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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Eggsquisite: Glitter Dragons Book 1, Jinx Jax

I think it was the writing and the pacing and the overall voice that threw me off.  By all rights the premise and the fact that are are legit glitter dragons threatening to dominate the world via social media with the force of cute should have been enough to have me ass over tea kettle in love with the story.  Except I wasn't.  I wanted to, really, I truly wanted to love this story, but I just didn't.

Even the intimate chemistry was lacking along with the actual romance.  Nothing actually built, it was just a whole lot of hesitations, distractions, interruptions, and spontaneous shifting that I really didn't believe the idea of mates by the end.  I'm a sucker for fated mates and while this was purported to be a magical mating situation, very little of it felt magical.

And speaking of magic, very little of that was explained or demonstrated, with notable exceptions of weird glitter explosions and happy-feeling makings once the shifting happens.  Yes, each dragon has individual abilities, but an overly enticing pool isn't enough to convince me that the magic is actually a compelling element of the story or the characters.

Between the awkwardness, the disrespect and insecurity, the rushed pace of everything, the vague discussion of magics, and the overall dynamic between all the characters, there wasn't much left to rave about in a positive way.  Oh the story was fine, it was interesting in its unique elements, it just failed to wow me.  I won't be continuing the series.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Just when you think you've seen it all...

Heavy metal musician Keith Lane knows all about the hustle. After all, he's been chasing fame and fortune for almost a decade while working as a pool boy. When he stumbles upon six stunning and very naked men claiming to be dragon-shifters from another world, he's dubious until one changes right before his very eyes.

Captive to a cruel king, Nionn has longed for freedom and a mate. With the help of his brothers, they use magic to travel far from home and into the presence of one destined to help them. When Nionn senses Keith is his mate, he refuses to believe he deserves him, choosing instead to think he must be overcome by the perilous journey.

When the dragons enchant every human who sees them, it becomes clear they have remarkable star power. Keith vows to keep them safe from unscrupulous promoters and human groupies. Of course, he'll have to start by keeping his hands off Nionn, and that's going to be almost impossible when he feels an overwhelming urge to be with him.

With a scheme to help the dragons become celebrities, and a group of talented and dedicated humans determined to pull off the superstar launch of the century, will Keith and Nionn come together or will they find a way to resist the powerful allure of the mating call?

Dark Alpha's Obsession: Reapers Book 11, Donna Grant

If you're engaged in the series and have read from the beginning, including the Dark Kings' that precedes and also runs concurrent to the Reapers' series, this fits right in and though short and not filled with a ton of detail, it does bridge the gap and give us a really exciting change that's going to really shake up their world going forward.

This story felt different in that it wasn't complicated with a billion secrets, side stories, and subplots, it was straightforward with one particular situation that needed recon with a couple surprises along the way. One surprise was Fianna. Her strength and vulnerability were perfectly matched to Rordan's vigilance and quiet strength. Though I will admit, Fianna's strength and general badassery was lost along the story outside of the one sparring session and was a bit of a letdown. On the other hand, until she responded to that one call, she really did do what she promised and I loved her for it. Too many times you have the TSTL moment that puts them and everyone else in more danger than necessary because they saw fit to broke their promise.

And then there was surprise number two where Rordan's past came back to, not haunt him, but to free him. I absolutely did not see that one coming and I enjoyed it quite a lot. Despite it not ending in the best way, those moments were ones that set this particular story apart from the whole rest of the series and made it even more unique. Adding in the other unique bit with how the Reaper reveal info came about, and this became a story to appreciate instead of just enjoy for a few passing moments.

So keeping in mind that this is absolutely part of the series and not a standalone, it really worked. On its own it was simple and really light on information, discovery, and action, but there were enough moments of conflict to move the overall plot along. I'm definitely looking forward to what's coming next.

*$4.99 on Amazon

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

When Erith directs me to infiltrate the enemy and topple them from within, I immediately accept the challenge. I figure it’ll be easy until a stunning warrior goddess crosses my path and diverts my attention. The problem? She’s in league with those I was sent to take down. However, I soon discover there is more to her than meets the eye and quickly find my mission divided: disband this new group of Fae Others and save the gorgeous Light from her family—and herself. All it takes is one look, one conversation to know that she’s mine, and I will chance Death’s displeasure to make it so. But the risks are great. Because when you fall in love with the enemy, more than your heart is on the line.

Nixing the End of the World: Phoenix's Quest Book 1, Alice Winters

Alastair and Nix...a good mix of tame, bewildered, crazy, and outrageous, I was alternately sedate and on the edge of my seat with the pacing of the story. I found Alastair to be a cross between Leland from Hitman and Marcus from VRC with his weapon wielding and snark in the face of his denial of past guilt and current interest in Nix. In this particular instance, it's the story surrounding him that assisted with being a unique character, but I found a whole lot of similarities to past Alice characters so he felt familiar even if I knew nothing about him.

In fact, I can't say I really learned all that much about him by the end of this first book in this new series. We do find out where his guilt comes from and his hesitance around his bond with Nix, but other than to give context, it wasn't much in the way of really knowing him. I'm eager to find out more and to watch him really open up to Nix. I want to see more of his power, what it can do, and how Nix can balance it out.

Speaking of Nix, his own power is an unknown until pretty much the end of the book. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Nix taking the entirety of the story to get only a clue about what his power is and how to use it before he's thrust into the crazy with the villain. I really look forward to seeing him train and grow with his own magic in addition to the bond building he and Alastair really need to get working toward.

Together they work for me. It's a slow growth between them and I'm glad that they didn't really act on their attraction until it felt right because there were so many unknowns, so much going on with and around them, that it would have distracted from the story and felt forced. They've got a long road ahead of them and I want to be with them every step of the way.

The cast surrounding them is quite varied, though the ones directly involved were...interesting. Some were introduced with a bang and then kind of left off to the edges of the goings-on until near the end and I wasn't exactly liking that. Another, the BFF, was actually my least favorite character out of everyone introduced. I'm guessing she'll grow on me as the story continues though. The villain surprised me. Not in who they were, but how it all played out and what they did. I'm super stoked to see where things go from the cliffhanger bomb that was dropped.

Even though this wasn't a resounding five hilariously awesome star story, I have a feeling I'm going to love the whole series. Between the shenanigans of creatures, humans, and guardians and the plot that's barely getting off the ground, there's a whole lot to look forward to and I seriously can't wait to jump back in as soon as book two is available.

$5.99 on Amazon

Nix
“You are the savior of mankind” are the last words I ever expected to hear while nibbling on fries. The thing is, I’m not mankind saving material. I don’t even have magic (and just found out it exists). I’m the most boring, normal(ish) human ever.

Suddenly, I’m being tossed right into the middle of a fight that started years before I was even born, and then I get partnered up with Alastair, a quirky magical Guardian. He is rather attractive and sweet when he’s not into the whole “woe is me, I can’t let myself fall in love with you” nonsense. I mean, the moment he took my annoyingly judgmental grandma hostage, it was all over for me. I was hooked.

Now the only problem is… what exactly are we saving the world from?

Alastair

The moment I laid eyes on Nix, the naive yet easygoing human captivated my attention, and now I’m determined to protect him. But despite my amazing and majestic abilities, we might not make it out of this mess. Still, there must be a reason Nix was chosen. No, he doesn’t have pizazz and maybe he really doesn’t have magic, but he’s also one of the strongest and kindest men I’ve ever met.

Now if I can just get him to stop throwing blankets at enemies, we might have a shot at this.

Kelpie Blue: Out of Underhill Book 1, Mell Eight

 

Kelpie Blue

Series: Out of Underhill, Book One

Author: Mell Eight

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 12/28/2020

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Fae/faeries, mythical creatures, magic, horse trainer/breeder, YA
Content Warning: Abduction, kidnapping 

A sweetly crafted story with a family filling up all their bits of emptiness to create something new, something whole, something perfect.  Blue in all his intrigued confusion concerning Rin, Rin's damaged strength and subtle constancy, and Mama's stubborn consistency and generous heart, all of them needed something and through trial, discovery, peril, and rescue, they made it all work for their benefit and for their future.

Rin was a main character that kind of faded to the background in a subtle way.  He was a constant, one who could tie everyone together, but he wasn't a magnetic person either so he was just a solid, kind presence throughout the story.  Memorable only in the large scale picture of the book, but on his own he had a tendency to fade around the stronger personalities of Blue and Mama as well as the mystery of Jim and the drama surrounding the ranch.

Blue was really cute and his constant referral to Rin as his snack from the very first to the very last was actually more endearing than creepy, thankfully.  His additions to the journal/diary gave life to the whole telling and I wanted so much more about him, what he could do, and to see his powers more on the page.  The eponymous character became a charming, amusing side character almost.

It was those elements of imbalance that kept the story from being as magical as it could have been.  I liked the drama and felt it was appropriate to the story and really worked for pushing the conflict along as well as for introducing some big players from Underhill.  Overall this was a really sweet story that worked as an introduction to the world of Underhill and I'm interested to see where the series will go from here.

*4.99 on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

When a beautiful blue horse asks Rin to go for a swim, Rin doesn't realize how much his life is about to change.  Blue is unlike anyone Rin has ever met, and the magic of the fae, and of this particular kelpie, is wonderous, but deadly.  Rin learns too late he might be in for a swim he won't survive.

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About Mell

When Mell Eight was in high school, she discovered dragons. Beautiful, wondrous creatures that took her on epic adventures both to faraway lands and on journeys of the heart. Mell wanted to create dragons of her own, so she put pen to paper. Mell Eight is now known for her own soaring dragons, as well as for other wonderful characters dancing across the pages of her books. While she mostly writes paranormal or fantasy stories, she has been seen exploring the real world once or twice.

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*ARC through IndiGo Marketing & Design

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.

The Midnight Gardener: The Town of Superstition Book 1, R.G. Thomas

I typically don't read YA, but the premise of this one really intrigued me.  I was happily surprised to find that I quite liked it and am very interested to see where we end up with this series.  There were definitely very cliche bits that I hope aren't indicative of what's in store for us, but overall I enjoyed reading this story.

Thaddeus was a unique teenager in that there was very, very little sulking, minor misbehaving, an earnest and respectful attitude toward his father, and seemingly well-adjusted despite relocating suddenly every few months.  It was all a little too nice, too understanding.  It wasn't bad, just super tame and a bit unrealistic.  He was interesting on his own though, with a curiosity and intelligence as well as a bit of intriguing mystery that hinted to more.

Surrounding him is a paranoid father that clearly had Thaddeus' best intentions at heart, but the mystery surrounding his actions was played up a lot with no questions being asked.  Once the whole reveal came it was quite dramatic and while Thaddeus played the peacemaker for the group, I was absolutely on the side of the father and felt a bit frustrated with a lot of posturing and still no answers, only cryptic responses and lofty judgmental reasoning coming from the leader of the group.

One thing that truly bothered me was the constant, "I'll tell you when I think the time is right" pronouncements after promising honesty and answers.  The only place that thinking can lead is to a big reveal disaster.  I would much rather the ending wasn't such a cliche edict from his father and something more like, "Okay, son.  You're right.  A lot of the danger we're in was caused by secrets and I want to protect you with the truth, no matter how difficult those truths may be.  Let me tell you about your mother/the village/magic/etc."  It would have been a suitable cliffhanger for a YA as they take that step through the door instead of giving us yet more excuses, secrets, and withholding of vital information that will likely blow up in everyone's faces when answers come from yet another source that wasn't the intended one.

Other than that, I am suitably interested in all the different characters and dangers that we're going to face on the adventure.  There's a lot of growth and supernatural discoveries that are sure to happen and I'm willing to along for the ride.

*$4.99 on Amazon

A lonely teenage boy whose father has moved them too often for him to make lasting friendships.
A mysterious neighbor his own age who hums as he gardens... at night... surrounded by fireflies.
Superstition is the town Thaddeus Cane and his father, Nathan, have settled in this time, and every evening Thaddeus becomes more intrigued with his new neighbor. When Thaddeus finally works up the nerve to visit his neighbor, the crush blooming underneath surfaces, and he realizes that Teofil, the midnight gardener, is lonely as well. When his father finds out where he's been spending his time, Thaddeus is forbidden from returning. But the attraction is too strong, and soon Thaddeus is back in Teofil's yard, leading to the revelation of long held secrets that upend Thaddeus' quiet life and sends him on the adventure of a lifetime.

Flame: Dark Kings Book 17, Donna Grant

When I say wow I truly mean that in all the big, positive and negative, stunned wow you could possibly mean.  The sheer number of secrets and surprises was staggering.  The changes in Rhi were also astounding, though those weren't quite surprising since we've had book after book detailing her struggles.  But when everything is combined, bombs are dropped, betrayal rocks the boat, and a confrontation with a monologuing villain, all the changes could mean something bad or something great is on the horizon and I'm not exactly sure how everything will play out in the last book.

Getting the Dragon King's history in the way Noreen got it was utterly unique and the perspective both in the telling and in the knowledge gained was incredible and far more potent than any other retelling thus far.  There were emotions felt, passed on, and experienced in a way that was unattainable before now because of the gift only Noreen possessed.  So when Moreanne's plan through Noreen was revealed it meant an incredible amount of pain and a betrayal we all saw coming yet hoped wouldn't actually happen.  Thank goodness for friends and allies they could count on to help them sort through that mess.  There was a question of what was added to Moreanne's spell that was unanswered and hopefully that will get resolved when Inferno comes out.

I will say that the monologuing villain was a bit too much, a bit too heavy-handed.  While it did answer some questions as well as bring up even more, it was a slightly predictable scene that could have been finessed into something a bit less cliche.  The one unpredictable bit was who showed up to perform the rescue.  That was something I didn't see coming.

There are so many times that the "cliffhanger" bits at the end of each story hint at more trouble or the next step, but the lead-in to Inferno was incredibly painful and huge.  We've known from the first who would be the pair and I have both doubts and hopes for how their story will play out.  For now though, one tumultuous relationship is enough and I'm glad for a tiny breather until we get the big battle, the redemption, the healing, the groveling, the passion, and the conclusion we've all been waiting for.

*$7.99 on Amazon

If she believed in destiny, she would believe they were meant for each other.
But that fire was put out long ago. . .

Living among the Dragon Kings, Cain has spent lifetimes learning to distrust both mortals and Fae. He is a warrior born—and every instinct demands that he fight to keep his own kind safe. But when a fringe member of the Dark Fae contacts the Kings with an urgent warning, Cain is torn for the first time. How can he trust this beautiful creature when resisting his primal attraction to her is battle enough?

Noreen is horrified by what her kind and the malevolent Others are planning for the Dragon Kings. Dark Fae or not, there are lines she will not cross—even if it means risking her life. But she never imagined that she would risk her heart until she meets Cain. She wants him with a soul-deep desire that frightens her…and endangers them both. Is saying goodbye to everything Noreen has ever known worth a love that will span time and realms?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 49

  

• The D- in 403B, Jess Bryant
• Blood Ruby: Tin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 4, Kiernan Kelly
• Dragon Consultant: Supernatural Consultant Book 1, Mell Eight

This was an overall cute story with characters that I wanted to get to know and at the outset it was setting us up for a meet-hate-cute situation that I was all over.  But very quickly it devolved to something a bit more juvenile than endearing.  Once they finally got to the dating portion it was quick and definitely steamy so I was back on board.  But very quickly it became repetitive both in action and being stuck in their head.  The separation was necessary, though I feel the situation was forced by an incredibly unthinking Brett.  As a vet there was a whole lot that I didn't understand with his behavior.  The beginning was amusing and the ending was really, really good, I just got a bit lost in the middle.  3 stars.

Ishago and Finn had a rather auspicious meeting and while it made things interesting and drew me in, there wasn't a whole lot to maintain that interest.  Their interactions felt like words on a page rather than organic and fluid and even Finn's personality couldn't really make up for the dialogue that felt slightly contrived.  The action was reserved for near the end of the book rather than something that built based on multiple events that carried them to that point.  Things would probably have worked better if the confrontation and resolution weren't reserved for the very end.  There could have been quite a lot more build up and anticipation for the end as well as more care given to crafting Ishago.  Finn stole the show as did his familiar and I wish that Ishago would have been as compelling as Finn.  3 stars.

The different types of dragons, the elements of danger and mystery, and the hint of romance combine to make this a very interesting series to dive into.  It didn't all work together and some personality things were a little questionable, but that's only because this story is so short that we don't get a whole lot about any of them.  We have basics and for a start to a series with shorter-length stories I didn't mind too much.  There was enough to draw me in and pique my curiosity.  3.5 stars.

The Blacksmith Queen: The Scarred Earth Saga Book 1, G.A. Aiken

This author is seriously one of my absolute favorites and I've read everything any library I can find that carries them in both their pen names.  The insane world they create under the name G.A. Aiken is fascinating, well-detailed without being overly complicated, includes incredible creatures and their personalities are all distinct as races, and the characters are both nuanced and simple so the overall story carries a wonderful balance.  And with the irreverent, slightly immature, witty humor?  I'm just...gone.  I adore it.  And I've already re-read it four times.

With this story in particular, we're in the same world of the dragons in Dragon Kin, just in another part of the world and we get to focus on a human and the centaurs she meets all because of a quietly power hungry sibling no one ever expected much of.  I really love Keeley, how her thoughts are always of her forge and her family, that her daydreams are of what she can create from her own hands and fire.  Despite her difficult relationship with Gemma, it does get sorted in the end once they both drop their prejudices and expectations and just express their feelings, the banter and "arguments" between every other character fit with the characters themselves as well as with the author's style.  Keeley in particular is positive, loyal, determined, and just scared enough to balance out her desire to do what's best with what's possible.

Well, what's possible in this world is nothing short of fantastic.  She meets amazing creatures, amazing characters, and her adventure is more about forging her own path to becoming the kind of queen the world needs to combat her brilliant yet soulless sister.  The story follows that journey and the romance is kind of a consequence of getting to know one another in all kinds of situations.  That's something I absolutely adore about this author's stories, that lust and getting it on is rarely the first thing that happens when there's a saga to be had.

Characters are well-formed, connections are made, and the relationship is often based on a believable foundation.  When species live as long as they do in this world, it would be a shallow connection and a horrendous future they'd face as mates if it weren't strong and real before adding all the sexy times.  The romance does take a bit of a back seat in this story and I feel that was absolutely appropriate for not only the MC's, but for the whole saga that's to come.  It's a part, not the focus, and I CANNOT WAIT for more!

*$6.99 on Amazon

The Old King Is Dead
 
With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophecy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.
 
Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …

Forged in Magic: Twin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 2, B.A. Tortuga

There was so much feeling and trepidation that filled the prologue that I was emotionally primed for whatever the rest of the story offered.  And then we meet Owen who is gruff, gritty, and grieving.  The tone was really set right from the start with how harrowing their journey might become.  Add in a wonderful guardian, some truly interesting and humorous side characters, and this was a solidly enjoyable story.

But I have to mention the stuttering feel of the writing, the dialogue, and the timeline confusion.  I didn't think the story actually flowed smoothly from one moment, one crisis, one passionate embrace to the next.  The transitions and feelings that connected each of those could have been polished and finessed so it could effectively carry the feels we were set to expect with the beginning of the story.  It wasn't clear how much time passed between the tragedy and the reunion either.  Though if it was and I missed it, that's my bad, but seasons were mentioned, Owen was uncomfortable yet resigned to the idea that his beloved was dead and so he sought physical affection from purchased bodies, and the appetites of the Eaters in relation to how often and how much they fed from Jericho's magic...all of these things pointed to a longer time apart, but it also felt like it was maybe not very long?  I just didn't like constantly wondering whenever some time frame was referenced and I had no actual reference to refer to.

The side characters, the number of animals, the sweet children, the very clear love between the MC's, and the interesting element that was the Eaters were all parts to enjoy in the story.  While not my favorite book in the series, it's a solid addition and hasn't given me any reason to not continue with the next book I can get my eyes on.

*$2.99 on Amazon

When Owen McBride sees his lover Jericho stagger into their homestead outside of Ruby Gulch, New Mexico, he thinks he’s seeing the dead come back to life. Jericho was lost to him when the wagon train he was leading was taken by monsters called Eaters, and Owen expected to be alone the rest of his life.

Blind, poisoned by magic, and near real death, Jericho Nater comes back to Owen, needing the love his man offers, and his help. The doomed wagon train’s children are still alive, and Jericho has promised to go back for them. Owen can’t bear to lose Jericho again, but he would never deny Jericho something so important. Together they must find a way to save those kids, and to make their way home alive.