Tag: magic

Review: In Any Light (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6.5) by Sam Burns

Well worth reading despite the short length.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 52 pages. Published February 7th 2019

Blurb:

Isla MacKenzie is probably the strongest witch alive who can’t do magic. Her mentor died and left her with not one, but two jobs that would be difficult for any functional witch to fulfill, and she can’t manage so much as a simple cantrip to get started.

Add to that her growing feelings for Cassidy Simon, the town’s vampire bartender, and she feels like she’s on the precipice of something huge . . . she’s just not sure if it’s going to make her stronger, or kill her. 

Likes:

  • Asexual representation.
  • Get to see what Isla’s going through.
  • Isla’s struggles with her power.
  • Sweet and short.
  • Adds a lot to the series as a whole.
  • Showed Sally and Lachlan’s romance as well.
  • Available on Amazon.

Dislikes:

  • We didn’t get to see the beginning of the relationship.
  • Cassidy and Isla don’t spend a ton of time together during the story.

I definitely think this story added a lot more to the series as a whole than the previous short story, Succubus and the City. Unlike with Sebastian, Isla is well-known to the reader and a big part of both the friend group and the people protecting the town. It makes sense that she gets her own short story.

I am a little disappointed that we don’t get to see the beginning of Isla and Cassidy’s relationship. The story takes place when they’ve been together a while, and they’re already comfortable and settled. Honestly, the story isn’t really about their romance at all. It’s more about Isla feeling overwhelmed by her new duties after Madame Cormier’s death.

One of the things I liked so much about the Rowan Harbor series was that it didn’t shy away from having important and kick-ass female characters the way a lot of MM romance books do. Like Devon, Jesse, and Fletcher, Isla has been forced into a position she doesn’t feel ready for. It’s hinted at in the other books, but it was nice to get something from her point of view, even if it was short.

Cassidy is Isla’s rock, and I love their relationship. I also love that Isla is asexual, and that how she feels towards Cassidy is explained. There’s real affection there, proving that their relationship is every bit as real and fulfilling as any of the three other main characters.

It was also nice to see Sally and Lachlan’s romance finally take a step forward. Their romance has been hinted at in the other books, and both Sally and Lachlan have been important side characters. It was a cute addition to the story, as well as propelling Isla’s plot forward.

My one complaint about the book was that Isla and Cassidy didn’t spend much time together. That makes sense given that the story takes place during the day, when Cassidy is at home. I was just hoping for some more romance. Still, it was worth reading, and had plenty of drama and tension. Not to mention, it’s available on Amazon, unlike Succubus and the City, which you could only get by signing up for Sam Burns’ email list.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7) by Sam Burns

A great way to end Devon and Wade’s romance.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 153 pages. Published February 14th 2019

Blurb:

Rowan Harbor has had a tough winter, and Devon Murphy wants nothing more than to make it better. When he proposes a solution to the town’s low morale, it creates a rift in his relationship with his boyfriend, Wade. They’ve hardly ever argued, and when things get tense, Devon has no idea how to handle it.

But an evil presence in his town targets the people Devon loves, he has to put his personal worries aside and face danger down again. Will he be able to protect his town, and if he can, will Wade be waiting for him when it’s done? 

Likes:

  • Much more exciting than Devon’s last book.
  • Devon tops.
  • Hot smut.
  • Unexpected arrivals.
  • Devon has really come into his powers.
  • Oak’s birthday party.
  • A good ending to Devon and Wade’s story.

Dislikes:

  • The rift between Devon and Wade happened because Devon was an idiot.
  • The way Devon took care of the new bad guy was quick and lacked impact.

This book is a little hard to review because so much of what happened in it isn’t mentioned explicitly in the blurb, and I don’t want to spoil anything. But what I can say is that this was a sweet ending to Devon and Wade’s romance.

Devon and Wade have had a relatively smooth relationship. So I was a little surprised when Devon put his foot in his mouth and got Wade mad. Devon isn’t the most romantic guy, but even he should have seen that what he was suggesting was insensitive. I’ve never thought of Devon as stupid, but he came across as an oblivious idiot.

Luckily, Devon realized that he had to make things right again, even if he didn’t fully understand Wade’s point of view. It led to some sweet moments, and brought their romance to a satisfying end. Plus, Devon topped for the first time. I love a good smut scene, and I have to say, it was hot.

As with the previous two trilogies in the series, there’s a new bad guy. Everything that’s happening to the town is still building off the previous books, and it’s nice to see how everything that’s come before is tied together. I get the feeling that the series will be nicely wrapped up by the end of the last book.

I was a little disappointed at how quickly and simply Devon dealt with the bad guy. Blink and you’ll miss it. It lacked both impact and buildup. Despite that, this book was much more exciting than Devon’s last book.

A couple of surprising characters appeared. They added a lot to Devon’s personal story. It was fitting, given that this was Devon’s last book. It gave him closure in his personal life, as well as showing off how much he’s grown into his powers. Even though Devon still has the occasional urge to run away, he’s connected to Rowan Harbor now, and has really become part of the town.

I especially loved Oak’s birthday party. It was sweet, and brought together all of the main characters for a bit of fun in a way that mirrored the beginning of the book. I get the feeling that no one will have much time for partying in the next two books, so it was a nice break for them.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6) by Sam Burns

A great way to wrap up the second trilogy of the series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 155 pages. Published October 11th 2018

Blurb:

Fletcher Lane has a problem. His boyfriend’s parents are coming for a visit, and they want to meet up. He’s ready to commit, so what happens if his prospective in-laws don’t like him? And how is he supposed to keep Rowan Harbor’s unique nature a secret when he might be the worst liar ever born?

To make matters worse, when he finds and helps two strangers stuck on the road, it leads him to a new threat: the man who’s been terrorizing the town has set events into motion that endanger more than just Rowan Harbor. Can Fletcher and his friends stop him before there’s nothing but a smoking crater where the Oregon coastline used to be? 

Likes:

  • Instant hook.
  • Lots going on.
  • Fletcher still learning about shifting into an owl.
  • Some questions answered.
  • Noah is both creepy and precocious.
  • More mystery and questions.
  • Lots of tension.
  • Connor’s parents.

Dislikes:

  • I don’t like seeing characters I like getting hurt.

This book instantly hooked me and swept me along like a raging river. So much was going on, both in Fletcher’s personal life and in the town at large.

Fletcher is unsettled by the thought of meeting Connor’s parents. After all, Connor left his old life behind and moved to Rowan Harbor for a guy he barely knew. Connor’s parents don’t know about the magic that Connor now has, a situation Fletcher blames himself for.

I liked that the tension between Fletcher and Connor’s mom was something that continued for a lot of the book, which made the story focused on both the town and on Fletcher personally. He had a heightened personal stake, especially when the bad guy’s actions were hard for even a layperson to ignore. The melding of Fletcher’s duty to the town and his personal life was very well done.

The arrival of a mother and son answer a lot of questions. That’s not surprising, since this book is the last in this round of trilogies. The bad guy whose been menacing the town is finally named, and the biggest attack on the town yet occurs. I have to say, the attack is intense. Definitely the most serious of the entire series to date. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew the outcome. And I was really hoping that no one was going to get hurt. It was a futile hope, of course, but it’s always hard to see characters I like getting hurt.

Noah was an interesting character. He’s precocious and seems like a nice kid, but is a bit creepy because of his powers. I especially liked that he didn’t eat chocolate because his mom couldn’t have any. I’m not the biggest fan of children in my romances, but Noah added to the story and wasn’t a brat.

I can’t help but think that Connor living in Rose’s old house will have significance down the line. It feels like a lot of hints about what’s to come in the final trilogy have been dropped, and it will all make sense later on. As always, I end this book excited to get to the next one. This book had a good ending, all things considered. I especially like that Fletcher and Connor’s mom ended on a good note.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5) by Sam Burns

A fun, quick read.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 66 pages. Published May 10th 2018

Blurb:

*Small-town succubus meets snow white and they prove that all you need really is love.*

All his life, Sebastian has wanted to live in New York. Now he’s there, and it’s . . . underwhelming. He has no family, friends, or even close acquaintances there, and a personal tragedy has left him feeling more isolated than ever before. Maybe he’s a small-town succubus after all. He’s ready to throw in the towel when Finn Marshall crashes into in his life. The raven-haired enigma’s pick-up line is tantamount to a carjacking, and the night only spirals further out of control from there. Finn is on the run from his wicked stepmother, who wants to kill him so she doesn’t have to share his dead father’s fortune and power. Can he and Sebastian escape her huntsman and set things right? 

Likes:

  • Short and sweet.
  • Good hook.
  • Little bit of smut.
  • Simple but interesting story.
  • Sebastian’s succubus abilities.

Dislikes:

  • Had to sign up for Sam Burns’ email list to get the story.
  • Took me a while to figure out that I had to sign up for the email list.

I’m always impressed when authors can write a full, compelling story in a relatively small number of pages. Succubus and the City had a bit of a cliché storyline, what with Finn’s stepmother trying to murder him, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. If anything, the familiar story allowed the romance to shine.

Both Sebastian and Finn were fun characters. Neither of them got too much character development, but there was enough information about them to make them interesting to read about. Sebastian was especially sympathetic, given that he felt lonely even when living in New York City.

I liked the characterization of how Sebastian’s succubus powers worked. Like the rest of the story, there was enough information to satisfy my curiosity. I actually feel like this story explained more about how a succubus’s powers work than Stag and Ash, but that could also be because Sebastian was the main character and his brother, Sean, is a side character in Jesse’s story.

I have to give a shoutout to the beginning of the book, where Sebastian used the pronoun ‘they’ to describe Finn before he knew Finn’s gender. This was in part due to Finn’s attire, which included four-inch heels. The inclusivity was nice, as was the fact that Sebastian is pansexual.

My one complaint about this story was that I did have to sign up for Sam Burns’ email list to get it. I’m not against author email lists, but I tend to forget about side stories like this one, and don’t always read them. Plus, I had a hard time figuring out where to go to get the story. It wasn’t explained in the blurb that the story is a bonus for joining the email list. I actually had to turn to Google.

Overall, while I don’t think this story needs to be read to enjoy the rest of the series, it was a fun, quick, easy read. A little bit of tension, drama, and smut all rolled into one. All for the low low price of free.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5) by Sam Burns

Another great book in the series. Glad to get Jesse’s second book.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 158 pages. Published June 28th 2018

Blurb:

Jesse Hunter is finally trying to be an adult, but still feels like an act. His place on the town council is a sham. He’s rarely called on to do anything. His boyfriend is grieving the loss of his mother, and while everyone seems to think he’s doing a great job caring for Sean, Jesse feels like he’s more of a distraction than a real help.

March is shaping up to be a bad month. First, random chance leads him to the realization that the town’s recent trouble is his fault. Then new werewolves come into town, and it turns out they’re also Jesse’s responsibility. He feels like he may be at his breaking point, and he doesn’t want to drag his friends and loved ones down with him. But how will he handle it alone? 

Likes:

  • Jesse still isn’t confident in himself.
  • A lot is going on.
  • Great hook.
  • How both Jesse and Sean act.
  • Both are okay with taking their romance slowly.
  • Jesse is really coming into his own.
  • Mystery, tension, and drama.
  • More great side characters.
  • The ending.

Dislikes:

  • Jesse was more than willing to get hurt or killed.
  • I wish Sean knew more about being a succubus.

Jesse is my favorite of the three main characters. He’s got self-esteem issues, but he’s also willing to step up and do what’s needed. If he saw himself the way the townsfolk see him, he’d know that he was more capable than he gives himself credit for. And he proved that again in this book.

Sean is depressed because of his mother’s death, and Jesse feels out of his depth. Understandable, as is his frustration and the fact that he feels bad for being frustrated at Sean. In fact, I feel like both Sean and Jesse acted in completely understandable ways. I again appreciated that both men were willing to take their time with sex and romance, and spoke up about what they wanted.

I felt bad for Sean. Not only did he lose his mother, but he didn’t know much about being a succubus. His newfound powers were both bothersome and funny to read about.

 A lot happened in the book, most of it focused on the arrival of three new wolves seeking sanctuary in Rowan Harbor. There was a lot of tension and mystery surrounding them and whether they would hurt the town or someone in it. But at the same time, I hoped they weren’t plotting against anyone.

Jesse’s past caught up with him, and it was painful to watch him blame himself. I’m glad he didn’t try to do everything himself, but I do wish he hadn’t been so eager to get hurt or killed while defending the town. It fit with his personality, but it’s always hard to watch a character you like get hurt. And Jesse did get hurt. A lot.

Ultimately, it was worth it. One threat was eliminated, and the town gained new members. The ending with Sean and Jesse was sweet, as well as the planting of little oak sapling.

As with Devon and Wade, Jesse and Sean’s relationship isn’t perfect yet. But they took meaningful steps towards a happy ending. It was heartwarming to see. And Jesse is finally beginning to realize that he can be the defender the town needs.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4) by Sam Burns

Lacking in tension, but still a good read.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 158 pages. Published May 3rd 2018

Blurb:

Devon Murphy has been back in Rowan Harbor for three months. He’s taken on a host of new responsibilities, and is in a serious relationship for the first time in his life. He loves the town and its inhabitants, but it’s starting to feel like too much for the former drifter.

Now there’s a storm on the horizon, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to slow down and let him catch his breath. A blizzard is brewing, and three people have gone missing in the woods south of town. Devon needs to find them before time runs out.

This book is the fourth of nine in The Rowan Harbor Cycle, not a standalone. Devon and Wade will return in book seven for their HEA. 

Likes:

  • Good smut.
  • Not everything is perfect.
  • Good hook.
  • Set up future books well.
  • More supernatural creatures.
  • Some surprises.
  • Great side characters.

Dislikes:

  • Started slow.
  • Tension faded.
  • Not as interesting as the others.

There was a lot to like about this book. But strangely, it wasn’t as interesting as the previous three. I think a big part of that was because this book was trying really hard to set up the next few books. Devon might have been dealing with his own troubles, but those troubles were sent by the next bad guy.

The other thing that I think made the story drag a little was Devon’s waffling about his feelings. He’s not used to staying put in one place, especially when he knows bad things are coming. The urge to just pack up and drive away makes him question what he wants. Not to mention his freak-out when Wade says the L word.

Despite the fact that I think Devon’s inner turmoil slowed the story down a bit, I liked that he was worried. The situation he’s in is completely new to him. It’s natural to be unsure. It showed maturity, both that he was facing his feelings and that he stayed. Devon isn’t perfect, and his life isn’t all sunshine and roses just because he’s finally found a place he can call home. That’s realistic, and it was nice to see.

I was glad to get more smut in this story. In fact, there was smut right in the first chapter. That did mean that the hook came a little later, but I liked the hook. The fact that Devon had been seeing threatening clouds for a week when everyone else had been seeing blue skies was unnerving.

This book had several surprises in it. I didn’t expect there to be a whole new villain and threat to the town. But it makes sense, what with the series broken up into trilogies. I also didn’t expect the death of a resident. And it was someone whose absence will have an impact in later books.

As always, the side characters are amazing. Vera was awesome, and I liked that she didn’t feel like she was broken and needed fixing, despite not having a perfect life. She was a new type of supernatural creature, and her backstory was both tragic and unique. Akiyama also gets a shout out.

Out of the three main characters, Devon is the least capable of doing physical things. He’s not a fighter. That’s not to say that his fey abilities are useless. They definitely saved lives in this book. But they’re not as flashy. The time spent stuck in the cave, while necessary to the story, let the tension fade.

I am looking forward to the next book. Especially when the events of this books will definitely have an impact.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3) by Sam Burns

Another 5 star book in an amazing series!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 184 pages. Published March 8th 2018

Blurb:

Fletcher Lane wants to protect people. It was why he became a deputy. A month ago, it was why he killed a vampire who kidnapped one of his friends. Now, that death has started a cascade effect that’s tearing his life apart, leaving him possessed by magic that whispers to him in ancient Gothic.

While he’s already fighting for control of his own mind, he has to hold it together when strangers come into town looking for the dead vampire. They say they’re bounty hunters, but Fletcher knows that’s a lie. They’re the same kind of murderers who killed Fletcher’s mother. When one of them puts up a kind front, Fletcher knows that people who hunt the supernatural can’t be trusted. However nice Conner Mason seems, the worst thing Fletcher could do is fall for his act. 

Likes:

  • Instant hook.
  • So much going on in the first chapter.
  • Fletcher is a good guy.
  • Connor was so much nicer than I expected.
  • Didn’t expect Fletcher to get possessed by the book.
  • Heartwarming.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • Oak.
  • Did not expect the twist at the end.

Dislikes:

  • I was disappointed about what happened with Aldric.
  • I wish Fletcher had had more closure with his mother’s murderer.

Another fantastic book in the series. Unlike with Jesse and Devon, Fletcher’s emotional wound is already known to the reader when the book starts. That allows the story to take off like a rocket from page one. Seriously, so much happens in chapter one. It’s not too much, but the hook is definitely there.

I’ve liked Fletcher since Wolf and the Holly, when Jesse realized how lonely he was. He’s instantly sympathetic, what with his mother having been killed by people who hunt supernatural beings. And to come face to face with one of those men? Let’s just say that Fletcher handled it better than I would have.

I was really hesitant when I realized that Fletcher’s love interest was in league with the hunters. I expected Connor to be at least a little unlikeable. Instead, he was adorably awkward and completely sincere. I liked that he didn’t help the other men hunt someone down unless that person was a murderer, like Sol White. Connor’s transition from part of the hunting group to sympathetic towards Fletcher and the entire town of Rowan Harbor was surprisingly smooth.

What wasn’t so smooth was Fletcher’s personal journey. Like the previous two books in the series, this book focused much more on the non-romantic plot. For Fox and Birch, a lot of that was Fletcher coming into his own. It was heartwarming to see how much he cared for the town, and how much they cared for him in return.

One surprise for me was that Fletcher got possessed by the book that was burned at the end of Wolf and the Holly. It’s mentioned in the blurb, but I didn’t bother reading the blurb, just jumped straight into the story. Fletcher’s possession actually gave him the nudge he needed to learn more about his shifting abilities, something he hadn’t done since his mother was killed.

I was a little disappointed that Aldric didn’t get a happy ending, although the choice he made was the first time he’d been in control of his life in centuries. I was also a little disappointed that Fletcher didn’t seem to get more closure with his mother’s murderer. It was a satisfying ending, but lacked any big impact.

As with the previous two books, the friendship and community spirit really made this story work. Oak gets a special shout out for their steadfast belief that Fletcher was one of them. I’m looking forward to seeing how Connor adjusts to the town in later books. I’m also looking forward to watching Fletcher fall in love.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2) by Sam Burns

A great second book, which was just as good as the first.

5 out of 5 stars

 E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 222 pages. Published February 8th 2018

Blurb:

Five years ago, Jesse dropped out of college and came home to Rowan Harbor to find safety with his pack. A broken man, he’s been living as though the world is ending—allergic to responsibility and spending most of his nights at the local bar.

But he can’t avoid growing up forever. On the night of his thirtieth birthday party, he finds his childhood friend Isla unconscious, attacked in the middle of their peaceful hometown. The wolf inside him wants to protect its people from the slick-haired, smooth-talking vampire who’s brought trouble to town, and Jesse can’t run from his instincts any longer.

Now that his inner wolf is out of its cage, it’s picked the most inconvenient moment to find its mate. Sean Anderson—recently back from college and much changed from the skinny preteen Jesse once knew—is just what he never knew he needed. 

Likes:

  • Both Jesse and Sean.
  • Jesse is sympathetic.
  • The mention of alpha wolves being a product of a faulty scientific study.
  • Instant attraction between Sean and Jesse, but not insta-love.
  • How everyone in town implicitly trusts Jesse to be able to step up when needed.
  • The friendship.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • That Sean was happy to take things slow.

Dislikes:

  • Sean doesn’t show up until 31%.
  • Not much smut, and the romance doesn’t get far.

I am loving this series so far. I am glad that, at the end of this book, the author described how the entire series would be laid out. Three trilogies, with each couple getting one book in each trilogy. It made me feel better about the slowness of the romance both in this book and in Blackbird in the Reeds.

It is a little strange to read a romance book that is light on the romance. I understand that there will be more about Jesse and Sean in future books, but Sean didn’t show up until 31% of the way in. They didn’t even go on a date, though there was a little bit of smut. I did love that Jesse was not ready to move in with Sean, though people expected him to. I also appreciated that Sean understood and respected Jesse’s need to take things slow.

Jesse is a great character. He’s incredibly sympathetic, and it was easy to feel for him. The guy has low self-esteem, and feels like he’s never measured up to the responsibilities other people have placed upon him. He severely undervalues himself, and watching him come to realize that he is worthy and that people were right to believe in him was heartwarming.

Like Devon, Jesse is a little damaged. In a way, that makes him better. He’s able to understand others who are also damaged. He doesn’t want to push Cassidy about her past, and when he realized how lonely Fletcher was, he made sure to include him in the friend group.

The reason Jesse never finished college was basically what I expected. What I didn’t expect was that Jesse had stopped touching most people because he didn’t want to experience the spark. He didn’t want anyone to be stuck with him because he didn’t think he was worthy.

The non-romantic plot was the main focus of this book. It had a little bit of everything. There was drama, mystery, fighting, worry about friends and family. It hooked me and kept me on the edge of my seat. Like Blackbird in the Reeds, I finished this book in a single day.

In addition to the big things I liked about this book, there were tons of little things as well. The mention that a faulty scientific study was responsible for the idea of alpha wolves, and that real wolf packs are a family group. The friendship between Jesse, Devon, Isla, and Fletcher. The way the townsfolk look after each other. The gossip. The squirrels.

Jesse isn’t perfect by the end of the book. He’s only just started his journey. But I am looking forward to seeing more of him, both in the books where he’s the main character and as a side character in the other books. And I’m incredibly excited to get started on Fletcher’s book next.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Blackbird in the Reeds (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #1) by Sam Burns

A great start to the series!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 188 pages. Published January 4th 2018

Blurb:

Devon Murphy has never believed that there were fairies at the bottom of the garden, but when he’s in an accident on his way to his grandmother’s house and comes face to face with the biggest, baddest wolf he’s ever seen, he’s forced to reconsider.

When his grandmother asks him to look into a string of suspicious accidents, he finds a much bigger mystery to unravel. From his childhood best friend to the too-attractive Deputy Wade Hunter, everyone in Rowan Harbor seems to have something to hide. Devon has to get to the bottom of it all before the accidents turn deadly.

This novel is intended for adult audiences, and contains swearing and sex scenes.

Likes:

  • First chapter hooked me.
  • Cute and fluffy, but with some mystery and tension.
  • Devon, immediately.
  • Wade, eventually.
  • The romance was sweet.
  • All kinds of side characters.
  • Siobhan’s easy acceptance of Devon’s sexuality.
  • Great introduction to the series.
  • Devon sees how hard it is for outsiders in Rowan Harbor.
  • Read it in a day.

Dislikes:

  • Would have liked more smut.
  • Have to wait until book 4 to get more about Devon and Wade.
  • Wish Devon had learned more about his abilities.

The single best compliment I can give a book is to say that it was hard to put down. As in, I finished it in a day. Blackbird in the Reeds had a great blend of mystery, cute fluff, and low angst romance that was exactly what I needed.

The first chapter hooked me fast. Devon was easy to like. I tend to gravitate towards family-oriented characters, and a guy who drops everything to visit his grandmother when she calls definitely goes on my good-guy list. He’s got his demons, but was searching for a place to belong.

I especially liked that, while Devon was welcomed back by the townsfolk with open arms, he sympathized with ‘outsiders’ like Maria because he knows what that’s likes. His decision to make sure Maria was included in his friend group was incredibly nice.

Wade took a little more time to warm up to, but that was intentional. Even Devin came away with a bad impression of him the first time they met. But Wade quickly showed that he had a good heart.

Their romance was sweet, but is far from over at the end of the book. They’re only starting to date, which is why I was a little disappointed that I’ll have to wait until book 4 to get more of their story. Not to mention more smut. Only one quick sex scene in the entire book! Despite that, the little hints that were dropped about Jesse, who’s the main character of the next book, make me excited to read his story.

There were all kinds of great side characters, including people of color. And Devon’s Gran, Siobhan, deserves a shout out for her easy acceptance of Devon’s sexuality.

The various mysteries, both personal and town-related added a lot to the book. There was always something new and interesting for Devon to do and discover. I do wish Devon had learned a little more about himself and his mysterious abilities, but I have hopes for his next book.

Overall, I think Blackbird in the Reeds is a great introduction to the series. Devon only scratched the surface of the town’s uniqueness. I’m sure there’s a whole lot more yet to be discovered.

Check out my rave reviews for the rest of the series Wolf and the Holly (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #2), Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3), Hawk in the Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4), Succubus and the City (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4.5), Stag and the Ash (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #5), Adder and Willow (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #6), Eagle in the Hawthorn (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #7), as well as Sam Burns’s collaboration with W.M. Fawkes on Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric #1).

Review: Forbidden Magic (Magic and Claws #1) by Liam Kingsley and Jill Haven

DNF 46%. The enemies-to-lovers idea was all enemies no lovers. Literally no romance at all.

2.5 out of 5 stars

DNF 46%

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 230 pages. Published April 15th 2020

Blurb:

How can my enemy want me when no one else ever has?

Oil and water. Shifters and mages. There are certain things that just don’t mix. But I’m in Porter’s Peak for a reason, and I’m not about to let a pack of wolves drive me away. And I’m certainly not going to fall into bed with the alpha … not even if he says we’re fated mates.

But evil magic is swirling around town, and the only way to keep my new home safe is to team up with the alluring older shifter and try to find the cause of the problems. As we grow closer, my resolve to stay out of his arms is slipping. No one has cared about me enough to stick around before … why should I trust an old enemy to be any different?

But evil magic is not the only problem, and when secrets threaten to tear us apart, we might bring the whole town down with us. Can we put aside ancient hatred and forge a new path? Or is our bond doomed from the start? 

Likes:

  • The reason shifters and mages don’t like each other.

Dislikes:

  • Unnecessary prologue.
  • Little world building.
  • Writing doesn’t flow well.
  • Leo has the emotional maturity of a teenager.
  • Leo’s inconsistency.
  • No romance or building to romance.
  • Blind belief that an entire group of people are evil.

DNF 46%

This book’s basic premise had potential. I liked the idea that shifters and mages had been at war. I also liked the reason why, as well as how the world turned out after the war ended. It was different and unique. I was excited to read how a shifter and a mage would fall in love. It definitely had hints of Romeo and Juliet.

Except there was no romance. No romantic feelings. Just Leo and Zac hating each other for what they were. Obviously the romance would have shown up if I continued reading, but I got to 46%. It’s not like I stopped early. And there was literally nothing romantic at all. No flirting, no trying to get to know each other, no tender moments.

The blame falls squarely on Leo. He’s got the emotional maturity of a teenager. He knows Zac is his fated mate, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Instead, he’s a douchebag. He acts like he can barely tolerate Zac’s presence, and does nothing but glare and threaten Zac whenever they’re together. Take this quote from Leo, who remember, is the pack alpha and a father.

“Zac didn’t say another word. And just like that, we were right back to our usual attitudes. I sat down and crossed my arms, and Zac didn’t spare me another glance. I gritted my teeth. Fine. It wasn’t like I wanted to get to along with him anyway. I was only being nice because he’d been hurt.”

I get that the romance is supposed to be enemies to lovers, but it didn’t work. Add in the fact that Leo keeps oscillating between wanting Zac to leave and knowing its his duty to protect him. It would be one thing if Leo had conflicting feelings but was a mature, responsible adult who did what he was supposed to. But no. Leo is unable to stop himself from voicing exactly what he’s thinking. He has no diplomacy and no patience. Several times, when his wolf’s instinct to mate Zac gets out of control, he calls himself a Neanderthal. I disagree. He’s just immature. The only reason he’s pack leader is because it was passed down to him by his father.

Blame where it’s due, Zac isn’t exactly a scintillating character either. He’s a mage who doesn’t use magic much, works as a mechanic, and was a foster kid. The book’s prologue, which was unnecessary, shows him at sixteen, right before he’s taken in by the mysterious Dylan. Then there’s no real talk about what he’s been up to for the past decade. He finished high school, learned magic and mechanics, and has been moving around from place to place. That’s about it.

The whole book has a very surface level feel to it. There’s no real world building. The magic isn’t explained, the fact that the human townspeople know about shifters is revealed like it should have been obvious which it totally wasn’t, and the shifted werewolves are somehow bigger than people. There aren’t even any physical descriptions given, aside from Leo and Zac.

This book would have problems even if the romance and main characters were well written. The writing doesn’t flow well. Its not terrible, but it’s not as polished as I’m used to. I also didn’t like that both Leo and Zac blindly believed what they were taught about their enemies, and had no problem thinking that an entire group of people were pure evil. I know neither of them have interacted with people from the other group. It’s the fact they believed it without question that annoys me.

I feel kind of bad for not having much good to say about this book. I usually try not to focus solely on the bad things, but all of my notes are complaints.