Tag Archives: PNR

A Cougar Among Wolves

Book Review: A Cougar Among Wolves, by Kali Willows

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A Cougar Among WolvesI picked up an Audible code for A Cougar Among Wolves (by Kali Willows) bouncing around the internet somewhere, probably Free Audiobook Codes. It was narrated by Ruby Rivers.

A sadistic attack leaves Klaya, a Puma Clan Cougar, critically injured and the last of her family ferociously slain. She stumbles into Black Hills wolf territory and collapses. Now under the protection of the pack, she finds herself whisked away to hide out in a cave until her old friend the alpha returns. Potentially the last of her shifter kind, she has nothing left to lose, but her life and a chance to avenge her brother.

After a dangerous rescue, on the edge of pack territory, Seth and Rogue take a woman on the brink of death back to the pack. Her identity and why she was brutalized is a mystery. The pieces soon fit together proving this assault was no coincidence. The Black Hills wolf pack faces a bigger threat than they could even imagine. The trio soon find themselves on a tumultuous journey of life and death and relentless lust.

my reviewMeh, not horrible (if you like this particular subset of erotic fantasy) but not great either. Honestly, I found a lot of it cheesy, ESPECIALLY THE VERY LONG SEX SCENE. I literally rolled my eyes and made gagging sounds. I was just so super cheesed out! But the brother-mates are sweet (which is a pleasant change from the alpha-asshole norm) and I appreciated the heroine’s independent streak. Just don’t go into this one expecting any depth or a complex plot and you’ll probably enjoy it well enough.

 

Mystic Love, by JJ Keller

Review Mystic Love, by J.J. Keller

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Mystic Love

I picked up a free Audible code for a copy for Mystic Love, by JJ Keller, probably from Free Audiobook Codes.

About the book

Ericka Gilmore dabbles in life and death when she tries to conjure a ghost lover. But when flesh and blood, Joe Reeves appears on her doorstep in the midst of a storm, she has to rethink her destiny.

A car accident left the former cop with the ability to foresee death. No longer willing to watch people he cares about die, Joe goes in search of a shaman to remove his “gift”. His remedy until then is to avoid all relationships. But like a lightning strike, he experiences a strong connection with Ericka. A nearby mystical ley line could be Joe’s solution if he and Ericka combine their gifts. But her secret past and his fear of seeing her death keep them at odds.

I thought this was OK, sweet even, but still not a huge winner for me. The reason is that, as satisfying as seeing two likeable characters fall in love is, I can’t help but notice that they both find and accept their destiny. His is to accept his premonitions of death and serve fate by saving lives; her’s is to become his wife. The two are presented as equal. So, he gets a whole active destiny and she gets to…what, not become an old maid. We could be generous and say ‘support him.’ But that’s still only a supporting role, which is so often the crumb women are offered and told it’s a whole piece of toast. Now, I’m well aware that our culture preaches that becoming a wife is a goal in itself, but I hate when it’s a woman’s only goal, especially one who is otherwise smart and accomplished, as the heroine here is.

You know, there’s another complaint I’ve made dozens and dozens of times in my reviews. it’s when authors don’t label parts of a series as such. This book is the sequel to The Ghost Inside (as far as I can tell)  and it’s not labeled as such anywhere that I’ve yet to see. And it matters, because despite not being labeled, I so felt the lack of history that I went and read the blurbs of all the author’s books until I found the one that comes before this book, 100% certain there would be one. So, obviously I felt the lack of a first book. It is readable alone, but you will know there is a book before it. I sure did.

All in all, not a bad book. The writing is perfectly readable and the narrator (Eric J. McAnallen) did a fine job. But not a winner for me personally. It did get me through a whole day of stripping wallpaper though, so there is that to appreciate.

Leather and Lace Magen Cubed

Book Review of Leather and Lace (The Southern Gothic Series, #1), by Magen Cubed

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Leather and Lace Magen Cubed

I did a cover reveal for Magen Cubed‘s Leather and Lace over on Sadie’s spotlight. I thought it looked interesting. So, later, when I saw it on Netgalley I requested a copy.

about the bookFalling in love with a vampire bites—and sometimes loving a human bites back.

Dorian Villeneuve is an unlucky vampire from the slums of Devil’s Row. He makes ends meet for himself and his emotional support Chihuahua by working sleazy bars and nightclubs, doing what it takes to get by. Cash Leroy is a monster hunter from East Texas with a golden voice and an unrivaled devotion to Stevie Nicks. Hunting does not leave time for friends, let alone love.

When their paths cross during a bloody run-in with the vampire mob, Cash upends Dorian’s life—and takes Dorian under his wing to teach how to hunt monsters.

The unlikely pair become partners, and soon, best friends. However, their deepening bond grows complicated when Dorian falls in love with Cash. Their friendship is too important to throw away over an interspecies attraction, especially in a career that is already nasty, brutish, and short.

And things become even more complicated when Cash finds himself returning the vampire’s affections.

When an unusually deadly case lands in the hunters’ laps, their ill-fated affair takes a backseat. A pair of man-eating weredeer are on the loose taking victims’ hearts. With the pressure on to end the killing spree, Dorian and Cash must set aside their feelings and hunt down the blood-thirsty deer.

Can Dorian and Cash’s friendship survive this monstrous romance, or will they lose their hearts in the process?

my reviewThe first thing you need to know about Leather and Lace is that it is Dean Winchester and Castiel fanfiction…or was at some early point in its life. I’m not assuming here; the author says so in the introduction. The fact that the characters’ names start with D and C is even a nod in that direction, she says. I mention this because I think it’s interesting, but also because I haven’t watched all of Supernatural (please don’t stone me). I have seen just about enough for Castiel to appear as a character, but not enough to understand Destiel as a ship yet. So, I’m a little behind the game coming into the book. But if I’d not been told about the love of Dean and Castiel prior to reading the book, I wouldn’t have known. It’s not something necessary to enjoy the story. I can attest to that.

Outside its Supernatural connection, I thought this was a super sweet, high angst book. Dorian and Cash are both wonderful characters that you want to care about and see get their happily ever after. I did think Dorian’s push-me-pull-me went on too long without explanation and, honestly, I didn’t wholly buy his hesitation in the end. But I could still appreciate it. Similarly, I didn’t think the investigation/monster hunt held enough significance to move the plot as needed. But I still enjoyed the book and will happily read more of Cubed’s writing.