Month: February 2021

Review: How to Elude a Vampire (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes #2) by Alice Winters

A fantastic follow up that kept me on the edge of my seat.

5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Unlimited. 1st edition. 336 pages. Published April 16th 2020

Blurb:

Finn

When the vampire stalking me sent me a letter, I was prepared for my new life with the man I love to get thrown into chaos. But as the days stretch on and nothing happens, I become determined not to allow that monster to rule my life, and decide that Marcus and I will move on. We can’t always allow the past to haunt us. If that includes pestering Marcus and harassing my fellow detectives, they’d better learn to love it, because I’m not going anywhere even if they like to remind me I’m the only human working in a department filled with vampires. But Marcus loves me for who I am, even if he’s not crazy about the cute pet names I call him like McBitey. Being with him is more than I could have dreamed, and even with the trials thrown in our way, he never fails to make me smile.

Marcus

When Finn joined the VRC, I never expected how everything would change. Now that he’s the brightest part of my days, I’m unsure of how I existed without him. Before Finn and I can settle into our new life together, we’re called in as lead detectives when a body is found in the river, and the case soon hits closer to home than we anticipated. I want to be by Finn’s side to keep him safe, but at the same time, Finn’s fighting for the freedom he’s always wanted after being forced to live a life of fear. What I do know is that my future is with Finn, no matter what happens.

How to Elude a Vampire is the second in the VRC series and contains a display of manly prowess that doesn’t go as desired, reluctant bonding with a new pet, interfering with a snarky Russian’s love life, misuse of office supplies, a vampire with a killer fashion sense but very little game, a total lack of ancient kung fu powers, a feisty human who almost always gets his way and the possessive vampire who adores him.

Likes:

  • Hooked me fast.
  • The sass.
  • Not shying away from Finn’s prosthesis.
  • Marcus giving Finn time and space.
  • The side characters.
  • Lots of action and tension.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • Better balance between Finn and Marcus’s points of view.
  • How true vampires were created.
  • Looking forward to the next book.

Dislikes:

  • My kindle ran out of battery at a very tense moment.
  • I’d like another story about Finn and Marcus.
  • I wanted Finn to get a kitten.

When I read the first book, How to Vex a Vampire, the fact that Marcus was as sassy as Finn threw me for a bit of a loop. Marcus initially came across as very broody and solitary. What was made clear in this book is how much Finn’s presence has changed Marcus. He was broody and solitary. And then Finn came along and turned his world upside down.

One of my complaints about How to Vex a Vampire was that Marcus’s character didn’t feel as rounded as Finn’s. That wasn’t a problem in this book. It felt like Finn and Marcus both got equal page time, and they were both equally important to the non-romantic plot. Part of this is that they’re a couple now, and are facing Finn’s vampire stalker together. The other part is that Marcus has accepted Finn, both as a human and as part of the VRC, and they don’t butt heads as much.

The sass is still on point. It’s something I can count on from Alice Winters. As are the side characters. Special shout outs to Hela, Artie, Claude, and Karsyn. I am definitely looking forward to Karsyn and Claude’s story, which comes next.

Finn and Marcus’s romance was mostly settled at the beginning of the book, and only needed little tweaks. I loved that Marcus gave Finn time and space to get used to being without his prosthetics when they were together. They’re a great couple and it was fun to see Marcus try to be manly and impressive for Finn, often to hilarious results.

The non-romantic plot was excellent. There was lots of action and tension. My kindle died in the middle of a fight scene, and I was so mad! I didn’t expect to finish the book as quickly as I did, but the plot kept up a good momentum throughout.

The vampire who has been stalking Finn is back. I enjoy villains who are genuinely good at being bad, and the stalker almost seemed unbeatable. I was pleased with how everything turned out. I also liked how true vampires were created in the first place.

I would love to get more stories about Finn and Marcus. They’re settled as a couple by the end, but they’re a good team and I enjoy the VRC. I would have liked to see Finn get a kitten, but Hela definitely added a lot of humor to the story.

Be sure to check out my reviews for the other books in the series, How to Vex a Vampire (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes #1), and How to Lure a Hunter (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes #3).

Review: It Takes Two to Tango (Fur, Fangs, and Felines #3) by M.A. Church

The romance was basically settled by 60% and I lost interest. A DNF and the end of my interest in the series.

3.25 out of 5 stars

DNF 58%

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 2nd edition. 278 pages. Published August 26th 2019 (first published September 26th 2016)

Blurb:

Can two very different men find the love they need to survive?

Remi Ginn’s an easygoing werecat with a love of snarky T-shirts. He would be perfectly happy with a human mate. Is that what the goddess Bast gives him? Of course not. Instead she gifts him with Marshell, a Vetala, a snakelike nonshifter who drinks blood to survive. A man who’s just as toppy as Remi—and even more powerful than the West Falls Clowder’s Alpha and heir apparent.

While Remi is deciding whether he can handle the fates’ choice, hunters attack Marshell. Afterward, in an explosion of passion, Remi and Marshell mate and Remi declares Marshell his. Now they have to figure out how to make their relationship work as they dance around each other.

The clowder is in turmoil, and Remi’s acceptance of Marshell rocks the very foundation of the insular group. The consequences will be far-reaching. And if that isn’t problem enough, the situation with the hunters is far from resolved… as proved by the appearance of an Alpha werewolf.

Likes:

  • Marshell and Remi, separately and together.
  • Action and drama right from the start.
  • Strong non-romantic plot at the beginning.
  • Hot smut.
  • The reason Marshell wasn’t immediately welcome in the clowder was different.
  • Shakeup in the clowder.

Dislikes:

  • It feels like the same book as the last two, but with different characters.
  • Non-romantic plot quickly forgotten.
  • Total recap of what happened to Heller’s sister.
  • Big chunks of dialogue with not much else going on.
  • No strong sense of voice.
  • Fight over who tops makes penetrative sex sound like the gold standard.

DNF 58%

Honestly, I liked this book better than the first two. What made me decide to stop reading was that I realized my desire to finish the book had nothing to do with the book itself. I was looking forward to reading something else. Fantasizing about it, really. The way a person on a diet can’t stop thinking about cake. And since there’s no reason for me to push myself to finish a book that’s lost my attention, I stopped.

By the time I quit, Remi and Marshell had mated and were a stable couple, and Marshell had joined the clowder. Which basically meant that the romance was a sealed deal. That left about 40% of the book for non-romantic plot things, and this series has not been good with that. There is a reason why most romance books don’t have the characters engage in a hot and heavy makeout session before the first page even starts.

Ultimately, I think the way this series is written doesn’t work for me. Which bums me out, because the books have so many of the elements I’m usually drawn to. It’s the way the stories are presented, not necessarily the stories themselves, that leaves me wanting more.

I had a realization when reading this book that there’s not a strong sense of voice to any of the characters. Marshell and Remi are wildly different men, and both of them get first person point of view sections. But that first person point of view doesn’t add depth to the characters. It’s a very surface level kind of first person, not revealing any of their quirks or personality. It’s been true with the entire series, and explains why I never got deeply invested.

Despite that, I did like Remi and Marshell. I’ve liked them both for a while, and was looking forward to their romance. They’re both tops, and that dynamic was fun to watch as they figured out their relationship. The smut was as hot as the other books, but I wish that penetrative sex wasn’t held up as the gold standard. They didn’t even talk about other ways of having sex.

This book did have some tension and drama in the beginning with the appearance of hunters targeting Marshell. It was a good start to the non-romantic plot. Unfortunately, it was all but forgotten about as Marshell and Remi started their romance. After Marshell healed, he and Remi basically acted like the attack didn’t happen. They even went out dancing like it was no big thing, when the hunters were still out there.

I did like that the reason the clowder hesitated to accept Marshell was different from the previous books. They had no problem accepting his twin sister, but Marshell gave them pause. Remi didn’t hesitate to stand up for his mate, which was no surprise.

I feel like, in the end, these past three books have been the same base story with different characters. Like the same style shoes but in a different color. There have been an overwhelming number of similarities, and that’s lead to a lot of rehashing of the same information in every book. Kirk, Lawson, and Marshell all went through the clowder joining ceremony, and it was exactly the same thing all three times. It became repetitive and tedious. And the complete retelling of what happened with Heller’s sister was totally unnecessary, both for the reader who already knows the story, and for the plot, which slows down because of it.

Review: Behind the Eight Ball (Fur, Fangs, and Felines #2) by M.A. Church

I didn’t get invested in the characters. Honestly, just ok.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 269 pages. Published August 19th 2019 (first published October 30th 2015)

Blurb:

A cool morning, a yard full of birds, and a kitty on a mission. What more could a werecat want? Beta Heller Wirth has it all, except a mate—a shifter mate, that is. The last thing he wants is one of those dangerous humans who kill without remorse. Heller knows about that firsthand. So what does the goddess Bast do? She gives Heller exactly what he does not want—a human: business owner Lawson Dupre.

Lawson hasn’t a clue what just happened in his car detail shop. One minute a cute client is about to pass out, and then he perks up and starts flirting. Next thing, he runs out the door like the hounds of hell are after him. Learning that Heller is a werecat doesn’t freak out Lawson. He happens to be one of those rare humans who knows paranormals exists. He even lives with one. Watch the fur fly as Heller and Lawson battle hurt feelings, misguided beliefs, and a power shift in Heller’s clowder.

Likes:

  • Heller and Lawson, separately and together.
  • Found out why Heller hates humans.
  • Hot smut.
  • New paranormals.
  • Open, honest discussions on why bottoming doesn’t make someone weak.
  • Lawson already knows about paranormals.
  • Heller quickly came to accept Lawson as his mate.

Dislikes:

  • Got bored halfway through.
  • Same lack of world building and deep characterization as last book.
  • Whole chunks of time glossed over.
  • The next couple found each other at the end.
  • The non-romantic plot was incredibly flimsy and wasn’t resolved.
  • Didn’t get invested.
  • A lot of the same info as the first book.
  • There was a point where it felt like the author got confused about the time frame.
  • The reason why no one knows about Heller’s hate for humans is dumb.

I was looking forward to this book because Heller didn’t leave a good impression in the first book, and I always like when a jerk is redeemed. Specifically, I was curious why he hated humans so much. And why the men he’d grown up with didn’t know about it.

It took a while for Heller to confess what happened to Lawson. During that time, Heller underwent a transformation. At first, he was very against the idea of a human mate, but it didn’t take too long for him to change his tune. I was glad that change happened quickly and wasn’t drawn out.

The actual event that made Heller hate humans made me feel sympathetic to him. It also made me roll my eyes. The reason Heller gave for not telling the rest of the pack was flimsy and felt like it was there more for plot reasons than because it made sense.

I liked Heller and Lawson, individually and as a couple. But I never really got invested. Part of it is that the characters, and the book as a whole, lacked depth. There’s little world building, and the characterization is surface level. It’s enough to make the characters understandable, not wasn’t enough to make me connect with them.

I actually got bored halfway through. This book suffers from several of the same issues as the first – there’s not much of a non-romantic plot until later in the book, chunks of time are glossed over with sentences like, “We spent the rest of the rest of the week hanging out and getting to know each other” coming at the end of a chapter and offering no explanation. There was even a time when it felt like the author got confused about how much time had passed.

Part of my boredom is due to the fact that I’m reading the books in quick succession. Since both Kirk and Lawson are new to cat shifters, they’re both presented with the same basic information about the clowder and their rituals. Both Kirk and Lawson go through the official joining ceremony, repeating the same oath. It felt like a rerun and I when I realized there was nothing new, I glossed over it.

One of the good things to carry over from the first book was the smut. The mating process requires both men to top and bottom, making it one long, drawn out scene. I really enjoyed that Lawson and Heller sat down and had an open, honest conversation about sex and about how bottoming doesn’t make someone weak. It was sweet and showed that Lawson cared about Heller, and that Heller was willing to be vulnerable in front of Lawson.

I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction of a new type of paranormal, especially since I think they’re one of the author’s own creation. Lawson also knew about paranormals because of these two, which streamlined his acceptance of being Heller’s mate.

I was definitely disappointed that the next couple found each other at the end of this book. It took away some of the impact, since the moment was seen from Lawson’s eyes. I also didn’t like that a big part of the non-romantic plot wasn’t settled in this book, and was instead kicked down the road to be dealt with in the next one.

Because I like both Marshall and Remy, who are the next couple, I am excited about the next book. But honestly, that’s the only reason. I expect more than I’ve gotten in the first two books of this series, and if it doesn’t happen, I don’t know if I’ll continue on to the end.

Be sure to check out the review for the first book, Trouble Comes in Threes.

Review: Trouble Comes in Threes (Fur, Fangs, and Felines #1) by M.A. Church

Basic and a little rough around the edges, but a nice nough read.

3.25 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 2nd edition, 261 pages. Published August 12th 2019 by Self-Published (first published December 26th 2014)

Blurb:

A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster number three to strike when, naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly felines.

Out of the punishing weather and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.

Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.

Likes:

  • The triad was well balanced.
  • Hot smut.
  • Cat shifters.
  • Inclusion and prejudices were one of the book’s central themes.
  • Lots of single men for future books.
  • Kink and fetishes.
  • Some intensity in the plot near the end.

Dislikes:

  • Non-romantic subplot didn’t start until halfway through the book.
  • Foot fetish mentioned once and then never brought up again.
  • Lots of time covered in only a few paragraphs.
  • Info dumping about cat shifter society.
  • Not enough small moments of falling in love.
  • No reason given for Dolf and Tal’s names.
  • Tal starting the mating process without asking permission.
  • Not much backstory on any of the characters.
  • Change in tense between the men’s point of view chapters.

This book feels like a first novel. It has that ‘still figuring things out, rough around the edges’ feel of an author who isn’t hasn’t fully mastered seamless plots yet. It’s not M.A. Church’s first novel, but it is relatively early in her career. That’s not a pass. Honestly, I think the book could be structured better. I’ve felt that was about many of Dreamspinner Press’s books over the years, and even though this book has been republished on Kindle Unlimited, there’s a disclaimer under the blurb that says it’s the same exact text as back in 2014.

That being said, the romance is fun. This was a reread for me, and I picked up again because more books in the series have come out in the years since I first read it. I didn’t remember much about the book, other than that the romance is between three men. I thought that the interplay between the threesome was well done. They are each likeable and unique, add to the relationship in important ways, and fit together well.

The smut definitely stands out as one of the book’s best features. There are a number of sex scenes that are both hot as hell and add to the story and relationship. Kirk is the perfect addition to Tal and Dolf, who are an established couple. Kirk is kinky and versatile, which fills a need for both Tal and Dolf. I did notice that Kirk’s foot fetish was brought up in the beginning and then never mentioned again.

I wasn’t happy with the fact that Tal started the mating process without Kirk’s permission. I understand Tal’s excuse, and realize that having the mating happen so early in the book drives the entire plot. But I’m a big fan of consent. It was also strange to get more than two-thirds of the way into the book, when the men are mated and living together, and have them realize they’re falling in love. While I think that doing things in the wrong order can be a unique way to spice up a romance, it didn’t quite work for me here.

I also didn’t love the amount of info dumping in the book. Because the mating is so sudden, Tal and Dolf have to fill Kirk in about all aspects of cat shifter life and society. It’s still info dumping if it’s dialogue. This is where I think things could have been structured better. The story takes off towards the romance at the detriment of things like world building and defining the characters. I know surprisingly little about any of the men beyond their jobs, Dolf’s family, and what they like in bed. I don’t even know where Dolfoon and Talise’s names come from.

The first half of the book is focused solely on the romance and introducing Kirk to the clowder. Lots of time is covered, with gaps summed up in a few paragraphs. The buildup towards the ‘I love you’ moment felt choppy. The non-romantic plot didn’t start until halfway through the book, and definitely made the book more interesting. There was some nice intensity near the end.

It was nice to see cat shifters instead of the typical werewolves. As a cat owner, I have to say that the descriptions of the cats were spot on. I also liked that Kirk got some benefits of being mated to Tal and Dolf, despite not being able to turn into a shifter himself. And I have to give props to M.A. Church for making one of the book’s central issues one of inclusion.

My final gripe about the book is that Kirk’s chapters are told from first person point of view, whereas Dolf and Tal’s chapters are from the third person. It was a weird choice. Not only was it annoying to keep flipflopping, but it made Kirk seem much more open and accessible to the reader. Which, in a book about equality between a triad of men, didn’t make sense.

Overall, while I enjoyed this book, it lacked depth and polish. If I had picked it up after reading something with amazing world building and unforgettable characters, I would have felt massively disappointed.  

Review: Best Beast (Enchanted Occasions #2.5) by E.J. Russell

The Olesson-Pakulski wedding has been teased for the past two books, and it didn’t disappoint. Neither did the romance.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 161 pages. Published January 1st 2021 by Reality Optional Press Being invisible makes it really hard to get laid.

Blurb:

When half-human Kai Schiffer steps into the Interstices—the post-creation gaps between realms—his supernatural half kicks in and he literally disappears unless…well, don’t ask.

But in a stroke (heh) of good fortune, Kai finally has a chance to show his face (and other parts, stars willing) to his long-time crush Jovan Kos—Interstitial Law Enforcement agent, wolf warrior, occasional berserker, and best man at their mutual best friends’ Imbolc wedding.

Jovan, who’s half in love with Kai already, is grateful his best man duties are light enough that he can focus all his attention on Kai. After all, with Enchanted Occasions Event Planning handling the Olesson-Pakulski wedding, what could possibly go wrong? 

Likes:

  • Kai and Jovan, together and separately.
  • A fun, happy story that made me smile a lot.
  • Fandom mentions.
  • Cameos by EO staff.
  • Longer than I expected.
  • Smut.
  • The disaster.

Dislikes:

  • I want an entire spinoff series about Jovan’s work.
  • I wanted to see Taline punished.

I am so glad E.J. Russell decided to write this story. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited, but I got it for free from the Winter Wonderland giveaway, and something in the blurb sparked my memory of reading the first book. Which then got me back to the series.

This story was so much fun. It’s lighthearted and quick to read, though longer than I initially expected. I’d definitely say this is more of a novella, because it really gives Kai and Jovan’s romance time to develop. They already knew each other at the start of the story, so there was no ista-love, which was nice. In fact, they’d both been crushing on each other for a while, but neither had acted on it.

Separately, Kai and Jovan are interesting. Together, they’re adorable. I smiled my way through this story. Kai and Jovan just fit together so well, despite being so different. There were adorkable parts and smutty parts and I liked it all equally.

Of course, the part I was really looking forward to was finally getting to see what had gone down at the Olesson-Pakulski wedding. It’s been teased for two books, and I wasn’t disappointed. The chaos was so amusing. I did feel bad for Ole because he bore the brunt of a lot of the mischief. My biggest complaint about the novella is that the perpetrator wasn’t punished enough.

Seeing cameos of the EO staff was great. Especially Andy, who wasn’t present in the second book because he was off with his husband. This novella has made me want more of this series. There are so many interesting supernatural and magical beings who don’t often get written about, and seeing them in the books makes me greedy for more. I would happily read a spinoff series about Jovan’s work at the ILE, since that seemed endlessly fascinating.

Be sure to check out the first two books in the series, Nudging Fate and Devouring Flame.

Review: Devouring Flame (Enchanted Occasions #2) by E.J. Russell

Fantastic plot. Hard to put down.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 2nd edition. 218 pages. Published May 11th 2020 by E.J. Russell (first published January 8th 2019)

Blurb:

Can a chance meeting rekindle their incendiary attraction?

While cutting through the Interstices—the post-creation gap between realms—Smith, half-demon tech specialist for Enchanted Occasions Event Planning, spies the person he yearns for daily but dreads ever seeing again: the ifrit, Hashim of the Windrider clan.

On their one literally smoldering night together, Smith, stupidly besotted, revealed his true name—a demon’s greatest vulnerability. When Hashim didn’t return the favor, then split the next morning with no word? Message received, loud and clear: Thanks but no thanks.

Although Hashim had burned to return Smith’s trust, it was impossible. The wizard who conjured him holds his true name in secret, and unless Hashim discovers it, he’ll never be free.

When their attraction sparks once more, the two unite to search for Hashim’s hidden name—which would be a hell of a lot easier if they didn’t have to contend with a convention full of food-crazed vampires on the one day out of the century they can consume something other than blood.

But if they fail, Hashim will be doomed to eternal slavery, and their reignited love will collapse in the ashes.

Luckily Smith is the guy who gets the job done—and Hashim is never afraid to heat things up. 

Likes:

  • Smith and Hashim, together and separately.
  • More smut than the last book.
  • Good non-romantic plot.
  • Good side characters.
  • Kept me hooked.
  • No info dumping.
  • Everything wrapped up well in the end.
  • Expanded world building.

Dislikes:

  • Not as fun and fluffy as the first book.
  • Want more of the series.

Unlike with Nudging Fate, this was not a reread. So I was surprised that the overall feel of this book was very different from the first. Nudging Fate was light and fluffy, but Devouring Flame definitely had an edge to it. I should have expected it, after all, the blurb straight up says that “if they fail, Hashim will be doomed to eternal slavery.”

Despite the fact that Hashim spends a lot of the book worried about what his future looks like, the book isn’t all doom and gloom. Smith is determined to free Hashim and to have a future together. Hashim goes through a number of emotional shifts during the book, from hopeful to defeated to angry and determined. I liked that, no matter how bad things got, neither Smith nor Hashim ever gave up.

There was more smut in this book than the last. Nothing too graphic or drawn out, but the passion was definitely there. It fit with the characters and the fact that they were both fire types. I enjoyed how well matched Smith and Hasim were in that respect. It added to their connection, which any good sex scene should.

The non-romantic plot was definitely more interesting in this book than in the first. So much was going on, but it was well balanced with the romance. Plus, the book was hard to put down. I’ll say this for E.J. Russell, she knows how to write a good plot.

The beginning didn’t hook me right away. It’s made clear that something happened between Smith and Hashim in the first book, but the specifics come out in dribs and drabs. This was good in that there were no info dumps. But it made the beginning feel a little slow.

In the end, everything was wrapped up really well. Not just with the romance, but with the non-romantic plot and even the side characters. The Enchanted Occasions staff was great once again, and a number of new side characters made an appearance. Special shout out to Rion for being a sweetheart.

I do wish the series would continue. There aren’t too many main members of the Enchanted Occasions staff left, but I would happily read stories about Mikos, Dr. Evan Makori, and any new EO staff members who get added to the roster. Especially since the world building got expanded on a bit.

Be sure to check out the review for the first book, Nudging Fate, and the novella about the Olesson-Pakulski wedding, Best Beast.

Review: Nudging Fate (Enchanted Occasions #1) by E.J. Russell

A fun, fluffy read with enough hints of magic to make it exciting.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 2nd edition. 161 pages. Published April 25th 2020 by E.J. Russell (first published May 15th 2018)

Blurb:

With his heart’s desire at stake, can he resist giving Fate a little nudge?

Half-norn event planner Anders Skuldsson is under strict orders from Asgard not to meddle with Fate. But with Enchanted Occasions’ latest booking—the competition for the hand of Faerie’s one true prince—crashing around his ears, it’s really, really, really difficult to toe that particular line. So… if Andy just happens to pose as a contender for the prince? It’s an emergency, damn it. Besides, it’s only temporary, so Odin can hardly blame him. Right?

If Conall of Odstone hadn’t sworn a blood oath to protect his half-brother, Prince Reyner, he’d murder the idiot himself. Rey was supposed to be here, choosing a mate before being crowned and wed. Instead, he’s disappeared, leaving Con to impersonate him. Again.

But when Con meets Andy, his anger turns to desire… and despair. Even if Andy forgives him for pretending to be someone he’s not, how could a man as appealing and accomplished as Andy—a man who’s eligible for a prince’s hand, for pity’s sake—settle for the court outcast?

As for Andy, his burgeoning feelings for the prince are both unfortunate and hopeless because hello? Half-norn? Faerie prince? Not exactly a match made in Valhalla.

When the Faerie Queen herself hands down an ultimatum, the double deception isn’t their only obstacle. Unless Andy makes the right decision, both their fates could be sealed by… well… Fate. 

Likes:

  • Interesting premise.
  • Good characters.
  • A fun, fluffy read.
  • Low angst.
  • Unusual supernatural and mythical beings.
  • The interstitial spaces.
  • The situation surrounding Con and Rey’s birth.
  • Better cover now.
  • Great side characters.

Dislikes:

  • Not a lot of world building.
  • No smut.
  • The ending wasn’t fully satisfying.

There was a time when I read as many mm romance books as I could get my hands on. I didn’t review those books, or even write down the titles. Which means that every once in a while I come across a book that sounds familiar, but that I don’t remember much about. This is one of those books.

I got the short story Best Beast for free from the Winter Wonderland giveaway, and the mention of Enchanted Occasions rang a bell. When I looked up the author, I saw that I had read several of her books in the past. All I remembered about Nudging Fate was that I liked it, so I decided to reread it. I’m glad I did, and not just because it has a better cover now.

There are so many things I enjoyed about this book, from the idea of the interstitial spaces where magic and technology from all the worlds can coexist at the same time, to the fact that all of the Enchanted Occasions staff are less typical supernatural and mythical beings. No offense to vampires, werewolves, and dragons, but sometimes it’s nice to get other types of beings.

I also thought the situation surrounding Con and Rey’s birth was interesting, as was the Faerie Queen’s plans for her son. The idea of gathering a bunch of people together and having the prince choose one as a spouse is something I’ve seen in a number of books, but there are enough unique occurrences to make it enjoyable.

Both Con and Andy were great guys and the romance was super sweet. No smut, but it worked for the story. The whole thing felt light and fluffy, as well as being low angst. There was some tension and drama in the last few chapters, but that was to be expected.

My biggest complaint was the lack of world building. While enough information was given to flesh out the immediate story, there’s huge gaps about things that are tangentially related. The realm of Faerie was mentioned a lot, but other than saying that it didn’t allow any human technology, it wasn’t described at all. Neither were Con’s fey powers, though it was hinted that he had them. To be fair, the story worked fine without this info, but I love world building, so I noticed its absence.

In a way, that lack of world building made the ending feel a little unsatisfying. I have no idea what kind of life awaited Con and Andy. No idea where they lived or what they did or how many things changed for the both of them. And while I think their romance is strong and was handled well, I do have questions about their situation. I would happily read a story where Con and Andy play a strong supporting role to another couple’s romance. This way we’d be able to see what happened to them and how they’re adjusting to their new lives.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to the side characters. Especially Talus, who I liked right from the beginning. I’m glad that the next book is about Smith, especially since there were some lingering questions about him. Rey will probably get a book of his own, but the glimpse I saw of him made him seem like a spoiled brat. But I’d still read his book.

Be sure to check out the review for the second book, Devouring Flame, and the novella about the Olesson-Pakulski wedding, Best Beast.

Review: Accidentally Summoned by Colette Davison

A cute novella featuring an ice demon.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Published January 1st 2021. Part of the 2021 Winter Wonderland Giveaway

Blurb:

Can a mortal melt the heart of an ice demon?

Alone, in the theatre, frantically making costumes, Nico accidentally summons a demon.

At dawn, they discover it only takes one night to change everything as ‘Bob’ returns to hell.

What price will they have to pay to turn one passionate night into eternity?

Likes:

  • That Nico named the demon Bob.
  • Bob was icy throughout.
  • A fun, cute read.
  • Everything about Bob, including his history and how clueless he was about the present day.
  • That demons aren’t like how we think they are.
  • Hot smut.

Dislikes:

  • I wanted more.

Every once in a while, I’ll come across an insta-love story that I like, and this is one of those. I’m normally not a fan of insta-love, but it worked here. Maybe because Nico and Bob fit together so well right from the beginning. Or because the intro straight up says “Accidentally Summoned is an insta-love novella with a considerable size difference, lots of sweet babbling, and ice play.”

Nico was a bit of a pushover, but he wasn’t a wimpy crybaby. He was stuck making all of the costumes by himself, and wasn’t happy about it, but he was also determined to make those costumes the best they could be. The fact that he accidentally summoned an ice demon in the process was hilarious.

Bob was wonderful. And he appeared naked, which is always a plus. I enjoyed his history and the little bit of information about what demons really are. His cluelessness about the modern world was adorable. He definitely reminded me of a big puppy who just wants to please its master. Even better, Bob was an ice demon through and through. The ice play was fun and sexy, and I loved that Bob found a way to help with the costumes.

I think the novella wrapped up well. It even had an epilogue. So it’s not that I wish it was longer, though I would have happily read more about these two. It’s that the world building sucked me in. I would happily read a series about demons getting accidentally summoned and then having no idea how to function in the modern world, while also falling in love with humans.