Another week gone in a flash. I feel like that should be a superpower. Instead of forgetting, I actually sat here wondering if I wanted to post a Radar for this week or not. I've been rereading this week with a few chapters here and there of other books because obviously, I'm not focusing well.
So, I'm going to pull from my 'curious' list. These are books that their covers have caught my attention and I'm curious about. These will eventually (mostly) be books that I will probably sample. Some of them, I'll come back to and take off the list after rereading the blurb. It's all about the mood with me, like I went through a couple of weeks where I hunted for rejected mates looking for a specific story. Then suddenly I didn't want to read that anymore and so I filed away my findings for when the mood comes back around. The curious list means something caught my attention and I saved it for later. LOL
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Series: Perilous Courts, 1
Author: Tavia Lark
Length: 283 pages
Genre: Romance / High Fantasy / Gay
Notes: So I read Necromancer's Light which is a different series by this author and really liked it, though I haven't read the read the rest of that series... for reasons. (See mention of mood reading)
Blurb: He’s supposed to kill Prince Julien. Not fall for him.
Whisper doesn’t remember his real name. All he knows is the elite assassin guild that raised him—and controls him with the threat of blood magic. Plagued by nightmares, he doesn’t get to refuse assignments, even when his new job doesn’t make sense:
Infiltrate Prince Julien’s court, protect him until the signal arrives, then kill him.
Julien hides his own schemes behind a sordid reputation. He trusts nobody besides his brothers, and he certainly doesn’t trust the aloof, beautiful new stranger at court. But he doesn’t have to trust the stranger to be drawn to him, especially when he saves Julien’s life.
Then Julien saves Whisper too, and Whisper’s reserve shatters.
Beneath Julien’s playboy facade is a warmth Whisper can’t resist. Whisper’s never been comforted before. He’s never been cared for like this. As his nightmares darken, Julien’s touch is his only solace—but falling in love could ruin them both.
Because Whisper’s mission hasn’t changed, and the price for failure is worse than death.
Prince and Assassin is a high fantasy gay romance, with secret identities, hurt/comfort, and magic tigers with attitude. The Perilous Courts series is best read in order, but each book follows a different prince and his Happily Ever After.
Whisper doesn’t remember his real name. All he knows is the elite assassin guild that raised him—and controls him with the threat of blood magic. Plagued by nightmares, he doesn’t get to refuse assignments, even when his new job doesn’t make sense:
Infiltrate Prince Julien’s court, protect him until the signal arrives, then kill him.
Julien hides his own schemes behind a sordid reputation. He trusts nobody besides his brothers, and he certainly doesn’t trust the aloof, beautiful new stranger at court. But he doesn’t have to trust the stranger to be drawn to him, especially when he saves Julien’s life.
Then Julien saves Whisper too, and Whisper’s reserve shatters.
Beneath Julien’s playboy facade is a warmth Whisper can’t resist. Whisper’s never been comforted before. He’s never been cared for like this. As his nightmares darken, Julien’s touch is his only solace—but falling in love could ruin them both.
Because Whisper’s mission hasn’t changed, and the price for failure is worse than death.
Prince and Assassin is a high fantasy gay romance, with secret identities, hurt/comfort, and magic tigers with attitude. The Perilous Courts series is best read in order, but each book follows a different prince and his Happily Ever After.
Title: By The Red Moonlight
Series:
Author: Amanda Meuwissen
Length: 221 pages
Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Werewolves / Vampires / Gay /
Notes: I like vampires and am always up for vampire romance but I have found lately that I like certain types of vampire romances. Lots of hunting with nothing brought home recently. This was part of a promotion but by the time I looked at it, the promotional period was passed or something. So I saved it in my curious file to take a look at later.
Blurb: Alpha werewolf, crime boss, and secret Seer Bashir Bain is neck-deep in negotiating a marriage of convenience with a neighboring alpha when a tense situation goes from bad to worse. A job applicant at one of Bash’s businesses—a guy who was supposed to be a simple ex-cop, ex-con tattoo artist—suddenly turns up undead.
A rogue newborn vampire would have been a big wrench in Bash’s plans even without his attraction to the man. After all, new vampires are under their sire’s control, and Ethan Lambert doesn’t even know who turned him. When Bash spares his life, he opens himself up for mutiny, a broken engagement, and an unexpected—and risky—relationship.
Ethan just wants a fresh start after being released from prison. Before he can get it, he’ll need to turn private investigator to find out who sired him and what he wants. And he’d better do it quick, because the moon is full, and according to Bash’s prophecy, life and death hang in the balance.
Title: Gary of a Hundred Days
Series:
Author: Isabel Murray
Length: 159 pages
Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Humor / Gay
Notes: The title is what caught my eye and the blurb sounds promising. I'm all for low-angst and some humor.
Blurb: The Kingdom of Estla is in turmoil. Power plays, intrigue, and plots seethe in the corridors of power. And Gary of a Hundred Days, Last of the Tyrant Kings is…well, he's pretty offended, actually?
Tyrant?
Seriously? Who is making this up?
Gary said no thanks, don’t want to be king, and they dragged him away from all he's ever known and stuck a stupid crown on his head anyway.
As far as Gary’s concerned, all that political intrigue can go ahead and keep seething without him. He didn’t know or care a thing about it when he was the unwanted son of a backwater lord. He definitely doesn’t care about it now they tried to kill him and he’s on the run.
Minor problem: he managed to escape, but he’s all out of ideas. It’s dark, it’s raining, he’s in the middle of nowhere, and there might be bears. In fact, he’s pretty sure one is following him.
Luckily for Gary (it’s about time he had some good luck) his ex-stable master tracks him down, and it turns out that Magnus has more than a few interesting ideas about Gary and his future.
More specifically, about their future.
Gary of a Hundred Days is a low-angst fantasy romantic comedy in which a sheltered ex-king undergoes quite the awakening at the hands of his rugged ex-stable master, and everyone’s way more interested in kissing and romance than in all that rightful heir to the throne business.
Somehow, despite an entire kingdom wishing him dead, it’s starting to look like Gary might just end up with a happily ever after?
(Unless that really is a bear following him.)
Title: A Taste of Gold Iron
Series:
Author: Alexandra Rowland
Length: 505 pages
Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Political Intrigue / Gay /
Notes: the more I put this list together it seems that my mood was definitely in the fantasy range. The cover caught my eye and the title is a bit odd and the blurb reads like a serious fantasy romance. I've not read this author before and since this comes from a traditional publisher, I'm not sure if this will have a HEA. Presumptuous of me, I know, but I don't want tragic queer books. Since I've not read either book reference in that first review line, I don't know what the reviewer is alluding to.
Blurb: The Goblin Emperor meets "Magnificent Century"—a queer central romance unfolds in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire.
“A delicious tangle of romance, fealty, and dangerous politics.” (Tasha Suri)
Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court - the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation that results in his humiliation. To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.
“A delicious tangle of romance, fealty, and dangerous politics.” (Tasha Suri)
Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court - the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation that results in his humiliation. To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.
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Title: The Ice Giant's Housekeeper
Series: (Convergence Book 4)Author: Autumn Dawn
Length: 178 pages
Genre: Romance / Alternate History / Alternate World / Paranormal /
Notes: I read a lot of hero storylines and I wanted something different, where the heroine is okay or enjoys just everyday accomplishments without there being hidden misogyny. This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I liked the blurb enough that I did send myself a sample to see what it was like.
Blurb: The Convergence
It had been thirty years since the Convergence, when the dimensions aligned and combined Earth and the world of Gwyllon, known in human mythology as “Underhill”. Elven castles and ancient ruins sprouted in vacant lots, on major highways, sometimes merging with existing buildings, twisting into completely new structures. Roads and rail systems reformed, and after the rioting, starvation and death, agriculture finally sorted itself and food began to flow. A new government formed of elves and men had arisen, a society of human tech and elven magic. Cell phones and frost giants, race cars and elven steeds, dungeons and dragons…
And everywhere, monsters.
The Ice Giant’s Housekeeper
The Convergence had changed their world. Years ago, Earth and the fabled elven world had melded, causing earthquakes, raising sunken islands and unleashing monsters. The catastrophic disaster disrupted every facet of transportation, agriculture and caused widespread death. When the shaken citizens of both worlds finally sorted things out, roads got fixed, farms and factories started to produce, and oil and natural gas once more fueled the nations. The world ran on a mix of magic and science, allowing dragons to rule the skies and satellites to dominate space.
These days, resources were focused on infrastructure, communications, manufacture and monster control. Meat and animal products were especially rationed. It took a lot of manpower to protect herds of animals and helpless, delicious chickens from hungry monsters. WW2 memorabilia and rationing posters were back in circulation, as people were encouraged to “grow your own” and “have a monster garden”. Etsy sold framed posters of Rosie the Riveter, people were encouraged to “make do and mend”, and homemaking was a full-time job again…
Which is why Hakon and his brothers were struggling. Women were naturally superior at homemaking; at least Fern thought so.
Fern served the perfect frost giant family, until a disaster forces her to find a new home. Turned out another family was in need of a live-in housekeeper. It’s not exactly a dream job.
He needed a cook. Maybe someone to clean house. The little human seemed like a good idea, but it was tricky keeping her alive.
He needed a housekeeper. She needed a home.
Fern’s apartment is wreaked by monsters and she’s fired the next day. With nowhere to go, she’s grateful to accept any job...even if it’s working for a family of ice giant bachelors. They’re nice enough, if dreadful slobs. Thankfully, it’s nothing a fire hose and elbow grease won’t clean.
A member of Fire & Rescue, Hakon doesn’t have time to breathe, much less clean. Not only is the new housekeeper a talented cook, she makes his house a home. She also comes with unexpected magical talents...
American pie and monsters. Ice giant cattle ranchers and goblin bankers. Murderously protective magical geese and a very talented housekeeper.
Heat level: sweet. Contains no graphic love scenes.
Expect reasonable amounts of gore as monster heads explode and plenty of action.
It had been thirty years since the Convergence, when the dimensions aligned and combined Earth and the world of Gwyllon, known in human mythology as “Underhill”. Elven castles and ancient ruins sprouted in vacant lots, on major highways, sometimes merging with existing buildings, twisting into completely new structures. Roads and rail systems reformed, and after the rioting, starvation and death, agriculture finally sorted itself and food began to flow. A new government formed of elves and men had arisen, a society of human tech and elven magic. Cell phones and frost giants, race cars and elven steeds, dungeons and dragons…
And everywhere, monsters.
The Ice Giant’s Housekeeper
The Convergence had changed their world. Years ago, Earth and the fabled elven world had melded, causing earthquakes, raising sunken islands and unleashing monsters. The catastrophic disaster disrupted every facet of transportation, agriculture and caused widespread death. When the shaken citizens of both worlds finally sorted things out, roads got fixed, farms and factories started to produce, and oil and natural gas once more fueled the nations. The world ran on a mix of magic and science, allowing dragons to rule the skies and satellites to dominate space.
These days, resources were focused on infrastructure, communications, manufacture and monster control. Meat and animal products were especially rationed. It took a lot of manpower to protect herds of animals and helpless, delicious chickens from hungry monsters. WW2 memorabilia and rationing posters were back in circulation, as people were encouraged to “grow your own” and “have a monster garden”. Etsy sold framed posters of Rosie the Riveter, people were encouraged to “make do and mend”, and homemaking was a full-time job again…
Which is why Hakon and his brothers were struggling. Women were naturally superior at homemaking; at least Fern thought so.
Fern served the perfect frost giant family, until a disaster forces her to find a new home. Turned out another family was in need of a live-in housekeeper. It’s not exactly a dream job.
He needed a cook. Maybe someone to clean house. The little human seemed like a good idea, but it was tricky keeping her alive.
He needed a housekeeper. She needed a home.
Fern’s apartment is wreaked by monsters and she’s fired the next day. With nowhere to go, she’s grateful to accept any job...even if it’s working for a family of ice giant bachelors. They’re nice enough, if dreadful slobs. Thankfully, it’s nothing a fire hose and elbow grease won’t clean.
A member of Fire & Rescue, Hakon doesn’t have time to breathe, much less clean. Not only is the new housekeeper a talented cook, she makes his house a home. She also comes with unexpected magical talents...
American pie and monsters. Ice giant cattle ranchers and goblin bankers. Murderously protective magical geese and a very talented housekeeper.
Heat level: sweet. Contains no graphic love scenes.
Expect reasonable amounts of gore as monster heads explode and plenty of action.
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Title: The Reluctant Companion
Series: 13 Kingdom's, 1
Author: HL Day
Length: 309 pages
Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Gay /
Notes: To be honest, I keep moving this book on and off my list. It seems I can't make up my mind. I think I'm having a hard time reconciling it being both an 'enemies to lover' as well as 'light-hearted'. That is mixing like water and oil in my mind.
Blurb: Sebastian might have the power to summon animals, but winning Jack over? Far more difficult.
As first encounters go, Jack and Sebastian’s isn’t ideal, leaving Jack nursing a grudge he’s not about to let go of in a hurry. Yet, if Jack is to find his missing sister, and Sebastian is to rescue his captured prince, they’ll need to set their differences aside and work as a team.
Jack is stubborn and somewhat volatile. Sebastian is vain and clearly in love with himself. But as the unlikely companions face all manner of dangers together, they grow closer. Rescuing the prince should be easy. Rescuing him from an impenetrable tower guarded by dragon-shifting knights? Okay, that part is harder.
But once the adventure is over, letting Sebastian go might be the hardest thing Jack has ever had to do.
The Reluctant Companion is an 85k MM enemies to lover’s story featuring murderous orcs, deadly creatures, and marauding bandits. Opposites attract in this light-hearted fantasy romance which mixes humor with action and adventure. Meet a whole cast of colorful characters in the first book of the 13 kingdoms series.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!!
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