Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Blood is Forever

AUTHOR: Asta Idonea

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 276 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2019

BLURB:

As a fae-vampire hybrid, scorned by all, Holden’s life has never been easy. The one bright spot is his job testing blood at supernatural crime scenes. It’s routine work, until the day he finds a victim he can’t read.

When one murder becomes two, and then three, it’s clear there’s a serial killer on the loose—one with a penchant for collecting hearts. Finding the bad guy could cement Holden’s career, but he’s drawing a blank. And it doesn’t help that the expert his boss calls in to assist him is the man Holden’s been crushing on for years.

With lives hanging in the balance, Holden and Val must solve the case before the killer strikes again. But will they come out with their hearts still intact?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: His Steady Heart

AUTHOR: Nell Iris

PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC

LENGTH: 86 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 25, 2019

BLURB:

Ashley “Buck” Buchanan moved back home to take care of his sick mother when he was 22. That was the first time he met Pippin, the neglected 6-year-old boy next door. Fifteen years later, Buck, a caretaker by nature, offers up his couch for Pippin, who needs a break from his mom and a quiet place to sleep.

Pippin Olander is a ray of sunshine despite his emotionally lacking upbringing and works hard to make a better life for himself. Even though he’s fiercely self-sufficient, he learns to accept help from Buck, his rock and the only steady presence in his life.

Their friendship deepens and grows into something more as they spend time together. But when other people try to throw a wrench in the works, when Pippin’s independence is triggered, can Buck and Pippin trust in the love they’ve found?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: A Mage’s Power

SERIES: The Inquisition Trilogy #1

AUTHOR: Casey Wolfe

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 270 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 16, 2018

BLURB:

Built on the bones of an ancient city, modern-day Everstrand is where master mage, Rowan, has set up his enchantment shop. When not hanging out with his werewolf best friend, Caleb, or studying, he dabbles in herbology and the controversial practice of blood magic. A prodigy who has already earned two masters, Rowan’s bound and determined to reach the distinction of grandmaster, a mage who obtains a masters in all five Schools of Magic.

Shaw works for the Inquisition, the organization charged with policing the magical races collectively known as magicae. Recently, it has come under scrutiny as magicae begin to disappear and reports of violence increase. With secrets of his own on the line, Shaw is willing to risk everything to find out just what is going on behind all the locked doors.

When Rowan and Shaw are entangled in each other’s worlds, it becomes evident that their hearts are as much at risk as their lives. They must find the truth and stop a conspiracy before it’s too late.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Palm Trees and Paparazzi

SERIES: Gabe Maxfield Mysteries #3

AUTHOR: J.C. Long

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 211 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2019

BLURB:

Gabe Maxfield remembers Manuel Delgado all too well—since investigating him nearly got him killed. He’d be very happy never to see him again, but that’s not in the cards for him. When the mother of a missing socialite seeks out Paradise Investigations to find out what happened to her daughter, Gabe and best friend Grace Park are going to be thrown right back into Delgado’s world. Personal lives begin to interfere, as well, and soon they’ve got more on their plate than they can handle.

A missing woman.

Delgado’s son.

A romantically awkward Grace.

Gabe’s parents.

It’s just another week for Gabe Maxfield.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Darkling

SERIES: Port Lewis Witches #1

AUTHOR: Brooklyn Ray

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 126 pages

RELEASE DATE: January 8, 2018

BLURB:

Port Lewis, a coastal town perched on the Washington cliffs, is surrounded by dense woods, and is home to quaint coffee shops, a movie theater, a few bars, two churches, the local college, and witches, of course.

Ryder is a witch with two secrets—one about his blood and the other about his heart. Keeping the secrets hasn’t been a problem, until a tarot reading with his best friend, Liam Montgomery, who happens to be one of his secrets, starts a chain of events that can’t be undone.

Dark magic runs through Ryder’s veins. The cards have prophesied a magical catastrophe that could shake the foundation of Ryder’s life, and a vicious partnership with the one person he doesn’t want to risk.

Magic and secrets both come at a cost, and Ryder must figure out what he’s willing to pay to become who he truly is.

Content Warnings: Scenes of bloodletting, consuming blood, erotic bloody scenes. Death (and resurrection) of a main character and animal/pet. Explicit sexual content. Depiction of anxiety

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: How to Run With the Wolves

SERIES: Howl at the Moon #5

AUTHOR: Eli Easton

PUBLISHER: Pinkerton Road

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2019

LENGTH: 231 pages

BLURB:

Zeus loves his job on the new Mad Creek Search & Rescue team, and his inner Saint Bernard is finally being used to his full potential. When he sees a mysterious and wild-looking quickened—a dog shifter—at an earthquake site in Alaska, Zeus is compelled to investigate. Zeus falls hard for the primal beauty of Timo and of Alaska itself. Both call to his deep canine soul. But the Quimmiq pack’s laws are as harsh as the Alaskan winters, and Timo is out of his reach.

Timo’s pack of dog shifters left their Inuit village generations ago and have lived wild ever since. Not trusting the “one-skinned,” and with their numbers dwindling, the Quimmiq are on the verge of extinction. Timo is shocked to discover a whole group of “two-skinned” working as a rescue team, and he is particularly fascinated by Zeus, a gentle giant. He senses what Zeus feels for him… but it’s forbidden.

Can Mad Creek save this lost quickened clan? Perhaps—if they can learn how to run with the wolves.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: #ROYAL

SERIES: Fever Falls #4

AUTHOR: Devon McCormack

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 318 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 13, 2019

BLURB:

KEEGAN:

Sightseeing, gay bars…and if I’m lucky, maybe a couple of random hookups. That’s the extent of my plans when I sign up for a European vacay with my buddies. I’ve never heard of this Parlaisa country–but hey–a cheap flight and two-star hotel are perfect for a poor college kid, right? And the trip turns out to be even better than I could have possibly imagined when I end up in a bar with some sexy masked guy’s tongue down my throat.

And damn…what a tongue.

Even with his face partially obscured, Sexy Masked Guy can’t hide those hypnotic steel blue eyes, his chiseled jawline, or the gun show he’s working with under that tight T-shirt. But after our kiss, he proves to be nothing more than a cocky, dismissive a-hole. As if that isn’t bad enough, flash forward–after one hell of a misunderstanding, I’m arrested by the Parlaisan royal guard and taken to a dungeon, where I learn that Sexy Masked Guy is actually Sexy Prince.

Prince Owen Hawthorne III.

Yes, I was kissing the Prince of Parlaisa!

Even worse, pics of us kissing are posted on the notorious Prince Watch blog. Prince Owen III has been unmasked by the paps, and we’ve both been outed. And here I had been planning to finally tell my family about my inclinations towards rainbows, glitter, and c*ck as soon as I got back home to Fever Falls.

Seems like my vacation can’t get any wackier, but now Prince Owen needs a favor–a fake relationship favor. All I have to do is pretend to be his boyfriend for a good cause and some cash that I could really use right about now. But do I really want to team up with a guy who’s been nothing but a prick to me in the short time that I’ve known him?

Of course, before I know it, I’m in too deep. Fortunately, Owen’s strict ‘no messing around’ rule will keep this from getting out of control.

Even though I can’t stop thinking about how he knew exactly what he was doing with his tongue.

Even though he loves watching me prance around in my underwear.

Even though he can’t get enough of me on my knees, doing what I do best.

Dammit–did we already screw this up?

Talk about a #RoyalProblem.

#ROYAL is part of the Fever Falls series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Death By C*ck

SERIES: Fetish Alley # 2

AUTHOR: Susan Mac Nicol

PUBLISHER: Boroughs Publishing Group

LENGTH: 195 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2019

BLURB:

CRIMES OF PASSION

Somehow, after solving one particularly squirrelly case, Clay Mortimer and Tate Williams of M&W Investigations have been deemed experts in all things Fetish Alley. Tate’s taken an undercover assignment for the London police, and solves it with his usual flair. When a brutal and particularly sensitive murder send the shop owners and patrons of Fetish Alley up in arms, once again the police department calls upon Tate and Clay to take the lead in solving the grisly crime. Meanwhile their lives are being redefined in ways neither of them expected, and even though change can be scary, these brave men make certain that love guides them on every road they travel.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Rules of the Game

AUTHOR: T. L. Travis

PUBLISHER: Encompass Ink

LENGTH: 34 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 12, 2019

BLURB:

Kendall Shaw is in a rut. Sick of feeling like his dad’s personal puppet. Sick of being set up on less than stellar dates by so-called friends and family. Just plain sick of everything. That is, until Joe enters the equation.

Joe Butler has worked diligently to build his architecture business and reputation, which has just signed its biggest client to date. A law firm with endless connections in the greater Seattle area. Connections that could elevate his firm’s status.

When Kendall and Joe’s paths cross, sparks fly. But Joe has a strict no dating policy, especially when it comes to clients. But Kendall is relentless and refuses to accept no for an answer.

In this battle of wills, who will be the first to give in?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: How We Sell Our Souls

SERIES: In the Darkness #1

AUTHOR: Emilie Lucadamo

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 171 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 26, 2018

BLURB:

When George Soto turns twenty-six, his life is less than perfect. Stuck in a dead-end job, watching his friends pass him by, it’s quickly starting to feel like he’s going nowhere. When he finds a strange ritual meant to contract a demon, he doesn’t imagine it could possibly work.

Until there’s a demon standing in his living room.

George doesn’t know what a contract with a demon entails, but it seems like a great opportunity to get revenge on his awful boss. Gradually, he and the demon—an abrasive entity who calls himself Jack—form an alliance.

But as things heat up between them, George almost doesn’t notice the increasing darkness in his life. The nights are longer, the shadows grow heavier, and the world around him seems to be distorting.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Warm Heart

SERIES: Search and Rescue #1, Dreamspun Desires #86

AUTHOR: Amy Lane

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 226 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 16, 2019

BLURB:

Survive the adventure. Live to love.

Following a family emergency, snowboarder Tevyn Moore and financier Mallory Armstrong leave Donner Pass in a blizzard… and barely survive the helicopter crash that follows. Stranded with few supplies and no shelter, Tevyn and Mallory—and their injured pilot—are forced to rely on each other.

The mountain leaves no room for evasion, and Tevyn and Mal must confront the feelings that have been brewing between them for the past five years. Mallory has seen Tevyn through injury and victory. Can Tevyn see that Mallory’s love is real?

Mallory’s job is risk assessment. Tevyn’s job is full-on risk. But to stay alive, Mallory needs to take some gambles and Tevyn needs to have faith in someone besides himself. Can the bond they discover on the mountain see them to rescue and beyond?

Reviewed by Danielle

TITLE: King Me

SERIES: Forever Wilde #7

AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox

PUBLISHER: Lucy Lennox

LENGTH: 4443 kb

RELEASE DATE: July 16th, 2019

BLURB:

Falcon:

Three years ago I arrived at the scene of an art heist to find Kingston Wilde tied to a radiator, claiming to be an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was only later I learned he was actually, the elusive art thief I’d been tracking for years. And I was the one who’d let him sweet-talk his way out of my grasp. Ever since, I’ve made it my mission to get my hands on him again, and this time I don’t plan on letting go.

Unfortunately, fate has other plans. A priceless artifact has gone missing, and King is the only one who can help recover it. I thought nothing could be worse than being forced to work with the egotistical SOB, but I was wrong. Falling for the charming art thief in the middle of an operation is way, way worse.

King:

The key to being a good art thief is knowing when to call it quits. After one close call too many, I decide that time is now and head home to Hobie, Texas, intending to hang up my lock picks for good. Unfortunately, the FBI has other plans. Agent Dirk Falcon approaches me with an offer I can’t refuse: full immunity for my past crimes in exchange for helping him with one last job.

The catch? The job involves stealing from the very man who taught me everything I know. The same man who double-crossed me years ago. Pulling this off means trusting Falcon and his team, but how do I trust the sexy agent when he’s staked his career on taking me down?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Waiting For You

SERIES: Neighborhood Shindig #3

AUTHOR: A.M. Arthur

PUBLISHER: Briggs-Kings Books

LENGTH: 153 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2019

BLURB:

Clancy Jons never expected to fall in love while attending Reynolds College, never mind falling in love with a man, but he did. Clancy fell hard and fast, but his strict, Catholic upbringing and personal insecurities pushed Samir away—and out of the state. Four years later, Clancy accepts a job as the general manager of Neighborhood Shindig—a trendy local place full of food trucks and small businesses—and it brings him face to face with Samir again.

Samir Ford left Reynolds for Philadelphia to start over after Clancy refused to come out and broke his heart, but now Samir is back to help his beloved aunt after a serious stroke. His food truck in Neighborhood Shindig is thriving, and he’s creating new friendships there, but he’s never truly gotten over his first love. A first love who strolls back into his life as Samir’s brand-new boss. A super-hot boss Samir still has feelings for.

After an unexpected, sizzling-hot encounter, both men know they still love each other, but there’s been too much hurt. Too many broken promises. Clancy is a changed man, though, and he vows to prove himself to Samir and earn back his lover’s trust—even if it means coming out to and losing his family’s love. But Samir’s heart is still bruised and wary, and he isn’t sure he can risk it being shattered a second time.

Welcome to Neighborhood Shindig, a friendly place where you can snack on a lamb kebab while getting your hair done, pick up your favorite herbal tea blend, and then go listen to live music under the pavilion. We’re happy to have you.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Get Nailed

SERIES: Cedar Falls #15

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: Siren-Bookstrand Inc

LENGTH: 112 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 12, 2016

BLURB:

Danton Pixler has traveled all over the world, refusing to stay in one place for more than a few weeks. When he realizes something is missing in his life, he decides to settle down and move to Cedar Falls.

Kale Driggs has lived in Cedar Falls for nearly a year. He loves the quaint town but fears he will never find the man of his dreams. At a crossroads, Kale must decide if he is going to stay in Cedar Falls or move on.

Fate has a way of arranging a chance meeting for two people who are meant to be together. But will the connection that flares brightly between the two be enough? Or will health problems and family drama keep them from finding their happily ever after?