A Veiled & Hallowed Eve: Soulboud Book 7, Hailey Turner

 Everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it's finally time for Patrick to pay his.

This.  Just so much this.  I'm in love, I'm in agony, I'm grieving, I'm elated, I'm soaring, I'm astounded, I'm just...overwhelmed.  I hate that the series is over and I feel that way each time I end a series by this author because they've sucked me in, chewed me up, spat me out, and enjoyed every moment of my torture, it seems, because they do it over and over again.  But honestly, I must love that too because I just keep coming back for more.

Patrick is everything.  He's come a long way and his heart has been maturing and growing and deepening up to this point of reckoning and I can't see any other way this should have gone.  I ache for him and for everything he's gone through and to come out triumphant in some ways and desolate in others is beyond my comprehension or ability to empathize.

And then there's Jono.  He is also everything.  Everything to Patrick, everything Patrick needed, and stunning in a way that was unique to this world and made him unlike any other.  No one else would do, no one else could get into Patrick's heart they way he has and no one else could support him or get him through everything that needed to be done.

There's nothing I didn't love about this story and am profoundly in awe of the world that has been saved and decimated and put through the wringer, for this masterpiece of a series to be written, and for me to be so moved.  I'm not sure anything I can say that would do it justice.  This author has abused and saved this world and the vehicles they chose to break it apart and remake it through their journey toward redemption.

A Veiled & Hallowed Eve by Hailey Turner is now live! 

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Death is the last lover you will ever know.

SOA Special Agent Patrick Collins has lived a life full of lies, and it has finally caught up with him. There's no denying his past any longer, not after giving up the truth to save himself from a murder charge. But truth alone can't set Patrick free, and time is running out to stop the Dominion Sect from turning his father into a god.

Jonothon de Vere knows survival isn't a guarantee, but he's desperate to keep Patrick safe, even as hope slips through his fingers. With the future unknown, Jono will follow Patrick wherever he goes, even to Salem, where a family reunion reveals a bitter secret that was never going to stay buried.

With New York City under control of their god pack, Patrick and Jono must fall back on every alliance they've brokered to fill the front lines of a war coming directly to the city streets. The veil is always thinnest on Samhain, and what awaits them on the other side is the stuff of nightmares. For when it tears, all hell will break loose, and the gods will be summoned to face a reckoning the world isn't ready for.

The stakes have never been higher, failure has never been so deadly, and the Fates have never been kind to heroes. Patrick knows that better than anyone--because everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it's finally time for Patrick to pay his. 

Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads TBR list!

About Hailey...

Hailey Turner is a big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing.  She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.  Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.

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What We May Be, Layla Reyne

This author has a way of writing relationships that I adore when I was initially incredibly hesitant of the dynamic. While I'd love to say this story became one of the same, it turned out that I only enjoyed the relationship and didn't come to adore them as I'd hoped. I'm pretty sure this came down to the amount of pages devoted to them versus the pages to the mystery. There's a feeling in me that would have loved for this to be a duet. The dynamic of the three worked so well and their path to reconciliation wasn't without pitfalls, but there were some things I would have appreciated to see take a little slower to delve into. There was an incredible amount of spice and I'm certainly not ashamed to say I wanted more of it. There were also some incredibly tender moments of love and forgiveness that could have really blossomed if the preceding and the following moments were given a little more time to unfold. Similarly with the serial killer mystery. I think it was a little bit rushed and could have really been given an extra element of suspense and fear if it had more time to develop. This author has an amazing way with words that I wanted more of for nearly every situation. And really I think that's what this comes down to. Layla Reyne is an incredible author with fantastic characters and wonderful plots and I always want more for each story.

*Download today for $4.99 or read for FREE on KU

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/WWMB

What We May Be by Layla Reyne is now live! 

What we were...

Sean found love once, with his college roommate, Trevor, and Trevor's best friend, Charlotte.
The missing piece, Sean made it possible for Trevor and Charlotte to find love too.
But then Sean left and took the love with him.

What we are...

Now an FBI agent, Sean is back in town, ten years later, to investigate a murder.
A case that pits him against his ex-lovers--Charlotte, a local detective, and Trevor, a literature professor sucked into the Shakespearean mystery.
Everyone guards their hearts, but before long, desire sparks anew the feelings that burned hot a decade ago.
That still burn true.

What we may be...

Love is within their grasp again, but as the killer escalates, it's more than just their hearts and futures on the line.
Sean, Charlotte, and Trevor will need to work together to solve the case.
If they can't, lives will be lost and pieces of their love gone for good.

Don't forget to add this to your Goodreads TBR list!

 About Layla

Layla Reyne is the author of the Fog City, Agents Irish and Whiskey, Trouble Brewing, and Changing Lanes series.  A Carolina Tar Heel who now calls the San Francisco Bay Area home, Layla enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance.

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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.

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?

Tasty AF, LE Franks

Christian came out with guns blazing only to retreat into misery when his nasty ex became a vindictive jerk.  Their bit of "patching things up" at the end was a nice thought, but I don't know that it provided the closure Christian needed.  It would have been best to just leave it be and have him find happiness in just being happy with what he created on his own out of the shadow of his ex no matter how much work went into his past.

Andy's issue worked for the story...in theory.  The way it was written in was overly dramatic and made Andy, who started out endearing and straightforward in his interest, into someone self-righteous, selfish, and judgmental.  He turned out to be someone who had way more emotional investment into something that wasn't his fault and then he put all his damage onto Christian.

Their first date started out cute and everything that led up to that point had potential, but when Andy did what he did and then got maudlin and proceeded to bail on Christian after a bit of good conversation and a sweet kiss only to find a hand job hook up a couple days later at a club left me completely reeling.  WTF was uttered over and over.  And then the scene in Powell's...first with the journals, unnecessary and weird, then with the coffeeshop, out of place and too philosophical and depressing, all to culminate with him treating Christian badly, yet again, without real provocation, only perceived, and he didn't even let Christian explain.  But then that bit ended up with sexy flirting?  I was tossed all over the place wondering what in the eff was supposed to be going on.

Christian started off okay but gained presence, Andy started off great but quickly died a quick death in my mind.  I didn't really believe in their relationship because it seemed Christian was the only one trying to understand and include Andy in every facet.  When Andy made his grand gesture it was sweet, I'll give it that, but his presence was so very diminished by that point that it just wasn't enough to save him in the end for me.

This story had an interesting premise that I was absolutely all in for, but the finished product was severely lacking.  For a republished story it wouldn't have hurt the author to find a beta reader (there are dozens and dozens of us that do this for free) to give some objective advice before republishing.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Gunnar's Guardian: Book 1, Pandora Pine

I felt this story was really well-written.  There were absolutely shocking events and tragedy, but it wasn't overwhelmed by the horrors.  It was family, love, and all the bits that made the characters find their true selves that made it worth reading.

Gunnar really grew into his own and found his innate skills while discovering his worth and a real family.  He didn't have the easiest path in life despite all the wealth he was afforded.  Sometimes the strings attached to the affection aren't worth the box the puppet is forced into and when push came to shove, Gunnar found himself with a bleak future.  But that dark cloud was dispelled by the grumpy cop next door.

Kennedy definitely had his prickish moments, mostly coming from his rather difficult past.  What I liked best about him was that he used his resources and didn't let his pride, justification, and prickly nature push everyone and everything away.  He never shied away from , ignored, avoided, or dismissed and disregarded those that would call him on his BS.  Along with that, seeing his thought process and knowing he knew when he was wrong was honorable, refreshing, and wonderful.  He understood exactly when he was the one that needed to apologize and set about getting advice and counsel, along with a large side of forthright and necessary chastisement, on how to make amends.  And then he just did it.  He didn't let things stew and cause greater harm, he just sought out what to do and got to work.

There were some truly jarring heartbreaks in this story too, but overall this was truly an awesome read.  I can't wait for Deacon's Defender so I can jump right back into their lives.  These men and the cast surrounding them are compelling and hurting and so worthy of love and healing.  I'm thrilled this series had such a strong start.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Aside from being a cop, Kennedy is used to living a quiet life. But when a new neighbor moves in next door, his peaceful days are at an end.

Gunnar pushes all Kennedy’s buttons. He’s rude, cocky, and overconfident. He’s also sexy, and Kennedy can’t deny the attraction that simmers between them.

He helps Gunnar find a job at the local firehouse, where the younger man seems to fit in well. As they grow closer, tragedy strikes. Will Kennedy be able to save the man who’s become his whole life?