Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Puzzling Encounters

SERIES: Mystic Pines #3

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 115 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2020

BLURB:

Come join us for a fun-filled vacation in Mystic Pines, Alaska, where the weather isn’t always warm, but our hospitality is.

Axom Boone has always believed that there was more out there than could be explained. He’d had his first encounter with Bigfoot when he was six and had been obsessed with the paranormal ever since. But not everyone understands. In fact, most tend to mock him or just call him crazy. But in Mystic Pines, he’d discovered a world that catered to his passion with the Alaskan Triangle, a place where anything could happen

Dawson Reeves moved to Mystic Pines to get away from a string of crazy boyfriends. But he had barely opened his bookstore when he caught a man stealing books from him, not because he didn’t have money, but because he thought they should be burned for daring to question that the paranormal activity of the Alaskan Triangle might not exist. Had he just jumped from the frying pan into the fire when it came to crazy?

Little did the two realize it would be the mysteries of the Alaskan Triangle that would bring them together. Then again, there was a chance the myths weren’t just legends and might kill them both. If they hope to survive, they will have to put their trust in each other, despite their differences.

Warning: This series takes place in the middle of the Alaskan Triangle. Anything could happen, from Bigfoot, to aliens, to disappearances and upside-down trees, so expect the unexpected.

REVIEW:

I have been waiting for this story since this series started. Axom is the biggest teddy bear you will ever meet. He’s a huge man in stature and muscle with the heart of a child that can easily be hurt or broken. But he’s still a man. And one who dreams big. (He reminds me of a huge version of someone else with a lot of sass). And it’s going to take someone special to be able to be all that Axom needs.

Axom can’t help it. He’s basically a big kid with severe ADHD. He gets so excited about his Bigfoot tours and other sightings, he tends to forget other things he’s supposed to do. He also gets caught up in making T-shirts and other things for businesses  to help with their sales and things and gets distracted then as well. And his heart is so tender and his childlike vulnerability and personality at times, leaves him not quite understanding what has people upset with him for. And often gets his feelings hurt. And even by his friends. But nothing appalled him more than going to the bookstore for Anook and seeing books set out that supposedly debunk everything he believes in. And he is set out to get rid of all of it, until Sammy the husky rats him out. And Axom, in his now grumpy state, turns to meet the owner and a man that could be one of his dreams. Dawson. But how could he be with someone who doesn’t believe? He knows some of the other couples are opposite but can Axom get over their differences to try? It isn’t until their Alaskan Triangle hike he finds out. Only when things start to get good, does he almost lose his dream man due to several reasons. And Axom is broken. And it’s going to be up to Dawson to make it right.

I cried so hard for Axom in this book. He is the absolute sweetest man ever. He really is the biggest kid and I just want to hug him and hold him all day long. He’s got a flair for fashion that most wouldn’t consider coming from a big guy like him, but like they say, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. He could be this big muscular butthead like some want him or wanted him to be, but it’s not in him. It’s in him to be sensitive and loving, with a tender heart for just about anything around. His enthusiasm for things paranormal can’t help but be spread to others and you can’t help but be happy with him. He’s adorable in every way possible. When Dawson started to see Axom for what he really was, yeah, he wanted the man in his bed. But it was more than that for him. He really SAW Axom. He saw underneath to the heart of the man and what he saw made him want so much more. But with things moving so fast, they haven’t had time to truly get to know each other for who they are. Flaws, insecurities and all. And when something from Dawson’s past shows up, it breaks Axom in so many ways, and shows Dawson what is more important in his life. 

I love Axom more than anything. He is the best. And I can’t wait to see more of him.

RATING:

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