Tag: Scattered Thoughts Recommended

Review:  Rock and a Hard Place: An MM Alien Science Fiction Romance (The Little Ships #2) by J Evermore

Rating: 4🌈

The finale novel to the wonderful Head Above Water, I found I enjoyed reading this but it wasn’t as well rounded a story as its predecessor.  There’s so much that the author was trying to fit into this book and more importantly, more details about alien cultures and their world biology that was unknown to the series, but hugely influential to a major character. 

That’s usually interesting and a great way to explore new facets of a known main character’s storyline. Here it’s Sohven and Jace’s dynamic, not recovered from the past events of their spaceship crash.  That’s the drama Evermore uses to thread the layers of an intense, unsettled romantic inter-species relationship onto that of bringing it to Sohven’s interdicted planet, further stretching its boundaries.

For me, the author turns a predatory Sohven who fled his planet into a completely new character. One who doesn’t fit the same frame as the one we’re familiar with.  From over protective to removing himself from the protective nature he’s exhibited , and both lacking communication in the relationship. 

Jace, who’s apart from Sohven for much of the book, is taking part of trails, is still his own man. The most interesting part of the story, along with several side characters, like Vovu. 

That ending was climactic and everything I’d expect from the author and series. However, there’s Vovu and they ended up as a dangling storyline I’d have loved to see resolved here or in a side story. They deserve it. 

I expect Little Ships is a two book series and I loved the first novel better than its finale. However, it’s great to see a HFN in any series, and Sohven and Jace certainly got theirs. A definite win. 

Great cover again 

The Little Ships (2 books):

Head Above Water #1

Rock and a Hard Place #2

Buy link 

        Rock and a Hard Place: An MM Alien Science Fiction Romance (The Little Ships)

    

Blurb

Surviving a crash landing on an uncharted planet was supposed to be the hard part.
No one told me the real challenge would be the aftermath.

I have most of my memories back, I’m about to start my first mission since Sohven and I were rescued from Sannaveh-8B, and my crewmates aren’t half bad. Nothing to complain about, right?

Too bad nothing good ever comes easy. Since we’ve returned to our ship, Sohven’s been overprotective, paranoid, and on edge. No matter how well I carry out my duties, he just can’t seem to trust me to take care of myself, and I’m getting tired of being treated like a freak blow to the head means I’m incompetent.

Sohven’s solution seems simple. He wants to double-down on our commitment and make things permanent. He wants us to become mates—officially. That means a trip back to Lohnyal, a closed planet with a culture few outsiders ever experience. The trouble is, seven years is a long absence—long enough to leave Sohven on the outside looking in, too.

We do our best to respect his family and follow their customs, but when we land in his eyrie, we’re stepping into more than a straightforward mating ceremony. When Sohven’s family gets him back, they don’t want to let him go. It’s going to take all of my ingenuity to make sure we find a way off his planet. This time, he’s the one who needs to be rescued, and I intend to deliver.

Rock and a Hard Place is meant to be read after Head Above Water, the first book in Jace and Sohven’s story

  • Publication date: May 28, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 292 pages

Review: Wolfsbane (Werewolves of Boston #1) by S J Himes

Rating: 3.5🌈

Wolfsbane is in the murky area that the characters and locations are familiar to those who have read The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, and yes , that main character makes an important contribution here.  So while you might say it’s a standalone story, it’s also not really one as many elements crossover.

Wolfsbane (Werewolves of Boston #1) by S J Himes is also a series of one novel.  The characters themselves will make appearances elsewhere but this is it for them. 

Rael, a young person whose heritage has made him unwelcome in his pack (his mother is a werewolf and deceased father human).  He’s unable to shift, or show other otherworldly traits that would make him acceptable. 

The author sets up an emotional showdown at a pack meeting that goes unexpectedly sideways with Rael and his mother not leaving but instead Rael has a suitor.

This all comes together rapidly , and while Rael and Jameson Mercer, his suitor, agree on a set time to get to know each other, there no “feeling “ of them being able to communicate or interact because of the dramatic events that soon followed.

The short length rushes the narrative smartly along to the detriment of much depth of character or relationship development. It’s just everything falling into place. 

Drama. Romance. Villains identified. Help offered and accepted for various elements of the plot. New final surprise scene and wrap up. 

It’s lively, fun, and a fast paced read. The couple is cute and the mom wonderful.   For more than that it needs details, depth, and story length. 

For which I recommend The Sorcerer of Beacon Hill series. Just excellent. 

I do recommend it if you’re a fan of the series and author. I enjoyed it.

Werewolves of Boston (1 book series)

Related series/universe:

The Beacon Hill Sorcerer (8 book series) by Sheena Jolie writing as S.J. Himes

Buy link 

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comWerewolves of Boston (1 book series) Kindle Edition

Blurb 

Introducing a new series, Werewolves of Boston, set in the same universe as The Beacon Hill Sorcerer!

Rael Morrow is a human-werewolf hybrid, and he’s about to be kicked out of his pack. Unable to transform, Rael is left with few options. He can accept the Alpha’s ruling and be banished, pulling his mother with him—or agree to a courtship with Jameson Mercer, heir presumptive of their Boston Southside Pack and the object of Rael’s longtime unrequited crush.

If he mates with Jameson, he can remain in the pack, and he and his mother won’t have to suffer the indignity of being forced to uproot their whole lives. 

Rael reluctantly agrees to the plan. He’s been in love with Jameson since he was a kid, and there’s no way Jameson cares about him in the same way. Rael is afraid he’s setting himself up for a lifetime of misery.

But then begins a seduction that breaks down every preconceived notion that Rael had about Jameson, and he dares to hope. 

Of course, things are never that easy. Jameson is the perfect alpha, and Rael’s human heritage hides a secret that threatens his life. The Southside Pack is primed to fracture as power dynamics shift. And Rael is forced to reconcile who he always thought he was with who he could become.

WOLFSBANE is a 37,000 word novella set in the Infinite Arcana, an expanded universe shared with The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, but can be read as a standalone.

  • Publisher: S.J. Himes (July 25, 2020)
  • Publication date: July 25, 2020
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 140 pages

Review:  My Inherited House Might be Haunted by AJ Sherwood

Rating:  3.5🌈

My Inherited House Might be Haunted by AJ Sherwood is a cute, no angst paranormal romance.  It originally came about as a serialized story on the author’s Patreon site but has been updated and expanded. 

The characters are adorable, there’s a inherited haunted house, along with ghosts (a family of ghosts which we never meet unfortunately), brownies, witches everywhere!

There’s so many interesting elements here pack together for a short story. Especially the familiars , a cat and puppy, that these characters never get fully developed into their elements. They are familiars in name only because they’re recognized by others as such. But do they talk or do things that we think of as being something familiars do? No. They do things that our cats and dogs do just as adorably mostly. 

The romantic relationship is fast and the book length just doesn’t leave them much time for development of magical skills, new knowledge of how magic works, or other relationship areas.  But the characters, Rhett and Calix and Calix’s family are so interesting that this story makes me wish for a sequel or expanded version.

Read My Inherited House Might be Haunted by AJ Sherwood for a delightful instant love paranormal tale!

Copyright © 2025 by AJ Sherwood, originally published on Patreon 

Adorable Cover by Katie Griffin

Buy link

My Inherited House Might be Haunted4.6 out of 5 stars1854.6 out of 5 stars. 185 customer reviews.Kindle Edition$0.00or $3.99 to buy

Blurb 

Rhett’s inheritance of the gorgeous Victorian house was expected. What was not expected was:

  • Two familiars
  • A house full of ghosts
  • Magic powers?!
  • A new boyfriend, maybe, possibly, please and thank you

Now if he could just figure out how to handle everything, life would be peachy.

Review:  Fool Me Twice (Cursebreakers, Inc. Book 2) by A. M. Rose

Rating:  4.25🌈

If I thought the dark curses of Like a House on Fire were terrifying, Rose takes this story and goes into another magical lane of darkness and curses.

Fool Me Twice by A. M. Rose, the second book in the Cursebreakers, Inc. series, has two main characters we met in book one. Cain, the brutal, anger filled owner of an illegal underground fighting club (where Ash fought in book 1), and Hart, the uber polished, always controlled unofficial head of his family of Cursebreakers.

Of the two main storylines, the relationship aspect between Cain and Hart doesn’t really work (imo) as well as the magical curse plot line. 

Aside from a instant heavy D/s element, there’s other parts of this relationship, that as written, makes it harder, imo, to create a connection between them as a couple and a reader.  One is the missing history or background between them.  It’s implied here but it’s not clear what happened. There’s a short story that a reader can access after finishing the book that fills this in, but it’s lack of details in the narrative leaves a deep gap between the present day emotional complexity and intensity of the actions of the characters to make their interactions believable. For Hart to break down, abandoning his character, there needed to be a foundation laid out for this to be something that could be understood. Especially when Cain is the key. 

I don’t think that happened. The characters apart are intriguing. Together, not so sure.

What was incredible about the story is the curse , the mystery and once again, the escalating suspense and horror that surrounds the curse and those affected by it. It’s so well written, the tension and horror so intense as well as the puzzling nature and scrambling for a solution.

That last part of the narrative is a true white knuckle ride.  It’s emotional, compelling ,and very dangerous. And the reader is all in. 

Aside from the romantic thread, there’s other things that really matter here. The authors bring us more background information about how the Cursebreakers were formed as a unit, we see more of the agency and its members, and get a feel for stories to come. 

The various members of the remarkable Cursebreakers are still being fleshed out. The first being Ash with Morgan. Now Hart, still polished house family manager alongside his partner Cain. Next up is the affable Fix, the large Cursebreaker who’s helped hold them together during a formative period/history that’s slowly being revealed. 

Wren, an intriguing Cursebreaker who works with cursed creatures, has important clues released here about his past and a new character that was introduced. Can’t wait for their story to be released.

I’m excited for this series and recommending this story. Read them in the order they are written for character development and event content.

Cover designed by BCJ Art & Design 

Cursebreakers, Inc.:

  • Like a House on Fire # 1
  • Fool Me Twice #2
  • A Thousand Cuts #3 – March 12, 2025

Buy link 

        Fool Me Twice (Cursebreakers, Inc. Book 2)

    

Blurb 

“Be a calm wave in the ocean of chaos.”

Hart, perhaps, took that quote a bit too much to heart. In the midst of drama and the constant restlessness of his family, he chose to present himself as unwavering. Poised. Controlled. Even when inside, he’s anything but. There are layers to him underneath the perfection. Layers he’s desperately craving for someone to peel away.

It’s just his luck that the only person who knows how to do that lives his life in shades of gray. Morally gray.

Cane punches first. Period. What question would he even need to ask? 

Only, it seems like his tried-and-true method isn’t working so well for him anymore. With an empire to run in the underbelly of Slatehollow, the last thing he needs is a curse placed on his head and drawing attention to the details of his…business ventures.

But when it starts to do more than just that, he knows there is only one person he can call. Hart. And with Hart, inevitably, comes a realization. Cane wants so much more than cursebreaking from him. 

Will Hart let him have it? Or will the curse destroy them both first?

  • Publication date: June 10, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 379 pages

Review:  Striking a Chord at Randy’s (A Diner Day’s story) by K.C. Carmine

Rating: 3.75🌈

K. C. Carmine’s contemporary romance is a sexy sweet best friends to lovers romance with a twist.  In a series that is centered around a Diner that is a safe haven for the LGBT community, the stories are themed on the same storylines and characters. Here Charlie, who transitioned once his family moved, is reunited with his best friend from childhood, Trent, who’s just arrived in town.  

Carmine’s story has a number of big elements and emotional moments to explore. It’s been ten years since Charlie and Trent have seen each other, and the growth for each person  in that time has been tremendous.  Especially for Charlie.  Then there’s Trent who’s recognizing that his sexuality is more fluid, pansexual than strictly drawn to one gender.  There’s more.  From a reunion of old friends who’ve had enormous changes in their lives to an intimate sexual relationship and love life, including a mixed everyday interactions.  

It all occurs without too much introspection, drama , and time span. For all the terrific characters, great aspects of the story, and even the relationship, for me, that it all came together so fast felt unreal.

It was like watching a sweet romance unfold but I never felt a connection because, imo, they were never grounded or believable. To have that would have needed more depth, layers, and time for the years apart and the growth they’ve undergone to be fully understood and explored between them. 

Enjoy the story for the sweet sexy moments and romance the author intends. 

Great cover!

Cover design by Cormar Covers

Diner Days series -11 books:

🔷Written at Randy’s by Katherine McIntyre

🔷Final Boy at Randy’s by Loren Leigh

🔷Cramming at Randy’s by Alex Silver 

🔷Temptation at Randy’s by Emily Alter

🔷Hitched at Randy’s by A. E. Madsen

🔷Gaming at Randy’s by Duckie Mack

🔷Striking a Chord at Randy’s by K. C. Carmine 

🔷Composed at Randy’s by Zile Elliven❤️ 

🔷Roleplay at Randy’s by Rikki Leighton

🔷Finding Home at Randy’s by Abrianna Denae

🔷Aftercare at Randy’s by R.A. Frick 

Buy link

        Striking a Chord at Randy’s

    

Blurb 

Can a rocker fall for a gym bunny? Nah, no way. But what if the big, muscly guy looks sad? Well…

Moving out of his hometown gives Trent the freedom to shape his life the way he wants, out of his brother’s shadow. Running into his childhood friend is not what he expected, but exactly what he needed. Amidst the chaos of new discoveries, his closeness to Charlie unlocks his heart and mind.

With supportive family and friends, Charlie lives as his true self. His past comes stumbling into his life in the shape of a muscled, cute-as-a-cupcake guy who shakes the foundation of the walls around Charlie’s heart.

The new feelings threaten to jeopardize their friendship after they just got it back.

A story of a rekindled friendship, a bi-awkening, opposites attract, and trans joy.

A standalone MM book (with a trans man) from multi-author, shared world Diner Days series.

Striking a Chord at Randy’s is a low angst M/M opposites attract romance between a trans male music lover and a lost boy about to have an awakening.

Multi-author series info: Love beyond the binary: serving up low angst trans romances at Randy’s Diner.

  • Publisher: Blindfold Press (October 3, 2024)
  • Publication date: October 3, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 188 pages

Transgender romance 

— Striking a Chord at Randy’s by K.C. Carmine

Review:  The Firedancer (Black Cat Circus) by Rye Cox

Rating: 4🌈

The Firedancer is my first dive into Rye Cox’s Black Cat Circus series, a paranormal world of outcasts that travel through worlds finding their true loves. 

The setup is simple, the author establishes the characters and fundamentals of the series early on in the book, so even if the reader, like myself is new to the series, we understand setting of the circus and the concept of the story.

Coal, a Vermillion Bird, a fire being of ancient Chinese mythology. But his full background is slightly hidden under Coal’s painful personal history as a half human/half Fire Bird and what that meant for him growing up. I do wish that Rye had further explored his fiery magical powers, especially with regard to the mark on his chest. While what the author achieved was intriguing, the potential for something stunning was very real. 

The same occurred with the great character of Rhett.  Rhett is an engaging, warm, layered character. Of smaller stature, this human chef has the personality that invigorates each scene he appears in. From the food scenes to the awe in which he’s viewing the circus acts, we just connect to him. That includes the very realistic background that Cox has crafted for Rhett with a found father as a kid on his own. 

The Ringmaster is suitably mysterious yet charming. The other circus performers/found family members are interesting and ones who will have stories of their own. 

I enjoyed Rhett and Coal’s romantic journey together but as good as they are there’s so much potential for even more magical exploration of the fire that brings them together.  As well as the nice twist that comes at the end of the book. Really needed more of this too. 

A definite recommendation. But a wider range or more detailed explanations would have made this exceptional. 

Cover Art: Coffin Print Designs

Black Cat Circus series:

The Daredevil #1

The Firedancer #2

The Aerialist #3

The Ringmaster #4

Buy link

        The Firedancer

    

Blurb 

Coal was drawn to the circus after being driven out of the only home he knew. He was the outcast, the half-blood that shouldn’t have survived the fire that burned inside him. At Black Cat Circus, he finds a family of people just like him, of those who accept him just the way he is. However, the scars that were buried deep in his heart keep him from letting anyone get too close. He is fire, and he’s afraid of once again losing control of the thing that makes up the very essence of himself.

Rhett never knew his parents or had a family. Having grown up in foster care, he’s determined to find a place he can finally call home. When he sees the ad looking for a chef for a certain traveling circus, he’s compelled to apply despite never once having left the little town he grew up in. What he doesn’t expect is to find friends shrouded in mystery, and a beautiful man who burns so brightly but tries to dampen his flames.

The two can’t resist the mutual attraction, but are terrified of what it means to want more. When playing with fire, they must be careful or risk getting burned.

The Firedancer is a paranormal MM romance that features light temperature play, size difference, hurt/comfort themes, and learning to be comfortable in one’s own skin. It is part of the Black Cat Circus multi-author series that features found family and a magical cast of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but is better enjoyed as a series.

  • Publisher: (May 13, 2023)
  • Publication date: May 13, 2023
  • Language: English
  • File size: 2710 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage: Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Print length: 184 pages

— The Firedancer by Rye Cox

Review:  Under the Mistle-Foe (Christmas Falls Season 2) by Rye Cox

Rating: 4🌈

Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox is another adorable holiday romance in the multi-author series, Christmas Falls, now in its second season.  A frenemies to lovers story, it’s more a tale of a misunderstanding from school than an actual enemy relationship.  But the real theme is one of grief, mourning, and finally recognition of its impact , on families and homecoming at the holidays 

Remy returns home after learning of his father’s injury and need for him at the family diner. The loss of his mother and his grief caused him to leave his home for a job elsewhere. Jett, a man who had never left, has always had a huge crush on Remy since school, something that factored into his actions towards Remy being awkwardly inappropriate and unsolicited then. 

The story follows the men as they reconnect, as well as Remy struggles with the town and memories he left behind, including the father who loves him. 

There’s much about the story that’s beautifully heartwarming and moving. When it dwells on loss, and Remy’s realization that he was still mourning her loss, then he uses her love for the season to move forward, those moments are special and believable. 

The romance is cute, the men adorable, and if it’s a bit quickly pulled together, well, it’s the Christmas season and a small town story.  Many of the elements are lovely and the town sparks with joy and familiar characters. 

It’s another terrific tale in a heartwarming series. 

Christmas Falls, Season 2:

The Snuggle is Real by DJ Jamison Flake It til You Make It by Beth Bolden ❤️

12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn 

Here Comes Santa Paws by Lee Blair 

Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin 

No Business Like Snow Business by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry 

Frost Impressions by Kelly Fox

Promise Yule Be Mine by Rhys Everly Mingle All The Way by Hayden Hall

Christmas Falls, Season 1:

Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison Snowbody Loves You by Jacki James Get Frosted by Amy Aislin 

Silent Knight by Beth Bolden 

Under the Mistle-Tome by Sammi Cee 

Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox 

No Elf-ing Way by Hayden Hall 

Ready, Set, Glow! by Rye Cox 

Scrooge You! By Brigham Vaughn

Buy link

        Under the Mistle-Foe

    

Blurb 

Under the mistletoe with my enemy? What else can we do but kiss?

A family emergency brings me back to Christmas Falls after running away from the loss of my mother six years ago. Not much has changed, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad, especially when it seems my high school enemy hasn’t gotten over his habit of circling around me.

Jett is everything I’m not, so full of confidence like he’s never done a single thing wrong in his life. He vibrates life, and I have to admit his presence distracts me from being back in Christmas Falls. What I didn’t expect is for him to take all my attention.

He’d gotten under my skin back then and he’s only dug in deeper since, and I can’t let anyone find out how much I love that fact. Now if only he’d stop stealing my heart with his crookedly perfect smiles…

Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.

  • Publication date: November 26, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 210 pages

Review:  Atticus: Paranormal Council Enforcers Book Two by Taylor Rylan

Rating: 4🌈

This is my first dive into author Taylor Rylan’s Universe of Destined Paranormals.  A universe of connected paranormal series, five at the moment, in which there’s fated mates and mpreg/omegaverse stories.  I listed all the series in the suggested order of reading below, however, did come into Atticus with no prior series knowledge or universe foundation. 

The reason I chose Atticus to explore this multi series world was the lack of mpreg here, one that’s a factor in many of the other novels.   This story has two alpha males at its center, and that’s why they are incapable of having any offspring. 

The characters are carryovers from prior stories and the events mentioned in the book, some hugely impactful to the characters, may have happened during previous novels.  Rylan’s story does bring those threads and backgrounds forward, but it can’t be with the same depth given the length of the book and the current plots that have to be explored.

I did enjoy this story. I found the characters engaging and the plots interesting.  The themes, an ongoing series arc of an investigation into paranormal trafficking, especially the young, is handled here without specific details while maintaining an emotional connection. 

I really like both Atticus and Brice, and they look to figure into the future storylines as Atticus’s alpha status emerges with regard to the hellhounds.   I found that I could get involved in the characters and the many dramatic moments even though I hadn’t read the other series and wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about many aspects of the universe and characters that appeared here.

The writing and plotting was well done and I was engaged in the storyline from the beginning. There’s fifteen books in the Paranormal Council Enforcers and I’ll probably do what I did here, deciding which story interests me most going forward.  

If fated mates and a paranormal universe interests you, take a look at the many series and books here. Be aware that most include a mpreg/omegaverse element.  But not all. 

It’s a definite recommendation.

Cover by Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art

Paranormal Council Enforcers series:

Ambrosius #1

Atticus #2

Reinhold #3

Garic #4 – Dec 7, 2024

Everett #5

Benjamin #6

Raiden #7

Parker #8

Ramsey #9

Castiel #10

Damien #11

Sebastian #12

Warwick #13

Dimitri #14

Frederick #15

Buy link

        Atticus: Paranormal Council Enforcers Book Two

    

Blurb 

Hellhounds don’t have mates. But after a decade of denying his attraction to Brice, Atticus realizes the lion shifter is just that: his fated mate.

Atticus was banished from the demon realm well over a century ago when he could no longer do his master’s bidding. He had been many places but truly felt at home when he found Honey Creek. His attraction to Brice was unexpected, and when it became too much for him to control his beast, he left, leaving the lion alpha behind.

Brice wasn’t sure what the fates were doing when they gave him a human male for his mate, but he didn’t care. He just wanted Atticus and the life he knew they could have together. When Atticus left, never acknowledging their connection, Brice tried to make the best of what fate had gifted him.

When trouble threatens Brice’s sister and family, he rushes to New Orleans to help. While there, he makes a life-changing discovery about his missing mate. Atticus isn’t a human, and he’s never truly been gone. He’s now a council enforcer, and the hellhound is hell-bent on claiming his mate. But will Brice give in easily?

Atticus is Book Two in the Paranormal Council Enforcers series. Each book in this series will focus on a different couple, but these books are not standalones and should be read in order as there is an ongoing backstory that won’t be resolved quickly. This is a fated mate story in an MPreg world, but this is an alpha/alpha pairing and there is no pregnancy in this story. You should expect all the normal shenanigans, and remember that sometimes fated mates don’t necessarily understand what is going on.

  • Publisher: Mortimer Press, LLC (July 15, 2022)
  • Publication date: July 15, 2022
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 304 pages

Welcome to the Universe of Destined Paranormals

 The Universe of Destined Paranormals is a world of interconnected series set in one universe. Because of this, it is recommended that you read the books in chronological order. 

Honey Creek Den Series-When the child of the created warlock goes searching for his mate, a domino effect occurs and the den is blessed by the Fates. 

Timber Valley Wolf Pack Series-Magic is changing and the wolf pack is next to be blessed by the Fates. Does Edison have something to do with it?

Warlocks of Amherst Series-Edison’s warlocks have finally been blessed by the Fates and it’s their turn to find their fated Ones. 

Vampires of the Beloved Gem Series-Master Nikolai’s vampires aboard the Beloved Gem realized that their time has come to find their beloved ones. 

Paranormal Council Enforcers Series-the magic has shifted and the Paranormal Council has been formed. Will the chosen enforcers be next to find their forever mates?

Review: Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1) by Rinda Elliot 

Rating: 3.75🌈

Although Rinda Elliot has co authored stories with a writer, Jocelynn Drake, on my auto read list, this is the first book I think I’ve read of hers.  It’s the beginning of a new paranormal soulmates series and I enjoyed Basilisk, the first book.

The series central premise is an otherworldly security agency headed by an ancient sorcerer, Xavier, whose employees will be finding their soulmates, story by story. 

Magical beings, here called Preternaturals, exist side by side with an unaware human society. There’s a vague history that is relayed by Xavier about the past and conflicts but it’s not well explored. 

Basilisk is the first book and I would expect more world building from Elliott in letting the reader understand the universe in which these characters coexist.  Because while beings like Bain get a wonderful description and fully developed history, he seems not to realize himself the extent of the universe he lives in despite the long years he’s lived.   

And the reason why Clive Manning, human accountant, proves to be so special needs further explanation as well. I hopeful that these elements will become further developed in the stories to come. 

The relationship between Clive and Bain was full of chemistry and felt believable.  Although that short time and dramatic aspect of their relationship didn’t ring true towards the end of the story.  Communication had been key up until then between them.  And the villain got wrapped up too easily without much resolution.

I enjoyed Basilisk. I liked the characters and the series premise while thinking it needs more world building and further development. I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the series when it’s available. 

If you’re a fan of the author and this trope, definitely check out this book and series.

Buy link

        Basilisk (Mystic Guardians Book 1)

    

Blurb 

As a basilisk, Bain Ophion has lived over two hundred years. For the last ten, he’s worked for his best friend, a sorcerer who runs Protective Solutions. Bain loves his work as a bodyguard and especially loves proving his skills when clients take one look at him and doubt. Yeah, he may dress flashy and have androgynous looks, but he also comes with preternatural strength. Humans don’t know that, though. Because, like all his fellow bodyguards, he uses a glamour to hide what doesn’t blend. Most humans aren’t ready to know about the supernatural world around them, but he’s about to learn that there are a few who are special.

Clive Manning has no idea which of his new clients is threatening his life, but when they send someone to break into his home, he knows he can’t handle this alone. He lives a perfectly ordered life and works from home for a reason. Lifelong fear. He calls Protective Solutions and hires a bodyguard, and when that man shows up, Clive is shocked. He expected something like a man in black and instead, he got a rockstar. 

But Clive is highly attracted to this colorful bodyguard and soon Bain proves he’s very good at his job…among other things.

Basilisk is a long novella with a sexy shapeshifter who’s stunned by his fierce attraction to an uptight accountant and the accountant who learns his lifetime of fear had good reason.

  • Publication date: September 28, 2024
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 148 pages

Review:  Review: Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

The ranks of the Bisbee Bachelor’s Club continues to shrink with Shadows & Reservations, the story of 

Hadley Granger, owner of the most haunted house and hotel in Bisbee and his romantic love story with Lyle Hewer. Lyle Hewer is someone who is an outsider to the close knit Bisbee community but has been working his way into their lives book by book.

Sterling’s story focus is Granger and The Sullivan House, a place he rarely leaves and one that’s rightfully earned the reputation as the most haunted place in the town. Full of spirits that cannot rest and constantly haunt both Granger and anyone who steps on the property, its anguished history is a great part of the story.

That’s where the mystery and murders are and the relationship between the two men will be built. When the story concentrates on Granger, a sad, tormented man with a broken past, the book is terrific.  Lyle, for me, no matter what story he’s appeared in, has been more a problematic character.  That continues here. 

His ex and the issues that come up with Lyle aren’t as realistic, amazingly given that Granger’s are ghostly.  But Granger is such a great character and the support group of the rest of the Bisbee community works really well to make him and this an interesting mystery and satisfying story.

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club :

  • Haunted Hearts #1
  • Moonlight & Madness #2
  • Unhappy Medium #3
  • Grave Expectations #4
  • Riddles & Rivals #5
  • Shadows & Reservations #6
  • Heart & Soulless #7
  • Specters & Sparks # 8

Buy link

        Shadows & Reservations (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 6)

    

Blurb 

What happened to Dottie Granger and why is her son still trapped in The Sullivan House?

The people of Bisbee have spent forty years whispering about the reclusive Hadley Granger, and the night his mother disappeared from The Sullivan House. The shy inn keeper has done his best to keep her memory, and the haunted bed and breakfast, alive by any means necessary. When the town learns that Hadley is also a best-selling author, his private life and all his secrets begin to bleed off the page.

Hadley’s latest guest is a stoic engineer protecting a few secrets of his own. Lyle Hewer’s come to Bisbee to escape a collapsing affair and to determine if the Queen Mine is safe enough to reopen. But trouble follows him to the quirky former mining town when his ex arrives and books a room at The Sullivan House.

The chivalrous inn keeper volunteers for the part of Lyle’s new boyfriend to help him save face, but their plan goes awry almost immediately. Lyle has been in love with the gentle inn keeper from the first moment he stepped foot in The Sullivan House, and Hadley finds himself falling for his prickly guest too. But Hadley has one very big problem: Lyle has to leave before it’s too late and the secrets of The Sullivan House shatters both of their lives.

Warning: brief scenes depicting domestic violence against women and children.

  • Publisher: Bawdy Books (September 16, 2021)
  • Publication date: September 16, 2021
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 216 pages