A Royal Bind

Title: A Royal Bind

Author: Sui Lynn

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher’s URL: https://spsilverpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781614956693

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Lance and Andrew are finally mated but their problems are only just beginning.  As more paranormals find out about Lance’s parentage, the pair has to rely on the help of others to see things through.

A Royal Bind is the second book in the Changing Moon series and continues the story of Lance and Andrew.   If you loved the first story then you are sure to love this one as well.  Like the first story, the author pulls you right into A Royal Bind from the first page.  The connection that existed between the main characters, Lance and Andrew, is still there and more intense than ever.  As Lance comes into his ever-changing abilities, the young shifter’s confidence continues to grow, yet nothing can take the place of his mate.  Andrew’s love for Lance is easy to see and watching as Andrew continues to show Lance that there is nothing to fear when it comes to loving each other shows how committed he is to his younger mate. There are still those out there, however, that do not wish for Lance’s presence to become known, so the men run into more than a few obstacles.

The author brings a lot of intrigue to the story as she continues to flesh out Lance’s royal connections.   While she gives the reader a glimpse of what to expect in the prelude, there are many surprising twists and turns that will keep the reader turning the pages.  Although I was not surprised by who the bad guy was, I could not help but think that this particular bad guy was the low man on the totem pole, and I can’t wait to see what else the author has planned.

Although many of the previous characters return in this story, there are several new characters introduced.  Like Lance, I was expecting to dislike Stephon, but as more and more of the character was revealed, it was easy to understand why he behaved the way he does.  I really loved the interaction between him and Lance, and found myself feeling bad for Andrew when these two got together.

A Royal Bind really is an excellent story and lovers of the paranormal genre should give this series a try, but remember that the books have to be read in order so you have to start with the first story.

Hooch and Howls

Title: Hooch and Howls

Author: Karenna Colcroft

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-60820-7763

Genre: {M/M/M} Historical, Werewolf

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Sometimes desperate times require desperate measures if you want to survive. During the financial depression, as well as the time of prohibition, best friends and secret lovers Roger and Jonathan turned to the Canadian bootleggers in hopes of making enough money for a fresh start out west. However, the job went horribly wrong and it takes the lonely werewolf, Malachi, to liberate Roger and Jonathan from the dangerous chaos their life had become.

Hooch and Howls is a well-written romance with just enough background to fully grasp the dilemma each man is dealing with.  Set in Herman’s Island, Nova Scotia at a time when honest men were forced to discard their non-profit fisherman’s jobs for the illegal activities of rum-runners, the plot highlights the in-depth characters especially well. Malachi is financially stable, yet he is faced with being gay, as well as being a werewolf, which placed him in the position of being an outcast in both societies. Roger is an opportunist, however his intentions are honorable and his motivation is survival for himself and Jonathan. Jonathan is naive to all the criminal predators waiting to take advantage of the unwary. But after a few dangerous encounters of being prey, Jonathan quickly learns that Roger is the only person he can trust.

Karenna Colcroft has created an outstanding saga that I very much enjoyed. The heartwarming plot illustrates some of the pitfalls of life when a country is in a monetary crisis. Also displayed are exceptionally sensual intimacy scenes.      

The Injustice of Being

Title: The Injustice of Being

Author: Carol Lynne

Publisher: Total E-Bound

Publisher URL: www.total-e-bound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-78184-109-9

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

When a jury lets Paul “Jigger” Robinson, the man he believes raped him, go free on a mistrial, Eric Kloiber’s devastated because it seems likely Jigger won’t see the inside of a courtroom again. Will James, the detective in charge of the case, has come to care for Eric and seeing him so upset has him determined to find more evidence against Jigger. Unfortunately nothing pans out in the case, but he and Eric grow closer to the point of starting an affair that could get him thrown off the case if they’re discovered.

Eric realizes Will is doing everything possible but he’s determined to find something to prove Jigger was responsible. It puts him in a dangerous position, one that could end up costing Eric more than he could ever imagine. Can Eric and Will’s new relationship survive?

The Injustice of Being in the latest release in Carol Lynne’s Campus Craving series. It’s the continuing story of what happened to Eric in Locky in Love, so I recommend reading it first.

At the end of the previous release, I was left with many questions about Eric. I’m happy to say that with this quick look into his life, you’ll likely find the answers you’re looking for.  I like him. He was brutalized and still managed to come out stronger in the end. The descriptions of his emotional pain are handled well, as is Will’s concern for him. And I like Will. He’s a dedicated detective and a caring man. His personality and background just isn’t as developed as Eric’s. I enjoyed the returning secondary characters and getting to see the pieces of the court case and investigation. I particularly enjoyed Eric’s new roommate Rusty. His part isn’t huge but he added something special I can’t put my finger on, and I look forward to seeing him in a future book.

My niggles:

1. Eric was raped but there’s no mention of counseling.
2. Because of his emotional pain, Eric’s getting drunk frequently but it’s glossed over.
3. No mention’s made of how the rape and drinking is affecting his classes.
4. Where did Professor Manuel Corto Delgado and Professor Adam Ryan come from? I can’t find them in any of the books but they appear here as if the reader should know who they are. I’m confused about them.

I guess that’s it. Despite the areas where I had issues, I still enjoyed the book and as a long time reader of the series, I look forward the next one.

Lost Without Them

Title:  Lost Without Them

Author:  Trista Ann Michaels

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publisher URL:   www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-61118-949-0

Genre:  {M/F/M}, Shape-shifters, Series

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Sam and Cody see Keegan get attacked by wolves, then takes her home with them after she is checked out at the hospital.  Keegan casts a spell and left the plane she actually lived in but has now lost her memory

The latest installment of the Deadly Crimson series, Lost Without Them, brings two ranchers into the middle of a war between Keegan’s mother and some shifters that were banished.  I would have liked to have had a little more information about Keegan and how some incidents related to how the book progressed, especially the end.  That being said, I enjoyed reading this.

The reaction of Sam and Cody was priceless after they learned about Keegan’s world.  I’m glad it didn’t seem to make any difference in their feelings for Keegan, though they worried about her feelings for them.  I have to say that the chemistry between the three was intense.

The shifters in this book were a little different than other authors and I enjoyed the different look.  I did feel the explanation regarding the werewolves and Keegan’s father was a little lacking as I would have liked more information than was given.  I actually felt like I was left hanging without information.

I loved the way the book ended, especially the confrontation between Keegan and her mother.  I was laughing as I read it, as Keegan put her in her place respectfully.

The books in this series can be read alone, though a reader might get more enjoyment reading them in order.

Starting the Roux

Title: Starting the Roux

Author: BA Tortuga

Publisher: Torquere Books

Publisher URL: www.torquerebooks.com

IBSN/BIN: none listed

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Western Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

                 

Watching another bull rider get a better score just because of the man’s name makes Sam see red. His temper is ready to explode when he’s approached by champion Beau Lafitte, a sexy Cajun rider he’s had his eye on. Could Beau be as interested as Sam? A few beers, some snack food and a hotel is only the beginning for these two cowboys who are focused on getting to know each other better.

Starting the Roux is part of the Roughstock world by BA Tortuga and was originally published as File Gumbo in the Cherry anthology.

If you’re a fan of the series, this entertaining short will appeal to you. Getting to see how Sam and Beau first got together is great fun. The plotting makes sense, the pace flows smoothly, and the emotions are believable. These guys are good together.  There are snippets of fun dialogue and an easy rapport between them that I enjoyed. It’s too bad the short length didn’t allow time to develop Sam and Beau’s personalities past the superficial.