Book Review: Wicked Guidance by Havan Fellows

Reviewed by Macky

TITLE: Wicked Guidance (Book #4)
SERIES: Pulp Friction – Wicked’s Way
AUTHOR: Havan Fellows
PUBLISHER: Appleton Publishing Avenue
BLURB: Trouble has a way of finding Wick Templeton, even when he isn’t looking. This time trouble comes in the guise of a twelve-year old smart mouthed demon spawn who steals his wallet. The kid has a knack for pissing people off and making dangerous enemies.

Remind you of anyone?

Hopefully, someone’s got Wick’s back, because he’s got all he can handle keeping his four foot tall doppelganger alive.

Sometimes the only way for justice to prevail is to get a little Wicked…

Caution: This is the fourth in the series, and while you can read this by itself, Wick will find you and kick your butt if you don’t read the awesomeness that is him in order

REVIEW:

Well my old friend Wick Templeton is back and I have to say I think this is definitely my favourite of the series up to now. I can’t help it I really do love Wick and all his snarky, kick ass ways and to get the addition of a mini Wick in this was just icing on the cake!

When Wick chases down 12 year old Kyle, a street Kid who’s stolen Wicks wallet he doesn’t really know what he’s let himself in for because this little brat becomes his next ‘ case ‘ when he finds out Kyle has witnessed the murder of his not so nice parents and is now the target of the killers.

The best part of this is watching the kid square off against Wick whilst slowly warming his way under his skin. These two guys are almost like peas in a pod… Kyle is definitely a mini replica of the man who, even though he won’t admit it, becomes a little more than fond of this sarcastic street urchin the longer he’s in his company and to be honest who can blame him because under all that bravado, Kyle is just a frightened little boy and he is sort of adorable! They bounce off each other like they’ve been together for ever and I found myself laughing out loud more than once as the Kid gives Wick a run for his money.

Then of course the man who REALLY gets under Wicks skin arrives on the scene, Agent Ned Harris and poor old Wick is once again thrust into the sizzling sexual attraction that they both realise is turning into something deeper but which ( of course ) the stubborn Wick won’t admit is happening. I love these two together, each time they meet as the series progresses, their interactions get hotter and hotter and each time you see Ned wearing him down bit by bit, just enough to see that like it or not Wick knows he’s fighting a losing battle with his feelings for Ned. In one of my earlier reviews on this series I said I wasn’t sure if I got the connection between Wick and Ned…. I take it back in spades now. These two ooze sexual tension!

These may only be short reads, but Havan really packs plenty goings on into them and I’ve never felt short changed by a single one. For me personally they get just better with each outing and that goes for the whole Pulp Friction series, which has connected all these books together and I look at the sheer enjoyment this fantastic series has given me over the months and thats why I give these high ratings. I gave the last one 4.5 stars so because this has become my new favourite I have to give it the full 5 stars.

Wick I love you, Ned you’re a sexy piece of work and Kyle you may be a little twerp as Wick call you but you’re adorable and I hope we get to see more of you. I love to laugh and I laughed a lot.
Thanks Havan, please keep ’em coming. Wick rocks!!

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==================================
Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: MACKY’S REVIEWS
=====================================================

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Book Review: Defiance by Laura Harner

Reviewed by Macky

TITLE: Defiance (Book #3)
SERIES: Triple Threat (Pulp Friction Books)
AUTHOR: Laura Harner
PUBLISHER: Hot Corner Press
BLURB: Archer, Zachary, and Jeremiah are hired to bring a full stop to a runaway blackmail scheme threatening to derail the K-Train Express—local football legend Kebow Trainer’s career. When the investigation turns over the rocks of Zack’s memories, he realizes there are a lot of different types of closets—and he reaches beyond the circle of his two lovers for help closing the door on the past. Now, the trio must find a way to catch a blackmailer while they work through their pain to find pleasure. Because anything two can do, three can do better.

REVIEW:

Book three in Laura Harner’s addition to the Pulp Friction series and Zack, Archer and Jeremiah have been asked to investigate the case of famous football player, who is being blackmailed. But as they look into it, Zack is confronted by ghosts from his past, the case bringing back painful memories of a young sub, who he felt he had let down as a Dom, with very unhappy consequences that he has never forgiven himself for. This again interferes in his relationship with Archer and Jeremiah.

The dynamics between the three of them are quite complex. Zack had lovingly and happily subbed for Archer for many years but he had a history of having natural Dom tendencies as well. At the insistence of his lover Archer (who felt that despite their intense love for each other, Zack would never really be fully satisfied with just being a sub), Zack was made to choose a sub for himself who you’ll know if you’ve followed the series up to now is the endearing Jeremiah. A change in their partnership which at the beginning Zack fought against.

The first two books dealt with Zack’s reluctance to fully embrace Jeremiah’s sub to his Dom and because of it, he had put the young inexperienced man in danger. So, their path has been a bit of a rocky one. However, the bond is strengthening between the three lovers and as this story starts, they are getting more comfortable with the lifestyle they now share. Each story is a mix of a one-off case to be investigated and the ongoing relationship issues. There is a breakthrough but again as I always say with these short stories… Read them to find out what!

This is a series within a series (Pulp Friction) that – like all the others – is getting more interesting as it goes along, once again interweaving characters from the other books within the circle. This time it’s the snarky Wick Templeton who makes a guest appearance. Another favourite character of mine.

I really do love this whole series and even though I’m not a great fan of D/S themed stories, I really like reading the Triple Threat books. It’s not too much in your face but still steamy and hot in the sex scenes and I always look forward to seeing these guys. One tiny niggle – I did find the ending abrupt but apart from that it’s still another winner for me and I’m hoping there’s much more to come. I liked a lot!

Macky’s Rating:

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
====================================================

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Book Review: Heart of Stone by Ari McKay

Reviewed by Macky

TITLE: Heart of Stone
AUTHOR: Ari McKay
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
BLURB: Stone Harrison never knew he had an aunt; he certainly never expected her to bequeath him one of the largest spreads in central Nevada. But something about Copper Lake Ranch and its foreman, Luke Reynolds, speaks to him, offering a chance for the home he’s never really had.

Luke wants Stone to succeed as a rancher and put the legacy of his shiftless father behind him, but he’d also like Stone to share his bed. Unfortunately, Stone is convinced that the world is a harsh place that will never accept two men sharing their lives. Much to Luke’s dismay, he refuses to risk Luke’s life despite the intense attraction they share.

The tension between them escalates when a series of calamities strikes Copper Lake. An unexpected and unwelcome visit from Stone’s dandified cousin, James, only makes things worse. Stone’s ability to run the ranch comes into question, but the threat of losing it means less to Stone than the threat to Luke’s life. Stone will do anything it takes to protect the man he loves—even if it makes him a murderer.

REVIEW:

Heart Of Stone is a proper Historical Western with everything you would expect and want from it. As I was reading this, I was actually imagining myself curled up on a chair, on a Saturday afternoon watching it all unfurl on the TV as a Saturday Matinee. Take away the fact that this is m/m romance novel (and in my opinion, it is a true romance) the rest of the story suits the classic Western tale perfectly.

A strong, silent Cowboy drifter, with a mixed native American blood and an angst ridden past, gets a letter saying that a long lost relative (who he’s never met before) has died, leaving him a successful working ranch. Arriving there he meets the foreman, who is his complete opposite – warm, friendly, hard working and a complete gem when it comes to helping him work the ranch. They strike up a friendship. Things are going well till a spate of mishaps start befalling the ranch, each one becoming more dangerous putting not only the ranch and its animals at risk but the lives of the men running it. Someone is out to run him off his land. So, with the help of his foreman and ranch hands and certain characters from the town, the lone Cowboy fights to save his livelihood!

OK, so thats the version you’d be watching on Saturday afternoon – cheering for the good guys, boo hissing the baddies and finally seeing the Cowboy save the day and get his “Mary Lou” the heroine who shows our gruff drifter cowboy that he can be loved and finally have a settled home life with all the trimmings… But of course this is no ordinary western is it?

Stone Harrison is our lone Cowboy and Luke Reynolds is the foreman he comes to rely on but of course the difference in this story is that both these men have no interest in women and never will have but living in a time when being gay could result in nothing short of losing your life, both have lived their lives, up to meeting each other, keeping it well and truly hidden. Of course the attraction and lust is there and after a while Luke’s warm teasing manner breaks down Stone’s brittle persona and reservations, causing the inevitable to happen. But, the morning after, Stone pushes Luke away for fear of their relationship not only harming the running of the ranch, but his and Luke’s lives.

“This was now his home, and there wasn’t any place he’d rather be. Part of what made that feeling, though was one smart-mouthed cowboy with a gleam in his eye and a teasing word on his lips. A cowboy who seemed quite willing to take Stone as he was and even take him to bed. And that was the one thing Stone knew could never happen.”

From then on they revert back to a working relationship that strains their friendship but stubbornness and underlying feelings run high and when danger strikes the ranch they have to put it all aside to ensure the safety of everything they’ve worked to achieve.

Add in some great small town characters, a proper slimy baddie, his hired henchmen, some very well paced sexual tension and two REALLY likeable MC’s and I think you’ve got an absolute cracker! There’s a lovely back story involving Stone’s Auntie, who’s left him the ranch, that I thought was a refreshingly sweet addition to this type of tale and a lovely little twist at the end that made me smile and left me feeling the fuzzies! One surprise I did have was that this is a collaboration of two authors. I’d never have known because the story flows beautifully. Nice one ladies!

I honestly didn’t put this down once I started it and ended up reading it all in one sitting. I think it’s probably one of the nicest m/m westerns I’ve ever read. There’s not oodles of sex but what there is, it is still sexy, full of chemistry and very romantic. I found it to be a lovely romance that didn’t insist on them jumping into bed every five minutes but still had that sexual frisson that kept you glued to their “will they/won’t they” love affair. This is a good solid story with sex…not sex with a bit of story thrown in. Perhaps this is why some readers have rated it lower? I don’t know but for me this engaging book is a winner and a total keeper. I absolutely loved it. One little niggle was that I thought they should have cottoned on to who the baddie was a lot earlier, I knew the moment he arrived in the story he was going to be trouble, and I was a wee bit disappointed in how he gets his comeuppance but because of the end of the story, which I loved, I saw why it had to be that way so I gave it leeway, and this is a story, at the end of the day and great one at that, so it’s 4.5 rounded up.

Now I’m left hankering for another tale of the Wild West with strong silent cowboys in chaps riding the range… as long as they’re sexy ones. Slap my thighs and  YEEHAW! You know what they say about riding a cowboy… (winks and grins)

Macky’s rating:

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press  ||  Book Store

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
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Book Review: Prize Package by Kyle Adams

Review by Macky

TITLE: Prize Package
AUTHOR: Kyle Adams
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
BLURB: When Jason Smith wins a contest he doesn’t remember entering, he earns a visit with The MeatGrinder, aka Trent Peterson. Trent expected a rabid fan; instead, he gets Jason, who knows nothing about wrestling, doesn’t care about the prizes, and would prefer to skip the official wrestling demo, please. Trent should be annoyed, but by the end of the day, Trent knows he wants more than one day with Jason. Now he just has to convince Jason that Trent is more than his alter ego.

REVIEW:

I have to be honest I’ve read every Kyle Adams free short story up to now and I absolutely loved every single one and I’ve always said that I would have been very happy to pay for them because they’re really well written, never fail to make me laugh, always get me a bit hot under the collar – Fans self – and definitely never fail to leave me wanting more. And that’s why he gets high ratings from me, however short or at times bite size his stories have been. Its all about the enjoyment for me and I adore Kyles style.

So I was all set to go and buy Prize Package from Dreamspinner when Sid offered me the book to read and review for free again! Well I’m certainly not going to refuse that am I? ( Sorry Kyle I was going to pay. Honest! )

Kyles first purchaseble novella Prize Package has his trademark styling all over it. Its laugh out loud funny, has characters who draw you to them straight away, great chemistry and sexual tension and of course some mouthwatering smexy bits ….. Although I did miss his usual uber hot, deliciously smutty sex scenes that appear to have been slightly toned down in this story. Hence the slight drop in rating. Still sexy though!

I read it in bed and I was sniggering so much I was convinced I’d wake everyone up so I advise reading this in a place where you don’t want to attract attention. Reading this secretly at work for instance is a definite no no.You WILL get found out when you keep breaking into spontaneous bouts of laughter and make umpteen visits to the loo for fear of ( ahem) embarrassing  yourself! Also do not drink tea or any other beverage whilst reading this book. Liquids and snorting leads to messy nasal spraying causing possible harm to your reading material, my kindle nearly short circuited! LOL.

The blurb gives enough info on the book so its no use rehashing that, but I will say that this contains one of the funniest games played on an Xbox I’ve ever come across and the banter between Jason and Trent plus their quirky interactions tickled me pink. Jason is clueless about anything to do with the contest or wrestling but the way he tries to get himself out of the many fibs he makes to cover himself, trying to make it look like he knows what he’s talking about, are classic and Trents insistence that they do everything that’s included in the prize he’s won, including a lesson in wrestling from ‘ The Meatgrinder ‘ himself, make for many more sniggering sessions. Great sizzling fun from beginning to end.

Congratulations Kyle on another gem. I agree with your moms wise words .. “The best book Ive read today!”

Hope the next one is coming soon and I will put my hand in my purse for that one… Unless of course Sid tempts me again. Must remember… keep a towel handy, read close to a bathroom and finish drink before commencement. Brilliant. A Kyle keeper.

Macky’s Rating:

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press ||  Book Store

 

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
=====================================================

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Book Review: Loving Luki Vasquez by Lou Sylvre

Review by Macky

TITLE: Loving Luki Vasquez (Book #1)
SERIES: Vasquez & James
AUTHOR: Lou Sylvre
BLURB: Reclusive weaver Sonny Bly James controls every color and shape in his tapestries, but he can’t control the pattern of his life—a random encounter with Luki Vasquez, ex-ATF agent and all-around badass, makes that perfectly clear. The mutual attraction is immediate, but love-shy Sonny has retreated from life, and Luki wears his visible and not-so-visible scars like armor. Neither can bare his soul with ease.

While they run from desire, they can’t hide from the evil that hunts them. After it becomes clear that a violent stalker has targeted Sonny, Luki’s protective instincts won’t let him run far, especially when Sonny’s family is targeted as well. Whether they can forgive or forget, Sonny and Luki will have to call a truce and work together to save Sonny’s nephew and fight an enemy intent on making sure loving Luki Vasquez is the last mistake Sonny will ever make.

REVIEW:

This is a bit confusing for me because I was certain that I’d read this when it was very first released but as I got into the story I started to get a weird feeling that I’d only read the sample chapters because I remembered  the intro to it but as I read on it got less and less familiar, so it looks like my brain was playing tricks. Time’s passed and I’ve slept since then, so I think it will forever remain a mystery. 😉

Anyway to get to the review! This has the sort of storyline that I really love. Crime, mystery, suspense and of course the sexy love story to bind it together with two very interesting, flawed characters. Luki is actually scarred inside and out! So I was expecting great things and at times I got them but I also had early moments of disconnect. For the first half of the book I found myself having to really concentrate to keep myself in the zone  because I was finding it hard to get that connection with Luki and Sonny that usually (for me) happens from the word go. I admit to a little moment of panic where I thought It wasn’t going to happen at all.

Lou Sylvre writes beautifully, there’s no doubt about that, but it didn’t always have that easy flow and I felt the chemistry and sexual tension that I thought  should have been jumping off the page when they were together, suffered for it. Although, there are some very nice love scenes that make up for that,  so its there but just not consistently.

I liked Luki and Sonny but I wanted to LOVE them and it was frustrating because something was stopping me from doing that. I honestly think that this is one of those books that will either be love at first read or a slow burner for most readers. It was a slow start for yours truly.

But…then came the Hallelujah moment when the two of them hit a very rough patch in their relationship. It was my favourite part of the whole story, when Luki makes a terrible rash decision and then realises he’s made a massive mistake with Sonny that he can’t get out of and they have a very intense scene together that really touched me and made me realise that at this point they did truly love each other. This was my epiphany and it was like turning on a light… I finally felt the connect.

” Is that how you see…saw me? You thought I was beautiful?” “yes,” Sonny said, and then he sighed. His voice had lost it’s edge, melodious and rich again. ” That’s how I see you. I think you’re beautiful.”

” I never cry” He tried to smile, to pretend it was a joke. Sonny turned around to face him. ” yes Luki,” he said. ” You do. You’re crying most of the time, and everyone knows it but you.”

From then on the book took off and I got pulled into the story, especially as at this point the crime/ suspense thread in the plot moves up a notch as well. So I sighed in relief and got stuck in till the final showdown, which is nail biting enough to make you sit on your hands.

Overall thoughts… Apart from the initial stutter, I did end up enjoying the book but it didn’t quite reach the level of greatness I would have loved to have wowed about but its good and having finished it I’d now like to see more of Luki and Sonny’s journey so I’ll definitely carry on the series. I’m hoping that as the series progresses I’ll get to know the characters a lot better. I’ve got a feeling this will start to grow on me more with each new book…I really hope so. One thing I do love are the covers for this series, Done I think by Reese Dante. Stunning and very classy to match Lou’s writing style!

This would have been a 4 star rating but the connection came just a bit too late in the game to fully warrant that so I’m pitching it just below at 3.75.

 

Macky’s Rating:  [3.75 stars]

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Press  ||  Book Store

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
====================================================

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Book Review: Unwanted Appeal by Kaje Harper

Review by Macky

(Read Macky’s review for:
Book #1 of Hidden Wolves series: Unacceptable Risks
Book #1.5 (Free Read): Unsettled Interlude
Book #2: Unexpected Demands)

TITLE: Unwanted Appeal (Book #2.5)
SERIES: Hidden Wolves
AUTHOR: Kaje Harper
BLURB: Werewolf packs traditionally stay aloof from one another, but gossip still spreads like wildfire. Whispers and rumors about Simon and his mate-bonded male lover, and the pack’s experiences with human were-hunters, are still making the rounds.  Aaron, the Alpha of Minneapolis West, would love to see his pack’s fame fade into the past. But the arrival of two strange wolves makes it clear that for some outsiders, his pack is still considered a pariah, or a threat.  For others, it has unwanted appeal.

REVIEW:

It was great to be able to follow up ‘Unexpected Demands’  with this second free short from the Hidden Wolf series. These freebies really are a decent length considering they’re only meant to be an interlude between novels and what I’ve enjoyed about them is the fact that they aren’t just there to give you a little peek into how life is treating the characters you’ve just got involved with, they actually contain a story that is in keeping with the whole series and the conflicts that have arisen from the strict pack politics of the Werewolf communities. Aaron is trying to bring them into the 21st century because he knows that their discovery is probably going to happen sooner than later because of modern technology but at the same time he is still well aware that he is first and foremost a Were with a pack to protect until that happens.

“The packs are changing. For many Alphas, who tend to be men in their sixties, or perhaps eighties, or even nineties, the modern world is accelerating too fast for their tastes. Even women’s rights are a difficult stretch for some of them.”

In a speech he makes to Paul, who as a human bonded to his mate, questions some of the violence that they practice to stay hidden, he says:

” I’m not one of your tame kittens. Don’t think it for a minute. I believe that to survive, we will have to adapt further to human society. And if … When we are outed, that change will be even more necessary. But we are werewolves. Not men. Not wolves. We are pack, and if one of my pack pushes me too far, I will take him down as hard as necessary.”

Aaron is still keeping his relationship secret with Zach, Simon and Paul are recovering from the trauma of the last book, the pack are still adjusting to Aaron’s leadership and we’re  introduced to some really interesting new characters who no doubt will feature more prominently in the next full novel. One of them –  Cole – is a character who even now has me wondering about the direction she’s going to take him because straight away you expect him to be one thing ( read it and you’ll see what I mean ) but then she takes him in a different direction. Saying that it could all change in the next one, so I’m really intrigued by how his story is going to pan out! Obviously there’s a lot more than that going on but I really wouldn’t want to give too much away! Oh go on then,  just one little taster. There’s another new character called Jason, a werewolf from another pack who turns up on them badly beaten up and … No! Sorry, changed my mind. You’ll have to read it! LOL.

The reason that this gets the full five stars, is because once again it showcases how great Kaje Harper is at capturing your interest, keeping it and wetting your appetite for more, despite the fact that its so short. This felt much longer than it was and again I was gripped by the great storytelling and world building around the werewolves that’s built up over the series.

If you enjoy the novels then these are a must add. Don’t try to read them as standalones because they won’t make as much sense and make sure you read them in order. I can honestly say this is one of my most favourite shifter series ever and to get these in-between ones free is fantastic. For me,  this is almost turning out to be one hell of a series. Hope it continues that way. Recommend!

 

DOWNLOAD LINK (free): Goodreads

 

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
=====================================================

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Book Review: Unexpected Demands by Kaje Harper

Review by Macky

(Read Macky’s review for:
Book #1 of Hidden Wolves series: Unacceptable Risks
Book #1.5 (Free Read): Unsettled Interlude)

TITLE: Unexpected Demands (Book #2)
SERIES: Hidden Wolves
AUTHOR: Kaje Harper
PUBLISHER: MLR Press
BLURB: Becoming Alpha made Aaron responsible for protecting his new pack against outside threats, but fighting his own desires might pose an even bigger challenge.

When Aaron took down a crazy dominant wolf and inherited half a pack, he knew the Alpha job wasn’t going to be easy. A week later, he’s finding out what an understatement that was. Having a gay wolf in his pack brings lethal threats from other werewolves. Then humans locate his wolves and move in to try to capture and exploit one of them. Aaron has enough pressure and demands without letting his long-suppressed sexuality escape his rigid control. But keeping his distance from a young man who appeals to all his senses could be Aaron’s biggest challenge.

REVIEW:

” When you’re Alpha of a werewolf pack, even as small and non-traditional as mine, you have to BE Alpha. No doubts, no worries, at least where the lower-ranked wolves can see you. I’d been faking that all week, ever since pack leadership had fallen into my hands.

Since I’d ripped it from Karl’s bleeding body.

A rap on the door startled me, then the door was flung open before I could respond. Vincent looked in. His normal air of detached amusement was replaced with a frown. “Aaron, there’s trouble at Simons……..” 

So starts Aaron’s story in the second delicious book of Kaje Harpers most excellent Werewolf series… Hidden Wolves. At the end of book one, Simon and Paul’s story, Aaron is left a reluctant Alpha to a splinter group from the original pack after defeating the evil second Karl. Simon and Paul are making waves amongst the other, larger established packs because of their gay bond mating and as well as trying to keep them safe – because the other packs are chomping at the bit to have Paul and Simon exterminated because no one believes its a true bond –   Aaron is himself trying to keep the fact that he’s also gay from everyone around him, but finding it very hard as he has to take a young troubled Zach under his wing and temptation is staring him in the face and groin! To make it worse it becomes clear that Zach reciprocates his feelings so whats a man ( and his inner wolf ) to do?

Wow! The pack politics and hierarchy in Kaje’s  books are so convincing that like I said in my review of ‘ Unacceptable Risk ‘, you could really believe that they exist and are living amongst us. These shifters are staunchly homophobic and fiercely protective of keeping that existence secret from the human world. They’ll go to extreme lengths to keep from being outed to the human race but only as a last resort. They’re not rampant killers or monsters and this is part of what Paul can’t fully come to terms with. His humanity is still at odds with some of the things he’s witnessed but his love for Simon is foremost so his loyalties are now with the pack he’s become part of. For them the choices they sometimes have to make are purely for the survival of their race, so when Simon is kidnapped halfway through the story and no one knows by why, Aaron and his small but loyal pack have a race against time to find him. Is it some other Wolves or something far more sinister?!

What a roller coaster this book was. Full of intrigue, suspense and so strongly plotted that once again I was glued to every page. Aaron’s character is perfectly spun. He’s up against a lot of resistance from the start but he stands his ground and protects his pack with strength and dignity, even though he’s not sure that being Alpha is what he would have really chosen had it not been necessary to kill Karl. It was great to see more of Simon and Paul and all the other secondary characters who’s roles in the story are strong and totally supportive of the story line.

” In most cases the pack second took his ( the Alphas ) place. That was probably a hard enough transition to make. But it couldn’t compare to suddenly becoming Alpha when you hadn’t even imagined it. I had been sixth in the pack, safely high but not in line for the top spot for decades to come..”

But Aaron is dominant and as soon as he takes on the role of Alpha, the bond with his pack is palpable and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

” MINE, THESE WOLVES ARE MINE. I was protective, and at the same time I fought a need to get every one of them down on the floor in submission………for seven years with this pack and six years with the one before it, I had locked away half my personality and made myself the perfect unobtrusive subordinate. Now the locks were breaking.”

A big part of the story is centred around the budding secret sexual relationship between Aaron and Zach and same as before the love scenes are sizzling hot, not repetitive or yawn worthy like some that are churned out in this genre, but there’s no doubt once Simon goes missing the book shifts into first gear and from then on its one hell of an exciting ride.

Apart from the two interludes that Ms Harper has so graciously provided as follow ups to both books, its now an impatient wait for book three, and it can’t come too soon. I’m loving this series and again it gets a perfect five stars for the brilliant writing style and superb imagination of an author I’m now pretty much in awe of! Suddenly I’m starting to look at my neighbours a bit more closely. I’m sure the broken leg of the guy across the street shouldn’t be healing quite that quickly…..Hmmmm! It seems to be alright naaaoooooow!! LOL.

BUY LINK: Book Store

==================================
Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
=====================================================

Check out all our recommended books in Sid Love’s eBook Store:
Recommended Books

(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

Book Review: Unsettled Interlude by Kaje Harper

Review by Macky

(Read Macky’s review for Book #1 of Hidden Wolves series: Unacceptable Risks)

TITLE: Unsettled Interlude (Book #1.5)
SERIES: Hidden Wolves
AUTHOR: Kaje Harper
BLURB: Paul Hunter just spent two days as a captive to werewolves, his life hanging in the balance, a witness to crimes and craziness. Now he’s back in his regular life, and living with Simon, the man he’s been falling for. And he’s part of a werewolf pack. He needs his brain to somehow catch up with all of that.

Simon thought saving his human mate from his own pack would be the hardest thing he’d face with Paul, but he’s beginning to realize that was just the beginning. He has to figure out how their future will work, and convince his skittish lover that staying with the pack is better than leaving it, while hints of threats to Paul’s safety keep him awake at night. Fortunately Simon is up for the challenge.

REVIEW:

Starting exactly where Unacceptable Risk left off, this short story deals mainly with Paul and Simon coming to terms with the events from the last two days, so don’t try to read this as a standalone because it contains major spoilers for book one, for that reason alone its hard to do a non spoiler review so sorry, this won’t be a long in-depth one.

The person who is struggling most is Paul. As a human he finds it hard to understand the pack mentality and he’s still not sure that the decisions he’s had to make very quickly are the right ones. He knows by this point he does love Simon …but is it enough to give up the life he’s built up for himself and can he ever adapt to being part of a pack?

‘Paul burrowed his face back in against the uninjured side of Simons neck. ” I’m not good for you. I’m still not going to be social,” he mumbled. ” You have all these people, these friends and I’m going to be the weird guy in the corner who doesn’t talk to them. And I don’t handle being told what to do well … I question everything, and I’ll probably get you into trouble again.”

I love Paul and Simon as a couple. Even though its early days in their relationship you can see how much they belong together and in this short follow up we get to see them coming to that conclusion by thrashing out their concerns together. How they resolve those concerns is something you need to find out for yourselves, especially if the series grabs you as much as its grabbed me.

Some short stories flash past but this felt extremely satisfying and was a great lead into book two Aaron’s story. The reason it only gets 4 stars is purely because of its length, its shorter than the second one and hasn’t as much plot but still very enjoyable and an essential part of the ongoing thread. Overall it’s still a five star series in my eyes. I really love these guys and can’t wait to get to book three. To be honest if I’d had to,  I’d have quite happily paid to read these but Kaje has done them as freebies. What more could you ask for! Perfect.

Macky’s Rating:

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
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Book Review: Unacceptable Risk by Kaje Harper

Review by Macky

TITLE: Unacceptable Risk (Book #1)
SERIES: Hidden Wolves
AUTHOR: Kaje Harper
PUBLISHER: MLR Press
BLURB: Simon Conley was born a werewolf, making him one of a tiny minority in a sea of vanilla humans. The safety of the pack lies in absolute secrecy, sometimes violently enforced. In a species where pack-members are born and not made, being gay is considered a perversion. So when Simon falls in love with a human man, he’s twice damned. Even his Alpha’s grudging tolerance may not be enough to shield him from the hatred of the other top wolves. Then his lover Paul stumbles across pack secrets Simon was sworn to keep, and if the pack finds out, they may both end up dead.

REVIEW:

If this was Review-a-Vision then you’d be blinded by a grin the size of the Grand Canyon because right now I’m one very happy reviewer and feeling even more so because I know I’ve got three more books –  one novel and two ‘ interlude’ shorts –  to read and review from this brilliant Werewolf series by Kaje Harper. What’s even better is I get to read them for free. Yaay…How cool is that!

I’ve been reading M/M for just over two years and for some strange reason have only just got around to reading Kajes books. I can’t believe I waited so long! Before striking gold with this series I’d not long ago read ‘The Rebuilding Year’ a standalone contemporary romance that I loved, and then because I enjoyed that so much read the  first book in her wonderful series ‘Life Lessons’ that also wowed me, so I was intrigued to see if she could impress me with a series set around a genre that to be honest I’ve become more than a little jaded with …

So, colour me VERY impressed.

Loved, loved, loved it! Probably the most realistic take on Werewolves that I’ve ever come across. Nothing over the top or beyond belief, this story almost made me believe that unbeknown to us humans, Werewolves  are living amongst us, working alongside us and living their lives quietly and secretly, just hiding below the radar and keeping themselves to themselves. It was believable and totally engrossing.

“We’re a rare species, trying to survive surrounded by millions of humans. We don’t have super strength, or immortality, or mental powers like in the movies. We survive by not being seen.”

” But, on the down side, that means no superpowers. If neither man nor a wolf can do something, odds are we can’t either. If we are magic, there are a few things I wish the wizard had added in.” 

The world building around the Were’s is brilliant. The pack mentality is there and the mate bond that of course we’ve come to expect from wolf lore but this has has little to do with full moons or rampant flesh eating monsters with claws and big teeth! They heal fast, live quite a bit longer than humans, have enhanced senses and shift of course but  Kajes wolves are more dangerous to each other than the humans they hide from.

“And the pack lived by rules, fiercely enforced and unbreakable”

So when Paul stops to pick up an injured Simon in his wolf form one night, little does he know how his life is going to change.

Simon is a funny, warm and loving character. I adored him. His status within the pack is tenuous because he’s gay, having talked his way out of a death sentence because of it, he’s barely tolerated by the rest of the wolves and although he tries to live his life without getting too involved,  is caught up in pack politics, as a faction led by the Alphas evil second and ex enforcer Karl, tries to take over the pack using Simon as a catalyst. Falling in love with Paul, who he ( and his wolf )  recognises as his mate, puts them both in danger.

‘Simon sighed and hauled another stool close enough to sit. ” I like you. I like you a whole lot, and I want you even more than that. Because my real life is a mess, and the last thing I need is to have someone I care about mixed up in it. But somehow I’m not smart around you.” ‘

Paul’s character, who I also loved, is initially straight but again Kaje handles the Gay For You aspect of their relationship in such a way as to make it seem completely natural for Paul to be drawn to Simon. No rushing these two into insta love, it all happens slowly but surely and together they generate some wonderful sexual tension and chemistry… the love scenes are hot but never gratuitous. Not an easy relationship, Paul has to make some life altering decisions and I was on pins but at the same time hoping beyond all hope that they’d make it work because you know these endearing guys are truly meant to be together.

Everything about this story thrilled me. The excellent plotting, the gorgeous romance and the fresh take on the paranormal world it showcases. I know I’m supposed to find something niggly to counterbalance the gushing but truthfully I can’t pin point anything negative at all. I devoured  every single word and can’t wait to get to the next one.

The best paranormal book I’ve read for a long time, hope others agree. Deserves every one of its 5 solid stars. Next please!

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
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Book Review: Spirit Sanguine by Lou Harper

Review by Macky

TITLE: Spirit Sanguine

AUTHOR: Lou Harper

PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing

BLURB: Is that a wooden stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

After five years in eastern Europe using his unique, inborn skills to slay bloodsuckers, Gabe is back in his hometown Chicago and feeling adrift. Until he’s kidnapped by a young, sexy vampire who seems more interested in getting into his pants than biting into his neck.

Harvey Feng is one-half Chinese, one-hundred-percent vampire. He warns Gabe to stay out of the Windy City, but somehow he isn’t surprised when the young slayer winds up on his doorstep. And why shouldn’t Gabe be curious? A vegetarian vampire isn’t something one sees every day.

Against their better judgment, slayer and vampire succumb to temptation. But their affair attracts unexpected attention.

When Chicago’s Vampire Boss makes Gabe an offer he can’t refuse, the unlikely lovers are thrust into peril and mystery in the dark heart of the Windy City. Together they hunt for kidnappers, a killer preying on young humans, and vicious vampire junkies.

However, dealing with murderous humans and vampires alike is easy compared to figuring out if there’s more to their relationship than hot, kinky sex.

REVIEW:

Not having read many books by Lou Harper I was sort of new to her writing style. I had read a couple of shorts by her which I’d found very enjoyable, but this was my first full-length novel and after finishing, it certainly won’t be my last.

Spirit Sanguine was a real treat. I went off the boil with vampire books quite a while ago, the problem being that like a lot of tropes they’d been done to death, each one jumping on the others’ bandwagon and every one sounding and reading like a carbon copy of its predecessor.
Not this one. It was a breath of fresh air and an absolute pleasure to read. Split into three separate short stories it introduces two brilliant characters – Gabe the slayer and Harvey the vamp –  both completely different to the usual slayer/vamp combo that we’re used to in general PNR books, including m/m and het ones.

So what’s so different about this one? Well, for a start, it’s funny. Harvey is great at the one liners and Gabe’s somewhat deadpan character a great recipient for them, they bounce off each other superbly and I found myself sniggering and giggling all the way through. Just my type of sense of humour… I love snarkiness in a story and this is full of it!

 The vampire sighed. ” Don’t be a grumpy pants. Let’s say we agree you’re a slayer.”

“I should’ve disemboweled you last time,” he muttered. ” You’re  just saying that. Entrails make a big mess.” Gabe felt the body under his hand shake, and he realised it was from laughter. ” Don’t make me laugh it hurts.”

“And you just happened to have six very sharp wooden sticks on you. Or were you just happy to see me?”
Harvey’s vamp is miles away from the snarly fangy, Grrr Arrrgh vamp behaviour that we generally know of, for one thing he’s vegetarian ( yep! I said vegetarian * snort* ) but he’s certainly no wimp, proving it quite a few times and Gabe finds things out about his past that makes him ponder all he’s been taught about killing vamps and the vampire community as a whole, causing him to rethink his role as a slayer and as the stories progress so does the relationship between these two totally engaging characters. I loved them both but I must admit Harvey was an absolute star and stole the show with his witty banter but Gabe has his moments too!

“You may be past it, but I can still die. How would you like that on you’re conscience?”

Starting as just a sexual attraction – and boy do they sizzle together – they become linked in ways that neither of them ever expect and all this just adds to the freshness of the ongoing plots. The book is split into three distinct stories, each one with its own storyline but at the same time linked by certain characters and threads. This was a nice change too. Lou could have quite easily put them out as three separate short stories but she gives them to us as a sort of anthology and I really liked that! The first of the three is the one where they meet and it is very amusing, setting up the tone and introducing the different vamp lore that Lou Harper has built around her characters, as Dill one of Harvey’s ditzy friends goes missing and they join forces to find him. Then the next two take on more sinister turns as Gabe and Harvey are now more established as a couple and Gabe starts work as a sort of private detective for the local big wig ‘mob style’ boss vamp. The middle and last each dealing with rogue vamps, murders, missing persons and cross dressing Vamps. Exciting but fun at the same time!

Talking of secondary characters we get to meet some great supporting ones, who add even more wit and substance to the book as a whole. There’s one character called Denton ‘ Dead Man’ Mills, who I believe is going to get his own book and if thats true then I’m first in line to read that one! All I can say is to meet this gang of quirky characters ( Twinky human Dill and his two ‘ daddies’ are also favourites ) you need to read this fantastic book. I personally couldn’t find anything negative to say about it…of course that’s my opinion, but I just fell in love with everything to the point were I had my rose coloured glasses on and pure enjoyment was driving me. I guess everyone will have their own thoughts on it but I’ll be very surprised if the majority of readers aren’t entranced with this refreshingly different take on the paranormal.

Please Ms Harper bring us more of Gabe and Harvey. There’s loads of mileage in these two and  I need to sink my ‘ fangs’ into more of their sexy juicy stories… A definite 5 STAR read for me!

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Macky is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love
=====================================================

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(Support this site and buy the books from my A-store)

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