Review: Were-Geeks Save Lake Wacka Wacka (Were-Geeks Save the World #2) by Kathy Lyons

It had its good parts and bad parts.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 386 pages. Published January 12th 2021 by Dreamspinner Press (first published October 13th 2020)

Blurb:

Paramedic and firefighter Bruce Collier became a werewolf to protect his family—and hopefully make amends for the way he treated his younger brother. His bitterness nearly turned him into the monster he thought his brother was… until he met Mr. Happy. Werewolf Laddin Holt—aka Mr. Happy—likes things organized as he makes them go boom. He’s Wulf, Inc’s explosive expert and the only one calming the turmoil inside Bruce. At least until they’re drawn into a conflict between two factions of fairies living around Lake Wacka Wacka. Bruce wants to take them out, Laddin has other ideas, and neither of them sees the real threat lurking behind the scenes—or how their love could be the answer to everybody’s problems.

Likes:

Bruce and Laddin, together and separately.
Bruce chose to become a werewolf.
The pixies.
Bitterroot.
Straightforward plot.
Good enough recap for me to remember what happened in book one.
Laddin didn’t let his disability get him down.
Verse couple.

Dislikes:

Not instantly hooked.
Bruce’s motivations seemed a little forced.
No one cared what would happen to Bruce if he ate the apple.
Josh.
Bruce needed therapy.
No punishment for Bruce’s dad.
I didn’t get invested in the series.
Unlikeable side characters.

I was a little worried that this book would expect the reader to remember tiny details of book one. It’s been almost a year since I read Were-Geeks Save Wisconsin. Thankfully, all of the important plot info was presented, by way of showing how Bruce got involved with Wulf Inc.

That being said, the beginning of the book was a little slow, and I definitely wasn’t instantly hooked. It took me a while to really like Bruce. Part of it was that his explanation for why he bullied his brother when they were kids seemed weak, and his motivations in eating the fairy fruit felt forced. The kind of forced where the author wants something to happen for plot reasons, even if the reasoning behind it isn’t exactly rational.

It wasn’t until later in the book, when Bruce began to open up, that he became more understandable, and more likeable. What his father did to him as a child was cruel in the extreme. Not just the physical aspects, but the mental harm Bruce carried into adulthood. Bruce genuinely doesn’t like himself. But it was easy to see that he really was a good man. Watching Laddin help Bruce come to like and accept himself was really sweet.

However, I have two complaints about Bruce’s childhood and the resulting trauma. The first is that Bruce’s trauma got swept under the rug at the end, as if finally being in a healthy romantic relationship was a magical cure. It’s not. He should be in therapy. The second point is that nowhere in the book did anyone suggest that Bruce’s dad pay for what he did to his son. It wasn’t just mental harm, it was physical as well. Where’s the justice?

Laddin was easier to like from the beginning. He was born with a defect on his hand but didn’t let it get him down. In fact, his disability isn’t mentioned much in the later part of the book. Then again, neither is his OCD. And he didn’t really get the chance to use his demolition skills at all.

I was surprised at how quickly Laddin and Bruce became friends. It was a smooth transition, without much resistance. Bruce opened up to Laddin quickly, in a way that felt very natural as I was reading. It also didn’t take much effort for them to go from friends to lovers. Bruce has always been straight, and the explanation that he might like guys now because of the fairy fruit was lame. But the smut was good and I liked that they were a verse couple.

The non-romantic plot was fun and relatively straightforward. Their goal was always to defeat the demon and save the world, which is the plot left over by the cliffhanger at the end of book one. The addition of the pixies was both funny and a little gross at times. And Bitterroot was an interesting antagonist.

Because I don’t remember much from book one, I didn’t like Josh. I have no loyalty to him, and he was a complete ass. Especially when he found out what their father had put Bruce through. He redeemed himself a little at the end, but not enough to make an impact.

I also have to call out the majority of the Wulf Inc. staff who constantly told Bruce to eat the apple without seeming to care what happened to him afterwards. I tend to enjoy side characters, but I disliked almost everyone but Bruce and Laddin.

I have to say, I’m not invested in this series. I enjoyed this book when I was reading it, but I’m not eager for another. I think part of it is the whole world setup. Like, even though Bruce chose to turn into a werewolf, Wulf Inc. still turns people without their consent and just hopes they’ll come work for the company. I’m also not really interested in what’s going on with Bitterroot and the dragons. And I’m not eager to see romance happen with any of the side characters.

Review: One Bite With a Vampire (Hidden Species #2) by Louisa Masters

A good follow up story with a cute new couple and a nice slow burn.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 255 pages. Published January 14th 2021

Blurb:

Getting kidnapped was never part of my life plan. But being rescued opened up a whole world of crazy.

It’s not easy being the only human at the Community of Species Government—and especially not when you’re the rescue case. Two years ago, I was planning to go to college, have a wild time, then settle into a normal life. Instead, I was kidnapped, spent months being a test subject, was in hiding for nearly a year, and then found out that my whole existence is a science experiment conducted by the bad guys. It’s definitely time to reassess.

My rescuers at CSG have been awesome… mostly. They gave me a job, a home, and a support network. But the whole demons, vampires, shifters thing is not easy to get used to. Especially when one particular vampire makes me want to take up stake sharpening for a hobby. How can someone be over eight centuries old and have the maturity of a drunk frat boy?

The thing is, teenage mentality or not, Andrew is a fierce protector. With the bad guys still on the loose, I need someone like that on my side. Plus, did I mention that he’s not hard to look at? I could stare at him all day if only he never opened his mouth.

As we race to find my former captor before he can find me, life takes another twist and upends my world all over again. This time, though, I’m ready—after all, I’ve got an eight-hundred-year-old vampire at my back. What could possibly go wrong?

Likes:

Noah and Andrew, together and separately.
The smut.
The non-romantic plot.
Good slow burn.
Noah’s situation is significantly different from Sam.
The way Andrew and Noah bickered.
Good to see Sam, Gideon, and the rest of the team.
More world building.

Dislikes:

Noah didn’t know the Macarena, which made me feel old.
Abrupt ending.
Things still not settled with the plot.

In my review of Demons Do It Better I hoped that Noah’s life would get easier. That didn’t really happen. Yes, he’s relatively settled. He was brought into the fold by Sam and the rest of the team, and given a job and a place to live. I liked how Sam took Noah under his wing, even if Noah didn’t exactly appreciate it.

I also liked that Noah wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, and was taking time to properly think about it. He was easy to like. The way he survived for the past year made him scrappy, but it also left him with emotional scars. For being so young, Noah was very mature. Except when it came to Andrew.

I didn’t know much about Andrew at the start of the book, other than that he was the vampire of the group. He definitely wasn’t like the typical brooding vampire you find in a lot of romance novels. And it was explained why fairly early. Andrew is too old to care about what other people think. He’s not going to pass up the chance to have fun just because someone else might disapprove. I liked that about him. I also liked that he was good at his job, teased his colleagues without being mean, and genuinely wanted to help Noah.

Things between Noah and Andrew started off a little combative, at least on Noah’s part. He didn’t like Andrew’s easygoing attitude, even though he couldn’t deny that Andrew was hot. There were a lot of funny moments between them, and the slow burn was definitely worth it. Especially since the smut was really nice.

Since Noah and Sam had a lot of similarities in their situations, I was a little worried their stories would be too similar. Luckily, Noah’s experiences were nothing like Sam’s, especially towards the end of the book. Noah’s unique abilities allowed for more world building, while keeping the non-romantic plot focused on the evil doctors who’d experimented on so many innocent children.

I was glad that the non-romantic plot picked up where it had left off at the end of Demons Do It Better, since there were dangling threads. I wasn’t thrilled that there were even more dangling threads at the end of this book. Especially since the next book isn’t out yet, so I can’t go straight to it.

I also thought the ending was really abrupt. It fit with the story, but I could have definitely used a short story to really fill in some of the gaps. Or maybe I just wanted another smut scene or two between Noah and Andrew. Either way, I’m excited for the next book in the series, both to find out what happens with the overarching plot and because it’s about Alistair.

Be sure to check out my review for the first book in the series, Review: Demons Do It Better (Hidden Species #1).

Review: Demons Do It Better (Hidden Species #1) by Louisa Masters

A good introduction to a new series with unique world building.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 254 pages. Published August 6th 2020

Blurb:

I work for Lucifer. Only, it’s not as cool and satanic as it sounds.

The truth is, I’m an admin assistant who applied for a job that sounded kind of interesting and ended up working for the Community of Species Government. I’m the only human in the office, and basically I ride herd on a team of rambunctious shifters and demons.

I also spend a lot of time avoiding Gideon Bailey, the demon I had a one-night stand with right before I took this job. He hates me, and I really want to avoid being murdered. But I’ve been offered a promotion that will mean working with him, so we’re both going to have to get over it.

Plus, people are going missing. Pregnant people. And the word is that someone is dabbling in genetic experimentation. Putting a stop to that is more important than the sexual tension Gideon and I have been ignoring… isn’t it?

Likes:

Interesting world building.
Hooked me fast.
Good introduction to Sam and his situation.
Sam and Gideon, together and separately.
Hot smut.
Funny.
Good non-romantic plot.
Liked the team.
Kept me hooked.

Dislikes:

Wish the side characters had been rounded out more.
Sam doesn’t have a lot going on in his life.
I have some questions.
Could have used some scenes showing the world.

I picked this book up because it was on the ‘readers also enjoyed’ list of a book I liked. The blurb caught my attention, and the urban fantasy vibe seemed right up my alley. And it definitely was. This book has some of the most unique world building that I’ve come across in a while, while also following a common trope of introducing the main character to a secret side of the world he never knew existed.

The book does a good job of explaining Sam’s situation and the situation he’ll enter into with his new job. It doesn’t feel like an info dump, even though it’s a lot of information all at once. Sam was easy to like right away. I just wish we’d gotten to see him really exploring everything. While the time jump worked with the story, I still had questions at the end of the book, like how exactly shifters can get through any lock.

The simmering sexual tension between Sam and Gideon was on-point, as was the smut. There was never any doubt that they’d get together, and I enjoyed watching how Gideon was drawn to Sam even though he fought it. Gideon did come across as a jerk, but it was easy to see that he did have his good points.

The non-romantic plot was good, and kept me hooked. It set up the next book well. Not everything was resolved, but I expect those dangling threads to be dealt with in the next book.

I do wish the other team members had been rounded out a little better. I liked them, but don’t know too much about them other than their most basic traits. The story is almost too closely focused on the plot, so much so that Sam doesn’t seem to have much of a life. His and Alistair’s friendship could have been filled out, as well as showing some scenes of community members who weren’t part of the CSG.

I am definitely looking forward to the next book. My heart goes out to Noah, and I hope his life gets easier.

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. 2^nd edition. 161 pages. Published April 25^th 2020 by E.J. Russell (first published May 15^th 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.

Review: Incidental Magic by Jordan Castillo Price

An interesting magical world.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 67 pages. Published January 1st 2021 by JCP Books

Blurb:

A magical bureaucrat is desperate to prove he’s more than just a paper-pusher and win a mysterious shopkeeper’s heart.

Likes:

Unique magical world.
Most of my questions got answered.
Casey’s solution to the lack of snow.
How Azure’s magic works.
Casey is nice.

Dislikes:

Casey is a doormat.
So many questions.
How does nobody remember what causes magic to really work?
The many questions took forever to be answered, and it got annoying.
Blurb doesn’t reveal much about the story.
Not much time spent on the romance.

Every once in a while I’ll come across a short story that could have easily been turned into a longer work. This is one of those stories. The blurb didn’t offer much, so I was expecting a very typical magical society. What I got was something unique and different.

The way the magical world was set up is the part of the story that stands out the most. Casey’s mom actually says, “we both know magic is a dying art” and encourages him to be a plumber. Because magic isn’t something that people can just use. They need a special object. And those objects are becoming harder to find and less powerful.

No one seems to remember how or why magic really works. The story is framed in a way that makes people seem selfish and greedy. It definitely felt like an allegory to how humans pursue money at the expense of things that are more important. But it also brought up a lot of questions. Like why people don’t remember the truth of how magic works.

Casey was likeable because of his idealism. He was also a little annoying because he was a doormat. No explanation was made for why he never stood up for himself. His boss was a corrupt creep. The Agency seemed like a bureaucratic nightmare filled with self-centered people. The only reason he didn’t quit was because it was the only way for him to have access to a magical object. An explanation that felt a little thin, especially given how unhappy he seemed with his job.

Azure was interesting, mostly due to the mystery that surrounded him. So much about him and his people could have easily been expanded on to make a much longer story. I’m glad all of my questions eventually got answered, but there was a time about halfway through the story that I had more questions than answers. That’s when I began to get annoyed with everything being shrouded in mystery and just wanted straight talk.

The romance was fine. Insta-lust and some flirting. Then a time jump to them being together. It worked for the story, but wasn’t what I was hoping for. I wanted more time spent on the romance.

I did like the paragraph after the story explaining how the story began with two words scribbled on a post-it note. I liked the creativity and uniqueness of the story. If that creativity is evident in Price’s other, longer works, I’ll definitely pick something up.

Review: Wren and Oak (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #9) by Sam Burns

A great ending to the series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 145 pages. Published December 26th 2019

Blurb:

Rowan Harbor has been peaceful for a now unprecedented two months, but everyone knows it’s the calm before the storm. The Summer king is coming for the thorn—a weapon destined to bring his end—and Fletcher has never felt so helpless.

When the disturbing dreams start and his mentor, Oak, is hesitant to discuss them, Fletcher doesn’t know where to turn. He and his boyfriend Conner are in the process of moving in together, and he doesn’t want to add anything else to Conner’s list of concerns.

With a vengeful fae waiting for his chance to raze Rowan Harbor to the ground, Fletcher has to find a way to protect everything he loves and survive the coming storm.

Likes:

Great ending to the series.
Great ending to Fletcher and Connor’s romance.
How supportive everyone is.
I don’t have as much of a book hangover as I expected.
The town is finally safe.
The way Fletcher handled the King fit him perfectly.
Fletcher’s powers are amazing.
Town bureaucracy finally moving forward.

Dislikes:

Started with a dream sequence.
Fletcher’s lack of self-confidence.
Some sad parts.

I love stories that make me wonder how the hero is going to succeed, and then when the answer is revealed, it’s so obvious and perfect it feels like there could be no other ending. That’s how I felt when Fletcher defeated the Summer King. Which isn’t a spoiler. He was obviously going to do it. The question was, could he do it without sacrificing everything?

There were sacrifices in this book. It was inevitable. All the bad guys, all the threats, have been building up to this fight. The most powerful villain. And poor Fletcher, who feels like he can never live up to how great the other people in his life are.

Like with Jesse and Sean, there was some stuff Connor and Fletcher had to work through before they could get their happy ending. Fletcher’s lack of self-confidence has been present in all of his books, but never as intensely as this one. After everything he’s done, and being trained by Oak, he still felt “small, unimportant, and powerless compared to his friends.” And that includes Connor, his smart, rich, magical boyfriend.

In a way, it took a strong support network, and a bit of slow-moving bureaucracy, to make Fletcher finally feel settled. And major props to Fletcher’s dad for being awesome. With this book, Fletcher finally came to realize that he has a place in Rowan Harbor. That the people looked at him as one of their own. And that his presence is irreplaceable.

So much happened in this book that’s not in the blurb, and I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that Fletcher went through a lot. There were some tears, both from characters in the story and a few of my own, but the ending really made me think that the town and its residents would be safe and happy from here on out.

My one big gripe is that the book started with a dream sequence. I’m not a fan of that tactic. It did have a solid purpose here, so it gets a pass.

I think everything was so well wrapped up with this book that I don’t have as much of a book hangover as I expected. All the characters are neatly paired off and happy. Devon and Wade, Jesse and Sean, Cassie and Isla, Fletcher and Connor. They’ve gone through relationship troubles, dealt with villains, and faced their inner demons. In the end, they’ve all come out stronger. I am supremely satisfied with the ending, both of the book and the series as a whole. I will definitely pick up something else by Sam Burns one of these days, and hope she keeps writing for decades to come!

Review: Salmon and the Hazel (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #8) by Sam Burns

A great way to wrap up Sean and Jesse’s story. Loved ever minute of it.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 170 pages. Published July 4th 2019

Blurb:

Jesse’s only priority in life is protecting the people he loves, so he’s determined to see Rowan Harbor’s wards rebuilt. There’s just one problem: they’re missing an ingredient that can’t be ordered online.

Jesse volunteers to search for the missing component in the realm of the fae, but his boyfriend, Sean, isn’t letting him go alone. The town has an enemy among the fae, so they’ll need to keep a low profile. Along their way, they find unexpected allies, surprising enemies, and a whole host of problems.

The journey is a test of their endurance, but also of their relationship and their faith in each other. Can they find what they need and get back home in one piece in time for the summer solstice?

Likes:

A great ending to Jesse and Sean’s romance.
Dude.
Sean doing magic.
How Faerie was set up and operated.
Unexpected meetings.
Finally found out about the thorn.
A good setup for the final book.

Dislikes:

Didn’t get to see Jesse and Sean’s first time.
Not much about how Sean’s been doing was mentioned.
Jesse was still willing to get hurt for the town.

I am really looking forward to the final book in the series. Salmon and the Hazel set everything up really well, like I’d expected. A lot of questions were answered in this book, including about what the thorn is, who’s after it, and why.

I have to admit that I didn’t read the blurb before diving into this book. I’ve loved every book in this series, and downloaded all three of the final books all at once. After a quick break to review Eagle in the Hawthorn, I jumped right into Salmon and the Hazel. So I had no idea that Jesse and Sean were going to take a trip into Faerie. I shouldn’t have been surprised, though. Not since Eagle in the Hawthorn revealed that the final bad guy was fey.

I’ve read enough fantasy books to know what the classic view of Faerie looks like, and this book stuck fairly close to that, with some unique twists. It was nice to get out of Rowan Harbor and go somewhere drenched in magic. This book had it all – some deadly serious moments, some moments of enlightenment, and some humor. A special shout out goes to Dude, who stole the show.

Since this is the last book featuring Jesse and Sean, I knew there would be a lot of emphasis on their relationship, and I wasn’t disappointed. There were still things the two men had to work out, and Jesse had a few revelations of his own during the course of the story. In the end, they feel settled. They didn’t get married the way Devon and Wade did, but I was left with the feeling that Jesse and Sean could withstand whatever life threw at them. And that’s what I really want at the end of a romance. The feeling that they’ll stay together even after I turn the last page.

I was a little disappointed that not much was mentioned about Sean’s depression, which was a major point in Stag and the Ash. It has been a while since Sean’s mother died, and intense grief doesn’t last forever, but I thought it was a bit of an oversight. I was also disappointed that we didn’t get to see them having penetrative sex for the first time. I know that makes me sound like a perv, but they were holding off because they weren’t ready, which made me think that first time would be something special and an important step in their relationship.

I think I’ve commented in each of Jesse’s previous two books that I don’t like how he’s willing to get hurt. It was present again this time, and while I know it’s a part of who he is, it does make me wish he’d cherish himself more.

Unlike with Devon and Wade, I could easily read more about Jesse and Sean. It’s not that Devon and Wade aren’t interesting, but Jesse and Sean feel like they have more room to grow, both personally and with their relationship. This was the first time we really got to see Sean do magic, and I wanted more of that.

I’m so excited about the final book of the series. I can’t wait to get started, but I can also tell I’m going to have one hell of a hard time finding something else that’s as long and top shelf as this series.