Tag: Mountain Spirit Mysteries series

Cougar Chaos by A.J. Marcus

a-j-marcus-cougar-chaos-coverTitle: Cougar Chaos

Series: Mountain Spirits 04

Author: AJ Marcus

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (13th September 2016)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Parks and Wildlife Officer Brock Summers-Weir and his new husband, wildlife rehabber Landon Weir-Summers, are on their honeymoon high in the northern Colorado Rockies when they find an orphaned cougar cub. They quickly discover that there have been a number of cougars injured or killed in the area around Steamboat Springs. Although they are supposed to be on vacation, they work with local officials to try to find out what’s happening to the big cats.

When they get too close to the answers, their camp is ransacked and an ominous message is left. Rather than letting this intimidate them, they step up their investigation in the hopes that they can find the people responsible for the carnage and still manage to have a happy honeymoon.

ISBN: 9781634770743

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/cougar-chaos-by-aj-marcus-303-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: First and foremost: if you have not read the previous books in the series, I highly recommend that you go back and read them before jumping into this installment. Not only so that you can enjoy a thoroughly good series, but also so that you can pick up all the little things that are assumed as already known knowledge throughout the book. A final thing I need to add, if you are opening this book in the hopes of a good romance, you need to be aware that being a DSP Publications book this story is not heavy on the romance.

Now… onto the book, Cougar Chaos. I have to say that this is a great addition to the series, while I don’t love it to bits, I certainly enjoyed it and liked revisiting the world of the recently married couple Wildlife Officer Brock Summers-Weir and wildlife rehabber Landon Weir-Summers. If you’ve followed their relationship from book 1, you know two things for certain about this couple: 1) they love wildlife, and, 2) trouble, involving wildlife, always seems to follow them.

That being said, you can pretty much tell what the set up for the book is going to be. The guys decide to go camping/ hiking for their honeymoon with their dog. Despite the fact that Landon is getting over his injuries, a broken leg, of the previous book. Like seriously, that is these guys to a T. But what ends up happening is that the guys encounter a mountain lion cub that they save, which brings them on a merry chase which is the mystery of this title.

Fairly quick and to the point, this is a fairly enjoyable story, but more what makes it a 4 star book in my eyes is that it is a wonderful addition to the Mountain Spirits series. It fits the development of the characters and the plotline wonderfully.

I’m not sure if there is going to be more to this series, but I would certainly love it if we get to see more of the world of Landon and Brock.

Moose Fever by A.J. Marcus

o-moose-feverTitle:  Moose Fever

Series:  Mountain Spirit Mysteries, #3

Author: A.J. Marcus

Genre: Mystery/Romantic Suspense

Length: 200 pages

Publisher: DSP Publications (12 April 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

Blurb: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Brock Summers and his fiancé, wildlife rehabber Landon Weir, are preparing for their wedding when someone starts killing moose along a creek in the northern part of Teller County. As the moose casualties rise, human bodies turn up, and the case is taken over by the sheriff’s office. When a Forestry Service Ranger is killed, the service joins the hunt.

All signs point to one of the many photographers who have been taking pictures of the moose. Then Landon discovers a small piece of gold in the creek and they believe they have a motive, but they’re still lacking solid suspects.

Bullets fly as they seek to track down the perpetrator while trying to get everything wrapped up in time for their marriage.

ISBN: 978-1-63476-343-1

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/moose-fever-by-aj-marcus-226-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Moose Fever is the third book in AJ Marcus’s Mountain Mysteries series. While the books probably work as a standalone, I love this series so much that I’m saying if you haven’t started from book 1 (Eagle’s Blood) go back now. If for nothing else than the pleasure of reading along as Brock and Landon begin their romantic relationship in a small Colorado town.

In this installment, Brock, a state wildlife officer, and Landon, who runs and works a wildlife rehabilitation centre, are preparing to get married. But of course, there is a lot going on than these guys and their seriously sweet and hot relationship. There is the appearance of Brock’s parents, who are quite wonderful, and want to make sure that everything is perfect for their son’s wedding day.

However, there is also the mystery and suspense side of things, which sees more than a few bullets fly, the body of an unknown person turn up that is only the start of the book’s body count.

For a wild life officer, Brock finds himself in some very dangerous and precarious situations, which don’t always involve wildlife of the four-legged kind. Regardless, it is an absolute pleasure reading along with the action as Brock works and Landon does his best to help his partner. I love these guys, I love their chemistry, I love their love –in fact, I love just about everything about their relationship. They are so strong and relatable as characters that it is pure joy to revisit Brock and Landon.

Once again, I can’t wait until book 4 comes out (got a tease at the end of Moose Fever). This is a wonderful series for just about any fan of action and suspense to get into.

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

Eagle's Blood by A.J. Marcus, 2nd edition

o-eagles-bloodTitle: Eagle’s Blood (2nd Edition)
Series: Mountain Spirit Mysteries, #1
Author: A.J. Marcus
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Length: Novel (200 pages)
Publisher: DSP Publications (Dec 16 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Brock Summers is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer who loves his job and takes it very seriously. When he discovers a video of golden eagles being shot and learns of a nest in trouble, not even a blizzard can stop him from trekking up the mountain in an attempt to rescue them.

When Brock returns with the one eaglet he manages to save, Landon Weir, the local wildlife rehabilitator, patches up the bird and the injury Brock suffered during the rescue. Though they have been friends and colleagues for years, they discover a shared passion for protecting wildlife and vow to work together to protect the majestic birds from the criminals preying on them. It isn’t long before another video of eagles being killed comes to their attention.

They must face inclement weather, a dangerous mountain, and armed poachers if they want to ensure the eagles’—and their own—survival.

1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, April 2014.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-344-8

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/eagles-blood-by-aj-marcus-36-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I loved this book – obviously since I gave it a 5/5 rating. The big winner for me is that this feels just so completely real in every way that I couldn’t help but enjoy it. The plot then did the rest of the work and I feel in love with the plot and the characters just so damn easily.

If you’re looking for romance, I feel like I keep reminding people about this, but this is a DSP Publication book, the branch of Dreamspinner Press where the romance is not strictly the main plot of the book. So in saying that, there is romance and quite a sweet and lovely one at that, but the book is about more than just the romance.

So let me set the scene, we open up meeting Brock, a wildlife officer based in a small Colorado town. While at a diner he happens across a video that shows illegal poaching of local eagles. Recognising the area – and potentially, the couple of birds – he and a fellow officer go off to save the nest.

Through work such as this, Brock has met and spoken to Landon on numerous occasions. Landon runs a wildlife rehab centre which takes in many animals such as mountain lion cubs and eagle chicks, brought in by Brock and his colleagues. There is a rather simple attraction between these guys from the get go and despite Brock being in the closet things are set to sizzle while the rest of the plot takes hold.

So after saving the eagle chick, it seems that Brock has stumbled upon something quite illegal. Once he realises that the local eagle population is in danger, he is ready to save the day. The plot is really as simple as though there are a number of other wildlife and law enforcement officers popping up throughout the book.

Brock is something of an action man out to save the wildlife – he is also completely charming and lovable. His dog, who really doesn’t make too many appearances, also adds to his owner’s character.

This one is probably more for the people who like reading about realistic relationships and like a bit of action. I fear though because of the realism that some people may find this one a little boring.

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

Grizzly Discovery by A.J. Marcus

o-grizzly-discoveryTitle: Grizzly Discovery
Series: Mountain Spirit Mysteries, #2
Author: AJ Marcus
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Length: Novel (200 pages)
Publisher: DSP Publications (March 24 2015)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Landon Weir and Brock Summers are happily settling into their life as a couple, easily balancing Landon’s work as an animal rehabber with Brock’s career as a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer. When they find a bear shot and skinned, they set out to discover who’s behind the heinous act.

Events force Brock to come out to his boss, causing him and Landon to rethink how public they want to make their relationship. As more bear sightings – and more carcasses – show up in the area, Brock is attacked by a black bear he’s trying to release back into the wild, but his injuries don’t prevent him from helping Landon and their friends with the investigation. Despite leads being thin on the ground, the two men try to uncover the poachers before more bears are killed.

But when the evidence points them in an unexpected direction, Teller County’s bear population may not be all the killers have in their sights.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-026-3

Product Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/eagles-blood-by-aj-marcus-36-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: So I feel the need to restate my feelings from the first book in Mountain Spirit Mysteries series, Eagle’s Blood. Everything about the feel and setting of the book carry over to this one:

I loved this book – obviously since I gave it a 5/5 rating. The big winner for me is that this feels just so completely real in every way that I couldn’t help but enjoy it. The plot then did the rest of the work and I feel in love with the plot and the characters just so damn easily.

If you’re looking for romance, I feel like I keep reminding people about this, but this is a DSP Publication book, the branch of Dreamspinner Press where the romance is not strictly the main plot of the book. So in saying that, there is romance and quite a sweet and lovely one at that, but the book is about more than just the romance.

You should probably read book 1 before getting into Grizzly Discovery, although I think you could get away with not doing so. We pick up with our heroes, Landon and Brock, who are now a fully fledged couple. They are now living together and they are ready to come out with the relationship to the world at large.

The romance between these guys is still sweet and understated, but they are totally suited to each other. I really have to repeat myself again, I just love how realistic and relatable their relationship is.

Clearly, from the title we’ve shifted from eagles to the illegal poaching of bears. This is another racy plot of the wildlife and law enforcement officers of the local area out to catch the people who are poaching the local bear population in a town that is so very close to the wilds to begin with.

Honestly, the plot is very similar to the first but with some key alterations, including the bears, so that you don’t feel like you’re reading the same book for a second time. I binged read both books in the same day and it didn’t feel like the same book twice to me.

I think one of the key components to this book is that we are given the chance to explore the local woods a little more and we the minor characters are given a bit more room to actually develop in this one.

A cute and charming side note is that we get to see more of the eagle chick, Frigga, from the book. The whole falconry aspect of the series is absolutely fascinating and something I would love to see more of in this setting.

I love the remote setting of these books. The descriptions of rugged scenery highlight the plight of the stopping the poaching. I don’t know, maybe it is in the ecologist in me, but I really did love this aspect. They aren’t straight out weird wildlife warriors. Instead, these are guys that care about the environment and ecosystem.

Though I must admit that this business of being a wildlife officer/park ranger seems pretty damn dangerous and not just from the four-legged and furry creatures – the upright bipedal animal seems to be the worst of all.

Now I can’t wait for Book 3: Moose Fever to come out!

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