Blurb: Steven Dunkin has no clue who the stranger in the coffee shop when the guy asks him what flavor ice cream he recommends. All Steven knows is he feels a strong attraction toward the guy. So when Derek invites him home, Steven has no problem going. The world he steps into thrills Steven. He has his very own tiger shifter, but Steven fears this is too good to be true, so he runs home after having amazing sex, fearing he’ll never see Derek again.
Derek Mitchell is fascinated with the human from the moment he lays eyes on his mate. Steven is charming, shy, but puts his trust in Derek’s hands when they meet. There is just one problem. Derek’s ex-boyfriend is stalking him. Tristan cheated on Derek, and that was a line Derek couldn’t come back from. When Tristan shows up at Derek’s family reunion, he knows his ex has slipped over the edge and Derek must protect Steven at all costs. But will Tristan take things too far?
Review: Steven is a sweet innocent young man and had the best brother ever. When his mother was pregnant with him she had been using and it left him a little bit slow. His brother always watched out for him. However when a man asked him out after some ice cream his little life was about to get more interesting.
Derek owned most of the town but never truly flaunt it. He had an idiot for an ex that seemed to want him back and a weasel for a cousin. Now he has found his mate. He is falling in love but danger is just around the corner.
I really liked the characters quite a bit but the story felt like it was lacking something to make it stand out. It had the same old ex who wanted revenge or his man back theme which is a bit old to me. However other than that it was pretty good and I can see it being read many times over.
Title: Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities
Series: Claimings 02
Author: Lyn Gala
Genre: Science Fiction, First Contact
Length: Novel (213pgs)
Publisher: Lyn Gala (May 19, 2018)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–Â 3.75 Hearts
Blurb: Ondry and Liam have settled into a good life, but their trading is still tied up with humans, and humans are always messy. When political changes at the human base lead Ondry to attempt a difficult trade, the pair find themselves entangled in human affairs. Liam wants to help the people he left and the worlds being torn apart. He also wants to serve Ondry with not only the pleasures of the nest but also by bringing human profits.
Ondry has no hope of understanding human psychology in general, he only knows that he will hold onto his palteia with the last breath in his body, and he’d like to keep his status and his wealth too. Unfortunately, new humans bring new conflicts and he is not sure how to protect Liam. He does know one thing that humans seem to constantly forget—that the peaceful Rownt are predators and when their families are threatened, Rownt become deadly killers. Liam is his family, and Ondry will protect him with his last breath… assuming that he can recognize the dangers in time to do so.
Blurb: Colton Martinez is a seahorse shifter and lives a comfortable life at World of Aquatica, a shifter owned and operated marine park. When a number of others find their Fate-given mates, he doesn’t give finding his own much thought—until he scents the most alluring aroma in a big, handsome human named Waylon Davison. Discovering his mate has a boyfriend doesn’t deter Colton. Instead, he lifts Waylon’s wallet and, with the help of friends, plans his strategy for wooing the man. After learning his human is disturbingly cowed by his boyfriend, Colton realizes Waylon has more to overcome than the shock of discovering that shifters exist. Even if Colton can convince Waylon to dump his jerk of a boyfriend, can he convince his human that entering a pairing with a man chosen by Fate isn’t a new prison?
Review: Colton has found his mate and his mate has a boyfriend. Colton is a seahorse shifter and works at World of Aquatica. He hadn’t always lived there but when he was eaten by a squid well he took that as a sign. Now he loved it. All he had to do is to figure out how to get his mate to leave his boyfriend.
Waylon is a big beautiful man with a big heart. To bad his boyfriend is a possessive jerk. However when he through a fit at Waylon’s work it seemed a good idea to dump the asshat. When he say Colton while out on a date things were starting to get a bit strange, just wait till he finds out why.
Charlie has always been an amazing author and her stories just keeps getting better. I loved the idea of a seahorse shifter and the story just about rocked my world. The only problem is that they are so short that leaves me wishing for more. I could have done with out the possessive jerk and his friends, but they made the story a bit stronger I would say.
Now I can honestly say that these are stories that will be read many times over. In fact they make me want to go read the whole series once more. I get a kick out of them and this was no different. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.
Blurb: We all have secrets; the ones we keep and the ones that are kept from us.
Cadet Declan Johnson is a staunch loyalist at Arkin Academy. He’s human and has no sympathy for druids or their magic. Sent on a mission to infiltrate the Red Society he doesn’t expect to find his old friend Trovic or to find himself sympathizing with the rebels. But if he betrays Arkin his life may be forfeit…so he keeps his secret.
Trovic found a home with the Red Society when he discovered his affinity for Dragon magic, and he won’t let anything come between him and his adopted family. Everything changes when his old friend Declan arrives and he finally masters his powerful abilities, becoming the first Dragon shifter in hundreds of years. But Declan’s reaction is not what he expected.
Past friends and secret lovers, Declan and Trovic reunite unexpectedly. Declan must confront his own beliefs about the dangers of Dragon magic and try to accept his own feelings. A tale of betrayal, deceit, and impassioned love, how far will Declan and Trovic go for their love?
Review: Declan has a decision to make after being asked to spy on a rebellion group and discovers his friend and secret crush, Trovic, in the group. He begins to question everything he know as well as growing closer to Trovic. I loved this story.
Filled with twists and turns as well as a learning lesson for Declan in a time where magic is considered dangerous and there are those that would kill to get rid of it permanently. I really liked how the story showed the struggles Declan went through as he tried to figure out what was right against what he had been taught.
Declan and Trovic together had a history of secret crushes and growing up in foster care together. Now many years later meeting again on opposing sides they follow their hearts.
Blurb: Bishop Cyre has denied Ervyn Bauer is his mate since finding him on death’s door four years ago, and Ervyn has had enough. Either Bishop moves past his fears and claims him, or Ervyn is giving up for good.
Ervyn Bauer goes to a club to let loose, but he never expects to meet Mykel Leon. It’s bitter-sweet that Mykel turns out to be his mate, when he loses control and almost claims Ervyn against his will.
Mykel can’t believe he finally found his mate only to discover he already belongs to somebody else. After almost ruining everything, he decides to do whatever it takes to fix their mating, even if that means sharing Ervyn with the handsome demon that takes his breath away.
When Ervyn is kidnapped, Mykel and Bishop must overcome their differences and work togeth-er to find Ervyn before the worst happens, and maybe find a little love along the way.
Review: Saved by His Demons is the second book in Camellia Dawn’s Under Demon Rule series, it is also the second book by the author that I have read. I’ve been looking forward to this book after enjoying the first book, as well as getting insight to who was going to be the involved into the next book, and I really wanted to know what was going to happen next.
While I can’t say that this was a totally awesome and amazing book, I still found this quite enjoyable and I’d be more than happy to read any more additions to this series. This is an MMM book where the thruple is two demons and a human. You have one reasonable demon, one demon that has a protective complex that keeps him from claiming his mate, and one human who is a lot stronger than his demons realise.
Like the first book in this series the plot is quite simple and so I don’t want to go into too much detail and spoil the plot.
Ervyn was found, pretty much dying, by demons a little over four years ago. The demon who found him, Bishop knew that Ervyn was his mate when he saw the broken human and decided that he would break the man if he ever claimed him. Bishop kept this knowledge to himself but four years later Ervyn now knows that his attraction for the demon is more. Since he has been rejected from the man destined to be his mate, Ervyn has decided that the best course of action is to move on with his life. Which brings him to a club where he meets Mykel, another demon who also happens to be Ervyn’s mate and a demon that wants to claim him. To Mykel, finding his mate is his every dream come true. But with danger taking Mykel on a dangerous scouting trip and Bishop so angry that he doesn’t see that Mykel is also his mate, the trio are in for a rough ride.
As I said, over all this was an enjoyable book. The guys are interesting, distinct characters and like how they fit together as a thruple. I particularly liked Mykel and Ervyn, although I also liked Bishop I found him a little to brutish and pig headed for my liking. If you’re into paranormal romances that are based in their own worlds (i.e. not sure if we’re on earth or in another realm), particularly recommended for those that like a bit of demon lovin’!
Blurb: The most important things in Simon Murray’s life are football, friends, and film – in that order. His friends despair of him ever meeting someone, but despite his loneliness, Simon is cautious about looking for more. Then his best friends drag him to a party, where he barges into a foot-ball conversation and ends up defending the honour of star forward Declan Tyler – unaware that the athlete is present. In that first awkward meeting, neither man has any idea they will change each other’s lives forever.
Like his entire family, Simon revels in living in Melbourne, the home of Australian Rules football and mecca for serious fans. There, players are treated like gods – until they do something to fall out of public favour. This year, the public is taking Declan to task for suffering injuries outside his control, so Simon’s support is a bright spot.
But as Simon and Declan fumble toward a relationship, keeping Declan’s homosexuality a secret from well-meaning friends and an increasingly suspicious media becomes difficult. Nothing can stay hidden forever. Soon Declan will have to choose between the career he loves and the man he wants, and Simon has never been known to make things easy – for himself or for others.
Review: Tigers and Devils is the first book in Sean Kennedy’s series of the same name. I’ve read this whole series a few years ago and absolutely adored it. I also absolutely adore Kennedy’s spin-off series, Get Out. The narration of this book was performed by Paul Morey, not a narrator that I am able to recognise by name, but according to my audible app and my reviews, I’ve listened and enjoyed his narrations in the past.
I feel a strong connection to these books, because this is an Aussie author, from a football (AFL) obsessed state (Victoria). I am originally from the equally AFL obsessed state, South Australia, but I get the feeling. Living in New South Wales (and recently seeing this discussion in one of by Facebook groups), I know New South Welshmen and Queenlanders won’t believe the AFL fever written in these books as being accurate but trust me it is real. Every other state other than Queensland and NSW are AFL mad, those other two heathens are obsessed with Rugby League and Rugby Union. (Jokes, I don’t follow any sport codes, but living in NSW for 3 years I hear no AFL and am absolutely sick of NRL in a way I used to hate hearing about AFL). So yes, call me obsessed with this series and I am also one of those weirdos that doesn’t like sports IRL but am a total glutton for sport romances. Add to that, the scenery of Melbourne and the feel of it is so familiar and authentic to me. Yet, unfortunately, I shake my head at how horrible culture is in the AFL that I think if any player was outed or came out, even in 2019 it would be as prickly as Declan’s journey as penned by Kennedy in 2013.
So… I guess I’m here to talk about the book.
Firstly, I’ll explain my review. Needless to say after the above outpouring, this is a 5-star book for me. However, the narration for me left a lot to be desired, which I give 3-stars, hence the 4-star overall rating.
I’ll get the unpleasant part out of the way, my opinion on the narration. And it’s a long story that I have to tell because I can be a drama queen. Ultimately, though I know it is down to an American narrator butchering the pronunciation of many words and places horribly, the saving grace was at least the butchering was done in the said American accent and not in a false Aussie accent. Since this is a long book and I was making a long flight to one of these said AFL obsessed states recently, I decided this would be the perfect way to pass time – I love the story so if I lost some details because of the noise of the planes or airports it wouldn’t matter. So, at the first airport I press play as I wait for my plane to board. I lasted less than a minute. Within the first few sentences, as main character Simon explains Aussie Rules Football and the league, I hear Melbourne pronounced Mel-born (we say Mel-ben) and Brisbane pronounced Bris-bane (we say Bris-ben). Yes, I know Australians are lazy with their talk, as a South Australian I ridicule NSW for not pronouncing all the letters and syllables in words, but… and I’m stepping down from my soap box. And so I switched to another audio and left it for 2 weeks before trying again. It took me a bit to get used to the narration and ignore the pronounciation hiccups but I am so proud that I persevered because for me the story was completely worth it.
Anecdotally, I can tell you that I know of two other Australians, both from Melbourne, who hold the same opinion as me (to the point I had to convince one of them to move onto book 2 because the narrator does change). But you can take what you will from my opinion, I would say that this is like times I read English people get annoyed at non-English narrators butchering the local accents but I listen and like the performance well enough.
As for the story itself – oh, there was a story, I hear you say? Because I feel like and have been complaining for the past 350 words.
The story is about Simon Murray, a Melbournian who works as the managing director for a local indie film festival who loves his football that this is the only conversation he happily gets involved in when his best friends, Roger and his wife Fran, drag Simon to a party against his will. It is at this part he meets AFL God, Declan Tyler (Trademark Pending), who betrayed his Victorian fans by moving to the island state Tasmania and is now on the injuries list more than the playing list.
Simon is a prickly sort of a man, his got a quick wit and a sharp tongue. He’s not antisocial I feel he’s just particular in who he hangs out with. And while he marvels at Declan Tyler on the footy field, he sees the man as a stuck-up arsehole. Declan, who is very much in the closet being that he is a professional AFL player with a multi-million dollar contract, is intrigued and he forces himself into Simon’s life. Turning Simon’s world and his heart upside down. Their relationship starts out as a secret, with only their best friends knowing about them. However, life gets complicated in so many ways, especially when you’re a football god in the public eye.
They are a quirky couple and are the epitome of the saying that opposites attract. Simon and Declan have a wonderful chemistry, which I don’t think is diminished by there not being not many (if any) actual sex scenes. I feel that there is a great intimacy reflected between the characters by the little touches and the passionate kisses which Simon describes. I really liked it and is one of those cases for me that shows you don’t need useless and seemingly never-ending sex scenes in a book to make a romance. These guys have a lot of depth and they develop so much throughout the course of the book. It felt real and for me that made the characters more relatable.
The secondary characters also have a life and depth of their own. They aren’t token characters and I loved them all as much as I love Simon and Dec. Simon’s assistant, Nyssa, his best friends Roger and Fran, as well as Dec’s best friends Abe and Lisa, all bring as much soul to the book as the MCs.
This is a great read for those that love a sports romance, I just love the fact that it has the Australian setting.
Hi guys, we have Rick R. Reed popping in today with the tour for his new release The Secrets We Keep, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~ p.s. keep an eye out for Shorty’s review coming soon!
The Secrets We Keep
by
Rick R. Reed
Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago.
And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.
But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love… or encourage it to grow?
Hi guys! We have debut author M.J. James stopping by today with his debut release Out of the Ashes, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Out of the Ashes
by
M.J. James
Alex Porter’s life goes up in flames the night his tiny bookstore catches fire. Powerless to stop it, he can do nothing but stand by and watch as the only thing he’s ever loved is taken from him.
Fire sergeant Matt Fields is ordered to Cliffside, Maine by the privileged Porter family, which doesn’t mix well with his quick temper, to investigate exactly what happened. When he meets Alex, he can almost taste the sexual tension hanging between them and fights to focus on his job to find out what started the blaze.
Once Matt discovers arson, a simple case of accidental fire becomes much more dangerous, and Alex’s life is suddenly at risk. Someone is out to get him…and Matt wants to know who. As he digs deeper to find the person who torched the shop, he and Alex finally give in to the wild heat between them. From hot as hell phone sex to even hotter face-to-face encounters, they grow closer together as the case spins out of control.
In the end, their newfound love will be put to the test when secrets come to light and arson turns to murder.
Warning: murder, kidnapping, depictions of infidelity by secondary characters, mentions of emotional abuse by a sibling, fire
Hi guys! We have M.D. Neu stopping by today with his new release T.A.D, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $10 NineStar GC giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~
T.A.D
by
M.D. Neu
Tad loves bouncing around in time and watching mankind grow and change. He loves humanity and helping when he can. However, his job isn’t conducive to helping people. He’s an Angel of Death.
Doug is fun loving and a drama queen. Despite his witty exterior, he has a dark history and is prone to self-destruction. He’s also an amazing drag queen and hairstylist with big dreams.
When Tad pushes the boundaries of his duties too far, his angel wings are stripped away from him, and he is sent to New York City to live as a human. Lost and alone he ends up meeting Doug, and the two start a friendship that will shape them both and last a lifetime. But nothing is simple when you’re dealing with a former Angel of Death and a Drag Queen. Could these two cause the fabric of our world to collapse or will they manage to keep the future as it should?
Explicit 9/11 details, attempted date rape, homophobia
Blurb: Keira Fairchild is running for her life, and she won’t make it far without someone watching her back.
Her powers helped her elude a slave trader, Holcomb, who planned to sell her to the highest bidder, and the deadly Paragon Academy. But now Keira needs some allies and some answers. Who is the imprisoned alien being who keeps contacting her in her dreams? Keira is aided by a group of teens—James, Lumen, and Paul—with powers like her own, and all of them are ready for a fight. The small group must rescue the captive alien and escape Dr. Albion, who seeks to steal their abilities and eliminate them. Survival will mean a desperate struggle, and none of them can succeed on their own..
Review: While I’m not an f/f reader I did enjoy this story. It picks up where the first book leaves off. The mc Keira comes into her powers at worst possible time and has her on the run. I liked the adventure and the coming of age aspect that shows Keira’s journey.
There are a lot of twists and turns and all the characters from the first book make appearances throughout. I have to admit to skipping any f/f parts in the story. Keira is tough yet soft when she needed to be.
With so many characters throughout it added an extra element of suspense to the story that intrigued me. But again I would have enjoyed it much more had it been an m/m story.
Blurb: Detectives Mark Ruxsberg and Chris Green are very good at their jobs. Being the enforcers for God and Day’s notorious Atlanta PD Narcotics Task Force causes the crazy duo to get into more trouble than they can often get out of. The pair never misses out on an opportunity to drive their lieutenants crazy with their dangerous, reckless, and costly stunts, landing them in the hot seat in front of God…often.
Ruxs and Green love their jobs and they don’t mind the very demanding schedule that leaves them little time for socializing or dating. It’s fine with them, they enjoy hanging out with each other anyway.
However, most of the men in their close circle of friends and colleagues are pairing off and set-tling down. God has Day, Ro has Johnson, and their Sergeant Syn has Furious.
For the past several years, Ruxs has only sought out the advice and company of one person, his partner and best friend Green, and vice versa. Both of these alpha males are presumed straight, but neither can deny the heat that’s building in their once-“just friends” relationship.
Review: Here Comes Trouble is the third instalment of AE Via’s Nothing Special series, which is based around the action and romance of Atlanta PD’s elite narcotic team, lead by partners, both in personally and professionally, God and Day. This series can be read out of order, however, I would say that that there could be some confusion when it comes to the two couples from book 1 and 2, as well as a third couple which had formed in book 1 and featured somewhat heavily though it. Being that these characters are a team and how Via has written it, these guys lives intertwine significantly.
I’ve absolutely loved this series so far and I’ve loved Aiden Snow’s narration throughout of the series so far as well. His voice has the right tone and timbre that just goes so well, pulling off the rush of emotion combined with the danger of the job that these men do.
I looked forward to book 3, which is the story of two of the detectives, who do a lot of the leg work on the streets for the team, Mark Ruxberg and Chris Green. I think it’s because of Green’s name, but I kind had these two guys cast in my head as the two cops from the movie Boondock Saints – Greenly and Duffy. However, if you know what I’m talking about, then you will also find out that I am very wrong. Rux and Green are as strong and tough as their bosses, Lieutenants Days and Knight. These guys work hard and live hard, although lately they spend most of their free time together just hanging out eating pizza and drinking beer. Yet, despite all that even despite having openly gay bosses, Rux and Green don’t know everything about each other. When talk of dating brings tension between the two men, we begin to learn that there is even more to these guys. As it is they have complicated families, like most people, but there is a new level of emotion at play in their friendship. Add the danger from their jobs and these guys have to navigate an emotional minefield. And being tough, manly men, they aren’t super good with being honest with their feelings.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed. There is action, hot sex and so much sexual chemistry I wouldn’t have been surprised if the characters had imploded before their story started (I know, that makes little sense, bear with me). For those that like hot cops, a lot of action and deadly adventure, I think that this is the book and series for you to get into.
Blurb: Chef Baldwin Powell has everything he could ever want … until he doesn’t. Fancy parties, celebrities, magazine write-ups, his own little empire of stainless steel and fire – he thought all of it was forever. It only takes one awful meeting for everything he’s worked for to be yanked out from underneath him. And one fateful meeting with the owner of food truck, of all things, to realize maybe what he thought he wanted isn’t what he needs after all.
Murphy Haynes chose a different route. He decided right away that high-pressure kitchens weren’t for him so he took his skills on the road. If he happens to stop in a certain well known chef’s neighborhood more often than anywhere else on his route, sue him. He’s his own boss for a reason and there’s something about Baldwin Powell that he can’t resist.
They’re opposites in nearly every way – On paper it should be a disaster. But life and love in the wilds of Manhattan rarely work out the way anyone expects.
Review: Chef in the Wild is the first book in MJ O’Shea’s self-published series, Sizzling in the Kitchen. This is the first in a four book series. Unfortunately, at the time I read this series I read another series (Recipe for Love by Ari McKay), and so I mixed things up and only just realised that I did a review for one series and not this one. Which sucks, because this won’t have as much detail as I usually try to put in reviews since it’s been almost two months since I read these books.
So quick rundown on the story:
Baldwin Powell is one of the most well known chefs in New York City. He’s at the top of his game and a chef at a 5 Michelin star restaurant. And then when he thought that his boss had called him in to offer him the next big opportunity in his career it all comes crashing down, and Baldwin loses his position to his archnemesis in the business. I will admit the boss’s move seemed a little silly but who am I to argue when it sets the scene and move the story forward?
After moping for weeks, Baldwin finally leaves his apartment and ends up at a food truck which makes all manner of gourmet wraps. All them made and sold by Murphy, who also has a massive passion for food and while he has the cooking skills to run his own kitchen, but at the moment all his passions are in the long hours required for him to run his hugely successful food truck. He’s certainly popular on the scene of New York foodies, which more than anything makes me want to make the marathon flight to visit!
There is a definite spark between the two men from the get go, and their friendship blossoms quite quickly as Baldwin finds both Murphy and his food truck fascinating. However, life leads Baldwin out of Manhattan and to his family, in the small town where he grew up. Baldwin’s recent career bombs along with getting to know Murphy has him thinking about his future and getting back to what he truly dreamed to do. The only problem is he’s not sure how Murphy fits into it at all.
I think the only thing that sort of disappointed me was relying so heavily on the whole miscommunication trope to help these guys through to the end. Otherwise they are fascinating and its so easy to see that they are written for each other.
This is a slow burn and exceedingly sweet romance. Baldwin and Murphy have excellent chemistry and it really comes up when it comes to their mutual love for food, which is what keeps them together long enough to get to know each other. In fact, for me it was the passion for food that made the book so real and relatable, in between all the romance and brooding on Baldwin’s behalf. I recommend this for anyone who loves a bit of romance in the kitchen and a bit of romance in New York.
Series: Legends of Lobe den Herren 01 / The Warden and The General 01
Author: A.J. Sherwood
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novel (355pgs)
Publisher: A.J. Sherwood (October 18, 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 3 1/2 Hearts
Blurb:“Renjimantoro.”
Ren’s head snapped up, as Brahms only used his full name when being completely serious. Those dark blue eyes met his levelly, penetratingly, as if he could see every thought going through Ren’s head. And he likely could. The man was exceptionally good at seeing through people. “Come with me.”
Oh hell. He really had no defenses against that plea. Brahms rarely asked anything of him, and every time he had, it turned out to be for Ren’s own good. “You realize that if I go, your reputation is never going to recover. People assume I’ve seduced you over to my side as it is.”
Brahms just stared at him.
“Right, you don’t care. Of course you don’t, silly me, why am I worrying about it?” Relief filled him, making him a little giddy with it, and he had the strangest urge to giggle. Which wasn’t manly, he stamped that out immediately, but still a grin took over his face. “Alright, alright, I’ll go home with you.”
—
Not once in the past five years has Castle Warden Sho Renjimantoro regretted following his best friend to Aart. How can he regret it when he finds open acceptance regarding his sexuality from everyone around him (even if they don’t understand it), and he gets to be with the man most important to him?
No, finding someone in this country is a fantasy best forgotten.
General Arman Brahms, finally home from deployment, has waited over two years to show Ren he’s wrong, that fantasies can come true. Unfortunately, his plans get put on hold to help Ren solve the crisis unfolding in the castle.
Someone is doing their level best to make sure the engagement of Prince Charles and Princess Alexandria of Scovia falls through—by fair means or foul. In addition, they’re trying to make Ren deemed incompetent and dismissed from his position. While hunting for the perpetrator, Ren and Arman do everything in their power to protect those they’re sworn to before the irredeemable occurs.
And along the way, prove that even an ordinary life can become extraordinary.
Review: The bulk of the book revolves around Arman and Ren’s developing relationship more than anything else and this disappointed me. I was expecting action and battle scenes instead of a long drawn out book about two men and how they get along.
I liked Ren and Arman. They both were great together however, it seemed as though many things were repeated over and over throughout the story and this aggravated me to the point that I was ready for action and less talking and emotions. The twists and turns were a welcome break from the repetitious feelings and thoughts of the characters.
Overall it was a good story about two men who in the face of prejudice and adversity manage to make it through together.
Blurb: Pryderi has known Nate was his mate for weeks—way too long not to tell him. But Pryderi grew up with rejection, and he isn’t sure he has the courage to possibly face it again, especially coming from the man he’s been falling in love with from afar and who represents his future. He’s not going to gain anything by watching Nate from afar, though.
Nate’s world gets upended over just a few days. First Pryderi, the cute Nix he’s noticed more than he likes to admit, tells him they’re mates, then the brother he thought was dead for the past ten years suddenly comes back with the Beasts after him. Nate isn’t sure how to deal with any of them, but Calvin has always been the center of his world, and that hasn’t changed.
Pryderi has a hard time getting through to Nate, who’s terrified of losing him like he thought he’d lost his brother. The fact that Pryderi is working undercover in Nate’s bar to try to find the last members of the Beasts still in town is making things both worse and better—and more than a little complicated.
Review: Each book in the Council Enforcers collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. This series is connected to the Whitedell Pride and Gillham Pack so I would suggest reading those first.
Ten years ago Nate’s little brother had been kidnapped and killed. He was still missing him to this day, boy is he in for one hell of a surprise. He was a forty-two year old man who owned a bar and had a bad back. He was not a catch in his eyes. However he has had his eyes on one sexy Nix that comes into the bar.
Pryderi left his family and people behind four years ago. He had not wanted to stay and mate with a female just to have a child and keep his parents happy. He has found his mate and wasn’t to sure how to tell him. He had been rejected by his parents and his brother didn’t truly want anything to do with him. That is until he gets a call, his brother had been abducted close to a month ago and he had not known.
Nate has issues with his mate doing the job as an enforcer. He still felt the loss of his brother, even though his brother is back, but he still was scared. Damn these two really need to learn how to communicate. I always am intrigued by the world this author creates. They just make it seem like you are right there with them and are kicking ass right along side them. It is a pretty fascinating series to get hooked on.
I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to see what the next book has going on.
Genre: Other Paranormal, Science Fiction, Teen Fiction
Length: Novel (204pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 3, 2015)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–Â 4 Hearts
Blurb: Being different can be dangerous, and discovery can be deadly.
High school freshman James Kerr is finding out he’s not quite like his classmates. Around the time he realizes he’s attracted to his best friend, Paul Schmitz, James starts channeling a dead writer’s poetry and also discovers he has an ability to manipulate energy—a super power. Before James can figure out why this is happening to him, tragedy strikes in the form of Paul’s abusive father, and James is sent to a government-run school, The Paragon Academy, which specializes in juvenile paranormal research. There, he meets Lumen, the daughter of a famous Korean actress. Lumen’s psychic ability might be the key to helping James understand both his poems and his own power.
Review: Interesting story about James who comes into extraordinary powers and struggles to understand what is happening to him. Then he’s sent off to a gifted school to help him in his quest for control where he meets other students like himself.
Meanwhile the boy he has feelings for, his best friend Paul, disappears.
I loved the mystery and the suspense surrounding James as he seeks for the truth. There are many twists and turns as the story progresses. A lot happens that gives the book an X-Men feel to it which I loved.
The answers are sometimes not what James was expecting when they are discovered. This was a complex story with many characters that added depth to the story. Not everything was self explanatory but that added to the story.
Blurb: True mates are found in the most unlikely of places.
Rhy, a weretiger with a heart so big, that when an elderly woman comes in looking for her lost cat, Mr. Fluffkins, Rhy knew he had to help. He had no way of knowing that it would lead him to his true mate.
Dillan (Mr. Fluffkins), has lived his whole life wishing he was more than just a cat. He never felt right walking around on four paws. He tried to be a normal cat; tried to talk to other animals but it wasn’t possible. They couldn’t think in full sentences or communicate. It was more of feeling they had then what they thought. He watched television, so he could studying humans and what they did. He wanted to interact like humans. His owners showed one another so much love and were always doing something together. Dillan ached to have what they have.
Love, loss, and tender moments. A dream to have the one person that completes you.
Review: Mr. Fluffkins, and is that not a funny name, is not what he appears. He is a beautiful black cat who had some amazing owners. When Sam disappears Mary Ann goes through a period of sadness and all Fluffkins knows is he has to find Sam. He is a black cat that has a human brain. What he doesn’t understand is that he is a shifter. When he gets lost, then taken by a drunk, runs away only to be found by a shifter, things start looking up. However he did like the name Sam had given him, Dillan.
Rhys is a weretiger who couldn’t tell an old woman no. He decided to try and find her lost cat. However things are starting to get real weird. Especially when he finds Dillan in his human form with a tail and ears.
First thing I am going to say is that you have to get through most of the story before the guys even find themselves together. Then once they meet, well sex is on. For someone who spent his life as a cat, it seemed a bit rushed. Then there is the fact that you never find out what the dream he had meant, nor do you find out how he ended up where he was. It didn’t keep my attention as well as it should have and left questions that had no answers. Plus it ended with a cliffhanger, a no go for me. I hate books that leave me hanging.
Other than that it was still pretty good. However a lot of things that were in the story made the story feel drawn out and could have been left out to make the story stand out better. Overall it is a good story and I look forward to seeing what the next book has going on. Hopefully we see a baby and a new romantic couple.
Blurb: Morgorth is considered a villain by his own people and known as the Dark Mage of the North. But now all he feels is light and love as he pursues a budding relationship with Aishe, a dialen of the Ravena tribe. Morgorth hardly believes his good fortune. He has allowed Aishe into his home, into his bed, into his heart. He laughs more, smiles more, and feels happier than he ever has before.
He should have known such bliss never lasts.
The Council of Mages, the ruling body over all mages on Karshian, knows he has Rambujek, a major stone of power—a stone won from an evil sorcerer. They also know his destiny—to become the Destroyer. Fearful, they send two emissaries to take the stone from Morgorth, using whatever means necessary. This includes tricks, threats to those under his protection, and the threat of war. A war Morgorth knows he would never survive.
Conflict soon arises between him and Aishe. Their tenuous relationship is put into jeopardy, their very beliefs about themselves and their love is put into question. Morgorth doubts if he should keep Aishe in his life. He doesn’t know if he can protect Aishe from his enemies. Or from the monster he might become.
Review: Morgorth and Aishe are settling into their lives together and as such we get to see them in more intimate settings. There were a lot of those scenes throughout. Morgorth finds the council of mages wants the ruby stone he took from the mage in the last book and sends mages to get it by trickery, deception and threats. They also fear what Morgorth will become.
We are introduced to even more conflict in this story as Aishe and Morgorths relationship is tested.
I liked the story but at times I felt conflicted with it. I really liked Aishe and Morgorth together as Aishe seemed to ground Morgorth.
Blurb: Mystery. Murder. Men in silk stockings. Hollywood nights are heating up.
Hardboiled Los Angeles PI Cain Noble is hired by wealthy and gorgeous Camille Astor to find her husband and a priceless work of art, both of which have disappeared.
At the nightclub owned by Mr. Astor, Cain encounters the mesmerizing Lily Lavender, who has the body of a goddess and the sultry voice of an angel—but is really a young man named Riley who attracts trouble like a magnet.
What’s a private dick in the vein of LA’s bygone era and a cross-dressing burlesque starlet to do when faced with the hidden decadence and lethal dangers of the Hollywood Hills? They have their work cut out for them because they haven’t even scratched the surface of an elaborate scheme more twisted than anyone could ever have imagined.
Review: Femme Faux Fatale is a standalone book by Susan Laine, published as part of the Dreamspun Desires line. The narration of this story was performed by John Solo.
I’ve read the story before, I already knew what I was in for the most part, and while I did have problems connecting with the MCs when I read the book, I had started the audio with the hope that Solo’s wonderful narration would add a depth to the story that I missed while reading. In fact, I had been somewhat disappointed that I didn’t enjoy reading the book more than I had because I have enjoyed almost all of Susan Laine’s books I’ve read in the past.
In the stereotypical way that seems to be the world of a PI in literature, we start with hardened and eternally tired PI Cain Noble. He’s a PI based in LA and the city serves up a constant stream of work for him. When we meet him he gets hired by Camille Astor to find her husband and a work of art. And let’s face it, when priceless art is involved you know that there is going to be some serious shit go down. Astor’s husband, Sheridan, owns a club and that is Cain’s first port of call and despite being gay, Cain finds performer Lilly Lavender strangely alluring. Only to then find out that Lily is in fact a man named Riley who seems to get in trouble at every turn, but more than anything wants to find Sheridan who he considers a friend.
As we make our way through the LA and the story, it feels like this could almost be the stereotypical 1930s-era PI tale where the hero solves the mystery and gets romanced along the way.
While I will admit that I really do think that Solo’s narration added to the book and I found myself dragged into the plot a lot more than I recall being pulled in by reading the book, I felt that I still lacked some connection to the main characters. I’m now wondering if it is also to do with the writing style, which is a little different to Laine’s usual and again I think that goes back to the whole 1930s private dick vibe. I liked Cain and Riley in terms of their personality, they were both a bit quirky, and they were certainly well developed with a definite spark between them that makes the romance natural.
I recommend this is for people that enjoy reading a dark, gritty, urban mystery where the city seems to become a wild jungle. It seems like a good metaphor for LA at any rate and makes me think of The Doors song LA Woman.
Blurb: Screenwriter Noah Ashley has a few four-letter words for his agent when she suggests he im-prove his script by shadowing a PI. Still, because he’s an artist dedicated to his craft and she knows where the bodies are buried, he agrees. Then he spends a little time with the gorgeous PI, and suddenly it seems like a really good plan. The PI doesn’t seem to entirely love the idea, but Noah has never been afraid to go after what he wants.
PI Drew Rodriguez is used to people depending on him. He’s the classic rock for his family. Re-sponsible. Dependable. The classic rock would never succumb to the borderline sleazy tempta-tion of friends with benefits, no matter how sexy that temptation is. Drew is looking for some-thing enduring.
Despite Drew’s misgivings, it’s not long before they’ve got all the requisites for friends with benefits going. Friendly, good conversation? Check. Fun times in and out of bed? Check. Hot, electrolyte-sapping sex? Double check. Falling in love? Yeah. About that…
Review: So Into You is the second book in SE Harmons series, The PI Guys. Since I’ve never read or heard the audio of the first book (and I couldn’t tell from my Audible App that this was book 2 of the series), I can say quite honestly that this can be read/listened to as a standalone book, or at least done out of order. Listening to the book and hearing about the couple that are the stars of book 1, I am intrigued and totally keen about getting the first book. I didn’t really know what to expect, as SE Harmon is an author that I’ve heard of but I’m not 100% sure if I’ve read anything by them.
That PI is Drew Rodriguez. He’s quite comfortable in his professional life. After being in the military he and his friend started a PI business, and despite being surly and snarky, he does love his job. He just holds people to a certain standard and many so easily disappoint him. On the personal front he’s not as lucky. His father, who has been in and out of jail for most of his life, swans back in and just like every other time his father gets out of jail, Drew tries to hold his family together. Because the painful truth is that every time the man leaves or goes to jail again, it is Drew keeping his mother and little brother going.
#As I said, these guys are complicated. They both have a lot of trust issues and their circumstances have affected them very differently. Drew craves love and romance and finding the one man for him, while Noah wants nothing to hold him down, he just wants friendship and fun sex. The book was narrated by Michael Stellman. Like with Harmon, the name rings a bell but I can’t, from the top of my head name a book I’ve listened to the audio for narrated by Stellman, so I went into this not know what to expect from either the author or the narrator. The narration was performed well, though. I felt that Stellman had the right tone to convey the complicated feelings and baggage of both MCs. I liked the softer tones which he used for Noah, while a slightly harsher tone was used for Drew. It fit the characters so well and helped me connect to the characters, particularly to Drew.
These characters have great chemistry. They are basically two sides of the same coin, so similar and yet so different. Their romance is a rocky one, even if both guys can be persistent. I very much got emotionally invested in both characters’ journeys. I enjoyed how this played out, this wasn’t an insta-love or a romance where the wary parties change their mind in a minute and go headlong into commitment.
I recommend this one for people that like a little bit of Hollywood, a little bit of celebrity, as well as a some fun and action with a PI/cop-type character. I really liked how both characters were jaded in their own way and added to the relatability of both guys.
Hi guys! We have Garrett Leigh popping in today with the tour for her new release Fated Hearts, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤️ ~Pixie~ p.s. keep an eye out for Prime’s review coming soon!
Fated Hearts
(Shadow Bound 01)
by
Garrett Leigh
“He’s not a wolf.”
Devastated by the death of his best friend, Zio is a soldier with one thing on his mind: revenge. Consumed by a conflict that’s raged as long as he’s been alive, he’s had little time or inclination to learn the legends of the shifter world he was raised in. And he certainly doesn’t have time to deal with a shifter of a different kind, even if it’s for the good of the war effort. For the good of his pack. The fact that he’s already crossed paths with the new face in his unit is almost irrelevant.
Almost.
Do no harm. Give life not death: it’s the oath Devan was reborn to live by, so when he’s sent abroad to embed with a wolf pack as their resident healer, he doesn’t hesitate. In the supernatural world, some bonds are instant–soldiers become brothers, pack become family. But others run deeper and before long, Devan’s at the mercy of instincts he can’t control. Zio’s inner wolf is desperate to be with Devan, while Devan struggles to keep the pack safe. But as the war escalates, and new love is tainted by anguish and pain, the battles within might prove the toughest of them all.
“I won’t let him die.”
Only 99c/99p today!
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