-
REVIEW: Suck by E.M. Lindsey & Cora Rose
Feed and Feast: Suck – E.M. Lindsey & Cora Rose
When portals from another world split open the sky, humanity braces for war… only to discover the monsters from Erethar aren’t here to conquer. They need something from humans. Something oddly specific in order to survive.
And that’s when the government begins recruiting for a ritual that sounds a lot like a cross-dimensional booty call.
Normally an exclusivity contract with a monster called Rathyn of the Dark Vale would be a hard pass, but the more time I spend with him, the more I realize there’s more to this whole monster/human thing than what the government is telling us.
I want to believe it’s nothing more than an arrangement, but the way he melts under my touch, and the way he’s constantly seeking more, makes me believe that maybe his fate is wrapped up in my own.
It’s no longer about what I can do for him.
It’s about what we mean to each other.I’m Everest Hale, and I’m doing my part to save the world with my… Well, I’m not at liberty to discuss, but let’s just say it’s given with vigorous enthusiasm.
You’re welcome, Earth.
Suck is the first book in the MM Monster Romance series Feed and Feast. It contains a clueless human who’s just looking to do his duty for humanity, a naïve monster who has no idea how much humanity will change him, so much sucking, swooning, antagonists to lovers, cuddling as a love language, body piercings, secret romance, and a toe-curling happily ever after.
Suck is the first book in the titillating monster romance series Feed and Feast by E.M. Lindsey and Cora Rose. It follows the evolving relationship between Vyastil army commander Rathyn of the Dark Vale and his human companion, Everest Hale.
The Vyastil arrived on Earth from Erethrar through a portal, negotiating with the government to recruit human males as donors, their seed consumed by the monsters. When Everest’s turn came, he couldn’t resist sassing the Vyastil who drank his donation. To his surprise, the same Vyastil requested him the next day, and the next, demanding more.
Rathyn found Everest’s fluids irresistible and insisted on making him his contracted companion. With the contract signed and his semen handsomely paid for, Everest moved in with Rathyn, who proved far less monstrous than humans believed.
There is a lot of sucking involved as the Vyastil like to drink from the source. With such a hentai premise, you’d think this would be straight up erotica. This is kinky business for sure but there’s also an air of innocence as the Vyastil are essentially non-sexual creatures. There are only select few who were chosen for breeding and the rest, like Rathyn pretty much go about life asexual.
Trust the humans to make it all about sex. The Vyastil are so good at blowjobs, there’s a queue of addicted donors waiting for their fix. Why the Vyastil needed semen is a mystery but the demand is high that there are even factories producing prepackaged cum.
While they prefer their human companions to be submissive, Everest surprised the Vyastil with his outspokeness, never hesitating to lay down bounderies or negotiate. Rathyn enjoys this side of Everest, completely charmed by his sassy attitude. Everest taught him the pleasures of touch, awakening his long dormant sexual desires, transforming their bond from contractual to romantic.
I loved the play of erotic and sweet. The book give off cozy boyfriends vibes mixed with BDSM elements. Rathyn is growly and possessive, adores his human, and cute when he’s needy. Everest has to wear nipple piercings, leashes, and cock adornments when visiting Erethar, non-sexual status symbols for the Vyastil.
Their deepening bond must remain secret, as attachment to humans is taboo. This conflict exposes darker Vyastil-human politics, leading to a compromised resolution and an unsatisfying HFN ending that hints at revolution. The world-building isn’t fully fleshed out, but it lays intriguing groundwork for the series. It’s a fascinating world and I couldn’t wait to explore more.
Also, Cielo! Everest’s Vyastil bodyguard stole the show with his sweet, protective marshmallow heart. I can’t wait for his and Dante’s story. It’s coming up next.
Suck is a story of consumption and connection, where monsters and humans challenge opposing views and discover mutual desires. Overall, a cheeky release with just the right balance of heat and heart.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Black Milk
Artist: Massive Attack
Album: Mezzanine
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Suck. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SERIES REVIEW: Signs and Wonders & Cursed (Witchbane Books 7 & 8) by Morgan Brice
Witchbane: Signs and Wonders – Morgan Brice
When a coven of dark warlocks killed Seth Tanner’s brother, Seth became a man driven by vengeance, sworn to stop the cycle of ritual killings, willing to die for the cause. He never expected to fall head over heels in love with the witches’ next intended victim. Evan Malone didn’t believe the supernatural was real until Seth swept in with his magic and motorcycle to save him from being the next sacrifice.
Now they’ve gone on the road together, hunting the rest of the coven while they figure out how to keep the white-hot, once-in-a-lifetime bond between them. Days are filled tracking their paranormal quarry, honing their monster hunting skills, and gaining control of the small magics that have made a life-or-death difference. Nights are spent together, entangled in adrenaline-fueled passion, learning how to make this love last forever despite the odds. Seth fears that if they don’t eliminate the rest of the coven, they’ll be on the run forever, and more people will die. Evan is afraid that Seth’s obsession with revenge means they might not survive to get a happily ever after.
Seth and Evan head to West Virginia to confront one of the dark warlocks, a master con man running a cybercrime empire. Can Seth and Evan save the warlock’s next target, bring down his crime syndicate, and live to tell the tale?
Signs and Wonders is a thrill-packed supernatural thrill ride with plenty of paranormal suspense, hurt/comfort, hot nights, found family, deadly magic, immortal witches, determined hunters, haunted places, creepy ghosts, impressive explosions, spooky chills, and sexy thrills, and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Vigil
Artist: The Mars Volta
Album: The Mars Volta
Witchbane: Cursed – Morgan Brice
Seth Tanner and Evan Malone head to Savannah, Georgia, to hunt the seventh of the coven members responsible for the death of Seth’s brother and so many other victims over the past hundred years.
Seth and Evan fell in love when Seth rescued Evan from one of the dark witches, and they went on the road together to stop the murders. Their relationship is new and intense, growing deeper with the danger, giving them both a reason to survive and gain vengeance.
Sterling Vernon is a prominent restaurateur with a thriving array of businesses, and he’s also the seventh witch-disciple with a new victim in his sights. His reputation and wealth protect him, and his dark magic enables him to evade consequences. Vernon needs to work his ritual to replenish his power soon, and that requires a new sacrifice.
Paxton Miller is Vernon’s next intended victim. When Vernon puts a killing curse on Evan to force a confrontation with Seth, it’s going to take all of Seth’s courage and cleverness, as well as help from their friends with supernatural abilities, to save Evan and Paxton and stop Vernon once and for all.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: The Curse of the Fold
Artist: Shawn James
Album: The Dark & The Light
Witchbane by Morgan Brice has become my comfort read, and by now it’s easy to see how the series has evolve while still delivering everything we love about Seth and Evan’s scenic paranormal quest.
Signs and Wonders, the 7th book and possibly the shortest installment so far, takes our boys to West Virginia’s National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), where radio transmissions are heavily restricted due to scientific and military reasons. What started as a mission for two now involves a network of friends across states, with delightful cameos from the author’s other series.
This time, the witch they’re hunting runs a wellness retreat inside the zone and taking him down is tricky as magic and technology don’t mesh well. Seth and their hacker allies target the witches’ cybercrime empire while Evan infiltrates the wellness orientation seminars.
While the plot is straightforward, the writing is fast-paced and there’s plenty of tactics and action to keep things exciting. I loved going over the how-tos of the mission and Seth and Evan collaborating with the secondary characters made it even more dynamic.
There’s also a change in internal dialogue, Seth and Evan think less of revenge and more about life after the mission. Despite lingering fears, they remain rock solid, comfortable and settled yet always passionate. I enjoyed their cozy boyfriends dynamics and how they’re still as endearing as ever.
Cursed, the 8th book, took our boys to the food havens of Savannah, Georgia which seriously made me hungry. The witch is a prominent restaurateur mentoring his next victim, a food truck owner. This is another tricky setup because how would Seth and Evan convince him of the danger? Also, Evan was hit by a curse which left him in the sidelines.
Like in the previous book, our boys had help from friends and the local good witches. The culinary angle has a gruesome aspect with monster meat being sneaked in. The victim’s boyfriend is a musician and I loved the neat musical spell he and Evan used in the end to power up the good guys.
There’s a change in Seth and Evan’s hectic pace, our boys finished dealing with the bad guys early and took some downtime. They went on a proper date, sight seeing around Savannah and enjoying the food. There’s more talk about dreams of a life after the mission and while I’m rooting hard for a happy ending for our boys, I couldn’t help but feel a pang that the series might be ending soon.
Witchbane is my tour guide across America, taking us to real life weird and wonderful places. I hope the author could give us a map of Seth and Evan’s roadtrip because if ever I could afford a trip to the US, I want to trace their journey.
Overall, I’m happily tagging along till the end!
P.S.
Witchbane should be read in order. Follow the map below:
Burn
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Signs and Wonders and Cursed. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
SIGNS AND WONDERS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
CURSED: Amazon UK | AudiobookIf you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: The Unlikely Spare by Jax Calder
Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Spare – Jax Calder
What happens when a prince falls for the undercover agent pretending to be his bodyguard?
Nicholas
I’m the spare, the younger brother of the Prince of Wales. Ever since I was propelled up the order of succession, my job description has been: Exist. Don’t embarrass the Crown. Repeat.
After a security scandal, I’m assigned a new bodyguard. A hulking, brooding Irishman who glowers at me like I’ve personally offended his ancestors. He’s the first to be completely immune to my charm, which is rather inconvenient when you’ve always wielded wit like a defensive weapon.
And why I feel the need to continue trying to impress Officer O’Connell is anyone’s guess.
My upcoming royal tour of Australia and New Zealand should be a nice chance to escape the British winter and bask in some Southern Hemisphere sunshine. But it turns out that representing the monarchy in former colonial countries means confronting some uncomfortable truths about how all those Crown Jewels ended up in my family’s vaults.
And the whole visit would really be far more enjoyable if someone wasn’t trying to kill me.
Eoin
I’ve clawed my way from the slums of Ireland to the top level of Scotland Yard’s undercover agents. But a deep security breach within the force has me investigating my own colleagues while playing bodyguard to a privileged prince on a tour Down Under.
Something about Prince Nicholas gets under my skin like shrapnel I can’t dig out.
Still, I’m a professional. I can handle one posh git with a smart mouth.
But as we navigate koala cuddling sessions, didgeridoo lessons, and deadly spiders in hotel rooms, I see beneath Nicholas’s princely façade. I’m supposed to uncover which of my fellow bodyguards is a threat to Prince Nicholas, not become obsessed with the most complex, fascinating pain in my arse I’ve ever met.
The line between duty and desire blurs with each passing day and the danger to Nicholas intensifies.
How can I maintain my cover, protect Nicholas, and resist the urge to press him against the nearest wall and kiss that smirk off his face?
The Unlikely Spare is a royal romantic comedy/suspense featuring a party prince learning his place in the world and an undercover bodyguard with a chip on his shoulder. As threats escalate and attraction intensifies, both men must decide what they’re willing to risk—and what they’re willing to fight for.
The Unlikely Spare is the 3rd book of Unlikely Dilemmas, Jax Calder‘s binge-worthy contemporary romance series. The spotlight falls on Prince Nicholas, second in line to the British throne and half-brother to Callum (The Unlikely Heir).
Nicholas’ new bodyguard is Officer Eoin O’Connell, Scotland Yard’s top undercover agent, tasked with protecting the prince and uncovering a traitor among the royal protection officers. The story picks up after the Matheson-Wembley incident from The Unlikely Pair, where Toby and Harry were kidnapped by Harry’s own bodyguard, a sleeper agent for an international terrorist group.
While touring Australia and New Zealand, Nicholas becomes the terrorists’ prime target. Under attack and unsure who to trust, Eoin escapes with him and the two are thrust into a fight for survival.
The bodyguard romance played out as it typically does. Nicholas is the bratty, sassy ward pushing bounderies, and Eoin is all iron-willed restraint until he gloriously loses control. It might be expected, but the chemistry is spectacularly electric! That kiss was absolutely primal!
Adding depth is Eoin’s inner conflict: an Irishman unexpectedly falling for a royal who surprised him at every turn. The pacing drags in the middle, but once the chase across New Zealand begins, things shifts into high gear. Then out of nowhere came that sucker punch of a twist that made my jaw drop! Ooh, was it clever and brutal!
The plot is politics-heavy, with sharp commentary on the British Empire and colonialism. The terrorists demand reparations for imperial atrocities, and Nicholas, as a blue blood, becomes the symbol of their rage. Some may find the politics overwhelming, but for those from formerly colonized nations, Jax Calder ’s perspective resonates.
The Unlikely Spare is a story of duty, betrayal, and a prince falling for his bodyguard amid political firestorms. Overall, it won’t spare you the politics, but it will most likely steal your heart.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Spare My Heart
Artist: Imcha Imchen
Album:P.S.
Unlikely Dilemmas is best read in order.
Be regaled with obscure facts and trivias by the Prince of Wales in The Unlikely Heir.
Discover the joys of sharing body heat with one’s enemy in The Unlikely Pair.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of The Unlikely Spare. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
THE UNLIKELY SPARE: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Arcane Entanglement by Ava Marie Salinger
The Mage And His Brute: Arcane Entanglement – Ava Marie Salinger
He thought he had to choose between duty and desire. But what if he could have both?
In an alternate Victorian London where magic reigns supreme, Duke Evander Ravenwood hides a dangerous secret — he is an Archmage of unparalleled power. When a brutal murder throws him into the path of Viggo Stonewall, the notorious leader of the underground information guild Nightshade, Evander’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Force into an unlikely alliance, Evander and Viggo find themselves drawn into a web of conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of their society. With tensions rising between the magical elite and the oppressed thralls, they must navigate a treacherous landscape of politics, prejudice, and forbidden desire to find a common enemy.
But in a world where magic divides the haves from the have-nots, their growing attraction could be their greatest weakness — or their most powerful weapon. Can Evander and Viggo’s burgeoning relationship withstand the storms to come? Or will the shadows of the past and the dangers of the present tear them apart?
Arcane Entanglement is a spellbinding tale of magic, mystery, and romance that will captivate readers from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy and LGBT romance, this first instalment in The Mage and His Brute series promises an unforgettable journey through a London where love and magic intertwine in the most unexpected ways.
Arcane Entanglement opens the fantastic historical fantasy series, The Mage And His Brute by Ava Marie Salinger. Blending urban fantasy, murder mystery, and slow-burn romance, this is a fast-paced, action-packed story that barely lets its characters catch their breath.
Duke Evander Ravenwood, a mage and special arcane investigator with Scotland Yard, is looking into the murder of a charm worker when he stumbles upon a dangerous magical artifact. Dark mages want it badly, and soon Evander finds himself ambushed, hunted, and fighting for his life.
His investigation brought him to Nightshade, an underground information guild led by Viggo Stonewall. The attraction was instantaneous, but with an active case and strict rules, anything beyond a friendship is forbidden. Together with their team, Viggo and Evander must catch a murderer and stop dark mages from obliterating half of London and igniting another war.
Set in an alternate Victorian era divided between magic users and non‑magic thralls, the story explores a society still scarred by a brutal past conflict of the two. Among the thralls are brutes—massive, magic‑immune warriors like Viggo, who possess superhuman strength. It is said he stopped a moving train with his bare hands. The brutes defended the thralls during the war.
I have mixed feelings about the pacing. The author loves teasing secrets, and while I appreciate not being strung along, the reveals often come too quickly to build real tension. Some twists feel predictable or anticlimactic, and major secrets are treated as earth‑shattering one moment, then casually known by everyone the next. Evander also breaks rules, including direct orders from the Queen, with surprisingly few consequences.
One major inconsistency is when a brute was magically compelled to act against his will by the dark mages. Also, Viggo and Evander’s relationship was supposedly forbidden, but then everyone they know was cheering them on. Class tensions are present but not deeply explored, although I’m guessing this will come into play in the next books.
Still, Ava Marie Salinger created a compelling historical police procedural set in an incredibly fascinating world. The writing tends to be info-dumpy, which is understandable because there are so many things that need to be established. The magic system is well-conceived, and the story might be heavy on info-dumps, but it is still easy to read.
It was thrilling to tag along with Viggo and Evander in their investigation, and it’s a delight to watch them fall for each other. It happened lightning fast, but still leaves room for yearning, pining, and delicious unresolved tension. They bring out the best in each other, and their healthy dynamic is refreshing.
My favorite part is the fight scenes. The plot leaps from one high octane fight to another, and it was SPECTACULAR! I didn’t mind Evander’s secret arch‑mage status being revealed early because the display of high‑level magic is jaw‑dropping. Viggo’s train‑stopping moment is pure MCU energy!
So despite some complaints, I was thoroughly entertained and can’t wait to start on the next installment.
Arcane Entanglement is a story of magic, secrets, and murder where the strongest mage and the strongest brute unraveled a plot to destroy the city and bind their destinies together. Overall, a twisty-turny magical extravaganza!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Tangled
Artist: Adrian Crowley
Album: Measure of Joy
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SERIES REVIEW: Merciless & Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings Books 4 & 5) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
Park Avenue Kings: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brook Blaine
Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re the seven most powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.
Ruthless.
Dangerous.
We’re the Park Avenue Kings.
He was sent to watch me. Now he can’t look away.
They sent the president’s son to babysit me.
How precious.
Shepherd “Shep” Winchester III thinks he’s here to keep me in line—keep me quiet, keep me still, keep me safe.
Good luck with that.
I’m Theodore “Theo” Rinaldi, the youngest Prince of Monaco, and the most merciless of the Park Avenue Kings. And I don’t do obedient. Not for my royal family. Not for the crown. And definitely not for the suit King sent to shadow me.
Shep is all discipline and duty.
I’m chaos in a custom suit.
We clash. We combust.
And then we cross a line we can’t uncross.
Now there’s a blackmailer on our trail, a target on my back, and the Kings think I’m the traitor. But if they want to come for me, they’ll have to get through him.
Because the soldier with the perfect posture and the unreadable eyes?
He’s not just protecting me anymore.
He’s falling for me.
And I’m going to ruin him for it.
Merciless (Park Avenue Kings #4) is the first book in a duet within the Park Avenue Kings series. Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings #5) will be the continuation.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Mercy
Artist: IAMX
Album: Kiss + Swallow
Park Avenue Kings: Ruthless by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank
They called him America’s golden son.
Now he’s the man who’d burn the world for a prince.
When Prince Theodore Rinaldi vanishes, Shepard “Shep” Winchester III will do anything to bring him back.
What starts as a mission of duty ignites into a forbidden obsession—one that blurs every line between loyalty and love.
Back in New York, the Kings are under attack, their secrets exposed, their brotherhood fractured.
And when an attempt on Theo’s life plays out in front of flashing cameras, the world sees what they were never meant to: a touch too intimate, a look too raw.
Shep is the son of American power.
Theo is European royalty.
And in a world built on loyalty, betrayal, and lies, love might be the most ruthless act of all.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Ruthless
Artist: Allegra Jordyn
Album: Ruthless
Merciless and Ruthless is a duet in Park Avenue Kings, the spectacular contemporary romance series by acclaimed duo Ella Frank and Brook Blaine. The Kings are a secret brotherhood of vigilante billionaires known as Libertine, led by Tyrone Kingston— the “King.”
Our Kings this week are Prince Theodore Rinaldi of Monaco and Shepherd O’Neale Winchester III, son of a former U.S. president. Best friends turned lovers after Theo’s brother’s royal wedding, Theo and Shep’s bond is tested by the meddling King, Shep’s ex, despite having two boyfriends (Park Avenue Princes). Theo becomes a target after a suspicious bombing video surfaces. He and Shep were in a safehouse in Brazil when Theo was abducted.
Merciless is certainly more intense, bursting with sexual tension as Shep and Theo explore their new dynamic. Theo is chaotic and impulsive, while Shep is steady and protective. Their chemistry is explosive, Theo pushes boundaries, Shep dominates, and both alphas aren’t afraid to switch roles.
Theo is full of crazy antics, and Shep couldn’t help but be drawn to him, his protective instincts going on overdrive. I loved how they played off each other, their push-and-pull sparking irresistible heat. The only thing missing is Theo being merciless when he was really just impulsive.
After a heart-stopping cliffhanger, Ruthless opens with Shep’s frantic search for the missing Theo in the Amazon. I thought this would take up most of the plot, given the blurb, but the two reunited soon after, and the rest of the plot focused on the search for the blackmailer theatening Libertine.
This was also not King’s finest moment, having abandoned Theo when he was abducted, and fractures appear among the brotherhood. Also, I’m not impressed with how he pretends everything is fine until Theo demands an apology and has to throw a tantrum before King would do so. Alesso is under a lot of stress, leading up to his book, which I’m excited about.
The villain takedown was rushed. I was hoping for more details on this part of the mission. There was a big deal about Alesso having a hard time finding the bad guy who was supposedly smart, only for said bad guy to do something dumb in public.
Romance-wise, this part of the duet is more dramatic but also sweeter and swoonier. Theo and Shep lost no time making it official with not one but two celebrations that couldn’t be more different but equally ridiculously romantic! They have some of the most squee-tastic moments, and the books delivered the feels they promised.
Merciless and Ruthless is a sizzling duet of danger, brotherhood, and royal weddings where a prince and a president’s son come together in chaos and passion. Overall, mercilessly thrilling, ruthlessly swoony!
P.S.
Park Avenue Kings is best read in order. Each King is gorgeous and deadly.
Savage is Lachlan, shadowy and dangerous.
Devilish is Lucien, temptation incarnate.
Immoral is Benoit, utterly seductive and captivating.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Merciless and Ruthless. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
MERCILESS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
RUTHLESS: Amazon UK | AudiobookIf you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Kill Your Darlings by Josh Lanyon
Kill Your Darlings – Josh Lanyon
At this mystery conference, murder is more than just another plot twist…
Nobody likes conferences, but they’re part of the job.
Millbrook House senior editor Keiran Chandler has spent years curating the best voices in crime lit, but when an unsolicited manuscript is handed to him at the Noir at the Shore mystery conference, truth collides with fiction. I Know What You Did is more than just another slush pile submission—it’s a direct threat.
U.N. Owen seems to know what really happened in Steeple Hill all those years ago. Who is Owen? How does he know these things? Clearly the mysterious author is after more than a book deal. But what?
With a potentially career-ending publishing merger on the horizon, the end of his affair with bestselling author and former homicide detective Finn Scott, and not so subtle threats from someone in his past, Keiran has a lot bigger problems than coming up with something witty to say on discussion panels.
I’d always heard the phrase “Kill your darlings” and took it literally so I had to google what it actually means. As Masterclass.com explains, it’s the writer’s ruthless art of cutting beloved but unnecessary storylines, characters, or sentences for the sake of the bigger picture.
In Josh Lanyon’s Kill Your Darlings, I’m still figuring out what those “darlings” are. The novel is a meta-heavy murder mystery featuring Keiran Chandler, a senior editor at a publishing house about to be acquired. At a mystery conference, tensions flare between editors from his current and future employers. True to Josh Lanyon’s style, the book is filled with cameos from other series, commentary on crime fiction, publishing politics, and of course—murders.
I loved the rare glimpse into traditional publishing. It’s unsurprisingly cutthroat, but seeing it through an editor’s eyes rather than a writer’s felt fresh. Keiran, respected and experienced, faces conflicting feelings about his career as rival editors circle, writers are poached, and the merger looms. At 40, he wonders if it’s too late to start over.
The conference scenes were fun, with panels featuring mystery writers who solve real-life cases. Familiar faces like Christopher Holmes (Holmes & Moriarty) , Adrien English (The Adrien English Mysteries), and Kit’s husband, JX Moriarty appear, alongside side characters offering high-falutin opinions on crime fiction that went over my head.
The real twist is Keiran’s past, and a long-ago crime Keiran was an accessory to. It came biting him in the ass in the form of blackmail through a manuscript detailing a fictionalized account of a murder Keiran was involved at just 17. This had him visiting his hometown, resurrecting old ghosts, and unearthing secrets, blurring the line between fiction and reality
I’ve always wished mysteries featured other crimes apart from murder or missing persons. So even though murder is involved, I enjoyed how the plot focused more on finding the blackmailer and how everything relates to Keiran’s tragic past. The details of the crime are already known, including the murderer, who disappeared.
As with the way of stories, everything came full circle, but I wasn’t impressed when the resolution was to literally throw things in the trash. But this is also romance, and we wouldn’t have our HEA otherwise.
The romance is classic Josh Lanyon: a second-chance romance with past hookups, mutual pinings, a bisexual single dad, and an emotionally closed-off love interest. To shake things up, Keiran, the narrator, is the emotionally distant one while Finn Scott, writer and ex-cop, wears his heart on his sleeve. While not ground-breaking, they were a worthy addition to the author’s roster.
There are books about books, but Kill Your Darlings is a book about the publishing books. Perhaps an homage and a critique, it captures the joys and woes of the people who work behind the scenes. That there was a real-life mystery in their midst is just another reminder that fiction and reality often blur in the publishing world. Overall, an insightful, and intriguing story that cuts deep in fiction and in truth.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Kill Your Darlings
Artist: Mesh
Album: Kill Your Darlings
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Kill Your Darlings. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
KILL YOUR DARLINGS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon by Silvana Falcon
Supernatural Suckers: Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon by Silvana Falcon
Hell’s most incompetent demon meets Earth’s most hopeless romantic.
All Ethan wanted was someone who could help him find love—or at least someone to pop his cherry. A spell from an odd book he found at the library promised him a wish from Cupid. Sure, some of the ingredients weren’t easy to get, but he could improvise. Was there really that much difference between dried laurel leaves and coriander?
He never meant to summon a demon.
Malphas hasn’t been to Earth in a hundred years, not since he accidentally created a massively successful support group for gamblers and saved hundreds of souls from damnation. As punishment, he’s stuck in Hell’s archives filing dusty prophecies because his boss is convinced he’s incapable of being properly evil.
When Ethan’s summoning yanks him topside, he sees his chance to prove himself. He’ll make a deal with the human—and collect that blindingly bright soul.
All he has to do is to help Ethan get together with his crush.
What could possibly go wrong?
Low angst, high comedy m/m romance. HEA guaranteed, no break-ups, no cheating.
Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon is the first book of the paranormal rom-com series, Supernatural Suckers, by Silvana Falcon.
The demon in question is Malphas, notorious for botched soul collection jobs, which often ended up helping his targets escape damnation. Once, he helped a priest create an orphanage, and another time, he suggested that a gambler seek fellow gamblers, thus inventing the concept of a support group.
One day, he was summoned by Ethan, a librarian and incurable romantic who thought he was summoning Cupid. The plot follows Ethan as he struggles to overcome his social anxiety so he can impress his crush. The man had a rather hopeless crush on a fellow librarian and was trying to muster the courage to talk to him. Ethan agreed to hand over his soul in exchange for losing his virginity to the man he loves.
Mal’s magic backfires, revealing Ethan’s crush is not what he hoped for. As Mal and Ethan spend more time together, feelings grow, but they can’t be together without risking Ethan’s precious soul—something Mal is determined to protect.
Mal is a cinnamon roll demon who tries so hard to be evil. Ethan is a book nerd and quite naive. They spent their time watching Netflix and eating ice cream. Now and then, they talk about the contract and how Ethan can win over his crush. It’s all very cozy and fluffy!
The world-building is hilarious! Hell is literally corporate hell, full of triplicate multi-page paperwork, asshole co-workers, and meetings about meetings. Mal is frequently called to his boss’s office to be yelled at, then bullied by a senior soul collection specialist. When he landed a prime contract, a.k.a. collecting the pure soul of Ethan, he was given a warning not to lose such a valuable soul or else he’d be doomed to an eternity of team-building in the deepest pits of hell.
The story is also a poke at book genres. Ethan lives for romance books while his crush is a literary snob with aspirations to be a published author. Ethan is intimidated and awed by his crush’s intellect and frankly pretentious proclamations about his favorite literary fiction. Ethan secretly found the book boring but had to pretend to like it, something he failed at spectacularly when it was revealed he really likes romance stories.
And since we’re being meta, this book would be the kind of book Ethan would adore. It’s cute and cheestastic, cozy and swoony, with a sweet nerdy hero, a protective adoring love interest, and a hard-won, ridiculously romantic happy ending. Granted, there is some Deus ex machina hand-waving in the resolution, but it is still satisfying and much deserved!
Overall, Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon is a story of infernal contracts and incurable goodness. Light-hearted and hella fun, it does what rom-com does best: lift the spirits and make you smile!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Inner Light
Artist: Autograf & Dan Soleil
Album: Inner Light
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
HELL’S MOST INCOMPETENT DEMON: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Stay In Your Lane! by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
Stay In Your Lane! – Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
The tasks are simple. Everett Mulligan is there to collect the body. Kyle Bowman is there to clean up the scene. Easy peasy. Get in, get out, get gone.
But Everett, for all he can be on another planet with fourteen tabs open in his brain, isn’t stupid like the cops think he is. Something about this death scene isn’t sitting right, and he’s going to figure it out. Bonus? He gets to team up with the adorkable crime-scene cleanup guy to solve the mystery.
Kyle, ever the thorough and detail-oriented cleaner, can’t ignore the scene’s irregularities either. He also can’t ignore the seriously attractive himbo from the mortuary who insists they should work together to solve what the cops insist isn’t a crime. Especially when that himbo is also enamored with Kyle’s cats and fiercely determined to make friends with his cranky piranha, Steve.
There’s a reason this death isn’t being treated as a homicide, though, and there are people who are very motivated to keep it that way.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the pair of amateur sleuths from uncovering the truth.
Stay in Your Lane! by the acclaimed writer duo Cari Z. and L.A. Witt shines the spotlight on the unsung heroes of crime scene investigations: the cleaners and the morticians. All too often overlooked, the focus is often on the detectives and the forensics; these underdogs handle all the nitty-gritty bits, a.k.a. the dirty work, literally.
What happens when they see something that the police and forensics have missed? Everett Mulligan, the mortician, and Kyle Bowman, crime scene cleaner, found out the hard way that sometimes investigators see what they want to see or, in this case, unsee.
And the powers that be want them to stay in their lane or else…
Oooh, this is fun!
The romance developed so cutely alongside their investigation. Everett, whose brain and mouth go a mile a minute, wouldn’t let the issue of an unsolved murder rest. He found a kindred soul in Kyle, the sassy cleaner whose pet piranhas and cats Everett is crazy about. Joined at the hip, they quickly bond over crime and pets, a geeky power couple of crime scene cleaning.
These do-gooding dorks embarked on their quest to collect evidence that the suicide of the ex-con was actually a murder, so they could persuade the police to investigate. The chilling way the powers that be tried to hush things up hinted that this conspiracy goes all the way to the top. The bad guys were pretty obvious, like faceless cannon fodder for a John Wick movie, just there to do bad things when Kyle and Everett were rattling a few cages.
The fluffy romance led to suspenseful escapes, car chases, and a climax that was equal parts bombastic and hilarious! My favorite part is how they frequently meet at a diner, Waffles?, home to misfits such as conspiracy theory wackos and anti-establishment goth kids. It was only fitting that the big showdown happened there. The scenes at the diner were a riot!
Stay In Your Lane! is an entertaining blend of rom-com, murder mystery thriller, and sharp social commentary. Humorous and suspenseful, it also paints a vivid picture of the consequences of challenging the status quo. Overall, a funny and insightful story that lingers after one dares to step out of line.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Color Outside The Lines
Artist: Chris Colby
Album: II
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Stay In Your Lane!. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
STAY IN YOUR LANE!: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
Oak King Holly King – Sebastian Nothwell
Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King – a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands.
Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart.
As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory – Oak King or Holly King.
Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell retells Celtic folklore into a gay romance. The Oak King, symbolizing light, defeats the Holly King, who represents darkness. The Holly King is reborn, defeats the Oak King, and the cycle continues, reflecting the changing seasons.
The story begins amidst battle. Shrike, known as Butcher, wins the tournament and is made Oak King, essentially sentenced to death by the Queen of the Silver Wheel. Not wanting to die, he seeks someone to help him defeat the Holly King. His scrying leads him to Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk.
Wren thought Shrike was an actor hired by his former friends to prank him. Skeptical but drawn to the man, he let himself be taken to the fae realms as proof that Shrike is indeed who he claims to be. Although confused as to how he, a mere clerk, could aid a fae, he and Shrike struck an alliance that blossomed into something more.
I was unfamiliar with the pagan tale of the Oak and Holly Kings and the Snow Queen, but this is the kind of story I would have devoured as a child. The retelling cast the Snow Queen as a petty monarch who took the ruling king as lover, only to callously, some even said cruelly, disregard them for the next winning king.
Some of the fae lore is familiar, such as that true names are closely guarded secrets and iron weakens the fae. The fae realm is not described in detail, but it is full of fantastical creatures who apparently love to party. Scenes of note usually happened during a chaotic gathering full of carousing fae, overflowing with wine and noisy with music.
Shrike was formerly a knave before he was crowned, a solitary creature and a man of few words who lived in Blackthorn surrounded by enchanted briar. He’s a leathersmith whose craft is highly prized in the realm. He hates the Snow Queen and avoids the court like a plague. He, however, adores his human and sticks with Wren even when the Snow Queen throws a curveball.
I love Wren! He’s pretty much smittened with Shrike from the get-go. He’s an unassuming clerk with artistic inclinations. He has to shove that under the floorboards because the world is not ready for his creations, a.k.a. manuscripts of the man love variety. He can think fast on his feet, resourceful and cunning, and always willing to help, even if the person in need is loathsome. He got himself and Shrike out of several tight spots.
The book draws on the homoeroticism of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, as well as Apollo and Patroclus. I was super amused that Wren was basically winging it, i.e., inventing magical rituals based on English folklore to aid Shrike. And they actually worked!
The story is somewhat unusual because the plot is convoluted. At the same time, it was long and slow going with nothing much happening during the middle part, but I wasn’t bored.
I was charmed by the sweet, cozy domesticity and the slice-of-life feels when Shrike and Wren were spending time at the Blackthorn, and Shrike was showing Wren around the fae realm. These moments were tender and idyllic, like golden summer afternoons. I wanted it to last forever.
But alas, they not only had to deal with fae business, but also tricky human affairs. Wren’s boss, Mr. Grigsby’s ward, the ward’s uncle, and the ward’s fiancée all called for the lawyer’s assistance to untangle their mess. Wren had to take action on Mr. Grigsby’s behalf. This part, especially the uncle, was nasty, but it added a lot of tension and excitement to the proceedings.
Mr. Grigsby is my favorite character. At first glance, he seemed like a bumbling old man, but he’s no fool. I enjoyed the scenes when the old lawyer showed his gravitas and put idiots to shame. He’s also super kind to Wren. I’m looking forward to the next book because there’s a short story there that promises good things for this kindly old man.
I’m glad there is Book 2 because the ending is too abrupt.
Overall, Oak King Holly King is a wonderful retelling of a well-known folk tale into a gentle romance with a clever resolution to the eternal battle of the kings. Albeit languidly paced, it’s nonetheless twisty and enchanting!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: The Oak & Holly Kings
Artist: The Dolmen
Album: Winter Solstice
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Oak King Holly King. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
OAK KING HOLLY KING: Amazon UK | Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
REVIEW: Deviant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Deviant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.
I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.
I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight. The man practically throws himself in my trunk, smiling like it’s a treat to be taken, like he wants me to have him.
The only problem? “Brad,” the charming and slightly unhinged man I’ve been keeping hostage for days, may be the most dangerous man of all.
Now I’m knee-deep in a life of crime I never signed up for. Tangled up with a man I never meant to take—and definitely never meant to fall for. And I’m staring down the barrel of a gun for mistakes I never should’ve made.
Because everyone knows The Firm never forgives a debt… and they always collect in blood.
Deviant is the second book in the secret society/billionaire romance series, The Firm, by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. The billionaires are the Buckingham brothers. Trained since birth by their ruthless father, they uphold the secret family business, The Firm. Here, people make desperate requests in exchange for whatever The Firm asks of them.
Today’s Buckingham is Cade, the psychopathic brother, who was cruising a bar under the alias “Brad.” First-time kidnapper Ansel was blackmailed to abduct someone named “Brad.” And so mistaking Cade for the “Brad” he’s supposed to kidnap, he lured Cade to the woods.
Intrigued by the cute twink who was obviously the worst kidnapper Cade has met, he happily let himself be abducted, even instructing Ansel how to do it properly, and be taken to a remote cabin. Cade then proceeded to seduce his hapless abductor.
This is the most fun anyone has ever had while being kidnapped! This part was pretty humorous and bursting with delicious sexual tension. Cade, no stranger to kidnappings, whether as the one abducted or the one tying people to a chair, easily lured the anxious yet still sassy Ansel to share a bed.
The fun only ended because Cade’s brothers crashed the party a.k.a. staged an unsolicited rescue. By then, Cade is obsessed with Ansel, and Ansel couldn’t help but fall for his infuriating but lovable captive. Cade lost no time whisking Ansel away to the Buckingham mansion.
The second half still retained the irreverent humor but had significantly darker vibes when Ansel’s blackmailers became even more insidious, and the self-sacrificing Ansel took it upon himself to shoulder all the world’s burdens. It was frustrating how he didn’t communicate with Cade and even with his best friend, Neo, keeping everything bottled up.
The bad guys were threatening Cade and the rest of the Buckinghams. It was chilling that they had snipers trained on the unsuspecting brothers, whom only Ansel was aware of. Only he could see the tell-tale red dots on Cade and his brothers.
Ansel couldn’t openly talk to them, given that not only the mansion was bugged and watched, they were followed outside too. I thought he could have been cleverer about it and perhaps use a secret signal, such as drawing signs on Cade’s palm while holding his hand. I was expecting something more from Ansel instead of him pushing people away to protect them,
Secret signals aside, the authors really did a great job portraying Ansel’s dilemma. His despair and heartbreak, then later his gut-wrenching sacrifice, all these vivid emotions squeezed my heart and made the story that much more alive and poignant.
The Buckingham brothers were a riot with their ridiculous antics and silly banters. My favorite brother is still Wylder, the eldest and the most stoic. I must admit, I’m not so thrilled he’s paired with the bratty Neo because it’s not my favorite dynamic. We’ll see.
Overall, Deviant is about unlikely connections and the sacrifices made for love. It’s a compelling blend of silly and suspenseful, humor and emotional depth, found family magic, and darker, heart-wrenching moments that left me a captive audience.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Beautiful Mistake
Artist: Billy Howerdel
Album: What Normal WasP.S.
Each Buckingham book can be read as standalone but The Firm demands your attention:
Covenant is Matthias wooing his man, Wyatt, with a forced marriage and the world at his feet.
Wylder – his book is gonna be fire only because it’s him
Samson – thought he’d be paired with Neo but alas
Dalton – our klepto baby should open his eyes because Wyatt’s brother Jackson is right there
Harley – cute and pining for the Chef and I can’t wait when he’s come of age
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Deviant. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
