What's on the Reading Radar? #TBR #reading #read #wishlist

It been an alright week. Nothing much going on other than normal things. Working. Chasing the squirrels that are stealing the food meant for the birds. You know, adult stuff. LOL

Title: Of Love and Shadows

Series: Daemons of San DeLain, 3

Author: MA Church

Length: 292 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal /

Notes: I'm so excited for the last book in the San DeLain trilogy!

Blurb: Kage: I may be powerful. I may be the darkness. But it turns out I’m not the only monster who lurks in the shadows. The silence has been broken, and a secret from long ago has been unearthed with devastating consequences. The past has come back to haunt me, and everything I thought I knew has been turned on its head.

Danger strikes at everything I hold dear, and death stalks my mate and me.

Austin: Not all monsters have wings, horns, and a tail. And sometimes monsters really are monsters. I know exactly how far someone will go to hide toxic secrets, but even I am shocked by the latest revelations. Pandora’s box has been opened, and now we’re dealing with the aftermath. My monster grieves, and I ache for him.

But blood isn’t thicker than water, and found family is everything.

Chaos reigns as the attacks from the mimic escalate, and the daemon clan of San DeLain goes on high alert. But violence is never far away, and when the past doesn’t stay buried, the answers will lead to even more questions.

Death is coming, and the end is near. But for whom?

This is book 3 in the Daemons of San DeLain series which should be read in order.

Title: A Beginner’s Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters

Series: (Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Book 1)

Author: Shannon Mae

Length: 170 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Angels & Demons / Grumpy & Sunshine / Low Angst Relationship / Instawant / 

Notes: I found this through a recommendation from MA Church. I really enjoying it. It's very sweet and fun and hit the reading spot. :) The forward lets you know this is this author's first published work. The next book in the series is about a different couple coming out in July. It's already on my wish list.

Blurb: Adam:

Adam is not having a good day. First, he finds out his very long time boyfriend has been having an affair. Then, his dramatic exit becomes a little too dramatic when he ends up dead. To top it off, he finds out that the afterlife isn’t at all what he expected (he has no desire to learn to play the harp, thank you very much). Fortunately for him, some afterlife bureaucratic screw up ends him up with the most smoking hot demon he’s ever seen, and he decides he’s keeping him. Maybe the afterlife won’t be so bad after all.

Minos:

As Judge of the Damned, Minos has seen all sorts of human depravity over his endless existence. When a beautiful, shining soul pops into his chamber for judgment, he knows it's a mistake. The human, however, seems quite content to hang around, and it isn’t long before Minos decides he just might decide to keep this one. Minos isn’t the optimistic or happy sort, but he can’t help but be caught up in the whirlwind that is Adam. When forces beyond his control want to return Adam to his designated afterlife, Minos decides that will not be happening, heaven and hell be damned.

Tags: A very grumpy demon meets his match in a snarky, sunshine-filled human; not all angels are nice; Limbo is the party place to be; the afterlife is run like a corporate office, complete with red tape, pointless memos, and high levels of frustration; Minos has a tail and knows how to use it.

Title: The Sheriff's Omega

Series: Hobson Hill's Omegas, 10

Author: CW Gray

Length: 113 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Sweetverse / Low Angst Relationship / Midlife / 

Notes: This was really sweet and an enjoyable read. It was nice dipping the toe back into Hobson Hills. It's like meeting up with old friends. 

Blurb: Welcome back to Hobson Hills!

Sheriff Ian McKenzie never thought he would find love again. In fact, he didn't even bother looking for it. He's content with taking care of his town and trying to wrangle the meddlesome Wilson family. When a handsome, younger man lands on his doorstep, Mack isn't sure what to do. He can protect him, but can he handle falling in love with him?

Roe Dorsey has had a hard few years. Divorced, stalked, and harassed, he hasn't had a chance to settle into his new normal. When someone tries to kill him, Roe takes his family and retreats to Hobson Hills. He had no idea that he would find a home there, little less love.

Mack and Roe must decide if they'll stand together against the danger stalking Roe or let it divide them permanently.

Author Note: 32k mlm omegaverse romance with mpreg. Can be read as a standalone but characters from previous books pop up. Surprise babies, loveable pets, found family, sweet older men surprised by love, meddlesome Wilsons, and the return of the Hot Mess Club.

Title: Sleepy as a Koala

Series: Society of Shifters

Author: TS Snow

Length: 275 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Low Angst Relationship / RH

Notes: I stumbled on this and licked on the cover because love reading about different shifters. I double love when it's low angst. The relationship is the primary plot with the side plot of Haven needing donations to stay running. All four of them are atypical shifters and I have to say the way the author put things together, there were some super cute moments. I'm about 65% through the story and looking forward to how they are going to handle Haven's money problems. This is in a shared universe and I'm already looking at the other offerings. I know they won't have the same low angst as this one, but they are all standalones and have unusual shifter types. That's hitting my reading sweet spot right now.

Blurb: Being soul-bonded to a koala is all naps and eucalyptus leaves until a dog is chasing you.

But if the dog is cute, being caught isn’t so bad.

Especially when he and his friends just so happen to be my soulmates.

Owen, my loyal charmer;
Ethan, my gentle giant;
And Liam, my shy childhood best friend.

A relationship between a koala, a dog, a hedgehog, and a moose may seem like a bad joke, but we’re determined to make it work.

When the place I grew up in starts to struggle financially, will I be able to count on the guys to help me find a solution before the children who live there lose their only home?

Sleepy as a Koala is a standalone paranormal romance where the FMC doesn't have to choose between love interests. It contains strong language and sexual situations that might not be suited for anyone under the age of 18.

Despite being part of a shared world, Sleepy as a Koala can be read independently of any of the other books.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

What's on the Reading Radar? #read #reading #WishList #TBR

Reading has been a bit of a struggle the last couple of weeks. I have stopped reading several stories at various points. For some, the angsty and worry got to me and others I wasn't in the mood for. I've also been a bit shy about finishing a book if I think that it's going to end in a cliffhanger. I don't have the same appreciation for them as others do. It's not a big deal when the series is finished, but everything I've been reading lately has had cliffs and I really didn't like how things ended. So I've been hesitant to complete stories if I suspect I'm not going to get a HFN ending.

That being said, I did find some gems.

Title: The Monster's Den

Series: 

Author: Jillian West

Length: 330 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Sex Worker / RH / Curvy Woman / Low Relationship Angst / Outside Drama

Notes: I really liked this one. It's a standalone with several extended epilogues that give glimpses to the immediate and far future. The male love interests were each distinct and soft for Emerson. I did worry about Emerson's welfare with the big-bad a few times, but I needn't've. This gave me everything I was looking for the last couple of weeks and couldn't find. Now I want to read more like this. I think this might turn out to be a series of standalones and I'm here for it. 

Blurb: Emerson Parker is exhausted. She spends her days chasing around her high energy, half-shifter toddler and her nights working full-time trying to make ends meet.

...oh, and add in the absolute cluster of a situation her ex dumped in her lap on his way out?

Well, that's just icing on the cake.

With virtually no options left, Emerson heads for Haven, a sanctuary city for monsters and humans alike. Survival means taking a job at The Monster's Den - a club that caters to the inhuman residents of her new home.

But freedom comes with complications of its own: delusional monsters dead set on inserting themselves into her life and her bed.

With the North American Alpha hot on her heels and monsters standing in his way...

Will it be enough to keep Emerson and her daughter safe?

Title: His Reluctant Omega Mate

Series: Sweetwater Pack, 1

Author: Jax Stuart

Length: 414 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Mpreg / Cinnamon Roll Character / Prickly Character /  

Notes: This has been sitting on my TBR since I read January Blues. I really liked that one but wasn't sure how angsty this one would be. It does have 'reluctant' in the title, you know? It wasn't as angsty as I'd anticipated but this is also a plotty book so there was something else to concentrate on other than the reluctance part. I enjoyed this alot, but I'm hesitant to start the next book. The glimpse given of the next MCs has me worried. I'm in love with Dakota and if he gets hurt I will want him to find another mate, just sayin'. I'm already emotionally invested in one of the characters. LOL. I guess that goes to show the author did an excellent job with that. :)

Blurb: Will Kade be able to trust that fate has brought him an alpha that he can love, not just the one that he needs?

As an omega, Kade's purpose is to mate with an alpha and carry children. Years on the run have stolen that from him and ravaged his body. A chance meeting with his fated mate has Kade asking if Blake could be the one to heal his heart as well as his wolf. But what kind of alpha would accept a damaged omega?

Meeting his fated was a dream come true for Blake, but Kade keeps him at arm's length. Blake doesn't need Kade to trust all alphas, just that Blake would never harm an omega, especially his prickly, reluctant mate.

His Reluctant Omega Mate contains mpreg and discussions surrounding the past abuse of several characters. There is some on page violence, a kidnapping, and discussions about infertility. Omegas sometimes have it hard but Blake is a cinnamon roll of an alpha who wants to give them the world.

Title: Scout

Series: Chosen Champions, 4

Author: Macy Blake

Length: 326 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / 

Notes: So this has been sitting around waiting for me to read it since it came out. I was saving it for when I was having trouble finding something to read. Of all the Chosen spinoffs, this is the series that I like the best. Scout/Jack is so freakin' smart. And Coal's aunt is one dangerous dragon. This was really enjoyable for me. I'm really excited for the next book. 

Blurb: Coal Volsunga is a dragon convinced he’s better off alone…

As alone as a dragon who is part of a pack can be, that is. Although he loves the work, his feelings are starting to get involved, especially for a wolf entirely too involved with pack life for a loner like Coal.

Jack “Scout” Jerrick is a wolf with two packs, but only one heart…

Dividing his time between his father’s pack and his new one hasn’t been an issue for Scout. He’s learning to protect the secrets of the shifter world and the innocents involved in a dangerous war over magic and power. But when he develops feelings for the cantankerous dragon in his new pack, things begin to get a whole lot more complicated.

After Scout is kidnapped by the mysterious threat hunting their pack, Coal realizes being alone isn’t his life’s mission after all. If he and Scout are able to survive, they must

…put aside their preconceived notions and work together to save their pack,

…learn to love and heal when nothing is as it seems,

…and realize when it comes to being mates, there’s nothing they won’t do to save each other.

Title: Dangerous

Series: Shifter Scoundrels, 2

Author: Charlie Chochet, Macy Blake

Length: 259 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Hidden Society / Secret Agent Man / Low Angst Relationship /

Notes:  After the first book of this series, I knew that I needed to come into this story understanding that it is going to be more character driven than plot driven. There is some actiony things going on late in the story, but the majority of it is Jason being introduced to this world and the two of them getting to know each other. It was an enjoyable and I really like Jason and Mouse. 

Blurb: A grumpy lion shifter duke with secrets, a sassy human who knows nothing of the shifter world, and a fiery arrangement neither of them expected.

Cormac Donegan, Duke of Everard, is all too familiar with the perils of his shifter world, especially as a Dahlia, one of the dragon king’s elite spies. After a mission nearly costs him his life, Cormac is sidelined, healing and grieving his heavy losses. Then a different kind of trouble shows up on his doorstep, a human claiming to be his fiancé.

When Jason Reaves is nearly killed in a house fire, it becomes clear that someone is trying to murder him. With his already fragile health deteriorating, Jason’s only hope is to call in the debt a stranger owes his father– a favor that promises safety, protection… and marriage.

Jason’s escape leads him and his service dog, Mouse, to an impressive country estate. He’s expecting the older man who’d made the promise, not his ruggedly handsome son–who happens to be a Duke, as in rich and royal.

Will this Cinderfella find his happily ever after in the arms of a dashing–if somewhat irritable–duke? Or will Cormac’s secrets prove to be more dangerous than the shifters hunting him?

Title: Rejected Omega

Series: Second Chance Mates, 1

Author: Max Ross

Length: 392 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Mpreg / Non-Omegaverse / Rejected Mates / Second Chances / Secret Baby / 

Notes: I'm a sucker for the rejected mate trope but I usually prefer it if the one rejected finds a different mate. This one isn't like that since it's a second chance romance with a secret baby. I felt for Justin all through the story and really worried for his welfare since the political intrigue always hinted at corruption and violence. I did want to give a warning that the tone for Justin was always shaded in hints of dreariness/depression. If my anxiety was running high, I wouldn't have been able to read this simply for that reason. I understood Justin's mood since he was mourning his fated mate and stressing over being a single father. The two are separated at the very beginning and don't meet back up until about 73% mark, where I stopped reading last night (I'm writing this Friday afternoon) and I really would like to see more groveling and Richard proving with actions (not words) how he's going to make things better and be a better mate. Richard did acknowledge all that he did wrong and my heart broke for Peter!! I hope he gets a romance because Peter deserves a HEA. I'll probably finish reading the book in the next couple of days and I'm really hoping the bad guys get trounced. And I can't believe that Richard didn't call his brother and warn him about anything! This was a bit more angsty than I was anticipating but had a hard time putting it down. I was sure that assassins were going to come out of the woodwork at anytime. Since 25% is still left, I'm still sure that might happen. Just sayin' the author put that expectation out there very subtly and I've been half inclined to yell at the characters for not hiding better. 

Blurb: He once believed true love lasted forever...

Prince Richard Hargreave has been raised in the customs of his pack—to wed the mate chosen for him by the Wolf Goddess and become Wolf King of Altaden. He just didn't expect to fall so deeply in love. Justin Turner is perfect for Richard in every way. Not only is the omega wolf gay, but he's sweet, kind, and just a little shy—traits severely lacking in the royal court. But when the king's new Dreamer, the Goddess's oracle and divine matchmaker, proclaims the previous oracle a fraud and traitor, Richard is devastated. The new Dreamer claims Richard has been deceived, and the sweet, adoring Justin is not his mate after all. The selection of the omega wolf was nothing more than a plot to taint the royal line. Richard can hardly believe it's true, but a prince's duty to his pack must be greater than his own desires, even if it breaks his heart forever.

Justin Turner is leading a charmed life. How else could an omega nobody like him wind up betrothed to a man like Richard Hargreave? Crown prince or not, Justin loves him with all his heart. It wasn't that long ago that the Dreamer priestess appeared on his doorstep, declaring the Wolf Goddess had chosen him as Richard's mate. Since that day, the two had become inseparable. And now, he can barely contain his excitement—he has a surprise for Richard that will change their lives forever. But when he arrives at the place, Richard has a surprise of his own. The betrothal is off. The previous Dreamer betrayed them, and everything they shared was a lie. The new Dreamer has spoken. Justin is no longer Richard's mate. Shattered by the rejection, Justin can barely breathe. After the guards remove him from the palace, he has no choice but to flee with his secret untold—that Richard Hargreave, Crown Prince of Altaden, is going to be a father…

Reader note: contains M/M Mpreg romance, wolf shifters, rejected mates, male male love, royal princes, omega wolves, secret babies, second chances, and six loyal dogs

Thank you for stopping by and reading!