Give Him Hell: Hellhound Champions Book 3, Macy Blake and Casey Drake

I LOVE this series.  From ridiculously hot men and the partners they've been gifted, individual character strength, a strong overall story that connects each couple and their stories, shifters, to the sweet and sexy of each relationship, there's a whole lot to love about this world.

Honestly, the only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is because I wanted more of Jed's background.  Up to this point he's been the strong, silent, stoic one.  But who is he?  Who was he?  Where did he come from?  On the opposite side of the relationship we have Nick where we get a ton of background simply because of the preceding books in this and the other related series.  What we also get is his motivation, struggles, and complete personality.  Together they're fantastic and extremely sexy, I just wish there were more Jed.

While each book has built on the overarching story, they've all had their unique points that enhance what we're learning and attempting to overcome.  And then there are the relationships themselves.  All the characters have had a unique voice and set of circumstances so they feel genuine to the individual story.  In this book there is a contributing author and that becomes quite noticeable when Nick's voice changes and the writing surrounding him does as well.  After the ritual there's a distinct "Mary Calmes" feel to both the inner dialogue and to the descriptions.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just a tone and voice that wasn't the same up to this point.  I love who Nick is and I do like his reaction and acceptance of everything, including his new role, it's just a pretty dramatic change in feel for him as an individual.

I'm so, so excited to see where we're going from here.  When I first started reading this series I couldn't really imagine each story building on the others in such a phenomenal way; that each one feels so right as a continuation, but also so excellent in the individual relationships featured on their own.  All of these stories are/have gone onto my re-read shelf.  I can't wait for the next installment!

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Nick Smith is a man with a mission: find the place where he’d been held captive as a child and discover what happened to the kids he left behind. His memories are in flux, returned to him after being blocked for the past fourteen years, along with his ability to shift into his lion form. Nick is ready for answers. Instead, he finds a huge Viking of a man with flaming eyes and more power than Nick knew existed.

As a hellhound, Jedrek is often sent on missions that lead to nothing. It’s part of the gig. He’s a champion of the fire goddess, tasked with keeping the secret of the supernatural world safe. When he gets called to a house of horrors he’d not visited in years, the last thing Jedrek expects to find is an out of control alpha lion who brings to life feelings he’s never felt before.

The mysteries of Nick’s past collide with a powerful, evil force causing havoc in the supernatural world. Nick is convinced he can determine who is behind the current rash of dark magic--especially if he has the strength of a hellhound at his side. And if that hellhound is one he can’t keep his mind or hands off? Well, that suits the lion instincts roaring back to life just fine.

Ghost Town: Haunted Souls Book 3, Pandora Pine

Diving right in and giving it their all in every aspect has firmly cemented Jude and Cope as a favorite  West Side Magick couple for me.  It's astounding how much growth and mellowing we see in Jude in this book and how good of a partner Cope is for him.  Together they make a name for themselves and what they do as well as make me believe that this series will rival the Cold Case Crew despite getting their start there.

The mystery aspect of the story progressed really well though I will say that the surprise "I have the exact information you need" findings was a little contrived.  It didn't bother me too much though, because Jude and Cope took those directions and worked it into what they needed to discover without letting it detract from their focus.  What I really liked was that Jude was the instigator of balance between vacation and volunteering their abilities.  The way he weaved them both together gave us what we needed to see the job done as well as show us exactly what we wanted from the romantic aspect of their partnership.

It's very clear that Jude is finding his peace; he's finding it with Cope.  Their friendship has been growing steadily and creating a solid foundation and now they can finally give in to all the steam that's been building right along with that friendship.  Steam is equivalent to tenderness between them and I cannot express how thrilled I am that we're getting a great balance.

Even though the true villain was predictable it was discovered in a surprising way.  Following along and getting to know all the ghostly players for all their viciousness and vulnerabilities rounded out the story really well.  It was full of intrigue and drama and one of the more interesting mysteries from the group.  Adding in their new friends hints at some fun vacation moments for everyone and I'm really eager to see how they'll be included in the future.  This is working its way to becoming a really solid series and I like where we're headed.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Ghost Detective Jude Byrne has just landed in magical Key West, Florida for two weeks of fun in the sun. He’s looking forward to working on his tan instead of on haunted houses. Sitting at the hotel bar, he overhears a radio call-in show interviewing a terrified man about the harrowing experiences he had with a ghost at Casa Flores, a local bed and breakfast.

Psychic Copeland Forbes is equally thrilled to be on vacation. He’s still dealing with the effects of the Lewis case and a few weeks in the sun is just what the doctor ordered. Hearing the caller on the radio changes everything. He knows he needs to get involved with this case and places a call to PRIDE XM to offer his services to the scared young man. What starts out as a friendly phone call turns into a bet with Jude and Cope spending the night in this haunted hotel where things do, in fact, go bump in the night. 

The vacationing duo soon find out they have a mystery on their hands. Casa Flores was the home of a Cuban cigar baron and his second wife. The problem was that Santiago Flores’s first wife was still alive and well back in Havana. When she learned of her husband’s betrayal, she came to Key West for revenge. In the end, mysterious deaths visited all three members of the Flores family.

Can Jude and Cope get to the bottom of what really happened at Casa Flores or will they become the latest victims in this ghost town?

Back to You: Against All Odds Book 1, Kim Breyon

The angst is high as is the concerning codependency issues both in Riley and Beckett's past as well as their present.  As they figure things out together, this very slow-burn romance gives them a lot of room to be open, honest, and happy, but that's not always how life works.  So many things unsaid between them about their past and present that it makes the story seem much longer than it really is.  Despite taking a long time to get to the point of everything, this was a good story that I felt invested in most of the way through.  I truly wanted to see them make it through to the other side.

Alternating POV's as well as including numerous flashbacks gives us a very complete story that felt appropriate.  Sometimes having a ton of flashbacks detracts from the story and what's going on with what we feel are the relevant moments of the timeline, but these are well done.  There's so much in their past that if we started there this would have had to be split into multiple books.  Or it was left out only to be brought up in small explanations or brief mentions and remembrances we'd be completely lost as to why they stayed apart, what they needed to grieve, and how they became who they were now.  I appreciated how the back-story was written.

But the codependency bothered me.  They even acknowledge it later in the story and while I agree that the choice for their future shouldn't have been taken out of their hands, it was only through the passing of time and growing up that they were in a better place to have the relationship we hoped they would.  Both Beckett and Riley have a lot of inner turmoil that should have been addressed separately.  Being one another's catalyst for that change would have been apropos and I didn't think there was enough of that.  Instead we see them fall apart and hold back and tiptoe around big issues.

This honestly wasn't the healthiest of relationships.  At times their interactions felt like high schoolers and not grown men.  Then when you added all the extra drama from family, jealousy, unclear relationship expectations, and unsatisfactory trauma coping, it becomes incredibly heavy.  There's honestly just too much near the end.  And I'll also mention that virtually no child talks the way Beckett's niece does.  Way too enlightened and her interpretation of complex concepts was too advanced for her age.

As we finally get to the end of the story I was pretty disappointed in the conclusion of the family heirloom case.  Connecting it to Beckett's affection for pirates felt forced.  Getting him to Reedsport I can understand, but dragging it out to pop up for a moment or two to remove him from Reedsport a time or few and then concluding the case with cheesiness just wasn't the way to go.

The setting was quaint and felt like home.  This was probably the best part of the story, creating a haven for them and a community where they both fit as the individuals they became as well as as a couple.  Even though the road to their happy ending was long and fraught with all kinds of drama and trauma, they did get there and I was glad they made it.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU

Make Me Give In: Omega Celibacy Club Book 1, Angel Knots

Fighting biology is never easy but I'm definitely on board if that's what will bring you the most personal satisfaction and happiness.  I liked the idea of fated mates and of omegas not letting their drive to submit, have babies, and focus only on child-rearing derail their career goals.  While I didn't think the story maintained its strength all the way through, it was a cute story that was full of sweetness and steam.

At the outset we're introduced to very different omegas who will each get their own stories and I'd be willing to read them to see how each of them balance their desires with their dreams.  I know dreams can change, that life circumstances show us that what we may have always wanted up to that point isn't what we want from that moment going forward, but it's how the change is accepted and made that makes for a compelling story.  I don't think this book met that challenge as well as it could have.

Hunter's control and determination to have Simon completely on board with any relationship changes was admirable.  I like that he didn't let biological drives and lust completely take over.  The way Simon used certain consequences as the relationship conflict was not my favorite.  Nor was their lack of clear communication in conjunction with making decisions on the other person's behalf.  I think there could have been something more solid to create the angst and not immature relationship issues.

As for the steamy scenes, I'll admit to skimming and even skipping quite a bit of it.  I've rarely said there's too much sex in a book but I think here there was.  It was also kind of cringe-worthy in the writing of those scenes.  If that were toned down or made more believable I'd have been a fan.  As it is though, it just became a significant portion of the story that I didn't give my full attention.  With a sweet ending that magically fit Hunter and Simon's new version of "perfection", this wasn't a bad read at all.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Welcome to the Omega Celibacy Club. No sex until graduation. No unexpected pregnancies. No alphas needed.

SIMON
Even if it’s not politically correct to say so anymore, everyone still knows that alphas and omegas are ruled by their biology. Sure, it’s the twenty-first century now and most people have given up believing in archaic ideas like fated mates, but just take a look at college drop out rates and you’ll see that some things haven’t changed at all. Alphas still dominate, omegas still submit, and horny college kids in heat let their hormones dictate poor choices every day.

Not me and my roommates, though. Not if I have anything to say about it. Too many of our classmates here at Preston College have gotten knocked up and then dropped out. Given up their goals and dreams just because they’ve met an alpha with a big… ego. The point here is that there’s only one surefire way to avoid that trap, and that’s why I started the Omega Celibacy Club. No sex until graduation. No unexpected pregnancies. No alphas needed.

And no, I’m not just saying that because I’ve been hung up on one particular alpha for approximately ever. I’m totally over Hunter King. I mean, not that there was ever anything to get over. Our families have been friends forever and he dated my sister back when I was still just a kid, but even if me and my right hand may have pined for him once upon a time, I barely ever think of him anymore.

I mean never. I never think of him anymore.

Did I mention I’m over it?

HUNTER
Weddings are a great place to get laid, but when I show up for my ex’s big day, I’m hoping to get a lot more than that. I’ve never admitted it, but the reason I broke up with her all those years ago was because of her brother. One look at little Simon Lawson and I was a goner. Of course I didn’t say anything though, not back then. I didn’t touch him. Always kept my distance. I had to, because he was just a kid… but he’s all grown up now.

I’ve bided my time for years, but now I’m ready to see if the feeling is mutual. And if it is, I know exactly what I want. I want Simon. I want a family. And I want it forever. And even though I’ve never been the kind of alpha who imposes his will on omegas, when I finally realize just what it is that my omega needs, I know I’ll do anything at all to make that forever happen.

In fact, I’ll do everything.

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 41

  

• Protecting His Heart: Nox Bay Pack Book 2, Connor Crowe
• Aurora Borealis: Cold Case Psychic Spinoff Novella 8, Pandora Pine
• Chandler: Training Days Book 1, J.D. Light

A sequel that earned it's place in the lineup for sure.  But I wish it were longer.  There is so much going on, so much story, so many elements, that it should be turned into a novel.  I really enjoyed this one and found it even more interesting than the first, though I wasn't sure this story's events could outshine Felix.  Even though Arric spends a lot of time squashing and denying his feelings and urges what builds between him and Elliot turns into something memorable.  The dragons, female alphas, stones, and powers were all attention-grabbing.  Though I will say the pregnancy testing stone part was a bit...strange, it was something I was willing to overlook in favor of just enjoying the overall story.  3.5 stars.

Wow.  Pandora sure packed a lot into this little story.  My heart ached for Aurora and was so glad Jace and Kevin had the whole Crew of awesome to support them all.  I was glad that the opposition from the relatives was kept civil and simple so the focus could be on assimilating Aurora into the family.  Watching Jace and Kevin become fathers and seeing them commit to one another and being there for Aurora no matter what was a growing moment for both of them in different ways.

While Jace still isn't my favorite, he's growing on me as we see him become less selfish.  I think I had one idea of him from his care of the LGBTQ+ youth at his shelter.  His role there led me to believe he was someone he consistently has issues being when it comes to the most important person/people in his life.  He is that person, to some degree, but it's when it directly involves his own life that he becomes reactionary, petty, immature, and juvenile.  His determination to be a good partner to Kevin and father to Aurora shows us the less selfish, more empathetic, more mature side of him we know is in there.  I have hope.  I think he has great potential and I'm interested to see him develop as the Cold Case series progresses.  3.5 stars.

Holy sweetness!  I was completely shocked that I loved this story to the degree I did.  I was expecting something sweet, cute, and sexy, but not like this.  What was the most surprising was the character depth and connection achieved in such a short story.  I loved that Chandler wasn't actually insecure despite his endeavor to become fit coming from insults from a few exes.  There were quite a few appearances of people who could derail Chandler and Baker's progress that could have been eliminated, but overall I didn't find that it decreased my enjoyment.  It was so fluffy, so sweet, and definitely sexy so I was happy.  4.5 stars.