Waltz With a Lawman

Title: Waltz With a Lawman

Author: Brit Blaise

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

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

ISBN/BIN: 9781419946424

Genre: {M/M}, Western, Historical

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Lee’s grief for his father has taken him to places he never thought he would go.  When the results of his actions cause a young woman to be compromised, he does the only thing he can to set it right.  Now married Lee, his wife, and his in-laws head to Arizona to start over.  Only, along the way, Lee begins to realize that things are not always what they appear to be. 

Waltz With a Lawman is the newest story by author Brit Blaise.  This is a historical romance that pulled me in from the first page.  Right at the beginning you know everything is not what it seems, yet Lee is so overcome with grief that he is unable to see that for himself.  I liked that the young man had others looking out for him, even when he thought it was unnecessary.   Where Lee is young and innocent, Shad is hard and jaded.  The lawman is tough and you can’t help but like him. It’s hard to imagine him having a soft side, yet with Lee he does.  There is an instant connection between the two men yet, because of the time period in which they live, it is not as easy to form a relationship as it is today.  The author does a good job bringing these two men together, while at the same time keeping the story believable. The passion between them is intense and I loved that there was no denying they were starting a relationship and not just scratching an itch.

While the mystery is easy to follow, and even predictable at times, the book still held my interest.   I could not wait to see how the author solved each issue that popped up.  And as for the problem people, I could not wait to see them each get what they had coming.  While there are a couple of things I wish the author would have gone into more detail about, it did not keep me from enjoying this story. 

Waltz With a Lawman is a well written story that historical fans are sure to love.     

Wolfheart

Title: Wolfheart

Author: Dan Cash

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL:

ISBN/BIN: 9781622321216

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 3 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

One night Dane’s out with his friend Nick and he’s attacked in an alley by a group of guys who turn into monsters.  He doesn’t know it but his best friend has been keeping a secret. Nick’s a werewolf and Dane’s just gotten sucked into a rivalry he didn’t know existed. Once they’re safe, Nick’s forced to confess the truth and he takes them to safety, pulling Dane further into the shifter world. It also brings Dane into contact with Nick’s pack leader and Alpha, Connor. 

When Connor scents Dane, his wolf demands his mate and fearing his loss, Connor kidnaps Dane. Being lovesick means making some bad decisions and it doesn’t take long to realize Dane is terrified. If Connor wants to win over Dane, he has to convince his mate he isn’t scary or dangerous to him, but a man looking for his other half.

Wolfheart is the first release in the new shifter series, Wolfpack, by Dan Cash. As many know, I’m a big fan of shifter romances and the blurb caught my attention. I had high hopes for it. I enjoyed the beginning. The opening scene with Dane in the club pulled me into the story. It’s full of descriptions and even has a nice amount of Dane’s personal history. The move into the confrontation alley scene is nicely done—it’s smooth and believable—even if Dane is shown to be gullible.  The imagery of Dane first seeing a werewolf transformation is handled well. You can almost see his eyes bulging with fear. The remainder of the scene—once Nick arrives is equally good. So, as you can see, I like this part.

My problem arises with what happens next. Connor’s the Alpha. He’s supposed to be responsible, have restraint and know how to handle different situations. The opening scene at the barn is fine but Connor and Dane’s initial contact turned me off. As Alpha, Connor is supposed to care for his mate, not scare him to death by kidnapping him and throwing him in a trunk. This section turned into one angst-filled interaction after another. Dane went from being kidnapped to thinking he might like Connor to having sex way too fast. There just wasn’t any plot here. Just Connor trying to seduce Dane and convince him to accept the mating, we didn’t get to learn much about Connor either. 

The pace picks up again in the last 1/3, showing Connor and Dane’s interaction with the rest of the pack, but it’s more of everyday life and getting to know each other than anything else. No outside conflict, but it’s what saved the story for me and kept me from giving it a lower rating. If the author releases another book in the series, I’ll consider giving it a try, just to see if the world building in Wolfheart led to a richer, deeper second book.

Moon Dances

Title: Moon Dances

Author: KC Kendricks

Publisher: Amber Allure

Publisher URL: www.amberquill.com

ISBN: 978-1-61124-580-6

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Lieutenant Fallon Roxbury is more than ready for a vacation after capturing a sinister murder suspect. The perfect place to vacation with his lover Sundown is Fallon’s former family home, Lake Luna. However, their vacation turns into another mystery, this time involving Fallon’s youth.

Moon Dances is the fourth book in the Sundown series. This is an intriguing romantic mystery series. The characters are creditable. Fallon is a Special Police Consultant, working cold cases along with his partner Juny. Also key in solving the murder cases is Fallon’s alien lover Sundown, who has the ability to shape shift.

In this episode, Fallon learns more about the alien clan Chal. Particularly how they procreate as well as the unique talents the Chal have. Sundown is a rare breed amongst the Chal, so it is the duty of the other members to protect Sundown. As Sundown’s chosen one, it is Fallon’s duty to not only protect Sundown but to keep the Chal a secret from the rest of the world. Fallon and Sundown are well matched with similar personalities. Because of the bond they share, Fallon and Sundown also work well together solving crimes.

KC Kendricks’ Moon Dances is a fascinating as well as a very enjoyable installment to the series, which is best read in sequence. I will not divulge Fallon’s discoveries; I will leave that for the readers. However, besides the revealed secrecies, there are delightful intimacy scenes and moments of humor integrated into the storyline.

Kit’s Return

Title: Kit’s Return

Author: Stephani Hecht

Publisher: eXtasy Books

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

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-901-6

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Kit is responsible for the lives of a small group of lost shifters who have all been kicked out of their families.  With things getting desperate, the young feline shifter jumps at the possibility of help from the Coalition.  With all the changes going on around him, he only hopes Bowie will still be around.

Kit’s Return is the newest release in the The Lost Shifters series.  This newest book brings a small group of shifters into the fold, leaving the door open for many new books to follow this one.  The head of this small group is Kit, a tiger shifter, who is trying to hold his “pack” together, a concept that almost takes the series back to its beginnings.  However, the author still keeps this story fresh and fans of the series will not want to miss it. 

One of the ways the author gives this particular book a fresh spin is in the pairing.  Neither Kit nor Bowie is much of an alpha character, which is unusual for this genre.  I liked this switch up and could really see the young men being mates.  The chemistry between them is strong, so they do heat up the pages, but it was the way Bowie cared for Kit that I enjoyed the most.

The story has some wonderful new characters, as well as a few returning favorites.  The returning characters help move the story along as they assist the new couple.  Of course not everything is sunny and when the spiders and scorpions show up, prepare to be grossed out. 

Kit’s Return is sure to find its way onto many favorite bookshelves and, while it can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend picking up the back stories as well.

Moon Shine

Title: Moon Shine

Author: Vivian Arend

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61922-249-6

Genre: {M/F} Paranormal Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Release Date 05-27-2014

Evan Stone’s the Alpha of the Takhini Wolves and he thinks life is pretty good until the day his apartment electricity shuts off and the pack hotel loses power. Then when he tries to figure out what’s going on, the sprinklers go off, the police burst in and he gets arrested.

Vengeance is a dish best served cold and Amy Ryba’s been planning her revenge against Evan for months. Making him pay for his sins is all she thinks about and has planned for every contingency except learning her enemy is also her destined mate.

The mate bond pulls Evan and Amy together and throws their packs into turmoil as they try to work through their differences. Evan has to deal with the aftermath of Amy’s destructive actions and she needs to forget the past. The only other option—mate rejection.

Moon Shine is the latest release in Vivian Arend’s Takhini Wolves series. I suggest these books be read in order.

I’ve been looking forward to Evan’s book—have been since he was introduced. The author has a solid writing style and an ability to create interesting characters. I enjoyed learning details of Evan’s past and there is a nice growth of his personality. The imagery is vivid, it’s fast-paced, has lots of action and plenty of surprises to keep the pages turning.  Getting to see Shaun and some of the other individuals met previously is also a plus and some of the dialogue is amusing. So, as you see there’s a lot about the story I liked.

There are a couple of niggles to explain why I didn’t rate the review higher. 1. Amy, the female lead. How do I put this? I don’t like her. At all. She’s devious and underhanded. Yes, she makes some progress by the end, but for me, it’s too late. Reasons aside, Amy’s too vengeful. 2. Evan’s quick acceptance of Amy because of the mate bond. She tried to destroy him—his pack. Truthfully, I can’t tell you how much these two issues annoyed and disappointed me.

Even so, I’ll be looking for the next book in the series because I enjoyed the first three so much. 

Educating the Platypus

Title: Educating the Platypus

Author: Charlie Richards

Publisher: eXtasy Books

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

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-900-9

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

The only ones who know Kai is a shifter is his group of college friends.  While on vacation, the last thing he expects is to end up in a hunter’s trap that then leads to meeting his mate.  Dorian is shocked to have finally met his mate, but he is surprised to learn the younger man knows nothing of shifters, including what it means to be a mate. 

Educating the Platypus is Ms. Richards newest addition to the Kontra’s Menagerie series.  This story starts with everyone still in Kansas when Dorian, a new addition to Kontra’s pack, comes across his mate.  I like that the author has paired this serious shifter with Kai, who is so innocent in the ways of shifters that it helps Dorian to lighten up some.  There is a strong attraction between the two men and I love the way Kai reacts after the two have been separated for a short period of time.  

Educating the Platypus is a fast-paced read.  There are a variety of secondary characters, some old and some new that help move the story along.  The story does have a bit of unfinished feel to it, but the way it ends definitely leaves the series open to several more stories.  Fans of this series will want to make sure to pick up this book.

Finding Peace

Title: Finding Peace

Author: T. A. Chase

Publisher: Amber Quill Press

Publisher URL: http://www.amberquill.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61124-575-2

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Chad Mitchell’s life is out of control. Suffering from PTSD from his deployment in Afghanistan and his long-term use of alcohol, he can barely function. He’s been working at Cookie’s Diner but even that job has become more than he can cope with.

After recovering from his war injuries and beating his own addiction, Sergeant Zane Smithson is checking up on the men he served with in Afghanistan. When he gets to the diner, he discovers Chad has gone missing and sets out to find him. He’s been attracted to the younger man since they served together and now that they have a chance at being a couple, he’s determined to do whatever is necessary to help him overcome the demons destroying Chad’s life.

Finding Peace is the second release in Nowhere Diner series by TA Chase. This story takes up shortly after the first book ends, so I recommend they be read in order.

Finally. It’s been nearly five years. I was beginning to despair Chad’s story would ever be told, so I was pleased to learn that Finding Peace was being published.  After being introduced to this wounded man in the previous release I was curious as to his story—what, in his past, had formed him into the present man. The personal history the author created is painful but rich in details and is believable, whether it’s events from his childhood or military service. I got caught up in his story and what dealing with it—or maybe I should say not dealing with it—had done to him and his life. Nearly destroyed it.

I enjoyed Zane just as much and appreciated that his past is just as varied—and injured as Chad’s. He’d just chosen to deal with it differently. That’s what’s so compelling about this tale. It shows how people deal with pain and tragedy differently and it sets them on paths of healing or destruction.

We’re told Zane and Chad had a previous attraction. And when they actually begin a true relationship, while it’s rather quick given Chad’s situation, the author makes it work. And they do make a good couple. What my big issue is Chad’s recovery. It’s quick. Too quick considering how many years he was plagued with inner turmoil and pain. From my viewpoint, I’m disappointed with a mention of the small amount of follow-up therapy. It doesn’t seem realistic for the situation. Still, I found the rest of the story enjoyable, with a smooth pace and good integration of previous characters. In fact, it looks like Quinn and Wes might be featured next. I’ll be watching and waiting to see if I’m right.

Dance For Me

Title: Dance For Me

Author: Allison Cassatta and Remmy Duchene

Publisher: ManLoveRomance Press

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

ISBN/BIN: MLR-1-02014-0227

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Augusto has a dream, one that he does not ever see coming true.  However, after much pushing from family and friends, the young man auditions for entry to Juilliard.  Shocked when he is accepted, the self-trained hip hop dancer wonders what he will do next.  Alex is the school’s “golden boy” and acts accordingly.  When he watches the kid from the ghetto audition for a spot in the freshman class, he can’t help being a little shit about it.  Forced together, these two soon find out that neither is what they seem. 

Dance For Me is the newest book by authors Allison Cassatta and Remmy Duchene.  I have to say that this book seemed to start a little slow for me and I worried about whether or not I had made a mistake in picking this book.  Yet, as I got further into the book, the two men really started to pull me in.  Although Alex comes across as a bit of an ass in the beginning, once you get to know him, it is easy to see his actions are a type of protective cover.  As for Augusto, he is the type you really pull for and hope all his dreams come true.  It’s hard to see these two as a couple and, at times, I wondered what the authors were thinking pairing them together.  These two really play off each other wonderfully and in no time, you will find yourself wanting things to go well for them. 

Augusto and Alex come from totally different backgrounds, however, and those differences mean that things do not always go smoothly.  There is enough conflict to keep the readers wondering how things will turn out.  Each of the young men also has some rough history to overcome, although neither sees that at the time.

There is an interesting variety of secondary characters, each of whom lends an important layer to this story.  While I may have worried in the beginning, by the time I finished Dance For Me, I was glad that I had given the story a chance. 

Coming Clean

Title: Coming Clean

Author: Carol Lynne

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-0-85715-675-4

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Chase Hughes didn’t realize how much he’d change after going away to college and now he needs to tell Benny, his high school sweetheart, that he’s ready to move on. The problem—Chase doesn’t want to hurt him. When he’s working at Clean Slate, Chase meets Mac Evans, an older guy who pushes all his buttons. He’s more than ready to start a relationship, but Mac will only let it go so far before Chases confesses the truth to Benny.  Years ago, Mac came clean to the people in his life and it cost him dearly but he won’t live a lie or be a dirty little secret.

Coming Clean is the newest release in Carol Lynne’s Campus Cravings series. I admit that when I read the blurb I was distressed. It was the idea of Chase cheating on his boyfriend I didn’t like, but as a Campus Cravings fan (I’ve read them all) I knew I had to give Ms. Lynne a chance to get Chase out of his predicament. In truth, the situation he faces is experienced every day by many trying to maintain a long distance relationship. It’s hard but life changes and so do wants and desires.

That’s what Chase has to deal with and his feelings come across as real. I just wish he hadn’t also come across as whiny and afraid to tell the truth. His interest in the older Mac is clear. I like Mac and his insistence on dealing with the past before moving forward with Chase. His history is nicely developed and I like his integrity. It doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy either. The romance that develops between him and Chase is sweet and lighthearted. 

Having the story take Chase and Mac to Cattle Valley is a nice blending of the two series. It gives the opportunity for a confrontation between Chase and Benny—which is an introduction for Benny since I’m expecting him to be featured when he heads off to college. I’m also looking forward to a book about Peter, Chase’s roommate. Both guys are nice additions to the story line and should make excellent man characters in the future.

Bear Hugs

Title: Bear Hugs

Author: SA Welsh

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL: spsilverpublishing.com/

ISBN: 9781622321438

Genre: {M/M/M} Paranormal

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Cage is in for a big surprise when he pursued Rob to a hideaway in the woods. Rob is a bear shifter hiding his true nature from his human mate Cage. However, Cage and Rob are in for another surprise when they meet Noah, a wolf shifter who is mated to both of them.

Bear Hugs is an enchanting ménage romance. The characters are creditable. Cage and Rob are lawyers working together in the same law firm. They share a long standing mutual attraction, however up till now Rob has been afraid of acting on his desires.

Cage has a take-charge personality; he refuses to admit defeat no matter what the issues are. Cage also suffers from a touch of jealousy, as well as a fear of rejection from Rob.

Rob is especially compassionate; he yearns for a permanent mate that will accept his bear side. Rob knew the difficulty a one night stand would generate for his bear as well as for Cage.

Noah is the least confident of the three. Noah hides his vulnerability behind an unperturbed appearance but Rob and Cage could sense his emotional pain. Mate rejection could cost Noah his humanity.  

SA Welsh has created an incredible saga incorporating a touch of humor as well as sensual intimacy scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed Bear Hugs. 

Velvet Scars

Title: Velvet Scars

Author: Sean Michael

Publisher: Torquere Press

Publisher URL: www.torquerebooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61040-670-3

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Genre: {M/M} BDSM Series

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

The reconstruction of the Velvet Glove is almost complete. It’s only days from the re-opening of the facility and Argon, the new master of the body mods shop, still needs an apprentice. He’s interviewed several but none have fit his needs—and that’s where the complication arises. Argon wants someone interested in the crafts offered in his shop and desires a man willing to be his submissive too. Who he accepts is Brother Yves, a young, sheltered man sent by the clerics of Mount Bell. It’s obvious that Yve’s terrified by everything but he stands firm in his belief that he’s destined to be with Master Argon. Can the Master and the innocent build a lasting relationship or will their differences be too much to overcome?

Velvet Scars is the second release in Sean Michael’s VG Resurrection series. If you’re a Velvet Glove fan, you’ll be happy to know the best BDSM club in the galaxy is about to reopen. There are last minute details to finish and for Argon that means finding an apprentice. The interview process is unusual and I think you’ll find it amusing. I certainly did. Until Yves arrives, and then the atmosphere changes. He’s a different type of man than Argon would have considered, but he’s captivated. The descriptions of these two are vivid, and the emotions Yves undergoes is well done but because of his sheltered upbringing and inexperience, I have difficulty with his ready acceptance to his new life. That part of the story didn’t mesh for me.

For those unused to BDSM books, be assured that this is of a lighter variety. Argon certainly takes the introduction into the lifestyle slowly for his new apprentice, showing him the wonders of sensation and the beauty of leaving the convent rules behind. I enjoyed seeing little snippets of previous characters as Yves settled in and made friends. I would have liked more background on Argon but enjoyed learning about Yves. I can’t wait to see who will be the focus when the club opens.

Pack Rescue

Title:  Pack Rescue

Author:  Gwen Campbell

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Publisher URL:  www.jasminejade.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781419948688

Genre:  {M/F/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Fina is running after rogue werewolves killed her pack and raped her.  She also made sure that they couldn’t profit from their crimes.  After ending up in Wyoming, she is given sanctuary by the sheriff’s pack.  Turns out Fina is the mate to both the Sheriff and his brother.

The first story in the Western Wolves series, Pack Rescue, follows Fina as she decides if she wants to continue running, or accept the offer of being the alpha female as the mate to the alpha and beta of the pack she ends up with after escaping from the rogues.  Everyone is very surprised to find that she and a young boy are the only survivors of the pack in Tennessee.

Fina is a strong woman that has a head on her shoulders and managed to hide the pack’s assets from the rogue wolves.  As she slowly learns to trust Cutler and Nath, she worries about Ryan’s acceptance since he is a male, though he is only five.  I loved how Cutler and Nath were so patient with her and Ryan, especially when he acted out.  There were some funny moments when Fina had to prove her dominance to the women, as well as Cutler and Nath’s reactions after they mated.  The scene on the table is extremely hot.

There are some wonderful secondary characters and I hope they make an appearance in the future.  Most were helpful to the new family. The incident with Melissa at the school was interesting, and also showed a lot about pack politics and hierarchy.  The way Fina’s situation was resolved involved a lot of pack politics that included other packs. 

I am looking forward to future books in this series.  This is also the first book by Ms. Campbell I have read, and I will be looking for others to check out. 

Publisher’s Note: Previously published as When A Pack Dies. The book has been edited for Ellora’s Cave publication.

Blood Red Roses

Title: Blood Red Roses

Author: Russell James

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-61922-237-3

Genre: Horror

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Publication Date: 05-06-2014

There were two kinds of slaves before the Civil War, those who came from Africa and the poor people of other races. Jebediah Abernathy was orphaned by the war and then sold by family too poor to care for him.

Blood Red Roses highlights the emotional devastation of war suffered by the families of the soldiers killed. The plot also illustrates the deplorable treatment of slaves as well as poor white workers. Driven insane by their grief, the owners neglected the daily operations of the plantation. The only portion of the property that was maintained was the rose garden.

At the tender age of fourteen, Jebediah was sold to Beechwood as a stable boy because society dictated that white boys did not work in the fields. Jebediah was warned by the overseer to never venture out of the stables after dark. Shortly after the warning Jebediah, quite by accident saw what happened to the slave boys but he was defenseless to help them. Trapped by the lethal rituals of Beechwood, Jebediah came face to face with evil. 

Russell James has created an intriguing as well as an enjoyable American historical entwined with scary ceremonies emulating dark voodoo.  

Blind Under the Moon

Title: Blind Under the Moon

Author: SA Welsh

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Publisher URL: www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-887-3

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Remy’s life revolves around cars with high powered engines. Getting summoned to the alpha house is bad news and learning he’s supposed to kill a captured vampire is even worse. He won’t do it. His refusal leads to a challenge for the Alpha position and to the surprise of everyone, Remy wins. Now what’s he going to do? He knows engines, not how to run a pack.

One thing’s immediately clear, the wounded vampire is Remy’s mate and Skylar had been sent by his coven to investigate a vampire poison. Skylar’s everything Remy could have asked for in a mate—except he’s blind. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that Skylar’s other senses make up for his blindness and that together they make an unstoppable team. But can they find out whose interfering with how mates are scented and what’s poisoning vampires before it’s too last?

Blind Under the Moon is the first release in the new paranormal series Blood Moon Pack Alliance by SA Welsh. This author is new to me but as a shifter and vampire genre fan, I had to give this book a try, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Remy, as the reluctant new Alpha, is a good character and watching him grow into the role of leader is handled well.  He’s also a likable guy with a nicely rounded personality and he’s fair to his pack as his learns his way. Skylar, as his vampire mate isn’t a particularly original pairing but it’s one I’ve always like. Skylar’s an interesting guy too and giving him, as a vampire, a physical disability—being blind—is a creative twist I didn’t expect, and it works well within the plot line. 

The world building could have been more in depth and I expect to learn more as the series continues but the details provided so far are vivid. The pace is fast, the plot line entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Remy and Skylar and there’s enough action and danger to keep the pages turning. I liked Blind Under the Moon and can’t wait for the next one.

Nothing Special

Title: Nothing Special

Author: A.E. Via

Publisher: Amira Press

Publisher URL: www.amirapress.com

ISBN: 978-1-627620-50-5

Genre: {M/M} {M/M/M/M} Contemporary

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

First day on the job, rookie cop Leonidis Day informs everyone in the meeting room of two specifics about himself. One is that he is gay and two is that he wishes to work with Detective Cashel Godfrey.

Nothing Special begins with Cash and Leo developing a friend to lover’s relationship then towards the latter part of the novel, it suddenly changes into a four-man friends with benefits get-together. The setting is Atlanta, Georgia. The main theme is crime fighting. The characters are creditable.

Leo is an outspoken quick-thinking narcotics detective who takes his job seriously, which means he is not afraid to do whatever it takes to capture a perpetrator or save the life of his colleagues. Yet there is also a compassionate side to Leo for anyone caught up in desperate circumstances. Leo has loved Cash for years. However his flirty innuendos never progressed beyond friendship until Cash kissed him.

Cash is conscientious with reference to his job but he has a persistently irate demeanor that makes him appear surly to co-workers as well as extremely dangerous to criminals. Leo is the only person who can inspire Cash to laugh. Cash’s attitude stems from the dark secrets of his past.  Nevertheless, Cash and Leo are compatible because Cash is bisexual, his sexual interest are motivated by a person’s personality, not by their gender. Working together for over four years, Cash and Leo have formed a comfort zone that Cash did not want to complicate with sex. When Cash realized his feelings had grown beyond friendship, Cash and Leo became lovers, vowing to have a monogamous long term relationship.    

A.E. Via has created an impressive saga by fusing humorous dialog, exciting action as well as several intimacy scenes.  I particularly enjoyed the drug raid scenes.

Shadows of Fate

Title: Shadows of Fate

Author: Angela Dennis

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61921-927-4

Genre: {M/F} Urban Fantasy Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Brenna Baudouin was banished to Earth for using her Shadow Bearer powers to kill the people responsible for her husband’s death. She’s spent nine decades protecting others against supernatural creatures who’ve reached Earth through the veil separating the planes. On returning from an exorcism, Brenna learns she’s been assigned a new partner…one she doesn’t know and doesn’t trust.

Getting close to Brenna is part of Gray Warlow’s plan for revenge but it forces him to use a glamour to keep his identity secret. As they work together to determine how more demons are getting to Earth, Gray learns Brenna isn’t the woman he was lead to believe. As their attraction increases, so does the danger, and they have to find a way to completely trust each other or it could spell the end of them and everyone on Earth.

Shadows of Fate is the first release in the new urban fantasy series, Shadow Born, by Angela Dennis. As a fan of this genre, the premise sounded fascinating. The story grabbed my attention at the start and kept it until the end. I didn’t want to stop reading and easily read it in one day.

Brenna’s a great character. What happened in her past changed her—has made her tough. She’s not the same person she was when she was banished and the author has done a great job developing her personality and creating a rich background with depth and details. Gray’s character is equally well constructed but I had trouble liking him at the beginning because of his deception. It definitely helped that the story is told from both points of view so I knew what he was feeling, allowing my opinion to change as the plot progressed. 

There are so many things that make this story well done. The creativity in world building is top-notch. The details of what’s happened to the Earth since a devastating war make the story come alive. And I love the mix of paranormal races the author brought together to fill the newly changed world with. There’s a fast pace, magic, action, danger, betrayal and a complex storyline with a nasty villain that’s guaranteed to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy books in the paranormal or urban fantasy genre I suggest you give this one a try. I’ll be watching for the next book in this creative and entertaining series. 

Vaaden Warriors

Title:  Vaaden Warriors

Author:  Jessica Coulter Smith

Publisher:  Changeling Press

Publisher URL:  www.changelingpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 06881-02216

Genre:  {M/F}, Sci-Fi, Anthology, Series

Rating:  4 Nymphs                          

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Vaaden Warriors is the second book in the Galactic Affairs series and centers around three warriors we met in the first book.  Rheul’s brother purchases a slave for him, Randar ends up with two slaves, one as a favor to a friend, and Thale has to overcome his past to finally get his dream.

Rheul - 4 Nymphs

Rheul isn’t happy with his brother, but ends finding Darcy fascinating.  After all is said and done, he ends up endangering his life, as he wants to give Darcy time to get used to her life as his slave. 

Randar - 4 Nymphs

Randar purchases a slave, Lyssa, as a favor to Rheul, but ends up buying a second one to better meet his needs.  Sophie is the type he always envisioned, but didn’t realize he wanted until he had purchased Lyssa.  Circumstances change his outlook, but he must find a new owner for Lyssa, or he can’t be happy.

Thale - 4 Nymphs

Thale has not had the best of luck with his slaves in the past, but ends up purchasing one from the harems.  Moira slowly makes her way into his heart, but he has to convince the prime minister and council he has changed his tune.  

I loved the ending in the last story, as it was difficult to think there would not be some changes.  I would have liked to find out more about what the other stipulations were that would be going into the law, but only two were listed.  I’m hoping in future stories more information will be given about it.  The differences among the men make for interesting reading.

Vaaden Captives

Title:  Vaaden Captives

Author:  Jessica Coulter Smith

Publisher:  Changeling Press

Publisher URL:  www.changelingpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  06794-02187

Genre:  {M/F}, Sci-Fi, Anthology, Series

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Vaaden Captives is the first book in the Galactic Affairs series and is a collection about three women.  Facts about Vaaden society is given, though some of it is not pretty.  Non-Vaaden women are slaves, personal if they are claimed, or placed in public harems if not.

Sorcha - 4 Nymphs

The first story is about Sorcha, who is unhappy when she realizes her owner is married, because she believes in fidelity.  Thale tells her she has to accept her lot in life now, regardless of her beliefs.  When Sorcha meets Thale’s brother, Valen, she falls for him.  After some serious problems between the brothers, things are resolved.

Enid - 4 Nymphs

Enid is the second slave’s story.  I found Bastian interesting because he understood immediately that Enid had been abused and eventually fell in love with her.  Bastian ends up asking the prime minister to bend a few rules for him.

Susan - 4 Nymphs

The third story is about Susan and gives the reader more information about Vaaden marriages, as well as some of the protections slaves have on Vaaden.  Even as Susan accepts her lot in life, things conspire to make some changes that will make her life easier. 

The collection of stories in this book are intriguing in a lot of ways.  I enjoyed reading about the world the author created, even as I got upset about some of the societal mores on Vaaden.  I do want to find out more about Vaaden society and what changes may be in the future based on the special permission given to the three warriors.  I am looking forward to the next book.

Sex and Candy

Title: Sex and Candy

Author: Diana DeRicci

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN: MLR-1-02014-0219

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Denial can be a cruel mistress as witnessed by Brad Hauffman. Fortunately, openly gay Brad did not suffer from denial, only disappointment in his closeted best friend Geoff. However, meeting Tristan Reaver along with the budding romance they share, Brad’s wait for happiness is finally over.

Sex and Candy is part of the Arbor Heights series. The plot illustrates the negative effects trying to please others instead of yourself can have on someone. Not only does living a lie impact the pretender, but all the other people involved.

Brad is lucky; the fact that he is gay was acknowledged as well as supported by his parents, employer and friends. Brad is an easygoing pastry chef who loves to cook. He also dreams of having a long term relationship someday. Going to the Blue Dogs private party was more an act of rebellion for Brad rather than his normal social activity.

Tristan has hosted friends with benefits gatherings in his home for years. These are private stress relief parties with some very strict rules. Tristan is a businessman who has never been in a monogamous relationship before meeting Brad. After dating Brad for a few weeks, Tristan is not willing to share Brad with anyone ever again.

Diana DeRicci has created a notably impressive as well as an enjoyable story.

The main aspect in this story, besides the intimacy between Tristan and Brad, is the attitude of people who are living a charade existence. Honorable behaviors have been cast aside in favor of a bogus standard of living. 

Reluctance

Title: Reluctance

Author: Bailey Bradford

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-0-85715-660-0

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

It’s been a year and Keegan’s still agonizing over the death of several wolves that died guarding the Alpha Anax. He’s riddled with guilt, works constantly, never smiles, can’t sleep and has pushed all his friends away.  When a security breach is brought to Keegan’s attention, he’s forced to go outside the pack to find an expert to build a system to secure the compound.

Going to Brazil isn’t what Keegan expects but that’s where Marcus and Nathan send him to pick up security expert, Olin. His plane trip is unsettling and then his initial meeting with Olin doesn’t go well either. They snap and snarl at each other as an unwelcome mating bond kicks in. But Keegan can’t deny their pull and he follows Olin into danger. Can these new mates survive or will they die in the rainforest before getting to know each other?

Reluctance is the newest release in Bailey Bradford’s Southwestern Shifters series. Be aware that there are aspects to Keegan and Olin’s relationship that fall into BDSM.

Now onto the rest of the review—It’s fun, entertaining and I found Reluctance to be an enjoyable read. Truthfully, the last couple of books in the series dragged a bit for me but this one turned everything around. My attention was really caught with the attention to detail, complex story line, integration of previous characters and fast pace. But that’s not all. It also has a mystery in the depth of the rainforest, which gives the story action, danger and suspense—all great reasons to keep reading.

Then there’s Keegan and Olin. These two guys are so different—in every way—and Olin has such a chip on his shoulder, I sometimes wondered if their mating would work. Yet, the author manages to get them together and does it convincingly.  The ongoing story line is coming along nicely and the twists here were interesting. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next release.