Tag: Scattered Thoughts Highly Recommended

Review: Conspiracy of Dragons (Here Be Dragons Book 4) by Louisa Masters

Rating: 4.5🌈

Conspiracy of Dragons marks the end of Louisa Masters’ Here Be Dragons series and it’s Steffen’s story that brings everything to a surprisingly strong and emotional close.

Steffen is a dragon who’s character has always ridden that edge of humor with a element of mystery and pathos about him. His overly suspicious, oftentimes paranoid tendencies, even as the head of security for Brandt and Here Be Dragons, brought about some comic scenes as well as sad ones over the previous novels.

But here we get to travel next to him, see into his traumatic past, and realize what a tremendous character of depth has been lurking around the periphery all this time. From the heart tugging revelation of what constitutes Steffen’s hoard to a hidden love that’s enduring all his fears and pain to continue to nurture and support him, Steffen’s romance extends beyond the couple backwards to their history, encapsulates their current relationships, and then tries to envision a new future for all.

That’s quite a story.

It picks up shortly after The Dragon Experiment where the life force has shown them that humans must re-learn how to use their magical abilities, otherwise all the other beings, except dragons, will eventually perish. That humans should regain magic has Steffen terrified.

Weaving that overall species goal, as seen through Steffen’s perspective, as well as through others trying to figure out best to slowly and safely implement this is wonderful. We get to have many of our favorite characters from all the stories involved (Alistair, Gideon,Sam…) as well as those so important to Steffen and his growth here.

That’s Wil. A gentle, warm-hearted dragon who’s essential to Steffen in every way. While Steffen is the center here, Wil is Steffen’s heart. Their story is painful, sexy, quietly strong, and loving. Perfect for a finale.

A suspenseful hunt, a surprise character, and a joyous element previously revealed in an earlier story help round out the narrative themes and bring the series to a satisfying close.

I will be very sad to see these characters go. I have come to love them so.

If you haven’t found this series or author, there’s a reading list of connected universe story/series.

Read all the stories in this universe so you’re familiar with the events that have occurred and the characters and relationships that are referred to.

I’m highly recommending them all, including this one.

Happy Reading!

🔹Hidden Species Series first, followed by…

Here Be Dragons

1. Dragon Ever After (2021)

2. The Professor’s Dragon (2021)

3. The Dragon Experiment (2022)

4. Conspiracy of Dragons (2022)

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showConspiracy of Dragons (Here Be Dragons #4) by Louisa Masters

Description:

There’s only one person I trust…

It’s no secret that I’m hard to handle. People get annoyed by me. Sometimes they’re amused, but not for long. It’s not easy to deal with a paranoid conspiracy theorist, and I stretch everyone’s patience.

Everyone except Wil. He was there at the beginning, when I left my old life behind, and he’s stuck with me since. He’s been my friend when no one else wanted to. Patiently taught me how to fit in. He’s the one person I know I can rely on.

He’s the only man I can see myself ever being with. The only man I would want to spend eternity with.

But when my past rears its ugly head and the stuff of my nightmares rises from the dead, the hope of a happy future rapidly fades. I need him more than ever, but I can’t risk him. I can’t let anyone use him against me.

Torture doesn’t have to be physical to hurt. And I’m not going to let myself be hurt again.

—-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Checking It Twice (A Snowed Inn story) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4🌈

Checking It Twice is a heartwarming holiday story about two long time friends getting their second chance at love in their fifties.

One of the wonderful Snowed Inn collection featuring multiple authors, much like the rest, it includes The Retreat Inn, a Colorado mountain resort also nicknamed The Rainbow Inn, a avalanche that cuts off the Inn and it’s inhabitants for a prolonged stay, and all the couples and events from all the stories.

Sutter Thompson, his longtime friend and coworker at Red Pine U, Watley, are driving a group of young boys for a regional hockey medal presentation being held at the Inn. Among the boys up for hockey honors is their sons. Sutter’s boy Zachary with his ex wife , and Watley ‘s son, Adam with his ex husband. The boys are best friends as well.

Locey’s men have a complicated past history. A deeply closeted Sutter decided to come out after his child was born. But he’s never revealed his last hidden truth. He’s always loved Watley.

Checking It Twice gives the reader a delightful depiction of a number of types of heartfelt relationships. Those of realistic loving father/son dynamics, especially as seen between both sets of parents and sons. You get the funny, too real, close knit relationship that happens with team members and their coaches (hurting stomachs, road trips, bunk bed assignments). Then there’s the one the men themselves have waited close to thirty years for. Their own romance.

It’s a halting , stumbling path full of slow revelations, first kisses, and , passion at last fulfilled. The men with their aches, trick knees, aged playlist, and glimpses of grey , are charming and engaging. It was a real joy to read their romance.

This collection is turning out to be a great way to dive into my holiday books, and I’m definitely recommending Checking It Twice as a heartwarming HEA!

Snowed Inn story Collection:

All the books can be read as standalones and in any order and all are available to buy or pre-order

• RJ Scott – Stop the Wedding – https://books2read.com/StopTheWedding

• H.L Day – Five Night Stand – https://books2read.com/FiveNightStandHL

• V.L. Locey – Checking it Twice – https://books2read.com/CheckingItTwiceVL

• LC Chase – Breakfast Included – https://books2read.com/BreakfastIncludedLCC

• Xenia Melzer – The Real Kaimana – https://books2read.com/RealKaimanaXM

• Meredith Russell – Stuck With You- https://books2read.com/StuckWithYouMR

• Eli Easton – A Changeling Christmas – https://books2read.com/ChangelingChristmasE

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: The Trials (The Spell Saga Book 4) by Cari Z

Rating: 4 🌈

The Trials is the fourth and looks to be the final story in Cari Z’s Spell Saga series. The author’s note sort of leaves it open as to whether we will return to this universe and couple or not.

So I’m treating it as a finale. And that comes with additional expectations. The Tank, the previous book, showed us different characters, a unique location, and deepened the histories and dynamics between the people involved. But in some respects it restricted it’s narrative down to further explore on a different, more detailed front what was happening with the war, magic, and our characters.

Here we get to see the consequences of those actions and decisions in The Trials. The Trials refers to the magical spell weapon Anton Seiber promised to deliver, under threat, to the Emperor of France. A spell not even his lover, Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière, wanted to see in their hands.

The Institute, that locked down tight magical fortress, is the main location once more, albeit more research prison than educational institution.

Where this story absolutely excels is in the tormented status of Anton Seiber, the horrifying reasons behind it, and the new dynamics it forces into the relationship between Anton and Camille.

The author’s creativity when crafting both the new spell and it’s effects upon others, Anton included, are so terrifying because it’s the readers imaginations that fill in all the horrors and unimaginable emotions that the spell initiates. Then we see what is doing to Anton, someone we’ve come to connect with, and the spell becomes vile beyond belief.

When Anton and Camille, and the spell are at center, the story is incredible.

However, for one that’s a finale, other aspects seem lackluster, rushed, or just one dimensional.

The entire element with the old and new emperor is lacking any grounding here. The actions of various characters (important ones) seem oddly flexible considering it’s war, the fact that the Lord in question is acting beyond rational thought into obsession about the magical weaponry and it’s devastating effects. Dr. Grabler, in particular, goes from one stance in The Tank, to another where his prize former student/friend is almost expendable without any foundation laid out for any of the elements here. These haphazard storylines (magical corruption, major characters who sort of disappear at the end, rushed exposition in the epilogue) all works against the finely crafted parts of the series and main storyline. That of Anton and Camille’s romance and history.

It all feels just so unfinished. Not at all what a finale book should be.

It was exciting, truly excellent in sections, and absolutely entertaining.

For that I’m definitely recommending The Spell Saga series and this novel.

The Spell Saga series:

✓ The Train #1

✓ The Tower #2

✓ The Tank #3

✓ The Trials #4

Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com › Trials-S…The Trials: The Spell Saga: Book Four – Kindle edition by Z, Cari. Romance Kindle eBooks …

Blurb:

All Anton Seiber, newly-minted Master Thaumaturge, wants is to use his training to support himself out in the world. Well, that and to see the man he loves, Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière, more than once every six months.

What he gets instead is an invitation to visit L’Institut D’Ingénierie Technologique in Paris, the foremost research institution for thaumaturgy and the arts of war in the world. It’s an offer he can’t turn down…quite literally.

Getting to the Institute is a mess that Anton barely survives, and that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Drawn into a web of lies and betrayals, Anton will have to use every trick he can conjure to survive—and perhaps hand over the most diabolical spell in the world in exchange for saving the life of someone he loves.

—-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: The Heart’s Blood (San Amaro Investigations#5) by Kai Butler

Rating: 5🌈

The Heart’s Blood hits every marker, nails and surpasses all expectations I have for the characters, the storylines , and the journey Butler is taking us on. It’s a superlative narrative smorgasbord where Butler’s characters get to demonstrate genuine personal growth and maturity, often at huge emotional and physical cost. The imaginative series landscape broadens to embrace new mythic characters and their often murderous tumultuous history, new worlds and the refugee aliens who’ve fled them. But it also, in an equally outstanding manner, concentrates as well as on narrowing the storylines down to tangle with the intricacies of romantic and family relationships and the dynamics of love.

I couldn’t put this story down.

Fast paced, full of suspenseful moments and white knuckle action, it’s heart, as it always does, remains firmly centered around Parker Ferro, the PI who’s still adjusting to the idea of his heritage, Nick his alchemist PD boyfriend with his family dynamics, and the found family that Parker has been building around him.

There’s multiple storylines (all incredible and fully realized), new strides in Parker and Nick’s relationship, and entire aspects to the basics of the series foundation that get revealed.

The fifth in the San Amaro Investigations series, The Heart’s Blood dramatically increases the high risks and drama for everyone here. It’s such a superlative story.

Saffron Wilds, the 6th novel out in February 27,2023, certainly has a hard act to follow.

I’m highly recommending the series and definitely this story. But the books must be read in the order they are written in order for the relationships, characters, and events to make sense.

San Amara Investigations Series:

◦ A Haunting at Midnight #0.5

◦ A Debt Unpaid #0.75

✓ Wormwood Summer #1

✓ A Belated Burial #1.5

✓ The Oak Wood Throne #2

✓ A Gilded Iron Blade #3

✓ A Shattered Silver Crown #4

✓ The Heart’s Blood Arrow #5

◦ Saffron Wilds #6 – 2/27/2023

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Heart’s Blood Arrow by Kai Butler

Description:

An old nemesis is out for blood…

Parker Ferro’s life would be easier if his enemies stayed gone. When the man responsible for the death of Parker’s mother breaks out of prison, Parker finds himself in the crosshairs of the Bureau of Paranormal Threats when he tracks the criminal down.

With succubae going missing, an old god on the loose, and his boyfriend’s mother in town, the last thing Parker has time for is human politics. But with a marriage proposal that he can’t quite figure out and mysteries that keep landing him in hot water with the feds, Parker must keep one step ahead or end up in handcuffs himself.

The Heart’s Blood Arrow is a 130k MM urban fantasy with a HFN ending and an ongoing storyline. It cannot be read as a standalone.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Stop The Wedding (A Snowed Inn Story) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 4.5🌈

R.J.Scott’s Stop The Wedding includes many elements that makes this romance novella in the Snowed Inn collection a real success. It’s a holiday love story to embrace.

The main characters, artist Declan and cop Patrick, have a long history together. A deep friendship that grew into love just as both boys were figuring out sexuality, along with difficulties with their families. A devastating kiss, a breakup, and breakdown in communication follows.

All that painful, emotionally charged threads of their previously entwined lives that Scott writes into Stop The Wedding allows for the reader to connect and believe in this couple.

It helps that the author realistically doesn’t go for an automatic instant reconnect treatment. Instead, Declan and Patrick have to sit down, move through the built up resentment, misunderstandings, and fears that have come between them first.

That’s not only refreshing and very adult of both as communicating is key.

There’s smaller factors here that I appreciate. Lovely narrative touches.

Still the main couple is the reason to read Stop The Wedding. It’s the holidays, at least in this story. Magic is in the air and the heartwarming romance and HEA makes this a story to recommend!

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showStop the Wedding by R.J. Scott

Description:

One drunken phone call with a desperate plea for help and an admission of love, and Patrick races to stop his best friend from marrying the wrong man.

Patrick never stopped loving Declan, even if he did shove him away at graduation when they kissed. His alpha-type brothers and father, with all their firefighter history, would never accept him being bi, or understand his need to step outside of the family firm and be a cop. So, he hides how he feels, and ends up losing the only man he’s ever really loved. The only reconciliation they tried was on the night he found out Declan was engaged, and he never imagined he’d have a chance to make things right. That is, until he receives a desperate phone call from Declan asking to be rescued.

Through travel chaos and storms, Patrick finally reaches the venue in the Colorado mountains, but with an empty wedding room and no sign of Declan or the fiancé, he knows he’s too late.

All too familiar with rejection, jilted by his fiancé on his wedding day, and lost, Declan has no idea what comes next. He never imagined he’d be entirely alone after his former fiancé and the wedding party leave, or that an avalanche would trap him in the hotel over Christmas. And worse? Patrick is in the hotel with him and won’t leave him alone. Sharing a room with his former best friend is the last thing Declan wants, but maybe nature has given him a sign that he needs to confront the past and find a way to move on with his life. If only it was easy to fall out of love with the man who holds your heart.


All the books In the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read In any order.

Snowed Inn story Collection:

All the books can be read as standalones and in any order and all are available to buy or pre-order

• RJ Scott – Stop the Wedding – https://books2read.com/StopTheWedding

• H.L Day – Five Night Stand – https://books2read.com/FiveNightStandHL

• V.L. Locey – Checking it Twice – https://books2read.com/CheckingItTwiceVL

• LC Chase – Breakfast Included – https://books2read.com/BreakfastIncludedLCC

• Xenia Melzer – The Real Kaimana – https://books2read.com/RealKaimanaXM

• Meredith Russell – Stuck With You- https://books2read.com/StuckWithYouMR

• Eli Easton – A Changeling Christmas – https://books2read.com/ChangelingChristmasE

Review: Sass (Style Book3) by Jay Hogan

Rating: 5 🌈

Sass is definitely my favorite of the three Style novels. The writing is tight, the scenes runs the gamut from wryly funny to serious discussions to emotional pathos, all done so beautifully. The superbly crafted characters are ones we’ve gotten to know superficially in the previous books but now get their own stories and romance in a way that makes sense and gives them personal growth. All the other cast are equally strong as well.

When it comes to Kip/Chris , the store manager at Flare, Hogan’s skill at artfully threading multiple important character issues through his storyline without ever letting the exposition overwhelm or drop one of them is outstanding. Kip has always had a quick snarky attitude and a witty quip to go with it. A verbal shield to amuse or bruise or sass to go along with his fabulous sense of style and rotating bedroom door.

The reason why Kip is never Christopher is slowly revealed here through mending a broken relationship with tattoo artist Leon Steadman. Leon too has deep issues he’s not been able to deal with. Ones that led to his argument with Kip and 2 yr long feud. There’s aspects to Leon’s life and history that beg for more page time. He’s that big a infusion of life and energy into the story and Kip’s pattern. I love him and them together. Especially as they worked through their emotional blockages and mental barriers together, inching forward towards a future.

Drew, a young trans character who’s been an integral part of the universe since Flare also has an emotional storyline. Drew has matured from a frightened, bullied teen with a transphobic family into a stylish happy nineteen year old getting ready for his top surgery, knowing he’s loved and supported by his found family at Flare. He’s a remarkable person and character. I heart him so much.

We also see our other couples too . And get a lovely epilogue.

There’s a mention of past sexual assault. But it’s not on page. A warning for those for whom this might be a trigger.

Sass is a story for me with a wider reach. It’s range of serious issues and subject matter goes from dealing with grief and loss, anger and guilt over those same feelings of grief, sexual assault and how the emotional ramifications can effectively impact you in ways if May take decades to understand. Found family, the importance of the right clothes in helping people transition. All that for starters.

I know I missed some.

And it’s beautifully woven together.

Sass is the third book and I do believe you should read them in the order they are written to understand the characters, their growth, and all the relationships.

Happy reading. I’m highly recommending Sass!

Style series:

Flare #1

Strut #2

Sass #3

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showSass (Style #3) by Jay Hogan

For two years I’ve kept Leon Steadman at a safe distance, ever since the night he turned me down flatter than a pancake with a side order of syrupy disapproval. His loss. The world is full of sexy men. One and done is simply good math and efficient use of my time. Or it would be if I hadn’t been lusting after the irritating, judgemental, gorgeous, mountain of a man, ever since.

The less I see of Leon, the better. Bad enough that his tattoo business sits next to Flare, the fashion store I manage, and that he’s friendly with my boss. But now he’s apartment-sitting above the shop, as well. Every time I turn around, Leon is there. In my store. In my space. Messing with my head. Being all nice and charming and acting like maybe he’s not the biggest jerk to walk the earth, after all.

Well, I don’t want or need Leon’s apologies, but maybe if I can have him, just once, it might put an end to this ridiculous hunger that sparks every time I lay eyes on him.

Yeah, I’ll get back to you on that.



Note: This book contains limited discussion of off-page past trauma.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Spring Strings by Lily Morton

Rating: 4🌈

Another wonderful contemporary romance from Lily Morton, Spring Strings is situated in the same model universe that has such wonderful characters as the incredibly beautiful always stoned Dean, Jude, and the effervescent Pip.

It’s a novella so unlike some of Morton’s longer fabulously memorable stories, Spring Strings misses in some of the depth of character history and layering she’s able to bring to her novels.

But Malachi Booth is such a striking character, in strong wry personality as well in beauty, that it goes a long way in helping her readers through the narrative shortcomings. Cadan Landry, his farm in Cornwall, do the rest of the heavy lifting for the romance and storytelling.

The charm of the farm and it’s setting, gruff Caden, his precarious financial situation, everything makes him and his predicament relatable.

Throw in Mal and the romance becomes a lively, sexy dance to love and HEA.

I found it entertaining and lovely.

I’m definitely recommending it for lovers of contemporary romance and Lily Morton.

Description:

Malachi Booth is a supermodel. He’s used to moving about the world, sleeping with whoever takes his fancy and watching the money roll in. The last place he expects to find himself is on a run-down farm in Cornwall, but a bad bout of bronchitis means that he’s stuck there. The only compensation for this dismal state of affairs is that the farmer is very good looking, even if he’s the grumpiest person that Malachi has ever met.

Cadan Landry’s farm has been in his family for hundreds of years but that doesn’t make it any easier to make ends meet. As a consequence, Cadan could be called grumpy. Most men would consider a supermodel collapsing at their feet while dressed in the skimpiest pair of briefs ever made to be a sign of good fortune. Cadan just resents the fact that the young man is taking up space in his cow field.

These two men are from different worlds, but can they ever meet in the middle?


From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a novella about snarky models, misconceptions, and finding a home in the most unlikely of places.

Review: Dead Serious Case #2 : Mrs Delores Abernathy (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed just got better with Case 2: Mrs. Delores Abernathy. I’m impressed with the manner in which Cassidy is crafting the ghosts “stuck” between worlds. It’s got a very different, humane feeling to it than other takes.

As it was with Dusty, it becomes just as poignant and as much a emotional journey here with Delores Abernathy. Delores is a sweet elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s , who’s poisoned in the same full care home as Tristan’s father. The ghosts who die before their allotted time are caught in a loop, forced to stay as they died until Tristan can help them move through whatever is keeping them here.

In this case, Delores the ghost still has Alzheimer’s, which makes it difficult to figure out how to help her, let alone who murdered her. Delores, a periphery gentle character becomes a strong narrative presence by emotional means of her illness and by association with Tristan’s father, who’s state in the same facility is ever worsening.

Both people make a huge impact on the readers as themselves and by the loving nature of the relationships a they have made with their families.

Both heartbreaking and heartfelt.

Of course Dusty is back, a lively, fabulous ghostly guide, when she chosen to be. But part of this storyline belongs to her and her great bestie and fellow drag Queen Chan. Cassidy intertwines their own pain/loss with the current case in a way that’s beautiful, sad, and wryly funny.

Tristan’s and Inspector Danny Hayes’ relationship, a wonderful aspect of this series, keeps moving forward. Typical of this couple, nothing about it is smooth. Gawky, awkward, painful, sexy, and in this actual case , full of ghosts and a secret that Tristan needs to divulge.

The story is almost a 5. There’s a cliffhanger. Not really one I mind actually. It’s more a hint of the next mystery to come. But it’s still a tiny one that introduces new major characters.

I can’t wait!

If you love a great mystery, paranormal characters and romance, here a fabulous story and series for you. Read them in the order they are written for characters and storylines development.

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed series:

✓ Case 1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

✓ Case #2 : Mrs Delores Abernathy

◦ (Cold) Case #3: Mr. Brian Reyes -TBD

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showDead Serious Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

Description:

In the business of unfinished business…

It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right?

Wrong…

When the spirit of a sweet old lady suffering from Alzheimers follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation.

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him.

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves.

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series.

———-

Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey(Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy

by Vawn Cassidy

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Dead Serious is straight up marvelous. It gave me a “new to me author” to look for more novels and the start of a clearly fabulous series checks so many of my must have narrative elements.

Dead Serious has a layered storyline that includes a complicated mystery, ghosts, romance, and characters with emotional depth and histories that enrich themselves and the story.

I was hooked from the beginning when I met Tristan Everett, pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary. He’s socially awkward, great at his job at conducting autopsies, remembering the people he’s working on with respect. Something that proves important later. Tristan is engaging, real, and someone we connect with.

The story that quickly draws the reader in starts a tad before the case of the murdered drag Queen Dusty Le Frey, a charismatic character herself. It’s the surprising event that happens at a retirement party for a colleague of Tristan’s that will have reverberations for this book and series, actually all of Tristan’s life.

Cassidy weaves the impact from that event on Tristan’s life continuously throughout the story. And probably stories to come. The implications are that huge.

While that’s happening, there’s a mystery to solve, a poignant father/son relationship to reveal, a sexy romance with a hot detective, and a new expanding group of friends for the introverted Tristan to draw on for support and affection.

Honestly, what a fabulous story and group of people.

I adore them and am moving onto the next in the series.

Highly recommending it for the romance, mystery, fabulous characters and found family!

Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed series:

◦ Case 1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

◦ Case #2 : Mrs Delores Abernathy

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showDead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey by Vawn Cassidy

Description:

In the business of unfinished business…

Tristan Everett has always preferred the company of the dead because they usually don’t talk back. Being a somewhat awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suits him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts. No longer content to just lie on the table and let him figure out how they died, they’re now peering over his shoulder critiquing his work and confessing their most lascivious sins before skipping off merrily into the afterlife.

Just when he thought his life couldn’t get any weirder, sassy drag queen, Dusty Le Frey, is wheeled in with a toe tag and she’s not prepared to go quietly into the light. Not only is she furious at the prospect of spending eternity in last season’s gold lame, she’s determined that he help her solve her murder.

Suddenly Tristan finds himself thrown into a world of sequins and fake eyelashes, and worse still, he may have developed a bit of a crush on Scotland Yard’s brand new drool-worthy detective, Inspector Danny Hayes, who’s been assigned to Dusty’s murder. Oh, and as the icing on top of a really crappy cake, the killer now wants him dead too…

All he ever wanted was a simple life but suddenly he’s juggling work, a deliciously sexy detective, a stubborn ghost and a relentless murderer… and things have just gotten dead serious….

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy comes this hot and funny, slow burn, opposites attract paranormal caper across the East End of London.

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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Shameless Puckboy (Puckboy Book 3) by Eden Finley and Saxon James

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Shameless Puckboy brings us to Oskar Voyjik’s story, one I’ve greatly anticipated. Throughout the Puckboy series, when the Collective , a group of LGBTGIA pro hockey players, has gathered together to celebrate each other’s milestone events or to welcome another into their ranks, Oskar’s antics and outrageous personality has stood out.

Now his bad judgement with his flagrant sexual activities, caught on camera and swiftly passed to all media outlets are threatening his career. He and his actions have just gotten so out of hand that the San Jose’s PR manager decides to personally tackle reigning in the bad boy of his team if not the NHL.

I love this story. It’s a two person narrative that works remarkably well to get the reader into the mindset and hearts of PR manager Lane Pierce and gorgeous bad boy hockey player Oskar Voyjik.

It’s wonderful writing because with both men , it’s a matter of emotional defenses, of assumptions made that now have to be dropped and deep sea changes in life patterns to rearrange to move forward with each other. Finley’s and James’s carefully crafted personalities are rich with stubbornness, humor, bitterness, sexuality, and the need for acceptance.

Watching these two move towards each other while adjusting their preconceived notion’s about each other and finally realizing that they are in a real relationship is believable and moving.

There’s the inevitable drama but not an unexpected element. It feels true to the story and situation.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed each book and couples in this series, Shameless is probably my favorite.

There’s another coming out Foolish Puckboy but not until next year.

Argh!

Until then, I’ll have to fantasize. And recommend to all who haven’t read or caught up on this series, that you do so. As soon as possible.

I’ve listed them below. Happy reading!

Puckboy series:

✓ Egotistical Puckboy #1

✓ Irresponsible Puckboy #2

✓ Shameless Puckboy #3

◦ Foolish Puckboy #4 – April 13, 2023

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showShameless Puckboy (Puckboys #3) by Eden Finley

Description:

OSKAR

After a little mishap in an alleyway with CCTV, my public image needs fixing. Oops?
It might have been a stunt to get the attention of Lane Pierce, San Jose’s new PR manager, but I didn’t realize what the consequences would be when I did it. I’ve got Lane’s sole focus now in all the wrong ways.
He has designated himself as my babysitter, and while it’s fun messing with him, being bound by curfews and rules has never worked for me.
The more I push back, the more I realize what’s really on the line. My career, my future, and maybe even my heart.


LANE

Being appointed head of San Jose’s PR department was a dream come true … until I met Oskar Voyjik.
He may be San Jose royalty, but with the stunts Oskar’s been pulling, the team owner is down to his last thread of patience. Which puts me in the firing line. If I can’t turn Oskar’s entitled party boy image around, we’ll both be shown the door.
I have free rein to do whatever it takes, and it turns out whatever it takes is Oskar.
Only, the more entangled our lives become, the more I see the Oskar he’s buried deep down. The one who hurts, the one who’s sensitive and kind, the one … the one I think I’m falling for.
I can’t have him and my career, and if rumors of the professional lines I’ve crossed get out, it’s not only my dream job I can kiss goodbye; I’ll be disgraced from professional sports completely.

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