Michelle Frost has written a fast-paced, urban fantasy short prequel for her new series, On Guard. This uses the same universe and characters as the previous series, Mated to a Human so knowledge of that world and those themes is necessary.
This was an action filled story that includes a romance that almost but not quite falls into the insta love category. That would be the relationship between Council mage Atlas and human Gavin, a barista.
The story picks up from the events happening in A Vampire Called Leander where the anti supernatural terrorist group is stepping up its attacks against the mated pairs and now a new group.
I liked the characters, they were very engaging and the new group of oracles, mages, and now Gavin, at the Hub are all very interesting and diverse.
The potential for a great new series is amazing and Iām excited to see where Frost takes this new group and expands on this new world of oracles, demons and humans.
Oracles Always Win is a fantastic book, a favorite read in a great series by Lori Ames about a small town of mixed paranormal species living among humans, all magically harmonious. That changed when a small pack of werewolves lead by a disgruntled were started a chain of serious crimes that eventually lead to the arrival of Gage, a demon, and his crew from the Supernatural Council.
One of the people there on the scene of the last crime, is Jake. Heās the owner of the bar and inn it occurred at. Jake has been a curious character throughout the prior stories. While he thinks heās human, and is clearly ignorant of the many supernatural beings that are present in his life, itās equally true heās not just human. He has visions. Heās an oracle. Has a cat that talks (just not to Jake) and has magical powers. In other words, Jake is a mystery too.
Ames gives us several fantastic storylines here. Thereās the ongoing threat to the community from the outside werewolf pack and perhaps something else. The species trafficking. Those investigations are continuing and have implications for others inside Willow Lake
But the best threads, the most engaging are the ones that involve Jake and Gabe, separately and together.
For Jake, itās his story about finding out who he is, what his friends and community really are, and, painfully, what his family history reveals about him. That last part still remains shrouded by mystery in large chunks of missing magical family lineage .I hope we get to this further in.
Gabe is a demon who also has a painful past related to his father. Itās one thatās haunted him and plays a huge role in how heās looked at his relationships with his coworkers and friends. Jake will force a major overhaul in his life and his dynamics with his found family.
This whole storyline is wonderful and just grabs at the reader on multiple levels. While Jake and Gabe are trying to work through their new relationship and possibly a mate bonding, thereās a real sense of danger and crime in progress to deal with.
We meet new characters, Isaac, Nelson, Davina, who are part of Gabeās team, and explore more of Willow Lakeās magical powers. Itās a fascinating universe. I canāt wait for the next book to arrive.
Lori Amesā Willow Lake Supernaturals is an excellent series and Oracles Always Win is an imaginative, well written example why I highly recommend the entire series.
Jake believes he is absolutely and completely ordinaryā¦ But what if he isnāt?
Jake is absolutely, completely ordinary, even if he has a weird painting affliction. Painting is relaxing, right? It helps. Itās a form of art therapy. Even if his is the sub-conscious kind of painting. The middle-of-the-night, paint-while-you-sleep kind. The kind that makes him puke every single time it happens. Okay. So, maybe thatās not exactly normal. But when the sexy but imaginary guy with horns, who his weird painterly alter-ego has been fixated on for the last year, suddenly shows up in town with horns and all, Jake doesnāt know what to think. Especially when the not-so-imaginary guy claims heās a demon and that Jakeās an oracle of all things. Thatās when Jake begins to suspect his life is never going to be the same again. After all, he mentioned the horns, right?
Tags: A demon in search of a home, an oracle unknowingly in need of a tether, the talking cat is a messy eater, oracles know things, oracles shouldnāt paint in public in only their underwear, the wolves in the hills are still jerks, a formerly human guy keeps asking crazy questions, who knew horns and wings could be sexy, andā¦ just how many supernatural beings will be drawn to this one little town?
Short stories by Ofelia Grand are absolutely addictive. Itās like eating your favorite snacks or chocolates. You can just eat one right after the other. And be happy.
Elevator Pitch by Ofelia Grand, all 41 pages, tells a sweet tale of shifter love that looks incompatible on the surface but these two are perfect for each other.
As usual, Grandās writing is spot on. We get dumped into a recognizable situation but paranormal world. A gay bear shifter is tired of trying to fit into a bear shifter society thatās not accepting of him. Itās painted quickly for the readers in skillfully written scenarios.
Bjorn Ritter is a bear shifter we can understand and connect with.
Whatās next is surprising. Thatās a somewhat distracted artist bat shifter, Cecil Baxter. He has a very different background and current situation on his hands. Cecil is engaging, and vulnerable.
Itās hard not to speak to the most powerful and important scenes of this very short story, but it takes place in a dark elevator. Itās believable. Stressful, real (be careful if youāre claustrophobic) and so incredibly emotional. This is why I read this author
It shows how two such individuals can make such an intense, deep connection in such a short period of time.
I love it and them.
Iāll be heading towards my next short story by this author and leaving you all to enjoy the gem that is Elevator Pitch by Ofelia Grand.
Bjorn Ritter only wants one thing — to live his life away from nosey, demanding bears. That’s easier said than done when you’re the son of the female running the Bayside Bear Community.
Cecil Baxter might be a bat, but he grew up away from shifter communities and he’s doing his best to continue to keep his distance. Shifters aren’t an accepting bunch and Cecil has never fit the norm.
Already facing a dreaded meeting with his mother, the last thing Bjorn needs is a stranger using his elevator to escape a pack of werewolves. And Cecil, whose day just seems to be getting worse and worse, could really do without the added stress of finding himself trapped in an elevator with a huge bear shifter.
When a story contains the phrase āFor Bone Daddyā and its uttered by a army of skelebabies in the middle of a rollicking bone rattling battle, well, you just know the book is going to be epic.
For all its short length, Sherwood packs a ton of high quality action, snarky humor, dubious necromancer goings on, and an ever- widening search for the bones of a sentient skeleton dragon called Steve.
Iām so committed to this series and found family of absolutely glorious people, young sorcerers in training in tow included. Itās hilarious, sexy, stunning and entertaining on every level.
I canāt wait for the pirates.
Dive into the series right at the beginning and then follow along. Itās all fabulous.
Love these covers.
Series and side stories
š„How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy-6 books
š„How Tan Acquired an Apprentice
š„How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit:Bone
Do you wish to deploy the necromancer to fight? (YES) (no)
Niran: The leg boneās connected to the ~ leg bone. The leg boneās connected to the ~
Tan: Sword hilt~ the sword hiltās connected to the bad guy~ hear the voice of the Steve~!
Steve: My boooOOOOoooone!
Tags:
Necromancers, fight!, itās Niranās time to shine, lawless city is our friend, onsen nookie, Steve makes a bad alarm clock, look at me, Iām the captain now, stinky city, Sword of the Sea makes an appearance, Steve needs his fainting couch to clutch his pearls upon, ragdoll Steve
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 readerās perceptions of what we thought we knew about them. Instead, we get another layer of depth and generosity of spirit we didnāt see coming.
Itās not just the main characters this happens to either. More than once, I saw a scene or moment reveal a characterās real identity, one not previously seen. Itās 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 Casamirās relationship. Julianās 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 Casamirās past is back in one roaring, fast paced, action packed, emotional thriller of a ride.
Winters manages to keep all the heavy elements like Julianās 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. Itās 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. Itās thoughtful storytelling that makes this a fantastic novel and these memorable characters.
I really need more. Thereās that pesky question that keeps rearing its head of what exactly is Julian? No one seems to have the answer. More books please.
Iām highly recommending this and the series but read them in the order they are written for the events and relationships.
When did fake-then-real dating an ancient vampire become the easy part?
Casimirās ridiculously sweet now that heās conquered āthe art of the flirt,ā as he calls it. He tries hard to fit in with my familyāif we forget about those silly threatening chocolates he sent my fatherāand he even makes me popcornā¦ okay, he tried. I know, I know, Iām just bragging at this point.
Everything is perfect until we stumble upon a half-dead vampire who is being hunted by someone. And Iām afraid the person hunting him knows all about Casimirās history. Casimir has fought so hard to drive the darkness away, but we both know that he needs to bury his pastā¦ one last time.
Casimir
I never saw myself in a relationship, let alone with a pesky werewolf. Heās funny and sweet, has questionable friends, and phenomenal taste in dog bandanas. After five hundred years, I think Iāve finally convinced myself that I deserve this.
However, someone else isnāt quite certain I do. Julian has assured me that itās time to move forward, but when thereās a masked man waiting in the shadows for me, I find it hard to ignore my past mistakes.
But I have something I didnāt 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.
Yuri and Dixon and the rest of their family are back in this absolutely adorable, perfect short story by Jordan Castillo Price.
The ABCās of Spellcraft is a series that just gets better with each new chapter in Yuri and Dixonās lives. Here they are scrambling to get each otherās gifts at Christmas, with all the glorious events you might imagine, including drama and the magic!
It ends appropriately with another move forward in their relationship and a HFN. And the realization for me that this is a series for every season for the excellent writing and fabulous characters.
Iām recommending this and the series. Itās magical ride! Binge read for your pleasure!
The ABCās of Spellcraft series:
ā Quill Me Now #1
ā Trouble in Taco Town #2
ā Something Stinks at the Spa #3
ā Dead Manās Quill #4
ā Last But Not Lease #5
ā Donāt Rock The Boardwalk #6
ā What The Frack? #7
ā Present Tense: A Spellcraft Christmas short #8
Christmas is a festive time of year, one filled with food, family and traditionāDixon Pennās ideal holiday. Too bad Spellcrafters donāt celebrate Christmas.
Dixonās parents have always been strict about their no-present rule, reluctant to entrap anyone in an āendless cycle of reciprocal obligation.ā
Yuri Volnikov was not raised in the Craft, but Dixon has made sure he understands that for Spellcrafters, Christmas presents are verboten.
No gifts. None. Nada. And everyone is on the same page in regards to presentsā¦.
Or are they?
The ABCs of Spellcraft is a series filled with bad jokes and good magic, where MM Romance meets Paranormal Cozy. A perky hero, a brooding love interest, and delightfully twisty-turny stories that never end up quite where youād expect. The books are best read in order, so be sure to start at the beginning with Quill Me Now.
This holiday short is set after What the Frack? and contains series spoilers.
Itās hard to rate exactly which of Sherwoodās many series are my favorites, but The Sorcererās Grimoire is, even at two books, among those I hold dear.
Itās in the universe sheās created, so recognizable and yet not, magical, imaginative and with our histories carefully bound together. Itās in the beautifully crafted, multidimensional characters sheās created and then given such emotional histories that, as readers we canāt help but attach ourselves to them, investing in their lives and stories.
Whether itās the boys, Julian and MacMallin, and their horrific start on the streets before Adrienās rescue or Adrien himself and his abysmal family life, thereās so many backstories to these characters. The strength and wonder of this dynamic that builds between the three of them is such a heartwarming element. The boys each develop into young men with their own unique powers and interests while gaining confidence in themselves. The same goes for Adrien and his new relationship with Hugh.
Thatās Sir Hugh Quartermain, a businessman, engineer extraordinaire, and someone whoās coming to love Adrien, despite all the barriers heās raised. And in a time and land when homosexuality isnāt legal.
The tapestry on which these relationships play out is a magical trip to Brazil to a manganese mine. Thereās jungle monsters holding up the mining, killing the workers, and Hugh needs their help.
Itās everyone off to an epic adventure! The first one abroad for the boys and an old enemy and a meeting with even older friends for Adrien.
Sherwood even gives us some major drama on the home front which will lead into the next book.
I will say that I was surprised but happy to see that Adrien and Hugh were able to move forward with their relationship. I thought Sherwood was going to stretch out the romance into a really slow burn. But it makes sense given the context.
The boys are such an amazing aspect of this series. They show such growth in their personalities and interests, yet retain the same fears still that the horrors of the street instilled in them. Julian and MacMallin are truly unforgettable young men. So are their Masters, Adrien and Hugh. I need more of all four plus their dog, Darby.
Iām highly recommending this book but read the series in order to understand the universe and the relationships.
The Sorcererās Grimoire:
ā A (Non) Comprehensive Guide to Sea Serpents #1
ā Dealing With Mapinguari and Dogged Engineers #2
As Shakespeare once said, the course of true love never did run smooth.
Since parting with Adrien after their first case, Hugh Quartermain has committed himself to one fact: he wants Adrien. With the monthsā long trip to Brazil ahead of them, Hugh should have no problem confessing, right?
The problem is the universe seems determined to thwart Hugh. Between creatures terrorizing his worksite, bothersome Americans, and not having any alone time with Adrien, Hughās foiled at every turn. When Hugh does get Adrien one-on-one, his advances always hit the wall Adrien refuses to lower, but the rare flare of desire in Adrienās gaze motivates him to keep trying.
Come hell or highwater, Hugh will confess to Adrien. He just has to figure out how first. Tags:
Adventures in Brazil, commence!, magical AU, friends to lovers, healthy communication, Hughās genius saves the day, confessions in unusual locations, apprentices being awesome, Prince Henry to the rescue, and yes he quite enjoyed that, portals, fights, and shenanigans, oh my!, monsters are always in the most inconvenient locations, romantic getaway in Thailand, oh look relationship development, pesky Americans, romantic getaway, cheeky apprentices, minor home renovations as a romantic gift, Darby is best girl.
What a wonderful story and fantastic way to send off the series and this team.
The interactions between holdover player, defensive end Deacon Harris and the new owner of the Charleston Condors, security industry billionaire Grant Green, has been a subtle but significant part of the series and teamās dynamic. It was always clear that the two men had a strong connection and attraction to each other. But, throughout each book it was clear that they never actually had acted on it due to their roles in the organization. And we wanted them to have their romance.
The Play returns us to the beginning of their history together, back in college as student tutor and college football player needing help. The chemistry thatās never acknowledged but present is cut short by choices made for career reasons that will quickly separate them until years later. Because of the realness of these scenes we feel every bit of the pain and frustration of this unexpected change in this new relationship. And the startling moment when they meet once more.
Boldenās writing has never been better. Her characters go from uncertain college youth with the future ahead of them to seasoned men who have been living full lives. One, Grant, now at the pinnacle of his career and the other , Deacon, ready to retire after a shattering year of betrayal and disappointment. Each has made big impacts in their professional careers but their emotional relationships havenāt been as successful. The reason is because they have been only interested in one person.
How Bolden works the past and present together, weaving the emotions that never left either man back together into a tight layered narrative of sports, team dynamics, partnership, and a deep bond between them is a read that canāt be missed.
We get the present day run for a playoff spot, as intense as can be and fantastically realistic. Bolden gives us boardroom NFL drama such as what might be likely to be played out across CNN and sports coverage alike, and then while all that is happening, layers into the story, all the human drama we love.
Grant and Deacon trying to find a way to each other in an organization where Grant is the owner and Deacon a player, albeit a retiring player who wants to continue to work with the club. This is a complicated situation thatās believable and loving. They are great, they communicate, and we love them.
And finally, as if I hadnāt just bawled my eyes out over Jason Kelceās retirement speech, here comes another. Deaconās speech was a fabulous second. And all the players from the other series who meant so much to the readers are there as well as the important individuals from this series. Itās a testament to Boldenās ability to create great characters and deeply moving moments that everything about the scene is beautiful and real. And I was bawling again.
Tissues had a workout this week.
Read this book. But not without reading the stories that come before. Itās a great series. And Boldenās an auto read for me. The Play is simply another example why.
Charleston Condors:
ā The Star #1
ā The Game #2
ā The Score #3
ā The Play #4 – finale
Boldenās connected Football series in order they are written:
Last year, defensive end Deacon Harris witnessed the very worst of the Charleston Condors. After everything he and the team went through, he promised himself heād walk away from football. But before he can retire, the team is sold to the last person he ever expected to see again.
Deacon stays because the Condors are going into major rebuilding mode. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.
But one rule hasnāt changed: donāt fall in love with the owner of your football team.
Grant might be brilliant and a billionaire, but Deacon only remembers Grant as his tutor in collegeāand as the one who got away.
In all his dreams about reconnecting, he never imagined that Grant would end up as his boss. Both his downfall, and also his salvation.
Or that theyād be forced into confronting the Condorsā most difficult challenge yetābut that theyād face it together, hand in hand, tackling their critics and proving once and for all that love doesnāt take sides.
āHanahaki: A fictional disease popular in the fanfiction community. According to the lore, a person develops Hanahaki when they fall in love with a person so deeply that they canāt live without them.ā
Well, this was just adorable. From the cover to the predictably cute HEA ending, Fated was a quick fun fantasy short .
Zile Elliven is a new author for me and immediately introduced me to the fictional disease of Hanahaki. Lovesickness in all its floral glory. Or is it gory? Hmmm.
Anyway. Max and his gamer friends are instantly recognizable, cheerful and funny. Maxās fated mate? A glorious fantasy that has been waiting for him.
And itās even got a cute dog too.
Iām definitely seeking out more from this author and recommending this for all lovers of fantasy fiction.
Me? In love with a fictional character? Of course not! So why was I coughing up flowers every time I thought about the fictional character from my favorite video game?
Areth was a sexy, badass monster and utterly perfect, but none of that mattered because he wasnāt real. If I really was in love with him, I was going die, and there was nothing I could do about it.
This story contains:
ā¢ Unrealistic size difference resolved by magic
ā¢ Fated mates
ā¢ A very small dog
ā¢ Monster love
ā¢ Dimension hopping
ā¢ Wanton destruction of furniture
ā¢ So very many flowers
Fated is a ridiculous 16,000-word novella with super heckin’ gay monster sexy times.
One of these days by Ofelia GrƤnd is going to surprise me and deliver a full length novel and I wonāt know what to do. Iāll be overwhelmed and overjoyed, of course, but still. Someone will have to pick me off the floor first.
Until then, Iāll settle for these short tales of whimsical romance or whatever she decides to call them. Her mind is a decidedly different and wonderful place.
Here it has created a bar on an unknown world, The Ruby Tooth, a place where all the species can have a drink and mix, but under the most rigid rules that only the doorkeepers understand.
How I love how weirdly quirky Grandās imagination is. The Ruby Tooth is divided into two bars, a good side and those that belong on the bad side. The veritas, the doorkeepers, with their intense glaze that see into the soul, say left or right, good or bad. And thatās where the beings go for their side of the bar, unable to switch for the night. The veritas give no clues or rationale for their actions, just the words. Left or Right.
Which is all the more intriguing when two widely different beings, one human (Iām assuming) and one a werewolf bounty hunter, each end up on the wrong side of the bar. Thats approximately where the authorās short story begins.
But itās full of boundless possibilities, wild elements , fanciful ideas, and great characters. Honestly, why is Ilya Lewis the only one in an Elf costume and why does that bring immediate dislike? I need to know!
And donāt get me started on his friend who ends up with two bear shifters. Nope.
But even better is the new fated mateās romance thatās a ātake it slowā road romance. What a great change of pace.
Thereās even more going on. Fast paced action, heart stopping fights, and a happy ending. All well done in 45 pages.
Sigh. I need a full length book so badly!
Read this quirky, imaginative paranormal romance and enjoy!
I highly recommend this author in all her flights of narrative fancy.
Ilya Lewis is gonna kill his best friend Vera. She not only persuaded him off his couch and into the creepiest nightclub in the city, she also didnāt show. When Ilya learns the bar is split into two halves, and heās been let into the wrong side, it doesnāt make things any better. Once the doorman determines which half to let you into, he won’t let you into the other.
Ulric Moon hates the Ruby Tooth. But as a bounty hunter, he must go where the trails lead him, and tonight itās landed him in the worst nightclub in the universe. All he wants is to catch the vampire heās hunting, but despite trying to convince the veritas doorman examining his soul that he needs to be let into the good side of the club, heās shown to the bad. As if that wasnāt enough, his destined mate somehow manages to sneak into the bad side where he doesnāt belong.Ilya finds a way to the other side of the bar, but one look at the patrons there has him regretting ever leaving his apartment. When he tries to leave, a scary-looking man who does nothing but growl follows him.
Ulric knows heās freaking Ilya out, but Ilya has inadvertently caught the interest of the vampire Ulric is hunting, and he has to protect him. How will Ulric keep Ilya safe when he doesn’t believe Ulric is a bounty hunter? And how do you tell someone theyāre your mate when they donāt believe youāre a werewolf?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 