Cast out of his clan of shifters and with no family of his own, Anton Cedwell wants nothing more than to be accepted by his partner Sean’s family when the two of them visit over Christmas. But Sean’s powerful father, Flavius, isn’t happy his son chose a shifter as a mate, and Sean is hiding secrets from Anton. When Sean is attacked by rival weres, Anton hopes Sean’s family will finally see the depth of his commitment and how far he’s willing to go to protect the man he loves.
Review
This is a fascinating world. Anton is a shifter but Sean and his family are… something else, very powerful. In this short story we get politics, magic and power, intrigue, a fight scene and… some really hot sex, too!
Since the couple is already established, we already know they are committed to one another, but this short story shows us just how committed they are and what that means to their families and their community.
I really wished this was a longer story because so much happened in so little space that just as I got a handle on Kaitland’s “universe” the story’s over. The “King of Me” aspect was really touching – I loved all that it implied with such a simple phrase.
The chemistry and devotion between Sean and Anton was electric and their scene on the ride was very erotic. I really enjoyed this glimpse and hope to see more about this world in a longer book.
Trent returns to his family’s ancestral home, where he experienced his first kiss and first heartbreak.
To honor his grandmother’s final request, Trenton Appleton drops everything to visit the family’s ancestral home: Hummingbird House, where he experienced his first kiss and first heartbreak with Callum Eason.
Eight years ago, confused by his attraction to Trent, Callum reacted badly. But with help he never expected, Callum found himself and learned to accept who he was.
Now Trent is back at Hummingbird House, and Callum has his opportunity to salvage their friendship, at least. But Trent is less receptive than he was all those years ago. Still, Callum is determined to show Trent he has changed and keep his promise to Trent’s grandmother. When past mistakes repeat themselves, Callum must break the cycle before his last chance with Trent passes him by.
Review
Trent just lost his “Grammy” Astrid who rescued him from his disastrous parents, raised him, then finally succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. She’s left him the ancestral house in England where she and he spent many summers and the occasional winter.
When he returns to England with Astrid’s ashes, he runs into his childhood crush, Callum. He and Callum had grown up together as best friends, but when Trent kissed him as a teen-ager, Callum panicked, then crushed Trent by flaunting a girlfriend in front of him the next time they were together. Though Trent has tried to form new relationships he hasn’t been able to get over Callum and caring for Astrid has kept him pretty solitary for most of his life.
Callum, meanwhile, finally admitted he was gay and has been feeling horrible for the way he treated Trent all those years ago. He’s grateful to have the opportunity to make amends and he has high hopes that they may even get a second chance at a relationship.
**
This is another great holiday story and takes place in England, so it has that fairytale quality to it that seems to go so nicely with Christmas. The ancestral Hummingbird House has a lovely prophesy that links ownership of the house to true love, and it looks like Trent and Callum will fulfill it.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well and the method of letter writing used by the author to bring Astrid into the story.
It was very well writte, sweet and sexy, Christmas tale!
Best friends snowed in together. When the heat rises, will they get cold feet?
Getting snowed in at a remote cottage in Wales with someone he’d fancied for ages isn’t exactly how Sam expected to spend Christmas. His feelings for Ryan are pointless. Ryan’s straight—or so he thought.
Until now, Ryan’s kept his feelings for Sam buried. Why ruin a friendship over what might only be gay experimentation? Playing it cool seems safer, until a cold snap makes sharing body heat vital. In their Welsh safe haven, anything seems possible.
As Ryan’s reserve melts away, Sam wants more than stolen kisses under the mistletoe. But a sudden thaw means making decisions. They could face the New Year together—unless one of them gets cold feet.
Review:
Sam and Ryan are best “mates” (I love the British!) from university planning a short holiday with their other roommates in the country. A sudden storm hits, preventing two of them from making it out to the cabin. Now, instead of a casual party with the four roommates, it’s an intimate stay between just two.
Sam is openly gay and has known he’s had feelings for Ryan forever. Sam knows those are pointless as Ryan is straight. (We’ve heard that before, right?!)
Ryan has had feelings for Sam pretty much since Sam came out but hasn’t been able to deal with his own sexual identity. Being snowbound forces those feelings to the surface and he and Sam begin to explore their feelings (and each other!).
In addition – they meet a wonderful woman named Mari who has a bazillion cats and shows the boys what the holiday spirit is all about.
**
This is a lovely short-story perfect for the season. The set-up for forcing Ryan to confront his feelings felt natural and their easy, slow start into making things physical also fit their age and the setting. There is a bit of steam and smolder, but most of this is about the boys’ changing feelings and emotions.
This isn’t as angsty as some of Jay’s other novels, certainly not as steamy, but it is every bit as sweet and sentimental – full of all the wonderful “feels” that she excels at delivering.
I’m a sucker for the GFY theme, coupled with the British and the friends to lovers… it hit all my buttons in a big way!
I highly recommend this holiday treat and give it 4.5 of 5 hearts!
Author Bio
Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.
She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since. http://www.jaynorthcote.com
An Introduction to Ellis O’Neill
Ellis is our reluctant hero in Blind Man’s Wolf. Originally from Yorkshire, he’s run off to London with some of dad’s loose change (understatement) and set up his own business as an art dealer.
He was doing bloody well at it, too. He’d always loved art, but wasn’t very good at it himself, so setting up a gallery of his own seemed the next best thing. He started small with a little space above a bigger shop but after a few years on the scene and a bit more money in his pocket he was finally able to move to a property in Mayfair, the heart of London’s art scene.
It took Ellis a long time to realise that he had trouble with his eyesight. He’d bump into things he hadn’t seen in his periphery and assume he hadn’t paid attention, and it wasn’t until the tunnel vision became more pronounced that he decided to see an optician in case he needed glasses.
Alas it wasn’t good news. He had a form of retinitis pigmentosa. The cells in his retina were dying, it was progressive, and there was no cure. He would be completely blind within a few years and there was nothing that could be done to slow or stop it.
Because life wasn’t going wrong quickly enough for Ellis, he decided to go out and get completely mashed, and ran into someone who would change his existence forever.
Now Ellis is a vampire. He’s not very good at being a vampire, but at least he still has his gallery, and with the assistance of the only friend who knows his secret he keeps his business ticking over while he wonders what exactly he’s supposed to do with eternity when his own guide dog seems to be going crazy…
Excerpt:
“Stop.” Ellis crouched and placed his right hand light against the wet grass. There were leaves, too, covered in leftover rain. He stood and patted his hand dry against his trouser leg, then reached for his glasses and slid them up his forehead. He peered around slowly, searching for any glimmer of light.
Before he had been turned, Ellis was utterly blind even in twilight. What little vision hadn’t been stolen entirely during the day needed a lot of light. Now that he was dead… undead… whatever he wanted to call himself, his senses were sharper. If he was lucky he could potentially make out the headlights of a car coming straight for him so long as it was mere seconds away from impact.
Trying to see was a last-ditch effort, and proved about as worthless as Ellis had expected. He found dim, colourless spots in the sky which were probably street lamps, but that was all. He pushed his glasses back into place and the dark lenses cut out even that small reminder of what was lost.
The clues taken together seemed to indicate that Tiberius had taken him to a park, and his mental map of Mayfair unfurled as he tried to figure out which one. Berkeley Square Gardens were closed after dusk and didn’t re-open until after sunrise. Grosvenor Square Gardens were even more restrictive, as were Mount Street Gardens. He should have noticed if they had crossed Park Lane, but Hyde Park closed at midnight anyway. Tiberius shouldn’t be able to enter any of them after midnight except Green Park; they all had gates which were closed and locked after hours.
Were they in Green Park, then? That wouldn’t be too bad. He fell still and listened again.
In the distance, a small rodent met its end, most likely to a fox. He waited, and heard a flutter of leathery wings high overhead and the rustle as tiny bats grabbed tree branches and came to rest.
Ellis swore, keeping his voice quiet. He had to have reached St. James’ Park. How the hell had he not noticed crossing Piccadilly or The Mall? How had they walked all the way through Green Park without him realising it? If he followed the path all the way to Buckingham Palace he may be able to attract a guard for assistance, but he figured that was likely one of the most densely-packed areas for CCTV cameras in their natural habitat. He’d be even deeper in poo if Her Majesty’s Finest discovered a man who didn’t show up on security screens.
Amelia Faulkner was born in the rolling green countryside of Oxfordshire, and moved to London once she was mostly grown up. She has a degree in Computer Science, and spent quite a long time working with computers until her childhood love of writing could no longer be ignored. Since then she has written for corporate clients and personal pleasure, and finally stepped away from office-bound working in 2011 to freelance from home. Amelia is also a keen photographer and film-goer, and resides in the city (not the City) with her husband. She is notoriously camera-shy, so please enjoy this picture of her cat!
Rowan and Martin must learn to trust one another if they hope to deliver a phoenix home in time.
Although Rowan Stormbringer was raised Wiccan, he’s never felt a connection to magic. That changes on the eve of Yule, when he encounters a magical creature, a phoenix, that needs his help getting to Stonehenge before the sun sets that day. Hiding a magical creature in the mortal world is tricky at best, but partnering with a good- looking, snarky taxi driver may be just the ticket Rowan needs. As they explore their instant attraction to each other, Rowan and Martin must learn to trust one another if they hope to deliver the phoenix home in time.
Review
OMG I loved this story!
Rowan is the black sheep in his Wiccan family – not quite a believer in all things witchy – but he works for the family biz and is currently in London on a job. He goes to catch a cab when suddenly he sees something fly by and knows he has to find and help it.
Turns out, the flying thing is a Phoenix needing a ride to Stonehenge (of course!). Rowan’s cab driver (Martin) wants the cash up front if he’s going to deliver this dodgy package all the way to Stonehenge but can’t help but be pleased when he finds out Rowan plays for his team.
Rowan and Martin (if you’re as old as me that’s a funny name combination!) must walk the last few feet since the cab can’t make it all the way. Rowan has to divulge just what it is he’s carrying, and now Martin thinks Rowan’s cute and batty. But both Rowan and Martin are amazed at what they sees when they let the Phoenix fly and both lives will be changed as a result.
In the end, the clasp of hands lets us know that there will be more to the romance and having seen true magic, we know both men’s lives are going to change in lots of ways.
**
Again I’m left wishing this were a longer story because it was so dang good! However, the author did a great job of giving us a complete story full of adventure, humor, and magic.
I give this story 5 of 5 hearts and highly recommend it.
Blood runs soul-deep. Cormac hasn’t been the same since the night the High Moon Pack was attacked. With his magic weakened, he’s consumed by a bloodlust he hasn’t felt since he first became a vampire. His need to replenish his power makes him a danger to his last remaining family member, and his hunger makes him careless. And that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Feeding from pack, beta Liam Benson was supposed to slake his appetite, not leave him craving more.
Simon Osborne and Gray Townsend are trying to fight a being history says shouldn’t exist – one with all three types of magic. The pack must use all of their resources to combat the mysterious triad, even turning to the shady Council of Mages for help. While Cormac struggles to reconcile his past failures with his current desires, Simon must attempt the impossible: An alliance between mind, body, and soul.
Review:
In the final installment of the Triad Series (yes, there is a book four but it is unrelated to the original series), we finally get to find out who the bad guy is and what he wants and how to stop him.
Some of the story is about Liam and Cormac as a couple (yippee!). First, we see Liam merely trying to keep Cormac from hurting himself, Simon or anybody else. Then, we see their mutual attraction and need for each other. Finally, their deep devotion.
However, the bulk of this plot is the story-line regarding the evil being (who I won’t name here) who keeps causing trouble for Simon and his pack. It turns out the being knows Cormac and that gives everyone a clue as to how to stop him. But… not before he attempts to steal the children again. The attempted kidnapping forces Simon to do something so horrible that the entire pack wonders whether or not Simon should even be allowed to stay. (It’s very sad – just a warning!)
Fortunately, Simon’s actions are from the heart and they also inadvertently lead them all to the necessary magic needed to defeat the evil being, so he is quickly forgiven.
With some tremendously heart rending speeches to the tune of “If I die I want you to be strong without me” Cormac, Gray and Simon set out to defeat the monster and (I’m not surprising anyone here) emerge victorious!
We also get a really juicy Epilogue (I’m a sucker for the Epilogue!) and the entire series ends neatly tied up – bow not included.
**
I really enjoyed the magical storyline in this series. The subtle moral stories about intolerance and acceptance. The learning and the magic passed down along family lines. The power that is to be had by joining seemingly disparate forces. The entire world we saw built was well thought out and thorough, without constantly banging it over your head with new words or terms.
I also really enjoyed watching the growth and development of Gray and Simon as a couple over all three books. It was nice to see their insta-love being worked on into a strong and devoted (but still lusty!) relationship.
I was disappointed that we didn’t see more from Cade and Rocky (other than they are still together) as I thought they were a great couple with a lot of potential. But… I really enjoyed Cormac’s and Liam’s relationship. And watching Garon and Riley grow was an added bonus!
I’d say the romance was at least equal to the fantasy elements in this series but, all in all, the romance was really nicely laden in this fantasy about wolves, vampires and warlocks. I found myself saddened by the end of this delightful series, as I had really enjoyed Poppy’s world.
Audiobook:
Again, Robert Davis did excellent work narrating book three. I loved his grumbly Liam, his stuffy mage Councilman, the grumbling Were councilman and his little kid voices.
He infused emotion and tension at the right times and did a tremendous job with the dialog.
As I noted with book one, I was still bugged on occasion by his inflections here and there, but mostly I was impressed and entertained.
I really enjoyed reading (and listening) to this series and give both the book, the audiobook and the series a 4.5 of 5 hearts. I am looking forward to seeing where Ms Dennison takes us with book four.
For Lieutenant Fallon Roxbury, Special Police Consultant, reality has taken on a strange shift. Shapeshifters exist and a clan of them live under his protection. One is his lover, Sundown. Protecting the Chal is a full-time job, a task which would be easier if they weren’t so secretive—and scheming. When Fallon’s police force partner suggests a vacation, Fallon jumps at the chance to take Sundown someplace private. A resort near where he grew up seems like the perfect place for a getaway. Ten days filled with sex, sleep and sun is just what they both need, but more than fun lurks in the woods.
The ancient nemesis of the Chal is still out there and could one day return to earth to enslave both Chal and human alike. Secrets of the Chal past come to light when Fallon’s suppressed memories of his early years resurface. The shapeshifters have always had a plan to defeat their enemy, one with Sundown at its core…
Review
This is the last in the Sundown Series (that we know of!). Sundown and Fallon go on a vacation (believe it or not!). They head out to Fallon’s grandfather’s old homestead for some much needed R&R but… of course it can’t be a “normal” vacation.
First, Sundown wants to learn to drive – that in itself is a little bone chilling! Second, unease sits on Sundown’s shoulders from the minute they arrive – there is something familiar about the place and he doesn’t know why it should feel that way when he’s never been there.
When the feeling gets too strong to ignore, Fallon and Sundown take a walk around the lake and Sundown realizes he is sharing the memories of the ancient Chal he harbors within him – only it’s not just his memories – it’s the actual essence of the being himself!
Needless to say there are some repercussions from that knowledge that need to be dealt with, questions and answers to be shared, and a discussion as to what that means and what the future holds. (Without giving everything away, we do find out what the long term plans are for Sundown and Fallon and that their history extends beyond what we thought was their first meeting.)
With a somewhat melancholy ending, Fallon and Sundown are finally left alone to enjoy the rest of their vacation. Upon returning, Fallon and Juny meet up again and delve in to the beginnings of another cold case, so we are left knowing that their work will continue on as before.
**
I was a little disappointed with this book, especially as a final installment in the series. It was great to learn some more about the beginnings of Sundown and learn about his role and his relationship with Fallon.
But — it left me feeling kinda sad, definitely melancholy. I don’t doubt the two really love each other and will end up together as long as possible, but I really (really, really, really) wanted them to have some sort of solution that would give Fallon a chance at being alive as long as Sundown. Even some little suggestion or hint that it might be possible would have gone a long way.
Instead, Fallon is pretty blasé about it – telling Sundown he wants him to find someone else after he’s gone because he doesn’t want Sundown to be alone.
Ugh!
My little ol’ romantic heart wanted them to figure out another way! Don’t make me so attached to them then strip them away there at the end! (No, nobody dies, but we aren’t given much hope either…)
So – though I appreciated the writing and the new information, I have to say this was not my favorite installment in the series.
Sequel to Mind Magic, Triad: Book Two
A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted.
Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming.
Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction.
Morgan’s Review
This is the sequel to Body Magic and we see a lot of Simon and Gray in this story – maybe even more than Rocky and Cade, the supposed MCs.
Simon and Gray are really hammering out their relationship and it was great to see them and to be able to follow them from their tenuous HFN to a more day to day relationship, watching their mating really solidify. Simon waffles back and forth between wanting to trust his love for Gray but also wanting to be a good and independent wizard, separate from the pack and Gray.
Simon is also preparing for his final mage test with his uncle and this occupies a fair amount of time. His uncle helps also him work through his emotional issues in addition to his magickal issues as they prepare for his test.
The pack rescues an adorable little lion shifter after his family is decimated by the malevolent being from book one and integrating him into the pack proves to be more tricky than anyone thought.
There is discord when it is found that someone has infiltrated the pack – spying on the forbidden mating between shifter and wizard and the integration of a lion shifter into a wolf pack. When war breaks out there are people going to be hurt and loyalties will be tested.
Meanwhile, as almost a side note, Cade lusts after Rocky for a while and then they tentatively begin a relationship just before the pack is invaded. Rocky is a very conflicted character and he needs someone solid, like Cade to help him get over his issues (the pack hates omegas and gays, both of which Rocky is.) The budding relationship is almost lost when Cade realizes that Rocky was sent to the pack as a spy. Cade is shocked at first but with a minimum of fuss the two work out that Rocky is loyal to his new pack (he’s willing to be a double agent for the pack) and the pair take tentative steps forward in their own relationship.
**
Overall, this was a great second book in that we get to see Gray and Simon develop more fully as a couple. I would have loved to see more of Rocky and Cade as they were equally engaging characters (Rocky in particular is very complex) but they didn’t get much page time. Hopefully we will see more of them in future installments.
I’m looking forward to Book Three, since this left us with a sort of cliff hanger!
Audio:
Robert Davis does a really nice job with this narration, as well. Nothing too over the top but very clear and differentiates all the different characters’ voices. I really liked Simon’s Uncle Cormac genteel voice and Rocky’s Southern drawl.
I’m looking forward to his narrations in the upcoming books as well.
I give both the book and the audiobook 4 of 5 hearts
Detective Fallon Roxbury has a big problem. A twenty-year-old cold case turned hot threatens to expose his secret—shapeshifters exist and they’re living in Montgomery Circle under his protection. Between a new witness and a group of fanatical alien watchers, Fallon’s scrambling to uphold the law and keep his promises intact. He already knows no power on earth can keep his shapeshifter lover from stepping into the mix.
Sundown has come into his own with his human lover by his side. Fallon is his compass, and shield, as he seeks to keep his Clan united and teach them most humans can be trusted. A catalyst, Sundown is rare among his kind, a descendant of heroes. The status of his Clan rests on him and he’s determined to see his people prosper on this world owned by humans—without the humans knowing shapeshifters walk among them.
Secrets have a way of being exposed. Fallon’s not the only one who knows about Sundown’s kind. A cop used to right and wrong being black and white, Fallon struggles to learn shades of gray. Their relationship is tested as Fallon and Sundown race against the clock to find a kidnapped shapeshifter before the Clan takes matters into their own hands. Because if they fail, Fallon knows his lover will be forced to stand with his people and act against him.
Review
This series just gets more and more exciting! In book one we basically met our two MCs and they started their affair. In book two the lovers grew much closer and began to work with one another on solving crimes. In book three we find out that the Chal have been holding information back from Fallon and though it kills him to do it, Sundown is allowed to only answer direct questions from Fallon, keeping him in the dark about a lot of things.
The other problem is Juny and Juny’s brother. Both know there is something “other” out there and Juny suspects Sundown is it.
When one of the baby Chal goes missing Juny, his brother, Sundown and the Elders (!) have to work together to bring the baby back.
We are left with a little dangling carrot at the end – the idea that the rescued baby Chal might just play a role in the next installment – and that little guy is gonna be trouble!
**
I really enjoyed watching Sundown and Fallon make promises to one another, deciding that despite the challenges they would be there for the long haul. I was also glad Juny got the information, because he was starting to cause ripples.
I will be sad with this series ends, I’ve really gotten to enjoy Fallon and Sundown’s romance and the world created by KC Kendricks.
Accepting shapeshifter Volyk’s Christmas offer will change Ilya’s life forever.
Ilya, the youngest son of a Moscow oligarch, is so deep in the closet he’d find Narnia if that weren’t a decadent Western story. On Christmas Eve, his brothers lure him into the forest, intending to murder him and erase the shame he inflicts on their family by existing. However, the attempt is interrupted by Volyk, a wolf who carries the blood of the ancient oboroten’ —shapeshifters. Ilya never imagined a Christmas gift like the handsome wolf, but accepting what Volyk offers will have consequences that change both of their lives forever.
Review
In this tremendously sweet shifter story, a gay man of Russian Royalty (Ilya) is tricked by homophobes into going out in the snow to gather wood. They end up attacking him and nearly kill him.
Ilya is saved by a “wolf” with a fascinating story to share and a life of mated perfection to save him forever from those that would call him an abomination.
**
The writing is beautiful and fluid and has a fairytale like quality to it.
I hope/wish there are more stories from this “world” as it was beautifully created and wonderful to read.
