Blurb: Fabian Valentine knew that when his best friend, king of the paranormals, Raven Stone, sent him to Clearnight Haven that he would have a big mess to clean up to get this coven back on track, but he never would have guessed what was really going on. Fabian, along with his four brothers, arrive in Clearnight ready to take on the task but are at a complete loss when they start uncovering the true depth of evil that has gripped this town.
Atticus Lovering has always been quiet and shy. Being the smallest vampire in his coven and having an abusive mother had him feeling inadequate most of his life. But when Atty decides to take a chance on love, it turns out to be the biggest mistake of his life and he finds himself trapped in the clutches of human traffickers.
Now it is up to Fabian to track down Atticus and others who have fallen victim. But Fabian’s urgency to save Atticus soon takes on a whole new meaning when he discovers the cute little vampire is more important to him than he realized..
Review: Fabian and his brothers are determined to get the coven back to what it was before corruption blinded them. Atticus is a sweet, shy small vampire who is abused and lonely. Things are set in motion and Atticus is kidnapped by traffickers. Fabian jumps into action to track down the culprits and save those that have been taken.
I liked the story. It was intense at times and I felt bad for those taken against their will. Fabian was intent on his getting the victims back considering he discovers one is his mate.
Blurb: Can cats and dogs ever get along, let alone fall in love?
Sam knows you can never go home again. As an orphaned feline shifter raised by wolves, being an outcast is nothing new to him. But the pack is still his family, and when one of them passes away, Sam returns to the New Mexico desert to say good-bye.
Gus is a loner who rarely returns to his pack, but as fate would have it, Sam is there when he chooses to visit. The history between Gus and Sam is tumultuous, to say the least, but when Gus gets an eyeful of the grown-up and gorgeous version of his childhood bully, he can’t control his reaction. And he isn’t alone.
The attraction is powerful, but so are their differences. And with trouble brewing in the pack and danger surrounding them, Sam and Gus might not have the opportunity to seek common ground.
First Edition published by Torquere Press, 2011. Second Edition published by Dreamspinner Press 2017.
Review: When I first saw this book on the list, I thought the title very quirky and fun. However I wasn’t paying attention to what kind of book it was going to be. So when I started reading you can imagine my surprise at some of the words they called each other and the scratching. So I ran to the site to take a look at the blurb, and from there did the happy dance of the century.
This is a very unique shifter story that was very surprising to say the least. Where one of the families in the pack loves to take in strays but the pack is a bit full of asshats. Sam is a cat shifter who is one hell of a dancer and lives in the city because the pack is not really into shifters unlike them during the moon. He had to be locked into the basement during those times, but now he doesn’t have to be. He knows that he will never be safe coming home, but when his ma called about pop’s death he came home.
Gus is a wolf shifter and a bit of a loner. He loves to dig in dirt for some nice gems. He never really gave Sam the time of day other than to pick on him. But in his heart he knew that was because he wanted Sam and he knew it would never be allowed. Then he sees Sam for the first time in a very long time, and damn if the man isn’t hot. Danger seems to follow Sam everywhere and he has always felt that he would never belong. It looks to be like Gus might just be willing to help. If you want to know more then read the book, you won’t be disappointed.
Now I have to admit that I didn’t much care for the pack dynamics or the other cat shifter’s attitudes. It wasn’t as fun as the title made it seem to be though. Other than those minor problems, this book rocked. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
Publisher: Via Star Wing Books (27th September 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.
Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.
Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.
Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very, very HFN. Warning: This book is a M/M contemporary romance, a hardened man’s struggle to find real love. There are no police chases or doors being kicked in, in this one. But, don’t worry. Bishop is still intense enough to keep you on the edge.
Review: Recently released from prison Bishop has turned his life around with the help of his father Mike, Trent his best friend has been by his side from childhood and Bishop is determined that neither of them will fall back into the old ways. Working at his dad’s landscaping company gives Bishop options he’s never had before and meeting a man at one of the job sites changes his life further, making Bishop determined to tackle his illiteracy.
Edison has worked hard for his position in the company he works in and while he is lonely he isn’t about to change himself for others. Meeting Bishop has him longing for something he’s never had before, and Bishop’s past isn’t something that will turn Edison away from him.
This is an amazing story that kept me reading. This story isn’t like A.E. Via’s exciting action packed stories, it’s a slow burn love story with two amazing regular men. Each man has his issues and they handle them in different ways.
Bishop has confidence in himself in some aspects but in others he’s unsure and outright scared, Edison is confident in his work life but his social life is a total disaster and that includes his interaction with work colleagues. Each man alone struggles through their issues but together they find the confidence to tackle their problems.
God, when I started reading his book I had my doubts because just contemporary isn’t my thing, I like danger and action, angst and anger thrown in but this time around A.E. Via snatched my attention and made me enjoy it with her amazing writing skills and her wonderful characters.
A.E. Via hit straight to my heart with Bishop and Edison because although Bishop is built and hunky with a dash of danger Edison could be any man on the street with a bit of a paunch and his love of food. While Edison has had a great childhood and has a wonderful job that he loves Bishop has had a much different childhood with a very young dad who treated him like a brother and his education was on the streets.
I loved how A.E. didn’t have Edison on a diet, working out to lose weight, she had Edison loving himself and accepting that he wasn’t a stick thin model. Bishop is written as a man who admits his mistakes and is honest from the beginning with Edison but his fear of admitting his biggest secret was touching and so damn real.
The way that Bishop’s struggles were written was so touching, it wasn’t brushed over or made to seem like a simple solution was at hand, it also showed how Mike, Bishop’s dad, and his best friend Trent had his back and helped him in any way that they can. Mike and Trent are amazing and I can’t wait to see more of both of them in the future.
The relationship between Bishop and Edison is slow burn and amazing, these two together finding their way is wonderful, I loved watching as they fell in love and sorted out their relationship which does have a couple of hiccups along the way. The way that Edison sticks up for his love for Bishop is something to aspire to have, an unending belief in the love that you have where doubts can’t crawl in is just special.
If I could I’d give this book 10 hearts, it’s a fantastic love story that doesn’t skimp on character building or make Bishop and Edison super confident, it doesn’t make them perfect men or have them sorting problems with a quick fix. It has them facing twisted meddling with fears and doubts, it has them confronting back stabbers with quiet confidence, and while they’d love to take things into their own hands they know when to step back and let others do their jobs.
I recommend this to those who adore true love stories with wonderful characters, dealing with bitter men with quiet confidence, and working to overcome their problems without quick fixes. Those readers who are expecting danger and action will be disappointed but you just might fall in love with Bishop and Edison anyway.
Blurb: Feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and underappreciated with having to set up everything for the new training facility on the island all by himself, Heath has very little time to eat or even sleep, forget getting to know his new found mate.
Because of his size, Felix had always been underestimated and forced to prove himself. He had hopes that starting a new life on his friend Savage’s island would change all of that, but this time is no different. Having to deal with trainees who only see the size of his body and not the skill that lives within him as well as having to deal with finding his mate who is frustrated and angry, it forces Felix to call on all his training to find inner peace. But this time, trying to prove himself, Felix may have gone too far. It’s the only explanation as to why someone would try and kill him.
Will he be able to get out of this situation before he pays with his life? Can Felix count on his mate to help? Or will Heath be so consumed by what needs to be done and trying to make others happy that he doesn’t even notice when his mate’s life is in danger?
Review:Each book in the Savage Island collection features a new 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 Eternal Flame, Eternal Flame Maddox and Kaliss series. I would suggest starting with the first book in the Eternal Flame collection.
Heath has been running back and forth trying to get the island ready for training other paranormal’s. He is one of the oldest sharks out there and here he is missing the important parts like sleeping and eating. He is about to blow up at everyone. Here he was trying to get things done for the Savage and it keeps on coming. Now his mate has shown up and damn if the man is the best thing ever.
Felix is a very cute shifter whose size has been overlooked. People underestimate him and he is going to prove just how wrong they are. Now he has a mate that needs a little tender loving care. To top it off he has managed to piss off a very strong shifter by kicking his ass, and someone wants them all dead.
I laughed the whole time Heath was against Felix coming to the island and then got the shock of his life. The mating pull definitely hit these two, now if they could just get some sexy times. As always these two author’s have manage to give a story with so much in it that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I love how even though there is a serious tone to it, there is still quite a bit of humor mixed in. It caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.
I can guarantee that this is one of those stories that will be read many times over. I loved the characters and their stories. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. I would definitely recommend this book.
Blurb: Taro Ichikawa needs his weekly routines. Working from home as a programmer allows him to work around his constant struggle with anxiety and OCD—everything from exact meal times to his weekly dinner dates with his best friend Cris Sable. Openly demisexual, he’s comfortable knowing he’s different from most, and he’s content being single—until he breaks routine to attend Cris’s birthday party and makes an unexpected new friend.
Dell Greenwood moved in with his uncle eighteen months ago to turn his life around, and after a serious setback last fall, he’s finally healthy and heading in the right direction. His full-time job as a porn videographer keeps him busy, so he doesn’t have to think about the fact that while he seriously dated one man last year, he’s not attracted to…well, anyone. It’s easy to assume that his traumatic past is to blame for his lack of interest in dating, but when he meets and gets to know Taro Ichikawa, Dell wonders if there’s a different reason.
Befriending someone mired in strict routines isn’t easy, but Dell is stubborn when he wants something, and being patient with Taro is easy. From emails to tentative lunch dates, what begins as a simple friendship slowly deepens into something much stronger—and completely unexpected. But Dell knows that for him to be all-in with Taro, he not only needs to come to terms with his sexuality, but he also has to be honest with himself and his family about the absolute worst moment of his life..
Review: This was a well written story about two men, Taro and Dell who both have a lot issues but at the same time are lonely. When they meet they start a slow friendship which evolves into more.
They each help the other face the issues they have and I was so happy for them.
Things are not easy for Taro or Dell but with hard work they make it work for them. Some of dell’s past is so heartbreaking I wanted to hug him. Taro’s OCD at times controlled him but with Dell helping Taro managed it better.
I liked these two as a couple and enjoyed the way they handled the many issues to find a way through the problems into being a happy couple.
Blurb: Donnie Watson’s baking disasters are legendary, but this Easter, his mismatched chocolate eggs bring accidental but astonishing results to four downhearted gay men. The chocolate sweets spill onto the pavement of a small parade of local shops—and go on a matchmaking tour like no other! From a bankrupt and betrayed baker, to a homeless but hopeful man, to a conceited bar owner in need of a reality check, and finally to the hapless but caring Donnie himself. After all, Love means you can have chocolate too!
Review: The Accidental Baker is a super sweet Easter/Holiday novella by Claire London. This story was exactly what I’ve come to expect from London’s writing – a sweet romances, relatable characters and, in general, a fun read.
The story is really like an anthology of short stories, a bit of a mosaic created with eight different characters finding love on Easter through the action of one (albeit clumsy) person. I won’t go too far into things, because it would spoil the plot – I mean, at only 64 pages and eight characters getting their own little story, it’s easy to give out too much information. What I liked most about this story that each man was really down to earth, totally likable and therefore easy to relate to. The whole story kicks off with Donnie Watson, who can cook great food but is a bit of a klutz and totally sucks at the presentation of the food. He’s a lonely guy with a big heart and deserves all the love in the world. He’s made some Easter treats for the local community centre, but an accident with the trays on the street allows eight men, four couples and including himself, find an unexpected spark of love with newbie to the area, Will.
What I love most about these characters, other than being so down to earth, is they are all so different and individual. They run a whole spectrum from being a man who is homeless, to some interesting career choices like a veterinarian, to bakers and a bar owner. They all have different circumstances and issues, along with easily differentiated personalities from each other. So much so, that I had a chance to be the slightest bit annoyed at one character, Henry, but only for a bit because of when we first encounter him with Donnie. However, I felt that Henry’s own little story redeems him in a way that made me think “we all have our off days”.
This is great for anyone who is a sucker for the simple, cute romances that come out for holidays. It’s a quick read with a satisfying end.
Blurb: Tree surgeon Aidan Drummond is content with his own company. He works alone, and lives alone, and it doesn’t occur to him to want anything else until a life-changing accident lands him in hospital. Then a glimpse of the beautiful boy in the opposite bed changes everything.
Ludo Giordano is trapped on the ward with a bunch of old men. His mind plays tricks on him, keeping him awake. Then late one night, a new face brings a welcome distraction. Their unlike-ly friendship is addictive. And, like most things in Ludo’s life, temporary.
Back in the real world, Aidan’s monochrome existence is no longer enough. He craves the col-our Ludo brought him, and when a chance meeting brings them back together, before long, they’re inseparable again.
But bliss comes with complications. Aidan is on the road to recovery, but Ludo has been unwell his entire life, and that’s not going to change. Aidan can kiss him as much as he likes, but if he can’t help Ludo when he needs him most, they don’t stand a chance.
Review: Kiss Me Again is a standalone novel by Garret Leigh. Leigh is an author that I enjoyed immensely in the past but looking at the blurb the subject was quite different to what I was used to reading from them.
However, I am pleased that this book is a solid, heart-felt romance. I will warn that some people may find the subject of mental health issues a little confronting, especially in a romance. Yet in saying that, the only reason why I rated this 4/5 was because I felt that many aspect of mental health and bipolar disorder were just glanced over.
The book opens up with a rather grumpy Aidan Drummond. He’s a loner and for the most part he seems happy to be so, even if he appears to rub people the wrong way while doing so. An accident changes his entire life, landing him in hospital – fighting for his life and then with a long road of recovery ahead of him. It is when he starts to become more lucid in hospital that he meets his roommate properly, Ludo Giordano.
Ludo isn’t a stranger of hospitals. He suffers from bipolar disorder and has a very strict mental health plan as part of the NHS (so, yes, this is set in England). And while I enjoyed the details of his treatment when I said that some things felt that were glanced over – I was really referring to his behaviours caused by his disorder. Ludo hasn’t had an easy life either, and that has certainly contributed to his mental health issues. But when he meets Aidan, the boredom and tedium change and the two men start a friendship that is cut short by hospital moving and later discharging the men.
A couple months later they meet by chance. Ludo has missed Aidan since they last met and seeing him again, Ludo feared that his mind was playing tricks on them. But Aidan felt the loss of Ludo in his life just as acutely as Ludo had. Aidan has been struggled as well, the solitary life he had led before his accident is now something that he no longer enjoys.
Aidan isn’t scared off my Ludo’s challenges. He eventually realises that they both harbour loneliness and sees potential in them being perfect for each other.
If you’re looking for a sweet, gentle and down to earth romance, I think this would work for you.
Blurb: When he was eight years old, Scott Fogel died. Paramedics revived him, but he came back changed. Ghosts and spirits tormented Scott for over a decade until, thinking he was going mad, he did the only thing he could.
He ran – leaving behind his best friend, Tim Jennesee.
Scott’s had five normal, ghost-free years in Chicago, when the spirit of Tim’s mother comes to him and begs him to go home because Tim’s in trouble and needs him.
He isn’t prepared for what he finds when he goes home – a taller and sexier Tim, but a Tim who hasn’t forgiven Scott for abandoning him…a Tim whose body is no longer his own. The ghost of a serial murderer has attached itself to Tim, and it’s whispering dark and evil things. It wants Tim to kill, and it’s becoming harder for Tim to resist. To free the man who has always meant so much to him, Scott must unravel the mystery of the destiny he shares with Tim.
Review: The Spirit Key is the first book in Parker William’s paranormal series, Lock and Key. The audio narration is performed by Collin Darcy.
I don’t have a heck of a lot of experience when it comes to Parker Williams. I think I’ve only ever read one or two books by the author, books that from memory I know that I enjoyed them for reasons that escape me at this point in time. I also have much the same opinion of Collin Darcy as the narrator, I know that I’ve heard him narrate at least a couple of audio books before but nothing immediately comes to mind. So, I’ve effectively come into this book blind and with no expectations.
Overall, I found this a rather enjoyable story, although I admit that I found it a tad slow in parts. I really enjoyed the way Williams told the story, first starting in flashback before picking up and telling the story. I felt that the voice and tone of Collin Darcy really complimented the personalities of the characters. It certainly enhanced the story for me and particularly enjoyed the voice he gave one of the MCs, Scott.
I don’t want to go too much into the story, because I feel that the blurb tells the reader everything they need to know and I don’t want to spoil anything terribly. There is a lot of internal battles and self-discovery that dominate much of the book, as well as exploring the evolving relationship between the two MCs. You can’t say that there is no character development, because there is so much depth and complexity to these character. Unfortunately, I just felt that there were times where I was missing an emotional connection to either MC.
The story is mostly told from the POV of Scott Fogel. He starts the book by going through the events of his childhood, specifically from the moment where he had drowned in an accident before being revived, that led him to leave his family and friends behind and ran away to Chicago. It’s a really sad and heart breaking start to a story, he details his trauma while he is dealing with the talent that came about after he drowned, the ability to see and communicate with ghosts/spirits. But the death of his best friends mother brings her ghost telling him he needs to go home and help his friend. And so he does.
Scott arrives on the doorstep his best friend, who he happens to love, Tim Jennessee. Adding to the stress of having to confront the people he ran away from, after not seeing any ghosts while in Chicago, the dead are once again appearing to Scott. It’s a rocky start, but Tim’s heart isn’t totally hardened to Scott. It’s more that he spent five years worrying and grieving over his friend, unsure of what to think. Then Scott reappears.
It takes time for these guys to get on track and that’s when the next major part of the plot kicks in. Scott discovers that an evil spirit has latched onto Tim and his working on making him weaker until it can make Tim his instrument to kill. But there is a mystery that begins to unravel, relating to Scott’s talent and Tim’s mother. It’s an interesting turn.
I’m interested to see what happens next in this series and where it will take us.
Blurb: Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.
The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.
When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.
Review: Love You So Sweetly is the fourth book in Tara Lain’s Love You So series. There is no read to read the series in order as they are completely independent books, although the premise behind each book is that the romance includes one main character who comes from or has wealth/privilege in a high position in a company, and the one main character who doesn’t have any of those trappings, and is just a “normal” person.
I was excited about this book because I have been loving the Love You So books, and they are perhaps my favourite books that are written by Lain. I found the blurb perhaps a little misleading as I expected there to be a stronger thread of plot involving the MCs then current flames, but whatever. I don’t think it took away from my enjoyment of the book.
Love You So Sweetly is a sweet romance, there is no denying that. But for that reason I also loved the book. It follows Remy Merced, the youngest son who is trying to save the family’s massive national company from collapse in the future by revitalising the brand. He’s stressed and over worked and that is the reason why Remy’s meddling mother butts in and hires Remy a personal assistant, the son of a friend from her little hometown in Arkansas.
Harper Treadwell loves the world of business and excelled during his degree. However, he is from a small town and it is only through family connections that he is able to land a job. Not that Harper will complain. He wants to go out into the big wide world, which is partly why he had left town to move in with his boyfriend in California.
Remy has never really had a chance to question his sexuality, though he does date women and currently has a girlfriend. However, despite some early resistance, Remy sees that Harper is everything he could ever need. First he displays his knack of the business world, and later on as they get to know each other and their respective personal circumstances change, there’s a spark that is a lot more than employer and employee.
I love the simplicity of this book, it’s sweet and not overly complicated, which means that we get a lot of depth out of the characters and I really liked the depth of emotion that I felt as the romance progressed. It made it feel real, and fits perfectly with the overall feel of the previous books in this series. I’m definitely keen if there is more to come!
Blurb: Hades, Lord of the Underworld, has spent years searching the world for his Fated Mate. He’s watched his brother and nephews find their “light” and yet he can’t find his. On the verge of giving up hope, Hades attends his brother Poseidon’s wedding; so outside his comfort zone, but his discomfort proves worth it. Because there, at the reception, he finally sees his light.
It wasn’t that Ali was uncomfortable around wolves – he’d been a good friend of Claude’s for years. But when one of the wolves at Claude’s and Poseidon’s wedding gets verbally pushy, he feels he has no choice but to shift and find the alpha. What he doesn’t expect is to find a beautiful man with soulful eyes, holding out his hand.
After all Ali and Hades have been through in their lives, you’d think the Fates would be kind to them. But between Cerberus’s howling, Persephone’s snarking, and Ali’s family proving there is more to them than their blatant wealth, Ali and Hades have their hands full creating a life with each other. But maybe, just maybe, the Mother has a gift for them after all.
Review:Each book in The God Made Me Do It collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order.
Hades is the Lord of the Underword giving out the sentences for those with evil in their souls. However he might be a God he still is a man. A man that has been lonely for so long. When he became the Lord of the Underwood even his own family distanced themselves from him. The problem was he was just as good as they were. Fate has found a way to bring him the light he deserves.
Ali is a sweet shifter who definitely has an attitude. He stands up for those who have no one to stand up for them. Now at his best friends wedding he might get the surprise of his life. Even though he gets a sexy God as a mate, he gets some snarky asshats right along with it. Fair warning, Ali has no filter when it comes to his mouth. It is definitely going to be a fun time.
Sweet and sexy, the perfect length to keep me entertained for a few minutes. I got a kick out of Ali, but Hades came off just to much on the downside. He is a god with a heart but he came off as a prey shifter, which is what Ali is. Ali came off as a predator which is funny as hell. I got a kick out of the way he stands up to Hades ex. This story caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.
I got a kick out of this story and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Blurb: The firecats of Dua are giant beasts with red-gold fur and lashing tails. They are also loving and loyal companions to the few they choose to serve. Every member of the royal House of Durii has a personal guard and a firecat to serve as a reminder of the greatness of their rule. After all, only the truly extraordinary would walk alongside a firecat. Only the truly extraordinary could.
Not River, obviously. River took the job of cleaning up after the noble beasts when he came to Dua years ago. He’s not any kind of soldier or guard, and he’s too mouthy to belong around royalty. All he wants to do is avoid some of the more resentful guard trainees, care for the very spoiled cats, and try not to get his heart broken by one maddeningly gentle apprentice wizard.
Apprentice Gavin is powerful, brilliant, and probably noble. He’s destined for greatness—and more than likely a guard and a firecat to protect him. He’s not meant for one insignificant little beastminder like River.
But firecats are not the only creatures who are fierce, loyal, and beautiful to behold. River is about to learn that the firecats and the guards who walk with them have more in common than he thought. And he will have to accept that he might be extraordinary as Gavin thinks he is.
Review: Gavin and River become friends with benefits. One is prickly in nature and the other just wants to be left to his duties. I liked the characters and the way they were with each other.
The story is short and as such the beginning is a bit messy and a lot is introduced in a short amount of time.
That’s not to say I did not enjoy the story, I did. But I would have liked it better if it was longer and everything was played out better. Aside from that it was a good story with great characters and an interesting plot.
Blurb: As the epic trilogy hurtles toward its conclusion, the fight for the future isn’t over yet. It could lead to a new beginning, or it might spell the end for the last vestiges of humankind.
The generation ship Forever has left Earth behind, but a piece of the old civilization lives on in the Inthworld—a virtual realm that retains memories of Earth’s technological wonders and vices. A being named Lilith leads the uprising, and if she succeeds in setting its inhabitants free, they could destroy Forever.
But during the generation ship’s decades-long voyage, humanity has evolved. Liminals with the ability to connect with the world mind and the Inthworld provide a glimmer of hope. They’ll have to face not only Lilith’s minions, but also the mistrust of their own kind and persecution from a new government as homotypicals continue to fear what they can’t understand.
The invasion must be stopped, the Inthworld must be healed, and the people of Forever must let go of their past and embrace what they’re meant to become.
Review:The Shoreless Sea starts in 2207AD 19yrs after the end of The Rising Tide. The Shoreless Sea is spilt in three parts with the last part set in the year 2229AD. The first two parts are concentrated on the threat from the Inthworld while the third part is centered on the threat from the Government.
The Shoreless Sea is not a book that can be read as a standalone it must be read in order, the previous two books, The Stark Divide and The Rising Tide has the world building and some events that lead to this book, it will also help to understand the circumstances of characters when they later appear in the book.
Andy is again a central figure throughout the book, with her children Kiyrn & Belynn leading the charge in both part 1 & 2. There are an assortment of characters that we are introduced to throughout the story who add their own unique experiences to the storyline.
I’d love to go into great detail about this wonderful story but I think my head would explode so I’ll give you the basics, the Inthworld is dying and Lilith is determined to survive, she leads an uprising and it’s up to the Liminals to stop her (it is so much more intricate than that but like I said head explodes). Then there’s Government trouble where a bitter person decides that the Liminals are the reason for all their woes.
The story is wonderfully written dragging you into a situation far in the future, filled with characters who are diverse and unique. The world building is yet again exceptional; descriptions are written in such a way that you can imagine being there experiencing events along with the characters.
The one thing that stuck in my mind more than everything else is humanity just can’t seem to break its cycle. I mean here’s what is left of humanity in an ever growing world with a complete fresh start and in less than a hundred years there’s orphan kids living on the streets, drunks passing out in front of pubs and politicians trying to crush those that they hate. I would hope that humanity would learn its lesson but I have a fear that J. Scott Coatsworth is just a bit prophetical.
I’d recommend this to those who adore science fiction, love epic storylines, amazing characters, intricate plots and brilliant endings.
For 1500 years, Lancelot has fought for good, now facing an evil plot hatched by Morgana hundreds of years earlier, he can’t defeat her alone. He must find the other half of his soul, but there is just one problem, he doesn’t know where to look.
Whomever it is, he’s sure they live in New York City.
The clock ticks.
Time is not on his side.
Mel has struggled since his father died when he was only a child. He’s had to do anything to get by and it hasn’t been easy. When a strange Englishman reaches out to him, with a story beyond belief, he has a decision to make. Follow his heart and trust him or run?
Can Mel and Lance defeat the greatest enemy the world has ever known? Or in the midst of fighting evil, will they discover the real threat has always been a shattered heart?
And what if the one fight they cannot ever hope to win is with themselves?
You’ll love this new look at the Arthurian legends, because of the twists and the romance you didn’t expect.
Review: Past and present collide in this astonishing new series as Mel learns this more out there than he knew. Lancelot saves the young man when he’s attacked by a vile evil monster. This sets in motion the two learning about each other and each facing difficult decisions while at the same time fighting their attraction.
I loved the plot and the way it slowly revealed different snippets of what was in the past while explaining what happened and why. Lance and his fellow knights Kay, Lucan, Ali, and Gawain have lived a long life battling an evil that overtook Camelot a thousand years ago and still battles them in the present. Merlin is a key player who made the knights immortal with an exception that they find the other half of their soul. If this person dies then so to will the knight.
There is so much that happens to make this an epic story with fabulous twists and turns that enable a slow understanding of what is going on and who exactly are the good and guys. There is a great cast of characters that bring the story to life and dangerous situations that have you on the edge on your seat as you are immersed in a story where the good struggle against insurmountable odds.
Officer Lyn Philips was too young for me, too inexperienced, and too naive for the things I wanted to do to him. Staying away from him was imperative, but it might take more control than I possessed. When Lyn is threatened, all bets are off.
Lyn
The man I wanted to create a life with didn’t want that life, or me. After waiting an eternity for Sgt. Victor Clarke to make up his mind whether he wanted me or not, I decided to create the life I wanted, even if the man I was in love with wasn’t going to be in it.
When the carefully constructed life I had created was threatened, I had no choice but to call in the SWAT team, even if it meant letting Clarke back into my world. I just hoped I could let him go when the time came, because I knew it would. Clarke had made it more than clear that he didn’t want me and nothing would change that, not even a threat on my life.
Review:This story is branched off of the original Hot Mess so I would start reading those books first.
It is about time is all I have got to say about these two. Each time they look at each other it was like fire burning you to a crisp. Lyn has wanted and loved Clarke for over ten years but the man never made a move. In fact he said the opposite but now Lyn was done. He wanted to start over. To bad starting over has sent danger his way.
Clarke loved Lyn just as much as Lyn loved him, but his fear out weighed the rest. To him Lyn was close to perfect. Where as Clarke was hard as nails. He didn’t want to ever hurt the man but his way wasn’t working. Then when Lyn gets himself into danger, well lets say that his brains have caught up with his heart.
I think that this story and the series that it is connected to are probably my favorites from this author. It is well told and the characters are just about as sexy as one gets. Danger filled, sexy times, quirky attitudes and you get to see Lany in parts of it are just a few things in this story. It caught my attention from the start and kept it all the way to the end.
I can guarantee that this story will be read many times over. I just love the guys and the troubles they get into. I would definitely recommend this story and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next story.
Blurb: Firefighter Eric is on the front line, battling the threat of nature’s destruction in the California grass-lands alongside his CalFire team. Focused and calm, even in the direst of situations, he has a strong affection for his fire truck, loves his career, and has best friends he can rely on. All he needs now is love, but that seems to be impossible to find. At his friend’s wedding. Eric falls in lust at first sight with the shy, slim and sexy Brady, even if Brady isn’t the type of guy he usually goes for. What Eric longs for is an equal in his bed, not a smaller guy who might want Eric to role-play big strong fire-fighter every time they have sex. He wants to find someone he can be vulnerable with, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways.
Brady’s life plans grind to a halt when his niece and nephew lose their parents in a tragic accident, and he becomes a dad overnight. His Developmental Coordination Disorder rules his life, but he fights both DCD and the fears that chase him every day, to give Maddie and Lucas a home. Agree-ing to go to a friend’s wedding is a decision he regrets long before he even gets there. But, he re-fuses to give in to his fear, even if he might do something that makes him a target for people’s comments and laughter. Meeting Eric, a huge man with a gentle voice and a flair for chivalry, he falls hard. Now, if only he can let himself get past his panic that Eric would never want someone like him, then maybe he could fall in love for real.
Review: Today is the second book in RJ Scott’s Single Dads series. I strongly recommend to read this story in order as there are a number of things about both MCs that we find out as we get to know them in their role as secondary characters in the first book. This particular series follows three smoking hot first responders in their quest for love who also happen to be best friends and have part shares in a house in San Diego.
RJ Scott is an author that I’ve only recently acquainted myself with and now will be more likely to give her books a go, now that I’ve found a connection to her writing style and characters.
Eric is a firefighter, he’s committed and passionate about his job and saving others. His best friends are Leo and Sean, who he part owns a house with. Sean has recently become engaged to their neighbour, a single dad with a baby that has her daddies and her Uncles Leo and Eric wrapped around her finger. It is at Sean’s wedding to Ash that he meets Ash’s friend, Brady.
Brady became an instant dad to his niece and nephew, Maddie and Lucas, when their parents were killed. Life as a gay single dad is tough when dealing with two kids who have lost their parents and are old enough to understand but can only cope as well as any child could. Add onto this that Brady has lost his sister and is heading towards becoming agoraphobic. He has isolated himself from the world because of his medical condition, DCD, a disorder that has affects his motor skills and makes him feel embarrassed, which has led onto a slew of other conditions such as anxiety. To an extent, Maddie and Lucas are quite good in tolerating Brady’s quirks, but Brady wants to be better. He wants to be a better dad, especially since he’s only a couple years away from navigating the teenage years and the kids are already moody (understandably).
Eric and Brady don’t exactly click straight away. Eric has a bit of a fight on his hands to show Brady the man he sees is worthy of love. Eric also happens to love kids, his annoyance when he first is sent to Brady rather than wrangling Sean and Ash’s daughter at their wedding tells the reader as much. And so he begins to bring something to Brady’s family that makes him impossible to ignore. The romance comes slow – both men have to deal with so much “stuff”, which is what makes this book feel real and relatable.
This is perfect for anyone that loves men and babies/children, single parents finding love and of course if you love a sexy doctor! I feel it ticks all the character traits that are irresistible for many romance readers. I really enjoyed reading the first book, Single, and so was looking forward to reading this one, likewise I am also looking forward to reading book three with Leo’s story.
Awesome and sweet romance, I look forward to Leo’s story which is coming up in book three!
Blurb: Detective Austin Michaels didn’t think life could get any better after he was accepted into the most notorious narcotics task force on the East Coast, headed up by two of the baddest Lieu-tenants with the Atlanta Police Department – Cashel Godfrey and Leonidis Day.
Michaels knew he would fit right in as the team’s sniper, having received his fair share of com-mendations for marksmanship. He was just as badass as the rest of the twenty brothers that made up their team. But when Michaels lets their prime suspect get away from a huge bust with over a quarter of a million dollars in drugs, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.
Left with no other options, God chooses to bring in outside help, calling on his long-time friend and bounty hunter, Judge Josephson.
Judge was considered one of the best trackers during his enlistment in the United States Ma-rine Corps. After retiring, he used those skills to become one of the most sought out fugitive trackers in the country. When Judge gets a call from his old friend needing his help, he quickly tells God, yes.
Review: Don’t Judge is the fourth book in A.E. Via’s Nothing Special series. It is important to read these books in order, there is a whole cast of strong secondary characters who have already had their romance story told and so it would be rather confusing to jump straight in at book 4.
I really only know A.E. Via’s work from this series, which I have loved. To be perfectly honest I am actually kind of surprised at how much I got into this series. However, there is so much going on, so much depth to each character and so much plot and character development. This is an action filled series with off the charts steamy sex scenes that can satisfy all the reader’s needs.
And being that this is the audio, we once again have Aiden Snow, who has done the narration on the previous books, working his magic at bringing the characters to life. He has the perfect tone and timbre that suits the rough and tough world of a police narcotics squad, as well as an equally rough bounty hunter. Absolutely love his narration and cannot think of any criticism.
Onto the story itself:
The main characters of this instalment of Nothing Special series is Detective Austin Michaels and bounty hunter Judge Josephson.
Austin got the job of a lifetime, in the equally revered and feared Atlanta PD narcotics squad run by Lieutenants Leonides Day and Cashel Godfrey (who also happen to be life partners, their story kicks off the series in book 1). Another plus is that because there are a number of gay men, a number of whom have lovers within the team, Austin is proud to serve in the most accepting and diverse group in Atlanta PD. Even if they do get stares and whispers from others who are less tolerant. However, you cannot argue with results.
Austin is a sniper and like his team mates, is dedicated to making busts and bringing down some of the most dangerous drug lords in the city. However, when a bust goes wrong, Austin is not only injured but he also balmes himself for letting a very important man get away from them. God and Day, although against Day’s better judgement, bring in God’s old buddy from the military, who is now a kickass bounty hunter, Judge Josephson (as well as his awesome dog, a Great Dane). Judge is hired to help bring in the man that they lost, and it is Austin who is paired up to go with Judge.
Judge and Austin don’t exactly hit it off straight away, in fact, they do not get along. Joseph is surly about the job as he realises that he doesn’t have too much time left in the bounty hunter game, as both he and his dog are getting too old to keep up. Austin is high strung because he blames himself for losing their man and therefore is the reason that Day and Knight brought in Judge. These guys are complicated, there is great sexual tension between them from the start. Yet, they have complicated personal lives that pop up during the course of the book and the job of chasing one man down does get a tad complicated – but not impossible with the help of the people of the Atlanta PD Narcotics team.
This was a great addition to the series. It’s full of danger and tension (both the sexual and dangerous kinds). If you love a gritty cop story, with great sexual chemistry, high danger and high adrenalin that will keep you going from beginning to end of the book, I recommend to give this whole series a try and not just this book.
Blurb: Like a well-aged whiskey, master distiller and old-money entrepreneur Malone Kensington is elegant and refined. Unfortunately he’s also a perfectionist who is more dedicated to the suc-cess of his generations-old company than his own love life.
That company needs a public spokesman.
What Colton Hale lacks in sophistication, he more than makes up for with the charisma that’s al-lowed him to survive on the street from a young age and charm his way into the lucrative – if overwhelming – public position at the Kensington Distillery. When Mal takes Colt under his wing, hoping to polish off his rough edges, opposites attract and a passionate romance blossoms de-spite the differences in age and background. But can it survive a Kensington Board of Directors who believe Colt is nothing but a gold digger and a kidnapper determined to profit from the love of Mal’s life – dead or alive?
Review: Whiskey and Moonshine is standalone romance set in Tennessee, obviously amongst whiskey and moonshine stills by Elizabeth Noble. This was published as part of Dreamspun Desires, which is always a plus for me. The fact that John Solo is the narrator is another plus for me.
I really haven’t heard too many books narrated by John Solo lately. However, it is always awesome to hear the man perform. He is one of those narrators that has a voice that suits so many different genres of romances and different types of characters. I love how Solo manages to convey the emotions of both Mal and Colt, the two MCs. I always enjoy his performances and this is no different. It enhanced my experience and my enjoyment of the book. Overall, an excellent narration that I cannot fault.
This is a completely charming and sweet romance. The story focuses on the Kensington Distillery which produces whiskey and moonshine, and the very sexy man who is dedicated to his family’s company and making it more accessible for the younger generations that is the focus of this story. To do this it is decided that they need to employ a young, passionate person to be the PR face of the company.
The story opens with Colton Hale, he’s twenty-four and has been living on the streets of Toledo since he was fifteen. The most recent run in with violent thugs has Colton ready to make a new start, so he gets the first bus that will get him out and his new adventure starts. The bus ride brings him to the Kensington family’s whiskey distillery. They’re a rich and hugely successful distillery in Tennessee. Colt manages to get himself a job and just six weeks later shows his ingenuity and passion for his work that leads him to another job for the company.
Mal, the head of the Kensington family company which had been previously run by his mother, sees a lot of potential in Colton. There’s the potential Colton has to help sell the whiskey brand on social media and help the company branch out, but he has to hold back his attraction for the man, even though he knows Colt’s shady past. The two men work well together and Mal decides to use the age gap between them as the excuse he needs to mentally force himself from pining for his social media face of the company.
I’ve read this story before and while I remember liking it, I forgot about the awesomeness that was multiple references to the Joss Whedon TV showed Firefly. Because I’m a nerd and a browncoat and the fact that it features so prominently in a book I enjoyed was shiny. I’m a total sucker for Firefly. Because of that I see the name Mal and I think Captain Malcolm Reynolds – though I can never say I was disappointed to realise that this Mal is short for Malone. But it is sweet and smart Colt, who hasn’t had the best 9 or so years of his life getting into Firefly into the book that got to me. I really enjoyed the imagery conjured when Colt mentions the last line in the theme song, relating it to the backdrop of the rambling Kensington distillery/estate. But the best part, when everything seems to be falling apart Colt uses a Firefly reference to get Mal to help him.
This was a really enjoyable story. The characters were relatable and felt accessible to the reader, or at least to me. Again, the Firefly fan in me was totally appeased. While this isn’t actually set in a boardroom this is still at heart a story about a powerful CEO finding love in an unexpected place. So, I suppose if you like any romance set around vineyards and in boardrooms then this is one to enjoy. There is also an interesting celebrity element, where Colt navigates the world of social media and gains fame as the face of the Kensington brand. Others may also enjoy Colt’s storyline which is very much a rags to riches tale.
Blurb: Ash wants a family, and is determined to continue with a surrogacy he’d begun with his ex. Bringing baby Mia home, he vows that he will be the best father he can be. Nothing in this world matters more to him than caring for his daughter, not even accidentally falling in lust with the doctor next door. Challenged by his growing attraction to Sean, and confronted by painful mem-ories of his family, Ash has to learn that love is all that matters.
When ER doctor Sean moves in with his friends next door to sexy single father Ash, he falls so quickly it takes his breath away. The sex they have is hot, but Ash is adamant his heart is too full with love for his daughter to let anyone else in. Why is Sean the only one who sees how scared Ash is, and how can he prove to his new lover that he desperately wants the three of them to become a family?
Review: Single is the first book in RJ Scott’s Single Dads series, which its pretty easy by the end of this book to see that this is following smoking hot first responders in their quest for love.
I’ve only recently got back into reading RJ Scott, and most of that has been her hockey romances. Before that I read some of her Ellery Mount series. Regardless, I knew that this is an author whose writing style I enjoy, I find the plots engaging and the characters totally relatable and irresistible.
This is perfect for anyone that loves men and babies/children, single parents finding love and of course if you love a sexy doctor! I feel it ticks all the character traits that are irresistible for many romance readers.
The story follows Ash and Sean.
Ash is the single dad of the story. He’s wanted children for so long and had started investigating surrogacy with his ex. When his ex (a marine biologist that gives the rest of us a bad name, lol) leaves just as the surrogate got pregnant, Ash knew he was on his own. Life as a solo is parent is hard, obviously, no one would ever say that it is a walk in the park, and this was what really had me drawn into the book. It was not a rosy picture. Ash had so much support from his twin sister, who has two children of her own, but he now he had to get back into his own home and start a routine for his little princess, Mia. He’s stressed and so when one night he has his new, albeit drunken, neighbour banging on his front door one night when he finally got Mia to sleep, Ash is pissed off.
That drunken neighbour was one of the three very single men who moved next door, who Ash hasn’t met at all yet. After a bad call, that particular neighbour went out on a bender to drown his sorrows. His friends wrangle him after it was clear that the he stumbled to Ash’s place because the homes look so alike. This is how he meets the other two neighbours, but it’s Sean in particular that just makes Ash feel more discombobulated.
Sean is an ER doctor, not the most glamorous of first responders, but he is a doctor, and in romances where all us fickle people swoon over certain types, a doctor is certainly up there. Sean is instantly attracted to Ash, but is going to have a difficult time to make it through the man’s defences. First because of the awkward introduction to each other, and then later because Ash is completely stressed out trying to be the best dad in the world.
And while love isn’t instantaneous, these guys slowly get to know each other, which Mia in the mix. That is what I liked the most, this wasn’t an instant happy family. They had a simmering chemistry that complimented the overall tone of the book and the characters that I really liked. It is sweet and gentle, but there is depth to the characters and some depth to their emotions (although not as much as I would want of the latter).
This was a wonderful story and the ending hints to us about book 2, which I’m totally excited for.
Blurb: At the tender age of eighteen, Prince Niko Kyrkosdraconis finds himself at a dragon fair, trying his best to maintain his strict schedule of rituals that have followed him since birth, when Fate steps in. The appearance of two strangers alters the course of his life, and Niko sets upon an unforeseen path. Centuries later, Niko is doing whatever he can to pick up the pieces of his shattered world. Unsteady and uncertain, he struggles to place faith in both himself and those around him. Much to his surprise, he finds himself with a new best friend who he grows to trust like no one else before.
Royal Duke Costas Draconis is happy to be back with the men he calls family after ten years of caring for his irascible parents. Having a knack for money, he is once again entrusted with making the dragons prosperous. Costas is surrounded by loved ones and thriving on the outside, but deep inside he yearns for his mate. Then Niko comes into his life. Costas loves the time they spend together, especially their nightly talks on the roof deck, but he must constantly remind himself that the man is not for him.
Niko and Costas go to great lengths to hide their feelings for one another and everyone else, fearful that the future holds nothing but heartache. But things are never what they seem, and Fate will always have the last word, even when you doubt her. As the obstacles before them are slowly peeled back, will Costas and Niko find a way to call each other mate? The road ahead is precarious, and in the end, Fate will have her say, and only then can Niko and Costas prove that the strongest hearts will prevail.
Review: This was wonderfully written story about Niko who was once a prince but when he finds his mates in Chrys and Damien’s parents his own father sends him to them cutting him off from the rest of his family. I was absolutely pissed at the way Niko’s mates abused him. There are no words to express my deep admiration of Niko for making it out sane and alive.
This story focuses a lot on Niko’s OCD. I myself suffer from it as well just not the extent Niko does. I understood his need for stability in those daily rituals. Costas was a gem, he understood Niko and as such was there for him every step of the way. I was so thrilled when Niko finally got his wish.
A lot happens throughout this story. Niko finds new friends and family that protect him against those that would harm him. There are ups and downs but in the end with love, patience and an abundance of support Niko finds out who he can really be in the right environment with those who care for him around.
Another great addition to the series. Fantastic read.
Blurb: Sonny is an omega witch with a huge crush on the alpha bear shifter next door. Unfortunately, every time they meet, Sonny’s normal sassy personality disappears and he becomes a shy, babbling idiot.
Leo is captivated by the adorable kitchen witch that lives in his apartment building, but what could Leo possibly offer him? Thanks to his ex, Leo knows he’s not exactly the greatest catch. The problem is, Leo’s bear knows Sonny is his mate.
Fed up with their awkward mating dance, Sonny and Leo’s friends decide All Hallows’ Eve is the perfect time to cause a little mischief to bring the two together.
Review: Sonny is a sweet omega witch who has a major crush on the next door neighbor. But it would seem Leo likes him just as much. Leo is a bear shifter who has found his mate. However they have been basically avoiding each other for some reason, yet it only takes a few friends meddling in to have them humping like bunnies.
It is a cute little story that I had not realized was that short. It was pretty entertaining and I actually thought it was a blast. The characters were a blast to read about and I liked their friends even more.
I can honestly say that this is one of those cute stories that will be read many times over.
Title: Hanging on By a Thread
