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. 

Sovereign (Nemesis 2) by April Daniels

Only nine months after her debut as the fourth superhero to fight under the name Dreadnought, Danny Tozer is already a scarred veteran. Protecting a city the size of New Port is a team-sized job and she's doing it alone. Between her newfound celebrity and her demanding cape duties, Dreadnought is stretched thin, and it's only going to get worse. 

When she crosses a newly discovered supervillain, Dreadnought comes under attack from all quarters. From her troubled family life to her disintegrating friendship with Calamity, there's no trick too dirty and no lever too cruel for this villain to use against her. 

She might be hard to kill, but there's more than one way to destroy a hero. Before the war is over, Dreadnought will be forced to confront parts of herself she never wanted to acknowledge. 

And behind it all, an old enemy waits in the wings to unleash a plot that will scar the world forever.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

While I had some issues with the first book, i.e. minor plot points ruining the overall story, in this case it was the reverse. Only some minor plot points were enjoyable and the rest...... well the rest was just unnecessary.

Something about the whole thing just annoyed me and I can't tell if it was the writing style, the characters and their attitudes, the way that the trans story line was treated like a gimmick or how 85% of the book was unnecessary and could have easily been included in the first book much better. (Nemesis reveal, Graywytch being dealt with, romantic story line)

I guess I really feel like this book was an unnecessary way to  drag out book one to earn more money, rather than trying to write another good story.

Triad Soul (Triad Blood 2) by Nathan Burgoine

The law of three is everything: three vampires for a coterie, three demons for a pack, and three wizards for a coven. Those alone or in pairs are vulnerable to the rest. Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—sidestepped tradition by binding themselves together. 

When something starts brutally killing demons in Ottawa, the three find themselves once again moving among the powers who rule the city from the shadows—this time working with them to try to stop the killings before chaos and blood rule the streets.

Hunting a killer who seems to leave no trace behind, the triad are forced to work with allies they don’t dare trust, powers they barely understand, and for the good of those they already know to be corrupt.

They have the power of blood, soul, and magic. But they have to survive to keep it.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This book left me feeling confused and overwhelmed, though I think it was more due to the constant influx of information and changing scenes, characters, magic rules, etc than anything because everything seemed generally well explained.

I really wanted more romance between the MC's or at least an idea of what the relationship was, and it seems like I wasn't the only one, with Curtis (wizard) bringing it up himself at the end of the book. I hope that book 3 spends a lot more time addressing this, and the house! It was such a big thing at the end of book 1, that they were going to build the perfect house for the three of them, with it being spelled for protection every step of the way, and then in this book I think there was one throw away line about nothing being done because they were all too busy. That's life, especially in a book, shit's gonna happen, build the damn house!

As for the actual mystery/killer, I will say that they got away with that one. I really didn't have any idea until the reveal at the end even though there was clues when you looked back. The death of the bad guy was slightly anti-climatic but also really clever and fitting in a way. 

I'll keep my eye out for the third book, but I think the author needs to decide whether or not this is a m/m/m paranormal romance, or urban fantasy. Stop insinuating and teasing us with romance and sex if your not going to give us any/tiny scraps. 

As I Am (All Saints 3) by A.M. Arthur

Will Madden is healing.

Thanks to therapy and a growing support system, he's taking baby steps into a promising future. One of those steps leads him to an online chat room, where he quickly bonds with fellow PTSD sufferer Taz Zachary.

Despite their virtual connection, Taz is initially freaked out at the idea of meeting Will face-to-face. A sexual relationship may be the last thing on his mind, but his craving for human interaction—and more of the way Will makes him laugh—gives him the courage he needs to take the next step.

In person, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But Will is hurt when Taz doesn't seem to be in any rush to get him into bed. Still, acceptance, love and happiness all seem within reach for the first time in forever—until demons from the past threaten the future they both finally believe they deserve.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This is book 3 of the All Saints trilogy but is book 9 of the over-arching story line (including the Belonging trilogy and the Restoration trilogy). There are lots of references to characters and plots from the previous eight books, and while you don't need to read them to enjoy this book, it does give you a sense of an extra layer of involvement when you know the secondary characters backstories. 

The book itself was good but not great. I have been looking forward to Will's story for a while and I have to admit I felt a little bit let down. It just didn't feel like the main characters had the deeper connection that A.M. Arthur has shown in previous books. 

No Ordinary Fairy (Shifter Wars 1) Claire Davon

Mysterious. Magnetic. Deadly. And his only hope.

When the new guy in town blows into Pani’s pet shop, bristling with impatience as icy as the Wyoming winter, she knows instantly he’s not there to buy dog food. She also knows exactly what he is. A cougar shifter. An apex predator not unlike herself.

Rafe Anderson needs help, which isn’t easy for a cat to admit. Not only has his dog mysteriously vanished, so has his ability to shift. The only creature who can find both is Pani, a woman the local coyote pack warned him to avoid. But he’s desperate—and running out of time. The longer his cat is caged, the closer he edges to insanity.

As a Vila, a fairy with the power to enchant men, even to their death, Pani has never dared reveal her true self, much less fallen in love. But something about Rafe’s fiery green eyes and uncommon vulnerability calls to her. And his touch tells her the feeling is mutual.

Desire rolls over them like thunder, but their search uncovers a dangerous secret that could turn everything to ashes…and bring destruction howling down upon all shifter kind.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

This was the first book in a series. The actual book cover says 'novella' but Goodreads call it the first book. Based on this book, I won't be reading anymore in the series. Story was all over the place, so much information on what a Vila wasn't (repeatedly), there wasn't much real information given.

The main characters spend so much time saying how they are dangerous and should be left alone, I wanted to do just that, leave them alone. The other characters were not fleshed out at all, especially the bad guy. In the end I was just left confused, annoyed and bored. 

Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery 1) by Sharon Pape

What’s in a murderer’s bag of tricks?

Twenty-something Kailyn Wilde has learned to embrace her unpredictable life as a descendant of small-town New Camel’s most magickal family. She just didn’t expect to inherit her mother and grandmother’s centuries-old shop, Abracadabra, so suddenly. The surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband . . .

As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s closing in on a killer—who will do anything to make sure she never tests her supernatural skills again!

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

I like cosy mystery books, but this one seemed like the author added the 'magick' aspect just to try and be 'different'. There wasn't really that much used and the bits that were, weren't very consistent in usage rules. 

Apart from the random insertions of 'magick' this book followed the tried and tested cosy mystery plot with a heroine investigating things she shouldn't and sticking her nose into places she shouldn't, but somehow she managed to be more annoying than normal. 
When they were not being annoying, the characters were boring and the featured romance was meh. There was so many potential bad guys, the non-suspect list would have been shorter! It made me lose interest, just red herrings everywhere. Some useful clues were given but they were so vague you wouldn't even realise they were clues, even if you were re-reading.

Then, SPOILER, one of the actual bad guys was someone who wasn't even featured in the damn story! What was the point of that?

Murder in Mayfair (An Atlas Catesby Mystery 1) by D.M. Quincy

In 1810, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after a carriage accident left him injured in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers a helpless woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder--by her husband.

In order to save her from being violated by another potential buyer, Atlas purchases the lady, Lilliana, on the spot to set her free. But Lilliana, desperate to be with her young sons and knowing the laws of England give a father all parental rights, refuses to be rescued--until weeks later when her husband is murdered and Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.

Fortunately, Atlas is a master at solving complicated puzzles, both with games and the intricacies of human motivation, and finds himself uniquely suited to the task, despite the personal peril it may put him in. But soon Altas learns the dead man had many secrets--and more than a few enemies willing to kill to keep them quiet--

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

The first 2/3rds of this book was, in a word, boring. I really struggled to stay interested. There was no character connection between Atlas and Lilliana, no connection between any character and the reader and the murder victim was so unpleasant I really didn't care who killed him or why.

The last third was a lot more meaty in terms of story. There was another attempted murder, and we discover a secret about the Duke (which made him 100% more interesting than the rest of the characters, there should be a book about him, lol). A lot of red herrings, and the 'clues' we were given didn't really make sense in the grand scheme of things. 

I prefer mystery books where I'm given enough insight/clues to feel involved and to develop theories of my own, this book just didn't offer that kind of interaction. 

Fighter (The Brick Yard 1) Carol Lynne

For Lucky Gunn, the hardest fight of his life happens outside the cage. On the south side of Chicago sits an old gym called The Brick Yard. Ten years ago, on a bitterly cold day, Lucky Gunn wandered into The Brick Yard dressed in a threadbare jacket, looking for refuge. He hadn't expected the owner, Tony Brick, to welcome him with a job and a place to sleep when Lucky's abusive and drug addicted mother made it too dangerous to return home. 

Dray was a gay man living in a world of straight fighters. When his secret was exposed to the media, he dropped out, giving Lucky a piece of advice: if you want to make it as a MMA fighter, bury the part of yourself that won't be accepted. Lucky discovered the cage was the perfect place to keep his demons at bay, but when he learns his trainer and mentor, Brick, is suffering from end-stage cancer, he begins to spiral out of control. 

After eight years, Dray returns to help Lucky and Brick deal with the devastating news. With Dray so close, Lucky's old desires return, and Dray teaches him more than how to fight. Torn between his career and the passion he feels for Dray, Lucky's past demons resurface in full force, threatening his sanity and his budding relationship with Dray. Despite leaving the cage years earlier, Dray finds himself in the battle of his life with the only man he's ever loved. Will he stand and fight, or walk away like he did years earlier?

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

There was something familiar about this book, but it wasn't until I read other netgalley reviews that I realised it was because this book had already been released and this version was an extended re-release. I checked my files and I don't have the original so I mustn't of liked it enough to keep it.

This version was very drawn out and in my mind very depressing. In seemed like instead of being a story of love and inspiration in the face of death it was a story of two guys hooking up in the background of their mentors death. It got to one point where I was over it and just wanted the guy to die already!

The premise was good but i felt like 70% of the book was devoted to the death, 5% was dedicated to fighting, 15% was dedicated to past and present abuse, and the final 10% was the last couple of chapters and featured the 'future' and the 'positive changes'. Everything happened in these last chapters, it jumped forward a couple of months, then a year and then again 3 years into the future. 

Really, the first 90%  of the book should have been dramatically shortened and the final couple of chapters should have been expanded. I like Carol Lynne but I wont be continuing with this series. 

Windsong by Caitlin Ricci

At seventeen, Jamie was cursed to always have his inner thoughts exposed as a tattoo across his neck for all the world to see. He lost his home, his family, and his relationship with his best friend when the tattoo outed him. 

More than a decade later, he's a successful porn star who loves his life and never once thought about returning to the horse farm he grew up on. But his boss wants to do a shoot with him where he grew up, and Jamie can't say no.

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My Review:     (Thanks to NetGalley) 

>SPOILERS< 

Editing errors. First four pages, Randy is the guy he's fucking, then he is Randy, then the other guy gets renamed as Tim - could be real name but Jamie say's he can't remember the other guys 'real' name. 

This was a mess of a story - cursed tattoo doesn't really come into the story at all. All it was, was the catalyst for a normal 'throw the kid out of home because he's gay' story. 

I don't know how I finished this book instead of just giving up, I blame it on the fact that it was so short.

THE WHOLE PLOT: Basically a gay porn star goes to his home town to do photo shoot. His family still hates him, he ignores it, offers then money for them to allow him to take (tame) photos. His dad breaks his hip acting stupid on a horse because he's too busy being angry at him, so he offers to help at farm even though they verbally abuse him. Then he offers to buy his dad out and let parents live in house nearby at his own cost EVEN THOUGH THEY HATE AND ABUSE HIM. All this because the stupid fucker is thinking with his cock i.e. he wants to sleep with/have a 'relationship' with his childhood sweetheart who 'waited' for him.