Tag: Prime’s Reviews

Fated Hearts by Garrett Leigh

Garrett Leigh - Fated Hearts Cover s dur87jTitle: Fated Hearts

Series: Shadow Bound 01

Author: Garrett Leigh

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Novel (256 pages)

ASIN: B07XSKC3ZP

Publisher: Fox Love Press (10 Sept 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: “He’s not a wolf.”

Devastated by the death of his best friend, Zio is a soldier with one thing on his mind: revenge. Consumed by a conflict that’s raged as long as he’s been alive, he’s had little time or inclination to learn the legends of the shifter world he was raised in. And he certainly doesn’t have time to deal with a shifter of a different kind, even if it’s for the good of the war effort. For the good of his pack. The fact that he’s already crossed paths with the new face in his unit is almost irrelevant.

Almost.

Do no harm. Give life not death: it’s the oath Devan was reborn to live by, so when he’s sent abroad to embed with a wolf pack as their resident healer, he doesn’t hesitate. In the supernatural world, some bonds are instant—soldiers become brothers, pack become family. But others run deeper and before long, Devan’s at the mercy of instincts he can’t control.

Zio’s inner wolf is desperate to be with Devan, while Devan struggles to keep the pack safe. But as the war escalates, and new love is tainted by anguish and pain, the battles within might prove the toughest of them all.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Fated Hearts is a paranormal romance by Garrett Leigh. It’s part of the world of Leigh’s now unavailable book Shadow Bound, however, since I’ve not read Shadow Bound I can happily say that it is easily a standalone novel.

I was looking forward to this one, because I do enjoy Garrett Leigh and love their writing style and how it benefits character development. But this is the second of Leigh’s books that has stepped outside of the comfort zone of what I’ve become accustomed to, particularly through Dreamspin Desires house line. But it’s worth it, totally, for me and will definitely make me more open in the future for anything by Leigh that may appear a little more different than I am now used to.

Fated Hearts is a story that starts in darkness, despair and revenge, but it’s only when the romance and “Fated” part comes along that the hope and lightness enters the story and therefore transforming the life of the main characters.

The world that we are placed in shows shifters and humans co-existing to a certain extent, although shifter packs appear to isolate themselves. There is trouble brewing in the shifter world. With packs seeking power and control, the wolf packs are on the verge of war.

Zio, lost his best friend who was also the pack healer in an attack. His grief is overwhelming, something that feels so palpable while reading about it. His control is not the best either. However, his pack needs a healer and his alpha must outsource to a group who are neutral in the struggle for power. Zio is drawn to Devan from the start, but of course there is a lot of fear and uncertainty gnawing at him and fighting the attraction.

Devan is a healer who has led a rather sheltered existence. When he was asked by his leader to move to a wolf pack in Northern England to replace their healer who been healed, Devan accepts his duty without problem. Like Zio, Devan is drawn to the wolf shifter when they first meet. But Devan sees the hurt and pain. So while these guys have a great attraction and chemistry, the start of their relationship is rocky, to say the least.

Politics also plays a role and continues to force the potential mates apart, creating a load of grief for both Devan and Zio. I really loved how I was able to connect to Zio and Devan. Despite the whole “fate” thing, they struggle with their feelings making them seem more relatable and making their attraction stronger and more believable. This is a rather gritty book, it is definitely not a fluffy shapeshifter romance, but it has a lot of heart, action and a definite sense of danger.

I recommend this to anyone that likes a darker type of paranormal romance, as well as action.

Zest by Claire London

Clare London - Zest Cover nsa8ejTitle: Zest

Series: The Accidental Baker

Author: Claire London

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (134 pages)

ASIN: B07WQN1QH7

Publisher: Jocular Press (17 Aug 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: When Donnie met Will, it looked like the recipe for true love. But Happy Ever After took just a bit more work.

Donnie’s new romance with silver fox veterinarian Will looks like a real recipe for love. But first he has to deal with the problems of his job, his friends’ demands, and worries about Will’s privileged background. To say nothing of Donnie’s thwarted dreams of a catering career—and baking something that doesn’t come out a disaster.

Will is fascinated and entranced by Donnie. A mature, professional businessman, he’s far less confident in romance—and in the bedroom. Yet his eagerness to look after Donnie and show him a better life are misguided, and have a disastrous effect of their own.

Donnie is everyone’s friend. He’ll help anyone out. But who’s there to help him when he needs it?

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Zest is a spin-off/sequel to Claire London’s Easter holiday novella, The Accidental Baker. I strongly recommend that you read the novella before starting this one, because this romance follows a couple who started their story in that story. While this is longer than the novella that introduced us to the world of Donnie and Will, this is everything that I had hoped for in terms of getting a cute and sweet romance.

Donnie and Will are great characters. They are down to earth and totally relatable. This was the reason why I really liked them in The Accidental Baker and was more than happy to see that their story continued. I hope that the other couples from The Accidental Baker get the same treatment as Donnie and Will because I really enjoyed getting to know them better. While they got together easy enough in The Accident Baker they now need to work on their actual relationship to make it a proper HEA.

Will, who recently moved to town to take over the veterinarian clinic close to Donnie’s place, is enchanted by the younger man. But despite being described as a silver fox – and is everything that a gentleman should be – he struggles with allowing himself to feel the happiness that comes with intimacy. He’s not inexperienced, just unsure. Donnie is a guy with a heart of gold, the type that would give someone the shirt on his back if he had to. But he is very much the opposite to Will and so at first it seems like their romance is impossible. It all boils down to this, Will needs to find confidence in love and Donnie needs to find confidence in himself before it’s too late for them as a couple.

This is all about the sweetness, that it could turn anyone diabetic if it were food. I’m trying to think of other words than cute and sweet to describe this, and I think that gentle romance is also a fitting description.

I recommend this one to people that enjoy a light-hearted romance, low on angst and just makes your heart happy.

How to Run with Wolves by Eli Easton *Dual Review*

Eli Easton - How To Run With The Wolves Cover s nevj555Title: How to Run With Wolves

Series: Howl at the Moon 05

Author: Eli Easton

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters

Length: Novel (229 pages)

ASIN: B07VD891ZV

Publisher: Pinkerton Road LLC (19 July 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 1/2 Hearts Combined

Reviewers: Prime & Shorty

Blurb: Zeus loves his job on the Mad Creek Search & Rescue team, and his inner Saint Bernard is finally being used to his full potential. When he sees a mysterious and wild-looking quickened—a dog shifter—at an earthquake site in Alaska, Zeus is compelled to investigate. Zeus falls hard for the primal beauty of Timo and of Alaska itself. Both call to his deep canine soul. But the Qimmig pack’s laws are as harsh as the Alaskan winters, and Timo is out of his reach.Timo’s pack of dog shifters left their Inuit village generations ago and have lived wild ever since. Not trusting the “one-skinned,” and with their numbers dwindling, the Qimmig are on the verge of extinction. Timo is shocked to discover a whole group of “two-skinned” working as a rescue team, and he is particularly fascinated by Zeus, a gentle giant. He senses what Zeus feels for him… but it’s forbidden.Can Mad Creek save this lost quickened clan? Perhaps—if they can learn how to run with the wolves.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Prime’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 Hearts:

How to Run With Wolves is the fifth book in the series Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton. I adore this unique series and have enjoyed all four previous books a lot. Overall, the series is sweet and really quite charming, which fits since there are characters who have not always been human and some only recently transformed into dog shape shifters. While the previous books didn’t have a lot of angst, this one really does ramp up the angst with one MC and a number of minor characters having very little trust to the outside world.

I read on Amazon that this book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. And while I do agree with that, there are not plot arcs which tie this book to the previous books, I recommend reading this this series if you can just to get a feel for the world of Mad Creek as it was set up. But then again, if something is a series I can’t stand not reading it all.

Since the end of the fourth book, we pick up with Mad Creek Search and Rescue team having been formed and now deployed to help humans during natural disasters, in their human skins not in their dog skins. One of the rescuers is Zeus. He was born quickened and grew up in Mad Creek and had moved away for a while. Unlike other quickened, he is shy around people and has an intense dislike for crowds. But nature and the open spaces call out to him and appeal to the Saint Bernard nature of his dog counterpart. It is on a rescue in Alaska that he discovers another quick. He hadn’t understood at first, until he figures out that the quick that he had seen must be part of a native tribe which keep to themselves. This is an exciting revelation because the town of Mad Creek had always wondered and was sure that they couldn’t be the only quickened in the world.

Timo lives with the rest of his tribe, which they call themselves two-skin as they change into the Huskies that used to be sled dogs for one of the local Alaskan tribes before white settlement. His ancestors had left the human world and they now live isolated. When he found another two-skin who was using his enhanced sense of smell to locate and save humans this was not a complete surprise, the surprise was that they were helping humans. Timo is in fact on an expedition to find more two-skins on their own to join their tribe, with low live birth rates the group is dwindling in numbers rapidly. But really, he needed to get away. His brother, Yuki, is the alpha in a group that has a definite pecking order that made life harsh, especially for Timo’s little sister, Hitty.

With their paths now together, Zeus and Timo want to help their people. Timo’s distrusting nature makes his character feel cold and distant, and at sometimes a tad manipulative. He is slow to trust, even when the people of Mad Creek give their help. However, that is the harsh reality of world in which he lives. Mad Creek is a revelation to Timo, but Timo knows that he needs to save his people. Between all this, Timo needs to understand what is happening between him and Zeus. His is everything that is kind and gentle, but also strong. He has a lot to deal with emotionally, something that he hasn’t had to do in the past. Zeus is certainly opening him to a new world of possibilities in more ways than you can imagine.

Shorty’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts:

Timo and Zeus meet when their lives collide with each others when Zeus is sent on a search and rescue in Alaska after an earthquake. Zeus is sweet and caring. Timo is from a Qimmig pack who used to be dogs many, many generations before. They had a falling out after they quickened and removed themselves from the inuit they were with.

Timo has outdated ideas about a pack due to their isolation from everyone else. Timo goes to mad creek with Zeus and begins to see things in a different light. But it still takes time for him to admit and process how he feels about Zeus. Between feelings, getting to know others and finding solutions to the Qimmig’s survival love blossoms.

Amazing story with love and struggles. I loved everything about the story. The descriptions of Alaska were beautiful and awe inspiring.

Fantastic read and highly recommended.

The Accidental Baker by Claire London

Clare London - The Accidental Baker Cover s ner7fjuTitle: The Accidental Baker

Series: The Accidental Baker 01

Author: Claire London

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (64 pages)

ISBN: B07R1Q1G12

Publisher: Jocular Press (20 April 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’– 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

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!

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.

Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leigh

Garrett Leigh - Kiss Me Again Cover s neiro3Title: Kiss Me Again

Author: Garrett Leigh

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (227 pages)

ISBN: 1913220044

Publisher: Fox Love Press (7 June 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

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.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.

Today by R.J. Scott

R.J. Scott - Today Cover s ner7hvTitle: Today

Series: Single Dads 02

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (197 pages)

ASIN: B07WS2DZ7J

Publisher: Love Lane Books (21st August 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

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.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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!

Don’t Judge by A.E. Via ~ Audio Review

A.E. Via - Don't Judge Audio Cover s en3784ujTitle: Don’t Judge

Series: Nothing Special 04

Author: A.E. Via

Narrator: Aiden Snow

Genre: Contemporary, Action, Men in Uniform

Length: 9 hrs, 48 mins

Publisher: A.E. Via (24th July 2019)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

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.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.

Single by R.J. Scott

R.J. Scott - Single Cover 9203ikTitle: Single

Series: Single Dads 01

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (238 pages)

ISBN: 107307224X

Publisher: Love Lane Books (14th June 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

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?

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

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.

How to Save A Life by Eli Easton *Dual Review*

Eli Easton - How To Save A Life Cover s dmne9eTitle: How to Save A Life

Series: Howl to the Moon 04

Author: Eli Easton

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters

Length: Novel (249 pages)

ASIN: B0751ZW6XG

Publisher: Eli Easton

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 1/2 Hearts (Combined)

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Rav Miller looked into the terrified, intelligent eyes of the chocolate Labrador on death row, and knew he’d do anything to save him. When the dog, Sammy, escapes and heads to Mad Creek, Rav follows. Mad Creek. The town had become legendary in Rav’s mind after he’d met that bizarre group last year. Rav dismissed his crazy suspicions back then, but when he arrives in Mad Creek, he knows it’s true. Dog shifters exist, and apparently they all live in the California mountains. It’s enough to blow a bad boy’s mind.

Sammy has something in common with Rav—neither one of them trusts people. After Sammy’s abuse as a dog, he particularly dislikes tough-looking men like Rav. But when Sammy gets a chance to work with rescued dogs at the new Mad Creek shelter, his deep compulsion to help others overcomes his fear. Rav and Sammy bond over saving strays. If they can each find the courage to let someone else in, they might find their way to love.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort doesn’t like humans moving into Mad Creek, especially not the tattooed and defiant Rav. When Rav starts a rescue shelter, the town thinks he’s wonderful! But Lance isn’t fooled. He doesn’t buy Rav’s innocent act for one second. How much does Rav know about the quickened? What is his game? And why did he have to show up now, when Lance and the other town leaders are overwhelmed by all the new quickened pouring in?

Rav knows how to save a life. But can he save an entire town? Can he rescue Mad Creek?

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Prime’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 4 Hearts:

How to Save A Life is the fourth book in series Howl to the Moon by Eli Easton. I adore this unique series. It is sweet and while there is plenty of drama and misunderstanding, which fits since there are characters who have not always been human and some only recently transformed. However, there is not a lot of angst, which is something that I liked a lot, and I felt it really fit the bubbly personalities of dogs that had been completely adored in their time before they transformed.

I read on Amazon that this book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. And while I do agree with that, there are not plot arcs which tie this book to the previous books, I recommend reading this this series if you can just to get a feel for the world of Mad Creek as it was set up. But then again, if something is a series I can’t stand not reading it all.

Rav Miller is a man with a mysterious past. He had left his life behind to help dogs by opening and running a dog shelter. He has a deep passion for helping dogs, especially those in kill shelters. For the past year the strange encounter he had with a group of men – and a couple of their dogs – from Mad Creek had him intrigued with the town. The mystery deepens for him when a new dog that he rescued, Sammy, runs out of the shelter and makes it all the way to Mad Creek on foot. Rav follows Sammy chip and is intrigued by the town. He can tell that there is something different and when ideas and bizarre suspicions are formed in his head, he figures out what is going on all on his own.

Rav is very much an alpha male and when he sees the situation in Mad Creek (high unemployment), he wants to fix it, that the town is populated by people that can shape shift into dogs gives him the idea. Having decided to start another shelter, this one in Mad Creek, Rav also has to deal with disapproving and grumpy sheriff, while trying to get glimpses of the skittish man called Sammy. But the shelter isn’t going to help the town financially and he has to deal with sheriff who is extremely grumpy and overprotective of his people – it’s definitely a clash of the alphas!

Sammy is newly quickened, he has had two owners that loved him. One of them had died and the other is a victim of domestic violence. Sammy was in a kill shelter when another quick also at the shelter told him about Mad Creek. After he was saved from the kill shelter by Rav, Sammy escapes Rav’s shelter and heads to Mad Creek. He goes for the job advertised at the new shelter, the caring and loyal nature of his dog half helps him to overcome his fears. Now working with Rav side by side the two men have a lot to learn.

I will admit that this is not my most favourite book of the series, but it’s still pretty damn good. I don’t know why, I think that I found it a little difficult to connect to Rav, it’s the only thing that I can think of. I think I also found it a little odd how he randomly decided to pick up his entire life on what seemed to be a whim.

A final side note, because I was surprisingly slow about this realisation, but I just managed to link all the titles in this series to a song. Although not all the songs have the “how to” in the song title, that’s just minor details. This epiphany happened started because I got the song How to Save A Life by The Fray stuck in my head, I already have Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio stuck in head. Then I remembered that song by The Script called Howling at the Moon and then it just snowballed from there. Done! I’m happy I got that out and I’m kind of ridiculously happy about it.

Shorty’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts:

I adored this story about Rav and Sammy. Sammy is so sweet and cute yet has been abused by a previous owner then taken to a pound. When it’s almost his time to be put to sleep Rav takes him in. From there Sammy escapes and heads to Mad Creek where Rav follows.

Things are not smooth for these two. Rav has to get Sammy to realize not everyone is out to hurt him. With Lance not trusting strangers Rav has a way to go in getting the town to trust that he will keep their secret. It helps when he figures out a way to bring in much needed revenue an jobs for the town.

Adorable, sweet and cute this story had me in tears at times. I loved the way the story progressed and ended.

Fantastic read.

How to Wish Upon A Star by Eli Easton *Dual Review*

Eli Easton - How to Wish Upon A Star Cover 45ntrjTitle: How to Wish Upon A Star

Series: Howl at the Moon 03

Author: Eli Easton

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters

Length: Novel (227 pages)

ASIN: B01FISHWJK

Publisher: Pinkerton Road (10 May 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts

Reviewers: Prime & Shorty

Blurb: Dr. Jason Kunik is working on the most earth-shattering genetics project ever, DNA mapping of a new species, the quickened—dogs who can shift into human form. The problem is, no one knows the quickened exist and Jason can’t betray them by publishing his studies. When he moves to Mad Creek to continue his research in a town full of quickened, all he wants is peace, quiet, and to be allowed to bury himself in his work. Perhaps if he figures how out the mutation is activated, he can silence his own inner dog forever.

Milo is a hospice comfort dog who has bonded with, and lost, many beloved patients in his life. He intuitively understands sickness and pain on a spiritual level most can’t see. When he gains the ability to become a man, he thinks he finally has everything he ever wanted. But being a man isn’t the same thing as being loved, and taking shelter in Mad Creek isn’t the same thing as finding a home.

When a mysterious illness hits Mad Creek and threatens all the quickened in town, it’s up to the scientist and the comfort dog to figure out what it is and how to stop it. Along the way they might discover that true love is possible—if you wish upon a star.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Prime’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts:

How to Wish Upon A Star is the third book in Eli Easton’s series Howl at the Moon. It is based around the town and people of Mad Creek in California. What makes them special is that they are quickened, which is dog shape shifters which received the spark of magic that gave seemingly ordinary dogs the ability to shape shift into human. Many of the inhabitants have passed on the ability for generations, but the newly quickened are those that started life as a dog before becoming quickened.

I adore this unique series. It is sweet and while there is plenty of drama and misunderstanding, which fits since there are characters who have not always been human and some only recently transformed. However, there is not a lot of angst, which is something that I liked a lot, and I felt it really fit the bubbly personalities of dogs that had been completely adored in their time before they transformed.

I read on Amazon that this book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. And while I do agree with that, there are not plot arcs which tie this book to the previous books, I recommend reading this this series if you can just to get a feel for the world of Mad Creek as it was set up. But then again, if something is a series I can’t stand not reading it all.

The characters of this book are Milo and Jason Kunik. The former being a recently turned quickened and the latter being a third generation quickened who was also a scientist who studied the potential genetic side of things on the side.

Dr Jason Kunik has returned home to Mad Creek after being away for ten years. He’s done his studies, did his PhD and then went onto work for a major company in a lab, doing genetic research. On the side he has also looked into dog and human DNA, trying to begin to unravel the mystery of the quick. Unlike many quickened, he isn’t really in touch with his canine side and to some extent he resents his dog.

Back home in Mad Creek there isn’t a lot he can do without a lab, still he continues on with his research which includes interviewing the recently quickened residents of town. It’s not going well for him. Jason has a lot of problems being able to communicate with them, some still struggle with human speech, but he also is a stereotypical nerd and finds it difficult to communicate. I kind of don’t really like that, but I do know from personal experience that many scientists do struggle to pass down information to those that are not familiar with their area. In short, I’m of two minds when it comes to that part of Jason, but he otherwise a smart cookie.

Meeting Milo is something unexpected to Jason in many ways and he doesn’t know how to deal with his attraction, much the same as Milo isn’t too sure. Their situation changes when there is an illness affecting the quick of Mad Creek. The only doctor the quick have is the town vet, a human who had mated a quick lady and so the sheriff and the town doc enlist Jason’s help. The scientist/microbiologist in me wants to over analyse things when it comes to Jason’s work but I won’t because this is fiction and I need to realise that I should let people have their fun.

Milo is everything that is sweet and naïve in this book. I love his story when he eventually tells it to Jason. If anything I wanted to know more about that side of things, not necessarily from Jason but finding out how “real” that was. Milo was made quickened after living his life as a comfort dog in a hospice, he could sense illness and when a patient was going to pass on. He had become attached to a couple patients in particular and as he realised he was getting more smarter, he was sad when the people died of their assorted illnesses. I totally loved Milo, he has so much love to give and he can see that Jason needs a little bit of love in his life. Part of it because he was a comfort dog, but the rest is all chemistry between the characters.

Shorty’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts:

Jason and Milo have a town to save and a virus to destroy when the quickened in town become sick. It’s grueling process the quickened go through. It’s a race against time for Jason to find a cure before the unthinkable happens. All the while Jason starts having feelings for Milo and Vice versa.

I loved these two together. Milo was so sweet and innocent. His ability to comfort others and be able to tell when they’re sick was invaluable to Jason. The story was tense at times with the right amount of drama interspersed to make for an amazing story.

I loved everything about the book and found it quite entertaining to read.

Fantastic read and addition to the series.