Hephaestus by Cree Storm

cs-tl-hephaestus3150115_0252Title: Hephaestus
Series: Twelve Labors, #6
Author: Cree Storm
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (152 pages)
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc (January 28th 2015)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: Hera and Aries have taken over Olympus. The other Gods have one chance to free Zeus and take his rightful place.

However, in order to do so the other Gods must be willing to sacrifice their freedom for his. They have only a short time to accomplish this and the stones will lead the way. Twelve keys will release Zeus from Icarus and those keys are each a mate to the chosen ones. Each obstacle is a labor Hercules is all too familiar with. Can they succeed before their time runs out or are they all doomed?

Finding out his mate is a griffin and blind as well does not stop Hephaestus from pursuing the man. When his mate Timmy discovers that Hera was behind the attack that killed his family and there are more survivors, Hephaestus must go and help save the others and keep Timmy alive while doing it.

ISBN: 978-1-63258-871-5

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/hephaestus

Reviewer: Leigh

Review: This book is part of a series and should be read in order.

Timmy and his brother Wyatt have been in hiding for fifteen years since their flock was murdered. As their mother was a seer, she knew what was coming and hides them to project them during the attack. As Timmy is blind, his other senses have been enhanced.

One day during breakfast, Timmy hears two men talking about looking for a griffin. Timmy should have wanted to run, but something about one of the voices makes him hesitate.

Hephaestus was thrown out of Olympus by his mother Hera when he was born because she thought he was ugly and unperfect. Because he was so young, he did not heal correctly from the damage of when he landed in the water. He was rescued by the sea-nymph Thetis and raised with love. However even though the only thing wrong with him is a limp, he sees himself as his mother did and has low self-esteem.

When the two men meet, the pull of being mates is strong. They each have found the perfect match they need. Heph has someone who looks do not matter to, and Timmy has someone who sees him as an amazing and wonderful gift. This two were really sweet and I loved them. They each have issues but work them out together in between trying to figure out what Hera and Aries are up to now.

I really liked this addition to the series. Heph and Timmy are really pretty damn hot together. Also, they fit very well with each other. Both have had a lot of heartache and rejection in their lives that they understand each other. As the secrets of what Hera and Aries have done, they and their friends found ways to be strong and protect one another as they work to defeat the plans in motion.

I have to say I love the mates that the gods have been given. It makes no difference to them that they have mated to gods. They still find ways of getting their way. Which leads to some really funny moments. The only issue I really had was that there were some editing errors, like names in the wrong place that kind of distracted me from the story. But other than those, I really did enjoy the book.

Each book the intrigue and betrayal Hera and Aries have gone through to get what they want gets deeper and deeper. These two so need to get their asses kicked for all the deaths and pain they have caused. I can’t wait until that happens. So I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Ryker's Aquamate by Cree Storm

cs-rykersaquamate3141215_0203Title: Ryker’s Aquamate
Series: MYSTIC, Book #1
Author: Cree Storm
Genre: Sci-Fi / Paranormal
Length: Novella (148 pages)
Publisher: Siren Publishing Inc, (December 25th 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: A meteor attack has changed the world, as we know it. Most of the people who survived now have special powers. However, as with all people, some are good and some are evil. There is a group of men that were brought together by the World Council called MYSTIC, a group of men with multiple powers. They are only brought in to deal with Nefariouses. These are men with powers used for their own evil, twisted purpose.

Ryker Spalding is a MYSTIC agent. He is six feet three inches and can control metal, speak any language, and decode any message while levitating in the air. Quinn Sanders can breathe underwater while he talks to underwater mammals. He leads a quiet life until the day a sadistic serial killer set his sights on him. Now he can only hope that his newfound mate, Ryker, can keep him safe without one or both of them getting killed.

ISBN: 978-1-63258-742-8

Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/mystic-1-rykers-aquamate

Reviewer: Leigh

Review: Quinn has a normal life, besides being his friends are mostly water inhabitants and he can breathe underwater. After a night at a club, his life takes a big change. The man he was dancing with gets a little too pushy so Quinn decides to leave and go home. Unbeknownst to Quinn, the man he was dancing with is a psycho who follows him home and kidnaps him. He is finally rescued by MYSTIC, and one of the members of the team, Ryker, turns out to be his mate.

From the moment Ryker sees a picture of Quinn he is drawn to him. When they finally meet, both Ryker and Quinn cannot deny they want each other. The sex between the two is damn hot. The bond they have is instant, but not without their difficulties. There is still the psycho to deal with, who will do anything to get Quinn back.

My issue with the book was that there quite a few editing errors. Things like a name in the wrong place, an extra word, or lack of a word. Also, some things seemed a little rushed in certain places. I maybe would have liked some things drawn out a little more. I’m not really sure. Maybe it was just that so much went and so much was learned and explained that I got a little lost in the details.

But on the whole, I really liked the unique concept this new series has. Ryker and Quinn are the first mates in the new world created after the meteor show changed everything. There are few women left, and none has been born since the meteors. So nature is finding a new way to procreate. That starts with Quinn and Ryker.

All in all, I look forward to reading more in this series. The secondary characters and their skill sets were just as interesting as the two MCs.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *