King & Queen: RELIC Book 3, Maz Maddox

Sadly this one didn't measure up to its predecessors.  The MC's were tolerable, Royal more so than Blaise, but lacked convincing chemistry.  I did quite enjoy the inclusion of Simon and Dalton, they're always a high point in any reading of RELIC's stories because they're amusing, sweet, and a whole lot of awesome.

And I hate to say it, but B was selfish.  Sure, there was a moment or two when he was concerned for Royal's physical well-being, but every other moment was about him.  How was B coping, what about B's career, B was scared, B needed space, B couldn't try for a relationship with Royal who only ever proved interested and loyal...  On and on, Royal and B were both concerned about B.  Only when Montana questioned Blaise's commitment at the end did he say anything remotely convincing regarding his own regard for Royal.  And that wouldn't even have come about if it weren't for Henry.

The danger from the Giganotosaurus and an unknown plot in the shadows was truly interesting, but it was largely left alone with no satisfying conclusion.  His goal or intentions weren't made clear or even known, neither were their hints that this particular issue wasn't going to come up again.  The thread wasn't dangled at all, we can just kind of guess that it might be another threat to RELIC's objective.  Though maybe not, because there haven't really been any recurring issues as of yet beyond RELIC's goals and the same generic threat they get sent out to thwart.

Royal and Blaise's chase to track the rogue shifters felt incidental rather than an active motive to their travels and it seemed more like Blaise's career aspirations became the focus of each stop rather than evidence finding and seeking out the Albertosaurus shifter.  And though the drag inclusion was predictable, it turned out amusing and all due to Dalton who has a magically ridiculous way of making things work out.

Henry, he was truly interesting and I'm really, really eager to see him as he learns and adapts to RELIC's way.  The basement scene with him was probably the highlight of the story for me, though the courting scene was adorably wonderful...until B found a way to make that about him too, more than just being humbled or grateful or enchanted by Royal's obvious feelings and intentions.  So yeah.  I'm still a fan of the series and will absolutely be back for more, this particular story just didn't work for me despite all my hopes for the sassy duo.

*$4.00 on Amazon

Running into your one night stand is always awkward.

It’s especially awkward when said hunky hookup pulls you into a secret war over fossils and a kidnapped, newly awakened Albertosaurus shifter.

As if my life wasn’t already a mess (understatement), now I’m cruising through Canada hunting down an ancient monster who tried to kill us, attempting to get my social media career off the ground, and ignoring my feelings for my one time fling.

Royal is hot as fire, funny, brilliant and has a thing for dinosaurs almost as much as I do.

Probably because he is one.

Bonus.

Queen's Ransom: Fog City Book 4, Layla Reyne

This is actually my first FF story and because it's an author I adore I had no second-guessing or hesitations when diving in.  I've already come to love these women throughout the previous stories in this series and I needed to know their story.

Something to keep in mind before reading...  This isn't exactly something you can read without having read the previous stories in the series because the interconnection, connected plots, danger, players, side characters...just everything, is just so much that if you started with Queen's Ransom it'd be very confusing trying to keep everyone straight (or not so straight as the personal preferences run the wonderful gamut of the Kinsey scale here in this family).

Helena and Cee could really have used a hundred more pages to delve deeper into the romantic part of this story since it wasn't a trilogy like Chris and Hawes got, but what we did get was both sweet and dramatic enough to fit well into the series and give us more angst that we'll need to really yearn for Brax and Holt's story.

Both women were passionate, caring, and while there was a considerable amount of hesitation and back and forth by Helena, it wasn't without merit and did get an adequate resolution at the end.  Cee also showed her mettle and she is every bit as wonderful as we've come to know before now.  I can't wait to rejoin their family and see their conclusion as every one of the Madigans get their HEA.

*4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Everyone leaves.
Love is risky business when you're an assassin.
Helena Madigan has lost loved ones to the family business before. Now that she's in charge, she's determined never to risk her heart again.
Except every time Celia enters the room, she takes Helena's breath away.

But the one time someone stays...

Celia Perri likes to be helpful.
She just wants to run the family auto shop, raise her kids, and help her brother plan his wedding.
But when a drive-by shooting targets the garage, Celia's simple life is upended.
Now ensconced within the Madigan family, there's no escaping Helena, the blonde bombshell she's been crushing on for months.

It could cost her everything.
As the Madigans investigate, Celia witnesses their love and loyalty up close.
And their business.
Instead of being afraid, she sees a place for herself among them. She could be a confidant and caregiver--if only Helena would stop pushing her away. If only she'd admit their mutual attraction might lead to more.
And if only someone would stop shooting at them long enough to find out.

*Queen's Ransom is the fourth book in the Fog City romantic suspense series. It can be read as a stand-alone but is best enjoyed after reading books one through three of the series, in fact, it's definitely my opinion that you're taking a bit of a risk starting here instead of with Prince of Killers.

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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BOOKBUB

Finding Me: Voice Out Book 2, Stella Rainbow

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

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

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

*$3.99 on Amazon

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

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

But then I met Charlie.

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

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

And then I met Brady.

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

High Heat: Hotshots Book 2, Annabeth Albert

Imperfectly perfect MC's, fantastically spicy, and endlessly tender.

Garrick and Rain are a wonderful pairing and these men meet one another at the right time in their lives to truly appreciate what each has to offer and for who they've become.  Learning to love someone very different from you is one thing, but adding that to learning to accept who you are with a sudden disability is a whole other basket of almost-too-much.  It'll definitely take some self-realization and swallowing enough pride to lay it all on the line for the two of them to make a forever work together.

There's been a lot dumped onto Garrick in the past year, a new normal that he desperately wants to quickly become his past.  I was glad to have read Burn Zone prior to this so I got a bit of background not only about the cause of his physical trauma, but to see what kind of man we were going to get to know here in High Heat (though it should be known you can totally read this story on its own).  Knowing he was a kind man, one who was open about his personal life without drifting into the oversharing type, someone optimistic and enthusiastic about life, he was someone I genuinely wanted to know more of and to find his own HEA.

Meeting Rain gives him a taste of a life he thinks he's ready for, but with his disability in his way and Rain's youth and professional aspirations as stumbling blocks he may not fight for that future with everything he has.  I pretty much adored how his journey with disability was written.  It was honest, frustrating, disheartening, and very real.  Not everything was bad, but the struggle was absolutely genuine and having watched my father never truly accept his physical limitations due to situations out of his control hurt so I saw every stage he went through as very real-to-life.

Rain was all about Garrick and all the fun they could find together because of and in spite of Garrick's injury.  The way he was so optimistic and upbeat about nearly everything was a bright spot in not only Garrick's life but in the story as well.  His reaction to Garrick's "selflessness" was less than ideal, but it was real and evidence of his age and life experience.  I had a harder time with his realization and then the almost reversal of his intention when he finally made time for Garrick than with his initial overreaction though.  Things worked out in the end, but it was one of the more frustrating moments in the story.

The pacing kept me reading and unable to put the story down.  There were a few laggy bits with some repetition, but the story maintained focus on the most important parts and gave us parallel journeys for both men while simultaneously weaving us a relationship that worked, one that was meant to be.  Rain constantly accepted Garrick in all his ups and downs and Garrick's openness and affection were so steadfast and tender.  With each couple and story improving in this series I absolutely cannot wait to see what we'll get with Feel the Fire!

*$4.99 on Amazon

Smoke jumping is Garrick Nelson’s life. Nothing, not severe injuries nor the brutal physical therapy that follows, is going to stop him from getting back with his crew. But when a lost dog shows up on his front porch, he can’t turn her away, and he can’t take care of her on his own. Thankfully, help comes in the form of his new sexy, dog-loving neighbor. As they work together, trying to re-home their little princess, Garrick can’t resist his growing attraction for the other man, even though he knows this guy isn’t the staying type.

Rain Fisher doesn’t take anything too seriously. He dances through life, one adventure at a time, never settling in one place for too long. When his hot, conveniently buff, neighbor shows up on his doorstep, dog in tow, Rain’s determined to not just save the adorable puppy, but her reluctant owner as well. He never expects their flirtation might tempt him into stay put once and for all...

Smash & Grab: RELIC Book 1, Maz Maddox

Seriously, dinosaur stuff and paleontology?  Pink mohawks?  A deep love of kids?  Why has no one yet written a dinosaur shifter that is both cute and fierce?  Dalton is absolutely adorable as well as being a punk.  He's thoughtful and considerate even while pushing Simon's buttons.  Well, to be honest, he pushes everyone's buttons, but he knows when enough's enough.

His pretty Simon takes a little while to come around to things, but when he does his devotion to Dalton is just as strong as Dalton's is for him.  I'm completely in love with this story, not just because of the novelty, but also because it was well-written, the pacing was right for the characters and the situation, the relationship was believable, and the set up for a series was really well done. I'm just sold. I cannot wait to see who finds their person next!

*$4.99 on Amazon

My standard issued lab badge reads 'Simon' but it really should say 'unexciting nerd with no social life'

Don’t get me wrong -- I love what I do with a passion, but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else.

Especially romance.

While chipping away at my work, I’m suddenly the person between hired cartel muscle and the fossil that will define my career.

Which isn’t the most insane part of the story.

My savior is a chaotic, bat-wielding punk with a bubble gum pink mohawk and a killer smile.

In a mad dash to escape the thieves, my knight in studded armor sweeps me across the country while hitting every tourist trap along the way.

While smuggling a fossil, might I add.

Oh, and did I mention this pink punk can shift into a dinosaur?

Dancing with Daddy, Susan Hawke

There were three moments in the story that really grabbed me and brought so much enjoyment to my reading.  The first was the communication between the men before they ever met in person.  Their emails were filled with exploration, honesty, and a simplicity that set a true beginning for their friendship and a foundation for their later romantic relationship.  Second was their confessions.  They were simple and straightforward that, when coupled with the first moment I mentioned, were believable and earnest.  Third was the end scene that brought everyone and everything together.  Creating the family both men had always craved but hadn't found until then was a fantastic way to end the story.

Those moments aside, there was a very serious pacing issue.  It was difficult to read continuously without taking breaks because it constantly felt like we were getting nowhere fast.  I'm all for a slow-build where appropriate, but this was a little too slow for me.  Also frustrating was the insta-trust in bringing a stranger, even a blood-related one, into your home with your child.  Amazing email communication and a few phone calls aside, there just wasn't enough there for me to trust their initial living situation.

Yes, this is a fictional story, but it still brought up some serious red flags for me.  Being a single mother myself and also having had the not-really-a-pleasure of beginning a couple relationships through fantastic messages and calls only to have it all turn out to be lies only made me immensely grateful I didn't introduce these cretins to my children.  This story was a sweet and idealized version of a relationship lots of single people engage in and was more fantastical in their genesis than based in reality.  So reader beware, there are enough issues that you'll need to suspend reality to believe their beginning wasn't super sketch.

The one thing that wasn't sketchy despite having all the hallmarks of betrayal and heartache, was the paternity of a sweet little girl.  When it's discovered that blood types didn't match, the relief was palpable under the weight of serious health concerns and the laughter wasn't out of place at all.  Sometimes that's just how relief is expressed.  And knowing she didn't cheat, it was just some incredibly close timing between a moment of rekindled passion and then finding your forever person within a very short time-span, was a huge relief to me as a reader.

Overall this was a very sweet story that moved slowly, but had a great ending for three good people who deserved all the happiness they found together.

*$4.99 on Amazon

I love my daughter, but finding out she wasn’t biologically mine is the best news ever.

I’m a widower who is too scared to have the stupid test that would tell me whether or not I even have the gene that would mean dealing with a horrible illness and certain death. A gene that could’ve also been passed to my child, had she been mine.

She’ll need her father, if something ever does happen to me…That’s why I search for Maddie’s biological father, and when I find him, ask him to become part of her life.

What I didn’t expect is for him to become my best friend. Shane is fun and easygoing, the exact opposite of me. He makes me laugh. He’s the perfect antidote for my neurotic existence. And he’s bi, like me.

But am I courageous enough to take the leap into falling in love with him?

Submitting to Fate: A Collection of Strays Book 5, Toby Wise

Rhett and Wyn have both led lives that seem to imply they're either perfect for one another or "never the 'twain shall meet" and I'm so glad that both men found a way to submit to Fate and all the ways they could fill one another's souls.  There were some rocky moments, but just like with each and every story in the series, they pulled it out in the end and gave in to a plan larger and more knowledgeable than their own.

One bit that didn't gel for me was their big moment of "communication" where the lead up to Wyn and Rhett's dynamic was building only to culminate in a moment that felt uncomfortable.  Wyn's thoughts regarding knowing what Rhett needed and yet ignoring the signs didn't feel right and that their moment of sharing all the angst from their hearts came so late in the story didn't exactly fit their flow either.  With such a short story I wasn't expecting it to be all hearts and roses, but two really big things that were specific to them and their story weren't given enough page time to feel resolved.

What I did love were all the sweet moments when you could see Rhett growing from the brat-for-brattiness'-sake into the brat-with-a-cornerstone.  With Wyn to ground him, to give him the peace he needs he could assume his role as the brat with more humor than before because he didn't need the facade to cover his pain.  Wyn softened as well and his journey was more one of bringing his past alongside his present and reveling in love instead of grief.  Rhett's insistence in keeping Wyn's past as an integral part of their hearts and going so far as to pass it on to their future was immensely wonderful.  It showed growth and a true understanding of love multiplying rather than living with a heart divided.  That was my favorite part.  These two men needed one another and I was pleased overall with their story.

$2.99 on Amazon

I hide behind snarky comments and teasing smiles because letting people see the true me is terrifying. The day I find out Wyn is my mate, all the BS falls away. He sees me, the real me, and instead of running for the hills, he stays by my side. My past reminds me of my failings but Wyn says I’m good. As I submit to him, just maybe I'll learn to believe him. -Rhett

Here I am, finding myself mated for the second time, pregnant without even really trying with a mouthy, bratty alpha. What the heck was Lady Fate thinking? As time goes on and with a little trial and error, Rhett and I learn to fit into our new dynamics. Rhett may submit to me, but I submit to Lady Fate, and so far, She's never pushed me past what I could take. -Wyn

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.

Fight for This: For This Book 1, Suki Fleet

Wow.  There are so many things going on in this story that I don't exactly know where to begin.  Two men really want each other's love but can't seem to feel deserving enough to be honest about their feelings and desires.  If they can figure out how to get what they truly want, and manage to save the school and country at the same time, they'll have their forever made.  But nothing ever comes that easily when power and arrogance stand in the way.

I can definitely get behind the premise of their supernatural identities being reasons as to their supposed undeserving-ness, mostly because we all know they're going to be perfect for one another once they lay it all out there, but what got a bit too much for me were the number of uncorrrected misunderstandings until it was almost too much for them to move beyond.  There was a bit lacking when it came to something concrete to bind them together because even when they begin to make progress, the roadblocks kept them from moving forward and also distracted them from completing what their souls most craved.

There were quite a few interesting characters introduced and while a couple of them played a major role near the end, they were minor up to that point and when they came on page with a big ol' bang it pulled focus and distracted from the MC's getting done what needed to get done.  It was all a bit too chaotic for me at this point to really follow along clearly.  The chaos began before that point actually, and I kept wondering why we were going along with one thing only to jump to doing something else...there wasn't much of a linear or logical flow when the crazy started.  I think my issue there was that it wasn't just plot craziness, it was a lack of flow and crazy for crazy's sake and it wasn't effective to telling the story or getting us to the romantic conclusion either.

Overall I felt like I was missing something so much of the time that I had a difficult time following the story and relationship.  There was so much potential here and while it wasn't always clear, I was still drawn to what will happen next and how we'll get the next couple's journey.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Grey and Si have been dancing around one another for months.

Grey’s helpless attraction to fairies (and one fairy in particular) is a source of endless frustration—but as his energy can damage a fairy’s glamour, he can’t let himself get close.

Si is different to other fairies and he’s wearing down Grey’s defences. When Si discovers the Veil is thinning around the school where they both work—putting the students and teachers there at risk from detection—he needs Grey’s help to fix it.

Problem is, Si isn’t a true fairy, he’s just a magical mistake. For as long as he can remember all his glamour has done is messed up and broken stuff. Though Grey may be older and wiser about a lot of things in the human world, he’s pretty clueless about all things magical. He doesn’t even know the Veil exists until Si knocks himself unconscious trying to save Grey’s reputation after a night out.

But it’s funny how mistakes work out. Even funnier how trusting one another can help even the most impossible events turn out all right.

ARC opportunity provided by Gay Book Promotions

Body Magic: The Triad of Magic Book 2, Macy Blake

Picking up right where we left off, Simon and Gray are still finding their way with new bonds, approaching ceremonies, and a whole lot of unanswered conflict swirling around them.  Though the synopsis makes you think those things will be on the periphery of Cade and Rocky's story, they're not.  It's more like Cade and Rocky fit into the happenings of Mind Magic's continuation in Body Magic.  The events that flow through this story, however, really fit with the flow of the overarching plot and I'm definitely captivated by the overall story.

I like where things are going despite this being a more difficult story because of the more disturbing and questionable events included here.  It's not an easy place where everyone finds themselves with more questions than answers and all kinds of complications that threaten all the good that they do experience.  While I wish we got more introspection, decisiveness, and answer-seeking, we do get magic, bonding, tenderness, and a whole lot of passion.

Cade and Rocky's passion had more of an enemies-to-lovers vibe that sparked in Mind Magic, came to quick blows in Body Magic, and then fizzled just as quickly.  I didn't think there was enough for Cade and Rocky's romance or connection and their particular story ended on a tentative HFN that I wasn't particularly happy about, though it did show promise and reconciliation.

I've got some difficult predictions for the villain and the whole triad of magic issues and I'm eager to see how they compare to the series' reality.  The only romance that got a heavy hand was Gray and Simon as they navigate their bond and find comfort and strength amidst all the crazy that seems to be coming at them from every side.  While I wish we had a better balance between the story and the second couple, I still like where I think we're going and can't wait to dive into Soul Magic.

*$4.99 on Amazon

New alliances create new challenges.

As Simon and Gray begin their lives as mates, the High Moon Pack faces new challenges from both within their ranks and from forces they cannot have foreseen. Simon and Gray must work together to protect their pack while also remembering that a pack is only as strong as its weakest member.

While the pack adjusts to the new allies in their midst, new relationships are formed among the wolves. Rocky Harris has been on the bottom rung of pack society his whole life. But his role helping the High Moon Pack to improve security gives him a new sense of purpose and brings him face-to-face with new ideas and Cade Montgomery.

Cade’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. When Gray asks him to work with Rocky, he knows it will be hard to keep his hands off the other wolf, but he soon learns there is more to the security specialist than anyone knows, and the mystery is as alluring to Cade as Rocky’s body. While Simon and Gray celebrate their mating, Rocky and Cade start on their own path, but their journey is not without challenges.

When someone declares war on the pack and puts everyone in danger, Simon, Gray, Cade, and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—proving the strength of the pack is in their unity.

An Arresting Ride: Survivors Find Love Book 2, Lissa Kasey

This was not an easy book.  There was trauma, recovery, PTSD, and a lot of judgment.  But what shone through by the end was the more societal messages of how we treat survivors of abuse of any kind, how we view their new state of being, and what truly constitutes "normal".

Graham and Jason shared a connection that set them on the paths that ultimately brought them together, but the situation was written with both understanding and confrontation.  For the confrontation, I really appreciated that what a real recovery looks like was given thorough consideration.  That not everyone will fully "heal" from trauma, certain things will never change, reactions may not disappear, and very few of us will ever be truly "normal" are ideas that most people don't understand because of adages like "time heals all wounds" and other similarly trite sayings.

The understanding part came when the tables turned and Graham was in need of support and compassion.  Jason's experience with his own journey helped open avenues of healing for Graham that he never would have considered on his own.  Together they were able to find something unique and special together that wasn't based on codependency or grief.  It was far more powerful than that and their relationship evolution started out realistically and the comfort and warmth built gradually.  How they jumped from becoming friends to more was where I felt like something was missing.

In the beginning it was as if Jason read slightly on the spectrum with how he was described, how he reacted to others, and his altered perceptions of consent and himself.  I didn't see a real changing point in him before he was very, very clear to Graham that he was fully in control of his choices and the consent portion of their changing relationship.  I liked both versions of him but would have liked to see his growth.  Because of the disparity I felt slightly disconnected from him as a whole.  A dual POV would have really helped with this.

There were a lot of preconceived notions that Graham had that needed to be reevaluated and altered to accept a life with Jason.  I felt that those ideas were really well-expressed by Bastian and Charlie and I cheered with how it really gave Graham a hard look at how he was treating and judging Jason and all victims.  Despite his innate sense of compassion he still fell prey to society's views just like the vast majority of humans in the Western world.  There was a little too much emphasis on the word "normal" though, and it wasn't really a fluid confrontation, it was thrown in so many times with very little variation on when, why, and how it was harped on or mentioned that it became something I almost wanted to skim over.

Similarly was the conflict with Clark, the IAD investigation, and the former employees of Jason's ranch.  The pieces didn't really connect completely and none of them felt concluded either.  It's like we got to the end of the story and the author was like, "oh shoot, I gotta write in the villain.  Villains?  Meh, whatevs."  So aside from feeling like all of those threads were throwaways, the overall messages in the story were unique and well-formed.  I enjoyed the story and felt the connection between Jason and Graham was real though not fully supported.  I was drawn into their lives and appreciated the setting, the whole cast, and the animals with distinct and memorable personalities.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Graham Church began career as a police officer with a case so gruesome it sent many officers into early retirement. That day he helped save the lives of children and began a long crusade of protecting the residents of Friday Harbor from the worst of humanity. But brutal car accidents and the discovery of a dog fighting ring have taken their toll on Graham. Returning to an over-crowded apartment where his room is a closet, and working sixteen-hour shifts, have left him emotionally exhausted and in need of a quiet place to call home.

Jason Wullcot is a horse breeder and a mystery to the island he lives on, but is in need of a roommate for human contact. His therapist recommends Graham Church, who also happens to have a "white knight" syndrome. When Graham discovers his new roommate was one of the children he helped save twelve-years prior, Graham’s need to protect and save kicks into high gear. Only Jason has no interest in being saved. In fact, Graham realizes that Jason may not be the one in need of saving at all, but maybe, just maybe they can fill the broken pieces of each other.

Kept in the Dark: Locke and Keyes Agency Book 1, Charlie Cochet

Entertaining from the start, it's obvious that D and Caiden have a whole lot of denial and grudge to overcome if they want something lasting to happen between them.  I really enjoyed the banter between the men, though sometimes there was too much sniping and not enough open honesty about feelings and motives.  Overall the men were absolutely hot for one another and once we got to know them, it was very clear that they were meant to be together.

D's introduction was a bit of a shock for me, mostly because I was NOT a fan of getting a graphic description of how he spends his free time with his more amorous pursuits.  It's not something we really have to read between the lines for with him, but to see it so explicit right at the start was not endearing me to him.  Add in all his back and forth with his wanting Caiden, then pushing him away harshly and barking at him for doing his job and I wasn't really believing his investment in them once things got real.  The "that's why I left" bit was unsatisfying as well because we got two different "reasons" before the truth came out and it was, yet again, different from the previous reasons.

The back-and-forth with Caiden was present from his side as well, but it was more from the "I'm all in, I give up" perspective.  I wasn't a huge fan of that version of push and pull either.  How he went from unkind teasing to a fully invested heart so quickly felt rushed and a little disingenuous.  But despite his initial huge outburst at their reintroduction, it didn't take me long to warm up to him.

Caiden's responses to D's humor were entertaining and their chemistry was absolutely incendiary.  I don't necessarily think there was enough depth to support all the sexy times, but it was relatively easy to put that aside because once they were both all in, it was hard not to love them just as much as they professed to love one another.  The huge declaration and surprising question kind of caught me off guard and was a bit too sappy considering the TPO, but it was weirdly fitting too considering who these men were.  Getting their "epilogue" was the right way to end the story too.  It was suited to the men, their lives, and their personalities.  We didn't get a lot of the other agents, but what we got was enough to spark a huge amount of interest.  I'm actually quite excited for more from this series and how more of the men of Locke and Keyes will meet their fiery matches.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Former Army Ranger turned government assassin Álvaro Montero and CIA Officer Caiden Cardosa crossed paths two years ago in Vienna, where their encounter ended less than amicably—despite the explosive sexual chemistry between them.

Now Caiden is riding a desk at Langley after his cover is blown. And Álvaro—who was “killed”—has a new identity and purpose as Delta/D, an operative for the Locke and Keyes Agency, under the leadership of the mysterious Alpha Orion.

When D and Caiden team up in a deadly black ops mission, the urge to kill each other will have to take a back seat to the desire for revenge against the man who betrayed them both. Surviving the mission won’t be easy. Resisting the passion between them—that might be impossible.