Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: Midnight Rodeo: Belonging
SERIES: Midnight Rodeo #2
AUTHOR: B. A Tortuga, Kiernan Kelly and Julia Talbot
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives
LENGTH: 226 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 11, 2016
BLURB:
What happens when rodeos start to get too tough for humans to compete in? Midnight Rodeo, of course, where supernatural creatures work for the prize money, and for the awe of their audience.
Light a Rocket by Julia Talbot
Rocket is probably the worst rider in Darque and Knight rodeo. This cheetah shifter is fast, but he only has so many lives in his cat body, and he spends more time injured than not. Raven Walkingman is the number one cowboy , at the top of his game. The two seem an unlikely match, but Raven enjoys doing things no one expects him to, including Rocket. Raven likes his relationships casual and when Rocket starts talking mates as shifters do, Raven pulls up the stakes. He has his animal spirit guides, his good friends, and his fancy trailer. He doesn’t need a ragtag cheetah falling for. His spirit guides know better. They adore Rocket and are more than happy to support him, and abandon Raven, until the stubborn fool does the right thing.
Freaked Out by Kiernan Kelly
Gargoyle-shifter Killian has spent his life living and working with all different sorts of supernatural folk, but because he had three forms instead of two like most other shifters, he feels like a freak. His habit of minding his own business has been his shield against being hurt, and to aid in that endeavor, he’s adopted a stony personality. When a troupe of sideshow performers are hired by Darque and Knight to augment the rodeo, he’s forced to redefine his ideas of what constitutes beauty and what defines a freak. Meanwhile, the hard, protective shell he’s erected around his heart threatens to crack wide open under the tender touch of Micah, the sideshow’s hideous Snake Man.
Tails and Whiskers by BA Tortuga
Tiger shifter Dmitri loves the rodeo. Darque and Knight has become his home, and he adores all of his new friends. His past as a circus animal makes him hate injustice, so when he meets a trick rider and fox shifter, Dmitri is appalled to find that the hot little kit isn’t allowed inside the rodeo unless he’s working In fact, none of the entertainers are allowed in, all being contractors and thus bound to a greedy goblin. As Dmitri and Isaac fall in love, they find growing dissatisfaction with the status quo, and they go to their friends for support in forcing a policy change. Too bad there’s a certain goblin who doesn’t want to give up control of his workers. Can Dmitri and Isaac find a way to be together, and to make a change for the better of everyone at D&K?
ANTHOLOGY REVIEW:
This was every bit as enjoyable as the previous collection; I loved getting to see a different side to the rodeo business and the people that work or are effected by those jobs. The stories were varied and it was nice to see familiar faces from previous stories while being introduced to new ones. I really hope there will be a third book in the series so that I can continue reading about this universe. I may actually be addicted to the concept of a paranormal rodeo now and I don’t regret that at all!
REVIEW:
Light a Rocket by Julia Talbot
I absolutely adored this story; Rocket is just such a likeable character and you can’t help but enjoy reading about him, no matter what it is he’s doing. (I’d love to learn more of his backstory!) Raven was a great character in that his supernatural ability was just so unique; I found the idea intriguing and would love to read more about it in the future. (The fact that his abilities deserted him to make strong point about what an idiot he was being was awesome in my opinion.) The pacing itself was great and I finished the story well satisfied with the entire thing. I hope I get to see more of these two in the future as I’d really like to continue their story. 5*
Freaked Out by Kiernan Kelly
I liked and enjoyed this one but wasn’t really in love with it. The main characters fit together in an odd sort of way and I certainly wasn’t expecting what had been done to Micah so that was a plus. I liked this one more for the “judge not lest ye be judged” theme/feel that was prevalent through the story concept and writing and less for the relationship, however. There really isn’t much of a romance aspect in this one, which was fine, and honestly I may have been happier if there hadn’t been any kind of sex scene at all. I honestly think it was unnecessary as it changed the tone of story up until that point. It was great getting to see Micah get some kind of closure at the end but I kind of wish it hadn’t ended so soon; I would’ve liked to have seen more of him. 3.5*
Tails and Whiskers by BA Tortuga
I apparently like my cute and sweet with a heaping side of ass kicking. 😀 I really enjoyed Dimitri’s character in the previous book so it was great seeing him take the spotlight here. He’s such a gentle man but the overwhelming desire to protect and see things made equal gave some more insights to his character. The relationship in this story moves fast like whoa but as that allowed a fast track to the action, I didn’t mind in the least. I loved seeing more new supes introduced (and I hope I’ll get to see them again in the future) but it really was the last part of the book that made me grin like a loon. (I’m a bloodthirsty little bugger, what can I say?) Great way to end the book; it really made me wish I could read more! 4.5*
RATING: 
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