shifters – Love is Love Reviews

Review: Stop Dragon My Heart Around (Magic Emporium) by Rachel Langella

Heavy on the tropes, but still a fun read.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 181 pages. Published April 1st 2021 by Independently Published

Blurb:

Sometimes Fate has a bizarre sense of humor.

Or at least it seems that way to Gus, owner of the Rainbow Room, Asheville’s main hangout for gay paranormals. He’s seen Fate catch up with the patrons of his bar while he served drinks and listened to their stories for three hundred years. He found all of it amusing, until his fated mate walks in and suddenly the twists aren’t so funny any longer!

Bear Hickes is a mage who specializes in fire, but life has lost its spark since his twin brother got married and left him alone. His older brother, Whimsy, is determined to help Bear find happiness no matter how much Bear objects, but meeting Gus gives Bear a wonderful idea: if Gus will pretend to be his boyfriend, Whimsy will get off his case. And somewhere along the line, Bear finds he wants it to be for real.

But there are secrets Gus is keeping from not just Bear, but the whole world. And when those secrets catch up with him at last, the danger won’t be just for Gus alone.

This story is set in the Asheville Arcana universe, but can be read as a standalone.

Stop Dragon My Heart Around is part of the multi-author Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains explicit scenes and a guaranteed HEA.

Likes:

Gus and Bear, together and separately.
Good amount of secrets surrounding Gus.
Gus didn’t want to force the mate bond on Bear.
Bear’s art.
The romance’s slow build.
How Gus shifted.
The way the emporium item was used.

Dislikes:

Heavy reference to previous books in the series.
I don’t remember Bear ever telling Gus he wanted to stop fake dating.
Whimsey got annoying.
Book relies heavily on tropes.
Not much world building.

While I enjoyed this book, one of the most memorable things about it was something that annoyed me. Whereas the previous books in this multi-author series have been standalone, this one is part of an ongoing series. And despite the comment in the blurb that it can be read as a standalone, there was a ton of references to previous couples and events. The references happen all throughout the book, and got really annoying. The book ended up feeling like an advertisement for the Asheville Arcana series.

That annoyance aside, I did enjoy the story. Fake dating isn’t my favorite trope, but I liked that Gus immediately realized he and Bear were mates. Since Bear didn’t, Gus was left trying to keep all of his many secrets while trying not to fall in love.

Considering the title, it wasn’t hard to figure out what kind of supernatural Gus was. His backstory was tragic, and it made total sense that he wouldn’t want to subject Bear to the dangers of being mated to a dragon. I loved the way Gus shifted. It was a really unique take on dragons and their hoards.

Bear was a good guy, but he’d become withdrawn after his twin brother got married and moved away. Seeing him open up to Gus and regain his creative spark was nice. The way Bear used his fire magic to work glass was really fun. Plus, I loved that he and his family were keeping their cultural heritage alive.

The romance took its time, but I didn’t mind. The fake dating quickly turned into real feelings, though Gus stubbornly tried to hide the mate bond until the last minute. Yes, the tropes were strong with this book. No, it’s not the most original thing out there. But anyone who read the blurb would have been able to pick up on that. My only real complaint about the romance is that I don’t remember Bear ever actually telling Gus that he wants to stop the fake dating and do it for real.

The sinister presence that leads to the climactic ending could have been more notable. It was there, but neither character did much about the signs. Luckily, the emporium item came to the rescue once again. I loved how unique and seemingly random the item was, and how it was used.

I’ll definitely give the Asheville Arcana series a read soon. There’s not much world building in this book, so I’m hoping there’s more in the previous ones. I’m still unhappy with how heavy handed the references to the previous books were, but hopefully I’ll like the three couples enough that it evens out.

Review: Must Love Demons (Magic Emporium) by Meghan Maslow

A super fun book filled with shenanigans and a murder case.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 310 pages. Published February 18th 2021

Blurb:

You’d think being magically tethered to the hottest warden in all Verona wouldn’t be a hardship.

You’d be wrong.

Incubus Nico Azertiran has his dream job as a cherub-in-training. It’s the perfect position for a lust demon who’s more interested in happily-ever-afters than one-night stands. Or it would be, if he didn’t keep screwing it up. When a new cherub gadget misfires, Nico is left trussed to Verona’s most eligible warden, the incredibly grumpy, Sir Flame.

Flambeau Illume has a job to do. Someone’s murdering Verona’s rich and famous, and Sir Flame’s hot on the killer’s trail . . . until he has the misfortune to get magically lassoed to the most infuriating incubus he’s ever had the displeasure to meet. Except, maybe Nico isn’t so terribly awful. But how can he solve his case and keep Nico safe at the same time? Especially when the sweet demon seems to have a bullseye on his back.

Together they need to solve the crime, stay alive, and—if their luck changes—maybe even fall in love. Easy, right?

Must Love Demons is part of the Magic Emporium series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains explicit scenes, a lariat of love, a demon tail with a mind of its own, and a guaranteed HEA.

Likes:

Hooked me fast.
Nico and Flame, together and separately.
Watching them deal with being stuck together.
Good mystery element.
A cute, fun story.
Loved the reason why their relationship might not work.
How excited Nico was to try to find a use for what he got from the emporium.

Dislikes:

The cupids.
Not much world building.
Knew there was something more coming at the end.
Needs a follow up story.

This is easily my favorite book of the Magic Emporium series so far.

Nico was so easy to like. I mean, all he wanted to do was help people find their true love. It was just a shame that the cupids were so awful. But that didn’t keep Nico down. He still did his best to help people, despite the way he got treated for being an incubus who wants to spread love and not lust.

Flame was a bit uptight, but it made sense. He’s hundreds of years old and takes his job seriously. He basically lives for his work, and it was nice to see him realize that there’s more to life as he spent time with Nico.

The two ended up tied together very quickly, and I loved all the shenanigans that followed. A lot of them were fun. Or at least, they started that way. The murder case Flame was working on was woven throughout the story, and was never far from Flame’s mind. Especially since he was angling for a promotion, and didn’t want to be taken off the case, despite being tied to Nico.

Both men were attracted to each other, but there were a whole host of reasons why it was a bad idea. I especially loved Flame’s main reason. It was really unique, and fit with his phoenix shifter side.

Nico’s excitement to use the item that came from the emporium made me laugh. He kept trying to find the perfect fit for it, knowing it would come in handy. And it did. Once again, the item saved the day.

My only complaint about the plot was that I knew something more was going to happen. It’s always suspicious when it seems like everything’s all wrapped up and there’s more than 15% left to the book. I wasn’t mad with the twist, even though it wasn’t the most surprising thing ever.

The story could have used some more world building. I had a fair number of minor questions, like who made the cupid’s list. I would love to see a whole series written like this. Or, more importantly, a follow up short story or novella about Nico and Flame. Even though everything was wrapped up, I wanted to see them settle into their new lives.

Review: A Dragon’s Fortune (Magic Emporium) by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes

A cute story, but not the best I’ve read from Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 162 pages. Published January 28th 2021

Blurb:

Cillian Roarke is the world’s sweetest dragon. He’s a great boss, a good person, and he spends his days making honey-glazed caramel treats in the shape of bunnies for his bakery, Honey Bunny. Still, the highlight of every day is watching the adorable college student who’s Much Too Young For Him stuff his face full of Cillian’s sweet buns.

Finnick West is a college student who dreams of baked goods, much to the consternation of his figure-skating partner. She’s not offended by the temptation, but by Finnick’s continuing failure to ask out the cute baker. With pressure from all sides, Finn knows it’s time to take something for himself, if only he can catch Hot Baker’s eye.

While the two of them work up the nerve to ask each other out, an assassination attempt reveals forces working to not only stop their interspecies romance in its tracks, but destroy everything and everyone they love.

A Dragon’s Fortune is part of the Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains dragons, ice skating, a whole bunch of sugar, and a guaranteed HEA.

Likes:

Cute and fluffy.
Cillian and Finn are both nice guys.
Low smut worked for the story.
Enough world building for a standalone.
Everything going on with Oisín.
The non-romantic plot was good.

Dislikes:

The plot is a little slow.
Finn was a pushover.
Wallace was too pushy.
Cillian didn’t have any friends other than his brother.
Overall low impact.
Finn’s confrontation with the bad guy was unsatisfying.

I was in the mood for something light and fluffy, and I knew this book would fit the bill. The blurb makes it clear that Cillian and Finn both like each other, but are having trouble connecting. So I knew that the romance between them wouldn’t be full of angst.

There were things that got in the way of the romance going smoothly of course. And I actually liked that. The non-romantic plot points were interesting, and added to the world building. Oisín was an interesting character, and the glimpses of his life showed a lot about how supernatural beings were treated by humans. For a standalone book, I was happy with the world building.

Both Finn and Cillian were nice guys and easy to like. This book is low smut, but it worked for them. I especially liked that they were both fine with going slow.

Unfortunately, despite all the things I liked about the book, I couldn’t help feeling like it was slow. Cillian and Finn dance around their attraction for a long time. Then, when they finally know each other’s feelings, things come up that cause them to retreat. It always felt like outside influences moved the plot and the relationship forward. Cillian and Finn both felt passive.

I also felt like Finn was a pushover. He’s a people pleaser, and has trouble saying no or standing up for himself. Wallace didn’t help. She’s supposed to be Finn’s best friend, but more often than not she just seemed pushy and fed up with Finn’s inaction. Finn did get a little better at the end of the book. I loved how he was fully prepared to defend Cillian. I just wish his confrontation with the bad guy had a more satisfying ending.

Some books leave me with a big impact, whether from the characters, the romance, or the plot. Sadly, this book isn’t one of those. It was a fun read, but I’m glad it’s not my first experience with Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes, since I’ve read better from them.

Review: Hexes and Horns (Magic Emporium) by Rowan McAllister

A fun, low angst standalone with a unicorn shifter.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 242 pages. Published February 11th 2021 by Independently Published

Blurb:

Ryan O’Byrne has rules: 1) no using his magic, 2) no getting dragged back into his family’s craziness, and 3) no dating supernaturals of any kind, especially shifters … in other words, nothing and no one who will tempt him to break rule number one.

But what if the gorgeous wall of muscle he can’t seem to stay away from just happens to be a shifter? Well, it is only a short-term thing, and he isn’t a master of denial for nothing.

Leo Holt can’t help it if he has a teeny tiny weakness for bad boys—not really bad, just a little prickly around the edges. Even for a unicorn, all sweetness and light, all the time, can get a little boring. But, falling for the eldest son of the dark witch family who runs his little West Virginia town might be getting his fingers too close to the fire, even for him.

For Ryan, it was supposed to be a simple trip back home to show support during a family crisis. But when hexes, secrets, a family demon, and the O’Byrne witches are involved, nothing is ever simple.

Likes:

Hooked me fast.
Good for a standalone.
Leo’s a unicorn shifter.
Both Leo and Ryan, together and separately.
Good smut.
Happy, fluffy read.
The side characters, especially Mo and Kaia.

Dislikes:

Chapter one didn’t explain the setup as well as it could have.
I wish Ryan’s family had suffered more.
Could use a follow up short story or novella.
I want more.

Since this entire series is a set of standalone books by different authors, I read this one first and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I tend to stay away from standalone fantasy/magic books because I usually feel like the world building is lacking. But not this one. There was plenty of information about the magic, especially about why Ryan didn’t want to use his. Could it have used more world building? Sure, but then I almost always say that because I want to be truly immersed in the world.

Ryan’s feelings towards his family and his reluctance to be back in his hometown hooked me straight away. As did his determination not to start using magic again. I liked that Ryan had conflicted feelings towards his family. He doesn’t like a lot of what they do, but they’re family and he can’t turn his back on them. As a queer person with some intensely racist and homophobic family members, I understand completely.

Leo also has a complicated past, though that has more to do with his shifter side and trusting nature. When I started reading, I’d forgotten that the blurb reveals that he’s a unicorn, so it came as a pleasant surprise. The fact that he constantly had to be on the lookout for people wanting to capture him made me feel bad for him, but he didn’t live in fear.

Leo’s bright, cheerful attitude worked wonders on Ryan’s troubled soul. It was sweet watching Ryan open up to Leo. Both of them had secrets, but they were a good match. There were some good smut scenes, and the romance was fluffier than the non-romantic plot, which did have some angst to it.

The non-romantic plot was good, and moved at a nice pace. I liked when the Magic Emporium showed up and how it affected the plot. I do wish that Ryan’s family had gotten a more intense punishment. With everything they’d done, all the pain they caused, not just in the immediate time frame but for decades, I wanted to see something big happen. This is part of why I think there needed to be a novella of some sort after the book. It needed to show what was going on a few months or years later.

Mo and Kaia were great side characters. Again, I wish there was a follow up novella showing what happens with Kaia’s magic. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series. Hopefully they’re all as much fun.

Series Review: Winsford Shifters by Alice Winters

Not my favorite Alice Winters series, but I loved the characters and the plot was intense!

Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Books:

Likes:

Fantastic non-romantic plot.
All four main characters.
Hopeful ending overall.
Rowan as a snow leopard was adorable and funny.
Some great humor.
Some non-traditional alpha and pack dynamics.
Rowan and Emery’s journeys.

Dislikes:

Not my favorite Alice Winters series.
I genuinely worried for all the characters at some point, and I’m not used to that in a romance novel.
Heavy discrimination against shifters.
The romance took a back seat in book two.

I’m a huge fan of Alice Winters, and while this isn’t my favorite series of hers, it’s still good. There’s lots of the funny moments I’ve come to expect from her writing, especially when Rowan is shifted into his snow leopard form. I came to absolutely adore all four main characters, and was so happy that Emery and Graham got a book of their own.

My favorite thing about this series was that the non-romantic plot kicked ass. It was fast paced and action packed. But that came with a few downsides. One being that a lot of the plot was moved forward by the fact that there was a ton of discrimination against shifters. When the pack was in danger, they had very few people they could turn to for help.

This resulted in a lot of pain and suffering for the pack at large and the main characters in specific. They all got hurt at some point, and it’s always hard for me to watch a character I care about get hurt like that. I actually had to put book three down for a few days because the guys kept going from one bad situation to the next. It’s rare for me to genuinely fear for the safety of main characters, but that happened a few times throughout the series.

The worry I felt made the hopeful tone of the series finale that much sweeter. It wasn’t just that everyone got to go home and be safe, but there were hints that the world at large was moving towards shifter equality. I do hope there are more books set in this story universe, and that we get to see the change, even if it’s with other characters.

I enjoyed the fact that Quinn wasn’t the typical alpha, and his pack was non-traditional. Quinn was smart and clever, and he brought together all kinds of shifters. It was the perfect place for Rowan and Emery to settle into. Both men had painful pasts and a lot of baggage. They both had to go through a journey to self-acceptance. It was nice to see, even if the journey was a long one.

Because the non-romantic plot was so big, the romance in these books takes a back seat at times. This is definitely noticeable in book two, though it made sense with what was going on. Emery and Graham’s romance was a slow burn, but it worked for them. Especially Emery’s snark.

All in all, while I can definitely say that this series has a different feel than the other Alice Winters books I’ve read, it was worth the read.

Review: Of Ocelots and Sexy Yetis (Winsford Shifters Short Story) by Alice Winters

Short and cute.

3 out of 5 stars

To get access to this free story, join Alice’s Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/419742381890887/user/100028775325444/

Blurb:

A prequel story about Ari and Logan’s first meeting.

Likes:

Cute.
Short.
Free.

Dislikes:

The promise of a followup novella never came to pass.
Ari’s personality is a bit much when he’s the main character.

Throughout the Winsford Shifters series, I alternated between finding Ari funny and finding him annoying. After reading this short story, told entirely from Ari’s point of view, I can definitely say that Ari is a lot. He actually reminded me of a stereotypical influencer who’s only funny in small doses, has no marketable skills, and is kind of an airhead.

That sounds a little mean, and its true that I don’t have the highest opinion of Ari (and his actions in this story didn’t improve my opinion) but I don’t hate him. He can be funny and charming. If the promised novella about Ari and Logan’s relationship had been written, I would have happily read it. Especially because Logan seems like a practical, kindhearted person and I like their dynamic.

Sadly, despite the comment that Ari’s story would show up in a novella that came out after Of Betrayal and Monsters, I don’t think it was ever written. Maybe people didn’t like Ari enough. I don’t know.

I am glad for this story thought. It was cute, short, and free. The perfect trifecta. And since I was already a part of Alice Winters’ Facebook group, I had easy access to the story. Even though this was a prequel story, I read it after finishing the series, and it was nice to briefly revisit some familiar characters again.

Be sure to check out the reviews for the rest of the series – Alice Winters – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1), Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2), Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3), Series Review: Winsford Shifters

Review: Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3) by Alice Winters

A good ending to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 251 pages. Published July 6th 2021 by Alice Winters

Blurb:

Emery
It all comes down to this.

I should have known my freedom from Mercer would only last so long before my pack was hunted down and I was dragged back into it all. It’s suffocating being back in this place that twisted my shifter side forever and threatened to change who I am. But this time is different.

Because I’m not alone.

As threats to us and our pack pile up, I’m forced to rely on Graham, the overly protective shifter I feel a strange pull toward. We know we have to get away to warn the others of what’s to come, but with Mercer’s shifters breathing down our necks, we’re being thrust into a fight for our lives. We are determined to make it back to the pack and tear down the threat before it consumes all of us.

Graham
I’ve literally never met a more stubborn man in my life than Emery, yet I can’t get him out of my head. He covers up his insecurities and concerns with snark and teasing, but I know that underneath it all is a man who just wants someone to give him a chance. And I’m prepared to be that person if we can fight our way through this. First, we have to escape the threat left behind by Mercer, but escaping isn’t enough. We need to destroy everything the group’s ever worked for to keep each other and our pack safe.

Join Graham, Emery, Rowan, and Quinn for the exciting conclusion to the Winsford Shifters trilogy. This series contains action-filled romance with a dash of comedy, and should be read in order.

Likes:

Good ending to the trilogy.
Loved Graham and Emery.
New bad guy.
Fast paced.
Kept me hooked.
Everyone got POV sections.
Lots going on.
Hopeful.

Dislikes:

A lot of things went wrong for the main characters.
Graham and Emery needed a lot of outside help.
Emery was stubborn.
Bit of a slow burn with the romance.

After the way the previous book ended, I was eager to get to this book. Plus, I knew that Graham and Emery were going to be the main characters, and I already liked them and was eager for them to finally get together.

What I didn’t fully appreciate from the previous books was how stubborn Emery was. Even though he was drawn to Graham, he resisted. It definitely wasn’t what I expected from the romance, but it fit with Emery’s personality. He’s been hurt so many times in the past, that letting someone close to him, physically or emotionally, was difficult.

I loved how Emery’s default was to be a sarcastic asshole. It could have easily gotten annoying, but it wasn’t. Again, I think that’s because both the reader and Graham could tell that it was a defense mechanism. That and Graham genuinely cared for Emery, so he was willing to put up with it.

Like the first two books, there was a whole lot more going on than the romance. In a way, it felt like this book had the most going on of the trilogy, since Graham and Emery were dealing with one thing while Rowan and Quinn were dealing with another. All four men got point of view sections, which was nice. The bad guys were coming for them from all sides, and having everyone split up really upped the tension.

There is a downside to that too. A lot of things went wrong for the main characters, and everyone was in danger at some point. Since I’ve grown attached to these guys, it was a little hard to read at some points. I don’t like seeing characters I like get hurt, and had to put the books down for a few days at one point, because it seemed like they kept going from one bad situation to the next.

Luckily, the shifters finally got some allis they could trust. They needed it too, what with the introduction of yet another bad guy. Honestly, it felt like Graham and Emery had a lot of outside help, more than Quinn or Rowan, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, they needed the help. On the other, it felt like Graham and Emery were focused more on saving themselves than protecting the pack.

In the end, I thought everything was wrapped up really well. Graham and Emery got to return to the shifter town, and it’s obvious that they’ll make their relationship work. Quinn and Rowan also got a nice ending moment together, finally getting to relax knowing that no one else is out to get them. There was an overall feeling that everything will settle down and be peaceful for the pack.

There’s also a hopeful air to the ending when it comes to shifters at large. Even though none of the main character get to see it in person, there’s talk about how humans are siding with the shifters and helping to work towards equality.

In the author’s note at the end of the book, Winters says she might write a short story or novella about some of the other characters in the books, and I think that would be great. I’d love to see more of this world, and to see that people, both human and shifter, are working towards positive change.

Be sure to check out the first two books – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) and Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2)

Review: Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2) by Alice Winters

Hooked me and didn’t let go. Can’t wait to get started on the final book.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 324 pages. Published March 11^th 2021

Blurb:

Quinn

I thought pulling my pack away from Winsford would save us. I never realized how wrong I could be.

After Rowan and I escape Mercer’s hold, we have to get the pack somewhere safe, but my only option is a pride run by a controlling alpha. With everyone safely inside the walls of Winterhaven, Rowan and I attempt to search for the truth, but we’re being hunted and driven further from the answers we need. I want to do everything to protect my mate, but as I learn more about his past, I realize that I might need to protect him from more than just Mercer.

Rowan

I never thought I could embrace this other side of me, especially when I’ve always been taught to hate it.

But Quinn makes me feel alive and happier than I ever thought I’d be after shutting away a part of myself for years. When he’s with me, I feel like we can accomplish anything, and figuring out why Mercer is targeting us is only the first step. However, we could lose everything if we make a single mistake. One thing I know about my mate, though, is that he’s the most determined man I’ve ever met. And I’ll be right by his side as we bring Mercer crashing to the ground.

Of Betrayal and Monsters is an action-filled romance with a dash of comedy. It’s the second book in a series with a continuing storyline and an HFN.

Likes:

Rowan in his snow leopard form.
The tension throughout the book.
Emery and the way he interacts with everyone.
Quinn’s struggle to deal with everything was realistic.
Fantastic non-romantic plot.
Hooked me fast.

Dislikes:

Very little smut.
Ari flips between cute and annoying.
Not much character development for any of Quinn’s pack.
The relationship between Quinn and Rowan didn’t really grow or change.
Rowan’s father.

I was a little worried after finishing Of Secrets and Wolves that this book would be full of pain and suffering for Quinn, Rowan, and their pack. Quinn knew that taking everyone to Winterhaven wouldn’t be the end of things, and he was right. Winterhaven wasn’t the paradise it pretended to be, but it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.

There was this tension throughout the book that I just loved. Everyone was trying to make the best of their situation, to find a way to make things better and live their lives, but they all knew something was coming. It made for a really compelling read, and I had a hard time putting the book down.

The non-romantic plot really makes this book. Because it’s a continuation of the first book, there’s layers and complexity to the plot. As the book continued, Rowan and Quinn find themselves hitting dead end after dead end. They know there’s more to what’s going on than they know, and that someone’s pulling the strings. The buildup to the end, where all is revealed, was nicely paced. The end itself was both satisfying and made me instantly download the final book to see what happens.

As for the romance, it was definitely less present in this book. Part of that was because of the rules in Winterhaven. Part of it was because Rowan and Quinn didn’t have time to think of much besides their quest to find answers. There’s only one brief sex scene, which I didn’t mind. I don’t need smut. But I also felt like their relationship didn’t really grow or change.

In fact, there’s not much development, or page time, for most of Quinn’s pack. Ari and Emery are present for most of the book. Ari flipped from cute to annoying more times than I could count. It’s Emery who got the most character development in this book. It was fun watching him interact with everyone. He’s still not entirely sure of his place in the pack, but he’s determined to help. I really warmed up to him, and am excited that he gets to be the star of the next book.

Rowan got some personal development and growth in this book. We finally learned more about his past, including his childhood. His father’s utter trash, and I wish he’d gotten some sort of punishment, though Rowan doesn’t seem the sort to hurt his family. Despite everything, he still believes in his brother, and I hope that belief turns out to be true. Rowan’s gotten better at shifting, and comes to really embrace his snow leopard side. There were several funny moments with him shifted in this book, as in the last.

Quinn had his own personal problems. He’s unsure if he’s made the right decision to bring his pack to Winterhaven. I really felt for him, because he has so few options and none of them are great. He’s never really sure if he’s doing the right thing, and with lots of people depending on him, he knows that any mistake could cost his pack.

The anti-shifter sentiment is still alive and kicking in this book. It didn’t bother me as much this time, perhaps because I was expecting it. Plus, the institutional hatred really did help drive the plot, in that Quinn had almost no one to ask for help.

I can’t wait to start the final book. There are questions that need answering and bad guys who still need their comeuppance. Not to mention the semi-cliffhanger at the end concerning the two pack members who chose to stay behind and cover the pack’s escape.

Be sure to check out my review for the other two books in the series – Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) and Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3).

Review: Of Secrets and Wolves (Winsford Shifters #1) by Alice Winters

Some great humor, but also a lot of discrimination against shifters.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 345 pages. Published January 28^th 2021

Blurb:

Rowan
My whole life, I’ve been taught to despise shifters. So when I’m hired to track two escaped convicts, I’m suddenly thrust into the world I hate—or thought I did. Yet I’m inexplicably drawn to the alpha of the pack whose land the convicts may be hiding on. He’s different than any shifter I’ve ever met—laid back and quick to laugh, caring and protective, and makes me feel complete for the first time in my life. As secrets are revealed, I start to wonder if everything I’ve been raised to believe was a lie, though it may not matter because it seems like someone wants us dead.

Quinn
I’m no stranger to prejudice from humans, but it’s different when Rowan comes into my life. Though I shouldn’t let myself be distracted, I’m captivated by him. At first, he’s stiff, fighting to keep his misconstrued beliefs intact, but as I break down the wall he’s created, I’m able to show him a place among the fun chaos of my pack. After one of my pack goes missing, it leaves Rowan and me racing to bring them home, but the only way we’re going to survive this is if Rowan learns to accept the bond that’s growing between us—a bond that could give us the strength to put aside our reservations and give in to what both of us want.

Of Secrets and Wolves is an action-filled romance with a dash of comedy. It’s the first book in a series with a continuing storyline and an HFN.

Likes:

Quinn is a different kind of alpha.
Rowan’s journey of self-acceptance.
Catnip hijinks.
The humor I’ve come to expect from Alice Winters.
The town and pack Quinn built.

Dislikes:

Took me a while to get invested.
Not a ton of backstory on Quinn or Rowan.
Some of the world building doesn’t make sense.
How horribly shifters are treated.
The tone didn’t always work for me.

I’m a huge fan of Alice Winters, but I’m mature enough to realize that not everything she writes is going to be a perfect fit for me. And while I enjoyed this book, it paled in comparison to some of her other books.

It took me a while to get invested, in part because of how the story starts. Events are already in motion at the beginning, with Rowan having been brought in to help track the escaped prisoners. Tensions are high as Rowan and Scott meet Quinn for the first time. And Scott’s presence didn’t help matters much.

I’m not the biggest fan of scenarios where a marginalized group is heavily and openly discriminated against, and the shifters in this book are treated like trash by society. It definitely put a dampener on the overall tone, as well as not making a ton of sense. If you have people with enhanced senses and abilities, why prevent them from joining the military or police force? I understand that the second class citizen aspect was what moved the plot forward in many ways, but man was that a lot of unfair treatment for one book.

It was the hint that Rowan was hiding a big secret, then the reveal of that secret, that finally got me invested. Rowan had a lot of personal things to sort through, and had to go through a lot before accepting himself. It was alternatively fun and a little cringe to watch. And as much as I liked the journey, Rowan definitely believed all the negative stereotypes about shifters, even if he wasn’t as much as an asshole as Scott.

Quinn was a fun character. He was easy to like from the get go, especially with how he refused to let other people’s cruelty keep him down. He’s a different type of Alpha, not big and strong, but smart and caring. The pack he built and the town they made was a big testament to him. I do wish he’d been more than just the quirky, non-typical Alpha. We don’t learn much about his backstory, other than that he had a hard life, and I feel like he could have been a more rounded character. Maybe that’ll happen in the next books.

My final complaint about the book is the tone. It’s inconsistent, flipping from the humor that I’ve come to expect from Alice Winters (hello catnip shenanigans) to gut-wrenching cruelty. There’s not an excess of blood or violence in the story, but the implications of what the bad guys are doing is horrendous. It does fit with the way society treats shifters, but it was definitely hard at times to watch characters I’d grown attached to get treated so badly.

I actually expect things to get worse in the next book, rather than better. The note at the end of the book says it’s tentatively a trilogy right now, so hopefully the final book will show things getting better for shifter society at large.

Be sure to check out the final two books – Of Betrayal and Monsters (Winsford Shifters #2) and Of Redemption and Vengeance (Winsford Shifters #3)

Review: Peregrine (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #4) by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly

A lot of angst and heartbreak, but a fantastic (and happy) ending.

4.25 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Edition. 347 pages. Published June 3rd 2021

Blurb:

1508
Sebastian Drake, stoic protector of the Drake family, always gets what he wants—and there is nothing he wants more than the half-starved Pedigree omega named Peregrine he comes across on his travels. It doesn’t matter that Peregrine is a Disgrace. Sebastian will do whatever it takes to keep him… and somehow, as impossible as it might be, find a way to be his mate.

Present Day
For hundreds of years, Peregrine has enjoyed life as Sebastian’s mate. Sure, as one of the only bonded omegas in recent history he’s been kidnapped more times than he can count, but with Sebastian there to save him it’s little more than an inconvenience. And attacks from hostile clans? That’s just a typical Tuesday.

But there is one thing Peregrine fears, yet desperately wants.

One thing that has hurt him time and time again.

One thing Sebastian can’t save him from.

And now it’s happening again.

He’s pregnant.

Please use the Look Inside or Download Free Sample feature to read the Content Warning for possible triggers.

Likes:

Trigger warning in the blurb
The right amount of angst.
A good mix of history and present day.
Sebastian was more likeable than I expected.
Got to meet the older clutch.
Super sweet ending.

Dislikes:

Bertram and Raven.
Perry keeping everything to himself.
Sebastian getting called away for months.

I binged this series, but hesitated before reading this book. I very much appreciated the trigger warning in the blurb, even though the contents aren’t triggering to me, because it was a clear indication that the book would contain a fair amount of angst and heartbreak for the characters.

Perry has been likeable since book one, so I knew ahead of time that I’d enjoy his part of the story. What I wasn’t sure of was Sebastian. He’s taciturn and physically strong, but I didn’t have any particular feelings towards him either way. To my surprise, I enjoyed his character just as much as Perry’s. Sebastian acts very instinctively, so he knew Perry was meant to be his right away. But he wasn’t violent or controlling, and didn’t treat Perry like he was lesser.

The alternating timelines worked well, with enough time dedicated to both. It was nice to see how Perry and Sebastian met, and the struggles they went through, all while knowing that everything worked out for them in the end. Yet at the same time, they were still facing struggles with Perry’s new pregnancy.

My heart went out to both men, but especially Perry. Not only did he have to go through the heartbreak and loss again and again, but he did so without telling anyone. He was constantly worried that he’d miscarry again, and on top of all that, he was under attack from Raven.

The end of this book had me absolutely loathing Bertram and Raven. They both hurt characters I liked, and I’m honestly not looking forward to their story. It’s going to take a hell of a lot for me to warm up to them when their story does come out. I’ll definitely read it. Bertram and Raven have been teased for a while, but it seems as though Raven is mentally disturbed and Bertram has his other name/personality thing going on.

I think there was just the right amount of angst in the book. It was paired with some happy moments along the way, and a really fantastic ending. It was the kind of ending where I wouldn’t have been mad if this was the last book in the series. Which is another reason why I’m not looking forward to Bertram and Raven’s book.

I liked that Sebastian and Perry’s first clutch got some page time. They haven’t been mentioned much in the series, but they seemed great, and Perry was so happy to see them. On the other hand, I was disappointed that Sebastian was called away for several months, leaving Perry to deal with the pregnancy on his own.

Overall, I’m glad that Sebastian and Perry got their own story. It was definitely worth the read, though I’m glad I was in the mood for angst when I read it.

Be sure to check out the other books in the series – Clutch (Forbidden Desires #1), Bond (Forbidden Desires #2), Mate (Forbidden Desires #3), Swallow (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #1), Magpie (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #2), Finch (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #3)