Her Orc Gentleman (Black Bear Clan, Book 6) - Zoe Ashwood

Spicy monster romance with a HEA

This is my absolute favourite series of Orc romance books. I love the author’s writing style; its so easy to read. I love the characters and their development throughout the story. I love the wonderful trope of ‘human female escapes unpleasant living situation and ends up mated to a very large, protective, cinnamon roll of an orc’. It’s pure escapist fantasy and I cannot get enough of it.

This series is full of spice and this book is no exception—there is a good amount of spice in this book—let’s face it, that's what most of us are here for. This author knows how to write a good spicy scene. You won’t regret choosing this book.

All the books in this series can be read as standalones but I would recommend reading them in series order. Chances are, if you love a good monster romance with a fair bit of heat and a happy ever after, then you will want to read the whole series anyway.

The reading order for this series so far:

Her Orc King (Black Bear Clan, Book 1)

Her Orc Guardian (Black Bear Clan, Book 2)

Her Orc Warrior (Black Bear Clan, Book 3)

Her Orc Protector (Black Bear Clan, Book 4)

Her Orc Husband (Black Bear Clan, Book 5)

Her Orc Gentleman (Black Bear Clan, Book 6)

Available from Amazon

Zombie-Nerd and the Half-Term Harrowing - Jack Callaghan

Excellent debut novel. This tale of self discovery will appeal to people of all ages.

This is a superb debut novel from Jack Callaghan. The first in a planned series, this story is written as a YA book and says its target audience is 12-18 year olds, but in my opinion, people of all ages will love this book.

It’s a social commentary wrapped up in a coming of age story about self discovery and understanding of the world around us. Despite being set in a post-apocalyptic environment, the broader message is especially relevant to the way we live our lives now.

The writing is easy to read and funny, the world building is superb and the characters are very relatable.

I am looking forward to the next book.

Book Blurb

The ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ is over and has been for some time. As the country tries to recover from the chaos, Zombies and Survivors live in as close to harmony as they’re able, but old divisions continue to bubble beneath the surface.

Ronnie Thanatos isn’t a very good Zombie. He suffers from the usual trappings that come with being a member of the Undead, but he isn’t tough, he isn’t cool, and he certainly isn’t scary. Zombies are supposed to be scary, aren’t they?

When he learns of the existence of a mysterious man of science, who is believed to have started the Zombie outbreak, Ronnie sets off on a journey towards the country’s former capital, the dreadful and benighted ‘Necropolis’, in search of answers.

Joined by his faithful friends Nate and Bridget, Ronnie travels across the desolate landscape, meeting strange and interesting people, putting his courage to the test, and learning the importance of everyone being ‘Different but all the same’.

Available from Amazon

 

Nightmares (The Carolina Files, Book 4) - Willa Blackmore

Willa Blackmore - (The Carolina Files, Book 4) Nightmare

Hell has come to town, and it’s not playing nice.

Urban Fantasy meets Horror in this tale of living nightmares. A superb addition to this excellent series. This is the fourth book in the series and each one is better than the last. 

This book sees the introduction of a new character, one which I hope we will see much more of in future books. There is also more of a horror aspect to this book, as Hell pays the town of Henley on Hale a visit and Tula has to make a deal with a demon to save the townsfolk from a grizzly end.

As with book three, there was a twist at the end of this book and now I cannot wait for the next book. I love how these characters are developing, the world building is excellent and the story arc which runs through the series is fantastic. I am hooked!

I devoured this book in one long sitting. Roll on book five!

The reading order for this series so far:

Book 1, Witchwood

Book 2, Undertow

Book 3, Masquerade

Book 4, Nightmares

Available from Amazon

 

Stranded with the Kraken (Clearwater Monsters, Book 1) - Zoe Ashwood

Cosy, spicy, monster romance

This is the first book I’ve read with tentacle action. Who knew I’d like it!?

Stranded with the Kraken is book one of the PNR Clearwater Monsters series. It’s a long novella which is spicy from the start and stays that way throughout the story.

Our human FMC is snowed in with her hook-up, who happens to be a kraken shifter. All of those tentacles. What else is there to do when you’re snowed in during a power cut?

If you like forced proximity, cosy romance, big cinnamon roll monsters and a lot of spice to go with it, then I wholeheartedly recommend this.

Available from Amazon

A Taste of Magic (Magic of the Damned, Book 3) - McKenzie Hunter

Devious deities, monstrous magicians and more than a sprinkling of spice. 

This is the final installment of this PNR series and it didn’t disappoint. If you like your paranormal romance with devious monsters and a dash of spice, then this is a series for you.

Our FMC, Luna, is in a sticky situation. She has no magic; it has been stolen by a powerful Dark Caster who would happily leave the supernatural world without magic. Everyone in the supernatural world blames her. Most of them would happily see her dead, including family members of the Prince of Darkness, who has claimed her as his own. 

Will she be able to reclaim her magic or is it gone forever? Can her relationship with the Prince survive? Can she, herself, survive?

I love the way this ended. It could have gone down a wholly predictable route but it didn’t. 

The reading order is as follows:

Book 1 : A Touch of Brimstone

Book 2 : A Hint of Darkness

Book 3 : A Taste of Magic

Available from Amazon

Dead Reckoning (Gwen's Ghosts, Book 5) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

I love where this series is going now. 

This is the fifth novella in this PWF series. I love the partnership of crime novelist turned amateur sleuth and her ghostly sidekick.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Good old fashioned investigating … or in Gwen’s case, sticking her nose into other people’s business.

If you’re a fan of light-hearted, cosy mysteries, I recommend this series.

The reading order so far:

Book 1, Dance with the Dead

Book 2, Dead and Gone

Book 3, Dead of Night

Book 4, Left for Dead

Book 5, Dead Reckoning

Available from Amazon

Dead Ringer (Haven Hollow, Book 30) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

A Real Dead Ringer for … Power?

 

I really enjoy reading about the world of Haven Hollow and its diverse cast of characters; they make me happy. The writing flows well and is easy to read. The world building is great, and all of the characters continue to develop well as the series progresses. 

This is a Spook Society book, so we are seeing the world of Haven Hollow through Darla’s eyes. Darla originally died in 1920’s America before she was resurrected and given a second chance at life, so she speaks with the slang of that era and is still getting to grips with the modern world.

The present day sees Darla trying her hand at being a private investigator. A power struggle within a wealthy, influential family sees Darla pulled into the turmoil, both on the living and the spiritual side. Unsurprisingly, she gets herself into a lot more danger than she planned for. 

The Haven Hollow series is written from a variety of points of view and features stories from Wanda’s Witchery, Poppy’s Potions, Spook Society, Haven Homes, Remarkable Remedies, Princess Procedural and Blood Rose Academy. They all run in parallel with each other. The reading order so far is:

Gypsy Magic : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 1) 

Cashmere Curses : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 2)

Faery Enchantment : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 3)

Spandex Sorcery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 4)

Love’s Goddess : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 5)

Demon in Denim : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 6)

Taffeta Trickery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 7)   

The Black Cat Cocktail Club : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 8)

French Country Frights : Haven Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 9)

All Hallows Eve : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 10)

Mystic Veil : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 11)

The Yule Log : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 12)

The Broken Mirror : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 13)

Art Deco Apparitions : Hallowed Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 14)

The Vampire’s Grave : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 15)

Herringbone Hexes : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 16)

Raising Cain : Spook Society (Haven Hollow, Book 17)

Druid’s Curse : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 18)

Colonial Corpses : Hallowed Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 19)

Angora Alchemy : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 20)

Day Dream : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 21)

Ritzy Business : Spook Society (Haven Hollow, Book 22)

Pan’s Delight : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 23)

Armed and Charmed : Princess Procedural (Haven Hollow, Book 24)

The Christmas Spirit : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 25)

Blood Rose : Blood Rose Academy (Haven Hollow, Book 26)

Blood Bond : Blood Rose Academy (Haven Hollow, Book 27)

Georgian Ghouls : Hallowed Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 28)

Velvet Voodoo : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 29)

Dead Ringer : Spook Society (Haven Hollow, Book 30)

Available from Amazon