Love is Love Reviews

Review: Double or Nothing (The Chosen One #2.5) by Macy Blake

Short and free. Not a must read aside from introducing a few side characters.

2.75 out of 5 stars

E-book. 58 pages. Published August 28th 2018 by Macy Blake

Blurb:

Mikey Smith lives with what he calls his “flickers”. When he’s out in the world, sometimes other people flicker and change into something terrifying that no one but him can see. He’s been diagnosed with epilepsy, but part of him knows what he sees is real. When two men walk into his coffee shop, his world is turned upside down when they transform into something else… and they know he can see them.

Already mates, Asher and Quillon aren’t expecting to add a third into their mix… but neither of them are opposed to the idea either. When they meet Mikey, they’re drawn to him from the first moment. He’s a human exposed to their world, though, and the consequences are severe. Can Asher and Quillon protect their new human mate from the forces that threaten him?

Likes:

Mikey and his abilities.
Mikey’s foster parents.
Manticore.
Explains how Mikey and his mates meet.
Free.

Dislikes:

Asher and Quillon aren’t well rounded.
Didn’t hook me.
Asher was too pushy too fast.
The story seems to have several discrepancies with the previous books.
Lack of information and reaction.
Mikey’s abilities aren’t explained.
Very rushed.

As much as I didn’t care for this story, I’m glad it exists. Plus, it’s free. Mikey and his mates show up briefly at the beginning of Next to Nothing, and this story tells how they got together.

When it comes to romance, I need to like both main characters. Or in this case, all three. Mikey was easy to like. He’s suffered from flickers ever since he was young, and it was the reason he was put in the foster system in the first place. His foster parents deserve a huge shout out for giving him a home and helping him find a way to manage the flickers as best as possible.

Neither Asher nor Quillon were well rounded enough for me to become attached to. In fact, Asher’s pushiness towards claiming Mikey was a huge turn off. It was less ‘I’m an alpha and must protect my mate’ and more ‘I have found my mate and he must become mine no matter what he wants.’

Asher did have some character growth on that last part. He started off buying Mikey expensive and unwanted gifts, and after having them turned down, finally realized that having a fun date was the better choice. It was nice to see, but I wish Asher had been more proactive in trying to find out what Mikey wanted. He stumbled on the date idea by accident, and spent very little time actually talking to Mikey.

And that’s the problem. This story is only 58 pages long, and includes way way too much for such a short story. There’s no time to develop anything or answer pressing questions. Only one date was shown, which meant that the special little moments where people fall in love were missing. Other dates are referenced, but happen off page. The question of why Mikey has flickers, or how his foster parents knew how to find a blessed amulet aren’t even brought up.

Not to mention the fact that Mikey always thought he was seeing monsters, but didn’t have any kind of negative reaction to finding out that he was mates to two. I’m blaming this, and a lot of my complaints, on the short length. This is a free story, and I get the feeling that Blake didn’t want to put too much time and effort into it. Mikey meeting his mates could have easily been a novel of its own, but since they’re all essentially side characters who only show up briefly in the next novel, there was no point in a full story.

My final complaint is that there seem to be a few discrepancies from the other novels. Mikey feels a bond snap into place between him and his mates, which has never been mentioned before with any of the other couples. And Asher and Quillon haven’t shifted for years, when the Jerrick pack needs to shift regularly.

I think this short story goes to show that, while I’m enjoying the series overall, I have to accept that Blake simply isn’t the kind of author who excels at in-depth characters or world building. And this story really highlights those weaknesses.

Be sure to check out my reviews for the rest of the series – Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1), Nothing Ventured (The Chosen One #2), Hell on Earth (Hellhound Champions #1).

Review: Hell on Earth (Hellhound Champions #1) by Macy Blake

A good first book, but I could have done with the spoiler from Next to Nothing.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 219 pages. Published October 23rd 2018

Blurb:

Protector. Boogeyman. Hellhound. Meshaq has been called it all. As alpha of the hellhounds, his goddess has tasked him with protecting the secrets of the supernatural world. He’s the police of other creatures and the enforcer of the goddess’s rules. If his duty leaves him lonely and longing for a mate and a larger pack, well, the goddess knows the secrets of his heart and she will grant them if it is her will.

Drew Metcalf is a man on the run. When he finds himself in a biker bar surrounded by leather wearing giants, he thinks he’s a goner. But there’s something different about the man slinging drinks. He makes Drew feel safe, something he hasn’t felt in a long time.

When Drew and Shaq’s worlds collide, a different kind of magic happens. Shaq doesn’t understand why he’s so drawn to the human whose life is shrouded in mystery and danger. What Shaq does know is that Drew needs his protection. Magical forces are at work, beginning a battle that will require all of Shaq’s skill as the goddess’s champion. With a terrifying threat looming, Shaq and Drew are in danger of losing more than their hearts.

Likes:

Shaq and Drew, together and separately.
Hooked me fast.
The side characters.
Hot smut.
Set up future books nicely.
The groups of beings who came to see Drew.

Dislikes:

Lack of world building typical of this series.
Don’t know much about Drew or Shaq’s history.
Spoiler from Next to Nothing.
Discrepancies between the books.

I’ve had a strange experience with books by Macy Blake. I really enjoyed Sweet Nothings, then All or Nothing almost made me give up on the series. But I stuck with The Chosen One series, only to have Next to Nothing spoil part of this book. Which made me furious. I fucking hate spoilers.

I am all for authors writing multiple series that exist within the same world. I actually enjoy it. This is something different. This is multiple series set in the same world, happening at the same time, with overlapping characters and events, so you get spoilers if you don’t flip back and forth between the series in a specific order.

So I came into this book knowing some things that don’t happen until the end, but without much more context. I was excited about Meshaq being the main character because I’ve liked him as a side character in other books. He’s definitely got typical alpha attitude and mojo, but he isn’t an asshole. The fact that he takes in ‘stray’ people as employees at his bar, and better yet, that they trust him enough to stay, said a lot about him.

Drew’s situation was what got me hooked. He didn’t know anything about the supernatural world, but was being targeted by a wolf pack. I was glad that nothing worse than a little intimidation had happened to him.

It was fun seeing Meshaq’s reaction to Drew. He didn’t realize they were mates for a while, since no one has found a mate in ages. It’s gotten to a point where hellhounds are a dying breed. But it was cute to see Meshaq trying to prove to Drew that he could provide.

The two men fit together really well, and the romance was sweet. Just a little bit of smut, nothing like what happened in All or Nothing, thankfully. And the book set up the next in the series nicely.

There wasn’t as much information about hellhounds as I would have liked. Then again, I’ve been complaining about the lack of world building in every Macy Blake book. I also would have liked to know more about Meshaq and Drew’s pasts.

There were a few discrepancies between this book and others set in the same universe. Meshaq seemed to think of mates as almost mythical and he hadn’t ever seen one. Then what about Henry and his mates? Or Sam and Vaughn? Meshaq literally says he needs to do research on mates because no one has seen one in such a long time.

The side characters were a fun addition to the book, both the human and the fey. I look forward to seeing more of them in future books. And it was nice to see Ollie and Natasha again.

Be sure to check out my reviews for the rest of the Chosen Universe – Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1), Nothing Ventured (The Chosen One #2).

Review: Nothing Ventured (The Chosen One #2) by Macy Blake

Glad I gave the series another shot. Liked this book so much better than the first.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 234 pages. Published April 2020 (first published August 19th 2018)

Blurb:

A Gay Paranormal Harem Romance

Sawyer Smith is woefully unprepared for the dangers that come with being part of the supernatural world. As a magical null, he is human and vulnerable, even with the powerful, sexy guardians who have claimed him as their own. When a simple visit turns deadly, Sawyer’s mates take action and whisk him away to the clan of rich and powerful griffins.

As a griffin, Eduard Eastaughffe is considered supernatural royalty, but even with all his wealth and power, his duty as a guardian must come before all else. If he can convince his clan to support his newfound mates and not judge the fact they include a dragon, a vampire, a mage, and–Goddess forbid–a human, the rest of the clans may fall in line without much of a fight.

Danger lurks in close quarters and a new guardian is revealed. If Sawyer hopes to discover the ancient enemy hunting the Chosen One, he must survive the newest tests facing him. Because at the end of the day, when you’re a human among magical creatures, it’s nothing ventured… nothing gained.

Likes:

So much better than the previous book.
Got to know the characters better.
Saeward.
Hot smut.
Strong non-romantic plot.
Finally started to see some of what makes Sawyer special.
Cecil, Viv, and Ms. Robinson.
The men are making special connections with each other.

Dislikes:

Could still use a ton more world building.
Ends on something of a cliffhanger.

I’m so glad I gave this series another shot. I had a lot of complaints about the first book, and I was worried that it would be more of the same in this one. Thankfully, this book is a lot better. It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s head and shoulders above the last.

There was a lot more character building and character growth in this book, and not just because it’s the second book with the same characters. I liked when Draco admitted that, as a shifter who feels things instinctively, he needs to vocalize things more for the two humans. And not just for the humans. It’s important for things to be out in the open for the readers too.

Each man has his own love language. Draco is possessive, carrying his mates around and feeding them. Andvari makes sure everyone is protected. It’s little things like that which made the book more enjoyable, in part because of feelings. The guys didn’t really talk about their feelings much. But they began to show them more. It wasn’t just physical attraction and a lot of sex.

Speaking of sex, there was still a lot, but not in big chunks like the previous book. The sex this time honestly did move the relationships along. It wasn’t just hot, it was necessary to the story. Which is the best kind of sex. I especially liked that the men are starting to create special things between each of them. They’re still polygamous, but there’s something special between each pairing that’s for them and them alone.

The non-romantic plot was really interesting, and it moved at a good pace. Not much of it is mentioned in the blurb, and I was surprised at how much happened in this book. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that I enjoyed meeting Saeward, even if how it happened was less than ideal. Then, at the end of the book, something happens that, while not a true cliffhanger, definitely made me want to hurry and start reading the next book.

There’s still not a ton of world building, which leaves me with so many questions. The thing I’m most curious about is how the gods and deities work. It’s not just the Mother Goddess. Her daughters are also Goddesses, and then there are forgotten deities. Admittedly, part of why I want things explained is because I don’t want to end up feeling like new pieces of information are being dropped just to make the plot work.

Eduard got lots of attention since he took everyone to his family estate. Learning about the griffons and Eduard’s history was nice. It was a little bit of world building, but still not a lot. The clothing try-on scene was fun.

The final thing I noticed was that we’re finally beginning to see why Sawyer’s so special. It’s not enough for the Mother Goddess to say he is. It wasn’t a huge moment, but when Sawyer got Eduard’s dad to open up and accept him, it was really sweet. All the more so because it helped mend the rift between father and son.

I am definitely looking forward to getting to the next book. If the quality is better, that would be great, but even if it’s equal to this one, I’ll be happy.

Be sure to check out the previous books in the series – Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1).

Review: All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1) by Macy Blake

Too much sex, not enough world building. But I’m still going to continue with the series.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 220 pages. Published July 24th 2018

Blurb:

A Gay Paranormal Harem Romance

Sawyer Smith is preparing to take on the world, and with his graduate degree only days away, he’s hoping to convince his gorgeous best friend and neighbor to come along for the ride. There’s only one problem; Draco has a secret, a big scaly secret, and it’s about to change Sawyer’s life forever.

When three mysterious men move into the new mansion across the street, Sawyer is plunged into a fantastical world he never knew existed, one filled with creatures of legend. Discovering the truth about Draco and his role as guardian of The Chosen One is only the tip of the paranormal iceberg.

Being drawn to this strange new world is challenging enough, but then Sawyer finds himself attracted to all The Chosen One’s guardians. Giving into his desire comes with incredible risks. Once the chosen one is found, Sawyer will return to his human life, without the guardians, without Draco.

As danger mounts, Sawyer must choose between guarding his heart from the men he grows closer to by the day, or give in and risk losing it all.

Likes:

Hot smut.
Polygamous relationships.
Good mix of supernatural beings.
Everyone got POV sections.
Potential for growth.
The fight scene.

Dislikes:

Didn’t really hook me.
The characters aren’t well fleshed out.
Not much world building.
Slow, sporadic plot.
Too much sex.
Sawyer just accepted everything with ease.
The reveal of the chosen one is anticlimactic.
The reason the chosen one was chosen doesn’t make sense.
Draco’s name.
Draco being in almost every sex scene.
Lack of discussion around sex and kinks.

Are you looking for a book with a fast-paced, engaging plot, with fleshed out characters and good world building? If so, you need to keep looking, because this book doesn’t have any of that. What it does have a lot of is sex. Too much sex. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if this book is 50% sex scenes.

Now, I’m not against smut in my romance book. I actually enjoy it. In moderation. And I get that the sexual and romantic relationships between the five guys in this book was a focal point. Because the blurb is wrong – this isn’t a harem, it’s full-blown polygamy, with all the guys taking turns with each other.

I actually liked the idea of the relationships being polygamous. It’s more equal. And all of the guys but one were versatile. But after the first few sex scenes, which did advance the relationships, all the rest felt like filler. I’m not joking when I say that once the sex starts, it doesn’t stop.

This presents a very big problem. With the sex scenes taking up so much page space, there is naturally less space for more crucial story elements – like character development, world building, and the non-romantic plot.

I know next to nothing about most of the characters. Henry’s backstory was detailed in the previous book, so he gets a pass. Sawyer got a lot of page space, relatively speaking, so I know the basics about him. As for the rest of them, I know their species, elemental affiliation, and dick size.

Then there’s the world building. It didn’t happen. Even when things were being explained to Sawyer, it was brief. I have so many questions. Like why dragons have multiple mates when other species struggle to find even one. Or who the Goddess is. Or when Sawyer found out about the Goddess.

The prophecy about the chosen one does get explained, so I’ll give points for that. Although no one really seems to know who they’re all going to be fighting against. Luckily, the bad guys space out their attacks so the main characters only have to deal with two interruptions. Isn’t that nice? Gives them plenty of time to have more sex.

Those two attacks are basically the sum total of the non-romantic plot for the book. To say it’s thin and sporadic is an understatement. That’s part of why the sex scenes felt like filler. Like the author really wanted to split everything up into five books, but there wasn’t enough plot, so she’s stretching things out as much as possible.

I did like that each of the guys got point of view sections. Sawyer and Draco seemed to get the most, followed by Henry, with Eduard and Andvari getting the least. I also liked that everyone was a different species. It was a good mix, but I am a little worried about the thought of adding another four people into the mix. Nine main characters seems like a lot.

I do wish there had been more discussion about the sex before it started. All the guys are kinky, and while I do think the guys would have stopped if someone had a complaint, the sex could change direction at any moment. From sweet to rough in a flash. Adding in daddy/boy play mid-coitus. I know that having people sit down and talk about what their likes and dislikes are isn’t sexy, but the lack of it, especially in a book filled with so much sex, was glaringly obvious. Only Eduard asked for explicit consent for a specific sex act.

I also thought it was strange that Draco was involved in almost every sex scene. I can’t tell whether the author just liked him better or whether there’s something about dragons that make them extra needy. This goes back to the lack of world building. I know next to nothing about how dragons behave in this world, expect that apparently they give their kids lame names. Seriously, who names a dragon Draco? It’s not just lazy, it’s lame.

My final complaint is about the chosen one. The answer was obvious from the beginning, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t have been a big deal when it was revealed. It was super anticlimactic. And on top of that, the reason the chosen one was chosen is supposedly because they’re “so full of love” which I call bullshit on. None of the characters have much contact with anyone outside of the house, so unless being full of love is a euphemism for semen, it hasn’t been shown. Again going back to the lack of character building.

However, despite all of my complaints, I think the series has potential. I hope the books will continue to get better – and let’s face it, there’s a lot of room for improvement – because the writing is good. I really liked the fight scene. It was tense and detailed and full of emotions. Hopefully things will really start to take off in book two.

Be sure to check out the rest of the series – Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76)

Review: Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76) by Macy Blake

Another short freebie set after the main story.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Published December 12th 2019 by Macy Blake

https://BookHip.com/TGXXPZ

Blurb:

What happens when a group of shifter children misunderstand exactly who Santa Claus is? Santa Trouble, that’s what. When Jack overhears a conversation about Christmas, he thinks Santa is out to challenge his siblings right to be an alpha’s kids. Not to fear, though. The Jerrick pack kids are nothing if not resourceful and they come up with an epic plan to stop him in his tracks.

Likes:

How much the kids were determined to stay with their dads.
The ways the kids interpreted the Christmas songs.
Told from the kid’s point of view.
Free and easy to get.

Dislikes:

Didn’t add anything to the overall story of the Jerrick family.
Made me sad for the kids all over again.
Didn’t get to see the kids actually celebrate Christmas.

This is the second short story following the novel Sweet Nothings. It’s free and can be downloaded or read in-browser from book funnel, but I’ve also included the link. Getting the book also offers you a chance to sign up for Macy Blake’s email list.

This story was told completely from the point of view of the kids, which is a first for everyone but Ollie. None of the kids know about Christmas, and since the adults don’t explain anything, the kids end up with a twisted idea of what’s going to happen. It would be cute, if it didn’t make my heart go out to them all.

Despite how wonderfully everything is going with the new family, the kids are still expecting something bad to mess everything up. They end up convinced that they need to defeat Santa in order to stay with the alpha. I don’t know if the story is supposed to be sad, but that’s my take on it. The kids still don’t trust that they can be happy and safe without someone trying to take it away.

The one silver lining is that all six of the kids are determined to defeat Santa and stay with their dads. The ways they interpreted the snatches of Christmas songs they heard was funny. It just goes to show how many different meanings words can have.

The story also shows how everyone is settling in. It was nice to get to know a little more about each of them in their POV section.

This story is definitely not a necessary read. In fact, I don’t think it added much of anything to the overall story of the Jerrick family. We didn’t even get to see the kids celebrating on Christmas morning.

Be sure to check out the reviews for Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1)

Review: The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75) by Macy Blake

A cute story that showed what happened after the ‘and they all lived happily ever after.’

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 39 pages. Published February 8th 2019

claims.prolificworks.com/public/9zsAogp5

Blurb:

Vaughn Jerrick’s life has changed completely. He’s the adoptive alpha and father to six shifter cubs, and he’s the mate to a human he loves more than life itself. There’s only one problem. He’s been so focused on the kids, he’s forgotten to truly romance Sam. With Valentine’s day approaching, Vaughn decides to give his mate a romantic evening. If only it were that simple. Chaos comes in all shapes and sizes, but Vaughn quickly realizes that the trouble with love is that it isn’t any trouble at all.

Likes:

Short and sweet.
Good to see more of the family.
Got to see everyone all settled.
Free and easy to get.

Dislikes:

Not particularly impactful.
Not particularly romantic.
Letting Natasha pick Valentine’s Day for her birthday.

I was excited at the chance to see Sam, Vaughn, and the kids again. Not to mention, in a free story. One that promised romance.

Maybe I expected too much. The story was cute. But it didn’t have that special something the book did.

The story’s more about the daily lives and routines of the family, with Vaughn desperately trying to find a time and place to shower Sam with romance. There’s a little more to it, but I won’t spoil anything.

Vaughn comes up with multiple plans for how to make this grand gesture of love. Each time, something gets in the way. It felt very realistic, especially since they have six kids and busy lives. The story felt more like a comedy of errors, except I didn’t find it particularly funny. I honestly would rather have seen the big gesture. In my opinion, making a plan work despite the roadblocks is more impressive than giving up whenever something goes wrong.

It was nice to see how everyone had settled into a routine. This story really did feel like an example of what happened after the ‘and they lived happily ever after’ ending of the book. Even Ollie got a POV section in the story, and it was so cute how excited he was for craft time.

The downside of a story about the everyday things that can get in the way of romance is that the story lacked impact. It’s definitely not a necessary read. Luckily, it’s easy to get. Just search for Macy Blake on prolific works, or follow the link I provided. You have to sign up for her email list to get the story, but can unsubscribe at any time.

My biggest complaint about the story is that Natasha’s birthday was on Valentine’s Day. Sam and Vaughn don’t know any of the kid’s real birthdays, so they put all the days of the year in a hat (excluding the days when other pack members had birthdays) and had them pick one at random. Yet for some reason, they didn’t take out holidays as well? It was a good idea, but not implemented particularly well.

There’s a second short story featuring the Jerrick family, and I’m hoping for a little more out of that one.

Be sure to check out the reviews for Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1)

Review: Sweet Nothings (The Chosen One #0.5) by Macy Blake

A cute story with a good beginning, but is clearly setting up the actual series.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 230 pages. Published September 25th 2018

Blurb:

Sam Baker couldn’t be more normal. He’s a teacher at the local middle school and the most exciting part of his day is dealing with a classroom full of hormonal preteens. His life takes a turn for the weird one stormy night when he finds a small boy on his doorstep. A boy who growls, flashes unnaturally blue eyes, demands for Sam to call the alpha– whatever that is– and gives Sam the one name he wishes he could forget: Vaughn Jerrick.

Vaughn Jerrick is the alpha to a pack of wolf shifters and a doctor to the supernatural world. After sharing a steamy one night stand with Sam years ago, Vaughn couldn’t consider the possibility of a future with the man, no matter how much he wanted him. Bringing a human into his world is against the rules, but one phone call changes everything, and Vaughn finds himself face-to-face with the man who could give him everything he’s ever wanted.

Rescuing one small child turns into saving six from a dark and uncertain fate, and although Sam doesn’t understand the world he’s been forced into, he would never turn his back on children in need, even if it means confronting his past with Vaughn.

As Vaughn and Sam join forces to protect the children put into their care, the future they’ve both dreamed of is within their reach, but first they need to survive the sinister force looking to rip away everything they’ve come to hold dear.

Likes:

Good introduction to the story and situation.
Hooked me fast.
Cute kids.
Hellhounds are a type of shifter.
No long discussion about shifters being real.
Multiple mentions of getting the kinds therapy.
No insta-love.
Fluffy and heartwarming.
Hot smut.

Dislikes:

Not a ton of world building.
Felt like a prequel.
Totally focused on the interpersonal relationships until about 90%.
Vaughn’s not recognizing that Sean was his mate earlier swept under the rug.
No mention of why the kids were taken.

It’s not often that I’m impressed by how well a book’s beginning is set up, but that’s the feeling I had. Not only was I hooked fast, but all of the pertinent information is presented at the beginning without feeling like an info dump.

It doesn’t take long to understand that Sam’s a nice guy. He called Vaughn on the say-so of a lost little kid, despite their history. The way he fought for the kids throughout the book is part of what makes the story so heartwarming. Sam didn’t have to stay and help, but he chose to, even though finding out about shifters and magic turned his world upside down.

I liked that the typical info dump about shifters was done off page. There’s not a ton of world building in the book, and it seems pretty standard as far as shifters and packs go. The one unique thing I liked was that hellhounds were a type of shifter.

Vaughn was also easy to like. He wasn’t an alpha-hole. For him, being an alpha meant protecting his pack and the little kids in whatever way possible. I also like that he was determined to woo Sam correctly, and didn’t pressure him or do any of the all-too-common possessive behaviors.

Their relationship was both hot and sweet, and while they bonded quickly, it wasn’t insta-love. Sam had lots of doubts about their mating, which Vaughn addressed. What wasn’t addressed was why it took Vaughn so long to realize that Sam was his mate.

I’m not the biggest fan of kids in my romance. They can easily become annoying cockblocks, but the six kids in this book were actually pretty great. Not too annoying, and sometimes even downright cute. I was happy that Vaughn mentioned getting them therapy multiple times. After what they went through, it was necessary. I just wish we learned why they were taken.

The bulk of the book is focused on the interpersonal relationships between Sam, Vaughn, and the kids. It was low angst, but the way the kids were always waiting for the other shoe to drop made my heart go out to them.

It wasn’t until about 90% of the way through the book that something big happened. Even if I hadn’t known this was a prequel book, I would have realized that it was setting up the next books. The ending, while showing that Sam, Vaughn, and the kids had become a family, was totally focused on Henry, and what he’d be up to next.

There are two short stories about Sam, Vaughn, and the kids before the actual Chosen One books begin, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Be sure to check out the rest of the series The Trouble with Love (The Chosen One #0.75), Santa Trouble (The Chosen One #0.76), All or Nothing (The Chosen One #1)

Review: Counter Culture by J.L. Merrow

In the end, this book wasn’t worth it.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. 344 pages. Published November 4th 2019 by Riptide Publishing

Blurb:

Customer service has never been this personal.

Robin Christopher, beleaguered retail worker, isn’t having an easy November. His boss is raising stress levels planning a Black Friday to end all Black Fridays, his family doesn’t understand him, and his best friend thinks his new crush is a hallucination brought on by watching too many episodes of Doctor Who.

Archie Levine dresses in Victorian style and divides his time between caring for his young son and creating weird and wacky steampunk gadgets from bits of old junk—when he’s not looking after his mum and trying to keep on good terms with his ex. The last thing he’s got time for is a relationship, but the flustered young man he met while disembowelling a fridge is proving very tempting.

When his mum’s social conscience is roused by a local store with a cavalier attitude to the homeless, former rough sleeper Archie shares her anger. Little does he know that Robin works for that same store. When Archie finds out he’s sleeping with the enemy, things could cut up very rough indeed.

Likes:

The steampunk.
Impossible to forget it’s set in England.
How nice Robin was to the homeless.
The plague doctor.

Dislikes:

Never hooked me.
Took forever for the romance to start.
Neither Robin nor Archie were particularly interesting.
Robin’s friends.
All the assumptions.
Abrupt ending.

I’ve read and liked other books by J.L. Merrow, which is whyI stuck with this one all the way through despite not being hooked. I kept expecting it to get better, and the second half was more interesting than the first. That’s mostly because it took until the 44% mark for Robin and Archie to actually have a substantial conversation.

I hesitate to call the romance a slow burn, because once Robin and Archie started meeting up regularly, things took off pretty fast. It simply took them forever to actually get to know each other. There were a number of quick meetings between them, but mostly the first half of the book was about their lives. Their perfectly normal, boring, mundane lives.

Most real-life romances are nothing like romance novels. This book feels like all of it could actually happen. While there is a spark of interest on both Archie and Robin’s parts at their first meeting, life gets in the way of them connecting for a while. That wouldn’t have been a problem if there was something interesting going on in their lives. But there isn’t. One of my college creative writing professors used to say “A character must want, and want intensely, even if it’s only for a glass of water.” That’s because the ‘want’ is what drives the story.

But neither Robin nor Archie has a want. They’re both just living their lives. It made the book feel like it was lacking something, and it was – a hook and something to drive the plot forward.

Robin was my favorite of the two men, because of the almost casual way he was nice to the homeless who slept in front of where he worked. Other than that, Robin didn’t stand out much. Archie was the one who had the uniqueness, what with him being a steampunk. His past experiences with homelessness made him sympathetic, but there was a noticeable lack of specifics on that subject, as well as a lack of volunteering or community activism on his part.

I also didn’t like all the assumptions Archie and his mom made about what went into the production of the advertisement they wanted to protest. But it was all the excuses Archie made about how spending time with Robin wasn’t breaking his promise, and how he was in a different place emotionally from the mother of his child that turned me against him. It’s easy for the secondary parent to be ready for a new relationship when his son is only 6 months old. It was easy to see why Bridge was worried that Archie would enter a new relationship and start neglecting his duties as a father.

The fact that Archie was a steampunk was a cool addition to the story. I liked that there was plenty of information in the book about what it meant to be steampunk. Plus, it gave Archie and Robin something to do together.

Normally I’m a big fan of interesting side characters. Unfortunately, like Robin and Archie themselves, I was underwhelmed by the side characters. I thought Heath and Azrah treated Robin like crap, especially when they pushed him out of the Black Friday event planning. Robin’s parents were downright horrid. Even Archie’s mom, who I generally liked, was pushy and manipulative, as well as having her own vendetta against the shop where Robin worked.

One thing I will say about this book is that it’s impossible to forget that it’s set in England. Unlike with other books I’ve read by J.L. Merrow, there’s a lot of English slang throughout the story. I liked it, and it added lots of local flavor. The little sprinkles of pop culture were also nice.

The book’s ending felt strangely abrupt. After such a meandering plot, a lot of stuff both happened and was revealed at the end. Like about Arche’s grandparents, and the identity of the plague doctor. The book basically ends right after Archie and Robin get back together.

Looking back, I should probably have DNFed this book. But I wanted so badly for it to get better. I think if the romance had happened sooner, the book would have worked better for me. As it is, I wouldn’t suggest this book.

Review: Frost and Raine by K.L. Noone

A sweet, fluffy novella that’s night on the supernatural but takes its time to develop the romance.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 138 pages. Published February 13th 2021 by JMS Books

Blurb:

A Frost spirit who runs a coffee shop. A Cupid who works as a divorce lawyer. And magic in the air …

Raine’s never been a conventional Cupid. He likes organization, his job as a successful lawyer, and black coffee, and he dislikes messiness, physical and emotional. He tries hard not to use his powers, because he’d rather not manipulate anyone’s desires, and he’s not planning to fall in love himself – and he wouldn’t trust it if someone fell in love with him. But the owner of Raine’s favorite coffee shop is endlessly patient, kind even in the face of sarcasm, and an artist with flavors and window decorations … and he could even challenge Raine’s resolutions about love.

Don enjoys his life. Even though he’s a Frost, he finds comfort in giving people warmth: good coffee, a cozy refuge from the rain, holiday decorations, and overall cheer. But one gorgeous Cupid seems immune to Don’s cheerfulness – and he keeps coming back, day after day. Fortunately, Don’s always liked a challenge, and now he’s determined to make Raine smile at least once … and he’s discovering that Raine’s sarcasm hides a generous and lonely heart, keeping the world at bay.

And if Don and Raine can learn to trust each other – with new coffee flavors, with their hopes for the future, and with their hearts – the Frost and the Cupid just might find their own magical happy ending.

Likes:

Short, sweet, and fluffy.
Hooked me.
The way Don and Raine flirted.
The idea of Personifications.
BDSM being treated in a positive way.
Hot smut.
The story was complete despite its short length.

Dislikes:

Raine didn’t make a great first impression.
The way Raine was treated by some people because he was a Cupid.
Not much use of anyone’s personification abilities.

I’ve read stories by K.L. Noone before, and have liked them, but this one was longer than most. I’d definitely call it a novella, and I was excited about what Noone could do with more page space. A lot of my complaints about their previous stories was the shortness. And I have to say, the length of this novella was perfect.

At first, I was surprised that the first half of the story took place in a coffee shop. It’s the only place Don and Raine interact, and since their relationship is the core of the story, there’s not a lot of other stuff going on. But I didn’t mind. Each time Raine comes in for coffee, his and Don’s relationship deepens. It was a slow but steady progression, with them getting closer in a believable way.

Don was easy to like. He’s the gentle giant type, someone who wants people to be cozy and warm despite the fact that it goes against his Frost personification. Likewise, it’s strange for a Cupid to be a divorce lawyer, but Raine is good at it, and he’s helping people in his own way. Raine was a little prickly at the beginning. He does it on purpose, and finding out why tells a lot about him. Watching as he warms up to Don was super sweet.

The story hooked me fast even though there’s no urgency to the plot. The novella covers months of time, but again, that let Don and Raine’s relationship develop. I loved the slightly awkward flirting. It made the story feel complete and fleshed out despite its short length.

The idea of the personifications was interesting too. The novella didn’t show much of anyone’s abilities except Don putting frost pictures on the coffee shop windows. Raine’s cupid powers, though not directly shown, were never far from his mind. I liked that what the personifications were and how they were treated by society, both the good and the bad, was included in the novella.

My favorite thing about this novella is the treatment of BDSM. There was no freaking out or kink shaming. In fact, both men’s desires lined up nicely. It led to some super hot smut, as well as some honest conversations. The only thing Don was worried about was that Raine wasn’t talking good enough care of himself.

Overall, I have to say that I liked this novella a lot. It was different from what I expected it to be, but I’m not mad. I’m glad to see that Noone finally has a full length novel out as of August 2020, and that’s definitely going on my to-read list.

Be sure to check out more of my reviews of K.L. Noone’s short stores – The Arch-Mage’s Firebird, Port in a Storm (Kitten and Witch #1), Fire and Ink (Kitten and Witch #2).

Review: Naughty Neil: A Hidden Species Novella by Louisa Masters

A cute, fun novella that shows some of Sam’s old team.

4 out of 5 stars

https://claims.prolificworks.com/public/vebxRkqe

Blurb:

I’m just an ordinary guy… who feeds on sexual energy. I never knew my dad. Mom said he was a nice enough guy, but she never got his name. Then a government agent shows up and announces that I’m not really human. Dear old Dad was an incubus, a being that needs sexual energy to survive. Apparently that means I am too. Gotta be a scam, right?

Or so I think… until Agent Cutie changes into a canine (not a werewolf) in my living room. Turns out, other species do exist.

Being a stripper means that all my incubus needs are being met without even trying. And now that I know the situation in my pants is normal, a fling with Agent Mark is definitely on the table.

Between being sexy Santa at work, feeding hellhounds cookies, and learning what sexual stamina really is, I’m not so ordinary at all

Likes:

Short and sweet.
Community explanation for Christmas/Jesus
Got to see some of Sam’s old team.
Neil and Mark, together and separately.
Positive sex work.
Versatile couple.
Nice to see a main character who’s not with the CSG.
Easy to find.

Dislikes:

Didn’t actually get to see Neil’s incubus dick.
Made me feel a little bad for Noah.
Not much on-page smut.
Only found the novella through prolific works.

Unlike the two bonus short stories for the Hidden Species series, this novella was listed under Louisa Masters’ name on prolific works. That made it easier to find than the short stories, but at the same time, I only found out that it existed because I searched her name. The novella isn’t listed on Goodreads, and I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere.

It’s definitely not a necessary read, but I enjoyed it. Neil is an incubus, which is a species that hasn’t been shown in detail in any of the books. There’s actually a lot in this novella that’s never been shown in any of the novels. Neil is the first main character doesn’t work for the CSG. He gets the whole ‘you’re not actually human’ introduction, which includes a visit from Mark, counselling, and ‘new to the community’ chat groups.

Since neither Sam or Noah got the normal treatment, it was nice to see how it worked. In fact, I ended up feeling a little bad that Noah didn’t get a chance at getting the normal treatment. I understand why it wasn’t possible, since the CSG was trying to keep his presence a secret from the bad guy. But still, he could have used the community chat groups.

Mark is part of the team Sam left behind when he went to work with Gideon’s team. It was nice to get to see those guys, however briefly. They clearly missed Sam, especially his homemade cookies. It was a nice tie-in with the series at large.

Mark was nice. He had the typical hellhound energy, and it was fun watching him try to keep Neil a secret because he didn’t want to share Neil’s cookies with the rest of the team. Neil himself was easy to like. He was full of good cheer, and I liked that his incubus influence made his neighborhood feel warm and welcoming.

The fact that Neil worked as a stripper was treated like it was no big deal, which I liked. In fact, it was the perfect job for an incubus like him. There’s too much hatred towards sex workers of any kind, and I was glad that there was none in this book.

There wasn’t much on-page smut, though both men were versatile. I was especially disappointed not to see Neil’s incubus dick. Each species has a different shaped dick, and while Neil’s was described, it wasn’t shown.

I wouldn’t have minded if the novella was longer. I think there were definitely places that could have been expanded on. Still, it was a fun, cute read. The Christmas theme was especially nice, and it was fun seeing how confused Mark was about Christmas traditions. I also liked the community explanation for Christmas and Jesus.

Be sure to check out my reviews for Demons Do It Better (Hidden Species #1), One Bite With a Vampire (Hidden Species #2), Hijinks With a Hellhound (Hidden Species #3) , and the Hidden Species Bonus Short Stories.