The Slayer by Stephanie Burke

December 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Slayer by Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Revenant is what they call him. For centuries, Kye has not lived, he has merely existed. Moving from city to city, continent to continent, Kye is always searching for the one man who visited upon him the destruction of his family and the shattering of his soul.

Tali is a woman with a mission of her own. Her objective, find the vampire Balthazar and, by any means, send what is left of his soul fleeing from this life.

When two slayers meet, the results are bound to be… Violent. Explosive. And erotic. But if they both work together, they may overcome the insane odds stacked against them and, just possibly, come out alive.

The Slayer is a standalone novel featuring vampires and revenge. I have read quite a few of this author’s books and this is the first one that didn’t work for me.

Kye is not a vampire but he’s not human either. Tali is a human on a mission. One problem, two different angles. Both of them are aided by different characters, but a lot is left unsaid and unexplained.

The trouble I had with this book is I didn’t connect with either Kye or Tali. Instead of being immersed into the storyline, where I feel like I’m there, and care about the characters and situations, I was most definitely outside the book, reading in. I felt no connection to either of the main characters, indeed, none of the characters. I also didn’t really care if Kye and Tali got together, which is sort of one of the main points of the book.

I feel this is a marmite book – some will love it, others, not. Unfortunately for me, I fell into the second category on this one. It was an okay read that I finished. The writing is good, the story – good, but I just didn’t feel anything. Saying that, I would still recommend this book as I know this author has written some amazing stories, and this just wasn’t one for me, but someone else might love it.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Difference Between by Stephanie Burke

December 1, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Difference Between by Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Rotic, a human boy, was a slave when High Orc Chieftain Vizri first rescued him. Now, as Vizri’s adopted son, Rotic has become a renowned warrior and leader of the Orc Army. Rotic is confused when he’s gifted with a male consort, but he knows he has earned his place in life, and he has full confidence nothing will ever take his power and position away from him.

Ogun is used and broken when he’s brought to the castle of the High Orc Chieftain as tribute — actually a sly insult — by the underhanded Dark Elves. When Ogun is named Consort and meets Rotic, his new partner, he finds himself lost in a whole new way of life before the sun has set. He has a new position and a growing relationship with Rotic. Nothing could ever ruin this for Ogun.

But with treacherous humans threatening the Orc Nation, magical and cultural landmines to traverse, and a new wife added to the mix, Ogun and Rotic’s lives are changing faster than they can blink. Ogun and Rotic have to learn to adjust and overcome before the differences between them become an insurmountable mountain that will destroy them both.

Don’t fight the mothers, because you won’t win!

Oh, man. I loved this book. For once, the Orcs are an honourable race, honest and to the point, full of integrity. I can’t say how long I’ve wanted a story like this, and Ms. Burke delivered fully.

It is hot and saucy, with the scenes between Ogun full of love and laughter, plus plenty of misunderstandings about how the world goes around. I loved that it was the humans and the Elves – okay, Dark Elves, but you get where I’m coming from – that were the ones causing trouble.

As for the mothers, well. That was love, pure and simple. They loved Rotic and only wanted the best for him. Luckily, that included Ogun. I am hoping to return to this so I can see how they treated his ‘wife’, plus how Meti got on with his consort and wife too.

A brilliant story that was over too soon for my liking. Absolutely recommended by me.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rook’s Palace by Alexa Piper

November 30, 2021 By 1 Comment


Rook’s Palace by Alexa Piper
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Emilia is excited to start a house-sitting job, even if the house is creepy and more than a little on the odd side — as odd as the owner’s requests. When she finds an unusual gaming console, she is drawn into a lusty video game in which she crosses paths with five inhuman creatures. She is drawn to them all, but when the five men keep telling her that the game is very much not what it seems, Emilia realizes she can no longer play along.

As the path she follows offers not just desire and intense experiences but also sadness, cruelty, and hurt around every bend, Emilia’s resolve firms: she will free the five men, who tell her they are already a family, already lovers. Whatever she has grown to feel for them, she cannot let them suffer if saving them is within her power.

With the rules of a game she doesn’t understand forcing her to play along, Emilia must find a way to get to the end of the game and get everyone out — whatever the cost. The freedom of her five monsters depends on her.

A steamy Jumanji-type computer game!

That’s what Emilia finds when she house-sits. She is told that if she enters she will find lots of sex, so surprisingly doesn’t answer no when asked if she is sure. What she finds is more than she bargained for though.

This was a quick read with, yes, plenty of sex. I actually felt sorry for Arden. He was the first ‘encounter’ and, as such, I didn’t feel the emotional connection to him as I did to the others that came later. Each of the male characters is very individual and brilliantly described. The objects that Emilia collects is perfect for each one and shows thought by the author, instead of just randomly picking an item out of thin air.

This is the first in a series and I honestly can’t wait to continue the series. I want to know more about Emilia, plus the men, but most especially Radovan!

Enjoyed and recommended by me.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Come For You by Willa Okati

November 30, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Come For You by Willa Okati
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Gabriel, a dreamer and a librarian, is so shy and introverted that he’s still a virgin Omega at twenty-five — but he can’t help wishing fairy-tale Prince Charmings were real and that one would find him. One does, a rough-hewn but outgoing, captivating quarryman Alpha called Wynn. For them, it’s love at first sight. Gabriel doesn’t care if they’re an odd couple, no matter what others and his Beta co-librarian Cameron thinks about it.

But the happy ending is harder to come by. When Gabriel’s almost full term with their first child, there’s an accidental explosion at the quarry that leaves Wynn trapped behind a wall of rubble. Waiting for news – any news – and hoping against hope, all Gabriel has to comfort himself with is the memory of his fairytale of a love story. He’s so lost in dreaming he doesn’t realize he’s in labor and needs to get to a doctor.

Who will rescue who?

Gabriel is a dreamer and determined to wait for his Prince Charming. After a long wait he finally finds it in solid quarryman Wynn. Can these two find their happily ever after?

This story jumps a fair bit from a past series of events and the present time. While I understood the author was trying to tell two sections of Wynn and Gabriel’s story at the same time, I really felt this frequent jumping back and forth was pretty confusing and I tended to muddle the stories up when I was trying to recall the sequence later on. Everything sort of meshed together in my mind and I found this quite difficult to sort out so I’m not sure this style of story-telling really works for me and I’m not sure I’d want to read another story set out like this again.

That said, I did really enjoy both Wynn and Gabriel’s characters. I felt their connection and clear love and attraction was a lovely romance for the story and I absolutely wanted to see their happy ever after. I also enjoyed the plotline of the explosion at the quarry, but felt a lot of the drama and enjoyment of this plot was hampered by the fact the constant back and forth between present and past really lowered my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

Readers looking for a lovely romance story between a shy librarian and a dedicated hard worker should find plenty in this story that appeals to them. While I’m not sold on the back and forth in the timeline of telling the two main aspects of the story I think this is a different enough style that readers looking for something a little outside the box might find this refreshingly different.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Devil’s Necromancer by Alexa Piper

November 29, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Devil’s Necromancer by Alexa Piper
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Lionel, a necromancer and consultant for the Brunswick Police Department, wants nothing to do with immortals. Specifically, he wants nothing to do with Lucifer, who shows up on his doorstep one day with a ridiculous proposal. Lucifer, also known as the Devil, wants Lionel to be his pretend boyfriend. Except the pretend part is something the Devil doesn’t really seem to care for.

Lucifer has read enough romance novels to know that a good dose of forced proximity might be just the thing to get the stubborn necromancer he desires into his bed. The Devil’s plans are soon complicated when Lionel proves more uncooperative and oblivious to love than Lucifer could ever anticipate.

While the Devil wants to claim Lionel, all Lionel wants is to get away from Lucifer. Meanwhile, magic users are being murdered in the city. Lionel cannot escape the implications of those murders for long, and the case soon takes a different turn. Will Lionel be able to escape the Devil’s thrall, or will the necromancer fall for the immortal seducer?

Enter a world where magic users, including necromancers, help out the Police Department; where you can find cursed Hellpoodles, and Lucifer prefers to be called Lucy.

The blurb offered me so much, and I was looking forward to reading this. This was good but could have been so much better! Unfortunately for me – and I’ll probably be in the minority here – but it just never felt like it delivered. Lionel is full of snark, but you never get a reason why… unless it’s the old “I really like him, but I don’t” which seems to be the theme of this book. There is a warning about DubCon and I would take note! The mystery side is an afterthought, taking up very little page space.

Neither of the main characters was memorable for me. I much preferred Trony and Tiamet and would like to see more of them in the future. They, plus others, helped move this story along. Christine was fun to read about as she was not prepared to take any sh*t from Lionel.

I’ve read others by this author and enjoyed them more. I feel like this will be a book to split opinions. I think you will either fall in love with it or just find it meh. All in all, a quick, okay read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hansel & Gretel: To Have and to Hold by Rose Wulf

November 25, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Hansel & Gretel: To Have and to Hold by Rose Wulf
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Dicentra

For nearly two hundred years, the Hansel and Gretel Academy has trained young adults to fight and protect the rest of humanity from the magical threats of the land.

After a decade of partnership, the Hansel and Gretel team of Katz and Chessa are going strong. They’ve never met a monster they couldn’t kill. When Chessa’s twin brother, Declan, finally writes her back after numerous months of one-sided correspondence, it’s with barely a note of acknowledgment. So Katz makes a surprise decision, bucking the tradition which insists upon keeping distance between different teams. He vows to Chessa they’ll track her brother down, just so she can have a face-to-face conversation with him.

As their journey begins, unbeknownst to them, they set off the first part of an ancient prophecy threatening the destruction of the very establishment that supports them….

Before they can learn about that, they have to survive some dangerous situations unlike anything they’ve encountered before. And when one momentary lapse forces Katz to reveal a dark, intimate secret he’s kept from Chessa for years … Chessa offers him an ultimatum. He can have her body, or he can pursue random strangers from whatever village they land in when he’s in the mood. But he can’t do both.

It’s a no-brainer for Katz, but will Chessa understand what their changing relationship really means? Or will her insecurities get the better of her, and ruin their blossoming romance?

Rose Wulf’s Hansel and Gretel: To Have and To Hold is not some tale of two naïve children wandering through the forest. Instead, the author takes readers into a world where hunting pairs train at the prestigious Hansel and Gretel Academy. Graduates are then sent out into the world to deal with all sorts of foul creatures, constantly moving from job to job. For one Hansel and Gretel pair, will their feelings for each other get in the way of stopping an ancient prophecy?

Katz and Chessa, who go by Hansel and Gretel when on a job–as tradition demands, have been a hunting pair for over 10 years. Chessa is great at being diplomatic and dealing with the townspeople who request their aid. On the other hand, Katz is a total hothead which makes him seem prickly. This trait serves him well – the monsters, not so much.

I love a book where the love interests are friends first before they end up in bed together. The tension and romance between Katz and Chessa have been developing for years by the time we meet them in the book. When they finally stopped resisting and allowed their relationship to develop into more, it was palpable and hot. Ms. Wulf left me hooked and wanting more – I couldn’t stop reading until she delivered all the spiciness she had been teasing readers with. I am happy to report those scenes were worth the wait once they arrived.

Fairytale retellings can be hit or miss. An author should use enough of the original story so it’s recognizable but put their own spin on it such that it doesn’t feel stale or repetitive. I was quite happy with the direction that Ms. Wulf took the Hansel and Gretel story in. I prefer stories where Hansel and Gretel are not siblings. However, despite my love of the idea, the plot execution fell flat for me at times. One issue I had while reading was the lack of knowledge on how the Academy operates. I was eighty percent of the way into the book before the author started revealing details like how the academy is structured, how pairs are matched, and who directs the hunters in the field. The magic system was also a big question mark for me. As a die-hard fantasy fan, there wasn’t quite enough detail for me to be satisfied with how everything worked. As a result, I didn’t appreciate some of the plot twists until well after the event had taken place –which took the fun out of it. This aspect may be off-putting for some fans who are looking for books that involve more fantasy and fairy tale references.

Mature erotic romance fans who enjoy books filled with action-packed adventure and paranormal elements will find themselves fans of this book. Despite some minor issues, I’ll definitely be checking out other books by Rose Wulf in the future when I have a free moment.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Not His Mate by Jade Marshall

November 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Not His Mate by Jade Marshall
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

When a wolf shifter finds their fated mate their entire world changes. There is nothing on earth they wouldn’t do to keep their mate by their side. But what happens when your fated mate is already mated to someone else?

Calum Beckett, Beta to the Katu wolf pack, has finally found his fated mate in Talon Quinn. The only problem is that she already has a mate. Trying to stay away from Talon is pulling him apart and driving his wolf to the brink of insanity. But what choice does he have?

Talon has moved to the Katu Pack with her mate Parker, but Parker isn’t her true mate, but someone she was forced to mate by her previous Alpha. When she finds her fated mate her life is thrown even further into chaos. Difficult choices lie ahead, and no matter which path she chooses, pain is inevitable.

How much pain are you willing to cause? How will either mate react to choices that Talon makes? Can anyone have their happily ever after?

You’ve got a mate, but it’s the wrong one!

That’s what happens to Talon when she is mated to a shifter called Parker in her previous pack. He is not her mate but was ‘given’ her as a reward for being loyal. So when that pack is taken over and some of them integrate into a new pack, you can be sure of trouble when her real mate shows up.

This was a quick read with all the parts I love in a shifter story. There are fated mates where the path is anything but smooth, humour, steam, and most importantly for me, a HEA! I just wish there had been more of it!

This is the second book in the Katu Wolves series and although I read this as a standalone, I’m not sure if reading book one would have been more beneficial to me. At least then I would have had some idea about Slade’s pack and how the takeover worked. Still, maybe that’s me wanting more… again!

On the whole, this was a great read for a coffee break. If you like shifter romances, I see no reason why you won’t like this!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs

November 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs
A White Mountain Pack Novel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Nikki always knew she was different. What she didn’t know was that she isn’t entirely human.
Nikki discovers after her mom dies, why they never stayed in one place. She is now determined to make Mesa, Arizona her permanent home.

But when the broody, tall, dark, and handsome stranger shows up in her diner, Nikki realizes that if she is ever going to stand a chance at making a home for herself, she will have to go on the run again or fight like never before.

Now Zack has tipped his hand by letting his wolf out to protect her. Nikki’s hands are tied – or are they?

As fate approaches, only one question remains: Will Nikki accept Zack and what he has to offer her, a real home and family, or will she go on the run?

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The trope has been done before, true, but the way Ms. Biggs wrote Finding Nikki totally entertained me and left me feeling very happy when the story concluded with its well-rounded epilogue.

This book was the first one I’ve ever read by this author and I liked her style. I enjoyed the flow of the story, from Nikki’s first meeting Zack, to finding out why her mother was so paranoid, and why it was nothing like the heroine anticipated. Yes, there is the ‘fated mates’ plot but I appreciated the fact that the connection and relationship actually started when they were kids. It may have seemed sudden to the heroine, but it actually wasn’t. Another aspect of the novel was its being told in first person POV. The author did it well. There were no awkward moments or lengthy internal narrations. The pace was perfect for this story.

As with most paranormal stories with werewolf cultures, there are the violent, passionate natures, claws, rival packs and political plots and conflicts. What I found to be a breath of fresh air and is one hundred percent appreciated by me was the author’s decision to keep me out of the bedroom. I was spared the announcer-type-moment-by-moment details to the nth degree about what happens between Zack and Nikki. I found the kisses, the touches, the eye-to-eye contact and the sensual atmosphere more than enough for me to get the picture that the chemistry between them is hot, satisfying and wild. True, it made the story move a bit faster but that was okay by me. I didn’t have long to wait for the good stuff.

My emotions were affected, especially the part about Nikki’s dad. I didn’t expect that to happen and it got me in the heartstrings. When it came to the dramatic and climactic attack amid all the growls and violence, again, the author didn’t need to go into graphic detail. I understood. I comprehended the ramifications. In this novel, less is more and again, I felt it to be a strength because I focused more on the characters, their emotions and the end results. As a reader, I was given everything I needed to fall in love with the main characters, feel emotions for them, worry and celebrate with them when the epilogue revealed a wonderful future and happy-ever-after for Nikki and Zack. I also thought her nickname for the hero was genius – cute, adorable, and ever so accurate. What starts off as annoying to the hero turns into a label of love and affection. That’s how I knew they had a strong and positive relationship.

I looked for more from this author and it doesn’t look like there are additional stories specific to the White Mountain pack, but if there ever is one, I’ll be one happy reader. I’d snap it up in a heartbeat. This story was an utter joy to read and has a complete happy ever after with all the threads that matter tied up with a wonderful, happy bow. I can easily recommend this to paranormal romance readers like me who are more into the romance and the story than the bed.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Autumn Breeze – A Tale from Halloween Night by Michael Ahmadi

November 10, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Autumn Breeze – A Tale from Halloween Night by Michael Ahmadi
Publisher: raubdruck
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Once a year, evil is allowed to return to the earthly world.
And if it is on the prowl for a victim, there is no escape.
It will lurk in the dark. Year after year.
Every Halloween night.

Trick-or-treating has never been so dangerous or so rewarding.

The horror elements were subtle at first but grew much stronger later on in the plot. I appreciated the hints about what was to come that were included in the beginning, especially when they were included in the quotes that were sandwiched between each scene. It was a wonderful way to build anticipation and keep me guessing about how each hint would build on the ones that came before it. Once I’d finished the final scene, I was also impressed with how gradually these moments became slightly more violent or scary over time. They were never gratuitous, but they definitely made this something I’d only recommend to fellow fans of the horror genre.

This story would have benefited from another round of editing. Some sentences were written vaguely, while others switched between the present and past tense. While I understood what most of them were trying to say, I was confused at times and sometimes needed to read them multiple times to figure out what the narrator was communicating. If not for these issues, I would have chosen a much higher rating.

I must admit that it took me a while to figure out the antagonist’s motivation for his actions. There were clues sprinkled along the way, though, and I was pleased when I finally put them all together. This was the sort of tale that does require some effort from the audience, especially since the most important elements of it were not necessarily spelled out directly. Figuring it all out was rewarding, however, and I was pleased with

Autumn Breeze – A Tale from Halloween Night was a deliciously spooky read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King

November 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways.

Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.

She relocates things. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes, it’s not. What’s a girl to do when her good intentions go…sideways?

I’ve not read anything by Kerry Anne King before, so I was happy to pick this one up. The premise is interesting. The heroine, Nicole, has a propensity of moving objects from one place to another because it’s where they belong in the world. I like the idea. It’s unusual. I’m beginning to think she might be at my house moving my keys and phone from time to time.

I wanted to really like this book. I did. The plot is fascinating. The thing that was a bit of a trip up for me was the overall book. I wanted more dimension in the characters. I wanted to know what made them tick more. I wanted to get inside Nicole’s head more. She’s been through some heavy stuff, but it’s sort of glossed over. I did like Nicole and her fortitude, but other readers might like it more. It’s still a good read and one to be picked up.

This is a good afternoon read and great for when you want something cute for an afternoon.

Why not try it?

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »