Spirit

Title: Spirit

Author: John Inman

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-62798-681-6

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Jason Day is crazy about his nephew, Timmy. That’s the only reason he agrees to watch him during his sister’s four-week vacation. Jason just didn’t realize how it would take over his life and prevent him from getting any of his at-home video design work done. Timmy’s a hand-full and constantly moving. Help comes with the arrival of Sam, an unexpected visitor who Jason hasn’t seen since his sister’s wedding. An even bigger surprise is the man who lives in the basement—a ghost Jason didn’t know he had.

Spirit is the newest release by John Inman. It’s not only well written and plotted, but fun and entertaining with a smooth pace, vivid descriptions and great characters. I really enjoyed Timmy. At four, the kid’s a dynamo of energy and takes over every scene he’s in—but not in a bad way. The author’s done a wonderful job with his personality, allowing him to stay child-like without making the mistake of giving him adult mannerisms. His interaction with the adults and how he runs them ragged, made me chuckle.

Jason’s a great guy. He made me laugh with his stubborn refusal to believe in his ghost until he didn’t have any other choice. Sam has a great sense of humor and his bantering dialogue with Jason is just another reason for me to love this book. Not to mention these two have a sizzling chemistry—can you say hot? The ghost is a great addition and has a vivid personality all his own that comes out in pieces as the story progress and we learn his identity. The scenes where Jason and Sam are searching for the truth of what happened to him are some of my favorites and are particularly well written. 

There are a couple of niggles but they didn’t diminish my enjoyment. The identity of the ghost is obvious pretty early on. The same goes for the villains. They spend most of their time off-scene, but once they do make their presence known, it’s action and danger. So, as you can see, this paranormal romance is still a winner for me and I can easily say—read it.

The Wizard King

Title:  The Wizard King

Author:  Dana Marie Bell

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-61921-975-5

Genre:  {M/F}, Paranormal, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Gareth refuses to go through the ritual, formally making him king, without his mate by his side.  He is aware that he caused a lot of the problems between him and Gen after the last battle.

The third book in the Heart’s Desire series, The Wizard King, picks up where Hecate’s Own ends.  The two remaining Beckett men are still battling their wolves and the need to find their mates.  In my opinion, The Wizard King is the best book of the series so far.

I had to laugh at the Wizard Court’s reaction to Gareth.  Mac was great, especially when he made no bones about helping Gareth rule, when the women on the Council decided that Gen would not make an acceptable Queen-Consort.  Gareth made no bones about the fact that Gen was there to stay, regardless what the rest of the wizards wanted.

The rest of Gen’s immediate family is up to their old tricks, trying to rule with an evil mage and destroy the Beckett’s besides.  The majority of characters from the previous books show up, along with a few new ones to help.  There are still two situations to be resolved, one with Gen’s family and one with the last Beckett man.

The chemistry between Gareth and Gen has grown and it is no surprise they burn up the pages once they get together.  Both have a few issues that need to be resolved, but things do work out.

The Wizard King is a fast paced book with lots of suspense.  I am looking forward to Daniel’s story as he is the last Beckett brother. 

Rules of the Chef

Title: Rules of the Chef

Author: Nicole Dennis

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-0-85715-679-2

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 3 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Chef Dakota Mitchell loves his restaurant, Southern Delights.  When his friend and business partner sells his hotel portion of their Bed and Breakfast—Southern Charm—Dakota’s saddled with a new partner he doesn’t want. 

The Ashford Hotels wants to start a collection of unique boutique hotels and plans to start with Southern Charm as their first acquisition. When Samuel Ashford arrives he’s ready to make huge changes to correct its rundown appearance, but didn’t count on the resistance of his new partner. He also doesn’t expect the sizzling attraction to a man he argues with constantly. Can Dakota and Sam come to an agreement and make a life together?

Rules of the Chef is the first book in the new series, Southern Charm by Nicole Dennis. I liked the premise for this new M/M series. I mean what could be better than two good looking guys at the beach and one of them is a great chef. Who doesn’t love a man who can cook?

I enjoyed how the story began. Dakota’s passionate about his restaurant and obviously loves his friend and the bed and breakfast they own. His quirky relationship with the people who work at the B & B and their bantering dialogue made me smile. He seems like a likable guy but the moment Sam arrives, the problems begin. Dakota doesn’t want to make changes and he acts like an arrogant ass. From this point on his personality is definitely flawed and pretty unappealing during most of the remainder of the book. Sam’s supposed to be attracted to Dakota but his attitude is so terrible that I don’t know why he would be. At least they don’t jump into bed immediately.

What I liked: Getting to see Dakota and Sam shopping. I enjoyed the early morning fish market scene. It was funny and added a nice growth moment to their relationship. There are a few secondary characters that were nice additions—Mal and Elise in particular, and I’d like to know more about them. There are also a few townspeople that made appearances who I assume we’ll see again in the future.

Where I have issues: Aside from the landscaping at the Southern Charm I didn’t have a good feel for what else needed to be fixed. Dakota’s a businessman. He should have had a better handle on his kitchen. And Sam—the idea that he spent days sorting paperwork is crazy. Why didn’t he have help? And they kept talking about Chandler, the wonder accountant, but he never appeared. I guess we’ll see him in the next book. My biggest complaint is the abrupt ending after the last minute drama involving Sam. I find this kind of ploy to sell the next book, not only disappointing, but annoying. It left me feeling like the book had stopped at the mid-way point and I was missing the last half. Not a good emotion for a reader.

As, I previously said, I like the premise, so I hope the series get the glitches worked out because it has so much potential.

Farren's Wizard

Title: Farren's Wizard

Author: Amber Kell

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN: 9781784300029

Genre: {M/M} Fantasy Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Escape is futile, or so it seems, for Farren Azar. Although Farren’s new boyfriend Dan Stewartson is the only one Farren would ever regret leaving.

Farren's Wizard is the third book in the A Wizard's Touch series. Farren is desperate to get away from his cold, unfeeling power-hungry family. Farren is not only a fire mage, his grandfather is a full blooded djinn which means Farren has more magical powers than the other wizards at the college. This is a major problem for Farren since all djinns were declared outlaws long ago. Farren even tried to break up with his true love Dan before the family secrets were revealed.

Dan is the oldest of triplets; alone his magic was not very strong. However, joined with his brothers, the magic of three was exceptionally strong. Dan knew Farren was more than a fire mage but he was determined to keep the information secret. In Dan’s mind, Farren is his forever mate.  

Amber Kell has created an electrifying saga that I enjoyed immensely. I suggest reading this series in sequence, starting with Jaynell's Wolf.

The Bigger They Come

Title: The Bigger They Come

Author: Ari McKay

Publisher: Torquere Press

Publisher URL: www.torquerebooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61040-675-8

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Cade “Hercules” Thornton spent years in the Marines before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, forced him out. Then he led a paramilitary organization before a leg injury ended that career. Now he owns Hercules Security, providing the best bodyguards money can buy. That’s how he finds himself with a new client, Kate Morgan, a wealthy businesswoman who wants her grandson protected from a stalker. The catch—she demands Cade do the job himself. The problem—Cade doesn’t do fieldwork anymore.

The other problem—Dr. Jude Morgan doesn’t think he needs someone watching his every move and thinks his grandmother is over-reacting. The sparks that fly between Jude and his new babysitter are explosive, surprising both men with their intensity. It’s soon apparent the danger from the stalker is real and getting worse. Can Cade keep Jude safe or will he die trying?

The Bigger They Come is the first release in Ari McKay’s new series, Herc’s Mercs.  I’m a sucker for a bodyguard book and this blurb appealed to me immediately and finding out Jude wasn’t a geeky guy who jumps at his own shadow is a plus. The bantering dialogue between these two is pretty amusing and their sexual chemistry is hot. The sparks fly in one direction or the other from the first second they meet and sometimes not in a good way. Cade wants to deck Jude! The author’s done a nice job with the personality development of both men and I like them both, even if Jude is prickly and touchy. The story is well written, flows smoothly and had enough twists to keep my attention and the pages turning. I can’t wait for the next one. 

As much as I enjoyed it, there are a few things that could have made it better—in my opinion. I would have loved to know more about Herc’s business and the men who work for him. Maybe that’ll happen in the next book because I don’t have a feel for the company and who might be in the next book. Once Thomas appeared on scene as a threat, I understood how dangerous he was but the references to him just fell a bit flat without knowing more about him. Jude’s grandmother—I liked her and how she wanted to protect him but his annoyance with her, in turn annoyed me. Their relationship didn’t need to be so adversarial to be convincing.

Nothing but Smoke

Title: Nothing but Smoke

Author: Daisy Harris

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

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

ISBN/BIN: 9781619221727

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Publication Date:  June 11, 2014

Michael has watched as each of his friends found someone special to settle down with.  While Michael usually has no problem finding someone to get off with, he is beginning to wonder if there isn’t more out there for him, as well.  He doesn’t expect a park hookup, especially one deep in the closet, to be the one to snag him though. 

Nothing but Smoke is the third story in the Fire and Rain series.  Like the other stories, this book also has a firefighter for a main character, in this case Nicky.  Nicky has a lot on his plate and the last thing he can handle is being gay.  With a macho job and a sick, religious mother, Nicky hides who he is from others.  This lends an air of innocence to the brawny firefighter, which is different from what we have come to expect.  It was really easy to be drawn to Nicky.  I wondered how things would play out for him and hoped that things with his mother would end peacefully. 

Michael was the character that took a little getting used to.  He comes across as very brash, yet it is easy to see he uses that as a cover.  I was surprised to see the author throw two characters like this together yet, at the same time, realized it made sense as Nicky would need someone like Michael to help him face the changes coming into his life.  

The author brings the previous characters in to help Michael and Nicky, which gives the readers a chance to catch up with them.  While at times the book can be a little heavy, there are some lighter moments.  Readers will find that Nothing but Smoke is another well done story by this author, and a perfect addition to the series.

Chasing the Dragon

Title: Chasing the Dragon

Author: Ash Penn

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN: 9781784300036

Genre: M/M Contemporary Twincest

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Twins Aiden and Kai had not spoken or seen each other for ten years. The goal of their trial parting was to sever their compulsive craving for intimacy whenever they were together. However, meeting again on their thirty-second birthday only confirmed that Aiden and Kai can never break the unusual attachment they share.   

Chasing the Dragon is a bittersweet short story. The characters are creditable. Kai is gay as well as flamboyant; he is constantly changing his hair color to stand out as an individual rather than a twin. Nevertheless, Kai’s personality is more of a façade to hide his pain of rejection. Kai is also the instigator of chaos with anyone who loves him.

Aiden has a caregiver’s personality, he caters to the wishes of others first. Kai is the only man Aiden has ever been intimate with or even desired. I got the impression that Aiden is either bisexual or in deep denial regarding his sexuality.

Ash Penn has created a touching attention grabbing saga that I found mostly enjoyable. I was saddened by the thought of Aiden and Kai having to settle for living life devoid of a true brotherly relationship.     

Reader Advisory: This book contains a twincest / incest storyline.

Riding & Regrets

Title: Riding & Regrets

Author: Bailey Bradford

Publisher: Totally Bound

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

ISBN/BIN: 9780857156884

Genre: {M/M}, Western, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Jody just wants to fit in somewhere.  He had hoped it would be at the Mossy Glenn Ranch but he’s not so sure now.  When he is suddenly made aware that he is the father of a two-year-old daughter, he is surprised by the way everyone on the ranch pulls together to help.  To make things even more overwhelming, Jody meets Noel while signing his little one up for day care. 

Riding & Regrets is the newest addition to the Mossy Glenn Ranch series.  Readers are sure to enjoy this new story, but should know that it does bring up topics that may be difficult for some to handle.  Noel is escaping an abusive relationship and hopes running to his aunt’s will be a new start.  Noel is out and proud and I wondered how he would fit in in the small community of Ashville, Montana.  I was a little surprised that the author did not bring this issue up at least once.

Jody is one of the ranch hands on the Mossy Glenn.  He’s young and has been on his own for many years, which explains his, at times, immature attitude and actions.  The author did a great job showcasing the confusion and fear a twenty year old young man would feel when he suddenly finds himself a parent.  I really felt for the young man, especially given the fact that Jody has no clear memory of the night Prissy was conceived. 

There is an instant connection between Jody and Noel and I like the way they complimented each other.  I also like the way the author allowed these two to grow, moving in to a physical relationship at a pace that is comfortable for them.  I wish the author would have spent a little more time on Jody’s past, as it is clear that not everything is what it appears.

This story is also full of wonderful secondary characters.  Many of the guys we have met before and I love the way they go out of their way to help Jody and Prissy. 

Riding & Regrets is a well written story that fans of this series are sure to enjoy.  I really liked the characters in this book, especially the way they pulled me into their story.  While each book can stand on its own, the reader would get a richer understanding by reading all the books in the series.

Strategic Surrender

Title:  Strategic Surrender

Author:  Elizabeth Lapthorne

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Publisher URL:  www.jasminejade.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781419949005

Genre:  {M/F}, Paranormal, Series

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Kiera is called in along with her partner and a Special Operations man, Hayden, to decide what to do with a grimoire.  The result of their solution is a contract on their heads.

Strategic Surrender is the eighth book in the Urban Seductions series.  Readers need to read the last book, Edge of Ecstasy, before reading Strategic Surrender as what happened in that story has some bearing regarding what happens now.

Kiera is breaking her own rule after she meets Hayden.  Both Hayden and Kiera have some explosive chemistry together.  While Kiera doesn’t think Hayden needs to be concerned for her safety, things change once it is learned there is a contract on them.  There are some interesting times both in and out of bed as their relationship grows.

More information is given about the Tribunal governing wizards and witches.  Several questions come up about security when circumstances push everyone into hiding.  How did someone find out what happened before the Tribunal was even notified? Why would someone want what little knowledge was gleaned before the grimoire was destroyed? And who is trustworthy? 

Toward the end of the story, several things regarding answers to these questions were left hanging.  I hope the author will resolve these issues in future stories.  More information about the roles of several secondary characters could be expanded, including what Daniel and Melissa do after they are contacted by Hayden.

All the stories in this series are interconnected, though some stories are resolved, but have that little twist that runs into the next one.  Strategic Surrender has a major twist that will prove very interesting in future stories.

Rogue of the Borders

Title: Rogue of the Borders

Author:  Cynthia Breeding

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

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

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61922-125-3

Genre:  {M/F} Regency

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Abigail Townsend is sick of stuffy balls and isn’t sure she can go through one more Season.  She’s nothing like the other debutantes.  She’s a strong-willed intellect who knows what she wants.  Abigail is dying to experience the kind of adventure and travel she constantly reads about.  When Abigail sees an opportunity to make her dreams come true, she doesn’t hesitate.  And the fact that it involves the man of her fantasies is icing on the cake. 

Shane Macleod has no intention of pursuing any woman right now.  Life at sea is no kind of life for a family.  Plus, Shane has a secret that he can’t share with anyone.  Even though he’s drawn to Abigail, Shane isn’t happy when he’s forced to do the right thing and marry her.  Shane vows not to lay a hand on her, but Abigail has other ideas.  The more he tries to push her away, the more Abigail sneaks into Shane’s heart.

Abigail and Shane are both blind to the danger surrounding them by someone from their past.  Actions speak louder than words and actions definitely cause a misunderstanding between the couple.  The interference of family works for the couple and against them at the same time, but the biggest obstacle is Shane himself.  He puts up a good fight by trying to be noble but he is no match for Abigail.  She was determined to have her husband fall in love with her and she wasn’t taking any excuses from Shane.  I was actually jaw-dropping shocked at some of the moments when Shane decided to give Abigail the cold shoulder.  In his mind he thought it was for the best I know, but I couldn’t believe his willpower was that strong.  I was also amazed by Abigail’s boldness at times.  It took a lot of nerve for her to dress like a male and sneak onto Shane’s ship.  She was so sure of her ability to fool him that Abigail didn’t think through certain aspects of her deception.  That made for some very intense moments where I feared for her safety and Shane’s sanity.  Although, I admit I was expecting a much bigger reveal. 

Rogue of the Borders is the third book of the Rogue series.  Cynthia Breeding has once again given readers another hot Highlander to fall in lust with.  I think Shane has it all, brains and brawn.  And the fact that he appreciates more in a woman than just beauty makes Shane even more of a catch.  I know that all of the Macleod men have met their perfect matches, but I feel that Abigail truly is Shane’s equal in every way that counts.  In this particular time, intelligence isn’t a quality that men want in a woman.  They want the opposite.  Shane is man enough not to be threatened by Abigail and recognize the prize he has in her.  Over thinking the situation nearly cost Shane the woman I feel was created just for him.  If you enjoyed the first two installments in this series, you have to read Shane and Abigail’s story.  Readers will be excited to hear about characters they bonded with in the previous stories and see everything come full circle.

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.