Surge by Maya Nicole

2 Stars

My life changed forever the day my father's oil rig crashed into the ocean. Now, three men want answers I don't have, and they'll do whatever it takes to get them.

Jax, Morgan, and Blake want to destroy me, but I know their secret.

I’m questioning everything I knew to be true. Especially when the truth about them leads to discovering a deep, long-hidden secret about myself.

They aren't who they appear to be... but neither am I.

Riley gets handed a crap hand. Dad has been MIA all her life and now mom is running. This ends up on a cliff and it’s an interesting concept just not implemented well. On top of that Riley is really stupid. She’s told to keep secrets and she reveals it to all the guys who were being dicks to her. That was strike one for me. Strike two and three was no world building and no character development. Skipping the rest of the series.

Book 1 Salinity Cove

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Cursed Vampire by Brogan Thomas

3 Stars

Half unicorn, half bloodsucker, all trouble.

When her secret gets out, can this feisty teenager survive?

Tru Dennison’s life feels like a sick joke. Still grieving her adoptive grandad and kicked out by her useless uncle, the seventeen-year-old is juggling two jobs just to afford a roof over her head. The last thing she needs? A shifter customer biting her during a shift.

Already battling a strange illness she can’t seem to shake, Tru’s terrified the bite will expose her hidden bloodline to the supernatural community. And when the wound makes her condition even worse, she starts to realise there’s far more to fear than just discovery.

Now everyone wants a piece of her—and they’re not playing nice.

Can Tru’s rebel spirit save her when she becomes the prize in a deadly supernatural tug-of-war?

Cursed Vampire is the thrilling third standalone novel in the Creatures of the Otherworld urban fantasy series. If you love snarky heroines, forbidden romance, and magical mayhem, you’ll adore Brogan Thomas’s feisty adventure.

I’m so angry with this one. It ended but Tru doesn’t end up with the guy. I was so confused that I looked it up to see if the next book was hers and it wasn’t. which led to a deep dive into published books by this author. She spun this one off into another series. Just why? Why wouldn’t you continue the story in the next book and conclude it. Instead, the next book is a different set of characters in this world and I have to pick up the other series to get the conclusion for Tru. It kind of turned me off and I am going to take a break from this author for me.

Book 3 Creatures of the Otherworld

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Cursed Demon by Brogan Thomas

3 Stars

She enjoyed life as a demon’s pet. Until the cries of an innocent tore her world asunder…

Emma Case is freaking out. Being surrounded by monsters is risky enough without breaking the rules, but when the soft-hearted girl hears a pup in distress, she can’t resist trespassing on forbidden ground. And after discovering the unfortunate creature is a wolf-shifter, she’s stunned when the child’s pack accuses her of the crime and abducts her for interrogation.

Tortured for information she doesn’t have, Emma pleads desperately for her handsome tormenter to believe her. Yet as the naïve young woman tumbles deeper into the realm of supernatural intrigue, she unexpectedly manifests frightening powers she has no idea how to control.

Will Emma’s hidden heritage prove a blessing or a bane?

Cursed Demon is the second standalone book in the character-driven Creatures of the Otherworld urban fantasy series. If you like sassy heroines, laugh-out-loud humour, and white-knuckle thrills, then you’ll love Brogan Thomas’s action-packed tale.

I loved book one but this one wasn’t as good. This is the brother from book one and he was a dick in book one and he’s a dick in this book. FMC deserved so much more than him and his bull. I noticed with book one there’s no real conclusion to the story and book two continues that which left me wanting. I still enjoyed the overall story and will try the next one.

Book 2 Creatures of the Otherworld

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Last Chance Mates by Leona Page

3.5 Stars

It’s former RedMoon alphason, Trey Wilkinson’s, last chance. Last chance to redeem himself. Last chance to carve out a good life for his widowed mother and orphaned son. Last chance to feel any smidge of happiness. Long, slender legs, wide sky-blue eyes, too clever for his sanity, and such a mouth on her; his last chance.

Rory’s on her last chance. Prison was a mixed bag, but now she’s out. Back with the remnants of her pack, Rory just needs to find her footing, but the betrayals of her past haven’t been resolved, and she has more secrets than Trey Wilkinson’s investigative gamma unit.

Attraction may be explosive, but so is the past. No matter how much Trey and Rory want each other, the fact remains: Rory killed Trey’s little brother. How can he possibly forgive her for that?

It was a good read. I loved the struggle Rory went through to end up with Trey. There is some content warnings should pay attention to before reading this book but I enjoyed the darkness this author writes. There are some writing errors that need to be addressed but still a good read.

Book 7 Not Quite An Alpha

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Sweet Revenge by GK DeRosa

2 Stars

One broken human-ish girl.

Twelve gorgeous supernatural bachelors.

A paranormal dating game with bite.

What’s a half-wolf girl to do when her fated mate rejects her?

Apparently, go on a supernatural reality dating show.

Twelve hunky bachelors are vying for my attention and my heart.

Including my ex’s twin brother…

It’s the perfect recipe for revenge.

But my desire to get back at those who hurt me is a lot harder with all the drama the other suitors bring.

And when I start developing real feelings for the man who should be my enemy.

Nothing feels better than getting sweet revenge…

Until you fall in love with your target.

This was a good idea, but it was convoluted and poorly executed. Characters’ personalities shifted so quickly. Oh, we need them to be booted so now they are going to be dicks to the other characters. It is very obvious who she’s going to end up with but you gotta get through several books to get there. It ends on a cliff and isn’t worth continuing.

Book 1 Hitched Live

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Winter Caress by R O’Leary

 

4 Stars

He’s broken, her wolf is a killing machine, and somehow they have to survive the holidays… together.

Keep a handle on her wolf. Easier said than done. After months of being held in captivity, Bea’s wolf is unpredictable, at best. And on her bad days? Downright monstrous. She’s barely keeping herself from going furry and attacking her toaster every time her toast pops up—and now she has to celebrate Christmas with her noisy family? Not if Bea can help it.

What she needs is a reason to be unavailable… like a new boyfriend. Now she just needs to convince the sexy bird-shifter from her support group to go along with her plan.

Tortured, battered, and just a little bit broken, Connor is having one hell of a year. After being poked at by scientists and spending months stuck in his bird form, he’s still getting used to being human again. The noise, the emotions, the nightmares. It’s all too much.

The last thing he wants to do right now is sing Christmas carols with his pushy clan. He’s been tortured enough, thanks. When a pretty wolf with haunted eyes offers him an arrangement, it’s just the escape he wants. If only he could as easily escape the need burning in his gut every time he looks in her direction…

Working together, they might be able to dodge their families through the holidays… if they don’t get caught under the mistletoe first.

Bea gets her HEA which is well earned. Loved seeing how she has worked through her trauma. Connor has just as much trauma he is working through and watching them come together was amazing. Added to the overarching story and loved every minute of it.

Book 5.6 Raven Falls Curse

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Boulder Bear by Sophie Stern

3 Stars

We were mates, but then he left. Now I know that I'm better off without him.

Or am I?

It's been six years, eleven months, and four days since Dante left Boulder. I know this not because I've been hoping he'll return, but because I've been counting how many days I've been fine without him. I am, too. I have my clan. I have my company.

And I have my son.

Our son.

Dante never needs to know about Wilder. If he finds out that he's got a son, I just know he's going to come back to town, but I've moved on. We've all moved on.

But all of that is about to change...

Dante comes barreling back to Boulder acting like everything is the same, but I'm different now. I don't need a husband. I don't need a mate. I don't need anything he could possibly have to offer, but my bear is begging to disagree.

And I don't know if my heart can handle it.

I enjoyed this but it is very lacking on world building or character development. I enjoyed the plot and you will be angry with the people in FMC and MMC who screw them both over. It is a quick and easy read.

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Hexed Heart by R O’Leary

3 Stars

A broken monster. A desperate witch. A match made in hell.

The kingdom of Davos is in chaos, and so is Wilos. Banished by his king, the cat shifter is doing his best to keep it together… and failing. Who knew farming would be so hard? The sooner the cat takes over and drags him off into the woods for good, the better.

Curse them all—if Verity could go back in time and slap every last one of her foolish fellow witches, she would in a heartbeat. Create an army of monsters hellbent on revenge? Not the witches’ smartest plan. There’s nothing left to do but run and hope that nothing with fangs catches up to her… especially while she sneaks a desperate night of sleep.

The last thing Wilos needs is a witch hiding out on his farm. She’s beautiful and annoyingly alluring, but she’s a witch—and the sooner he gets rid of her, the sooner he can go back to being left alone.

With half the kingdom hunting her and his cat watching her every move, getting rid of the stubborn creature might be easier said than done.

I think if I started with this book I probably would have liked it better than I did. It gave more information on what led to what is happening in the current books. Since most of the information in this book was already mentioned in other books it felt repetitive. The writing was good and it did flesh out some things so worth the read.

Book .6 Raven Falls Curse

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Frosted Kisses by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Book 4.5 Raven Falls Curse

Banished to a trailer park with nothing but the clothes on his back, Carter has lost everything worthwhile in his life. The tiger inside of him isn’t so sure…

There’s nothing Shelby wants more than to finish up her degree and keep her hellion siblings out of trouble through Christmas break… but her new neighbor is making it hard to focus. He’s sexy, arrogant, and makes sculptures out of beer cans in his yard. There’s nothing about him that should appeal to her, but Shelby can’t take her eyes off of him—maybe because he can’t ever seem to put a shirt on?

All Carter had to do was keep his furry nose out of other people’s business, but he just had to go and do the right thing. Now he’s disowned, destitute, and stuck in the trailer park from hell. Drowning his misery in cheap beer and toaster waffles, he’s doing his best to avoid the loud pack of humans that live next door… especially the one with the cute freckles.

Avoiding Shelby is only going to get more difficult as the holidays draw closer… because the only thing Carter’s tiger wants for Christmas, is her.

Really enjoyed seeing Carter get his HEA with everything he has been through. Loved how it connected with the other short stories…may have read them out of order. Was interesting to see him go from wanting to be left alone and falling for Shelby. It was short and quick read. Melded well with the rest of the series and added to the overarching story.

Book 5.5 Raven Falls Cursed

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Screaming Sins by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Content warning there are talk about self harm and suicide in this book. If this is an issue for you please be aware.

He's promising to make her scream, but the joke's on him.

Eliza is a banshee—screaming is what she does best.

Creed and Eliza were amazing. I loved how Creed back Eliza into a corner to get what he wants and then he falls for her so bad. When they are in danger all he wants to do is protect her. Swoon. She has so much hate because of her talent and he just loves her no matter what. We finally get a huge drop of info on the big bad and it’s big. Can’t wait for the next installment.

Book 7 Raven Falls Curse

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Siren Craving by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Her siren call might just be more than he can handle…

Another day, another stalker. Every time a tiny bit of Lexie’s power leaks out, it enthralls any poor fool unlucky enough to be standing next to her. The magic always wears off… eventually. The siren has no choice but to lay low and wait for the obsession to pass.

What better place to hide out than a town full of monsters?

Cam is on loan to the town of Raven Falls to solve their shifter problem. But no matter how hard the scientist tries, he can’t seem to get the monsters back to their human form. It’s not exactly a surprise. He can’t even fix his own broken monster. The last thing he needs is another distraction from his work. Because that’s exactly what the clumsy siren is. A curvy, enticing distraction.

Cam has a job to do—now if only he can ignore her sweet siren call long enough to do it.

Loved Cam and Lexie together. Cam is such a dick with everyone but her…for the most part. Lexie can’t speak because of her talents woo anyone who hears it. She ends up with so many stalkers because of her talent. I love what happens with the bad guy in this one and these two. Without any spoilers I love how Cam handles her talent and just wants to love her. One of the best reads in this series.

Book 6 Raven Falls Curse

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Bewitching Allure by R O’Leary

 

3 Stars

All magic has a price... but to possess the witch, he's willing to do whatever it takes.

Don't get involved with monsters. That's Juniper's number one rule for staying under the radar... and the one rule the witch has trouble following. She should have turned down the shifter Alpha when he offered her the job, but the money was good and her sister needed new soccer cleats.

All magic comes with a price... and so does interfering. Alone and hunted by witches and undead alike, Juniper has no choice but to embrace her powers--and somehow find a way to keep the handsome FBI agent dogging her steps from getting killed in the crossfire.

FBI Special Agent Alexander Reid has one job: recruit the witch. Piece of cake, right?

Wrong. Sure, Juniper is beautiful, and fiery, and following her around is far more entertaining than being chained to a desk — but getting attacked by undead monsters isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Reid is in over his head and he knows it. Quitting his job is looking more and more appealing with each horrifyingly supernatural minute, but there's something about Juniper that he can't seem to get out of his head.

The bewitching temptress is driving him mad--but is it magic... or something else entirely?

This was the first book in the series I struggled with. I liked Reid a lot but Juniper was a struggle. She jumped to conclusions so many times that caused so many issues. I still enjoyed the getting the HEA and finding out more about the big bad but it was one I put down a couple of times before I finished it. All other books were sit down and finish in one sitting. It still worth reading just not my favorite.

Book 5 Raven Falls Curse

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Deathly Desires by R O’Leary

4 Stars

For months the wolf has watched his mate from afar. He's finally ready to make his move... that is, if a tiny witch doesn't derail his plans.

A wolf only gets one mate, and Bennett's monster chose the minute he laid eyes on Iris. The smiling ghoul is fierce and beautiful... and way out of his league. That's not going to stop him from getting the girl--assuming he can ever get his foot out of his mouth and actually ask her out.

His wolf is ready to seal the deal, but Bennett's past has other plans. He made a deal to save a life and it's time to pay up... it just never occurred to him that the price might include babysitting a preteen witch. How the hell is he supposed to keep a kid alive when he can't even stop a potted plant from dying?

Iris has had very little time for anything in her life but work. She certainly doesn't have the time to lust after a wolf... but for him, she might just be willing to make an exception. Tattooed and all kinds of sexy, the scarred wolf is exactly the kind of monster she needs in her life--and her bed.

When Bennett ends up on her doorstep saddled with a tiny witch, Iris has no choice but to offer her help. She might be a ghoul with teeth like a shark, but she's not a monster.

Besides, helping the wolf means keeping him close... very close. And with nowhere to hide, how long before they can't help but give in to the wolf's desire?

I loved the give and take between Iris and Bennett. I was curious how a Ghoul would work as the FMC but she was such a sweetheart and was amazing with the witchling Bennett was put in charge of. They work on figuring out more of the mystery that had been affecting all those they love and end up falling in love which was fun to watch. I loved the witchling and how Bennett was with her and hope she gets to stay with them as family because her backstory hurts my heart.

Book 4 Raven Falls Curse

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Howling Devotion by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Desperate for a shot at claiming his mate, Beau will do anything to get the stubborn owl to give him a chance...even if he has to hijack her investigation.

Alice has always prided herself on being an asset to her shifter clan — that is, until she messed up so badly her Alpha won't even look her in the eye. Confidence shaken and desperate to redeem herself, she has no time for the handsome wolf dogging her steps--even if he is claiming to be her soulmate.

When a mysterious monster starts making trouble in Las Vegas, Alice leaps at the opportunity to prove she is more than just a scatterbrained librarian. A little time away to wallow in self-pity, hunt down a monster, and maybe get a nice tan is exactly what she needs... unless a certain wolf has other plans.

For months, Beau has chased his fiery mate. She's stubborn, smart, and... nothing like he expected. But from the second his wolf laid eyes on the stubborn owl shifter, he's known she was meant to be his. Frustrated but determined, Beau will do whatever it takes to win her over — even if he has to follow her across the country to do it.

A wolf only gets one mate and he'll be damned if he lets her get away.

Alice isn't sure how much longer she can resist his bad-boy charm... or if she even wants to. Enduring the wolf's fierce devotion might just be more than she bargained for.

Poor Beau having to chase his mate to find his happy. Such a fun read and sort of spoiler so be warned. I loved that Alice has to save Beau from the bad guy. Loved the build up with them and how it all comes together. We get more of the overarching story but our couple get their HEA.

Book 3 Raven Falls Curse

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Unbearable Temptation by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Buried under the weight of his role as Alpha, Nate will do anything to find his missing shifters, even if it means babysitting a sassy eyewitness who has an unhealthy obsession with pink--and sugar.

Everything in Rainy's life is finally going according to plan. Her bakery is flourishing, and there's nothing but blue skies and cupcakes ahead--until she witnesses a feathered half-man, half-monster being kidnapped from the alley behind her shop.

Thrust into a shadowy world of supernatural creatures and curses, all Rainy wants to do is hide in her bakery with a bowl of cake batter. She definitely does NOT want to spend her days drooling over the sexy shifter tasked with her protection... right?

Nate has a lot resting on his shoulders: the safety of his clan, a tiny daughter still learning to use her claws, and a council of bloodthirsty Alphas at his throat--not to mention the mountain of paperwork threatening to bury him alive. The last thing he needs is a feisty blonde forcing him to wear a pink apron and bake tarts. But as clan Alpha, her safety is his responsibility... at least that's what his bear tells him every time she looks in his direction.

The sugar-hating grouch is everything Rainy doesn't want. But there's something about Nate that drives her crazy in all the best ways. Can her heart resist the bear--or will the two of them embrace the temptation?

Loved loved Rainy. She was such a sweety and I loved her non swearing swear words. She was a sweety but she never let Nate get away with anything. He was also such a grump and I loved them together. He’s a dick and he gets his ass handed to him by her so many times and it’s well earned. It has a nice conclusion and yet we are still waiting on the overarching bad guy to make an appearance. So far it’s just little bits here and there which is so fun to read.

Book 2 Raven Falls Curse

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Swipe Right for Monsters by R O’Leary

4 Stars

“Download Monstr and slither into your future mate’s DMs!”

Tequila shots and dating apps don’t mix. Celebrating the end of grad school, Drunk Nicole thought it would be a brilliant idea to find a monster sugar daddy to help her pay off her student loans and help her fix up the rundown house she had inherited.

Surely there was a rich vampire or gold-laden dragon out there who might have a thing for messy brunettes with threadbare sweatpants and a caffeine addiction?

 

But in the light of day (and her crippling hangover) Sober Nicole thinks Drunk Nicole was an idiot. Especially now that her notifications are blowing up and five fanged hotties want to take her to dinner… or eat her for dinner.

It is a dating app for monsters, after all.

I loved this book so much. FMC is looking for sugar daddies basically and it comes to bite her in the butt and she does make it up to the men she falls for. Loved this little twist as it’s normally the guys screwing up. I really hope more books will be written in this world as I really liked the premise.

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Furbidden Attraction by R O’Leary

4 Stars

Rules are for humans... and he's definitely not human.

Louisa moved to Raven Falls to start over. But her new life is seeming more like a mistake with each passing minute. Her apartment looks nothing like the pictures, her evil boss might actually be possessed, and the sweet, injured dog she brought home isn't actually a dog.

Not that the exceedingly attractive naked man in her bed isn't a step in the right direction--but it would be nice if she knew who he was.

Knee-deep in a dangerous investigation, memories missing, and a bullet wound in his shoulder, Jack is running out of time to figure out who is hunting shifters. In spite of the danger, Louisa's dark curls and warm vanilla scent tempt the beast inside of him far too much.

But Jack doesn't have time to dawdle with the sassy brunette... unless he takes her with him.

Kidnapped and pissed off, Louisa wants nothing to do with the sexy shifter and even less to do with his secret world of monsters. But the longer she spends with Jack, the less she can deny the odd pull between them... even if it is forbidden.

Loved this book so much. It was different but so good. FMC rolls with the new world view she is given finding out about shifters. She was amazing even when she was kidnapped. I loved how she fought for people she didn’t need to and could have walked away at any point but chose to stay…even when MMC was a dick and tried pushing her away. Definitely one of the best reads of the year.

Book 1 Raven Falls Curse

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Not Satisfied Dragon by Colette Rhodes

4 Stars

Once upon a time, there was a gold dragon who would have given her life in exchange for her revenge.

The conclusion we needed. I loved how Shira’s mates are willing to change to nor lose her. They are completely different mates from books one. Such a good conclusion.

Book 2 Deadly Dragons Duet

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Not Cursed Dragon by Colette Rhodes

 

4 Stars

I am a dragon who hates dragons.

The dragons murdered my family. The dragons stole me. The fae purchased me. My mates saved me.

My mates imprisoned me.

They think they're keeping me safe. They think they know what I need. What all delicate, feminine, gold dragons need. A comfortable den. A well-stocked pantry. Twenty children.

That's not what this gold dragon needs. This gold dragon needs blood. This gold dragon needs revenge.

I loved the premise of this book. Shira has had a crappy life because of dragons and she wants revenge. Her mates rescue her just to keep her locked up … for her own good. She finds a way out to get her revenge in the best way possible. I loved how she does it. It does end on the cliff but book 2 is already out. I do want more world building but still loved it.

Book 1 Deadly Dragons Duet

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Destined Mate by Jen L Grey

2.5 Stars

Fate stripped everything from me and forced me to face my worst nightmare.

As the adopted and weakest member of my pack, I’ve always been an outcast and mistreated, especially since I've never been able to shift into my animal form.

Every time I try to find a way to escape my personal hell, my pack leader stops me, vowing that I'll never be free from him.

Then the worst happens.

A group of my pack members attack me.

Alone, outnumbered, and stuck in my human form, I'll fight for my life even though there’s no hope for survival.

Until a group of unfamiliar wolves come to my aid.

The sexiest and strongest of them, Bodey, is adamant to protect me.

And something inside me tugs toward him almost unnaturally.

But it turns out things aren't what they seem.

There might be something more to my past than I knew . . . and Bodey might be the very person I need protecting from.

The idea of this series is a good one but you have to be really stupid to not figure out the outcome of the book. And I don’t mean who she ends up with or the general plot. I mean who the FMC is and how important she is. It was a nice set up but it frustrated me so much. I got through this one and started the next and quickly DNF. Going to try a different book by this author.

Book 1 Twisted Fate

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