A WEREWOLF'S TALE & A DRUID'S SWORD by Lexi Ander

3.5 Stars

Lost, missing, or forgotten?

I was a bit underwhelmed by the title and the cover, but it had something in the blurb that made me go ahead and try it. And yay! This is action-packed, conspiracy-driven, and a sweet romance.

Jude is the overlooked younger brother of Beck. Beck and his love, Diego take him in after being cast out. Nursing a broken heart, Jude struggles to find purpose and his envy of both Beck's relationship and job with the I.O.N. Beck's new born skill of super speed gained him a position at the agency overseeing supernatural beings. 

But, there's trouble brewing in San Diego and suddenly Jude is finding out all sorts of truths. Not everything that is missing is lost. Jude has choices. The characters made this as much fun as it was, especially the secondary characters whom add a lot of world building as we meet them. From werewolves to druids to nephilim to seers and a host of other supernatural beings there's a web being woven. 

The romance is sweet and possessive, but the primary focus of the story is Jude's transformation and the mystery surrounding the werewolves. That said, there is a light BDSM scene with spanking that appears featuring secondary characters that seemed oddly placed. The incongruity of it, while hot, was distracting from the story. 

This is a paranormal adventure with a series arc. The story has a conclusion for the characters' romance, but there are outstanding issues regarding the overall story. It was fun and peaked my interest for more stories in the series.

MORGEN CURSE by Gillian St. Kevern

4 Stars

What's hidden beneath the shallows?

Mer, or morgen as they're known here, are hiding at the ends of the earth. Quite literally, in the waters not far from Antartica off the Antipodes. But, all is not well with the small group of morgen. Told from the perspective of Ieuan, a young and impulsive youth who flees home to seek out The Cursed One. 



The Cursed One, Cefidor, was banished and lives alone. Yet, when Ieuan finds him, he is not alone. If finding The Cursed One is not horrifying enough, then his companion is even more so. A human lays there, sworn enemy of the morgen. All is not as it seems, and young Ieuan learns truths he once believed are not. 

Ieuan's flibbertigibbet personality is more charming than annoying as he loses his naivety. Cefidor's gruffness fools no one for long. While Zane's antithetical ideas perplex both morgen. Nonetheless, it isn't long before these three, disconnected souls start to understand that they are far more similar than they are different. 

I love the ocean, sailing, and swimming; therefore, I am heavily biased when it comes to stories that feature these elements. I love the way they were presented here. I sped through the story waiting for the next visceral memory to be rekindled as I followed Ieuan. 

This book is definitely part of a series with many issues left unresolved as we wonder what will become of Ieuan, Cefidor, and Zane. There is much hinting and pushing towards a possible relationship in the story, but it doesn't coalesce--that is left for the future story. So, this really leaves much up in the air. That said, the action and drama surrounding all three characters provides constant and compelling interest as the plot drives the story. 

I'm ready for Book #3 Morgen Song. Now.

WRIGGLE & SPARKLE by Megan Derr

3.5 Stars

"Let's go, Sparkleson."
"Right behind you, Wriggly."

This is fun and campy. If you're looking for an irreverent mockfest of unicorns and krakens, then you've found the right book. The jokes are rolled out regularly, and they're funny--only a few groans. I think I might have contracted diabetes just reading what Anderson ate--sugar-fueled supernatural being that he is. While it plays with the stereotypes it also deconstructs them and by association all stereotypes, thereby pointing out how ridiculous they are even if appearances are deceptive, or not. 

No one is a ONE SIZE fits all. No one.

Add in some clever gender fluidity that's inherent in fishes and you have a wicked funny gender fluid hero/ine. I loved all of the snipping back and forth between Lynn and Anderson. It's the format of the book that I wasn't as thrilled with. Essentially, this is episodic with five separate incidents/dramas that weave Lynn and Anderson's lives together. It's well done, but it reads like four short stories. But... it has the most romantic and sweetest tentacle sex I've ever read!

"Once she's gone, I feel there should be some make-up role play."

Anderson heaved a long sigh. "Any excuse with you. Fine. But it's really hard to keep a straight face playing virgin sacrifice."

Overall, fun read for unicorn and kraken fans. 

ALASKA, WITH LOVE by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

2 Stars

There's nothing wrong with the story, but it's superficial and trope-filled frothiness doesn't suit my palette. Even as a mindless marshmallow read it just doesn't hit the right notes for me. I literally forgot I was reading this book at the 75% point and came back to finish it for a challenge. I think this is the first time with this author and we don't meld.

(\_/)
(O.o) *shrugs*

MIDNIGHT by J.V. Speyer

3 Stars

What is love?

Brandon's finally emerged from his lair after licking the wounds of an abrupt relationship ending. Friends have rallied around him and he's finding a good place again until, like a bad penny, Adrian, his ex shows up.

Over and over again.

This is a bit of a surprise as far as the romance goes, so, not going to spoil it. I liked Brandon's journey and the twist in it. There's a hefty dose of emotion and this isn't really as fluffy as I was hoping for going it, but it left me with a smile and missing Boston. 

BIG LOVE by Rick R. Reed

3 Stars

Learning to love oneself.

This book is less a romance and more an exploration of different stages of self-acceptance from a tormented teen to a middle-aged man remembering and unlocking who he hid away years ago. I was expecting more romance and the surprise suicide issues threw me a bit, I just know way too many f@#king people who've gone down this road, walked it with them, and grabbed hold as they teetered to really enjoy any story that features it--in fact, I generally avoid them. So, my rating may not be reflective of what others will take away. 

That said, the steadfastness and optimistic ending definitely worked for me.

CRISPED + SERED by T.J. Klune

3.5 Stars

“Because I don’t want to be surprised by death,” he said. “If it’s going to take me, then it will be on my own terms.”

The journey continues. If you couldn't make it through the first half hour of Saving Private Ryan then you will probably have a very difficult time with this. Throw in some Inglorious Basterds, Pale Rider, Deerhunter, Uncommon Valor, and a touch of The Postman and you've got the general idea of what's going on and how it's going down.



Cavalo's just as broken as he always was. The repeated reels of the past playing through his mind are good at giving a sense of disorientation and questioning reality, again, but it also becomes redundant--slows things down, even action sequences. Like going down a big hill with the brakes always on, you don't get to feel the thrill of falling because you're so distracted by all the other images. It stretches time out, and while I like the feeling of tension it causes, it also numbs and feels too thin--like it is putting a veil over the scene instead of ratcheting it until you're at the breaking point. 

Loss and sacrifice. 

The impending conflict with the Dead Rabbits meets the point of no return. Character relationships expand as they complete their own personal arcs while violence as yet unparalleled is let loose as the dogs of wars ravage the countryside. All this said, it's still a moderate read even with all the action due primarily to the inordinate amount of time spent in Cavalo's head. Frankly, as written, this is better as a movie than a book. The imagery is described, the psychotic sequences so detailed that is could be brushed through in a few seconds of film rather than breaks in the story's plot. If you approach this as a western, then the pace and trajectory work much better than a post-apocalyptic story. After all, Cavalo is the epitome of the American monolith.

We get bad guys and make them pay! And no matter where you run, if bad guys are after you, they’ll find you. It doesn’t matter how far you get, they’ll find you.

The ending... well you'll have to read it for yourself, but it has all been foreshadowed.