Spectrum Skies

Title: Spectrum Skies

Author: D. J. Manly

Publisher: Amber Allure

Publisher URL: www.amberquill.com

ISBN: 978-1-61124-691-9

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

Keeping law and order on Spectrum is a challenge most of the time. However, during the dark season, enforcing the law is almost impossible. Nevertheless, Captain London Weaver, the head of the Human Enforcers, and Captain Pascal St-Maurice, the head of the Specs Enforcers, are determined to work together for the safety of all the residents.

Spectrum Skies is the first book in Spectrum Skies series. The setting is a South Pacific island named Spectrum. The island is cloaked by magic to protect the immortal residents. But, many generations ago a ship load of humans found the island and were allowed to settle as well as raise families. The dramatic plot centers on the two divisions of cops joining forces to destroy a demon who can kill both humans and immortals. The characters are creditable.

Past experience with vampires has caused London to become bitter. London has an almost racist attitude regarding humans cohabitating with immortals, especially vampires. Yet, London finds vampire Pascal too irresistible to completely ignore though London tries until Pascal saves London’s life.

Pascal is a fashion diva, a good natured jokester and a gentleman. He shows every law abiding citizen the respect they are due. Pascal has been secretly attracted to London for years; though he never approached London as a potential lover. Pascal never forces himself on anyone, plus he only bites the men who ask to be bitten.

D. J. Manly has created a fantastic saga that I thoroughly enjoyed. The storyline features a vast array of interesting creatures, brawls as well as amazing intimacy scenes. 

The Severing

Title: The Severing

Author: D.J. Manly

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN/BIN: MLR-1-02014-0309

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary; Paranormal

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

Billy can’t remember the details of how he died. All he knows is that he is stuck in limbo because he was murdered. He can see living people going about their business, unaware of the fact that restless spirits walk among them. He sees Alex, the man who now works for the company Billy once worked for; the man who sits at his old desk in his old office. Billy feels drawn to the man and follows him around, thinking that Alex has pretty much taken over his life. Alex even frequents the same gay bar that Billy vaguely remembers going to...

Terrance has been cursed with being able to talk to the dead; a skill that doesn’t do him any good as no living person will ever believe a word he says. When he meets Alex purely by chance, he tells the man that he has a ghost following him around. Terrance knows it is a mistake to talk to people about what he sees, but something compels him to talk to Alex about Billy.

Alex can’t handle crazy people right now. Things were bad enough with the stress of his new job, but now his best friend Wes has gone missing. He dismisses Terrance’s ramblings at first, but soon realises Terrance knows things no one else could possibly know about him. Alex wants to ignore him, but there is something about Terrance that makes Alex want to put his trust in him. But with people going missing and a serial killer on the loose, will Alex live to regret it?

The Severing is the first book in a new series by the author, and based on this first offering, I will definitely be coming back for more. The concept of limbo, where spirits of those whose life has been taken from them too soon must wait until their case has been resolved, was fascinating and I can see this setting offering up plenty more stories. All the characters introduced in this book were interesting. Alex, Terrance, and Billy were really good characters, as were the supporting cast who I am sure we shall see more of in the future. The highlight of the story for me was the chemistry between Alex and Terrance. I loved the attraction between them and was thoroughly invested in the development of their relationship. Billy was also very likable and I really wanted him to get the closure he deserved. The way the characters’ lives entwined was really well done. I got used to the author’s style of writing pretty quickly but I was slightly confused by the point of view changes to begin with. The storyline had some very chilling moments and some nice twists and turns. Overall, I would highly recommend The Severing and look forward to reading more in the series. 

Bind

Title:  Bind

Author:  Katie Porter

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1619218802

Genre:  {M/F}, BDSM, Men in Uniform, Suspense, Series

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Astrid knows her last chance is with Command Force Alpha (CFA) since she became a whistleblower at her last job.  Nicky is bound and determined to take out the organization that shot him and put other agents in danger.  When Astrid asks him to help her do one thing that will let her get close to someone in the organization, Nicky is unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster.

The third book in the Command Force Alpha series, Bind, showcases the commander of CFA and his taste for using rope.  Astrid finds she loves being tied up by Nicky.  What both are unprepared for, especially being boss and employee, is the emotions that come out between them.

Nicky thinks Astrid is too young for him, though, and balks at taking her on an undercover assignment.  Not only do they both work through some emotional issues that they have buried, but they work well together.  The chemistry between them is intense.

There were a few light hearted moments between a few of the agents who end up being Nicky’s and Astrid’s guards.  Based on one situation at the end, it is obvious that either Nicky or Astrid was targeted, though as it progresses, it becomes obvious who it is.  

Bind is my favorite story in this series so far as the author does a great job about the different techniques of using rope.  She obviously did a lot of research.  In addition, I learned a lot about Nicky, because he had been such a commanding figure in the previous stories and Bind showed a different side to him.

Readers do need to read this series in order, and I am looking forward to the next one about CFA. 

Warning: This book contains very intricate rope work that should not be attempted without proper training. 

Piercings and Sandpaper Kisses

Title: Piercings and Sandpaper Kisses

Author: SA Welsh

Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc

Publisher URL: www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-4874-0092-7

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Zeke’s been an enforcer with his pack for years. After returning home from visiting his younger brother Remy, an alpha of another pack, he notices that his pack mates are avoiding him and his even his business has dropped off. Then he learns that his alpha and the inner circle are shutting him out and seem determined to destroy him.

To protect his sisters and their children, Zeke’s forced to flee with them to Remy’s and they barely escape. Being with his brother’s pack means he’s lost all his possessions and bank account, which is devastating. The good news—he meets his mate. The problem—his mate, Ashlock is vampire, and because of a past experience, Zeke fears them. Fate couldn’t be wrong in giving him a vampire for a mate—right?

Piercings and Sandpaper Kisses is the third and latest release in SA Welsh’s Blood Moon Pack Alliance series. Due to the connection of the characters, I recommend the books be read in order.

I was waiting for this new release and wasn’t disappointed. It’s a fun and entertaining read. It has tension, danger, betrayal, anger and fear, mixed in with healthy doses of friends, family, bantering dialogue and sizzling sex. I enjoyed how the previous characters are incorporated into the plot and seeing Zeke and Ashlock’s relationship develop. There are vivid descriptions and a good sense of Zeke’s discomfort around vampires, although it’s nearly the end before the reason behind it is revealed. 

The author did a good job with personality development and I’m always happy when vampires and werewolves are included in a story, so Zeke and Ashlock’s pairing was perfect for me. There are a few surprises along the way but those would be spoilers, so—no—I won’t tell. I hope you enjoy it. 

Catch Me When I Fall

Title: Catch Me When I Fall

Author: John Wiltshire

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN/BIN: MLR-1-02014-0308

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary; Paranormal

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

Jake is an ex-soldier who is trying to make a new life for himself as a forest ranger. He thought he could finally settle down and forget about his past, but when he is visited by his guardian angel, Gabriel, Jake soon realises he can’t escape who he is.

A man appearing naked in your backyard claiming to be an angel is worrying enough, but believing him and inviting him into your home? Jake swears he has gone crazy, but there is just something otherworldly and very believable about the guy. Plus, he just so happens to be extremely beautiful. After talking with Gabriel, he learns that the angel is not actually here on earth by choice, but rather, as a form of punishment. Jake is also perturbed to learn that Gabriel knows absolutely everything about him, including what went on with his friend Jono in Afghanistan and why Jake felt the need to run as far away from it all as possible.

While Jake is desperately trying to cling on to the life he had made for himself, Gabriel is being a general nuisance as he gets used to his human body and tries to figure out a way to redeem himself. So Jake is surprised at how much Gabriel means to him and how quickly the angel becomes a part of his life. When Jono appears in his life again however, Jake and Gabriel realise that there is more to this situation than they first thought. Fate is transpiring to bring these people together at just the right time, leaving Jake with the hardest decision he will ever have to make.

Catch Me When I Fall has a very inviting style of writing that made it no effort at all to read. There were a lot of interesting concepts explored – Jake’s transition from military to civilian life, as well as his denial about his feelings towards his friend Jono that has caused him so much heartache. The writer found a good balance between these human concepts and the paranormal elements of angels watching over you, and the possibility of an angel feeling human emotions, which led to a very interesting story. Jake was a likable character despite some frustrating behaviour at times. The chemistry between Jake and his angel Gabriel was very appealing to me. I love the idea of an angel and a human having such a strong bond, but I feel it will always be bittersweet – like star crossed lovers facing a huge struggle to get their happy ending. Catch Me When I Fall certainly has bittersweet moments but I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre

Molten

Title:  Molten

Author:  Viola Grace

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0090-3

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

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Nanette can do things with fire and ends up volunteering for the Volunteer Project.  She is sent to a Guardian world to be the one to do repairs when there are disasters.  Rand also has a like power and can’t get the new person out of his mind.

The latest story in the Terran Times Second Wave series, Molten, picks up on the same world from Mandate.  There are different disasters that seem to be regular occurrences on the planet, so Nanette is assigned to be the one to repair things on the planet, whether it be with stone or metal.

Nanette and Rand meet again at a festival, but even though they have great chemistry, Rand puts his foot in his mouth.  It is only after another disaster that they finally get together, where they heat things up literally and figuratively.

The other Guardians make appearances, along with some delightful young ladies.  I had to laugh at Rand’s mother’s reaction to something Nanette did when they were first introduced. 

I am looking forward to seeing what the next book in this series holds, and wonder if it will be about the last Guardian on this particular planet.

The Demon's Door

Title: The Demon's Door

Author: Ari McKay

Publisher: Torquere Press

Publisher URL: www.torquerebooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-61040-819-6

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Thomas Carter is on a mission to rid the city of soulless creatures that prey upon humans. Sadly, Thomas cannot distinguish the good from evil supernatural until he meets Julian Schaden, a vampire who becomes a mentor, in addition to a lover, to Thomas.

The Demon's Door has a rather slow-paced plot, illustrating very little demon fighting. The majority of the storyline consist of researching demons, along with Julian teaching Thomas the techniques of intimacy. The characters are somewhat interesting but not entirely engaging.

Thomas grew up on a farm sheltered from the outside world. His naïveté regarding the fundamentals of human life makes him appear mentally challenged.

Julian is a sociable man who enjoys the nightlife of gay bars as well as the supernatural community in the city. Over the years Julian has assisted demon hunters, including all of Thomas’s family. 

The dramatic ending of The Demon's Door is enjoyable.  

Off Campus

Title: Off Campus

Author: Amy Jo Cousins

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

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

ISBN/BIN: 9781619223936

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

ARC: To be published Dec. 30, 2014

Tom went from being the golden boy everyone wanted to be with to homeless with no real friends, almost overnight.   Now that he’s at the point where his life is turning around, he isn’t going to let anything stand in his way.  Not even a horny roommate.

Off Campus is the first book in a new series, Bend or Break, by author Amy Jo Cousins. This isn’t the usual campus story as both main characters have been in school for some time and just happened to meet for the first time when they are assigned to the same room in off campus housing.  From the start it was easy for me to like Tom.  He is a young man who carries the actions of his father heavily on his shoulders.  Through no fault of his own, Tom finds himself homeless and struggling to make things work.  While I feel bad for him, it is easy to see that it is making him a stronger man.  Reese, on the other hand, comes across as a bit of an ass from the very beginning.  The lengths he goes to in order to get Tom to move out will make you shake your head.  It is only as I came to know the character that I started to understand why he behaves the way he does.  The reasons behind Reese’s actions may be difficult for some readers. 

The author spends quite a bit of time bringing these two together.  At times I wondered if they would ever get together, yet once the two start opening up, their relationship moves fast.  This does not mean that everything becomes hunky dory between them.  The relationship between Tom and Reese has many ups and downs.  More than once I thought this story would end on a bad note. 

For me Off Campus started on a slow note, and it took a while to warm up to one of the main characters, I also found myself enjoying the story.  I am curious to see what the author has planned for a follow up and look forward to the next book.

Prime Imperative

Title:  Prime Imperative

Author:  Monette Michaels

Publisher:  Liquid Silver Books

Publisher URL:  www.liquidsilverbooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-62210-156-6

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

Rating:  5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Brianna ends up being one of the Prime ‘Lost Ones’ and contacts Prime to see if her mate is still alive.  Turns out that her mate is Iolyn Caradoc.  He is excited but upset when he finds himself across the galaxy when she needs protection.

Prime Imperative is the third book in The Prime Chronicles series and the story of the third son of Prime’s leader.  It picks up not long after the last story, and things are escalating when Brianna is scheduled to go to Prime, to continue research regarding the fertility and birth rate issues that are destroying the Prime population.

The chemistry between Brianna and Iolyn is intense, partly because of the mate mark they received when they were young.  As they learn about each other, Iolyn is frustrated because he can’t quite accept Brianna is a battle mate. Brianna gets upset with him because she knows she can help even if she is a doctor.

Iolyn’s brothers and their mates help Iolyn and Brianna adjust and some other friends are there as well.  One of the bad guys from previous books ends up causing more trouble, but there was a twist that I did not see coming, and the resolution does not resolve all the issues brought up.  

I am happy to see that there will be more stories in The Prime Chronicles.  I am anxious to see how the author will resolve one of the biggest issues facing the Prime.  This series needs to be read in order to get the best picture of what is going on with the Prime.  This series is a keeper to be read again.

Missing, But Not Dead

Title: Missing, But Not Dead

Author: Christiane France

Publisher: Amber Allure

Publisher URL: www.amberquill.com

ISBN: 978-1-61124-686-5

Genre: {M/M} Mystery Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Greg Stewartson, co-owner of the Amethyst Cove Security & Investigations, is not looking for a boyfriend when a chance meeting with Ash Tyler at the beach turns into a mutual attraction worth exploring.

Missing, But Not Dead is part of the Amethyst Cove Mysteries series. Greg’s policy of not dating clients falls into a grey area to the rule. Although technically speaking, Ash did not hire Greg to investigate his case; Greg is intrigued enough to do a little research on his own.

Ash was adopted, he had a wonderful life with loving parents, but now as an adult, Ash wonders who his birth parents were. The few clues Greg has managed to gather leads to a mystery Greg is determined to solve. 

Christiane France has created a fascinating opening saga. The storyline inspires a number of questions as well as a few clues to wet your inquisitive appetite. However, the readers will have to wait until the next installment because this episode ends in a cliffhanger. I greatly enjoyed Missing, But Not Dead and look forward to the next addition. 

Out of CTRL

Title: Out of CTRL

Author: SA Welsh

Publisher: Totally Bound Books

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

ISBN/BIN: 9781784302795

Genre: {M/M}. Mystery

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

They say you can’t go home again and no one knows that more than Andrew.  When he is pressured into returning home for a family affair, he hopes he can just go in and then leave again with no problems.  Unfortunately, things don’t turn out like he hoped and he soon learns that not everything in the past was what he believed.

I am a big fan of SA Welsh and was excited to get a hold of this new story.  Out of CTRL grabbed my attention right from the beginning.  Andrew is one of those people you hear about every so often that is so good on a computer they can hack into anything.  When he ends up doing just that, he finds himself in trouble with the CIA.  Wanting to stay out of jail, Andrew finds himself working for the government, and making good money doing it. 

Teddy is an old friend of Andrew’s.  When Andrew took off, Teddy was at loose ends and confused as to what happened.  It was hard to reconcile the Teddy Andrew hated with the character that the readers meet.  The two main characters have a strong history, one that has left them both slightly confused and angry.  I will be honest and say that because of the way Andrew feels about Teddy I had a hard time liking him in the beginning.  I was curious to see how this would play out between the two men, especially since it was easy to see that there was some strong chemistry between them.

Secrets start to come out almost from the moment Andrew returns to his home town.  I was shocked by the actions of one of Andrew’s sisters.  I also thought his parents reason for always siding with her was lame, to say the least.  But the secrets in Andrew’s hometown aren’t the only ones troubling him. 

Something fishy is going on at Andrew’s job and, while he thinks he may have a handle on everything, Andrew could be wrong.  This is the one part of the story I wish the author would have spent a little more time on, but the fact that I found this part of the story a little light, does not hinder the story in any way. 

Out of CTRL is a well written story and one I will be reading again.

Beyond the Compound

Title:  Beyond the Compound

Author:  Claire Thompson

Publisher:  Romance Unbound Publishing

Publisher URL:  http://romanceunbound.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781937337742

Genre:  {M/F}, BDSM

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Hailey is the object of a bidding war when her six month contract is put out for her services as a slave.  It is bought by the nation’s latest heart-throb in Hollywood, Ronan.  Ronan is pleasantly surprised that Hailey has no idea who he is. 

Beyond the Compound is a wonderful story about one lifestyle choice within the BDSM community.  The Compound is a well-known BDSM Club and training facility for both Doms/Masters and submissives, especially if you want to have a high protocol sub.  I liked the way the author showcased that the submissive would get half the proceeds so they would not lose anything when they went back to their life.

Ronan and Hailey are well suited for each other and both start to fall for the other, though they aren’t sure how to proceed.  The author showcased what happens when a celebrity’s life is under constant scrutiny and, as a result, Hailey and Ronan finally admit their feelings for each other.

I loved what happens when they return to The Compound and the author gives readers more glimpses of the club.  Those familiar with the lifestyle will really enjoy some of the scenes that follow. 

I really enjoyed this book and think it should be on the bookshelf of those that enjoy BDSM stories.  This is one to read again and again.

Reluctant for Romance

Title:  Reluctant for Romance

Author:  Pamela Judge

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

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

ISBN/BIN:  9781619223301

Genre:  {M/F} Retro Romance, Contemporary

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Carly Ray is overwhelmed and not quite sure where to start.  She wants to focus her attention on her mother, but pending unemployment and lazy siblings keep getting in Carly’s way.  Her anger boiled over when the arrogant man who ran her mother over shows miniscule remorse.  She intended to give him a piece of her mind but winds up giving him a piece of her heart.

Declan O’Halloran tried to explain, but the feisty woman never let him get a word in.  It was just easier to agree to her demands.  Convincing Carly to accept his help and his attention was not an easy task.  Carly made it clear that their time together was only temporary but Declan wanted more.  He knew they made a great match, even though Carly didn’t think so.

Carly never wanted to be like her mother, who was a domestic dynamo.  Catering to someone hand and foot was not the life for Carly.  Nothing was more important to her than a career.  After getting to know Declan, Carly was confused.  She knew she loved him, but Carly also thought she could never be the kind of woman he needed.  Declan was a family man, who wanted a simple family life.  And he refused to settle for the no strings hook up Carly was offering him.  It was all or nothing.  Carly nearly lost her shot at happiness because she didn’t realize that Declan wasn’t trying to change her or trap her.  Carly’s mother had gone to the extreme caring for her grown sons so I understood how this could make Carly want to avoid a similar situation.  I wouldn’t want to be a maid for three grown men either.  I found myself getting angry at how they expected Carly to do everything for them.  I wasn’t able to get over my anger at the mother for crippling all of her children though.  Actually I had to give Carly’s brothers credit for changing their tune by the end of the story.  At first I just assumed they were lost causes.  

Reluctant for Romance shows the struggle that many women have today, the balance between a career and a family.  There is nothing wrong with having your cake and eating it too, and I was relieved that Carly finally realized that.  Sometimes you don’t truly know what you want until you get it and that was true of Carly.  She overcame her fear and realized Declan didn’t want to change her, he just wanted to love her as she was.  Read their story and I bet you won’t be able to resist a man like him.

Making His Move

Title:  Making His Move

Author:  Rhyannon Byrd

Publisher:  Self Published

Publisher URL:  www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  ASIN: B00NYAQXB8

Genre:  {M/F}, Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Sophie is awkward socially except when she is talking to Chris.  She is attracted to him, but just knows he doesn’t want anyone like her, but when Chris gets a misdirected text. he decides to make his move.

Making His Move is a fast paced read.  It is intense in sexual and emotional chemistry between two people who are friends but unsure how to take things to the next level.  Sophie has a friend that is constantly trying to get her to ask Chris out.  Chris is unsure when it comes to Sophie, but extremely confident in the rest of his life.

Once the two get together, the pages burn so keep plenty of ice on hand.  There is a slight hiccup in their relationship at the beginning, but that is taken care of very quickly.  

Those that are fans of Rhyannon Byrd will not be disappointed in this story.  It is more intense than some of her others, but continues with the dominant hero and the feisty heroine, once she get over her shyness.  I will be reading this one again.

No Boundaries

Title: No Boundaries

Author: SE Jakes

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-61922-263-2

Genre: {M/M} {M/M/M} Mystery Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Cole Jacobs is getting a fresh start on life by doing a job he enjoys. Cole has a new career as an auto mechanic. Unfortunately, Cole realizes he also has a stalker who knows all the nasty details of his past. As a favor to his boss, private detective Marcus Lowry agrees to investigate Cole’s possible stalker case. Marcus has his doubts the case is real until they both receive undeniable proof that their lives are in imminent danger.

No Boundaries is the first book in the Phoenix, Inc. series. Phoenix, Inc. is the name of a Private Investigations business owned by Styx, Law and Paolo, three former armed forces, CIA and cops. The plot is a nail biting suspense with military tactics employed. The characters have emotional baggage from their past that continues surface from time to time. Trust is a major issue for Cole as well as for Marcus; both men have secrets too painful to share.

Cole was forced to live on the streets at a young age. He did whatever he had to do to survive. Cole suffers from anger issues but he is not a violent man. Cole relieves his stress by doing fighter training. Cole’s past as a rent boy subdued his sexual desires until he met Marcus.

Marcus has the guiltiness of failure from his days as a CIA operative, though the mission was accomplished according to plan, he did not accomplish the goal to his own satisfaction. Marcus is also suspicious of his attraction to Cole because of a prior cheating boyfriend. 

SE Jakes has created a fascinating thriller that I enjoyed immensely. The mentally twisted stalker is terrifying. No Boundaries also features ménage intimacy scenes between Styx, Law and Paolo, as well as intimacy scenes between Cole and Marcus.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Title: Soothing the Zebra’s Fears

Author: Charlie Richards

Publisher: eXtasy Books

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

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-4874-0076-7

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

At nearly 300 years old, Diego realized that if he ever wants to have a mate, he would have to go looking.  Unfortunately that means leaving his position as alpha and hitting the road with Kontra and his group.  While he likes the guys, he is having a harder time not being an alpha than he thought he would.  Everything changes when he smells his mate, who has no idea that he himself is a shifter.

Soothing the Zebra’s Fears is the latest addition to the Kontra’s Menagerie series.  This story finds Kontra and his men once again on the road, when a stop for chow brings them trouble they weren’t expecting, thanks to Diego meeting Zachary.  I liked the way in which the author introduces Zachary to both the readers and Diego.  This is a young man who is used to being under his mother’s thumb to some extent, and while Diego acted as if the younger man was a shifter, Zachary has no idea about this part of his heritage.  It is easy to see that the younger man’s mother is not happy about the date Diego and her son are planning on going on, but I assumed it was just the reactions of an over-protective, prejudiced mother.  The real reason will surprise the reader and the final show down is very interesting. 

As for our main characters, Diego and Zachary make a great couple.  Because of his age, Diego is a little jaded while Zachary is on the innocent side so they end up balancing each other perfectly.  I loved watching Diego introduce Zachary to the shifter world.  The younger man’s reaction to the others shifting around him is what you would expect from someone who has no knowledge of the shifter world.  The connection between these two is strong, even in the beginning, and the chemistry between them is intense. 

Fans of this series are sure to love this new book. 

Assassins Bite

Title: Assassins Bite

Author: Mary Hughes

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL: www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-61922-254-0

Genre: {M/F} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Release Date: 11-11-14

Sunny Ruffles’ dream of being a police officer almost ends before it begins. On her first night on patrol, she’s involved in a mugging and gets attacked by several vampires. Lucky for her, a gorgeous man jumps from the shadows to save her, dispatching the attacking vamps. The face of her mysterious rescuer in burned into Sunny’s brain and even when she told to forget him, she can’t.

Attending a meeting is Aiden Blackthorne’s reason for being in town, but when he realizes the very human Sunny’s in danger, he has to act. After kissing her once, Aiden can’t get Sunny out of his mind. He wants her but someone’s trying to kill him and being at his side could be dangerous. Sunny’s his mate, and Aiden will need her help to defeat the evil from his past before they can have any hope of a future.

Assassins Bite is the newest release in the Biting Love series by Mary Hughes.  Due to the recurring characters and ongoing plotline threads, I recommend the books be read in order.

What a joy to read. It’s fun, entertaining and a wonderful addition to the family of books. I always look forward to each release in this well written series and Assassins Bite is no different. The descriptions are vivid, there’s great integration of the romance with the dangerous vamp parts of the story and I loved getting to see some of the previous characters. Best of all, it’s fast paced, has snappy dialogue, plenty of action and lots of surprises. What more could I want? I’m pretty certain I read it in 24 hours.

I couldn’t be more pleased with Sunny and Aiden as the featured couple. What an interesting mix—a tiny spitfire cop and a tall, broad-shouldered vamp assassin. Talk about opposites. Their outlooks on life are vastly different too. With some background as explanation and a little creativity, Ms. Hughes gets these two together, and does it believably. FYI—As much as I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series, this one might just be my new favorite. I look forward to the next one.

Drawing out his Wolf

Title: Drawing out his Wolf

Author: Charlie Richards

Publisher: eXtasy Books

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

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-4874-0062-0

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Deke thought he found the “one” but soon finds out just how wrong he is.  When things go from bad to worse, he takes off to stay with his friend, Dirk.  Although Dirk is not home at the time, he arranges someplace safe for Deke to stay.  The last thing he thought would happen would be running into Luther.  He can’t help being attracted to the other man but the last thing he plans to do is fall for a straight man.

Drawing out his Wolf is the newest book in the Wolves of Stone Ridge series.  The book touches on a subject that could be difficult for some readers. However, it is important to the story line and handled appropriately.  The main characters are two that we have already met and I was anxious to see how the author would handle their pairing.  Deke is a human but thanks to his friend, Dirk, he already knows about the paranormal world.  Luther is a member of Deacon’s pack and, while he is intrigued by Deke, he has no plans to approach the other man.  I like the chemistry between the two men and the fact that neither man is sure what to do about it.  The author handles the relationship between them in a way that makes the relationship realistic, if you cut out the paranormal aspect that is.  I especially liked how the aspect of Luther’s daughter was handled, and think the two men will have their hands full with her. 

Their relationship is not the only thing the men have to deal with, however, as not everyone is happy that the two men are mates.  I had to laugh with the way Deke tried to handle the situation he finds himself in and the howl was over the top.  

This was a great addition to the series and I can’t wait to see what else the author has planned.

Destiny of Dragons

Title: Destiny of Dragons

Author: Amber Kell

Publisher: Extasy Books

Publisher URL: www.extasybooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0087-3

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Water dragon Liang gains freedom from being a stone statue only to be held captive again in the Coral Sea. However, this time Liang’s imprisonment is short lived with the assistance of another dragon being held captive, Proteus.

Destiny of Dragons is the second book in the Dragons of Seattle series. The Plot, five dragons, Zhou, Jiang, Liang, Tian, Wei who were entombed in stone for centuries by the vile Chinese emperor Huangdi have finally gained their freedom.

Zhou and Jiang were the first two to arrive in Seattle. Liang arrives after his delay and is seeking the help of his fellow dragon warriors to free his mate Proteus.

Other dilemmas highlighted in the plot are to locate the two remaining dragon warriors, as well as destroy the evil emperor.

Unlike his warrior mate Liang, Proteus is a sea dragon shifter with a nurturing spirit. Being small in size, Proteus’s greatest survival skill is camouflage.

Aden, first featured in the Banded Brothers series, is the newly awakened dragon king. It is his destiny to safeguard the warriors. Discovering he has magical powers along with supernatural evil to combat has Aden apprehensive about defeating these magical challenges.

Amber Kell has created a very exciting installment to this series. I particularly enjoyed the intimidating lie in wait surprises incorporated into the storyline. 

Defying the Duke

Title: Defying the Duke

Author: Meta Mathews

Publisher: Totally Bound

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781784302825

Genre: {M/F} Contemporary; Paranormal

Rating: 3 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

Amelia Comstock had no idea what she was getting herself into when she took on the job of researching the mysterious disappearance of the Duke of Durbane. When the Duke starts to visit her in her dreams, she is convinced that it’s nothing more than the stress of the job. The fact that the dreams are of a highly erotic nature just tells her that she needs to get a life and stop obsessing about a two hundred year old ghost. However, when the Duke starts to appear to Amelia when she is most definitely awake, thinking her a courtesan and insisting on pleasuring her, drastic action is needed.

Amelia arranges a meeting with her boss Ben to formally quit the job, but is surprised that it is not Ben who turns up, but his handsome nephew Jack, who just so happens to look uncannily similar to her unwelcomed visitor. Jack is embarrassed to reveal that he too has been visited in the night, by a lady who looks just like Amelia no less, leading Amelia to start suspecting that her boss may have ulterior motives for setting the two of them up. With their ghostly experiences fresh in their minds, they would both rather walk away from this project right now. However they grudgingly agree that the only way they will be able to put the Duke to bed for good, and perhaps figure out why they get the feeling of déjà vu whenever they are together, is to dig deeper.

Overall I enjoyed Defying the Duke, but I did struggle to follow certain aspects of the story at times. The plot was fun, unique, and captured my interest, but I found it difficult to follow all the information unearthed by the character’s research into the Duke and what the implications of the discoveries were. It was an interesting story, but the link between the past and the present was left unclear to me.

Amelia and Jack took some time to warm to, but they had good chemistry and I liked that they were introduced to the reader before being introduced to each other. It was a nice kind of tease that worked well as I was definitely looking forward to them meeting. They clashed a bit at first, which built some tension, but I felt the attraction could having been given a little longer to bubble away before their story concluded. It just felt a bit rushed, as I couldn’t really buy into the idea of them wanting to build a future together after so little time together. I think my belief in their present relationship could have benefitted from more time being invested into explaining their connection in the past.

Between Heaven & Hell

Title: Between Heaven & Hell

Author: L.M. Brown

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN: 9781784302658

Genre: {M/M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Tristan Garrett thought the Halloween party at a local bar would be the perfect place to meet a potential boyfriend, so he agreed to accompany his only friend, Lawrence to the social gathering. Tristan glimpses demon Alastor standing across the room. Hoping to attract Alastor’s attention, Tristan moves to the dance floor but instead of Alastor, Tristan is joined by angel Machidiel. One night in the arms of Mac plus a year later in the arms of Alastor and Tristan is in love with two men each with mutual feelings for Tristan. 

Between Heaven & Hell is the first book in the Heavenly Sins series. The fascinating plot is a sizzling romance intermingled with mystery, deception and a touch of amusing interaction between Alastor and Mac, who are both competing for Tristan’s affection. The trial ménage relationship is a first for all three of them.

Alastor is a demon capable of true emotions, making him rare among demons.

Alastor hates his demon form, but he is required to reveal his true self when summoned by the demon king. Alastor and Mac have shared an unrequited love for centuries, though being an angel, Mac is reluctant to break any heavenly rules. Alastor on the other hand cares nothing for rules, but he respects Mac.

Mac is always on a mission to save souls, especially Tristan and Alastor. However, Mac soon realizes his love for Tristan has impaired his judgment, thus creating a major dilemma that even Mac’s angelic powers cannot rectify.

Tristan is a good guy searching for a long term relationship with one man. He quickly discovers that he is able to equally love two men at the same time. Through no fault of his own, Tristan becomes trapped in a predicament that could cost him the lost of his soul. 

L.M. Brown’s Between Heaven & Hell is a creative as well as an incredibly enjoyable good versus evil skirmish.