Don’t Drink the Holy Water

Title: Don’t Drink the Holy Water

Author: Bailey Bradford

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Publisher URL: www.pride-publishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-78430-865-0

Genre: {M/M} Vampire Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

West is a new vampire still in training when he first meets Axel, even though the circumstances were ominous at the time, the attraction was immediate and long lasting.

Don’t Drink the Holy Water is the fourth book in The Vamp for Me series. In this episode, West is a victim of a cruel vampire attack. Coven leader Claude’s only option was to turn West into a vampire. West is the sole provider of his four siblings, which is the main reason Claude chose to save West’s life.  When West had adjusted to being a vampire, with the help of Claude, West moved to Portland, a larger coven with more humans to help care for the children while the vampires slept.

Axel has some notoriety as a sand boarder and was in Portland for a competition when he and West met for a second time. Again the attraction between them was immediate, but both men had issues, delaying their chance to really get to know each other before their budding relationship was lost forever. 

Don’t Drink the Holy Water is an enjoyable installment, I am curious to see where this series is headed since the location has changed as well as a different coven leader is featured.   

Dogwood Days

Title: Dogwood Days

Author: Poppy Dennison

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-63476-456-8

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

Jefferson Lee has fond memories of summers spent with his Uncle Sherman in Holly Creek. He may enjoy life in the city now but when his uncle suffers a bad fall, Jefferson Lee doesn’t hesitate to return to the small town to take care of him. His uncle usually plays a big part in publicising the annual Dogwood Days festival to attract tourists, but with Sherman out of action, the responsibility now falls to Jefferson Lee.

He’s a familiar face who understands small town politics, so the residents are more than happy to see Jefferson Lee put his journalistic talents to Holly Creek’s good use. And he’s enjoying every minute of it, especially as it means Jefferson Lee gets to spend plenty of time with the local sheriff, Zane Yarbrough. Before he knows it, Jefferson Lee is struggling to face the thought of ever leaving.

He’s made a lot of friends in Holly Creek over the years and he’s touched by how welcoming they have all been, but financial issues means Jefferson Lee can’t afford to stick around for much longer. His growing attraction to Zane is obvious for everyone to see however, so his friends decide that a little meddling is in order. Can the temptation of the handsome small town sheriff lure Jefferson Lee away from the big city for good? 

Dogwood Days is a fun story that really captures the energy of small town life. I enjoyed the gossipy feel; Jefferson Lee couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without someone knowing about it. The story does well to balance out the sometimes oppressive feel of such small town closeness with the spirit and camaraderie of residents coming together for the town’s best interests. I love how much depth the characters have. Jefferson Lee’s blossoming romance with the sheriff is very sweet and steady. I could really relate to the difficulties the pair face as they try to make their situation work under the watchful eye of the town. There are also plenty of supporting characters who definitely have their own story to tell. The build-up to the festival running in parallel with the impending decision Jefferson Lee has to make at the end makes for an exciting read. 

Twofer

Title: Twofer

Author: Daisy Harris

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publishers URL: https://www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781619233669

Genre: {M/M}, New Adult           

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

ARC to be published 12/22/15

Two young men from different backgrounds head off to college and end up as roommates.  Eventually, they begin to fall in love, however, both men are bottoms and don’t think their relationship stands a chance.  Neither Frankie nor Jeremy were planning on finding a partner but now that they have, they search for a way to make their relationship last.

Twofer is another well written story by author Daisy Harris.  This story will easily pull the reader in, as college students Frankie and Jeremy struggle to figure out if what they have is something to fight for, or just a passing fancy.  These two men are totally different from each other in many ways.  Jeremy comes from a Midwestern background.  He’s not used to flashy and he’s too shy to go after the guy he has had a crush on since the start of school.  Frankie, on the other hand, is flashy to the point of flaming at times.  He has no problems of going after who he wants and does not care if that makes him look slutty.  When the two are thrown together as roommates, they have a bit of a rocky start.  Frankie eventually sees Jeremy as a project however, and sets out to get Jeremy laid. 

The two end up spending a lot of time together as Frankie sets out to give his roommate a makeover.  Along the way, between haircuts and new clothes, Frankie starts to have feelings for Jeremy.  The two men have one big problem that could be the end of their relationship before it even gets started.

I liked the journey the author sent these two on.  What starts out as a way to get rid of Jeremy’s virginity soon becomes something more.  That does not mean that it is all fun and games.  Feelings get in the way when the two decide that they need to find a third who will help Jeremy lose his virginity while keeping Frankie close so that Jeremy does not freak out.  All the confusion and hurt feelings are easy to understand when you remember just how young these two really are.  Of course that does not mean that these two don’t heat up the pages.  Between experimenting with toys and a partner swap later in the story, these two really keep things hopping.

Fans of Ms. Harris are sure to enjoy this newest book by the author and, if you are thinking of giving her a try, then Twofer is a great place to start.  

Whisper Pride Pack

Title:  Whisper Pride Pack

Author:   T. Cobbin

Publisher:  Beachwalk Press, Inc.

Publisher URL:   http://beachwalkpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781940744957 

Genre:  {M/F} Erotic Paranormal

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Relocating to a new town and job on the drop of a dime is a blessing for Josie.  She narrowly escaped a horror worse than death because of her mother’s fixation, so dealing with a bitchy co-worker should be a breeze.  But, working with a deliciously yummy boss and keeping her hands to herself is going to be impossible.  Josie keeps silent about the details that brought her to town, completely unaware that the small town has secrets of its own.

Conan has no doubt that his new employee with the angelic voice is also his mate.  All the Alpha can do is imagine mating with Josie on the spot.  Things go from zero to one hundred quickly between him and Josie, so Conan has to find the right moment to spring the news on her that he’s a shifter. 

Josie and Conan settle into coupledom effortlessly, but others around them disrupt their new happiness.  Between pack members and Josie’s mother, danger once again finds Josie, but this time Conan is there to protect her.  

Whisper Pride Pack shocked me with the details of Josie’s mother.  I know she was an addict, but I couldn’t believe what she did to Josie.  I was so disgusted that I hoped for a much worse outcome for her.  T. Cobbin picked an addiction that was unusual and that added to the uniqueness of the story.  Readers get a spicy union with the right amount of drama added in this story.  If I am right, readers haven’t seen the last of this pack.  Once they read this story, I know they will anticipate another one as much as I am.

The Neighbors

Title: The Neighbors

Author: Hurri Cosmo

Publisher: Amber Allure

Publisher URL: www.amberquill.com

ISBN: 978-1-68175-100-9

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal 

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Danny’s life is one crisis after another. Between school and taking care of his mother, Danny rarely has time to relax with his friends. However, Danny’s new neighbors Gabriel and his brother Samuel prove to be the saviors Danny so desperately needed.

The Neighbors is an interesting spin on traditional vampire myths. Gabriel and Samuel are vampires because of a curse. Their characteristics are the same as any other human; the only difference is that they have fangs. The vampires and Danny’s history is a little confusing, as well as the meaning of living blood was not completely clear either. The storyline hints at the living blood’s purpose but not the origin.

Nevertheless, the plot illustrated dealing with high school bullies, along with living in poverty brought on by long term illness. There is also an enemy of the vampires featured as the suspense element. 

Overall, Hurri Cosmo has created an enjoyable saga that grants the reader to form their own interpretation.  

Paws, Preening and A Pumpkin Patch

Title: Paws, Preening and A Pumpkin Patch

Author: Charlie Richards

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Publishers URL: http://www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-4874-0549-6

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series          

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Do a bear and a raven have anything in common?  It looks like Hess and Gilbert are about to find out.  That is if the government does not destroy everything first.

Paws, Preening and A Pumpkin Patch is the 31^st book in the Wolves of Stone Ridge series by author Charlie Richards.  This story introduces several new characters to the series, as well as some new problems.  Gilbert is one of the shifters recently rescued from the labs in Russia.  Part of a flock made up with a variety of bird species, Gilbert is the beta of their small ‘pack’.  Each of the members has issues to overcome due to spending decades in cages, sometimes unable to shift.  While lonely, Gilbert knows it is important that everyone in his flock is healthy and safe before he thinks about himself.  When he meets his mate at a bar, he blows him off knowing it’s for the best.

Hess is a Kodiak bear.  He’s always been a solider in one way or the other. At his back was usually his friend Dillan.  He’s in Colorado to meet up with Dillan, as well as to talk with the Stone Ridge Alpha.  Deciding to stop by one of the local bars, he is intrigued by a smell that leads him straight to Gilbert.  He is a little shocked when the little bird walks away, but once he has a target in sight, Hess does not give up and sets out to woo his mate.   

I liked the way the author handles the situation between the two men without drawing out the “should I or shouldn’t I” mate issue that existed.  Of course the physical part of Gilbert’s and Hess’ mating is hot, and even though Hess is tough and intimidating, he is gentle with Gilbert making the mating everything it should be.  Problems arise however when Hess’ computer searches are flagged and the government shows up to cause trouble.  

Paws, Preening and A Pumpkin Patch is full of great secondary characters.  Some are old friends that fans of the series already know.  These guys show up to lend Hess a hand, both with information about his mate and also to protect Gilbert when the government comes knocking.  There is also the introduction of new characters as readers get to know Gilbert’s bird family.  I really hope that  all the rest of the flock get their own stories, however I can’t wait to see Hector and Rocky’s story first as I really could not help falling for the little bird.