Dark Creatures (Dark Creatures, Book 1) - Ella Stone

Murder, corruption and a broken pact which threatens the peaceful status quo. A great start to this new UF series. 

This is the first book in a new Urban Fantasy series from Ella Stone, set in modern day London, UK.

This book is beautifully written and fast paced. I was glued to it and read far into the early hours of the morning because I didn’t want to put it down. 

There is a 200 year old pact between humans and vampires. Most humans are blissfully unaware of the supernatural world around them. Vampires no longer hunt but are supplied with blood bags and the occasional live donor. Killing humans is expressly forbidden. 

Not all vampires are happy with the status quo. Murders still happen. Naz is searching for the vampire who killed her Father in front of her when she was a teenager. Her desire for revenge is all consuming and controls every decision she has made in the decade since his death. 

Her mission takes her into the heart of the Vampire Council, where she encounters the corruption and bloodlust which she had suspected was there but also help and support which she hadn’t expected. Her journey puts her and her friends in mortal danger. Can she find the guilty vampire? Even if she does find him, can she and her friends survive the encounter?

I loved the characters. They are very relatable. The interaction between them is believable. There is good development of all the main characters throughout the book. The world building is excellent and the supernatural elements easy to understand. There is a beautiful, big, shiny hook at the end and I’m definitely being reeled in for book two. It can’t come fast enough. 

Available from Amazon 

A Touch of Brimstone (Magic of the Damned, Book 1) : McKenzie Hunter

Magic, politics and some very devious characters. Is the Prince of the Underworld really the Good Guy? 

This book is the first in a new Paranormal Romance series from McKenzie Hunter. The book is set across both modern day USA and the Underworld. There is the potential for romance but there are no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

As with all McKenzie Hunter’s books, the characters are well thought out and well developed. The interaction is believable and the worldbuilding is excellent. She has created a well developed magical system and included a variety of supernatural species; some familiar and some less so.

The book’s main character is Luna, an unsuspecting human woman who is dragged unwittingly into the supernatural world, which comes as something of a surprise to her, as she’d previously been under the impression that witches, shifters and vampires were only found on the fiction shelves. Sadly for her, they are all real and the method in which she is drawn in has made her the target for several supernatural political groups, some of which want her dead. 

It’s coming to something when the only being who might be able to keep you alive just happens to be the seemingly all-powerful Prince of the Underworld. Luna is in a fight for her life and her only option is to help him but even that’s not guaranteed to keep her safe. 

This book has magic, politics, battles, deception and some very devious characters. Nothing is what it seems. Who is human? Who is Supernatural? Who are the good guys? It’s hard for Luna to tell. 

I was so wrapped up in this book that I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading until well into the early hours of the morning. I have been eagerly waiting for this book all year and I was not disappointed. I’m very much looking forward to book two. 

Available from Amazon

Magic in the Night (Midlife Spirits, Book 8) : HP Mallory

Haunted dreams, strange happenings and new faces. Its never a quiet life for Peyton.

This is book eight of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest but there are no scenes of a sexual nature.

As ever, HP Mallory's writing style just pulled me into the story and I raced through it in an evening. If the fact that I’m on book eight hasn’t given it away, I’m really invested in these characters and their journeys. They are well thought out and interesting.

Peyton’s journey back to the past has changed her. Despite the fact that Drake is no longer possessing her and has returned to haunting their house, she is increasingly sensitive to the spirit world around her and is getting a five star reputation for her paranormal investigations. Peyton’s new interest is collecting items with ties to the occult. Her latest acquisition being a porcelain doll which houses a seemingly benevolent spirit. 

Paranormal activity in New Orleans seems to be ramping up and both Peyton and Ryan are being drawn into it, whether they want to be or not. The arrival of a new witch in town, some strange goings on which cannot be explained and a visit from Peyton’s young cousin, who is also sensitive to spirit, all serve to interrupt the developing relationship between Peyton and Ryan. Its never a quiet life for the couple.

As ever, the spectres of Guarda and Baron Samedi lurk in the background, seemingly waiting for their moment. They haunt her dreams and they want something from Peyton but what that could be remains a mystery. 

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

Book 4: Bump in the Night

Book 5: Bone Voyage

Book 6: Deadly Intentions

Book 7: Ghostly Gathering

Book 8: Magic in the Night

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Gentlemen Prefer Mermaids (Midlife Mermaid, Book 2) : HP Mallory & JR Rain

Mermaid Interrupted! Eva’s past is catching up and could spell trouble for her future.

This is the second book in the Midlife Mermaid series. I really enjoyed reading this collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book falls in the Paranormal Women’s Fiction genre with the potential for some romance thrown in for good measure. There are no scenes of a sexual nature in this book.

Eva is a 40-something year old mermaid who escaped from the clutches of Cullen, the abusive King of the underwater city of Corsica and made a new start on land in the US coastal town of Shell Harbor, supported by her new friends Wendy and Sawyer.

After finding out what she is, Sawyer is having a hard time reconciling her truth with his idea of reality and knowing she is a Mermaid has put the brakes on any budding relationship they might have had. 

Eva’s attention is distracted by newcomer, Marshall, who is definitely interested in her and who she would like to get to know better. Cullen wants her back in his control and Eva fears he won’t stop trying to snatch her back. Wendy know’s Eva is hiding something and is increasingly concerned about Eva’s secrecy. Can their friendship survive? Can Eva’s friendship with Sawyer continue now that Marshall is showing an interest in her?

The story develops at a good pace. There is more action in this book than the first and the main characters develop well throughout. Eva is becoming more relatable, although she definitely makes some questionable decisions. The cast of characters is increasing and it will be interesting to see what develops with Eva, Marshall and Sawyer.

This is another good collaboration by HP Mallory and JR Rain. They write well together, which makes for a smooth flowing story which is interesting and easy to become immersed in. These books are light, entertaining and easy to read. I’m already looking forward to the next books in this series.

Available from Amazon

Ghostly Gathering (Midlife Spirits, Book 7) : HP Mallory

Dark intentions brought to light. A trip to the past could have disastrous consequences for the present.

This is book seven of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. This book is set in both the Garden District of New Orleans, and New York, USA. There is some romantic interest but there are no scenes of a sexual nature in this book.

Peyton continues her journey through time back to 1910 with Drake by her side. With them being away from her own timeline and her real physical body and Drake being very much beside her in physical form, Peyton is struggling to contain the feelings she has for Drake. She loves him but she is trying to remain true to Ryan. The problem is, the longer she stays in 1910, the harder it is to remember Ryan or her life in her own time.

The event she witnesses while in 1910 will change Peyton forever. Will she be able to solve the mystery she was sent back to investigate? Will she get back to her own time with Drake in tow? Will her actions in the past have had unintended or unforeseen consequences? How can they avoid interference from Voodoo Priestess, Guarda, or Baron Samedi, whose intentions towards both Peyton and Ryan have not become clear yet?

I raced through this book in one evening; I did not want to put it down. We know that Guarda and Baron Samedi are up to something but we don’t yet know what and they remain a threat that none of the main cast of characters is really aware of. I’m waiting for this story arc to play out. I have a feeling it will be here soon.

I really like Ryan’s character but I like Drake more. We know that Peyton and Ryan love each other but Drake also loves her and she loves him, despite there being a century between their lives. Drake’s spirit has been residing in her head for so long that he seems like an integral part of her. In this book, we get to know him and his background and motivations really well. It’s a shame she can’t just have both of them but she has to make a decision and she might not make the right one.

I love the way the characters have really come to life and I’m invested in all their journeys. HP Mallory writes in a well paced style, which draws the readers into her world. She really brought 1910 New York to life for me. I am eagerly awaiting book eight in this series. 

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

Book 4: Bump in the Night

Book 5: Bone Voyage

Book 6: Deadly Intentions

Book 7: Ghostly Gathering

Available from Amazon

Reborn (The Royal Pack Trilogy, Book 1) : Anne Whelan & Liz Cain

When supernatural and mundane worlds collide, it will take someone exceptional to unite them and prevent war.

This is the first book in a new PNR trilogy from authors, Anne Whelan and Liz Cain. The book is set in the USA and features wolf shifters, hunters and humans. There is a romance element and there are some scenes of a sexual nature.

Aine wakes up in a strange area with no memories; no idea of who or what she is, nor of how she got there. She’s been beaten and left for dead by someone. She’s sick, hungry and has no one to turn to until she’s discovered by a young man from the local town.

Lachlan is a loner who lives in a small house on the outskirts of the town. He’s an outsider who has only been there for ten years. He has a past he doesn’t like to discuss and he guards his privacy. He is called on for help by his only friend, who found the lost, beaten woman and suspects she may not be human.

What follows is a journey of discovery for both of them. Aine knows she has to remember who she is and she knows that its urgent. Something is wrong and there are people she cannot remember but she knows they need her help. She doesn’t trust the big, gruff man who has reluctantly agreed to take her in and keep her safe. Instinctively, he feels like an enemy even though he’s been nothing but kind and considerate towards her. 

If she is what he suspects she is, then Lachlan’s past directly collides with Aine’s present. He is torn. He wants to help her and he feels protective of her but it goes against all his training and the life he left behind 15 years ago. 

If she is what he thinks she is, then any form of relationship between them is forbidden but have their feelings for each other grown too strong to avoid it?

This book is beautifully crafted, well paced and really drew me in. I love the style of writing, which flows well and allows the reader to become immersed in the story. The world building is good. It’s set in the modern day but does have something of an old world feel to it, which I like. The characters are well thought out, well developed and relatable. I love a strong and determined female character and this book has more than one of those.

The main story arc completes within this book but there is a nice big shiny hook at the end which made me want to dive straight into book two. 

Available from Amazon

Deadly Intentions (Midlife Spirits, Book 6) : HP Mallory

This blast to the past could prove more deadly than anticipated.

This is book six of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest and there are some mild descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

Nce again, Peyton is hired to solve a mystery using her new found abilities to communicate with the spirit world. Her mission involves crossing paths again with untrustworthy Voodoo Hoodoo Priestess, Guarda. Peyton finds herself back in 1910 with Drake in tow. A very much alive and in the flesh version of Drake. What impact will this development have on her blossoming relationship with Ryan, who at this point in time, hasn’t even been born?

Peyton’s travels through time to solve a mystery, once again throws her headlong into a potentially perilous situation. This book does end on a cliffhanger, with Peyton facing a potential new threat. Is this threat human or supernatural? That remains to be seen.

I flew through this book. It was hard to put down. I really like Ryan’s character but equally, my heart breaks for Drake, who also loves her and waited on the earthly plane for more than a century only to protect her when the time was right. I’m wondering why she should choose; why not just have both? 

I am eagerly awaiting book seven in this series. I love the way the characters have really come to life and I’m invested in their journeys. HP Mallory writes in a well paced style, which draws the readers into her world.

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

Book 4: Bump in the Night

Book 5: Bone Voyage

Book 6: Deadly Intentions

Available from Amazon

Stowaway (The Baron's Hand Saga, Book 1) : Heather Relken

An epic tale of abandonment and loss but above all, one of love and family

This book is the first in a Reverse Harem Sci-Fi Romance series by Heather Relken. It is set in a distant galaxy and features human and alien beings. It can be read as a standalone novel. There is some violence and there are several descriptive scenes of consenting inter-species sexual activity between all three males and one female.

Someone has discovered Earth, a previously unknown planet hidden away in the far reaches of the universe. Someone is kidnapping humans, stripping their memories and selling them for wildly high prices at auction.

Cinn is a human female who’s first memory is of waking up in a chaotic and crowded barn, with a group of humans being auctioned off to the highest bidders. She doesn’t recognise any of the alien species surrounding her. She doesn’t understand any of their languages. She is bought by someone who looks like an angel but feels like a devil. She has no idea if this is normal or legal but she knows she has to get away if she is to survive. 

At her first opportunity she escapes and hides herself in the storage area of a small vehicle, which happens to be an interplanetary craft belonging to a family of farming aliens. She is of course discovered by them mid-flight. What follows is a journey of her learning to communicate with four different species of aliens, coming to terms with having no family and not knowing her place in the universe, wanting to be part of this family and avoiding being reclaimed by the Angel.

This is an epic tale of abandonment and loss but above all, one of love and family. Each character is well thought through, deep and complex. Their interactions and behaviours feel real and almost tangible. As a reader, I could feel Cinn’s sense of loss and wanting to belong. I could feel her hope and her love for the family who had taken her in. I could feel her anxiety over being discovered by the Angel and her terror of being taken again. 

There are scenes of suspense, action and violence. There are trigger warnings where appropriate. There are also descriptive scenes of a sexual nature. They are consenting and they are part of the characters bonding with each other, therefore are necessary to the plot of the story. 

The worldbuilding and descriptions of alien landscapes are vivid and feel realistic. The aliens are not all humanoid in appearance and each species has defining characteristics and abilities which make them unique. Humans are rare and unusual.

Heather Relken is a very talented writer. She clearly has a passion for linguistics and this is evident in her attention to detail when it comes to alien languages. The book contains an index of the alien races, the languages spoken and which existing languages influenced them. The story is well paced and flows beautifully. I didn’t want to put it down. 

Although this is the first book in the series, it is the second one I have read. Each can be read as a standalone. I cannot wait to see what else this author produces. I want more of this universe.

Available from Amazon