What's on the Reading Radar?

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for warmer weather. I need to bask in the sun and get some natural vitamin D. I've been cold here lately and if I had a sauna or hot tub, you'd find me in it 24-7, just sayin'. LOL

Reading had been alright this week. 

Title: The Sheriff of Shard Hills

Series: 

Author: Jenn Burke

Length: 

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Sci-Fi / Alien /  Old Love / New Beginnings

Notes: I really enjoyed this story. It's told from Varuna's POV and I sympathized with him trying not to expect too much from Kerrick who he's loved for ages and thinks can do better. There's a brief mystery that leads some deeper revelations. Would definitely recommend. 

Blurb: Space station cop Varuna Das is different. He’s half-human, half-dimeti, and the mix of DNA has had some interesting consequences…like a tail he does his best to keep hidden. Well into middle age, he’s used to being treated badly because of his looks, and as much as he hates it, he understands it. Humans and dimeti just finished a twenty-year war, after all.

What he doesn’t understand is why Major Kerrick StarCourser, a young, beautiful war hero, keeps coming back to him for no-strings sexy fun. Or why Kerrick’s suddenly shown up, bruised and battered, just as Varuna transfers to Shard Hills, a small town on a nearby planet, to take over as sheriff. Kerrick doesn’t show any sign of leaving this time, settling into Varuna’s new home and cooking up a storm. It’s as though he was never a special forces officer.

Confused as he is, Varuna loves having Kerrick there. His life in Shard Hills is shaping up to provide everything he’s ever wanted: a home, a purpose, a family. But when Varuna’s dark past catches up to him, will Kerrick’s heroic integrity let him forgive and forget…and stay?

The Sheriff of Shard Hills is a 30,000 word novella with a middle-aged, half-alien cop who doesn’t see his own value, a young, fem war hero who does, and a happily ever after. Once the shooting stops, of course.

Title: Reject Me

Series: Immortal Vices & Virtues, 1

Author(s): Kel Carpenter, Aurelia Jane 

Length: 532 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Shifters / Alternate Reality / 

Notes: When I went looking for (again) for something in the rejected mate trope I stumbled across this one and decided to give it a go. It is set in a shared universe so any of these can be read as standalones. I really enjoyed how Dannie was a different kind of paranormal and though it set her up to be an outcast, she had a strong sense of self that was admirable. When I'm looking for rejected mate books, I want what was given to me here, where the mate who was her childhood bully doesn't get a pass just because they are mates. I also liked how Dannie handled him throughout the whole book. There for a moment or two, I was afraid it was going to be MFM and though I like reading those, I needed Markus to remain rejected. Elias was a great love interest, flawed though he was. He sorta walked right into that reading of his fate, thinking he was going to outwit it. I also enjoyed Dannie's family and the LBGT inclusion represented there. If you enjoy reading MF PNR, I would recommend this. Good writing, interesting plot with a couple of twists. I'm definitely looking up this writing duo to see what else they have.

Blurb: “Markus Del Reyes, I reject you.”

He left me no choice.

I refuse to spend the rest of my life with my childhood bully for a mate. I may be a cursed shifter, incapable of shifting—but I wasn’t desperate.

Not till the Alpha Supreme cast me out of the House of Fire and Fluorite for rejecting his son.

Now I’m packless.
Homeless.
No longer under the protection of a House.

Until the dark vampire king of Blood and Beryl turns his sights on me.

In return for protection from my former House, I have to become his fake mate.
I'll be a queen and a fraud.

It's a treacherous lie to live—and I find myself forgetting what’s real and what’s not with every stolen touch and heated kiss we share. What starts as a business arrangement turns complicated when my heat hits, and the king insists on being the one to help me through it.

I’ve lost everything for doing what I know is right, but the greatest danger I ever faced was never losing my life … it was opening my cursed heart.

**Reject Me is a spicy standalone paranormal romance set in the Immortal Vices and Virtues Universe. Every book is a guaranteed happily ever after with a satisfying ending and no cliffhangers. Perfect for fans of Immortals After Dark, Black Dagger Brotherhood, and the Demonica series.**

Title: Cair 

Series: Veiled City, 1

Author: Eryn Hawk

Length: 331 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Alternate World / Paranormal / Gay 

Notes: I just started this one but I'm enjoying it so far. The world is one that knows about the fae who live in a part of the city around the portal between worlds. It seems that the fae and humans don't mix too much, but I'm not that far in yet. Not much else to say yet since I'm only at the part where Luca is starting his job for Cair. I do think that plot for this book wraps up here because the name on the next book belongs to Cair's brother. 

Blurb: Twenty-five-year-old Luca Elliot lives in a city divided. The humans and the supernaturals mostly keep to their own kind, but Luca—curious and desperate for work—crosses the border and finds himself employed by a tall, stupidly handsome Fae with killer horns. He should be intimidated, but instead, Luca is utterly captivated. Falling for the boss is a bad idea though, right?

Cair Haryk is only a visitor to the human world and, between his position in the Fae kingdom and a bargain he made years ago, he can never remain. He's content with that until he meets Luca—his soulmate—and hires him to work in his high-end lounge. Cair tries to guard his heart, but fate has other plans and, despite his best intentions, he falls for the pretty little human. Hard.

Luca can't enter the Fae realm, and Cair’s time in the mortal lands is drawing to an end, so while the attraction between them is irresistible, their situation is impossible. They can't be together. It’s tragedy and heartbreak just waiting to happen.

Isn’t it?

CAIR is a MM paranormal romance with spice, size difference, and soulmates. It features a lovable human trying to find his place in the supernatural world, and a secretive Fae who's not as detached as he pretends to be. This is the first book in the Veiled City series.

If you want to know more about this story's tropes, kinks and warnings, visit my Instagram (authorerynhawk) for a full content list.

Title: Den of Escape

Series: The Den, 1

Author: Juniper Cole

Length: 252 pages

Genre/Tropes: Romance / Paranormal / UF? / Polyamorous / 

Notes: 

Blurb: Foster can’t explain the changes in his body that started when he escaped his abusive ex. Despite the eerie feeling that he’s being watched, he forces himself to leave his apartment after a month of hiding. To his surprise, his distracted wandering leads him to the Den, a night club unlike any he has ever been to.

Calix has never felt more trapped. With a boss that constantly makes inappropriate comments and magic he can’t control, the stress drives him to The Den, a perfect place to lose himself in pleasure.

Boaz thought it was going to be another boring night guarding the hellgate beneath his club until he spots two beautiful men dancing the night away. The moment their scents hit his nose, he knows that everything is about to change.

When unexpected dangers shake the foundation of their newfound love, the men must decide how much they’re willing to sacrifice to fight for their love, and their world.

Den of Escape is a paranormal romance about three men falling in love. It is the first book in The Den series, which will follow a new couple in every book. It can be read as a standalone though characters will make appearances in later books so they are better read in order. It contains explicit content, graphic language and situations some readers may find uncomfortable. For a more detailed description please check the content guide inside the novel.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

What's on the Reading Radar? #read

How's your week going? Mine always see to be going fast. Trying to make friends with one of the flocks of crows that sweep through the neighborhood once a week. 

This is being posted on Sunday instead of Saturday simply because my writing week got in the way of blogging, which I'm not complaining about. So I decided I would create the post late. It's short too, with only books that I read this week in between searching through the rejected mate trope for a plot I want to read. Still searching... 

Title: The Body Catcher

Series:

Author: Megan Derr

Length: 192 pages

Genre/Trope: Romance / Fantasy / Gay / Poly / 

Notes: This hit the spot. Grumpy character, sunny character, bickering, political intrigue, and occupations you don't normally see. I really enjoyed the story and was really happy with how things turned out. 

Blurb: Tashi is a body catcher, paid by inhabitants of the poor districts of Ossiri City to dispose of inconvenient corpses. The fewer questions he asks about them, the happier everyone tends to be. It's not an easy life, and the money isn't great, but it's better than the life he led when he was first thrown out on the streets with nothing but the clothes he was wearing.

Then a colleague asks him to help with the bodies of a woman and babe who died in the birthing. Not just any woman and child, either, but a royal princess and her secret bastard. Though he wants no part of the mess, Tashi agrees, and finds himself facing his past and enough trouble to kill him and anyone stupid enough to help him.

Title: The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion

Series: (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Book 3)
Author: Jennifer Cody
Length: 189 pages

Genre/Trope: Romance / Urban Fantasy / Poly / Ace Spectrum Character / Sunshine Character / Grumpy Guts Character / Puppy Pile Cuddles / Found Family / Consent and Acceptance Galore / 

Notes: I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. If you have questions about Edovard, read the author's forward for the thorough and no-spoilery heads-up. I thought this was pretty much perfect and I loved every minute of it. Edovard is a delight and I loved seeing the world through his eyes. He's sweet and naïve and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Highly recommend!

Blurb:

Edovard:

Um…I was told I’m supposed to summarize my story here, but recently I’ve learned that blurbs are hard so I’m not sure what to say.

My name is Edovard Durand Folange. I’m twenty seven years old from Fresno, California, and recently I moved across the country to live with my new parents and brother. Oppa kills people for a living, and Papa is his announcer guy, and my brother is like his assistant, and I guess it turns out I’m the person the magic tells who needs to die—it’s called being an Augur. I don’t really know what that word means, but even though it’s scary, I’m getting used to it.

It’s nice to have a job, but Santanos (he’s the Avatar of Evil) offered me a second job, and I’m really excited about that because I get to work with him and help him fix the minions. A lot of them aren’t doing very well, so my second job is to make sure that everyone gets as much love as they need in their lives. Sometimes that means killing people who are stealing all the love away from them. I guess maybe I’m a little evil too, because I don’t mind letting Oppa kill those people to save the minions.

The Trouble with Trying to Love a Hellion is a 52k MM+ paranormal romance, featuring a cinnamon roll narrator with more than the usual amount of love to give and a sultry incubus who happens to be the Avatar of Evil. If the minions are especially affectionate with the cinnabun, well, who can blame them when he’s the best cuddler they’ve ever met?

Contents include: blood, viscera, someone dies because they call Edovard dumb, and Edovard accidentally creates a polycule, but that’s ok because he’s just making sure everyone gets enough love to be emotionally healthy.

Title: Contaminated

Series:

Author: Amanda Milo

Length: 4 hrs 44 min

Genre/Trope: Romance / Sci-Fi / Aliens / Beauty & the Beast

Notes: So this has been on my TBR for a while. Contagion is the second book in this series and follows the friend from this one, so I knew a little about what went on as well as the side character. When it came out on audio, I gave it a go and oh man, some places were hilarious. It also made me want to reread Contagion (which is one of my all time favorite rereads) another read. Would definitely recommend.

Blurb: The people of my planet are under a devastating genetic curse. To treat the disease’s effects, we’ve turned to cultivating a rare flower. That’s my occupation: raising and studying this flower. That’s precisely what I’m doing the daycycle that an alien drops into our research plot, approaches our plant….

And cuts my flower’s head off, stealing the bloom.

Note: This 37K standalone story is intended for listeners 18+ due to romantic elements. There is no cheating. There is a happily ever after, because this is a sci-fi retelling of Beauty and the Beast--you have to have an HEA. (There is, however, no singing cutlery.)

Important Note II: No unicorns were harmed in the making of this story.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

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

January's half gone and I've barely read anything this month. I've been thinking about this blog and whether or not I'm using it to it's full potential or not. The easy answer to that is 'not' but then that begs the question about what I want to do with it. There are so many different social media platforms that if I try to participate in all of them, I wouldn't get anything done. What I want to do is a question that I will be poking at the next couple of months. So for the time being, I'll continue to do the Reading Radar for Saturday's post. This is the one place that I feel comfortable talking about what I'm reading or wanting to read. 

I've save several soon-to-be released covers but didn't note when that release would be, so I'll save that for next week. Today will be all about manga/yaoi. 

Title: Moon & Sun

Series: Vol. 1

Author: Akane Abe

Length: 

Genre/Trope: Yakuza Romance / BDSM elements / Friends / Non-Binary MC / 

Notes: 

Blurb: Masahiro, heir to a yakuza syndicate, has been skating through life without much purpose. When he stumbles one night into the drag club where his childhood friend Hana works, the drunk and obnoxious Masahiro causes such a stir that the beautiful owner of the club is forced to deal with the yakuza brat themself. Is one good spanking all it will take to put the heir apparent on the right path in life…and love?

Title: Tales of Beastkin

Series: Adam & Shiro, 1

Author: Bella Chan

Length: 

Genre/Trope: Mafia Romance / Paranormal / Omegaverse /  

Notes: So, when I grabbed this cover a couple of weeks ago, I thought it was yaoi manga but looking at the blurb, which doesn't follow managa's usual format, I think this might be book. No pictures. Imma going to leave here, 'cause why not?

Blurb: When an alpha wolf shifter mafia boss meets a beaten-up foxkin boy on the run, both their lives change in an unexpected way. A steamy hurt-comfort paranormal shifter mafia mm romance.
Adam

The Beautiful Monster.

Alpha wolf shifter Adam Sullivan, dubbed The Beautiful Monster, is on a “sabbatical leave” of his position as the head honcho of one of the most powerful mafia clans in America. Relishing in his newfound peaceful life, Adam’s wonderful tranquility is being threatened when he happens upon a beaten-up foxkin youth in the back alley of New York City. The moment Adam lays his eyes on the exquisite white-haired, cobalt-blue-eyed Shiro, he is beguiled and knows he’ll be kissing his serene life goodbye if he doesn’t walk away. When Shiro begs for his help, Adam loses the fight to the inevitability and takes the boy home.

Shiro

Into the arms of a beautiful monster…

Shiro is a beastkin, a race of humans with small animal characteristics society despises. Having escaped the institute, he lives in the backstreet scavenging for survival. When Adam saves him after a deadly beating, he is grateful. It isn’t long when Shiro finds himself falling in love with Adam, whose rough exterior and standoffish kindness steals the boy’s fragile heart. Shiro knows he can’t linger around and take advantage of Adam’s generosity, but leaving is just so damn hard, especially when Adam makes him feels he belongs, a feeling he desperately yearns for.

Tales of Beastkin: Shiro is a hurt-comfort paranormal shifter alpha-omega mafia mm romance (boys love, yaoi) with some dark themes. The uke (Shiro) is a beautiful beastkin (a race of humans with small animal characteristics) and the seme (Adam) is an alpha shifter hunk. Note: Seme is the man who does the chasing (the top) and uke is the male being chased (the bottom) in the romantic relationship.

Tags: Hunky wolf shifters, standoffish mafia boss Adam, alpha shifters being protective of their cute mates, omegaverse, cute fox beastkin with white hair and blue eyes Shiro, twinks, sassy wolf beastkin, adorable fox ears, knotting, mpreg later in the series, hurt-comfort, age gap, some dark themes, BL stands for Boys’ Love, it’s a yaoi omegaverse with supernatural, beautiful Shiro is our baby uke, hotty-hot Adam is very daddy, expect steamy scenes between alpha and omega, omega pheromone is sweet nectar that drives their mate crazy.

Title: The 9 Lives

Series: Vol. 1

Author: Rachel Manija Brown

Length: 176 pages

Genre/Trope: Futuristic Sci-Fi / Aliens / Master & Slave Society / 

Notes: I'm on the fence about this one and I keep moving it on and off the wish list. It sounds like Adrian saves Conri though doesn't ascribe to society's practice. But I could be wrong. It is on KU so it would be easy for me to check it out. 

Blurb: Alien refugees have come to Earth. They call themselves 9-Lives. Humans call them cat-boys, and force them to live as collared pets. Conri, a rebellious young 9-Life, ran away to escape this fate. But when a human named Adrian saves him from capture, Conri is torn between his desire for freedom and another desire he can't quite admit, even to himself... Can two people meet as equals in a world divided between masters and slaves?

Title: University of the Underworld

Series: 

Author: Ziloi

Length: 488 pages

Genre/Trope: Fantasy / Mistaken... IDK, from the blurb they both have made assumptions

Notes: 

Blurb: All ghosts in the Professional Malevolent Spirits and Creative Terrorizing Program aspire to become a top malevolent spirit of the underworld. And as for Cui Yue? He’s only here because of Bai Shaonan's unrequited love for him—or at least that was what he thought. Oh well. If Bai Shaonan likes him, it won't hurt to give a little feedback. But ever since he met Bai Shaonan, Cui Yue’s been spending all his time either being hunted, or on his way to being hunted. Hey Shaonan, do you want to fix your love life first?

After admitting a new student who would go on to break the record for the lowest grades in the school’s history, Bai Shaonan firmly believes that Cui Yue's devotion to academia is solely because of himself. Oh well. If Cui Yue likes him, it won't hurt to give a little feedback. But since Cui Yue is spending all his time either being hunted or on the way to being hunted, the only way toward a truly peaceful future is to deal with these issues, once and for all.

Title: Servant & Lord

Series: 

Author: Lo, Lorinell Yu

Length: 232 pages

Genre/Trope: Contemporary / Class Differences / Friends

Notes: I noticed that the reading age is 16 & up.

Blurb: Christian has always admired handsome, talented composer Daniel. Their shared appreciation for music marked the beginning of a friendship between a willful boy and a sophisticated young man... But when tragedy strikes and circumstances twist around to put Daniel in the service of Christian's wealthy family, their bond is tried in unexpected ways.

Years ago, the universal language of music drew them toward one another. Now, Christian has to hope it's still enough to bridge the gap between their vastly different lives.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

What's On The Reading Radar? #newrelease #TBR

I'm late but I did create a blog post for today! The question was what to post and I went with January releases. I had some preorders come in this week that I'm excited for.

Title: Shadow's Embrace

Series: Demons of San de Lain, 2

Author: M.A. Church

Length: 302 pages

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Demons / Gay

Notes: 

Blurb: Kage: Am I still a monster? Very much so. Am I loved? Absolutely. Will I burn it all down to protect my mate? You better believe it. Hunters have come to San DeLain once again, and they’re targeting humans and paranormals for their sick experiments. Many have gone missing. Some for many, many years. Then new information comes to light, and plans are made to raid their top-secret lab and bring home those taken.

But no one is safe, especially Austin.

In the midst of all this, an old flame returns, bringing chaos into their lives. But not all is as it appears to be.

Austin: Kage is still my monster, even if he’s no longer under my bed. I claimed him, and no flame from the past is going to take what’s mine. But the ex isn’t the only danger lurking in the shadows. The hunters have struck close to home, and something heartbreakingly evil is exposed, shocking the paranormal community.

Especially Kage.

What is real? And what is nothing more than a mimic of the real thing?

This is book 2 in the Daemons of San DeLain series which should be read in order.

Title: Blood Omen

Series: (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Book 6)

Author: Sheena Jolie

Length: 85 pages

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Gay

Notes: 

Blurb: Set in the Infinite Arcana Universe, BLOOD OMEN is a fascinating peek into the wider world of the Beacon Hill Sorcerer by SJ Himes....

Remi has been doing the same job for the last two thousand years: specialist courier of valuable magical objects and sensitive information. Sent on a mission to get a powerful talisman to the City Master of the Boston Bloodclan, Remi ends up with an unexpected complication: Celyn, a beautiful fae college student who was in the right place at the wrong time.

Celyn was instantly attracted to the sexy vampire when they met by chance at a pub. Thinking he was about to experience the best hook-up of his life, Celyn never expected to end up running across the streets of Budapest with Remi while the High Council of Sorcery was trying to kill them.

Dodging spells and holing up in secret lairs, Remi and Celyn find something even rarer than the object Remi carries: a chance at true love.

BLOOD OMEN is an MM vampire/fae romance featuring a laid-back vampire with a dangerous profession, an adventurous fae college student with some interesting gifts of his own, and a connection to the ongoing battle between the High Council of Sorcery and the infamous Necromancer of Boston, Angel Salvatore...

Reading order is not essential, and for reference, this novella of 22k words takes place after LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL in the BHS timeline. Features extended character cameos from BHS regulars. Previously released through Prolific Works in 2022. No changes to the text have been made. Sheena Jolie is the new pen name of the author formerly known as SJ Himes.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

What's on the Reading Radar? #wishlist

I've been neglectful of the Reading Radar for the last couple of months. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.

This week's list is from my manga/yaoi wish list. I've been reading a lot of them when I haven't been rereading. This list is a little longer than usual because I'm cleaning out my radar folder. If I'm not going to put it on the Reading Radar in the next couple of weeks then I'll be pushing my old finding into a (maybe later) folder to reconsider when my interests shifts. The main folder was getting too cluttered and I started saving current interests elsewhere. It was getting messy. So time for a purge. My computer is thanking me for freeing up so much space. (And the book worm in me feels the need to refill it. LOL)

Title: Fangs

Series: Vol. 1

Author(s): Billy Balibally

Length: 240 pages

Genre: Paranormal / Vampires / 

Notes: So this is on my TBR instead of the wish list. I bought it and I have to keep reminding myself to read it. Note to self: this is that reminder.

Blurb: "What kind of guy is unlucky enough to get bitten... and survive?"

As the sole survivor of a vampire attack, En wakes up to find that his hair has gone white as snow... and, worse, that he's developed a craving of his own for blood.

Fortunately, the vampire health and welfare organization FANGS is there to help with the transition, and the handsome Ichii steps up as his guardian and mentor. Swept up into a confusing and lonely new world where everyone seems to be hankering for a taste of his "virgin" blood, En must navigate the FANGS pairing system, an arrangement that sets up compatible vampires as mutual feeding partners... and partners in all other ways as well. But what happens when En panics and declares that he'll be paired with Ichii? And what does brooding, rough-around-the-edges Ichii make of his spunky, outgoing new charge?

Title: I'm the Catlord's Manservant

Series: Vol. 1

Author(s): Rat Kitaguni

Length: 189 pages

Genre: Paranormal / Shifters

Notes:

Blurb: AT THE MERCY OF THE FELINE MASTER Yukiharu Izumi just wants one thing-to be a normal high school student. But homeless, penniless, and with nobody else to rely on, he finds himself begging on his knees in front of…shape-shifting cats? They’re willing to take him in-but only if he waits on their every whim. And so start his chaotic days as the catlords’ manservant!

Title: A Gentleman Nobles Vacation Recommendation

Series: Vol. 1

Author(s): Momochi, Misaki

Length: 208 pages

Genre: Fantasy (Larping in an alternate world--essentially)

Notes:

Blurb: When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

Title: On or Off

Series: Vol. 1

Author(s): A1

Length: 

Genre: Contemporary

Notes:

Blurb: Winner of the Ridibooks 2019 BL Awards! Available unabridged and uncensored for the first time in English.

They say all's fair in love... and work?!

After joining his friend's startup, university student Ahn Yiyoung never imagined he'd end up presenting their work directly to SJ Corporation, a major company headed by one of the most sought-after talents in the country: Kang Daehyung. It certainly doesn't help that, on top of being a bigshot executive, strikingly handsome Director Kang is his ideal type!

When his presentation fails to go as planned, Yiyoung's desire to impress Director Kang leads him to take desperate measures... and lands him in a whole new mess, tangled up between his personal and professional relationships. How far is Yiyoung willing to go to achieve success in both his love life and his career?

NOTE: This book contains mature themes and explicit sexual content, including situations involving dubious consent. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.

Title: Self-Love and Lingerie How to Love Your Coworker Vol. 1

Series:

Author(s): Rie Honjyou

Length: 133 pages

Genre: Contemporary

Notes:

Blurb: Haruta is introverted and always wears a bra to protect his sensitive nipples. What happens when his extroverted coworker figures out his secret and urges him to wear sexy lingerie...?!

Title: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter

Series: Vol. 1

Author(s): Yatsuki Wakatsu (Author), Kazuki Irodori (Artist), Kikka Ohashi (Artist)

Length: 180 pages

Genre: Paranormal / Fantasy

Notes:

Blurb: Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, a holy maiden was summoned. Not just any holy maiden—one hailing from modern Japan. But this story is not her story. This is the tale of the humble accountant, Kondou, who accompanied her and his trials and woes as he accounts in a new world... But no tale is complete without a love interest. And who better to play that role than the handsome knight captain Aresh? Will he begin a personal quest to save said bean counter—who toils around the clock—or is Kondou doomed to be married to his work evermore...?!

Title: Love Nest, Vol. 1

Series: 

Author(s): Yuu Minaduki

Length: 242 pages

Genre: Contemporary

Notes:

Blurb: Masato just wants some peace and quiet on his day off, but the kids upstairs continue to make that impossible, so he escapes to his friend Naruse’s gay bar. Sympathetic to his ongoing plight, Naruse recommends Masato just move into his second home since he’s not using it. But upon his arrival, Masato find a gruff, untidy older man already living there. Does this real-life odd couple stand a chance as roomies…and perhaps something more?

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!

Top Ten Favorite Reads for 2022 #read

I didn’t put one of these together last year. Just didn’t have the energy, you know? When I started to think about my list at the beginning of December, I wasn’t sure that I would have a list because I reread old favorites about 75% of the year. I’m a big rereader, obviously, but normally it’s about equal to new reads. But I started writing my list and had more than I thought I would.

#1 Favorite is a series by Martha Wells. The Murderbot Diaries is… give me a moment, I’m trying not to wax poetic, but this series was a big deal for me, and it took me time to figure out why. I mean, when I finished reading the series for the first time I got teary-eyed when I thought back on the story, and I didn’t know why I had that reaction. There were a lot of things that spoke to me such as Murderbot struggled with its emotions, not having context to explain what it was feeling until it had access to his serials. The struggle with interacting with people, being overwhelmed and not having the shield of its suit to protect it. There are a lot of little things that’s shown but not delved into as Murderbot grows as a person and discovers what it is it wants to do. Things that you either get or you don’t and you get it because you’ve been there. I’m only scraping the tip of the iceberg here. This series became my number one reread this year. There were months where it was the only thing that I read. I’d finish the series only to immediately start over again. I highly recommend this series.

Side note: the rest of these aren’t going to be in any particular order.

#2. White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton. Really enjoyed this slightly spooky urban fantasy. The family struggles/drama are and aren’t a big part of the story. The author did a great job of weaving it all together and making it all matter equally instead of being too heavy on any one topic. I still need to read the next two books, it’s on my list of to-dos. LOL

#3. Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher. This is a YA fantasy and I enjoyed it so much. Our main character is only 12 years old and his journey was fraught with so many different dangers. I do wish there was an extended ending when he’s reunited with his mother. That one glimpse of her wasn’t enough for me, but the story was wonderful.

#4. Junk Yard Cats by Faith Hunter. This is a futuristic dystopian fantasy. I used to read Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series, but stopped after book… 4 or 5? I don’t remember exactly. I have read the odd novella set in that world and usually those just remind me why I stopped. It’s not bad. The world building got better with every installment and her characterizations are better now, too, but that world had a pawl of depression, that sense that nothing will go right and things will just get a little bit worse. I can’t read stories like that anymore and it was the reason why I never picked up the Junk Yard Cats. Then it was recommended in a discussion group and I thought why not. There are only two books in the series so far, but the world building, plot, and characterizations are great. I wish there were more coming soon, but I’ll try to be patient to wait.

#5. The Akseli (The Aldebarian Alliance, 4) by Dianne Duvall. I really love this series. Vampires from Earth in space. Well, they aren’t vampires but Gifted Ones and if you’ve read Duvall you know what that means. The Segonian is still one of my favorite rereads and The Akseli has been added to the lineup. Simone is awesome. And space pirates. Enough said.

#6. The Forgotten Dead (Outfoxing the Paranormal, 1) by Jordan L. Hawk. What a spooky engaging story. I read in the evenings and realized my mistake when it stopped at 11pm to got to bed and realized I was analyzing all the house noises and giving them more meaning that I should. I stayed up longer to read something else to get my mind off the spookiness. I look forward to the next book and the adventure this ghost hunting team is going on.

#7. Perfectly Imperfect Pixie by MJ May. This was a story rich book. The setting is today’s world but with paranormal people in the open with humans knowing about them. The romance is slow burn which was perfect for what was going on. The world building and characters are great. I enjoyed every page.

#8. Embrace: Savage Planet by Kassie Keegan. I wish there were more Sci-Fi romances like this one. Rich world building, alien culture, lots and lots of consent everywhere. I wish it was on audiobook which would make it easier for me to reread. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

#9. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees, 1) by Jennifer Cody. Full disclosure, I just plucked this one out of the ‘Cody List’. I gobbled up most everything Cody had to offer (a couple of the Houston Hub shorts I haven’t read) and I loved them all. Even the series with heavy BDSM romance (I sorta skimmed those scenes) because the overall story was fantastic. If BDSM isn’t for you either, she has stories that doesn’t have it in them. The series I’ve listed here and both Hammer and Fist books. I would rebuy everything I’ve read in audiobook, just sayin’. I’m looking forward to all her 2023 releases.

#10. Necromancer’s Light by Tavia Lark. This was my fist book by Lark and it won’t be my last. Great storytelling and heart in this book. The world is rich and the plot kept me turning the page. I really appreciated that there was angst but it wasn’t heavy handed.

These are bonuses:

#11. The Rabbit’s Foot by Parker Williams. Paranormal romance with a bit of a twist with a rabbit shifter as the romantic interest. There’s danger and love and an alpha wolf who doesn’t want to be responsible for people. I hope there is more to come in this series.

#12. Get It Together (Undead Detective Agency) by Shelby Rhodes. This was fun. A human is hired by the agency to be a driver and he doesn’t know about the paranormal world. Oops. This was cute and lightly humorous. The next book is coming in March. That feels like a long time away. LOL

#13. Gary of a Hundred Days by Isabel Murray. This a fantasy friends to lovers romance. Gary is quite naïve and adorable. There is a bit of humor and it wasn’t as angsty as it could have been which was perfect for me.

And that’s it! Those were my favorite reads for 2022. What were yours?

Thank you for stopping by and reading!

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

December is chugging along and there is a list of things that I need to do... that I keep forgetting to do. :) Story of my life, yeah? Writing is going alright. 200% better than October and already 100% than November. 

Reading has been alright. 

Title: Minor Mage

Series: 

Author(s): T. Kingfisher

Length: audiobook is about 5 hrs

Genre: Fantasy / YA

Notes: I needed something outside what I normally read because I was in a reading slump and my mood-reading-meter wasn't helping me. I'd seen this a few time and I think it was on my wish list a while ago but I moved it off because... no real mood for YA. But I listened to the sample and went for it. I really enjoyed the book and following Oliver and his adorable familiar on his quest to bring rain to his community. There are lessons here about the price of betrayal, types of courage, and how to value yourself even though you aren't who/what you want to be. My only complaint is that I wanted more of a reunion scene at the end. I loved Oliver's mother just as much as he did and I really wanted to see them interact.  

Blurb: Oliver was a very minor mage. His familiar reminded him of this several times a day. He only knew three spells, and one of them was to control his allergy to armadillo dander.

His attempts to summon elementals resulted in nosebleeds, and there is nothing more embarrassing than having your elemental leave the circle to get you a tissue, pat you comfortingly, and then disappear in a puff of magic. The armadillo had about wet himself laughing.

He was a very minor mage. Unfortunately, he was all they had.

Title: Perfectly Imperfect Pixie

Series: 

Author(s): MJ May

Length: 367 pages

Genre: Romance / Urban Fantasy-ish / Paranormal / Gay / Reading

Notes: I'm about half way through when writing this post. Phil is one of those sunshine characters that you want to shelter and keep safe. There is a lot going on plotwise, which I love, so the romance is on the slow to medium burn rate. It's taken Sed a few to actually see Phil. The villain has been introduced and though their HEA is promised, I'm still biting my nails.

Blurb: Size matters. Pixies are supposed to be petite, beautifully lithe creatures with gossamer wings. Sporting luscious, ombre pink hair and fluttering pink wings, Phil meets two out of three of those criteria. At over six feet tall, no one would dare call Phil petite. As a home-and-hearth pixie, Phil yearns to find a home and family he can bond to. When no one’s willing to hire a pixie of his stature, Phil is forced to find work elsewhere. Turns out, pixies make terrible bouncers.

The sudden death of Sedrick’s brother and sister-in-law left Sedrick Voss a pack of one—plus two young, traumatized were children. Sedrick needs help. He needs a home-and-hearth pixie. But pixies are small, delicate creatures nowhere near sturdy enough to stand up to a couple of growing werewolves. Phil seems like the perfect answer—a pixie that might be able to physically withstand small werewolf teeth and claws.

Phil is overjoyed, finally able to do a job that speaks to his heart and soul. But peace is a hard-won commodity. Sedrick is in the middle of a nasty custody battle with his niece and nephew’s maternal grandfather—one of the most arrogantly deceitful werewolf alphas to ever lead a pack. If their grandfather gets custody, Sedrick’s niece and nephew are in for a lifetime of manipulation.

Between the custody battle, noxiously invasive garden gnomes, and fairy lawyers, Phil and Sedrick struggle to keep their home and family safe. Werewolves and pixies don’t mate. Phil and Sedrick are about to challenge that misconception.


Perfectly Imperfect Pixie is a m/m standalone title with a HEA, a rough but kind werewolf, fairy lawyers, vampire bar owners, dwarf miners, questionably intelligent humans, pesky garden gnomes, and charming pixies.

Title: Worse Guy

Series: 

Author(s): Ruby Dixon

Length: 234 page

Genre: Romance / Monster Romance / Villain Romance / Sci-Fi / Alien / Curvy Woman / POC FMC / 

Notes: Since I read Bad Guy and liked it, I thought I'd give this one a try. This is another clone of Crulden with implanted memories from the real Crulden and very different from the Crulden clone from Bad Guy. There is still the element of him discovering who he was and what he wanted to be once he felt sure he was no longer a prisoner. I really like Bee. It doesn't dodge that she's been traumatized and how she uses all the tools available to her to keep herself safe. At this point in the story, it looks like there won't be a 'sex heals all trauma' aspect, which pleases me immensely. I would love to see a different kind of relationship for these two. I also really enjoy this look at the Masaka (not sure I spelled that correctly since I have the audiobooks) who are the favorable MCs in her popular Blue Barbarian series, but here they align to a more natural person scale. Bee is easier on them and their shortcomings than I would be, but she works the misogynistic alien society to her advantage where I would be yelling and screaming. I'm about half way through, maybe more, as I'm writing this. I listen to this when I'm crocheting so I probably won't finish for another couple of days. 

Blurb: Crulden the Ruiner is the most dangerous gladiator in the galaxy.

I’m his clone - equally ugly, equally dangerous, and just as feared. I’m also being held captive, since no one trusts a creature like me to be let loose.

A curvy, determined human named Bee doesn’t think I’m a creature, though. In fact, she thinks I just need a guide. She’s got half the males on this planet eating out of her hand, and she’s confident she can do the same with me.

The managing little female has no idea what she’s in for. I’m not some fool to be led around by my tail. But…the champion in me loves a challenge.

A champion also wants to win a prize. So I tell Bee I’ll go along with her plans if she kisses me…right on my tusk-filled mouth.

I never expected her to say yes…

Title: Problem Child

Series: The Wolfverse

Author(s): Sam Hall

Length: 438 pages

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / RH

Notes: There are a couple of reasons why I gave this book a try. Even though there are omegas in this world who typically pair up with the alphas (like in the other omegaverses), this is about the Beta getting her alpha wolf pack. There is also the secret child trope that tickled my mood radar and it wasn't a series. The end is an HEA and I didn't have to read more than one book to get to it. This is a series but the only real interconnectedness that matters is that it's all set in the same world, and though I'm guessing that there is some crossover from somewhere with the people at the clinic, you didn't need to know anything about them. This is a high heat story, so lots of smexy times, some of which I skimmed though I did notice that the author did a good job using those scenes as part of the character building and relationship and not just for titillation. I might try another book in this world since I enjoyed this one. 

Blurb: One night of fun with a gorgeous guy, that’s all I thought this was, but when Ben walked out my door, he left behind more than just a heart that ached a little.

There’s no way I should’ve been able to get pregnant, yet here I am.

For nine long years, I’ve been fighting to bring my daughter up right, trying to cater for all her unique needs, even as I go to bed every night knowing I’m failing her. So, when I’m offered help by Riley Taylor from the world famous Crowe Corp, I jump at the chance.

But that’s when I run into him.

He shouldn’t look that good, not after all this time and his brothers shouldn’t be clustering closer, trying to catch my scent. He definitely shouldn’t be looking at my daughter with awe and wonder, knowing exactly where her blonde hair comes from.

Ben and his pack want to be part of her life, but more than that, they want their mate and they think I might be her.

If you loved A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing and wanted more of Riley and the gang’s story, join Lily as she struggles to balance motherhood, bringing up a very strong willed daughter, being a beta in an alpha’s world and being forced to consider another chance at love.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!