The Lost Prince: Royal Powers Book 4, Sara York

While the premise was interesting and Crave's power is utterly unique, the follow through with giving him his story and his man was...less than earth-shattering.  Forgive the pun.  With so much potential the story had quite a lot to work with, but got bogged down in unnecessary repetition, lackluster romantic connection, a convoluted plot, confusing connections, and a whole lot of missed opportunities.

There was drama to be had from quite a few sources and throwing it all in proved to be too much for such a short story.  Crave's family dilemmas were both overly sinister and overly simplistic, Devin's family drama was very basic and slightly juvenile, the murder plot was a gratuitous flash-in-the-pan event, their powers being minor and then suddenly combining with visions and a gigantic boost was without context...there was just too much that was exaggerated and then thrown in together.

Then we get to the romance...or not, kind of.  The connection between the men goes from visual interest and a minor supernatural blip to a whole lot of "I'm yours forever" without even going through the motions of being an insta-love story.  I don't believe in their romance at all and wanted to because there was something in both of them that could have been great.

I don't want this to turn into a ranty review, but I find myself quite disappointed in what I read rather than thrilled.  I'm crazy intrigued by this whole series premise, was absolutely wowed by the first book, am convinced the last one will be just as amazing since the author hasn't written a mediocre story yet, and then I'm so very let down by nearly every book in the middle.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Danger lurks in the forests, but will he know to hide?

Crave Woods hides his truth from everyone, even the couple who raised him or tries to. But his family knows he didn’t outgrow the strange affliction of being able to sink into the dirt and travel below ground.

Devin Dumtsteed can’t quit his job though he hates it. If only he had better powers, he could do more for Abarra, but he tracks criminals and illegal power users, getting them off the street before they do something stupid, like kill someone.

A freak cave-in at the mine has him traveling to a small town to check out the undocumented power users when all hell breaks loose. Is the unassuming young man he met in the middle of the forest the cause of the cave-ins or is Crave Woods more than Devin could ever imagine?

Moored Heart: Catalina Dreams Book 1, I.M. Flippy

Jason and Charlie had an interesting connection right from the start and I enjoyed watching them grow to love one another.  While Jason's lust was a bit of a surprise for him, Charlie's was present right from the start.  Getting them on the same page didn't take as long as I thought it would and seeing Jason's cute and sweet moments paralleling that more intense chemistry was a good change of pace from other stories with a similar plot.

The confrontation and conflict was definitely predictable, but I don't really feel it was unjustified from either Jason or Charlie's perspectives.  Seeing the heartache on both sides being very different but no less real was also a wonderful surprise because there was a vulnerability on Jason's and a maturity on Charlie's that was the real gem during the reconciliation.  That was actually my favorite part of the story, the emotive and honest confession from Jason, the level-headed and understanding preface from Charlie, those were the kinds of words that I always hope to see in so many stories where hurtful reactions cause the biggest trouble.

While I do wish there were more of a connection between me and the men individually and that Jason's ex wasn't so unapologetically pushy more often than not, I liked the overall flow of the story and the men's evolutions both on their own and together.  Jason was the more interesting character and remained so for the entirety, but I liked Charlie for him.  So overall I was happily surprised and even though I choose not to continue the series, this was an enjoyable story on its own.

And on a side note, I agree with other reviewers about the author's note putting them off.  It did for me as well.  Let's be honest here, the whole world needs a serious "come to Jesus" smack down with all the hate and violence and disgust being tossed around as if that's okay.  Racism is absolutely real and completely wrong.  Racial profiling is absolutely real and completely wrong.  I'm totally fine with authors deciding not to write law enforcement characters into their story, but to preface this particular story as they did was...out of place.

They should have made their rant and decision somewhere on their personal or author forums and not in a book where their MC as a police detective had nothing to do with anything regarding the movement, no questionable actions of any kind while on the force regarding this issue in this story, and not at the very outset of a story where it wasn't truly relevant thus coloring the reader against the character before even meeting them.  Justifiable choice going forward, but not the best place to declare it.  Jason was a good man, a good detective, and that was tainted by how the author chose to voice their political opinion.

*$1 on Amazon

When retired homicide detective Jason Winters moves to Catalina Island fresh off a divorce, he’s ready to start a new life.
Jason’s plan is simple: hang out on his small yacht, work on his book, and get his dick wet once in a while. There are plenty of hot women on the beach to choose from.
There are also a lot of men throwing him winks and calling him “daddy.”

Jason can’t deny he’s thought about men, but that attraction is something he’s never had to confront before... until he meets Charlie.
Charlie is gorgeous and more than that, he makes Jason laugh. He’s also smart and genuinely kind.
Jason feels a zing around him he hasn’t felt in years.

Zing…

Charlie Benton likes his life. Sure, he works in a tourist trap shop, lives with his mom, and rarely bothers to leave tiny Catalina Island. But he’s got friends, he loves his town, and hot guys come in on boats all the time. Tourists always want to bang a cute townie.

But Charlie wants more.
Charlie wants the great gay romance.
Charlie did not expect true love to come in the form of Jason Winters.
Jason’s an injured, divorced cop from L.A. He’s got history and baggage. Even worse, he’s probably straight.
So much for the great gay romance.
The last thing Charlie needs in his life is to get his heart broken by a straight guy.

Too bad love never listens to reason... especially on Catalina Island.

Fix Me: Tattoos and Temptation Book 2, Mia Monroe

Casper and Saint share some amazing chemistry, but there's something holding Saint back at the same time that something is propelling Casper forward.  Watching them find their shared wavelength is a difficult ride, but no less full of the feels I'd come to expect after reading Marry Me, book one in the series.  I adore both men for different reasons, though I have to admit that it's Casper that really captured and kept my attention throughout the story.

If basing my enjoyment only on the chemistry these two men shared I'd be an enthusiastic reviewer.  But it was adding in the subtleties, the struggle, the pain, and Casper's individual evolution that really sold the story for me.  Casper struggled with so much more than you'd ever expect and the way he gives his everything to Saint again and again was both wonderful and agonizing.  It was Saint's reactions and hesitations that made me ache the most, not for him, but for Casper.  I was glad for the dual POV, because otherwise I'd probably write Saint off despite my general love of a gruff Daddy opening his heart fully to his boy.

Saint was a tough character for me because while I respected his journey and his emotional hesitations, I felt his reaction to his past was a bit over the top.  A lot of blame that wasn't really warranted, even the irrational guilt kind.  It was enhanced and prolonged only to add angst to Casper's own journey and I didn't really appreciate that.  Casper's difficulties stemmed from bad choices, self-discovery, not knowing themselves, desperation to find acceptance, a nasty ex, and a set of parents who were pieces of work.  It was a lot to unpack.  Everything got it's resolution in the end and I adored Casper's maturity and realization of all the good he had both in himself and in the life he forged around himself.

I can't wait to see where we go next with these men.

*$4.99 on Amazon

My crush has Daddy written all over him

The minute I laid eyes on him he became my new hobby. I turned on the charm to win him over, only to get friendzoned. The more time we spend together, the more glimpses I get of the Daddy he’s hiding under his no dating allowed exterior. Unfortunately for Saint, a Daddy is exactly what this boy is looking for.

I have no intention of staying friends with him, but with every platonic interaction, I start feeling things I never have. And not just about the sexy Scottish object of my affection.

I wasn’t looking for someone to fix me, but if I let him in we might have something amazing here.

If we can just shake the ghosts from the past…

As Big as the Sky, Amy Aislin

Five stars for the fluffiest fluff to ever fluff!  I adore Sam and Bo with all my heart.  They were direct, endearing, and so very open to one another once Sam realized that he was being kind of a big jerk.  In addition to that there were the heartfelt confessions, the apology carrots, the apology primroses for the apology carrots, the genuine warmth, amusing parents, and all the animals...I don't think I have a single complaint.

Keeping the conflict on the real issues and not manufacturing drama between the men was the perfect way to go for this short romance.  The depth was there, but in a light handed way so it was more alluded to by the circumstances and side characters rather than in the descriptive dialogue or written explanations.  While Sam's individual conflict was a bit of a non-issue, it did give validation for his rather caustic myopticism that dictated his and Bo's first interaction and was suitably resolved in the same non-issue kind of way.  It was Bo's conflict that was really the focus and I was glad for the way it played out.

I almost want to take a tiny break from reading so I can let all the tender feels settle in me for just a bit longer.  There was just so much heart and honesty that it gave me the lightness I was craving.  No angst and all the feels, this short story is perfect for a literary lift when you need it.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Sam McAuley isn’t having a great start to the summer. Served with papers? Great. He’s being sued. Perfect, pristine yard overrun with chickens? What the—? Clearly, the new guy running the animal rehabilitation centre next door has no idea what he’s doing.

It’s one town to the next, one school to the next, one job to the next for Bo Novak. Everything is temporary. Even his current job—running his sister’s animal rehab centre while she’s away on a four-month leave—is temporary. And he does know what he’s doing, thank you very much. Sure, things don’t always run smoothly, but the stick-in-the-mud next door could be a little nicer about it.

One overheard conversation, an olive branch, and a baseball game might show these guys that being at odds isn’t really what they want, and that what they want might just be each other.

It's a Steal, Arden O'Keefe

I adored the premise and thought the beginning was quite cute with the complete opposites of the two mens' personalities, but it kind of quickly went off the rails and added a whole lot of elements and intrigue and drama that detracted from the whole overall feel.  Honestly this was a low 3 star, maybe even a 2.75 star book for me because of just how much was added to increase the conflict for no conceivable reason.  Manufacturing situations to make the story more interesting totally didn't work here.

What should have been a simple meet*cute between two men that had great reasons to discover more about one another through their individual differences alone devolved into cybercrime, family drama that was pretty much solved by one sisterly outburst that was one-sided and unfair as well as being overly simplistic, a rockstar that was actually a rocker with a respectable and enthusiastic fan base rather than a rock star, and a different family drama that was solved by a black hat hacker with a soft spot for a young man they hadn't spoken to in nearly a decade breaking silence and making actual contact so they could wave their magic wand and fix everything that was wrong.

It was just too much crazy with too little substance.  There were some nice moments, but timelines in the background snippets we got were confused and confusing, there was very little actual connection between the men, and way too much in-the-head explanations that basically told the story and not enough dialogue or depth driving the story.  So it was nice, just not my favorite.

*$4.99 on Amazon

*Prices accurate on date of posting*

Edric Wilcher has realized growing up that there are simply two things in this world he can never imagine his life without—music and coffee. This is the reason why he chooses the life of a famous rock star—at least, famous in his own small town, and then, goes ahead and opens up Rockstar’s Hideout Café. Every morning he serves his regulars and has a nice, long chat with them before they go back to their daily routine. His charms work wonders on them. Thanks to the good genes bestowed upon him, he doesn’t look half bad. So, it strikes him as odd that this new customer who walks in that morning carrying a heap of books doesn’t seem to even spare him a second glance.

“Coffee” is what he orders and Ed goes out of his way to make him feel special. But the redheaded nerd—okay, a cute nerd, probably cutest he’s seen in his life—just leaves with his books, leaving even the muffin-on-the-house completely untouched. The mystery surrounding this guy gets the best of Ed and when he finds a book left behind by this customer, he can’t help follow the trail to see him just one more time. Even if it is to get a name.

Dean Harrett has somehow misplaced the one thing that was supposed to help him out of his current problems—and that thing is not a cheesy, romance novel. What matters to him the most is what he’s kept in the book—the perfect plan that can make or break his future. And that book has gone now. Only if he can remember where he’s last seen that book…

Of course! The café, where that annoying barista just wouldn’t leave him alone so he had to leave.

But now Dean has to get back there and look for himself before anyone can lay their hands on it. He doesn’t even want to think about the worst-case scenario of someone finding out what he is up to. But this only means he will have to face the annoying, but handsome barista again. Ugh!

To celebrate Arden's debut release they have organized a MASSIVE giveaway!

Head over to Facebook to enter for you chance to win:

https://www.facebook.com/authorardenokeefe/posts/127174749062744

Amazon Gift Cards worth up to $200 and some amazing goodies are up for grabs!!!

"An enormous, gigantic THANK YOU everyone who has pre-ordered or purchased  IT'S A STEAL! This is a way of me showing how much I appreciate it. By following THREE easy steps (refer below), you stand a chance to win one of over TEN prizes!!!

I call this giveaway MASSIVE for a reason ... read on" -Arden O'Keefe

Here's what you're competing for -

❣️ A grand prize winner who'll receive $50 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen on September 1st, 2020)

❣️ 5 lucky winners who'll have a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen every Sunday in the month of AUGUST)

❣️ 2 lucky winners who'll receive $10 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen at random any time during the contest)

❣️ 1 lucky winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card

(Chosen at random at the end of the contest)

❣️ 1 lucky winner will receive a pack of amazing goodies!

(Chosen on September 1st, 2020)

Enter the contest in THREE easy steps over on Facebook -

Step 1: Like Arden's Facebook Page.

(Please note you will also be invited to my Facebook Group "The A-OK Squad")

Step 2: Fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/cYuEqk5GK7GGzQgv5

Step 3: Come back and tag AT LEAST 10 friends in your comment on the Facebook post HERE.

And that's it!

About Arden

Arden O’Keefe has several passions and reading is one of them. It is through reading the works of several loved authors that O’Keefe was inspired to craft out some personal creations. The muse never stops to motivate and that’s how the story of Edric and Dean just developed by itself. This is where O’Keefe begins the journey hoping that it doesn’t end anytime soon.

Follow Arden...

FACEBOOK

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Hunter's Moon: Alpha Triplets Book 1, Minerva Howe

This story definitely made the most of the tropes.  Fated mates with instant attraction and aggression toward the interlopers and insta-love being at the forefront of those tropes.  I'd say this story was a little light on the plot and the depth, but if you can get past all the gratuitous sexy times, you do find the bits of a plot that rescues omegas in danger as well as a set of alpha triplets that are as unique as they are the same that have a lot of potential for a fantastic pack.

The world itself is interesting, but we get very few, read none, of the details of the unique aspects of it, like the different names of the moon, the significance of triplet alphas that share a soul, the different wolf breeds, the pack structure they do and don't follow...there's a lot of detail that is missing and brings down the enjoyment of the story.  I'm hoping we get more in the subsequent stories, but I doubt it if they're all meant to be short stories that focus on the sexual healing of the magic peen and the bonding of mates through that oft-repeated act.

I actually felt myself being interested in the alphas and when the story finally got to the plot outside the bedroom.  The MC's in this particular story felt unbalanced and unlikely, though Derek was interesting because we actually got more of his thoughts regarding his family, job, art, and future hopes.  Ethan was kind of a stereotype come to life and his naivety was written more like a child and both his style and level of communication came of so childlike that it made nearly every intimate scene quite uncomfortable for me until near the end when he started to read as simply a naive, abused young man.

Despite feeling this book is more of a 2.5 stars than a legit 3, there are some grains of potential that I'm mildly interested to find out how they turn out.  Chris intrigues me as do the other alphas, Jax and Ryder, so I'd be willing to give the series a further read, but I can't say I'm running out to add them to my TBR list either.

*$2.99 on Amazon

When a rogue wolf brings a sweet omega to Derek Lowell's tattoo shop, he takes one deep breath and knows he can't let Ethan leave with the jerk. This omega is meant to be his, and Derek will do whatever he needs to do to save him.

Ethan is a Worthless One, an omega sold to a bad pack as a child, but he has a core of steel under his vulnerable exterior. When Derek offers him a safe haven, Ethan knows he has to try to overcome his past and grab his new Alpha with both hands. Cam Derek keep Ethan safe and teach him how to accept all the gifts Derek has to give him?

Finding Me: Voice Out Book 2, Stella Rainbow

Brady's spark and loyalty was engaging when we first met him in Finding You and here we get to see him get his happily ever after with the person who fits all of him.  Luckily Charlie is just as wonderful and a great match because they have their own journey to travel and it's not always on an upward slope.  Together they navigate change, acceptance, and love in a way that was full of challenge and tenderness.  This was such a wonderfully sweet story with an insightful look into how difficult some personal evolutions can be.

Charlie was shy, vulnerable, and so very curious.  Their openness served them well at the same time as giving the reader a glimpse into the ups and downs of accepting your true self after hiding away for decades.  The body dysmorphia was especially interesting in a way that a cis female like myself wouldn't truly be aware of had I not found a story like this.  Not liking myself or being dissatisfied with my body's appearance has nothing on what Charlie and many other non-binary individuals have to face and I absolutely appreciated how this topic was described and handled.  Following that up with Brady's fierceness in the face of hurtful family members showed a lighter and positive outcome for bringing family together despite all the hurt.

Brady's constant encouragement and support was invaluable to Charlie and their dynamic really worked for me.  This was a much lighter story in comparison to Finding You, but its subject matter was completely different and held a different intensity.  The Voice Out community is full of love and brightness in a world that doesn't accept all humans in their variety of flavors.  I'm a fan of this series and am eager for more.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Brady:
I thought I was happy with my life. I have a successful business, an awesome found family, a dog who is a bigger princess than me and volunteer work that keeps me busy and satisfied when nothing else does.

I was content—and I'd thought I was happy, too—to live my life just like that. No mess. No one to demand things of me I wasn't willing to give. No complications.

But then I met Charlie.

Charlie:
For my whole life, I'd been sure I was destined to live a half-life, to hide a part of myself so I wouldn't lose the only two people I cared about. And I was resigned to my fate.

But when my dad died of a sudden heart attack, I realized life was too short to keep hiding. I moved to a new city, but I had no clue how to go about finding a part of myself that I'd buried so long ago.

And then I met Brady.

A man who is out and proud of who he is and a person who has spent their life hiding a part of themselves. Will they be able to forge a path together or would their differences end up pushing them away?

Huntsman: Fox Hollow Zodiac Book 1, Morgan Brice

A fox and a wolf, fated mates and good men, who never would have met if not for the danger of a hunter of lore used to scare children into keeping the shifter secret among a world of humans.  There was so much to enjoy in this story from the world to the chemistry between mates, side characters with loyalty and personality as well as tact, a self-sacrificing MC that is NOT TSTL, and a subtly sweet way of expressing grieving and healing from it.  With a strong start to this series I know we'll be in for a romantic and supernaturally chaotic ride that fits right in with this author's style.

Liam ran away from danger in the way that foxes do and I liked his character, the way he was invested in his job and was eager to make friends in a town he knew would become his home.  I'm glad he didn't fight his mating instinct though truly appreciated the way he tempered that desire with honesty and caution.  Just because they were mates didn't mean they had to rush into a claiming.  Sometimes we get the fated-mate = insta-love situation in these trope-based stories, but in this story we got something that used human sensibilities and a very believable progression...up to a point, of course.

In addition to being interesting on his own as a part of a relationship with Russ, Liam became my favorite when he dove head-first into the search for the Huntsman, both in determination and in logic.  Too many times we see one MC feeling guilty and then running headlong into danger with nary a thought to using their brain and embodying the TSTL heroines we see in bad horror B-movies.  Instead Liam tempers that guilt with intelligence, precaution, and common sense.

Russ was good in a more subtle way.  He was dealing with years of grief over the loss of his husband, though not his fated mate.  Attempting to reconcile those two types of love gave us a mature and sweet evolution for Russ as he came to accept his fated mate while balancing not forgetting his former husband and also not letting it be a reason to avoid Fate's guidance.

The overall danger that surrounded everyone and everything was pretty well hidden despite having predictable parts that moved the story along.  While having the villain doing the cliche monologuing wasn't exactly awesome, the rest was, as was the introduction of other nefarious foes that may come calling as well as other characters that are sure to get their own stories.  I'm really looking forward to watching the series grow and evolve as we get other stories from the little town's residents and newcomers.

*$5.99 on Amazon

A grieving wolf. A hunted fox. Fated mates, thrown together by chance, and the looming threat of a fabled Huntsman who might tear them apart forever.

Fox shifter Liam Reynard is running from a killer. He uproots his life to find sanctuary in Fox Hollow, deep in the Adirondack Forest in New York.

When his car breaks down, sexy wolf shifter Russ Lowe comes to the rescue, and one touch makes it clear they’re fated mates. Neither man was looking for love, and both are still mending from past heartbreak. When mysterious fires and disappearances threaten Fox Hollow, Liam fears the killer is hot on his trail. Can he protect the town and his fated mate from the evil hunting him, or will an ex-lover’s betrayal cost Liam everything he loves?

The Magpie Lord: A Charm of Magpies Book 1, KJ Charles

I adore this story.  I've read it probably five times and feel the series fits the genre, the period, and the two men are given adequate justice in the romance, the sexual, and the intrigue department.  This book is worth devouring as the magic is fascinating as is the whole structure surrounding the use of magic.  Stephen is wonderfully insecure and yet self-assured and Lucien is his match in fierceness and determination.  They make a wonderful pair and I find myself coming back to this series again and again when I want a detailed yet fast-paced story filled with magic, frustration, and sexy MM love.

Lord Crane is arrogant, lofty, frustratingly dominant, and yet fantastic.  There's something in him that drew me in right away and his "eff you, London" attitude was refreshing as he wasn't a repressed aristocratic "gentleman".  Stephen is equally frustrating except in a very different way.  Their relationship will absolutely be difficult because where Lucien has all the "freedom" afforded him by money, options, and societal respect due to his title, Stephen has nothing but his spit and pride.  They're an awesome match in far more than the bedroom, but it'll take quite a while and a journey to get them onto the same page and to get Stephen willing to be all in with Lucien.

Being a practitioner is no easy thing because there's a whole hierarchy and in-fighting and justice issue piling up and Stephen is bearing an incredible weight under it all.  And to top it all off with a request to help a man with the name and face of his family's tormentor and you've got a virtually unbearable load on his incredibly slight shoulders.  But when they find themselves in the country and at the mercy of some very evil warlocks, we get a ton of excitement, utterly intriguing magic use, and a powerful alliance.  The action, once it gets to the big confrontation, is both disturbing and awesome.  It moves so quickly that you almost fight to slow down to catch every word, every nuance, every bit so you're not lost.  Much of it comes back in the third story of the series, so my caution is to get caught up in the pacing, but be careful in its reading.

I can't find anything I don't love in the story.  While not something I expected to love because sometimes historical MM romances can be a bit dodgy, this fit nearly every bill and left me both reeling and swooning.  Such an awesome read.

*Currently FREE on Amazon!
~All prices are valid at time of posting~

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.

Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Marquis of Hidden Doors: Royal Powers Book 3, Lynn Lorenz

Both men were interesting on their own and while I was glad we weren't bogged down in rehashing painful history and blame throwing, there was something lacking in the chemistry and the overall story progression that left me feeling a bit less than satisfied.

The struggle between Remy and his mother was there and vaguely resolved by the end while his relationship with his father was fantastic. There was a bigger bully that didn't truly get his comeuppance on page and could have been woven better with the overall drama surrounding them in their world.

The romance was a little quick and included a bit of extra drama that turned out to be unnecessary so I felt the time used to exacerbate their issues would have been better used to weave a more compelling overall story. I wish this had the punch I came to expect after reading Duking it Out by E.J. Russell, though on its own it wasn't a bad read at all, it just fell a little flat by comparison.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Secrets are never good things.

Remy Marchand is the Marquis of Marchand. Royal by blood. But he’s got a secret. In a world where royals have superpowers, Remy refuses to reveal his power, especially to his family. His entire life Remy wanted is to be just plain old Remy, not the Remy the Royal the kids from his childhood tormented. Back from university, all Remy wants to do is work on his art. All his parents want him to do is get a real job in The Municipal. But Remy’s not up for a life of boring paper pushing.

Hugo Legrand used to be a follower and a bully. But that was ages ago and Hugo is now the owner of a fledgling construction company. With one job, he’s got the chance to really make a name for himself – the renovation of the Marchand’s stable into a luxury rental place. The only bad thing – Remy Marchand, the object of Hugo’s desire lives there at the chateau. But Remy is so far out of his league, Hugo doesn’t stand a chance with a royal.

Hugo past haunts him. He’d been one of Remy’s childhood bullies – and Remy remembers. Hugo’s secret – even at thirteen, he’d thought Remy was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. If his fellow bullies found out, both Remy and he would have been in even more danger, so Hugo watched over Remy and stayed silent, letting Remy think the worst of him.

Now, fate and circumstance has thrown Hugo and Remy together, and there is no denying the spark between them. In their dreams, that spark ignites desire and hope.

But if Hugo wants Remy, he can no longer keep his secret.
And Remy’s secret, if it stays hidden, can let Hugo and Remy live the lives of their dreams.

But once out, it could destroy their future.

The Hero and the Hidden Royal: Royal Powers Book 2, Renae Kaye

I usually adore this author and while this story was a nice one, it didn't really meet what I've come to expect from them. This was a sweet story that's in a truly compelling world that started with a bang in Duking it Out by E.J. Russell, but has kind of fizzled in terms of the individual relationships. There is some crossover in some drama that occurs in the first story which gives a bit of cohesion here, but the romance in this story just wasn't compelling.

Both men were cute at first, but there was a whole lot of inner monologuing and description and storytelling that didn't make the story feel dynamic. It instead dragged where more dialogue and perhaps even a dual POV would have given us something different, something...just more, I suppose. I liked where we ended up and that Derek mostly figured himself out and was eventually recognized by the royals for his courage. That was a bright spot because it showed character evolution, but the romance was tame and Sam was short-sighted with his role in the whole drama. His sweetness and interest in Derek was good though, so it was enough to think they were a good match.

So overall this was a nice story, just not a compelling one. The world is more interesting than this particular couple and I'm hoping that the series gets back to where we started.

*$3.99 on Amazon

One frightened man with an illegal superpower. One brave man who wants him regardless.

Both are put to the ultimate test. And failure is not an option.

Derek Carson has a superpower—invisibility. But in a country where all those born into the royal family have a superpower, Derek is banned from using his power because he’s not “officially” in the royal family tree. He’s required to conceal it, but how can he do that when fear triggers his invisibility?

And Derek is afraid of everything—spiders, insects, strangers, thunder, heights…. Without control of his power, an invisible man is actually a hard thing to hide. He’s never been brave in his entire life, until the night he rescues a stranger who attempts to stop a robbery.

Sam Jeffries is everything Derek wishes he could be—big and strong, with a protective streak a mile wide—but most of all, Sam is brave. Unlike Derek, Sam’s not afraid of anything. Sam is hero material.

For Sam, dating a guy who’s not only scared of many things, but is invisible most of the time, is not easy. However he thinks Derek is worth it. When Derek turns invisible on him, Sam just kisses him until he forgets about his anxieties and reappears.

But when Derek is kidnapped, both will be tested.

Now Sam has something to fear and Derek must be brave enough to survive.

Spell of the Werewolf, J.R. Loveless

The overall feel of the story was pain and heartache.  Justin aches so much over what he did during the three nights a month he shifts into a monster and he's finally finding his breaking point.  With the support of his friend he's able to keep the monster caged, but his constant search for freedom from the curse puts him in the path of a hunter.  When they strike a deal it's what Justin feels is best for him and the world, but there's a lot about his world he doesn't know even after two centuries.

His volatile meeting with Vincent is interesting in that there's obviously a story behind the hunter and though we don't get his background until well into the story, his mystery is one that keeps me wanting to know more.  I did find his utter hatred strange because his beginning wasn't nearly as horrific as I expected, painful and bad and unfortunate, but not horrific enough to warrant such blind, all-encompassing hatred.  Quite a lot of the story leaned heavily on the animosity between him and Justin before any change occurred.

I can't say I felt a lot of connection between the MC's nor between me and them and the ending isn't even really an HFN either.  There are major things that need a sequel, but despite laying a foundation for one, I have no clue whether we'll get one or not.  So with no real resolution, quite a few questions and connections left unanswered, and a flash-in-the-pan climax that was a bit anticlimactic, I'm on the fence whether I'd want to continue if this did become a series.  Overall it was an interesting story with a really captivating premise and the bones for the story were pretty good, I just wasn't wowed as much as I hoped I would be.

*$4.99 on Amazon

A werewolf with a death wish bargains with a hunter for salvation.

Justin has spent several lifetimes atoning for the violent nature of his curse. A mindless angry beast several nights a month, he carries a burden of blood for past sins. Tired and lonely, he’s seeking an end to his torment.

Vincent bears the curse, though only by half. A hybrid, he hunts those of his brethren who let their monsters take over. And he’s hell bent on destroying them all, until he's forced to deal with one who’s begging for peace. Except deliverance wears many guises.

Their desire for redemption erupts in a fiery passion drawing them closer together.

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All Kidding Aside: Magical Mates Book 1, Macy Blake

Jumping back into the world of The Chosen One and the Hellhounds gives us all the after, all the children, and all the crazy that follows every single individual.  There are happy surprises, interesting discoveries, an alpha lion who never met a four-letter word he didn't like, and a murderous fae who nearly ruins everything.  If you're looking for a crazy world, adorable shifter children, and a pair of mates who need a miracle to get on the same page then look no further.

Victor is a prickly griffin with a big job to do.  And when a cute little red panda cub sets his sights on him his life is instantly changed.  No white shirts will survive, but neither will his heart; it now belongs in the little grubby hands  that have just as tight of a grip on his vintage Hermes tie.  But it's when the giant bear shifter enters his life that everything makes sense...and scares him beyond imagining.  I liked Victor, even his little escape fits him to a T and is actually quite tolerable because aside from distance, he doesn't do idiotic things to truly ruin everything as one might expect from many other stories with characters like him.

Riggs is baffled by the beautifully fractious Victor and their attraction is definitely present.  My favorite moment between them was definitely the half-asleep kitchen shuffle that started everything steamy between them.  It was adorable and spicy all at the same time and endeared me to him more than nearly every other moment in the story.

Both men coming together for the project of housing everyone showed a pretty competent team and then when they worked together to care for and about Gus I was sold.  That's not to say they were perfect or awesome, they didn't truly meet those descriptors.  They were pretty simplistic characters, good ones, but not especially deep or compelling.  It was how everything worked together as a whole family unit within a rambunctious pack that made it all fit.  This was definitely a fitting story to add to the Chosen One Universe and I'm absolutely coming back to it to see more magical mate pairings because I can't seem to get enough of their world and the children that need so very much.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Building houses for a pack of orphans might lead one griffin to find his heart’s home.

Victor Eastaughffe knows three things for a fact:
-He does not have a mate.
-He does not like children.
-His duty is to his griffin clan.

When Victor meets Orsen Riggs, a scruffy bear shifter, and little Gus, an orphaned red panda cub, his orderly, structured world becomes messy and chaotic. All the things he once held true suddenly don’t make sense.

Asked to help the Smith pack navigate the difficult world of shifter politics, Victor realizes he might not know himself as well as he thought. Magic is in the air, and it’s making him long for things he never wanted before. But duty comes before all else, even at a price Victor no longer wants to pay.