What started out as a contemporary romance series centered on the game of hockey has evolved into so much more. The highly anticipated first book in tWhat started out as a contemporary romance series centered on the game of hockey has evolved into so much more. The highly anticipated first book in the new romance series by Kat Obie is here and boy does it go in a new direction. Built on the solid foundation of her Loving The Sound world, Loving the Pack is the follow up to the supernatural spin off, Loving The Wild.
Jayden is a wolf shifter. It is a secret he shares with his father, former Wild player Dez Smith (His story leads off the Wild series). Jayden has spent the last few years learning to control his speed and strength enough to play professional hockey. The extra power that comes with being a shifter is all well and good, but a five mile slap shot might raise a few eyebrows on the all human NHL teams. He has been given the chance to come to Wild rookie training camp and to maybe try for a spot on the team.
Kennedi, an otter shifter, is grumpy coach Phillipe Delaney’s youngest daughter, independent and sassy, with an overprotective dad. A world class athlete on her own, she has a firm sense of where her life is going.
Dez and Delaney were close as players and while their kids grew up playing together, things are a bit different now that they are adults. Warned to keep things non romantic, the couple pushes the boundaries as they become certain they are true mates, the ultimate in relationship goals in the shifter world. Still, no one has any idea what will happen if two different types of shifters mate. That is a twist that makes this well loved story take on a whole new life.
I dearly love the dynamic between the two main characters as they are drawn to one another and look forward to seeing how they evolve into the greater story as the series progresses. There are no huge surprises in their romance which is sweet with just the right amount of heat, but the big question marks about the future are never far from the story.
I also enjoyed seeing more of the inner workings of Wolf pack. There are obvious undercurrents that open up so much potential going forward. Though I get the feeling that the author is just kind of making up the rules to her supernatural universe as she goes (Yes, I do recognize the irony in that statement), I do believe that she is on to something wholly original in what is sometimes an over saturated romance niche. Yeah, I am looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not a typical boy-meets-girl story. Not a typical paranormal romance.
Taking a Risk is Delaney’s story in the world of Minneapolis Wild Hockey. So farNot a typical boy-meets-girl story. Not a typical paranormal romance.
Taking a Risk is Delaney’s story in the world of Minneapolis Wild Hockey. So far in this series we have met Dez, a professional hockey player turned into a werewolf by a rogue, and Kirby, a shifter and up and coming player who has grown up in an established wolf pack. The Wild is wild with vampires and other types of shifters as well (bears, sea creatures, etc), not to mention the occasional mesmerized human. These men play hard and live by complicated rules while trying to fit into the ‘polite society’ of professional ice hockey. This story goes a long way toward filling in some of the spaces in the world-building surrounding this spin-off of the Loving the Sound hockey romance series.
The reader gets to see this world through the eyes of newly turned sea otter shifter, Kelsey, who as it turns out is the fated true love mate of Phillipe Delaney, resident team grump. The two meet when Delaney seeks out a grief support group at her holistic shop, to help him deal with the death of his previous partner. She offers the reader insight into the shifter experience as well as the interpersonal relationships between the players and their respective mates. Plus, we get to learn the rules and the lore right along with her. It is great to catch up with returning characters and the setup for the promised Wild next-gen series is more than exciting.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...more
When I embarked on my first reading of a book in this series, “Taking A Chance (Loving the Wild Book 1)”, I tended to avoid certain tropes, shifters aWhen I embarked on my first reading of a book in this series, “Taking A Chance (Loving the Wild Book 1)”, I tended to avoid certain tropes, shifters and sports romance among them. Still, as a hockey fan, I could immediately appreciate the irony of a team of shifters and other paranormal creatures playing for a team in Minneapolis called “The Wild.” This is a team that every team might dread playing against because they hit hard and often and are always cranky on the ice. What I loved was how easily, despite my reluctance to legitimatize the sub-genre, I was drawn into a story that felt bigger than the book I was reading. What was a forgone conclusion of a love story, (How could it be anything else when the certainty of a true love mate was announced before the first date?) set the stage for what could be an epic tale. Characters were introduced that had stories of their own that I couldn’t wait to hear. The groundwork was laid to elucidate the inner workings of not only a werewolf pack, but also a disparate group of shifters and vampires who just want to play a game they love while keeping the humans they play against none the wiser to a paranormal reality. It was made all the better for being a spin-off of the completely human normal “Loving The Sound” series
In the new book, “Making A Move: (Loving the Wild Book 2)“, we pick up Kirby’s story. A natural werewolf, he was at one time a potential leader in the pack so a betrothal was made between Kirby and Charlotte Stewart, an alpha daughter in the UK wolfpack. While Kirby’s status has changed, Charlotte still needs a mate, and he is chosen to look after her as his roommate while she gets to know the alphas in the area. As in the first book Kirby, at first, comes across as easy going and a natural keeper of the status quo. As his attraction to Lottie grows he finds he must step things up to meet his full potential if he is going to have a chance at the life he wants.
Looking back to Dez’s story that potential was always there. Kirby took the lead in welcoming the lone wolf omega to the team, as the best tracker in the pack, he chased Dez down when his panic over his new mate sent him into flight mode (not to mention his being essential in the capturing of the rogue wolf who made Dez in the first place). More importantly, Kirby made himself available to help Dez as he tried to fit in with his new worldview. In my humble opinion, Kirby has what it takes, he is a good friend and a natural lead by example leader, but as his story unfolds it is easy to see why he may be reluctant to push himself forward. A young woman like Lottie with her practicality and diplomacy might be just what is needed to bring it out in him.
Along with returning characters such as Paddy and Delaney being filled out a bit more, we meet some great new characters like the aforementioned Lottie, a wolf princess with a touch of magic, and Kirby’s brother-in-law Perry and irrepressible niece Mason, all of whom add a bit more history and intrigue into this growing story. We get to see more of the inner workings and lore of the packs. The world-building is slow burning, while the romance is ice meltingly hot. I am so ready for more of this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy through Kat Obie for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
I haven’t read this series yet, but after finishing book 3, I have to admit I do intend to.
Detective Bethany Chambers is on the trail of a ruthless kiI haven’t read this series yet, but after finishing book 3, I have to admit I do intend to.
Detective Bethany Chambers is on the trail of a ruthless killer. Little does she know where that trail is going to lead. Take a pinch of paranormal, add the cowboy and hard core mystery genres, mix well and season with time travel and you will pretty well sum up this book. Surprisingly, credit due to the author, it does justice to them all. From the opening prologue to the end that says there will probably be more books for me to catch up on in the future, this book is an enjoyable read.
When she is thrown from her horse Beth begins a journey into the past at least that is what she keeps being told. She discovers another lawman, hot on the trail of bank robbers, shot through the chest and probably dying, but she can’t leave him on his own when it is uncertain just when or how help will arrive. She soon learns that while he has his own opinions about how women in his time should behave, he respects her work ethic and perseverance. The two of them together work to solve the mystery of a killer who seems to have taken lives in both of their times and needs to be caught.
Normally I would next talk about how well written and exciting the cast of characters is, and they are. I loved how meeting each new person drove the story forward without being obvious about it. Each person has a small story in the whole that makes turning the pages to find out more very necessary. However, in this instance, what stands out more is the duality of law enforcement separated by over one hundred years. He has to let certain things slide that she sees as essential, while he needs to catch up on modern tactics that really don’t have a place in his world. Together they seek justice and peace in their piece of the world above all and it really kind of works.
So, the characters… Well this where reading book one of the series might have come in handy. Not because it is needed in order to enjoy this book, but there is so much backstory that I am itching to find out. Trace is the perfect partner in crime for Beth and together there probably isn’t much that they can’t handle. Still while both women are tomboys, they both do offer glimpses into just how fun it is to be a girl around real men’s men like their cowboys.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Silver Dagger Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
Nashville is the next stop on the summer camping trip. After introducing the reader to Nashville hotspots, a trip to a famous honky-tonk bar leaves IrNashville is the next stop on the summer camping trip. After introducing the reader to Nashville hotspots, a trip to a famous honky-tonk bar leaves Irma and by extension Mabel and her camping buddies with the task of discovering who murdered two people two decades ago.
“If you like wacky characters, quick-witted banter, and crooners with a twang, then you’ll love Rita Moreau’s clever caper…”
It is always fun when a promise is made and kept. This book is full of wacky characters with snappy dialogue that makes turning the page a privilege rather than a chore. The well-written, quirky characters are the core of the story and with a couple of new additions to those returning from book one, there is more to love this time around.
The mystery comes at a fair pace and makes this book a quick steady read. This is the second book in the series and reads well enough as a standalone, but for the full effect of the camping summer of fun picking up book one is recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...more
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic tells the story of Hayden, a young woman who has been transported to a magicI am so excited to go back to Destiny Falls.
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic tells the story of Hayden, a young woman who has been transported to a magical dimension to find that she has a family she never knew and a destiny she never dreamed of. While ostensibly these are cozy mysteries, the true story is Hayden’s missing mother. She left Hayden with her grandmothers not long after she was born, but as we have learned through the books of this series, that is not entirely accurate.
Here in book 3, The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales, Hayden along with her siblings investigate information that could finally lead her to her mom. Though, it comes with the admonition not to trust anyone.
While Hayden and feline bestie Latifa investigate a new death on the island while trying to find out more about the mysterious letter from Emily, a ghost with a penchant for storytelling brings Hayden to his world. She must decide whether his stories are for fun or more historical in nature, and what do they have to do with her investigations.
As I said, it is so great to be back. The great recurring characters of Hayden’s family, the local townspeople, and of course the wonderful animals of Destiny Falls, which in itself is a magical wonderful place, pick the story up right where the last book left, without a moment’s pause in the action. Romance takes a step up and Latifa and her extended cat family prove why cats will someday rule the world. We finally get to learn secrets, but then there are always more questions than answers, so of course I can’t wait for the next installment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
YA Cozy is a new one for me, though I will say this book feels more like a paranormal adventure story than a cozy mystery. The mystery was well-paced YA Cozy is a new one for me, though I will say this book feels more like a paranormal adventure story than a cozy mystery. The mystery was well-paced with plenty of clues. It was easy to assume why the attacks were happening once it came up in conversation, and from there, very easy to pick out the big bad. Still, the story was an enjoyable one with lots of action and plenty of pop culture references, some of which I am certain are less applicable to the YA crowd than their parents, but fun nonetheless.
In this book we are introduced to Jenna and her partner Kieron, high school students with a little something extra. She is a Hunter. Her job is to investigate and hunt down things that go bump in the night. Kind of a cross between Dean Winchester and Buffy Summers. Kieron provides moral, tech, and info support. They are asked to track down the source of a zombie bite before it leads to a full-on outbreak. It becomes apparent that there is more going on than a simple zombie attack and with several great suspects, it moves at a fair clip.
Despite the extracurriculars they really are just typical seventeen-year-old kids worrying about dating, homework, and mean girls. That is a fun contrast to the uber adult nature of the work they do. Jenna’s mother is missing, presumed dead (a story point that I am certain will be prominent in upcoming books) Leaving Jenna with the job of caring for herself while staying under the radar of adults who would put her in the system.
The magic world built for this story is sound, though it will need some bolstering ahead as it went up fairly quickly. I think another 50 pages of story could have easily softened the info dump feel. There is a lot of information to process about magic and recurring characters, as well as The Consortium and The Covens, but at some point in this series, things are going to get really interesting and my sixth sense is tingling in anticipation. This is a great story for age 12-18 readers and really for anyone who enjoys YA and/or paranormal cozy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...more
The Book Magic Mystery series is such a splendid way to spend a couple of hours. It starts with a curse; the women in the family are doomed to die in The Book Magic Mystery series is such a splendid way to spend a couple of hours. It starts with a curse; the women in the family are doomed to die in childbirth and their men doomed to be taken by the sea. Add in the special power the women sometimes have as bibliomancers, that in itself makes this series intriguing. What avid reader wouldn’t want to be able to do that?
In Murder at Sea Captain’s Inn, Pippin and her brother Grey are the latest descendents of the Lane family. Pippin is desperate to find a way to break the family curse if only to save her brother from his seemingly preordained fate. She has turned the house they inherited from their parents into a bed and breakfast and she has her hands full with the grand opening. It is bad enough that one of her guests has turned up dead, but as Pippin gets pulled into investigating, it turns out that the woman may have known something about the curse that has been following the Lanes for the past two millennia.
Melissa Bourbon knows how to tell a story. Honestly, that is all that needs to be said.
There is so much going on in the 250+ pages of this book. Pippin has picked up her father’s investigation into her lineage and is learning to have confidence in her role as a biblimancer. That narrative alone is fascinating. I could read a 500 page book on that aspect of the story alone. The Lane women are so genuinely interesting, I keep coming back for more.
I truly enjoyed the tidbits of archeology and history laced into the plot. With a budding archaeologist in the house, I admit to being just a little too excited to read about optically stimulated luminescence in the course of a mystery novel. I mean that doesn’t just pop up in a typical conversation. I also love that I didn’t see whodunnit until it was explained. When Pippin figured it out, I was hoping she was wrong because I just didn’t want to believe it, but of course it was there in the clues the whole time. How did I miss it? Simply put, the clues are so subtly woven into the story that it is easy to forget that we, as readers, are here to help Pippen solve a mystery.
I do think this reads well as a stand alone if this is your first experience with the series. Still, book 1 and its prequel are so worth the effort. The story isn’t all told yet, so I will be back for more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily ...more
Hazel Dean is a firecracker. Her superpower is being able to read people’s emotions and more importantly to fit the right book to the perfect reader. Hazel Dean is a firecracker. Her superpower is being able to read people’s emotions and more importantly to fit the right book to the perfect reader. Color me jealous (the pun is unintended, but I will enjoy it anyway) When she meets a troubled young man in her store, she worries that the perfect book she gave him may have inadvertently led to his death. She knows the person they caught for the crime didn’t do it. She thinks she knows who did, but it going to take some doing to prove it.
The law enforcement significant other is a popular trope in cozies, but I have to say that Jason Dean stands alone. Sure he is appropriately against his wife’s amatuer sleuthing, but when the chips are down he has got her back, and they make such a sweet team. Their relationship is the strong backbone of this story. It is also just nice to see a happy normal family in the center of it all.
Red Gap seems like a nice town, and I would have enjoyed getting to know more of the townsfolk a bit, but I feel like this is a wonderful introduction to the series, with plenty of room for growth and potential for great stories.
I enjoyed the intertwining of the story’s two mysteries. While I picked out the bad guy early on, I did not anticipate how it would play out and I very much enjoyed the twist. I am looking forward to visiting with these characters again.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily...more
Brendan returns home to Cat’s Paw Cove to recover from a bad breakup and to be with his sister when she gives birth to her twins. Far from being the rBrendan returns home to Cat’s Paw Cove to recover from a bad breakup and to be with his sister when she gives birth to her twins. Far from being the relaxing cure-all, he had hoped coming home is full of drama. His father, who walked out on his family when Brendan was a small child, has become close to Brendan’s sister. While dealing with that, Brendan starts to fall for the beverage manager at the retirement home, and he has to deal with talking cats that have chosen to move into his rental cottage. Things become dangerous when his jilted lover comes to town to reclaim him and a deadly contaminant starts to make life difficult for people Brendan loves. Reading this paragraph to myself, I have to wonder how I smiled all the way through the book, but I did. It was a great time.
I am not sure how I have managed to not read any book from this before. The idea is so much fun with all the magical beings and lore. That said, Brendan’s story, with his hopeful skepticism and the scientific method, is the perfect intro to the series for me. I love when the supernatural can be explained so logically as simply SUPER natural. I squeed with delight when the mass spectrometer came into play. I do love a great fae story, but I enjoy being a real nerd. This allowed me to enjoy both.
Despite my late entry into the story, I have to say that I never felt left out or left behind. While talking about previous adventures made me want to read more of the books in the series, there was never a moment when I didn’t know what was happening. The quirky characters, whether human, partly-human, or all magical really bring something fun into the story. It was easy to see that Tessa and Brendan belonged together from the start and it was fun to see them work through the problems trying to find a way to make that happen. All in all, this is a fun Valentine’s Day story. ...more
One Poison Pie is the first in series story of Mia Malone. As the story progresses we discover that she had left her cheating fiancee in Boise and movOne Poison Pie is the first in series story of Mia Malone. As the story progresses we discover that she had left her cheating fiancee in Boise and moved to her family’s hometown of Magic Springs to make a fresh start. Just the name makes it sound like a wonderful place before we even get to know anything about it. It is a classic small town located in the mountains of central Idaho. Description of the area makes me yearn for snow despite the two feet of it outside my window. Her grandmother has helped her to procure an old schoolhouse with a bit of a past. Her plan is to restore it and open a cooking school along with a catering kitchen. Everything is going mostly smoothly when her first client, a longtime friend of her Gran’s, ends up dead and Mia is the prime suspect.
The author has done a wonderful job of introducing the characters that will make up the core MC’s moving forward, including a plucky sidekick and a love interest. Gran, I do believe will be my favorite character. She is the perfect mix of spunk and decorum, plus she’s a little bit nosey. We all know granddaughters cannot be trusted to find the right guy. ::wink wink:: The secondary cast is fun and vibrant and they have a secret or two hanging around. In addition to the murder mystery there a couple of other side questions that need answering; Where does her cat keep disappearing to? Why is her Ex really in town? What lengths would the aggressive real estate developer actually go to to get what he wants? Why does the detective seem to be out to get her young sous chef?
It is a solid start for what I believe will be a fantastic series. I am really looking forward to learning more about the witches in the area and how “Kitchen” magic differs from traditional witchcraft....more
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