.

Book after book here in this series.

Then follow it up with one of equal hilarity.

Goddess love those hellhounds!

While I have focused on Noah here as a character, Andrew Turner , vampire, is just as complicated as his years would have made him. More of his background and history as it relates to other members of the inner circle comes out in another vastly important and emotional story. But much like Noah, Andrew has just as many depths and dimensions to him waiting for us to discover.

They are a truly great pair.

This story doesn’t so much end on a solid note so much as it gets ready to flow into the next book.

This is a ending you’re going to see until the finale as the huge investigation ramps up and the horror begins to unveil.

So yes run immediately to Hijinks With A Hellhound because you need to know what happens next and well, it’s Alistair. That’s reason enough.

Honestly Alistair became alive to me as did all the Hellhounds. I physically hurt over the fact they don’t exist. We really need Hellhounds in our lives. Especially Alistair.

At any rate. Noah’s journey which starts here is a compelling and emotional story. So is his romance with Andrew, full of snarky love, pain and surprise.

I’m highly recommending One Bite with A Vampire and the entire Hidden Species series.

They are must reading for me.

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Synopsis:Getting kidnapped was never part of my life plan. But being rescued opened up a whole world of crazy.

It’s not easy being the only human at the Community of Species Government—and especially not when you’re the rescue case. Two years ago, I was planning to go to college, have a wild time, then settle into a normal life. Instead, I was kidnapped, spent months being a test subject, was in hiding for nearly a year, and then found out that my whole existence is a science experiment conducted by the bad guys. It’s definitely time to reassess.

My rescuers at CSG have been awesome… mostly. They gave me a job, a home, and a support network. But the whole demons, vampires, shifters thing is not easy to get used to. Especially when one particular vampire makes me want to take up stake sharpening for a hobby. How can someone be over eight centuries old and have the maturity of a drunk frat boy?

The thing is, teenage mentality or not, Andrew is a fierce protector. With the bad guys still on the loose, I need someone like that on my side. Plus, did I mention that he’s not hard to look at? I could stare at him all day if only he never opened his mouth.

As we race to find my former captor before he can find me, life takes another twist and upends my world all over again. This time, though, I’m ready—after all, I’ve got an eight-hundred-year-old vampire at my back. What could possibly go wrong?

One Bite With a Vampire

Hidden Species Cast of Characters:

Community of Species Government-CSG

Percy Caraway: the Lucifer . Aka the Head of State of the Physical Plane

Senior Investigators Team:

Sam Tiller – team admin

Gideon Bailey, Demon

Elinor Martin, Hellhound, cousin to Alistair

David Carew, sorcerer

Lily Heath, succubus

Andrew Turner, Vampire

Alistair Smythe, Hellhound

Noah Cage, human

Aiden Byrne, Felix shifter-Shifter Species Leader

Review: Demons Do It Better ( Hidden Species #1) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Well, finally, here I am! Back at the beginning of the Hidden Species series I’ve been meaning to return to after finding and diving into the first novel at the start of the sequel series (Dragon Ever After

(Here Be Dragons #1) ). Yikes!

That story and the introduction to all the amazing characters and existing universe (plus writing style of Masters’) had me hooked but good.

Still it took a while.

Now I’m gobbling up the Hidden Species books like bonbons.

Which works really well because they flow smoothly one into the next.

Louisa Masters actually sets up all the series, both of them, by presenting us with the complicated story of Sam Tiller, a man who will become the heart of the CSG , the center , and by that I mean the admin, of the Lucifer’s team , and the first to get his romance. He’s also setup here to slowly work himself into the center of our and all the hearts of this marvelous found family of various species.

Oh wait til you get to the Hellhounds!

In all that, the title may be a bit misleading because the demon in question is Gideon, a feared and formidable Investigator of the lucifer’s first team at CSG.

Ok the Lucifer? It’s a title, not a devil. Nope, nothing to do with religion. That’s just a bad rap from a pissed off bunch at the other end of a bargaining table. I’ll save it for the story.

At any rate. There’s a complicated relationship between Sam and Gideon that’s amazing to watch unfold, full of sexy dynamics and awesome UST.

However, it’s Sam’s journey here that is unexpected. Emotionally compelling, imaginative and action wise fantastic, and page after page, turns this into a tale of depth, pain, personal growth, humor, and love.

And yes horror. That’s a series thread, one of growing horror, you will see as a major mystery keeps looming ever larger over the group.

Honestly once you set out to read these books, just know you’re not going to want to stop until you’re finally done. Just have all the books lined up ready to go like I did and plow right through!

Then onto series 2!

Honestly what a great treat is in store for anyone who hasn’t discovered this author or series.

Great characters, amazing universe, wonderful writing, and humor to keep me in stitches while it had suspense that had me holding my breath! Love that! And this!

Highly recommended!

For all series and books look below synopsis.

Demons Do It Better (Hidden Species #1)

Synopsis:The truth is, I’m an admin assistant who applied for a job that sounded kind of interesting and ended up working for the Community of Species Government. I’m the only human in the office, and basically I ride herd on a team of rambunctious shifters and demons.

I also spend a lot of time avoiding Gideon Bailey, the demon I had a one-night stand with right before I took this job. He hates me, and I really want to avoid being murdered. But I’ve been offered a promotion that will mean working with him, so we’re both going to have to get over it.

Plus, people are going missing. Pregnant people. And the word is that someone is dabbling in genetic experimentation. Putting a stop to that is more important than the sexual tension Gideon and I have been ignoring… isn’t it?

🔶Hidden Species series:

Demons Do It Better #1

One Bite with A Vampire #2

Hijinks With A Hellhound #3

Sorcerers Always Satisfy #4

🔶Sequel Series:

Here Be Dragons (happens immediately after the events of Hidden Species)

Dragon Ever After#1

Cover note. Of all the covers in this series, this is the only one for me that missed the mark. For me that’s not Gideon, cold, aloof, forbidding, Rich Gideon in any way. Too bad. The rest are fabulous and spot on.

Review: Thack’s Angel: Midnight Rodeo #12 by BA Tortuga

Rating:4🌈

It’s a great concept, a hell’s rodeo full of supernatural beings that tours like a regular rodeo around the US, only the bulls are really demons doing hell time for their bad deeds and the rodeo staff and bull riders are a very interesting mixture of supernatural beings of various species.

The books, 12 including this one, follow the members of the rodeo along a usually rocky path to romance as we also learn about their histories.

A found family of sorts each character is a reappearing member in every story. So it’s nice to continually reconnect with them book to book.

Thack is the demon is charge of the Darque and Knight supernatural rodeo. As we start the story , one central torment is the loss of his angelic mate years ago without a trace or explanation. Who unexpectedly now reappears out of nowhere.

Years lost, with no memory of who he is and where he belongs, Uri is drawn to the strange rodeo in the town he’s passing through. A rodeo who’s staff remember who he is and more importantly a rodeo that may change contain the being most centrist to regaining his past and his heart.

This is a strange, sexy, poignant second chance at love, lovers reunited story. A two person narrative that works perfectly to bring out the pain , anger, and pathos of years of lost love. Also the mystery and anguish of Uri’s journey back to his mate and found family is explored from many sides as the revelations come.

It helps to have read the other books to be familiar with the peripheral characters but not totally necessary as their dynamics are also somewhat laid out here.

I adored the Thack/Uri reunion and that of the fam but found that of the villain reveal a bit rushed. For me, it needed a little more foundation for it to have felt satisfying. Also fire demon/ice demon? Did I miss something there?

At any rate, that element kept me from rating it higher.

This is a terrific series and a fascinating concept. Love the characters and couples. Not familiar with it and them? Check it out! I’m recommending it!

Thack’s Angel (Midnight Rodeo, #12)

💀Midnight Rodeo series:

Welcome to the Pack #1

Oklahoma Rain #2

Big Bear, Little Bear #3

Light a Rocket #4

Freaked Out #5

Tails and Whiskers #6

Above the Fold #7

Vampire Protection #8

Shifting Responsibility #9

Brownie’s Sway #10

The Dragon’s Dilemma #11 by Julia Talbot

Thack’s Angel #12

Synopsis:Demon Thackery has been running the actual rodeo show at the Midnight Rodeo since anyone can remember. He has a damn good life on earth: he loves his job, he has good friends, and he has a personal assistant who understands that a good horn rub has nothing to do with sex. Only one thing is missing. His angel Uri, who disappeared years ago without even a goodbye.

When Uri rides into the Midnight Rodeo on his Harley, he has the sense that he’s been there before. And when the regulars see him, they know that the proverbial stuff is about to hit the fan. Thack is going to lose it when he sees Uri. Except that Uri can’t remember anything about his past, and he has no idea why he left.

Uri knows one thing for sure when he sees Thack; that he big demon is his mate. Period. Even if someone wants to keep them apart, now that Uri is back, there will be no separating them. Or at least that’s the plan. Can they get Uri’s memory back and keep everything else together?

Review: The Demon’s in the Details by Meghan Maslow

Rating: 5🌈

Author Meghan Maslow is a writer I only recently became familiar with but already she’s a must read and highly recommended one. I’m quickly gobbling up anything from her that I’ve not read yet. Which is how I came across this outstanding story.

The Demon’s in the Details

by Meghan Maslow was previously published in the Fables Retold Anthology, which I somehow missed.

Now rereleased as a stand-alone story, it’s fairytale storylines, outstanding characters and great location of Baltimore all combines into one fantasy to remember.

Honestly, basing this in Baltimore? Epic idea! From all the memorable historic locations in and around Baltimore that get used, beautifully I might add, in this story and plots, you have the author’s use of Raven shifters and a major character with the name of Poe.

Edgar Allen Poe , the author and poet is synonymous with Baltimore and he’s buried there. To locate a clan of Raven shifters there? Perfection! And have as one of its main characters a Raven shifter in need who’s also a theft? Genius!

The demon Tommy is such a well developed character and has so many well defined layers to his personality that it was marvelous watching the tiny reveals. Almost as fascinating and wonderful as it was watching the dance of attraction/passions play out between Poe and Tommy while all the other clan and territorial drama ignites around them.

Maslow doesn’t shortchange any character here, all get plenty of attention to detail and admirable depth to each. So much that we learn to anticipate and enjoy each one as we see them and their interactions with our couple. Whether it’s Carter or Kennedy or Lucy, one of the twins. It’s more, pls, of everyone, well, except Ethan. That stepfather was pure evil.

I really do need a sequel here. Need to know what happens to certain other characters and how the roost is doing. Even how a certain crow is enjoying his new digs….

Maslow made these beings come alive and Baltimore, it’s history and plain weirdness, never came across better.

What a grand story, what fantastic beings, how I love this!

And highly recommend it!

Synopsis:Can a sexy demon really spin straw into gold?

Poe Dupin, raven shifter and thief extraordinaire, is in trouble with a capital ‘T.’ Not only did he get his wing caught in the cookie jar during his latest heist, but his loser stepdad, the alpha, seems determined to run their roost into the ground. And Baltimore is many things, but forgiving is not on the list.

When his stepdad puts the roost in peril, Poe sees no choice but to bargain with Charm City’s only demon, Tommy Tittoti. Rumors are that Tommy eats the souls of those foolish enough to try. Three strikes and you’re out. But really, Poe wasn’t using his soul anyway. And if it saves his roost? Worth it.

Tommy isn’t what Poe expects. Demon—huge, horned, hairy, and scary, right? Nope. Blond, gorgeous, with a bubble butt, and a lilting drawl that beckons Poe to come play. Total hookup-app fantasy material. Even if he is a murder twink.

Poe’s no angel, but Tommy . . . well he’s more devil than demon. Yet, Poe just can’t seem to keep his feathers out of the fire. As one bargain turns into two, and then a third tragedy strikes the ravens, Poe finds himself falling for a guy who may very literally be the death of him. Or maybe the flames will burn them both.

The Demon’s in the Details is a fast-paced, roller coaster of a romance with a guaranteed HEA and lots of steam. Shenanigans include: a gold object that is definitely not a ring, a best friend who’s trigger-happy, and a demon who’s got a few surprises up his, uh, sleeve.

**Previously published in the Fables Retold Anthology. ~60,000 words. No new content has been added

Stores

Review: The Play of His Life by Amy Aislin

Rating: 4.5 🌈

It’s play hockey time so I can’t get enough of my favorite sport, that includes reading about it in my romances.

Amy Aislin is in that top group of authors I recommend who write outstanding hockey romances. Her stories include both great characters but just as importantly the fact that this author loves and understands the game of hockey in all its aspects. And feeds the reader that love and knowledge through various threads of storylines and themes.

Also with Aislin (as with other authors of hockey romances) , her characters, couples and stories are written so they intertwine into a rich satisfying tapestry of hockey, romance, and HEA. People, couples, teams, the Toronto Trailblazers, Glenn Hill College Mountaineers (college team), Burlington, Vermont, Vancouver…. People, places, teams that weave together in book after book, a delightful rich and colorful ongoing flow of love that has never ceases to amaze me.

The Play of His Life is a perfect example of this. I even remember when Riley got hurt on the ice…. In another story. Then he was a solid member of the Trailblazers. Until his injury took him out of the sport he loved. We sort of wondered what happened to the likable Riley. But never found out.

Until now.

But here we delve into the complicated background and painful history of not just Riley but the man he left behind.

And the second chance at love they both get. Yes, one of my favorite tropes.

With a two person POV that I always find works so well, Aislin gives us the background of both men, all the way to kindergarten through all their formative years, to first love and then the issues that divided them and tore them apart for years.

It’s touching, moving, funny, frustrating, and , raw. I loved it, these men, and their journey back to each other and HEA.

Plus , yes we get to see so many ok’d friends as well, as usual.

The writing is so good I could free the biting cold coming off the lake, feel my hands freezing in the cold winds, and the absolute joy in a young boy hitting his first pucks. Magic.

Consider this and all the Amy Aislin stories highly recommended.

Synopsis:The last person Christian wants to run into on a visit home to spend time with his mom over the holidays is his former best friend-turned-lover-turned-ex. But there Riley is, in all his tall, chiseled, blondness. The same guy who walked out on him six years ago, breaking his heart in the process. Who knew he’s still in love with the jerk?

Two years ago, Riley was injured out of the NHL, but he’s got his own bakery now and a quiet life selling quiches and cupcakes to his customers. Then Christian unexpectedly walks back into his life, forcing Riley to question his choices. Especially that one choice he made six years ago that walked him out of Christian’s life. Now if only he had the courage to tell a boy how he really feels about him…

The Play of His Life was originally published in 2017. This updated version has a brand new cover, but very little new content aside from grammar and typo updates and the addition of the bonus epilogue that was originally available via subscription to Amy’s newsletter.

The Play of His Life

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: