Familiar Beginnings: Happy Endings Book 2, Alice Winters

Knowing the crazy from the past isn't done with either Havoc or Miles, I was sure we were in for something rather dark before everything got solved.  That wasn't the case and I think the overall situation was incredibly well done.  Not only do we get some amazing surprises, but we finally get to see some phenomenal power, the power we saw hints of throughout Happy Endings.

Miles has a great head on his shoulders and I've always loved that he knew to think through a problem and not just rely on blasting who or whatever was in his way.  That he also finally came to terms with his guilt and what to do with it was fantastic because it showed an evolution within him that was necessary for him to truly accept the happiness he deserved.

Havoc's heart was actually a surprise.  Not like I couldn't believe it, but a shock in how fervent his feelings were.  The way Miles' memories were shared a lot more in this continuation gave us a lot more depth to their interactions and how deep Havoc's distrust went, that even though he knew something was different about Miles, it's difficult to separate centuries of betrayal and abuse.  Watching them truly share their hearts and minds was a testament to how far they've come together.  His adamant request to Miles was a bit of a surprise, but one of the most touching moments.  We don't get a lot of touchy-feely confessions from the taciturn and flirty demon so in that moment we get to see exactly his level of trust, commitment, and love for Miles.

Seeing all the pieces come together, having various confrontations and battles of the magical type, and the culmination of it all into one vanquishing moment brought everything together in a satisfactory way.  I think what I was most moved by was the softness.  Things really could have gotten crazy and gory with the story's set up but instead we were built on a foundation of feelings, of determination, of bonds.  The snark was softer, the friendships more real, the good more powerful.  This story didn't feel like so many others of this author's work and that is absolutely not a negative in any way for me.  I adored the MC's and wish there were more of them.  I'd happily dive back into their world right now.

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Smart men quit while they’re ahead—they lay low and hope disaster blows on by them. Not me. Especially when disaster seems to follow me and my soulmate Havoc, a demon I bound to me three hundred years ago with my magic.

The dark mage Geoff is back from the dead and creating chaos by devouring the hearts of people with magical abilities, giving him overwhelming power as his followers grow. And since I’m one of the strongest mages alive and am leading the resistance against him, he’s coming for me next. Oh, and it might have something to do with the fact that I was also the one who originally killed him. But you can’t blame me; the guy needed to die.

Havoc and I, along with our unlikely band of… (I don’t want to say heroes, I can’t give them that much credit) annoyances will stop at nothing to end the destruction. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a sexy demon by my side every step of the way. For the first time in three hundred years, I’m finally with the person meant for me, and I will do anything to keep from losing him.