I adore this series and group of characters so seeing it continue with Luca O’ Broín and architect Noe Keller is amazing.
The story flows beautifully as the men go through the process of friendship to lovers, working together on the structure of the castle and with their crews. It’s a natural progression and the reader feels folded seamlessly into their journey and the love that they share.
Sherwood doesn’t forget the dramatic moments, which comes from both sides of each man’s family. But Starfire satisfactorily deals with each struggle and ends with a sense of accomplishment and success. Of a love and happiness for their future.
If this is the last book, I’m extremely happy for how they are going out.
Turns out wishing on the stars isn’t hopeless after all.
Tags:
Marriage pact, age gap, hurt/comfort, gay for you, workplace romance, chosen family, cinnamon roll protection squad, assemble!, I did not plan this book, Noe was the one on ship building duty this time, communication, no third act breakups because I can’t stand those, O’ Broin is getting his happily ever after, so is Noe, peanut gallery included, naked proposals are a thing for this series, Sakura dispenses wisdom like candy, Ren and Arman are hashtag relationship goals
Normally I’m not one for the “virgin trope” storyline but Burns and Fawkes are two of my favorite authors and in their hands, it turns into Witchwolf, a delightful urban fantasy romance about a young man who in looking for a hot night out before a new job finds far more than he ever imagined.
Dakota Morris is the young man, recently graduated from college, and ready for his dream job and adventure. But before then? He wants that hot date and experience he’s denied himself by concentrating on his college and studies.
Burns and Fawkes have created a wonderful exuberant character in Dakota and then given him the absolutely best possible place to explore his new life and possibilities for his future.
Of course he doesn’t expect his future to come with werewolves, mages and a ton of magic.
The corporate world and culture the authors are laying down will be expanding with the next book , a chapter of which is included at the end of Witchwolf.
But we get the outline of how the company works and its origins. Pack owned and operated but not exclusively employed by just werewolves. This is a rich universe Burns and Fawkes are building and I’m hopeful that we get more than just two books here.
Dakota’s story has mysteries and some drama associated with it. I wish we could have had more details about his background but understand why that wasn’t given. There’s so much more here that cries out for greater detail and exploration, into the mage history and paranormal being rivalries.
I’m hoping that future stories dive into this element.
The romance between Dakota and Alpha Ajax is hot, fun, and the dynamic between them makes us absolutely love this couple. Want to throttle Ajax occasionally because of his lack of communication skills but still Dakota makes up for it.
Love the ending and energy going forward. But having the entire first chapter of Book 2 (great chapter too) and not the book? Argh.
I will be watching out for that book next.
A definite winner for lovers of urban fantasy and these authors.
Witchwolf series:
Witchwolf #1
Word, Nerds, & Werecats #2 – coming early 2026 – chapter 1 included in the first book. ❤️
Dakota Morris has decided it’s time he lost that pesky virginity.
He’s a college graduate, and he’s tired of being a virgin. So he goes out to a club his friends don’t frequent, and picks up the hottest man he’s ever seen. It’s truly a night to remember . . . until he walks into the boardroom for his new job the next morning and wishes he could forget it, because his hot pick-up is also his new boss and CEO, Ajax Fyse.
The fact that he unknowingly slept with his newest employee is the least of Jax’s problems right now. Not only is he trying to navigate a merger with a mage family who disdains werewolves as beasts, it turns out the mage he took home last night didn’t even believe magic existed till this morning.
This morning, when his magic abilities manifested.
Now, Dakota’s stapler is flying across the room, and Jax has landed himself in the position of ushering his gorgeous new hire into the realm of magic. If only sleeping with a werewolf wouldn’t ruin Dakota’s reputation among other mages . . .
I came across writer Deborah Wilde by accident when looking for female main characters outside of the norm. She writes several books with characters that just aren’t the female main characters you normally expect and I really appreciate that.
In her Navia Katz , The Unlikeable Demon Hunter series, Wilde actually has written a character that reminds me of a friend whose family resembles this one, in that her brother, not her, was the golden *cough* only child. Yes, it was a traditional Jewish family and decades ago. But I remember the damage done, her feelings , and the painful dynamics clearly, even now.
The situation is fraught with emotional trauma, and made worse by the fact that it’s a twins dynamic that is involved here, and that it’s a beloved brother and distant parents in a Jewish household that holds many secrets.
I like that Wilde isn’t afraid to make Navia a little unlikable, highly sexual, and “in your face” individual. She’s full of anger, not so hidden pain, and lost dreams. And she doesn’t have a sense of where she’s going or support. Except from her driven “chosen “ twin brother.
And when her brother’s initiation in the Demon Hunting Brotherhood goes wrong in an hilarious scene, her life and his takes a spiraling out of control turn.
This is a paranormal tale, the world building isn’t there, at least in this story. But I’m thinking that’s because, like the secret society, it will be filled in along with her training and events that will happen.
Wilde isn’t afraid to create unapologetically unlikable characters or ones that will be able to change and show considerable growth. The twin’s dynamic is full of damage, transforming energy and love.
It’s also full of their Jewish heritage. Wilde provides a Jewish/Yiddish dictionary here for all the words and phrases used.
This is a culturally rich, paranormally diverse tale. I really enjoyed it and Navia, a female character I rarely come across. Amazing woman.
The mission: kill demons. The catch: infuriatingly sexy minder. The challenge: don’t get the two confused.
Nava Katz is an expert at burying her lost dreams and wielding cynicism as her personal brand. Then she interrupts her twin brother’s induction ceremony into a secret supernatural society, accidentally torches his life-long dream, and steals his destiny as a Chosen Demon Hunter.
Oops?
Now she’s trying to wrangle her new-found powers while facing her worst nightmare: being needed.
Her questionable reward? Being assigned to Rohan Mitra, rockstar turned ruthless slayer. A man whose inner demons earn nods of respect from actual ones. The chemistry between them is as dangerous as the monsters they hunt, yet he’d be the perfect bad boy fling—if only he wasn’t determined to make her face her demons too.
And speaking of facing demons…
Odds saving her brother from one’s hit list? Um…
Odds of her succeeding out of spite? Way better.
The Brotherhood wants her gone.
The demons want her dead.
First gig as a Chosen One and she’s already nailing it.
Featuring a snarky heroine, kickass action, and spicy romance, this laugh-out-loud, deliciously addictive series sucker-punches you in the heart when you’re not looking.
I made the mistake of reading this universe out of order. I started with The Other Wolf series, which focuses on secondary characters from The Glimmer series. And to be honest, after reading this fantastic introductory series, I’m still not a fan of those characters.
But I’m a huge fan of these. And luckily Harris has two series that are very much all about the extremely well written main FMC, Jessica Sharp (Jinx), a truth finder and empath, as she discovers her true identity, the hidden world around her, and the truth behind her parents deaths.
Everything I’d been missing in that last series is here. Harris’s world building is amazing and impressive, encapsulating multiple dimensions and even times, from detailed descriptions of locations and various other creatures and characters.
What I really love about a omnibus is being able to read through the cliffhangers, the wild twists (really great ones) and proceed with the story and characters moving forward with their journey and whatever is happening in the world.
And there normally a lot going on.,
Jinx is so well written, she has depth, and is scrambling to learn how she fits into her new role and life while maintaining who she is fundamentally. We believe in her personality and her core character. And it comes with a Great Dane companion who is extra!
To go further is to ruin some of the most important and well plotted threads of the series. I was absolutely delighted and invested in this series and character because I read this right through.
This is the writing and storytelling I was looking for when I went to see what this author had to offer outside of her work that she is co-authoring with Jillian Dolbeare.
This is fantastic storytelling with main characters to keep you invested in their journey, no matter how long it takes. I’m there for her .
Highly recommended. And headed to The Court Omnibus next.
The Other Realm – The Glimmer Series Omnibus contains the following books:
I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time.
I’m Jinx. As a private investigator, being a walking, talking lie detector is a useful skill – but let’s face it, it’s not normal. You’d think it would make my job way too easy, but even with my weird skills, I still haven’t been able to track down my parent’s killers.
When I’m hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar – yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish soul who’s as likely to go off the rails as Mother Theresa. Secondly, I’m not the only one on her trail; she’s also being tracked by the implacable and oh-so-sexy Inspector Stone.
Stone and I team up, and he shoves me into a realm where magic is real – a place where there are vampyrs and werewolves, dragons and trolls. And where my skills are more than just detecting lies…
Oh, and my dog? He’s a freaking hellhound who can manipulate the magical realms themselves.
I need to find the girl.
I need to discover who killed my parents.
And I need to find out more about the attractive but mysterious Zachary Stone…
Burn through this fun, fast-paced, laugh-out-loud mix of urban fantasy and mystery.
This is the complete Glimmer series e-boxset. Don’t miss this internationally best-selling series if you like humour, heart, a strong heroine and a slow burn fade-to-black romance.
Written in British English.
The complete box set of the Other Realm Series contains the following books:-
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
Other linked series:
The Potentate of Atlanta (6 book series) – this is set within The Potentate apparently
The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy (9 book series) in Savannah
The whole dying thing sucked, but Frankie isn’t going to dwell. She’s focusing on the positive. She’s alive. Ish.Her family is safe. Her business is booming. She’s even got a boyfriend. Everything is coming up roses in Thunderbolt, Georgia.
Until a client decides she needs more time and makes a run for it in her loaner body. Too bad for the client, the last thing Frankie does before a loaner hits the showroom floor is microchip them for this very reason. Finding the runaway soul will be a piece of cake.
Or it would have been if she hadn’t bumped into Carter, who’s working a case that gets tangled up in Frankie’s repo. Missing women. Stolen cars. Alien abductions? The only way to get Frankie out of trouble is to help Carter uncover who’s behind it all. And pray the answer isn’t her client.
• Publisher: Black Dog Books, LLC. (January 4, 2025)
Welp, it’s finally here! The end of the road and the insane finale for our beloved triad of paranormal lovers, Adam, Fancy Fangs aka Victor , and the ever fabulous Zee!
This story has everything! Road trips gone wrong, supernatural mobsters, Miami because, you know, Florida, sex, music, crazed family stuff, Florida, frogs, drama, dragons, frogs!
Florida.
And of course, finally, very importantly, a happy ending for our beloved otherworldly throuple.
It’s a veritable kitchen sink of storylines, events, weirdly funny characters and makes for a celebration of a send off.
Love it and them! Been a great ride!
Cover design by Ariana Nash
SOS Hotel:
For a Supernaturally Safe Stay #1
Friendly Sanctuary for the Fiendishly Fabulous #2
Sleep with Us #3
Great Service from Top to Bottom #4
No Rest for the Wicked #5
Ho, Ho, No #5.5
Luxury To Die For #6
Your Final Resting Place #7 -ends this sequence of events.
On The Road #8 – starts a mini-trilogy
Icy Reception #9
End of the Road #10 – finale
Holiday release!
SOS HOTEL: Ho, Ho, No by Adam Vex, Ariana Nash❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Being on the road has been fun an’ all (no, it hasn’t). Van life is awesome (it sucks, there’s no room for my fabulousness). But all good things must end, according to Fancy Fangs. He’s wrong. Good things should last forever.
Just so long as me, Victor and Adam don’t end, right?
So after we solved a burly werewolf murder, got ourselves mixed up with an evil luxury hotel, we’re now in Florida! Sun, sea, and… the troll mafia, a trap we walked right into, and did I mention… THERE’S F*CKING FROGS HERE?!
We all gonna die.
SOS HOTEL 10: End of the Road, is the end of the road for our hotel threesome. If you’ve read all nine previous books, you’d be silly not to read this one, the last ever one – for real this time. Our terrible trio are more powerful than ever, but so is Adam’s wicked brother. The epic showdown is here.
A sweet heartwarming holiday story with Bunny getting the family type of Christmas dinner and gathering she’s always dreamed about but never had. All her found family and friends have come together at Conner’s house to celebrate and share gifts.
Sig is in the kitchen making the best food imaginable, and the wine is flowing.
Of course it’s Portlock, so there’s a few surprises. But it’s a lovely Christmas story and a narrative present for fans of the series and characters.
A heartwarming tale.
Love it and the cover.
Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.
The Portlock Paranormal Detective series:
The Vampire and the Case of her Dastardly Death, a prequel.
The Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf, Book 1.
The Vampire and the Case of the Secretive Siren, Book 2.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee, Book 3.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine, Book 4.
The Vampire and the Case of the Perilous Poltergiest, Book 5
The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas, Book #5.5
The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag #6
The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid #7 – July 3,2025
Vampires, gingerbread and Christmas magic – what could possibly go wrong?
All I want is a perfect Christmas with great food, amazing friends and the love of my life by my side. The tree is decorated, the feast (cooked by a hearth witch!) is ready, and Connor’s home is buzzing with festive cheer. This year I can feel it: Christmas magic is within my reach.
Then Liv calls.
When a necromancer rings for a favour, you know it’s not about borrowing sugar. Throw in a car accident involving the town drunk and a mysterious gingerbread thief targeting poor Sigrid’s baking, and my carefully planned holiday is on the brink of collapse.
Can I juggle saving Christmas, helping my friends and making it back in time to celebrate the holiday of my dreams?
Join Bunny and Connor in this heartwarming, magical holiday tale packed with festive mischief, a sprinkle of mystery – and plenty of Christmas cheer!
In The Vampire and the Case of the Perilous Poltergeist authors take Bunny and her best friend, Sidnee outside of Portlock to the Alaska State Trooper training academy for training and certification.
It’s a mixture of hidden paranormal cadets and normal human beings with all the same bigotry and prejudice that people face in social situations. Except that the paranormal recruits are expected to hide their abilities from their classmates and staff and still get their certificates. A difficulty in dealing with some bullying recruits.
I really loved this story and appreciated the many well developed storylines that further broadened the series arc mystery and allowed many of these characters to deepen their relationships and potential for their own powers.
Bunny’s character is growing stronger with each case. She’s discovering new powers, allowing herself to become closer to the people she is now considering her “found family “, and her own powers are being expanded into a new level of magic. Sidnee, the shifter whose friendship and trauma has been so much a part of Bunny’s story, is a big part of the story too. She’s struggling still with past events but trying hard to find her way through.
Without specific details, Heather G. Harris and Jilleen Dolbeare use a poltergeist, a truly poignant piece of work here, to bring another bit of this series back into play. Outstanding storytelling!
And of course, I have to mention Fluffy and his own personal struggles with his transformation ability or lack thereof. Love Fluffy and that enigma Shadow.
Another fantastic book! I’m so addicted to these characters and world.
Highly recommended!
Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.
The Portlock Paranormal Detective series:
The Vampire and the Case of her Dastardly Death, a prequel.
The Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf, Book 1.
The Vampire and the Case of the Secretive Siren, Book 2.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee, Book 3.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine, Book 4.
The Vampire and the Case of the Perilous Poltergiest, Book 5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas, Book 5.5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag #6
The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid #7 – July 3,2025
This academy’s secrets could get you killed – if the poltergeist doesn’t get you first…
I thought going back to school would be fun. After all, we’re adults now – no angst-ridden teen dramas here – and we’re all law-enforcement recruits training to become State Troopers. Surely we’ll work together like professionals, right? Wrong.
One of my fellow recruits has it in for me. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d peed in his cereal or corrected his grammar in public, but I swear I’ve done nothing to deserve the daggers he’s throwing my way.
The problem is that he’s not the only one giving me grief.
The academy has a unique resident, a poltergeist who loves nothing more than causing havoc. What starts as harmless pranks quickly turns sinister and I’m left wondering just how far the spirit will go.
The deeper I dig the more I realise this academy isn’t just haunted, it’s hiding something far worse than ghosts and ghouls. And if I don’t uncover the truth soon, I might not make it to graduation…
Dive into this fast-paced urban fantasy series if you love mystery, humour, found family and a slow-burn romance.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine: An Urban Fantasy Novel is a story I’ve been anticipating but sort of dreading. Because it’s focused on Fluffy, that endearing, remarkable German Shepherd who Bunny rescued in London, and has been a huge emotional support and absolute love for her here.
Well, it doesn’t start out as being a Fluffy centric story but as an investigation into who is hexing people around town with increasingly complex and dangerous curses. Really mysterious cases lead into ones that are closely linked to the people Bunny holds dear and are getting curses that are highly dangerous, even deadly.
The new elements introduced a fabulous magical black market and intriguing sides to established characters.
But the biggest issue and surprise is that Fluffy carries a curses that no one knew about and has no idea what it entails.
Again, this is such a completely layered and beautifully crafted story that I’m not throwing in any spoilers. Just that it’s wrenching emotionally, funny, but mostly poignant and sad. It’s gives Bunny and the reader even greater insight into her traumatic childhood and recent horrible events that led her to Alaska.
This book is full of scenes and characters that have reverberations that will carry forward for the rest of the series.
Amazing stuff and fantastic writing.
Highly recommended, a reader’s choice for me. Read the series in the order written.
Again, love Fluffy and the covers.
Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.
The Portlock Paranormal Detective series:
The Vampire and the Case of her Dastardly Death, a prequel.
The Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf, Book 1.
The Vampire and the Case of the Secretive Siren, Book 2.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee, Book 3.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine, Book 4.
The Vampire and the Case of the Perilous Poltergiest, Book 5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas, Book 5.5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag #6
The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid #7 – July 3,2025
Curses are falling on this town like rain in London. Just when I think I’ve found a link between the hexed victims, someone else shows up who’s been jinxed. It feels like the devil is playing darts with my paranormal town and if the dart hits you, you get whammied with a curse.
To be honest, I haven’t a clue how to find the perpetrator. My sole lead is pointing at the travelling black market that has just arrived in Portlock. That would be all fine and dandy —ifI could find it. Weirdly, no one is willing to direct the cops to a highly illegal market. I’m obviously persona non grata – though being a slightly-less-than-undead vampire, I’m kind of used to that.
On top of everything, my overbearing British mother has come to visit. Stuck in my shoebox of a house together, we might actually have to deal with some of our issues. Thank goodness I have Connor Mackenzie, vampire leader and sexy lumberjack, to run to when the going gets tough.
I’m juggling things—badly—when I discover my dog is cursed. What am I willing to do to save my hound? Anything and everything.
The world can burn for all I care, as long as I can save my pup…
Dive into this fast-paced urban fantasy series if you love mystery, humour, found family and a slow-burn romance.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee has it all. High action packed scenes, great mystery investigations, enough emotional drama to pack into a cargo hold, and a highly anticipated carryover that many people could empathize with. Cause Bunny’s mother is coming to visit her with all the dysfunctional trauma she’s bringing. Plus her annoying dog.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee has so many complicated storylines that fit perfectly into a single paranormal tale of a town under attack by multiple threats, inside and out of the barrier that has protected it. A family of banshees at odds, and Bunny facing several personal crises at the same time.
The authors remember that it’s not just the larger powerful magic elements that keep us engaged but the intimate aspects of the storytelling that pulls us in and makes us connect with the characters and the journey that each of them are on.
Some people are lost here, some still in mourning for relationships that fell apart, and some are still trying to find their peace in this new life. It all feels remarkably normal. Even in an urban fantasy environment.
Beautifully crafted, so well executed that I had to stop myself at book 4 at 3 am. Mostly because my dog said so. Fluffy would approve.
Highly recommend this and the series. Read them in order. They fly by so quickly because I’m absolutely invested with the series and characters.
Loving these covers. And Fluffy.
Cover design by Christian Bentulan. Published by Hellhound Press Limited.
The Portlock Paranormal Detective series:
The Vampire and the Case of her Dastardly Death, a prequel.
The Vampire and the Case of the Wayward Werewolf, Book 1.
The Vampire and the Case of the Secretive Siren, Book 2.
The Vampire and the Case of the Baleful Banshee, Book 3.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cursed Canine, Book 4.
The Vampire and the Case of the Perilous Poltergiest, Book 5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas, Book 5.5.
The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag #6
The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid #7 – July 3,2025
I thought I was finally getting the hang of being a paranormal policewoman, but when one of the gemstones powering the barrier around the town is stolen, I’m as terrified as the average Joe. Of course, there’s nothing average about the Joes in this town. It’s chock full of mythical creatures, and some of them think the barrier is a waste of time.
Well, I’ve seen the cryptid monster beyond and I know we’re doomed if the magical palisade ever fails. Calling what would follow a massacre would be a gross understatement. The race is on. I need to find the gemstone before the weakened barrier fails forever and the fiend devours us all. No pressure then.
It’s a simple theft… how hard can it be to solve? Answer: Very hard. Especially when theft turns into murder.
There’s also the little outstanding matter of my date with the vampire leader, Connor, not to mention that my best friend seems to be falling apart at the seams. And if all of that isn’t enough to be cracking on with, I have a visitor due imminently. My mother.
I’d rather face the monster.
Dive into this fast-paced urban fantasy series if you love mystery, humour, found family and a slow-burn romance.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 