Howl For It (Pride 0.5) by Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden

Like A Wolf With A Bone by Shelly Laurenston

Quiet little Darla Lewis couldn't be happier when the most-feared member of the South's rowdiest pack kidnaps her. A girl gets real tired of being overprotected by her own shifter family, and there's nothing like an oh-so-big bad wolf to start a pack feud, unleash her instincts--and have her surrender however and whenever she wants. . .


Wed Or Dead by Cynthia Eden

Gage Ryder knew his human bride had a wild side. But spending their honeymoon night on the run from hunters out to finish him and his pack is sure not the kind of fun he was looking forward to. No problem--Gage will do whatever it takes to lay bare Kayla's secrets and find the truth. If he can keep from being captured by his own seductive game. . . 

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

Like a Wolf With a Bone: I like Shelly Laureston, she's one of my favourite authors. However this book fell short for me and not just because of the length. Plot wise it started out with it's usual pizzazz and then it kind of just petered out. Don't get me wrong, there was still 'action' but it felt a bit silly and over the top, the bad guys and the reason they were after Darla was just stupid and the side bit with the she-lions was unnecessary. I did like getting Eggie's backstory and I would have liked to see more of him rather than Darla. 

Wed or Dead: Short pointless story. Kill or be killed because you're blindly following your boss/leader. Kyla honestly came across as TSTL. The whole relationship felt off to me and apart from exposing the bad guy (badly - just smack him with silver at the first stand-off!) and killing people/trying to stop people getting killed there wasn't any plot. 

Curses, Foiled Again by Sera Trevor

Felix is a vampire—a fierce creature of the night who strikes terror into the hearts of everyone unlucky enough to become his prey. Or at least, that’s what he thought was true, until he met John. John is completely unimpressed with Felix, much to his dismay. Felix becomes fixated on proving his ferocity to John—and when that doesn’t work, he strives to make any impression on him at all.

John is a witch, and as all witches know, vampires are notoriously stupid creatures who only have the power to hurt those who fear them. Besides, he’s under a curse much more frightening than any vampire. Felix’s desperate attempts to impress him annoy John at first, but gradually, they become sort of endearing. Because of his curse, John has pushed everyone in his life away. But Felix can’t be hurt, so there’s no harm in letting him hang around.

Felix is technically dead. John has nothing left to live for. But together, they might have a shot at life.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

While the concept of vampires being cursed (one of three ways) was original and different, it wasn't enough to save this book. 

It's one thing to have a good idea, it's another to have the skill to put the idea onto paper.
The characters were very one dimensional and I just didn't feel a connection. The plot didn't draw me in, there wasn't enough detail to flesh it out and it took me a few tries to finish which was disappointing.  

Murder Borrowed, Murder Blue (Wedding Planner Mystery 3) by Stephanie Blackmoore

A celebrity couple getting hitched on Valentine's Day would be a big boost for Mallory Shepard's wedding planning business, but someone's got cold feet: a corpse . . .

Actress Dakota Craig is set to tie the knot with her famous musician boyfriend at Mallory's Pennsylvania B&B on the most romantic day of the year. Best of all, the whole thing will air on the reality TV show I Do. But the maid of honor has dropped out of the wedding party--by dropping dead.

A lot of people insist the show must go on, so Mallory's investigation keeps getting sidetracked by everything from a meddling mother to a foot of snow to a side project making arrangements for a high school Winter Ball. But if she doesn't catch the noxious culprit, the bride might wind up with a funeral wreath instead of a bouquet . . .

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I've read (and reviewed) the first two books in this series, and while I've enjoyed them, I can't honestly say that I would buy them. 

Minor Spoilers Ahead

This book has so many red herrings (and false arrests) that I felt like I was in a fish farm. I can understand one or two maybes, but setting up a culprit, explaining how they fit the crime, arresting them, and then being wrong multiple times is just irritating. Not to mention, when we do find out the identity of the actual killer the reasoning is a little far fetched and feels like an add on just so the author can be 'clever' with a murderer that no one will guess. Well der, we won't guess right when you've spent the entire book giving clues pointing to literally everybody else and then giving the 'real' reason in the last couple of pages completely out of the blue.

The writing was good and I liked the setting but all the characters were flat and lifeless, not just the dead ones. And what is going on with the 'romance' between Mallory and Garrett? I get that this is a cosy-mystery and not a romance, but these two have been 'together' for a year and I would see more connection between 2 people passing on the street. They hardly interact and the only physical contact are kisses to the forehead, holding hands, etc. Are they adults or 8 year olds in their first playground romance?!

The whole series is becoming a bit stale with the same premise happening again and again with no personal or relationship growth happening for the characters. I'll read the next book if I can get it for a free review, but only because the preview chapter of book 4 at the end of this one makes me want to get to know Becca's grandma. Sweet old lady who's willing to deviously trip Helene into a pool? Sounds like she should be the new MC. 

Read My Mind (Under the Empire 1) by Kelly Haworth

Reading someone's mind won't always tell you what they want.

Scott Kensington lives happily without magic; prayer is all he needs to worship the gods. Then he starts his studies at the University of Frannesburg, and not only is he suddenly surrounded by eccentrics—those gifted with magic—but his own latent ability begins to surface, with consequences that could tear his soul and family apart.

Nick Barns is grieving for his lost mother and desperate for distraction—usually in the form of limited-edition action figures. As a telekinetic, he’s no stranger to magic, so he offers to help Scott adjust to his new powers. They quickly learn how their magics interact, their shared passions soon growing beyond superheroes and immortals. But Nick’s not taking his studies seriously, and his father threatens to pull him from the university. Overwhelmed by his own crumbling family, Scott’s convinced he can’t handle a relationship, but he doesn’t want to let Nick go.

With grief, guilt, and magic complicating everything between Nick and Scott, it seems that not even the gods—or a new comic book—can save their relationship now. Sometimes, even reading someone’s mind won’t help you understand what they want. 

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

Minor Spoilers

Very slow. It took me multiple tries to read, I almost gave up a couple of times and I skimmed the last couple of chapters. There just wasn't really much of a plot, just a couple of angst ridden teenagers dealing with (genuine) crisis's. However this made for a boring story even with the 'magic' thrown in. The characters were very bland, boring and one dimensional (and no, complaining/whining about being Chinese/not-Chinese-enough all the time does not count as character building). Scott seems to have gotten the raw end of the deal with magic that only causes him mental pain with no relief (at least none that are mentioned in the book). The descriptions of his 'receptive' magic and 'dulling' it draws (for me) comparisons to an auditory schizophrenic who takes dulling/dissociative drugs. Fun /s. 

As for the magic, only basics were explained and I was annoyed that the whole world building was so thin. Lots of mentions of an Empire, and Asia had 2 different names, but nothing more. Is this based on our world but with changes? Is it an alternative timeline thanks to religion and magic? Or is it all based in an independent world? Also religion seems to be such a big thing, at least for the author. Though they write that not everyone has the same level of worship/respect/belief for the gods and that that's OK, religion/divinity/high-power-having-control is very much pushed onto the reader again and again. Even the 'anti-god' MC has a turnabout attitude towards it and a church is the catalyst for salvaging relationships and life choices. The whole religion business was, in my opinion, pushed to far and too hard. Not my cup of tea. 

According to Goodreads this is only the authors 2nd book and it shows. I can't see myself reading anything else from them in the future. 

Shiver (Texas Paranormals 2) by Christi Snow

A year ago Corey Abbott’s life entered the realm of the bizarre when he discovered the things that go bump in the night are real. But working for the local vampire council didn’t prepare him for were-deer shifters.

Nine months ago Dare Buckley’s herd abandoned him. Now, he’s slowly going mad from Lyme disease...something that doesn’t hurt normal deer, but for were-deer is fatal.

On one snowy, sleet-filled night, the two collided...literally.

This Christmas two men find love in the most unexpected place...a lonely, desolate highway.

It’s definitely not your typical meet-cute, but it’s a twist of fate that would even make Santa happy.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

The problem with short stories, is most of the time they are too short to actually develop the story. They come across as very basic and superficial and this book really isn't anything different. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book, I just feel like with the rise of ebooks, authors are pumping out novella's-for-cash at an alarming rate.

I will give the author this, at least she didn't do what a lot of bottom-of-the-pile authors are doing these days and added a shit ton of sex scenes and called it a full blown novel. Sex doesn't replace plot people! 

Not bad, but nothing amazing, and doesn't really give you that much of an idea of what kind of author Christi Snow is, as such I would give a full length novel from her a go, but only if I got it through netgalley for free. 

The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

From New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams comes the first in an intriguing new series set within a quirky small-town club where the key to happiness, friendship—or solving a murder—can all be found within the pages of the right book . . .

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.

When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . .

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

Warning: Spoilers

This one was a  major let down compared to the other books I've read in the cosy-mystery genre avalanche. 

I found the character descriptions to be lacking to the point where I couldn't get a mental image of any of the women, which meant I had no connection to any of them. Live, die? Meh, don't care, lol. The actual 'mystery' was very dry and confusing. If the characters don't understand it, how is the reader suppose to? The explanation at the end was too little, too late, I had already given up caring.

Finally, my biggest problem was how there was so many unanswered questions in the end. Examples: 
- She said she bought her house with cash, how did she get it?
- How did she avoid jail time? Being injured seems like a very poor (and illogical) excuse.
- If she just ran away and disappeared, wouldn't she a) still be married b) possibly be a wanted criminal?
- Why the glossary of names at the start? There weren't enough for it to be hard to keep track of. Was it just a red herring?
- How old are all the women? There were lots of vague references but no actual numbers mentioned.
- Why call it the scone and book club? What about representing the other two 'members' of the group?
- How did Jeb know to go the model house to save her?!!

Boring story, with many inconsistencies = not an author I would read again.

Bad Boy Bard (Fae out of Water 3) by E.J. Russell

As far as rock star Gareth Kendrick, the last true bard in Faerie, is concerned, the only good Unseelie is . . . well . . . there’s no such thing. Two centuries ago, an Unseelie lord abducted Gareth’s human lover, Niall, and Gareth has neither forgotten nor forgiven.

Niall O’Tierney, half-human son of the Unseelie King, had never lost a wager until the day he swore to rid the Seelie court of its bard. That bet cost him everything: his freedom, his family—and his heart. When he’s suddenly face-to-face with Gareth at the ceremony to join the Seelie and Unseelie realms, Niall does the only thing inhumanly possible: he fakes amnesia. Not his finest hour, perhaps, but he never revealed his Unseelie heritage, and to tell the truth now would be to risk Gareth’s revulsion—far harder to bear than two hundred years of imprisonment.

Then a new threat to Gareth’s life arises, and he and Niall stage a mad escape into the Outer World, only to discover the fate of all fae resting on their shoulders. But before they can save the realm, they have to tackle something really tough: mending their own broken relationship.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I felt like this was better than book 2 but nowhere near as good as book 1. 

The main plot was supported by my main pet peeve, miscommunication, which I think is a cheap and lazy tactic to rely on for a long term plot.

The bad guy for me seemed to come out of nowhere and I can't remember fae mages being mentioned before? I don't know if I missed previous mentions, but if not, it seems a bit strange/silly to add them in book three out of nowhere. 

Finally, what's with giving us all the different names for the different fae and not a damn glossary?! I don't speak Irish/Welsh/whatever, so I have no hope in keeping them or their meanings straight, the two names per character are hard enough. Also mentioning previous non-book-featured-events without background or explanation is annoying, i.e. Govannon and his brother, his nephew who he killed(???!) and the 'Disappeared'. If they are part of the story, make them part of the story, not a please-google-for-explanation tibit. 

The Heart of the Lost Star (Tales of the High Court 3) by Megan Derr

Kamir is on the verge of losing everything. Knowing full well he can't meet the ultimatum his parents have issued, he instead finally puts in motion his plans to live completely independent of them. His plans are interrupted, however, by the unexpected return of his despised ex-husband—and thrown even further into upheaval when he ends up comforting the man he's secretly loved for years.

Jader may not know where he comes from, but he knows where he belongs and what he wants—until he helps rescue some stranded Bentan travelers, one of whom look almost exactly like Jader, throwing his life and everything he thought he knew into tumult. Scared and overwhelmed, Jader flees—and lands unexpectedly in the arms of a man he's always seen, but never really noticed. 

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was not one of Megan's better books. 

The main characters were not likable and I just found myself wanting more 'screen time' for the previous two books' characters. Kamir in particular came across as very whiny and pathetic even while he was trying the be 'strong' and 'resourceful' and change things. 

There are suppose to be more books in this series but I feel like they seem to be getting further and further away from the initial book instead of Megan's normal way of writing series (which I like) where each book's characters are connected in some way, sometimes obvious, sometimes only apparent to observant and loyal readers. This is very off putting and turning me off reading this series. 

I think my biggest problem with this book was the genders. I know Megan writes gender fluid characters. That's her thing. However if a seemingly biological female is presented as a male, then he is a male, which means we haven't had an 'on-screen' pregnant male yet and that really threw me off. Kamir was written as a 'male' with so many female characteristics, traits, behaviors, that I almost felt like I was reading a f/m book not a m/m. I don't mind a bit of gender fluidity, but please, establish some rules and stick to them!

Fallen Flame (Fallen Flame 1) by J.M. Miller

Nineteen years ago, on the island kingdom of Garlin, a girl was born. With charred skin as rough as rock, Vala was instantly feared. For how could one be scorched by magic when it had perished ages before?
Recognizing an asset, the royal family welcomed her on their Guard. Her detail: the prince.
To watch. To protect. She has grown with him, lives her life for him. 
When the high kingdom’s princess comes to assess the prince, assassins of rival courtiers come to claim his life. One nearly succeeds in his mission. But with shadowy movements and charred skin like her own, Vala knows he is not like the rest.
As threats to the prince continue and questions about Vala’s life begin to rise, she faces a fear worse than fire or water, worse even than losing him. 

She fears finding out who she truly is.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

A very slow, very basic story, almost came across as childish. The first half of the book was a constant repeat of the same things and the same details without actually telling us anything. I didn't really know anything about the world, it's rules, etc even by the end. I'm really surprised this didn't end up on the DNF pile, it was so boring and repetitive I found myself constantly losing interest. In hindsight I wish I had of quit. 

The characters were not fleshed out, the Prince was a prick, and the rest of the characters weren't much better. The end was rushed, and even though Vala's true nature was revealed, because we had no in-depth background info on the world or it's magic, it was meaningless. I hate authors who create worlds that are that 2-dimensional.

Probably my biggest gripe was personal. I'm a big fan of mythology so to have this book present a 3 goddess rule made up of two different cultures drive me nuts! Herja the guardian of the fae, is a Valkyrie from Norse mythology, Verdandi the guardian of witches, is the Norn of present, one of the fates who guards the world tree, also from Norse mythology; however Alesrah, the guardian of humans is a phoenix?! Why couldn't the author find another Norse inspiration? Also I think they are majorly stretching themselves going for a fae/witch/human balance. I just feel like they haven't got the skill to incorporate that many elements successfully.

Bring the Heat (Dragon Kin 9) by G.A. Aiken

HE SAYS . . .
I, Aidan the Divine, am . . . well, divine. My name was given to me by the Dragon Queen herself! I’m a delight! Cheerful. Charming. And a mighty warrior who is extremely handsome, with a very large and well-hidden hoard of gold. I am also royal-born, despite the fact that most in my family are horrendous beings who don’t deserve to live. And yet, Branwen the Awful—a low-born, no less—either tells me to shut up or, worse, ignores me completely.

SHE SAYS . . .

I’ll admit, I ignore Aidan the Divine because it annoys him. A lot. But we have so much to do right now, I can’t worry about why he keeps staring at me, or why he always sits so close, or why he keeps looking at me like he’s thinking about kissing me. We have our nations to save and no time for such bloody foolishness . . . no matter how good Aidan looks or how long his spiked tail is. Because if we’re going to win this war before it destroys everything we love, we’ll have to face our enemies together, side by side and without distractions. But if we make it out alive, who knows what the future will hold . . .

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I started this book wondering how I could read this without remembering all the other relationships, but found that this wasn't a problem because relevant relationships were reminded/explained and the rest weren't relevant to the story (only wanted to know thanks to my nitpicking). 

This was a great book, one that finished up the arc of the Zealots and their eyeless god Chramnesind. While on one hand this was good (and welcome), it meant that the main characters Aidan and Branwen quite often took a backseat to the action happening with previous main characters. As such the romance element was really lacking, smothered by cameo's and a side event featuring Annwyl (who BTW I LOVE).

We end the book with an introduction to the new 'bad guy' which really didn't impress me. Why? Because it was so damn obvious! They've been a background threat for books now and I can't believe no one has killed them when they had the chance. 

So while I can't say I'm looking forward to the new villain, I would love the chance for another book or two featuring the old characters such as Annwyl and Dagmar. These guys don't deserve to fade away as secondary characters to minor primary characters, i.e the queen's, daughter's, sister's, brother-in-law's, dog (you know what I mean, lol, stop stretching!). 

The Druid Next Door (Fae out of Water 2) by E.J. Russell

Professor Bryce MacLeod has devoted his entire life to environmentalism. But how effective can he be in saving the planet when he can’t even get his surly neighbor to separate his recycling?

Former Queen’s Enforcer Mal Kendrick doesn’t think his life could get any worse: he’s been exiled from Faerie with a cursed and useless right hand. When he’s not dodging random fae assassins in the Outer World, he’s going toe-to-toe with his tree-hugging neighbor. And when he discovers that the tree-hugger is really a druid, he’s certain the gods have it in for him—after all, there’s always a catch with druids. Then he’s magically shackled to the man and expected to instruct him in Supernatural 101.

All right, now things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Until a mysterious stranger offers a drunken Mal the chance to gain back all he’s lost—for a price. After Mal accepts, he discovers the real catch: an ancient secret that will change his and Bryce’s life forever.

Ah, what the hells. Odds are they won’t survive the week anyway.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, however I felt like this one was a bit of a miss in the romance department. Not much trust between MC's and if there was better communication, i.e. if Mal had of told Bryce the wording of the curse, then he may have done what I did, and figured it out almost straight away. 

As for the general plot, it was so obvious it was cringe-worthy. None of the secondary characters were likable and I felt like they should just be left to suffer due to their stupidity, I'm looking at you Fae Queen. >_<

I haven't really like any of E.J. Russell's other books except for book one (Cutie and The Beast) and I'm afraid that the next book in the series, Bad Boy's Bard will go further downhill to the point where I don't even bother requesting her books anymore. Fingers crossed.

Brave & Beautiful (Sassy Boyz 3) by Elizabeth Varlet

There’s only one relationship that matters to Tameron "Tam" Kis—his love affair with dance. Life’s been pretty shitty, but dance got him through it and now he’s ready to focus on what he loves. He doesn’t have the bandwidth for any distractions—especially not his sexy, not-quite-straight new neighbor.

Driver Ellis doesn’t need anything but his bike and the open road. He wouldn’t trade his drifter lifestyle for anything…until his friend calls in a favor and Driver suddenly finds himself pet-sitting. Driver isn’t thrilled being stuck in one place, though things start to look up when he sets eyes on the gorgeous girl next door. 

There’s just one problem… She isn’t a girl at all.

All it takes is one spontaneous dance to turn both Driver's and Tam’s worlds upside down. They might not have been looking for love, but as things heat up between them, it’s clear life has very different plans.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

Lots of self-hating in this book. Probably too much. Yes the relationship between Tam and Driver was sweet, but it took way too long for the story to reach that point. I don't want a book where 99% of it is miscommunication and self-loathing and then 1% of it demonstrates a solid relationship.

As to the overall story line, the Sassy Boyz, this book didn't really add much. All-in-all I felt like this was really a miss with both the personal plot line and the overall series plot. I didn't find myself emotional attached to either main character, in fact as the book went on I found myself becoming frustrated with them.

I'll continue to read the series if I can get future books from netgalley but I can't say I'm invested enough to purchase them. 

The Lonely Merman (Landlocked Heart 1) by Kay Berrisford

It's Friday afternoon, and the last thing Ben wants to be doing is trudging through a wet forest in search of a public hazard. But duty calls, and turns out more exciting than Ben imagined when he encounters a magical ruin, an enchanted pool, and Lyle—a merman who's cursed to be landlocked many miles from the sea.

Lyle is flamboyant and exciting—he's got tentacles, for goodness sake!—and Ben falls hard. But Lyle's been hurt before and finds trust difficult, refusing even to reveal how to break the curse that imprisons him. Ben's just an ordinary guy, and can't help wondering if he can ever be the hero Lyle needs.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

Story was very thin and non-eventful, however the biggest problem was the characters. They just weren't likable, Lyle especially was whiny, arrogant and irritating. I probably would have just left him there to die, lol. 

This would have been a DNF except it was so short, I ended up just skimming it to read the ending.

Death's Queen by Janeal Falor

Nameless. Unknown. Alone.

An assassin without a name, born to kill. Owned by a vicious man who refuses to call her anything but girl, she is forced to commit atrocious acts of violence. Vowing to take her future into her own hands, the seventeen-year-old decides to risk everything on one act of defiance—drinking from The Death Drink. The beverage kills most whose lips touch it—only allowing those who are destined to be royalty survive the first sip. 

Powerful. Revered. Hunted. 

To the astonishment of the nation of Valcora, she imbibes it and lives, which crowns her queen. Thrown into a life of royal intrigue, she now has a purpose—to rule with the fairness she was never shown. Despite her altruistic plans, it becomes apparent that someone wants her dead. The new queen must use her training from the former life she only wants to forget in order to stay alive long enough to turn her kingdom into something she can be proud of. She’ll hold onto the crown… or die trying.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was a book full of unlikable characters. 

You have a main character who was an assassin who wanted to change her life and those of her class yet she was queen for a couple of weeks and did nothing but change the furniture. She acted like a brat when it came to taking advice, changing things and practicing her supposedly essential magic. She claimed to have impeccable instincts which is the only thing she trusts, yet it was wrong in a major way.

The ending came very much out of left field, made a huge impact, and them wham, the book ended. I would have classified it as a cliffhanger, but you have to have a story to start with to have an ending. This book was a bunch of mysterious innuendo and no plot. There is currently no indication on whether or not this is the first in a series, but if it is, I won't be wasting my time.

Cutie and the Beast (Fae-Out-of-Water 1) by E.J. Russell

Temp worker David Evans has been dreaming of Dr. Alun Kendrick ever since that one transcription job for him, because holy cats, that voice. Swoon. So when his agency offers him a position as Dr. Kendrick’s temporary office manager, David neglects to mention that he’s been permanently banished from offices. Because, forgiveness? Way easier than permission.

Alun Kendrick, former Queen’s Champion of Faerie’s Seelie Court, takes his job as a psychologist for Portland’s supernatural population extremely seriously. Secrecy is paramount: no non-supe can know of their existence. So when a gods-bedamned human shows up to replace his office manager, he intends to send the man packing. It shouldn’t be difficult—in the two hundred years since he was cursed, no human has ever failed to run screaming from his hideous face.

But cheeky David isn’t intimidated, and despite himself, Alun is drawn to David in a way that can only spell disaster: when fae consort with humans, it never ends well. And if the human has secrets of his own? The disaster might be greater than either of them could ever imagine.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I've read a couple of other books from E.J. Russell which I didn't really enjoy, but when I started this book I didn't make the connection because the subject matter was so different. In the end I'm glad I didn't make the connection and get turned off because this book was a lot better than the others I had read. The pacing was a lot better, the characters were more interesting and there was a good level of romance. 

You could tell what was going to happen in a general sense, all these books follow the same pattern, where the 'human' half of the couple discovers that they aren't as human as they thought they were, but in this case I enjoyed how the author did it.

I liked the roster of supernatural characters, but honestly I would have enjoyed it more if they were featured more. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the other two books in this series. 

Strays (Urban Soul 2) by Garrett Leigh

Work, sleep, work, repeat. Nero’s lonely life suits him just fine until his best friend, Cass, asks him to take on a new apprentice—a beautiful young man who’s never set foot in a professional kitchen. Despite his irritation and his lifelong ability to shut the world out, Nero is mesmerised by the vibrant stray, especially when he learns what drove him to seek sanctuary on Nero’s battered old couch.

Lenny Mitchell is living under a cloud of fear. Pursued by a stalker, he has nowhere left to run until Nero offers him a port in a storm—a job at the hottest restaurant in Shepherd's Bush. Kitchen life proves heady and addictive, and it’s not long before he finds himself falling hard and fast for the man who has taken him in.

Fast-forward a month and a neither man can imagine life without the other, but one thing stands in their way: a lifetime of horrors Nero can’t bring himself to share with Lenny. Or can he? For the first time ever, happiness is there for the taking, and Nero must learn to embrace it before fate steps in and rips it away.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was an example of size without substance. Lots of words, not much actual story/content and what there was, wasn't very interesting. It featured more information about setting up/running a restaurant then the relationship between the MC's. 

There was a lot of mentions of the three guys from the first book in the Urban Soul series, but honestly by the end of the book, I didn't like them enough to want to read it, even if I got it for free.

I hated the name Lenny, something about it just makes me think of a scummy pervert. His story itself was very anti-climatic. The bad guy seemed like he was created just to give the MC's a reason to become attached at the hip, and once that was done he was forgotten about until the end. We never even meet him on screen, and apart from giving Lenny *shudder* a beating, we don't know what he did to his 'other' victims (or how serious the damage was) and we don't get any information on what happened to him. 

Nero on the other had alluded all the way through the book that he had a big bad secret, which in the end wasn't that bad at all. He did something he shouldn't, but for a understandable reason, that lead to a tragic result, and by tragic I mean he went to jail for something the reader wouldn't hate him for.

So to wrap up, lots of words, not much plot, one dimensional characters and hardly any romance. I'm so glad I didn't pay for this.

Black Magic (Black Records 1) by Alexis Blakely

Using her magic to help others is the only way Alex Black knows how to stay out of trouble herself. After years of living on the street and trying to come to terms with the growing ability she had to teach herself to control, she’s happy to have settled into the relatively quiet life of finding lost pets, crafting the odd charm, and helping people deal with annoying fae creatures and spirits.

But when Alex is asked to investigate the gruesome murder of an artifact dealer who’d lost his life trying to protect his latest acquisition, she’s thrown headlong into a world of danger that threatens to cut her career short at every turn. The closer she gets to tracking down the killer, the more dangerous the trail becomes, and the more Alex realizes that terrible things will happen if the true potential of the artifact is ever unleashed.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

First off, the book cover says author is Mark Feenstra, but if you go to Goodreads only the first book is attributed to him, all three currently released are otherwise attributed to Alexis Blakely. I'm going to assume that after book one he decided to go with a nom de plume, but that doesn't explain the name on the covers. 

As for the book itself, I felt like the pacing was off. From the start to the end, it was go, go, go without giving us (the reader) or Alex a chance to catch our/her breath and that is a pet peeve of mine. I feel like its a bit of a cheap-out, as if the author can't write the downtime part of a story so they simply fill it with action.

While the identity of the killer did surprise me, I think that was more attributed to the lack of information all around. Sooo many ideas and plot points were introduced and nearly none of them were followed through. I would explain but I don't want to give spoilers and honestly I haven't got the time to write them all out, lol. 

I think better pacing was needed and some of the ideas could have been left out to give other more relevant ones a chance to be expanded on and draw the reader in more. 

Dating Ryan Alback by J.E. Birk

Ryan Alback has almost everything he’s ever wanted: a successful acting career, a dog who adores him, great family and friends, and a life outside the closet. The only thing missing is a boyfriend — but Ryan’s been burned by Hollywood relationships before, and he’s not eager to try one again. 

Jason Santos has almost everything he's ever wanted: a fulfilling career teaching middle school, a house in a city he loves, and parents who support him in every way. Too bad he can't seem to forget the ex-boyfriend who rejected his marriage proposal.

When a talk show host launches a dating contest to find Ryan a boyfriend and Jason accidentally wins, neither of them expect anything to come from it. Yet somewhere between a disastrous massage and a mud sinkhole, they both start to wonder if this date could be more than just a public relations stunt. But before they can move into the future, they'll both have to learn to let go of the past.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I think i'm stuck in a rut, all the m/m books I've read lately have been meh and this one wasn't any better. Neither the characters or story were engaging. It was your typical guy/guy fall in love / miscommunication leads to break up / they get back together/ happily ever after. 

Lets put it this way, I just finished the book and I can't remember the characters name's nor what they looked like. I don't remember because it was boring.

Agent of Enchantment (Dark Fae FBI 1) by C.N. Crawford

The fae live among us. And one of them is a serial killer.

I thought this would be a simple profiling case. Just another Jack-the-Ripper wannabe, prowling London’s streets, searching for easy kills. I was wrong. This killer is fae, and he’s as elusive as smoke on the wind. But I’m an FBI profiler, and it’s my job to track him down.

It doesn’t matter that one of the main suspects--a lethally alluring fae--is trying to seduce me… or kill me, I’m not sure which. I won’t be stopped, not even when panic roils through the streets of London, or when the police start to suspect me.

As I close in on the killer, I follow him to a magical shadow realm that’s like nothing I ever expected, where I’m hunted like prey. Fine. Bring it on. I’m an FBI Agent. And it turns out I have magical powers of my own. 

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I can't really point to what was wrong with this book, but it didn't make me go wow that was amazing! when I finished. 

I liked the references to the horrors in London's history, but I felt like there was not enough information to inform/entertain, but too much that it was a distraction from the plot. The writing of the killer annoyed me. If serial killers have patterns, then the killer in this book didn't get the memo, he was all over the place and it made for a bit of a disjointed read. 

In the end, I guess I just didn't really feel a connection with anything. All the references to the streets, landmarks, etc without a map made me confused and annoyed. The characters weren't really likable (a guy sets you up to make you a wanted fugitive, yet you never bring it up when he wants help?!) I did like the introduction to magic, but apart from some small explanations on what the MC could do, we were pretty much left in the dark on what else was out there and what they could do. 

Duke With Benefits (Studies in Scandal 2) by Manda Collins

LADY + DUKE = TRUE LOVE?

Lady Daphne Forsyth is a brilliant mathematician with a burning passion for puzzles. When she learns that the library belonging to her benefactress houses the legendary Cameron Cipher―an encrypted message that, once solved, holds the key to great riches―Daphne is on the case. Unfortunately, her race to unlock the cipher’s code is continually thwarted by a deliciously handsome distraction she hadn’t counted on. . .and cannot resist.

Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, is curious as to why Daphne is spending so much time snooping around his aunt’s bookshelves. He’s even more intrigued by her bold yet calculating manner: She is unapologetic about her secret quest. . .and the fiery attraction that develops between them both. But how can they concentrate on solving a perplexing enigma once the prospect of true love enters the equation?

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was the second book in the series and we were immediately thrown into what seemed like the end of the first book (which I haven't read) which caused me some confusion (i.e. was the gypsy the killer? was this a cheap gimmick to get us to buy book one?)

The whole idea of the series was based on the four girls having areas of special knowledge but I struggled to figure out how the other three were gifted (I think one was an art prodigy and another something to do with books/poetry?, fourth one haven't a clue). I know that this book is about Daphne (the math whiz), but the cast is featured as an ensemble and I would have like a little bit more detail about the secondary characters.

The ending was the biggest let down for me. This was advertised as a book about a smart young woman trying to solve a mystery with a secondary romantic story line. But by the end it was all about the romance. I mean they found the treasure and then it was literally never mentioned again! Considering where it was from/who had hidden it, I would have liked to know what was in the chest/how much/who was entitled to it/what they were going to do with it, etc, etc. Nothing else was said about the fates of the bad guys either, former government agent Ian Foster and former tutor Richard Sommersby, they just vanished off the face of the earth/page (lol). 

This book started out weird, got a lot better, then went downhill fast. It was almost like the author got sick of writing about the mystery angle and decided to just finish writing as if it had been a traditional Victorian(?) England romance book all along.