Find the Jinn: Wilde Contracts Book 1, Maz Maddox

The premise grabbed me right away and I was ready to jump right in. Despite feeling like we were coming in a chapter or two later even though it was the opening scene, this wasn't the first story I've read that did this kind of thing. I was sure we would get a little explanation, back story, or something to catch me up so I pressed on...but we didn't get any of those things.

For the first book of a series it felt like I was missing something -- constantly. I've read in other reviews about Killing the Messenger (or is it Kill the Messenger?) that I got through a Prolific Works giveaway event so I'll need to back to that and read to see if there's anything that can give me a better picture, but I'm not sure what to expect in that regard.

I really enjoyed all the characters, but for very different reasons. Dallas was incredibly flawed and we can see pretty early on that there's a torturous tragedy in his past that he's running away from by using drugs, danger, bravado, and any and all kinds of avoidance. I'm sure there will be a sharing, a reckoning that will take place, but that wasn't here in this first book. So for trigger warnings, there is drug use, unfaithful partners, alcohol use, and servant/master type situations.

The two other characters that play a pivotal role may or may not be actual love interests and they intrigued me from the beginning as well. There's an incubus, Sias, who seems to care for Dallas, but has no commitment or intentionally tender moments to show us that there's more than a preferred "meal" situation between them. Is there a possibility for more? Definitely. There's also some incendiary spice between them in a club where Dallas is offered up as a delicacy...

Zane is the one that intrigued me the most out of the two possible interests there. There's a bit of an enemies to reluctant partners to possibly something more spicy to maybe lovers kind of situation brewing there. Because of the connection between Zane and Dallas there's bound to be confusion, frustration, and a reluctant amount of feels that may be misconstrued, argued away, and eventually explored. At least, I sure hope so!

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the progression, all the types of progression, that we're going to get in this series. Opening of hearts, vulnerabilities, and a whole lot of answers needs to happen before the end of it though, otherwise I might revolt...kind of, haha.

There isn't an actual romantic relationship by the end of this first story and, to be honest, I'd be a little on the disappointed side of apprehension if either potential love interest is chosen over the other one at this point; I'm kind of hoping for an MMM situation even though that's not my preference in pairings. It kind of feels right for now to imagine that will be the outcome, but there are still two more books to go.

But really, the thing to keep in mind here is that in this first book you're going to feel lost, frustrated, intrigued, annoyed, disappointed, and eager for more all at the same time. Maybe you'll be more on one side than the other, but I think you should really give the rest of the series a shot before deciding overall that this just wasn't for you. This isn't the best showing of the author in a first-of-the-series way, but it is definitely their style and I'm sure we'll get something great to follow it up...well, after being stymied by more frustration first. There are A LOT of threads that need tying off because they keep getting dropped for no good reason.

*$6.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Omega Alone, S. Rodman

I very much wanted to like this book. The premise grabbed my attention and I was curious about how the rescue would become love, how Luca would find his strength, and how Erik would find his softness. While those three things happened, I found far too much that bothered me deeply to truly enjoy the story and the outcome.

Trigger warnings not mentioned in the synopsis:

Dubious consent during matings, yes, on more than one occasion and each time it bothers

Attempted rape

Stockholm syndrome

Administration of drugs without consent

Forcible invasion of memories through magical means

Physical abuse

Trafficking of a person

Uninformed consent at every freaking turn

Just with that list alone this book should be a one star review. There were huge issues with how Luca was sold in the first place, bound to a vampire, then sold again to the wolf shifter who becomes his mate, beginning with Luca's time with the vampire, not dealing with Luca's fear, obvious distress, lack of knowledge, his reaction to Erik's pack, and his silence in reaction to virtually everything if he's not either crying or trying to escape, seeing nothing of his own innate magic or talents in general, getting virtually no dynamics of Erik's pack...

The thing is though, I didn't hate the story. It's a long list of what was missing and inadequate, but there are moments of sweetness and hope and one tiny bit of humor after Luca does a really cool thing near the end and other characters that managed to grab my interest insomuch as to make me actually consider continuing with this world if there is to be a series to follow.

...yeah, I know.

So yeah, huge red flags, incredibly disturbing scenes that are not addressed constructively or satisfyingly, and a lack of character depth or growth that really doesn't inspire me to recommend this story at all. But...I might actually read more from the world at some point, so there is that.

*$4.99 on Amazon

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! 

*Download today for $6.99 or read for FREE with KU

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/Soulbound7

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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Fables Retold, Morgan Brice and Various Authors

I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling, especially when there are a few twists or modernizations thrown in wisely. Four of the included stories really caught my interest and two were written by a couple of my must-read authors so I was pretty excited for this anthology.

Below are reviews for only four of the stories: The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns; The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes; Gruff, Morgan Brice; and The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow.

The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns
This was a really unique take on Puss in Boots, that the boots were the tool used to bring back the element of humanity in a supernaturally altered cat.  The romance itself took a back seat to Luke's making a home in the mansion of a missing witch while making sense of the life he's trying to gain.  In and amongst all the little discoveries there's something going on between him and the Alastair of his dreams, but none of that really comes together until the very end and by then we're supposed to believe there's a romantic connection, though it's a bit of curiosity, lust, and desperation all mixed up in a way that's okay for a start, but not a good way to end the story.  While the epilogue bit was cute and shows a far more settled couple, it doesn't really deepen the believability of the romance.  I wished there were more magic, more romance, and more of a build, but overall the unique take and interesting premise was passable.  3 stars.

Gruff, Morgan Brice
I love Fox Hollow!  Each story in this world fits the setting and adds interest to a town I wish I could visit in real life.  Adiel and Joe are new additions to the town and their meet-cute was a good intro to Adiel, getting to know Joe came a bit later.  My favorite bit was probably the first shift where they meet one another's goats...adorable!  Their hesitance was endearing until Adiel let his fear and insecurity get the better of him.

The romantic conflict was super predictable and the way they both flew off the handle and stomped off full of self-righteousness and hurt feelings was definitely not appreciated, but what made it excusable was that during their separation both truly reflected on their overreactions and made really astute observations that led to believable resolutions.

And the introduction of the Three Billy Goats Gruff aspect was far more dramatic than I expected, they were powerfully different, violent, and challenging.  Very little resembled the Norwegian fairy tale beyond the desire to consume the challenger and I liked the intent behind the changes.  They were a little repetitive, but still quite effective.  The whole experience helped Adiel to prove, not only to Joe, but to himself that he was stronger than he thought, that he was deserving of more than he's been given or had accepted up to now.  And the assists from Joe were just right; a partnership and a non-verbal show of just where his own heart and hopes lay.  Definitely unique and great addition to the Fox Hollow stories.  4 stars.

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes

Quite grim nearly from the start with a whole lot of loss and apprehension about huge life changes for everyone, Elio had a lot to come to terms with over the course of the story.  The creepy nature of Bertram, the house setup, the mystery...all of it was fitting to the original tale.  While I was glad things worked out as they did, I didn't connect with any of the characters much at all even though I really wanted to.  I was more interested in Grim, the random dog who was a mystery on their own and left unexplained to the very end.

There was a lot that was unresolved by the end, most the minutiae of consequences from the climax, and I would have really appreciated seeing some of the transition because Elio had two more huge changes coming at him; the hopeful expectation regarding those changes just wasn't enough to satisfy me.  Between the magic that I wanted more of and the friends-to-lovers setup with Dutch that I also didn't get enough of, the story was fine, I just didn't feel there was enough.  3 stars.

The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow

By far the best book I have ever read from this author.  Poe and Tommy are fascinating and memorable on their own and together they are incendiary and fickle and salty and sweet too.  I enjoyed their roller coaster, though I wish it had been an alternating POV and not just Poe's.  From the very beginning I was intrigued and engaged and interested in the MC's and rooted for their HEA, which they most definitely got.

The plot was clear and focused, it progressed well without too many complications thrown in just to make things more interesting.  There was drama, of course, but it was resolved in a way that fit the characters and the family they surrounded themselves by.  There weren't any true surprises along the way, but neither was it exactly predictable; it was just right, in my opinion.  There was a strength in the subtleties, the bad guys were clear, and the good guys were a lot of fun while also being clever and deadly.

There was compassion, heart, passion, and family in all the right ways.  I really want more from this world.  If you sign up for the author's newsletter you could gain access to a short story from Tommy's POV from when he met Poe and while it was kinda nice, it was incredibly short and I thought it was underwhelming.  I'd recommend not reading it after the story, read it as part of the story where it belongs chronologically if you really want to read it, I just think it was unnecessary.  4.5 stars.

*$8.99 on Amazon

Tales as old as time…reimagined.

What if your favorite fairy tales…kicked some serious, urban fantasy ass?

Fueled by magic, steam, and scorching men, this MM romance anthology has just the thrill you’re looking for.

Stories included:

Blake & the Beast by Rhys Lawless (Beauty & the Beast)

The Cat Returns to Adderly by Sam Burns (Puss in Boots)

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell by W.M. Fawkes (Bluebeard)

Gruff by Morgan Brice (Three Billy Goats Gruff)

The Demon's in the Details by Meghan Maslow (Rumpelstiltskin)

Spirit of Snow by Richard Amos (Snow White)

His Fairy Share: Starfig Investigations Book 3, Meghan Maslow

We began the series following Twig and his tumultuous relationship with his fae father and the unexpected boon of a mate in the form of a mage in slavery to a cruel unicorn.  The evolution of the series has been shifting to focus on Quinn and while I wasn't a fan of that in the second book because it essentially neutered all the good and badassery we found in Twig, it really came into its own here in the third book.  I'm really, really hoping for a fourth book because there are still a few issues not completely dealt with and I'd like to see this move into a true partnership now that we've gotten a pretty good base of the two MC's as individual powers.

This certainly wasn't what I expected or even wanted when I began the series, but on its own, this is a really great read.  There are exciting battles, tons more magic, pirates, alien-ish creatures, familial discoveries, and so much more.  And with a huge dose of learning to accept yourself and the past that led you to where you found what you truly needed.

Quinn has really come into his own here.  While there was little to no mention or dealing with the abusive past that led him to this point, he's taking his own future and his mating into his own power and really growing with it.  Twig has become an important side character and I'm hoping they find their way together as a pair because he truly provides the vulnerability, the heart, and the more interesting nuances to the story that it very much needs.

I think my favorite parts are the pirates and the fighting scenes.  We're introduced to new characters that are compelling on their own and add depth to the new realm we're thrust into.  The big battle over the ocean isn't ridiculously overpowered and skewed to one side, it's balanced in that there was give and take on both sides that was part of a larger whole that was the story and all its moving parts.  I really liked this book and as mentioned before, it wasn't where I thought we'd end up, but I'm glad that it was far more interesting than I'd thought it would be.

*$5.99 on Amazon

“Why does this always happen to us?” –Quinn Broomsparkle, wizard extraordinaire

Six months have passed since wizard Quinn Broomsparkle left behind his indentured servant shackles. He’s in love with his half-dragon/half-fairy familiar, Twig Starfig. He’s got a home. Friends. A job. And a father-in-law he could do without. A pretty close to perfect life. But as Quinn has learned the hard way, things rarely stay peaceful for long. Especially when a Starfig’s involved.

Summoned to his home realm and a past he’d thought left behind, Quinn and Twig find themselves in the middle of evil machinations . . . with no clear enemy. When Quinn’s younger brother, Zak, goes missing, it’s Starfig Investigations on the case.

Being the first wizard in a thousand years isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. On top of a missing brother, a broken-hearted red fury, an archivist with a secret, and a ghost pirate-parrot who’s determined to return to his captain, Quinn and Twig’s relationship is sorely tested when questions—and unhappy answers—about their mating dilemma are pushed to the fore.

All Quinn wants is his fairy share of happiness. Is that so much to ask?

Be Fairy Game: Starfig Investigations Book 2, Meghan Maslow

Being right isn't always a great thing.  That goes for what I was anxious about for this book as well as Twig and Quinn.  The ability to say "I told you so," doesn't feel great when you were hoping for so much more.  There were some incredibly sweet sentiments expressed, a few humorous scenes, and an incredible amount of potential for the series as a whole so the story isn't a total miss, there were just also some immensely disturbing scenes that left me feeling icky and not altogether comfortable.

What I was right about in my fears expressed in my review for book one is the relationship dynamic between Twig and Quinn.  In the name of "empowering" Quinn and not following a more stereotypical dominance dynamic Quinn continually undermines Twig's decisions, makes him doubt his intentions, belittles his instincts, hurts his feelings, and dismisses his fears.  Quinn has lowered in my estimations as a good partner for Twig.

Their whole relationship is a struggle for me, actually.  I'm still in love with their potential and I'm having a difficult time reconciling that with the reality.  There are so many, too many, times that their whole dynamic is brought up to dissect only to be dismissed or interrupted and it leads to too many moments of doubt, hurt, and unresolved frustrations.  There's a power thing going on that's taking a back seat to Quinn's consistent need for secrecy and putting his struggles, his feelings, and his issues above Twig's.  I'm not a fan.

One scene that gave me all kinds of icky feels was where Twig's first time with catching was under the influence of an incubus' magic crazy dust and Quinn's inability to care for Twig.  He's lucid enough to get acknowledge the effect of the powder and to get them to a relatively private space, but once again, his desires, his situation, is far more important than all the fear and hesitation that Twig has expressed over months of being together before this moment.  Just no.  So many times, no.  And then for Twig to reassure and comfort and seek out Quinn's well-being...this can only be a bad thing in the long run.

I don't want to make this a ranty review where it seems I don't like the story because I actually do in a general way and in the view of a series as a whole with fascinating characters and shenanigans that were quite entertaining (Bill's fear of garden gnomes, anyone?).  So in the interest of keeping the ranty bits short, I'll briefly mention the other things that bothered.  Twig's father, the too-quick-to-forgive moment with his mother, the surprising lack of empathy from Twig as we, once again, defer to Quinn's sense of right and wrong when it comes to feeling for and helping misunderstood beings (Twig should be the ring-leader in seeking to help and liberate instead of being uber judgy and needing Quinn to remind him of his own perception parallels), the lack of Twig's backbone with his father's discrimination and machinations, the lack of connections made between really obvious stuff...  I think there are a couple more, but that's quite enough, I feel.

While I don't know how I feel about focusing on Quinn in the next story, I am excited to see where this series is going.  And Bill, his yearning is palpable and when he's not acting like a preachy queen I'm absolutely in love with him and hope to see him get the being who will love him.  Bill's mention of Twig's scent is incredibly intriguing and I'll absolutely stick with this until we get that answer...there are a whole lot of little foretelling bits in relation to Twig and his eventual growth and power that I'm absolutely champing at the bit for and can only hope don't come through Quinn's power or control, but from him on his own and within himself.  I want to see Twig's brain truly engage and to find out what his fae gift is.

The list of things I'm looking forward to is arguably longer than the things that bothered me in this book so it's safe to say that I'm definitely in for more and am committed to sticking with the series and I'll be holding out hope that Twig and Quinn get it together in a way that makes me feel warm and fuzzy instead of apprehensive.

*$4.99 on Amazon

They’re baaacckk!

When a simple ‘find & fetch’ case throws private investigator Twig Starfig and newly-minted wizard, Quinn Broomsparkle, into the middle of an EBI murder investigation, it’s just another day in the Elder Realm.

If murder were Twig’s only problem, he’d be the luckiest half-dragon in the land. Murder he can handle. Fulfilling his promise to his scheming, power-hungry father to run for a seat on Lighthelm’s city council? Meh, he’d rather face a demon with a toothache.

On top of their case going sideways, and Twig running for a council seat he really doesn’t want, Twig and Quinn are forced to face some unpleasant realities about their budding romance, while still learning how to handle the wizard-familiar bond they now share. Throw in a red fury with abysmal taste in boyfriends, a ghost pirate-parrot who drinks too much, a murderer who will stop at nothing to get what they want, a host of new friends and enemies, and you’ve got a situation where no one is safe and everyone is Fairy Game.

By Fairy Means or Foul: Starfig Investigations Book 1, Meghan Maslow

There is a whole helluva lot of stuff going on in this book.  Not taking into account they myriad creatures that flit in and out of each and every scene of the story, there is a vast world of worlds, politics, societal issues, and machinations that could, and sometimes do, trip up the MC's all along the way.  While I do feel that the world-building is ultimately effective, it's a whole lot to tackle and has the potential to derail whatever plot and character growth we hope to see in future installments.  I'll be keeping my eye out for that one.

It's always a gamble tackling a fantastical story like this one and I think we're on our way to a really great series if each element can be reeled in or woven well into whatever craziness Twig and Quinn get thrown at them.  There are a lot of directions we could go with the framework given here and I'm fairly excited to see how it all pans out.  Despite having a ton of potential, there was a lack of depth to the characters and their dynamic.  I wish so hard that this story had an alternating POV.

With only Twig's perspective he felt both obstinate and vacillating because we're tossed from his resolute determination to stick it to his father even to his detriment and then seeing his resolve crumble at various moments where the capitulation was unnecessary.  I had a hard time getting a grasp of who he is and what his real motivations were.  He's got a heap of baggage to sort through and I'm unclear as of yet if he'll improve as he wades through it all and whether or not Quinn will help or hinder his personal evolution.

Quinn is much harder for me to like.  I feel for his plight, truly I do, but his character is similar to Twig's in that he's stubborn just to be stubborn and also vulnerable because of the hand life has dealt him.  Because of his stubbornness he puts Twig into situations where not only is Twig put in danger, but he undermines anything good Twig wants to do and ultimately is given credit for the good that does happen, like he's the one leading Twig around and it feels forced and unnatural.  I don't have a good feeling for where their relationship is going if that's going to be their dynamic from here on out.  I'm hoping my gut is wrong on this one and that Quinn will support and strengthen Twig instead of patronize and placate him, effectively making him a powerless Alpha in the name of "empowering" Quinn's character.

The world and all its intricacies are intriguing, to say the least, and I have a ton of hope for Twig.  With all the complicated relationships he's got going on and the bargains he ends up making with his father I'm excited to see where we go from here.  I'm anticipating situations that will bring individual character growth for Twig, new characters and relationships that will bring humor and a sense of belonging, and deeper interactions (with more steam) with Quinn as the series continues.  I'm definitely diving in to book two as soon as I can.

*$4.99 on Amazon

The last thing half-dragon, half-fairy private investigator Twig Starfig wants to do is retrieve a stolen enchanted horn from a treacherous fae, but there’s no denying the dazzlingly gorgeous unicorn who asks Twig to do just that. Literally, no denying, because compelling the reluctant detective is all part of a unicorn’s seductive magic.

To add to his woes, Twig is saddled with the unicorn’s cheeky indentured servant, Quinn Broomsparkle. Dragons are supposed to want to eat humans, but Twig’s half-dragon side only wants to gobble up Quinn in a more . . . personal way. Making matters worse, it’s obvious the smokin’ hot but untrustworthy sidekick is hiding something. Something big. And not what’s in his trousers. In the PI business, that means trouble with a capital Q.

Throw in gads of zombies, a creepy ghost pirate ship, a malfunctioning magic carpet, and Twig’s overbearing fairy father’s demands to live up to the illustrious Starfig name. Naturally, an old but abiding enemy chooses this time to resurface, too. Those inconveniences Twig can handle. The realization he’s falling for a human who isn’t free to return his affections and whose life may hang on the success of his latest case?

Not so much.

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.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

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.

Soul Magic: The Triad of Magic Book 3, Macy Blake

Everyone is reeling from the vicious attack and no one more than Cormac.  The seemingly ageless vampire is struggling with something beyond his own control and while I'm not necessarily happy that he's suffering, I do like that there's something dynamic about him.  More than his vampiric nature coming out to protect Simon, he's far more than the staid, compassionate being we've met prior to now.

His struggles don't go unseen however, and it's Liam that offers more than just support, he offers his blood.  Their connection is immediate and intense but while the drama surges all around them they decide keeping that on the low is for the best.  Usually that tactic bothers me to no end, but here it allows them to build something based on depth rather than just lust and blood.  Liam's attention to detail as well as his insight combines well with Cormac's vast knowledge and desire to protect Simon as Liam protects Gray.  Together they make a really great pair and when feelings are finally shared they're intimate, soft, and very sweet.

It's not until the epilogue that you see how they end up though, so if you're looking for a start-to-finish romance between Cormac and Liam, it's there, but their complete evolution isn't spelled out like it is with Simon and Gray.

Simon was how we started the series and Simon is how we "end".  The confrontation is immense, colorful (quite literally), and ran the gamut of emotions from devastating to elation.  It wasn't an easy moment to read but the triumph was extremely hard-won and miraculous.  I really enjoyed reading the process.  It was thought out and detailed in its description so you could follow along and see how all the pieces of the journey up to this point play a part and fit together.  Without the slower pace and minute details described I'd have gotten quite lost.  Anything less would have seemed like a let-down for all the build-up we've had over the course of nearly three books.

The epilogue was perfection to see how every couple has their place, how the young boys turned out in the end, and how vast the love of the entire pack is.  Of all the men, women, and couples we've met, it's Simon and his boys that captivated me the most.  I kind of wish we'd had more of an in-between, but that's merely because I just didn't really want to let the series go.  I'm glad we get another chance to visit some of the characters with Wild Magic, at least I hope we do, because I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Blood runs soul-deep, but found families are forever.

Cormac hasn’t been the same since the night the High Moon Pack was attacked. With his magic weakened, he’s consumed by a bloodlust he hasn’t felt since he first became a vampire. His need to replenish his power makes him a danger to his last remaining family member, and his hunger makes him careless. Feeding from pack beta Liam Benson was supposed to slake his appetite, not leave him craving more.

Liam is drawn to Cormac in ways he can’t explain and as the fight to protect the pack he loves reaches a critical point, his connection to Cormac deepens in a way neither wolf nor vampire anticipated. Will Cormac’s role in the final showdown against the dark forces threatening the pack sever the bond Liam and Cormac have started to weave?

Simon, Gray, and Cormac must fight a being history says shouldn’t exist—one with all three types of magic. The pack must use all their resources to combat the mysterious triad, even turning to the mysterious Conclave of Mages for help. As they learn more about this terrifying dark threat, protecting the pack proves to be riddled with challenges and sacrifices. While Gray attempts to hold his traumatized pack together, Cormac struggles to reconcile his past failures with his current desires, and Simon must attempt the impossible: an alliance between mind, body, and soul.

Accidental Mates, Anitra Lynn McLeod

This was a unique and really funny beginning to a series that I'm definitely going to dive into.  I enjoyed the premise quite a lot and the demon was really easy to come to love.  He had a lot of passion and compassion for Alex that went a lot way to evening out the more forceful and secretive parts of him.  Alex was interesting in that he stood up for himself and used his brain more than his reactions to the sexy demon.  It was his father that bothered me.  Yes, I can understand his blustering and the reasoning behind his actions, I just felt like there could have been a bit more of an apology on his end for the secrets and the way he treated Alex.  Overall, I thought this was a very humorous start and I'm definitely coming back for more.  4 stars.

Not as charming at Demon, but still interesting.  I'm a sucker for dragons so I thought this would be my favorite of the series.  Not so, unfortunately.  I found there to be very little real chemistry between the MC's and neither character really captivated me.  The mating stuff was interesting, a little amusing, and very unique.  I'm not sure I was won over by the dragons' world either.  It was definitely unique and gave Mitch a purpose, but his individual character was so very milquetoast before this point that I just didn't really think his journey was anything close to what we got with Alex.  Alex's "quest" was interesting and fit with the story.  While Mitch's was fitting to the story, I didn't think it showed strength or any significant change to make him a stronger character.  It was an okay story for sure, but a let-down from the first.  3 stars.

This was a nice story with two men who really did need one another. While I wasn't really invested in their story, I did really like how it ended. Gabriel was a little harder to like because of his constant dismissal of many of Luke's concerns, questions, and convictions. Luke's moral beliefs when it came to relations, intimacies, etc. seemed a little out of place. To claim he knew little about religious things but held notions of prudish appropriateness that typically come from religious experience felt incongruous. I absolutely respect his desire to wait, that it was something special to him, and I had zero problems with that sentiment, but Gabriel's countering and then praising it didn't sit well. There were quite a few things that didn't really add up and it detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

Where the first two stories in the series had the human mate go on some kind of journey, Luke's was very different in that he needed to find himself and know who he really was and what he was all about without strong male personalities guiding, taking advantage of, or protecting him. I don't think he fully achieved it, but it was a nice thought that could have used a bit more attention. By the end I was okay with the story and haven't given up on the series.  3 stars.

Of all the stories, I think this one had the most well-rounded characters and the story was sufficiently wrapped up with an exciting beginning and a sweetly wonderful ending.  While I think there were a couple bits that didn't really work as well, like near the end with Os'vald's weirdly justified behavior in the beginning as well as the ease of location change to satisfy the story's end, overall I think this was an immensely successful story.  It felt complete because there were two unique characters with quirks and vulnerabilities and motivations that were believable and interesting.  The drama was specific to the MC's and their dilemma.  The ending was appropriately sweet, it fit with the story, and was a believable solution to any difficulties they might face because of their different races.  This one got me in the feels at the same time that it satisfied my need for a believable and well-played plot.  4 stars.

The story was good overall, especially with where they finally got their HEA, but the road was a bit bumpier than I expected.  A couple dramatic elements that were thrown in were surprises and I don't think one of them fit at all, in fact, it caused unnecessary complications to their already complicated situation.  Some things were brought up to increase the angst with intimated hurts and reasoning behind Von's decision to be a player but were never explained or fleshed out.  Silver is adorably earnest and naive and while I think he was a bit superficial, in that he wasn't given enough depth as a character and not that he was vapid or shallow, he was the character that drew me in the most.  Von's opening scene was promising, as was the end, but through the whole middle I found him to be lacking.  Where they get to in the end was really sweet though, so overall it was a sweet, nice story to add to the series.  3 stars.

Mind Magic: The Triad of Magic Book 1, Macy Blake

So if I hadn't read anything else by Macy Blake I'd have been blown away by this story.  I loved it!  I thought the characters progressed individually and together in a way that was great for the story and believable as a relationship.  The kids were sweet and wonderfully strong and intelligent.  They'll be stars as they grow older, I just know it.  (Maybe a spin-off series for when a certain alpha wolf grows up...?)  An interesting world was created that wasn't so far outside the realm of belief that I couldn't follow or envision it.  Certain mysteries in this story lent themselves well to the furthering of the plot toward a bit of a resolution, but also for whetting my appetite for more from the series.  As you can see, I found a ton of things to enjoy.

So why wasn't this a 5-star story?  A couple reasons.  There were an incredible number of similarities to the Hellhounds series and a slight lack of deeper thinking on the part of the MC's.  It felt a little too much like a slightly re-worked, re-vamped version of Sweet Nothings for me.  Adding that to the kids giving all the foresight and insight and Simon not thinking critically about the rules, procedures, restrictions, and practices he's given and I'm struggling to see when the adults are going to use their brains to save the kids and get to the truth of things by the end of the series.

Now don't get me wrong here, Simon was pretty much everything for me in this story.  His heart, his determination to do the right thing, his unidentified yet clearly incredible powers, his yearning for family, his inner strength, his admirable and intelligent decision to grow a relationship rather than jump into the deep end with a mating bond before a foundation is built...he just has a ton of things going for him.  I just think there could have been a bit more deliberate thought from him about all the weird things that don't add up before he gets into trouble at the end.

Simon and Gray have a lot of chemistry and I really liked the respect they had for one another as well.  I do wish there were more from them as they got their romantic feet under them, but I'm hoping that we'll get more of them on more than just the periphery of other characters' stories.  They needed something more romantically solid between them before the story ended.

I cannot wait for more from the series!  This kind of story is absolutely one of my go-to types of stories and it's even better when they're well-written and memorable to the point that I think about the characters days after finishing the book.  Mind Magic is definitely one of them for me.  So I'm totally in for the long haul!

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Magical species must never mix.

According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic.

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend.

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

A Crown of Iron & Silver: Soulbound Book 3, Hailey Turner

In a world where nothing is sacred and yet everything is sacred and grudges are long, Patrick finds himself embroiled in yet another Godly tug-of-war.  Old friends are just as prone to secrecy as he is and old enemies are still tossing his world into chaos.  Amidst all the crazy, he and Jono are settling into their bond and finding where true strength really lies.  The gods of a trillion pantheons might not be done screwing with them, but they'll stand their ground together and prove yet again that they'll screw with them right back.

This is a much softer story in the Soulbound world.  Well, there's nothing soft about the battles, the Wild Hunt, the Sluagh, or the vast number of warriors of the fae, but the overtones were ones of all the bonds that can be shared and the complicated emotions that accompany them.  Patrick and Jono are feature characters and yet also take a backseat to bonds in general.  As they settle into their own and grow to appreciate and utilize it fully, the tender aspect of what they can be together as lovers comes forward.  Bonds between parents, children, family, pack...all of them are fought for and are what's at stake if Patrick, Jono, and the Hellraisers fail their missions.

Poor New York.  So many of the paranormal trouble that follows Patrick centers on this particular city and while its had more than its fair share of collateral damage, the biggest battle is taken to another field and it finally gets a little break.  I really thought it fit extremely well, this scene change, and not only gave New York a tiny respite, but also showed that there's nowhere that's immune to the havoc Gods and Ethan can cause.

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While not a completely new pantheon in this series, the specific pantheon featured in this story was given center stage with very little crossover from other meddling gods and showed incredible focus as well as integration of all the various threads tangled around Patrick and Jono.  A particular artifact was mentioned in the end of All Souls Near & Nigh and that was the thread picked up here in A Crown of Iron & Silver.  Though I will say that this thread is given zero closure and we're left pretty much exactly where we started, this story gave background, depth, and layers to the series that I believe will be necessary as we move forward.

Kind of like those epic anime that are hundreds of episodes long and then a few times there are side story arcs that are related but not central to the story but can still be considered important, that's more what I'd categorize this story in the whole series so far.  It provided new allies, a growth in their pack and all the immense tension that will come as a result of that, and all the tenderness of deepening feelings.  I'm still crazy addicted to this series and can't get enough of the world that I'm immediately drawn into and all the characters that I've fallen in love with.

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Never promise a life that isn’t yours to give.

New York City is decked out for the holidays, and Special Agent Patrick Collins is looking forward to a reunion with his old team when he gets assigned a new case. A human child is missing, and the changeling left in her place causes a prominent witch family to demand justice from the fae.

Meanwhile, continued harassment from the New York City god pack forces Jonothon de Vere to formally establish his own with Patrick. Doing so will mean a civil war within the werecreature community—a war they risk losing from the start without alliances. Making bargains with the fae is never wise, but Patrick and Jono have nothing to lose when a fae lord comes asking for their help.

The Summer Lady has been kidnapped from the Seelie Court, and if they can find her, Patrick and Jono will cement an alliance with the fae. But the clues to her disappearance are found in Tír na nÓg, and the Otherworld has never been kind to mortals.

Venturing past the veil, Patrick and Jono risk losing territory, time, and their very lives while searching for answers. Because the Queen of Air and Darkness knows they are coming—and the ruler of the Unseelie Court has an offer for them they can’t possibly refuse.

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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