Category: Book Review

Werewolves of Chernobyl by K.A. Merikan & L.A. Witt *Dual Review*

K.A. Merikan & L.A. Witt - Werewolves of Chernobyl CoverTitle: Werewolves of Chernobyl

Author: K.A. Merikan and L.A. Witt

Genre: Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Ménage

Length: Novel (232pgs)

Publisher: Wing and Fang (May 5, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3 1/2 – 4 Hearts (combined)

Blurb: — Being kidnapped by two werewolves is an adventure after all, right? Right?! —

 

Quinn

If Quinn wants to get the best photos for his travel blog, no gate is too tall, and no ‘do not enter’ sign actually means he won’t go in. What he finds in a hidden exclusion zone by Chernobyl blows his mind. Mutants? Monsters? He doesn’t know, but he is bound to find out when not one but two of them break into his hotel.
Too bad the rules and attitudes they have toward sex don’t match Quinn’s at all.

Dima

Born with a disabled hand, smaller than the other werewolves, Dima is the lowest of the low in his pack, but when he meets the loveliest human he’s ever seen, he knows his luck has changed.
The last thing he expects though is his beloved friend Nazar turning on him once Dima’s affection for Quinn deepens, and he refuses to be mounted by Nazar anymore.

Nazar

Nazar is a high ranking soldier in his pack, but in his powerful body hides a gentle soul, and all he wants is to escape the pack with Dima. But once Dima claims Quinn as his, secrets Nazar has so far kept hidden rear their ugly head.
The werewolf language doesn’t have words to describe what they crave, so Quinn might be the only one to help them solve the puzzle of the desires that go against the rules of their pack.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: shifter, werewolf, menage, knotting, urban exploration, cultural differences, disability, hierarchy, USSR, isolated from the world, society of men, PTSD, military, secret organization

WARNING: This book contains steamy content, graphic violence, and elements that might be considered taboo..

ISBN: B01EZAWJ6S

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty & Lisa

Shorty’s Review: 💖💖💖💖💖4 1/2 Hearts

Quinn has wanted to visit Chernobyl and take pictures so he goes on a tour. The guides strongly caution them not to go into the darkened area on the map. Of course Quinn does not listen. There he discovers a beast roaming around but it seems friendly. He ends up having to be rescued due to injuring himself.

Dima is the werewolf he met. Dima tells his lover Nazar what he experienced and the two hatch a plan to snare themselves a human. I liked these three together. Nazar only turned human once. The rest he is in werewolf form, but Dima stole my heart. I felt for him and what he has been thrown being the bottom of the pack and disfigured. I like that Nazar took up for him when he noticed others picking on him.

It was an interesting mix of characters and details surrounding the pack that lives near Chernobyl.

Great read.

Lisa’s Review: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Nazar is one of the stronger wolves and Dima’s protector. He has a big heart and loves Dima quite a bit. He protects Dima, because to the pact Dima is not only the lowest of the pack but should have been culled at birth. They are at different ends of the spectrum when it comes to the pack.

Quinn is a travel blogger and pretty good at his job. He looks for the unexpected and usually gets in trouble for it. So here he was looking at the old land after the big bomb destroyed much of it, to what it looked like now. Here his guides were warning him and the others to stay away from the black zone, well Quinn is stubborn to say the least. He heads straight for it and comes across something he had never expected, Dima in werewolf form.

Kidnapped by two werewolves is not exactly what he had expected but his curiosity is going to get him into trouble. Dima is the one that falls first, but a threesome is going to be in his future.

Ok first off I am going to say that this was the longest feeling book I have ever came across. It had more detail to it but it didn’t turn out the way it was suppose to in my eyes. It felt a bit off and fell flat in many parts. I didn’t care for the characters at all, except for Dima. Quinn was an ass and didn’t really show me that he truly loved Dima. As for Nazar, he still called Dima his brother instead of his mate near the end. Plus he turns on Dima, who was suppose to be his best friend, just because he has feelings for another. It just felt off to me.

Overall I couldn’t get into the book like I should have. It was a bit on the dull side and didn’t really catch my attention at all. I felt disappointed in it and can’t say that I would read it any more than this one time.

Best Royal Mistake by Fel Fern

Fel Fern - Best Royal Mistake CoverTitle: Best Royal Mistake

Series: Royal Kats 03

Author: Fel Fern

Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense

Length: Short (76pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand (28th December 2017)

Heat Level: Scorching

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Blurb: Abe Golden is the Beta of the Golden Pelts, the most powerful lion pride in the country. Abe’s always been the dutiful lion prince, always putting his pride first, until he’s made the worst mistake of his life.

David is a male Omega panther, member of a pack that’s been the enemy of the Golden Pelts for years. One mistake led to another and now, David doesn’t want to stop seeing Abe. When David makes the decision to stop seeing each other, his heart is torn. When David discovers a cub is growing in his belly, he knows his pack will slay him for carrying the enemy’s child.

When David appears at the Golden Pelts’ pride compound, carrying his child, Abe knows its time he right his mistakes. His pride mates might see David as a spy, an enemy, but now that David’s in his grasp, Abe never intends to let his mate go.

ISBN: 978-1-64010-788-5

Product Link: Siren-BookStrand | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: This story about Abe and David seemed rushed. I was expecting some tension from the pride due to David’s animal, a panther. But only one person said anything and that was once. I felt this story could have benefited from some conflicts and been so much better than it was.

As it is this story is drama based about two separate species that are mates yet go through a rough patch. Afterwards they find each other and things are HEA.

O.k. read with the typical same mistakes as the second book regarding errors.

Deck The Halls by Max Walker

Max Walker - Deck The Halls CoverTitle: Deck The Halls

Series: Stonewall Investigations

Author: Max Walker

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Holiday

Length: Novel (266pgs)

Publisher: Max Walker (November 26, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Andrew Barker is ready for the holidays. His perpetually bright and cheery personality feel right at home for Christmas. He has time off from work and a husband who’s waiting for him at home, what else would he need?

Well, he had no idea he would be needing to sign divorce papers – let’s start there.

Declan Rose-Covington, part of a luxury hotel dynasty, is coming into Stonewall Investigations because he needs help with a family issue. With his mom’s huge holiday retreat around the corner, he’s hoping to solve it before Santa comes to town. The last thing he’s expecting is to enter the detective agency and fall for the strikingly handsome man sitting behind the front desk.

Of course, life has ways of delivering well-wrapped surprises.

When Declan and Andrew meet they both feel an instant connection. Soon, the connection grows powerful enough to push Declan toward a crazy proposition: invite Andrew to the family retreat as a fake boyfriend. Andrew would get a nice week-long vacation out of it and Declan would avoid the judgemental jabs from all the spoused-up family members.

The potential for disaster was there, but there was also a chance to truly make this the most wonderful time of the year. And that was something neither of them wanted to miss out on.

ISBN: B07KX5WYGH

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Andrew loved the holidays, Christmas was his favorite of them all. He went all out at home and at work. That is until he found out that his husband had someone else dancing on his pole. So a divorce we will go but when a sexy man looking to hire one of the detectives gives him the eye, well maybe Christmas wasn’t lost.

Declan knew someone was stealing from his mother. He was pretty sure it was his step-father, but he isn’t for sure. So it Christmas time and he was do at the home for the holidays. Lets just say he wasn’t looking forward to it. The one and only without someone else might just be a bit painful. So he asks Andrew, who I might add he has the hots for, to pretend to be his boyfriend. Well lets just see how long it last, the pretend part.

Many twists and turns to go in this amazing book. Now normally I would suggest reading these stories in order but this one can actually be read alone. For a Christmas story you have action, some very hot smooches, excitement and the hope of new love just waiting for you to read. I only found one issue with the story, but it is probably just me. I loved the characters quite a bit and lets just say Declan’s mom and grandmother are a hoot. They are what I would love to have for a family.

I wished this author put these books out faster because they are a blast to read. I get a kick out of the whole series. I absolutely loved reading it and can’t wait to read it again. I can guarantee that it will be read many times over.

Summerfield’s Angel by Kim Fielding

Title: Summerfield’s Angel

Series: The Christmas Angel 02

Author: Kim Fielding

Genre: Historical (1888), America’s, Holiday

Length: Novella (113pgs)

ISBN: B07K684L6C

Publisher: Kim Fielding (2nd December 2018)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After the hard winter of 1888 ended Alby Boyle’s work as a Nebraska ranch hand, he returned to New York City in search of his long-lost family. His mother and brothers are nowhere to be found, however, and after Alby’s years of absence, Five Corners no longer feels like home. His prospects seem as dim as the nighttime alleys.

When Alby pauses to admire an angel ornament in a department store window’s Christmas display, he meets Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Wealthy, handsome, and enthusiastic, Xeno brings Alby some temporary cheer. But for Alby to achieve his dreams of love and a real home, well, that may take a bit of holiday magic.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Alby returns to New York City after a freezing hard winter finished the Nebraskan ranch he worked at, he’s decided to try and track down the family he hasn’t seen since he was thirteen but the building they used to live in is long gone.

When Alby pauses to admire a Christmas Angel in a department stores window he meets Xeno who offers advice, and when Alby keeps bumping into the man outside the department store Xeno makes his interest clear.

This is a wonderful little story that transports you to the streets of New York City in 1888, the setting is brilliantly described and you can immerse yourself in what life was like back then.

Alby is a wonderful character who is comfortable in himself and his skills, he might just be a ranch hand but he still manages to find a job working with horses with the help of Mr. Caruthers the manager of the YMCA. But it doesn’t stop him from being drawn to the department store and Xeno.

Alby is the focus of this story and we learn about his life from childhood to adulthood, you find out some interesting little tidbits about America in 1888, we root for Alby as he tries to find his family and hope that his families fortunes had turned and they were all okay.

While we find out a bit about Xeno it’s in short bursts and while he might come across as a bit forward (hell you don’t just flirt and compliment a guy in 1888), we don’t actually get what he was thinking or what signs he’d seen that would indicate that Alby might be amenable, he comes across as a man who knows what he wants and will aim to get it.

Other than not getting Xeno’s side of the tale I enjoyed this story and admired both men, their relationship is sweet and Xeno’s father very accepting for that time. That they could build a life together and have acceptance from those closest to them was just wonderful and leaves you with warm fuzzy feelings.

I recommend this to those who love historical romances, who adore characters who are interesting and sweet, and who adore happy endings. 

Night Kiss by E.T. Malinowski

E.T. Malinowski - Night Kiss Cover sTitle: Night Kiss

Series: BL Entertainment 01

Author: E.T. Malinowski

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novel (440pgs)

Publisher: DSP Publications (January 8, 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: What could be frightening enough to freeze the blood of a centuries-old Vampire turned K-pop idol?

Being bound to someone.

University student Cheong Jin-woo dreams of working in the arts, especially for BL Entertainment and his favorite band, Bam Kiseu. After seeing the band perform, Jin-woo separates from his friends to explore. What he discovers backstage will change his life.

Does he embrace it or run?

Jung Ki-tae has kept his secret for centuries—until a young fan interrupts his feeding. Even more disturbing is the instant bond Ki-tae feels with Jin-woo—a complication he refuses to allow. Yet resisting becomes increasingly difficult as Jin-woo and a group of students win the chance to make a video for the band, working closely with them for weeks. The obsession Ki-tae felt toward Jin-woo—even before tasting his blood—deepens into genuine feelings, feelings that terrify Ki-tae. But when he finds a way to break the bond, he’s torn between severing the connection and protecting Jin-woo….

Especially with a mysterious killer getting closer.

ISBN-13: 978-1-64080-880-5

Product Link: DSPP | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: The band Bam Kiseu consists of band members that are vampires. Ki-Tae and his brothers are a tight family along with the father who saved then from their lives at early ages. When a group of university students win a contest they work together with the band for a period of time. Jin-Woo is part of this group.

A threat soon appears, threats are made against Ki-Tae and Jin-Woo. The family and students work together to protect the ones threatened and discover who the culprit is. This was a wonderful blend of several cultures. The most unique and interesting aspect about the story is it told from the band members and the students different POV’s.

I was intrigued to read about each characters thoughts and feelings as the story progressed. I truly enjoyed the story and learning about everyone and their abilities. The different couples was an added bonus but I do admit I was a little put off by the female in the group as I did not want to read m/f.

There is a glossary at the beginning of the book to help with certain words which was a great help as I read. Great story with a lot of depth and drama.

Great read

Runescribe by Megan Derr

Megan Derr - Runescribe CoverTitle: Runescribe

Author: Megan Derr

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Short (31pgs)

Publisher: Megan Derr (December 5, 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.75 Hearts

Blurb: Near-blind without his glasses, regarded as a burden to his family, Tyri left his clan to attempt a career as a runescribe in the city, taking his mute sister Vess with him so she doesn’t grow up tormented as he was.

But finding a job proves more difficult than he anticipated, and his last hope to avoid being thrown out on the streets depends on the interview he has that morning.

A morning that comes crashing down on him by way of a thunderstorm and the stranger who runs into him and destroys his glasses…

ISBN: B07L57G2Q6

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Tyri is on his way to a job interview which he desperately needs when a stranger runs into him knocking him to the ground and destroying his glasses. He can not see without them. Devastated and disoriented he allows the stranger to take him to his home. Rathte struck me as a man who could not sit or stand still for any length of time. He was always on the move even when he tasked others to do things he ended up doing them as well.

I found the story cute and entertaining as I watched these two get to know each other. I felt the story would have been better if it were longer so we could get to really know the other characters in the story as well.

Aside from that it was a good read.

The Familiar Asylum by Casper Graham

Casper Graham - The Familiar Asylum CoverTitle: The Familiar Asylum

Author: Casper Graham

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novella (98pgs)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc (December 6, 2018)

Heat level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Trent Snow is an orphan who discovers he’s a familiar, a potential mate for a magic user. He’s hunted by corrupt magic users for his abundant magical reserve. Unfortunately, a familiar’s magic is passive. He needs protection.

Conan Darkmore is an elemental witch with the ability to control the five elements of air, earth, water, fire, and spirit, but he doesn’t deserve a familiar mate. He’s a descendant of the Darkmore family, one of the most corrupt magical families. His hands are also tainted with the blood of all those corrupt magic users he had killed in the past. Instead, he opens his home to the familiars who are being hunted.

When Conan saves Trent from an attack, he’s instantly attracted to the familiar. He can’t believe his good fortune when Trent reciprocates his feelings. Then his home is attacked by groups of corrupt magic users.

Can Conan and Trent survive the battle while simultaneously saving each other’s souls?

ISBN: 978-1-64243-533-7

Product Link: Siren-BookStrand | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Trent has no clue about his past. His parents had abandoned him when he was just a small child. He had not known that they had did it for his protection nor did he have a clue about the magical part of his life. He is close to reaching his twenty-fifth birthday and things are going to happen. When dangerous men show up he thinks it is just a fluke and not real. Then he and another co-worker are sent out to look at some impressive old books, only to find the three there. When another man shows up to protect him well lets just say his mouth is wide open. He is about to enter another world, a world he never knew he was a part of.

Conan had almost lost his to his family. He was from a dark coven of witches and he didn’t want what they wanted. When he got away, with a bit of help from what he suspects is a goddess, he created a realm where he was safe and so were those of the familiars. Which is what Trent is, however he is even more unique than ever. He is a familiar of the five elements and needed a witch that could compliment him. He was that witch but he felt that he would never be given a bond mate due to his past. Boy is he in for a surprise.

This story has a dark tone to it that I usually don’t care for however it worked perfectly for this particular book. It is quite unique in the way it is told and the fact that the familiars are protected and are also hunted down. It caught my attention from the start and I just couldn’t stop reading it. It has quite a bit of action and danger mixed in with some pretty good times. The sex is pretty hot as well. The characters are sweet and bossy. It gave me almost everything I could want in a story and so much more.

I had a blast reading this and can not wait to get my hands on the next book by this author. I can honestly admit that this story will probably be read many times over. I would definitely recommend it.

Love With Sparkles Added by Lynn Stark

Title: Love with Sparkles Added

Series: White Horse Clan 10

Author: Lynn Stark

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, MPreg, Ménage

Length: Novella (157 Pages)

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc. (November 29, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Heart

Blurb: Coven leader Cain Windgate was aware he had a mate on the farm where members of his coven wanted to relocate. He didn’t know how a mate would fit into his orderly life. And if there was more than one? All he could envision was a future of chaos. When he arrived on the farm to discuss members of his coven desiring to move there, he finally learned their numbers and their identities. There were three of them. Three mates with distinctly different personalities. Not one of them was a vampire, someone who would know that vampires were governed by strict rules, none of which included adding sparkles to anything. There was Chance Harding, a werewolf that had once been human. Then there was Larson Brekken, a brown bear shifter who loved to stir up trouble. And, lastly, there was Pebin Xavier Muldoon, a fairy with a love for all things shiny. Nope, not a vampire among them.

ISBN: 978-1-64243-531-3

Product Link: Siren-BookStrand | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: A large mixture of attitudes and quirks. Cain is the leader of his vampires and has a big job of doing it. However he also knows his mates are not there. He has a feeling that they are at the ranch and isn’t really to into it. He just has no clue how to make it work. He is a city vampire and those at the ranch are well not. He just had not expected three of them, and there is not a vampire in the mix.

Chance was a human but is now a werewolf and has one hell of a grumpy attitude towards everyone. Larson is the big ass bear shifter who just loves to drive Chance crazy. Neither are really big on popping out babies, which is probably why they are not doing the dirty right off the bat. Then there is sexy little Pebin. Now Pebin is a fairy who wants to pop out those babies and decorate everything with glitter. Four separate personallities and damn is this going to be funny as hell.

I spent most of my time wanting to smack the alpha’s in the ass and laughing at Pebin. He was the best character of them all. The whole group if a blast to read about, and lets not forget Fred’s crazy ass five year olds and their stealing ways. The only danger of them all. It is a eays read with a nice pace going for it. The only problem with it was that it seems to be missing a certain spark to it. The connection between the four men just doesn’t seem to go smoothly which in some ways works out fine but in others makes it seem like they were pushed to it.

Overall I had a blast reading it and can’t wait to get my hands on the next story. I was real glad to see that none of these guys were given a female mate, but that is just me. I would definitely recommend it.

Dead Man Walking by Pandora Pine

Title: Dead Man Walking

Series: Cold Case Psychic 09

Author: Pandora Pine

Genre:  Contemporary, Paranormal, Ghosts, Psychics

Length: Novel (262pgs)

Publisher: Pandora Pine (December 4, 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4 1/2 Hearts

Blurb: Cold Case Detective, Ronan O’Mara is stunned to see the breaking news that a well-known mobster he helped to put behind bars, Vito “The Dragon” Dragonni, has been released from prison after his life sentence is overturned on a technicality. When prominent members involved in the original case against The Dragon start turning up dead, Ronan starts to wonder if he’s next.

Psychic, Tennyson Grimm starts having visions of dead men with The Dragon’s signature kill shot: two bullet holes to the forehead. The men in the visions are strangers, but when he learns from an undercover agent that Dragonni has compiled a hit list with Ronan and his ex-partner, Tony, at the top, he fears a day will come when he recognizes the murder victim in his vision.

Tony Abruzzi has been a broken man since the tragic death of his adopted son, Mark. Refusing the offer of protective custody until Dragonni and his hit squad are off the streets, he seems to be daring the mobster to come after him. Despite the fact that they’ve been estranged since the case that cost Tony’s son his life, Ronan decides to stick to his former partner’s side as his personal bodyguard, whether Tony wants his help or not.

Can Ronan and Tony find a way to work together to stop The Dragon before he can cross more names off his hit list or are both detectives dead men walking?

ISBN: B07JRDP428

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Two me on the outs find a common goal and come together to stop a crime figure they thought was finally behind them. I loved this story.

Intense emotions and scenes culminate in a suspenseful ride into a dangerous situation where Ronan protects his ex partner from the Dragon before the Dragon or his men can eliminate Tony like his son was.

I do not want to give away too much of the story in this review. I love that despite Tony and Ronan’s estrangement these two work together once again. The Dragon and his men are no joke when the bodies start piling up it gets scary quick.

Intense and fast paced this story will have you on the edge of your seat awaiting the outcome.

Great addition.

Shadowing the Light by Miranda Turner

Miranda Turner - Shadowing The Light Cover sTitle: Shadowing the Light

Series: The Bearer of Truth 01

Author: Miranda Turner

Genre: Fantasy, Gay Fiction

Length: Novel (273pgs)

Publisher: Miranda Turner (December 17, 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: “Everybody has their own agenda. Everybody.”

Hunted for the unique blood that runs through his veins, half-angel, half-demon Gabriel Sinclair lives without expectations. On the run from forces on both sides of an ancient conflict, he searches for strength and peace in a world which only seeks to use him.

When Gabriel is forced to stop running, assigned a team—and a mate—he doesn’t want, and reluctantly tasked with a mission, he must overcome obstacles both real and imagined. Otherwise, the world as he knows it, and the mate he’s reluctantly come to care for, may cease to exist.

“I will do as the Creator bids me. Always.”

Evander Ryan is special, and he knows it. The final handcrafted immortal warrior for the light, he is the Creator’s greatest masterpiece. For fifty-eight years, he’s lived his life in black and white, coddled by his Maker, while leading his team to countless victories against their enemies. Those fights were easy. Working with a new, uncooperative mate who sees the world in shades of gray? Less so.

As Evander’s eyes are opened to the existence of light warriors who are not good, dark warriors who are, and the wider world of supernatural beings, he learns nothing is as he thought it was, and his mate isn’t who he thought he was either. Maybe there’s something to be said for not always following the rules. . .

This book is LGBT Urban Fantasy with a romantic subplot. Not recommended for readers under 18. 

ISBN: B07L44YSGP

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Gabriel is the kind of guy that pulls no punches in anything he does. This is never truer when his uncles Michael and Barrados, ask him to team up with Evander and his group to track down Gabriel’s father. He is not happy with this at all and it shows. Imagine his surprise when Michael tells him he has to mate with Evander who does not want to mate with him either but will do his duty.

I loved everything about this story except for the parts that seemed a little long winded. The action, suspense and mystery were off the charts. I loved that not all the characters got along at first and it made for some tense moments within the group.

I really like the way the story progressed with the many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat making me wonder what was going to happen next. I am hoping we learn more about the rest of the crew as the series continues.

Fantastic read.