Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Alexi
SERIES: Tangled Tentacles #1
AUTHOR: J.P. Sayle and Lisa Oliver
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 219 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2022
BLURB:
Book One: Paranormal Gay Romance / Two Alphas / Fated Mates / Brothers Security Team / Grumpy Detective / Kidnapping / High Steam / Lots of Tentacles.
The Fates are tricky and land Danik with a mate right when he least expects it. Can Alexi’s persuasive tentacles woo the jaded detective?
Detective Danik Kaloshnik, the only detective in Crampton, has no time for anything other than working hard to solve the growing list of missing paranormals. When his captain brings in a consultant to help, Danik does his best to avoid him. Only the universe has other ideas.
Now Danik has to deal with a very sexy fated mate, a murder, and a guy proclaiming to be a serial killer. What could possibly go wrong?
Alexi Thalassa has been treading the seas for centuries, dreaming of finding his fated one. When the Crampton Police Department reaches out seeking his firm’s help, Alexi’s kraken is all for it. One look at Detective Danik Kaloshnik, and Alexi is ready to give Danik his sea treasures. Then regulations Alexi’s firm have in place interfere and upset his mate, putting him in direct danger.
The race is on to figure out how all the pieces fit together so Alexi can help find the missing paranormals and keep his mate out of harm’s way.
Alexi #1 is a paranormal gay romance, with a large, grumpy bear frightened of water and a kraken who learns he’s not the only one who wants to be in charge. This is the first book in the Tangled Tentacles Series. Each book in this series will deal with a new couple, therefore while the HEA is guaranteed. The Epilogue for each book will lead into the next title.
REVIEW:
Danik Kaloshnik, is a gruff, seasoned detective who could be obnoxious on a good day. He also cared for those who deserved justice. They included all the shifters who’d gone missing over the last several months. When his politically mindful captain brings in consultants to help, the last thing Danik expected was to come face to face with his fated mate – Alexi.
Alexi is the first in the Tangled Tentacles series, whose books follow the four Kraken shifter brothers find their mates. While the story for each brother is completed within their specific novel, there are crossovers. So, I guess they are intertwined novels with no cliffhangers – wuhoo.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Alexi and Danik. Technically, it was good, containing enough imagery without overdoing it while maintaining an engaging pace. The extended cast, too, was minimal, which suited my reading comprehension. This included a patrolman who was akin to a chihuahua in a uniform that I wanted to slap.
As already stated, Alexi is an alpha Kraken and is a man who has some amusing chats with his inner animal. Danik’s shifter animal is a bear with needs but doesn’t talk. Both men are possessive and protective but live on different sides of the financial divide. Thus, Danik’s pride, need for a family, and feelings of inadequacy spark some combative conversations.
I enjoyed this shifter story because it was different. The imagery of a Kraken cradling a bear in the water takes a little getting used to, but I like different, and I soon found the coupling endearing. It certainly made the cross-species mating something else. Kraken/Bear snuggling was both weird and adorable.
As this story is primarily a fated mates offering with a backdrop of law enforcement, sex is, understandably, a prominent feature. I particularly liked the immediate acceptance of who Alexi and Danik were to each other and the enveloping support – although a story wouldn’t be right without some bumps in the road. The investigation side of the arc highlights the nasty things some people do to get their kicks – though this aspect leaves more to the imagination than is written. There is more to it, but to say anything else would give away spoilers.
Overall, I found Alexi a splendid read. It contained drama, angst, and was fast-paced. And while the percentage of sex was more than I generally like, it was in keeping with the storyline. Events kept me turning the page, and I returned from my day job eager to continue where I left off.
RATING: 
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