Reading the Paranormal

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren [Review]

2026-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Exception to the Rule (The Improbable Meet-Cute #1) by Christina Lauren
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 24, 2026

The Improbable Meet-Cute
1. The Exception to the Rule - Kindle
2. Worst Wingman Ever
3. Rosie and the Dreamboat
4. Drop, Cover, and Hold On
5. With Any Luck
6. Royal Valentine

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances
1. Accidentally Yours

Christina Lauren
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance. Wishing each other a happy Valentine’s Day isn’t the end. In fact, it becomes a friendly annual tradition—with rules: no pics, no real names, nothing too personal. As years pass, the rules for their email “dates” are breaking, and they’re sharing more than they imagined—including the urge to ask…what if we actually met?

Thoughts on The Exception to the Rule: Oh MAN, I liked this one. Two individuals who become once a year email pen pals thanks to a mistyped email addy one Valentine's Day WORKED for me. T & C keep their identities secret since they're both minors when they accidentally meet and they sort of carry this anonymity through their ten year correspondence. That's right, ten years of emails on V-Day without knowing exactly who's on the other end, but both sort of crushing on the other thanks to the hints that were unwitting dropped over the years.

Straight up, YES! And the way they find one another! YES! And then the meet up once they knooooowwwww. Yeah, I'm smitten. THESE TWO. WONDERFUL!

Alien Song by Honey Phillips [Review]

2026-05-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Alien Song (Alien Wolf Tales #5) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 24, 2026

Alien Wolf Tales
1. Big, Bad Alien
2. Alien Huntsman
3. Alien Charming
4. Cursed Alien
5. Alien Song - Paperback | Kindle
6. Alien's Bargain
7. Alien Awakening
8. Alien Tower

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
How the Aliens Were Won
1. Borgaz

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers
1. Artek

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A grumpy alien single dad, a fearless diver, and a bond stronger than the tide.

Ariella was born to dive. Modified to withstand Cresca’s alien oceans, she’s always been at home in the deep—until the day she saves a drowning child and meets the girl’s father, a huge, brooding Vultor warrior with eyes like molten gold. Suddenly she wants more than just her isolated waters.

Valrek has spent years alone on the sea cliffs, shunned by both humans and Vultor. He’s devoted himself to raising his daughter in solitude—until a human female crashes into their world like a storm tide, fearless, bright, and far too tempting. She challenges him. She tempts him. And she makes his beast want something he swore he’d never have. A mate.

But Ariella’s past is surfacing—and if she doesn’t choose between her future and her heart, she could lose both. Because when a Vultor warrior loves, he doesn’t let go.

Thoughts on Alien Song: We're back on Cresca with an exiled Vultor warrior and the daughter he gave up everything for. Valrek is surly and wary and he's completely devoted to his daughter. So when she ends up in the ocean and Ariella saves her, he's grateful. He and his beast side are also wildly attracted to the modified human woman who is at home in the water.

Did I mention he's wary? Because, yeah, the guy is careful. Mostly because life (and his former pack) have taught him some hard lessons. But Ariella is kind and she starts breaking through his walls. Bonus, she's as attracted to him as he is to her. She's also just as isolated as he is. The tentative friendship that blooms between them turns into a romance neither of them expected.

That said, Ariella's stuck in a terrible position. The man who financed her father's work considers the modifications done on her to be his property. Since those modifications are an intrinsic part of her, he considers her to be his. Which is gross on every level. While Ariella doesn't want to take part in anything he has planned, she feels a certain obligation to her father...you know what? It's messy and complicated. Her father might have basically sold her into slavery because he was desperate and didn't read the contract he signed as closely as he should have, but he also saved her life with the modifications. So, yeah. Complicated. Her father's actions weren't cool and Ariella definitely shouldn't have been forced into the position she was put in, but being desperate enough to do anything to save your child is also understandable.

Anywho. Let's get back to Ariella and Valrek. They're both isolated. They're both fiercely protective of Valrek's daughter. They're both wildly attracted to one another. A few steamy kisses, a little danger, and a couple of wild storms have them facing whether they're willing to fight to the end for this thing between them. *thumbs up*

Guarded by the Vodnik by Layla Fae [Review]

2026-05-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Guarded by the Vodnik (Monster Security Agency #6) by Layla Fae
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 23, 2026

Monster Security Agency
1. Guarded by the Golem
2. Guarded by the Snake
3. Guarded by the Spider
4. Guarded by the Kraken
5. Guarded by the Leshy
6. Guarded by the Vodnik - Paperback | Kindle
7. Guarded by the Nightmare
8. Guarded by the Reaper
9. Guarded by the Phantom
10. Guarded by the Krampus
11. Guarded by the Yeti
12. Guarded by the AI
13. Guarded by the Symbiote
14. Guarded by the Steel Seraph
15. Guarded by the Clanker

Layla Fae
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She poured fire into my cold, emotionless heart. Now all I see and feel is her.

I’m a cold-blooded killer from the deep, always getting MSA’s most hazardous underwater tasks. Fear and emotion are foreign to me, which makes me efficient but too callous to work with clients.

Even though close protection is not my forte, I’m assigned a human principal–a witness testifying against a criminal organization. She is fragile, clingy, and too warm. I hate her instantly, her affectionate nature clashing with mine. But this assignment comes right from the top, and I can’t refuse it.

Every minute I spend with her is an annoyance, until we end up trapped in an underwater cave, where her survival hinges on being shockingly close to me. Her warm touch on my body is like a powerful current that tears my shields apart. Her trusting eyes locked with mine destroy my peace of mind. For the first time, I'm flooded with feelings.

And they are all about her. I’m addicted, my heart and body throbbing with the onslaught of emotions. The only way to soothe the pain is to get more of her, more touches, more smiles, more affection. I crave her even though I know I’m a monster and a killer, and she deserves better.

I’m not selfless enough to let her go.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Vodnik: It really doesn't shock me that the tentacled monster who is SURLY (to put it mildly) worked for me. Vodyan puts off a perpetually grumpy vibe and he has a hard time interacting with others (of any species, it seems) thanks to a pretty horrific childhood. Zoe, on the other hand, is open and cuddly and spends her free time volunteering with orphaned children. They are opposites in almost all ways and yet they fit so nicely together.

That said, Vodyan is NOT happy to have this assignment given to him. He's not thrilled to be spending time with a human and Zoe's warmth and talkativeness sets him on edge. Except, part of that edge is not annoyance. As much as he wants to deny it, her warmth and easy acceptance of all parts of him (both physically and the things he wants to do to her) digs in and settles deep. The fact she wants to be with him even after he tells her the things he finds most shameful heals parts of himself he didn't realize needed to be healed.

On Zoe's end, Vodyan fascinates her. He's surly and uncommunicative and she's okay with that. Once he starts to drop his walls, he fascinates her even more. He's commanding and pushes her boundaries and that works for her. In a BIG way.

I'm really digging these MSA monsters and their special someones. They tend to have a lot they have to work through before they get their happily ever after and I'm here for it!

So My Ex-Boyfriend is a Serial Killer by Kylie Scott [Review]

2026-05-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

So My Ex-Boyfriend is a Serial Killer by Kylie Scott
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 24, 2026

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Kylie Scott
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Nothing prepared Sidney Walsh for the awkwardness of having unknowingly dated an infamous killer. She’s doing her best to move on after her ex got dragged off to jail. If only online amateur investigators, his creepy fans and a particularly belligerent cop would leave her alone. Her social life might be quiet, what with having few friends and the neighbors wanting nothing to do with her. But at least it’s safe. That is until tattooed chef and all-round thirst trap, Noah, moves in next door.

Now Sidney is being asked on dates for the first time in forever, and feeling a dangerous mix of soul-deep connection and red-hot desire. But the darkest moments of her life come crashing back when her ex decides he has unfinished business…her. Will she and Noah make it out alive, and can their love withstand the nightmare of her past?

Thoughts on So My Ex-Boyfriend is a Serial Killer: Dating a guy who killed a few people WHILE you were dating is a tough gig. Despite the fact that she knew nothing about what her now-ex was doing, there are plenty of people who think she was involved in one way or another. Thanks to this, in the ten years since he was caught, Sidney's life has stagnated. She has few friends (because none of the ones from before stuck around when the arrest went down), doesn't go out in public much (since, you know, she gets noticed and not in a good way), and she's wary about trusting anyone outside her small circle of friends (understandable since her first boyfriend is now a convicted killer).

Then her next door neighbor moves in and he's tempting. Too tempting. Sidney doesn't hold out much hope that he'll be able to see past her past, but Noah surprises her. Sure, sure, he had to get used to the idea of what happened first, but he got there. Eventually.

As Sidney and Noah get to know one another (and then some), Sidney works on trying to figure out where her ex might have hid other bodies (he was only convicted for one murder, but she's pretty sure he committed far more than that). Throw in some complicated family dynamics, a podcast that is 100% sure her ex is innocent (and Sidney is somehow the mastermind behind anything that happened), and an ex who might not like that she's possibly moving on.

Yeah, Sidney's got a lot going on, but she's determined to find out the truth. And if she happens to fall for her sexy next door neighbor and he's willing to weather the storm with her, well, SO BE IT.

Guarded by the Leshy by Cara Wylde [Review]

2026-05-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

Guarded by the Leshy (Monster Security Agency #5) by Cara Wylde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 20, 2026

Monster Security Agency
1. Guarded by the Golem
2. Guarded by the Snake
3. Guarded by the Spider
4. Guarded by the Kraken
5. Guarded by the Leshy - Paperback | Kindle
6. Guarded by the Vodnik
7. Guarded by the Nightmare
8. Guarded by the Reaper
9. Guarded by the Phantom
10. Guarded by the Krampus
11. Guarded by the Yeti
12. Guarded by the AI
13. Guarded by the Symbiote
14. Guarded by the Steel Seraph
15. Guarded by the Clanker

Cara Wylde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I am a force of nature, misshapen and untameable, until I meet her.

My mission is to deliver the human bride to her husband-to-be. She's to be married into one of the most powerful families in the state. Her husband is a spiritual leader, and he has one condition - she must prove she's worthy. Through the deepest woods, she must walk alone to meet him at the luxurious, isolated resort where their fates will be bound. The bride's father is not heartless, though. He knows the woods are dangerous, so he hires me to escort and protect his daughter.

Because I can become one with the trees...

I am to guard her from the shadows. My voice - the rustle of leaves, my hands - the branches she clings to. She must never know I'm there, even as her sweet innocence coaxes my body into taking a shape that allows us to touch. I change what I am, just for her.

This love is forbidden. She belongs to someone else, and I belong to the forest.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Leshy: Not going to lie, these MSA agents and their special someones tend to have some pretty major physical hurdles to cross before they successfully be together. This time around Taran is a tree-like monster who has literal bark for skin. So any joining they might do in the traditional sense would be not so great for Thea. No worries, though. MSA monsters are able to work around a problem and Taran (eventually) does just that.

But before the joining (ahem), Taran has to get over his upset with Thea's family. He really only takes the job because of who she's related to. Which is to say, he's holding a bit of a grudge toward the Everhart family. But Thea isn't like her father and she intrigues him the longer he spends time watching her. Soon she's breaking through all his walls and he's determined to do whatever is necessary to keep her safe. (Which is good since he's, you know, her bodyguard.)

On Thea's end, she's in a tough place. Her parents have pressured her to go through with this marriage to a man she barely knows and she's honorable enough to want to hold to the promise she made even though she feels like her world is ending. Taran helps her in more ways than one. He gives her a safe space to process her fear of nature, protects her when a couple of misguided individuals try to stop her from completing her trek, and treats her like a precious treasure. If only she hadn't given her word that she'd go through with this marriage.

Some BIG physical differences, a groom who isn't as upstanding as he seems, a monster who becomes more and more invested in keeping his principle safe no matter the price, and a lady who has to take some big chances if she wants to be with the monster who makes her happy. *thumbs up*

RtP's Week in Review (05/10/26)

2026-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

Take a Hike by Katie Ruggle [Review] - The Pax sisters are BACK!
Guarded by the Kraken by Cassie Alexander [Review] - Monster love!
Kissed and Missed by Cleo White [Review] - Age gap romance!
Charmed and Alarmed by Cleo White [Review] - MORE age gap romance!
Last Summer by Lo Gold and Luna K. Wicked [Review] - Slasher move vibes!
Knot Just a Number by Mia Bright [Review] - Sci-fi goodness!

Bookish Delights

Books added to the pile

Platform Decay (The Murderbot Diaries #8) by Martha Wells

Currently reading

Taken by the Pack by Nora Quinn

Knot Just a Number by Mia Bright [Review]

2026-05-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Knot Just a Number by Mia Bright
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 13, 2026

Purchase Links: Kindle

Mia Bright
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

We're all just numbers here... or so I thought.

The country has been at war for a long time and as part of the general population, I don't have a lot of options to contribute when it's the genetically mutated super soldiers who are on the front lines making a difference. Alphas, they call them. Perfect in every way. But to make more, they need women to breed them. I would never have dreamed of volunteering a few years ago, but now my family needs the rations. So, here I am, in a room with the biggest man I've ever seen and our goal? Get me pregnant in the next ten hours.

I thought it would be the scariest ten hours of my life. Instead, I don't want to leave...

Thoughts on Knot Just a Number: Signing up to be a brood mare in the war wasn't exactly on Annie's bucket list, but here she is. Ready to hook up with a super-soldier. She's understandably freaked out, but she's going to do what needs to be done.

Frankly, her soldier is big, a little surly, and her body REALLY likes everything about him. Fortunately for her, her soldier takes charge and soon the two are enjoying their time together. More than Annie expected, to be honest.

A quick, nicely naughty short with a soldier who has a lot to give and a lady who had no idea what she was going to be taking when she signed up. *thumbs up*

Last Summer by Lo Gold and Luna K. Wicked [Review]

2026-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Last Summer (The Last Girls #1) by Lo Gold and Luna K. Wicked
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 13, 2026

The Last Girls
1. Last Summer - Paperback | Kindle
2. Last Dance

Lo Gold
| Amazon |

Luna K. Wicked
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Some secrets are better left buried…

When a group of six strangers are invited into the woods for a content creator retreat where they’re guaranteed to make money, it seems like a perfect escape. However, as accidents turn into incidents and blood begins to spill, they start to suspect they were lured into the wilderness for a reason. Is someone messing with them? Is someone watching them? Who will survive?

Are you ready to play?

Thoughts on Last Summer: I must admit that I enjoy a good slasher film, so I went into this with expectations of campy fun and gore. And I got that. I mean, we had six individuals (of which only two of them knew one another) who are invited to this retreat to create some premium content for their OF channels. Which means there's A LOT of sex-ay times. Although sex-ay might not be the right word. Their encounters are very performative (since they're, you know, doing all this for an audience) and they all have kinks and quirks that they work into their on-screen personas.

To rewind for a moment, one of them is not on OF and doesn't quite seem to fit the mold. But the others are there for sex and money and that's about it. And they LEAN INTO that. They get physical in all ways, shapes, and forms.

Then they start dying. The first could possibly be an accident. The second, not so much. Do the remaining yahoos continue to indulge themselves for subs? OF COURSE THEY DO. Given the genre, I expect exactly that.

The book was fun in a very slasher-esque sort of way. A group of fairly awful people get together and find their ends in terrible ways. The killer wasn't a complete surprise, but with a small cast of characters I didn't expect them to be.

Charmed and Alarmed by Cleo White [Review]

2026-05-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Charmed and Alarmed (Daddy Issues #3) by Cleo White
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 17, 2026

Daddy Issues
1. Chilled and Thrilled
2. Kissed and Missed
3. Charmed and Alarmed - Paperback | Kindle

Related Books
Triple Tidings

Cleo White
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I dedicated my entire life to ballet, and what did it get me? A limp, an intact v-card, and zero job prospects.

Squatting in my sister’s apartment, watching game shows and feeling sorry for myself seems like an ideal way to pass the time until I figure out what to do next.

Unfortunately, my father doesn’t agree. Thanks to him, I’ll now be spending my days stapling pieces of paper together at his architecture firm, under the watchful eye of his business partner.

Holden Ellinger is the last person I want seeing me at my lowest. The man might be obscenely attractive, but he’s also a conceited playboy with too much money and a pathological fear of commitment.

The one silver lining in this situation? My new boss really, really wants me and, as it turns out, I really, really like being a tease.

Thoughts on Charmed and Alarmed: The second Vogel sister is up and her special someone is none other than her father's business partner. Which likely won't be much of a problem since, you know, her father ended up hooking up (in a hardcore, long-term sort of way) with Leni's sister's best friend. Oh, who am I kidding. Bram isn't one to let something like this slide. Ha!

Anyway! Leni and Holden. She's in a tough place after the injury that ended her ballet career. She's struggling both physically and mentally and being forced to work at her dad's firm seems like the worst. Holden sees this. He sees how she doesn't shine the way she used to and he pokes and prods her into being present. As it turns out, Leni REALLY likes being poked and prodded by him.

Soon these two are tangling the sheets and spending time in the company supply closet. They're also trying to keep things a little on the secret side since, you know, Leni's dad is Holden's business partner and Bram knows EXACTLY what sort of manslut Holden used to be.

Some (okay, more than some) sexy times, some sneaking around times, a little heated discussion among old friends, a man who never expected to fall in love, and a lady who never expected her dad's best friend to end up being her special someone.

Kissed and Missed by Cleo White [Review]

2026-05-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

Kissed and Missed (Daddy Issues #2) by Cleo White
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 14, 2026

Daddy Issues
1. Chilled and Thrilled
2. Kissed and Missed - Paperback | Kindle
3. Charmed and Alarmed

Related Books
Triple Tidings

Cleo White
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

So, before you judge me too harshly for what I’m about to tell you, I think it’s important to lead with the disclaimer that this is not like me. At all.

If somebody Googled "cautious, responsible, people-pleasing eldest daughter", a picture would probably come up of me baking twenty-four loaves of banana bread for all the neighbors in our building after my roommate flooded the bathroom.

So, as you can see, I am not the kind of person to catch feelings for my ex’s tech-billionaire father after spending three days stranded at his house over Christmas.

Nor am I the type to keep in touch with him after I go home, keeping up the façade of friendship when the unspoken “if only things were different” hangs over our heads.

Now, it’s Valentine’s Day, and Julian Ballard is on my doorstep.

It shouldn’t change anything. After all, cautious, responsible, people-pleasing girls do not fall in love with their ex-girlfriend’s father.

...Oops.

Thoughts on Kissed and Missed: No lie, Honor is in a tough spot. Not only is she dealing with a breakup from her cheating girlfriend, but said breakup comes when she's almost to her girlfriend's father's house where she was supposed to be meeting the family and spending time with her girlfriend over the holiday. Yeah, that was absolutely terrible timing. To top things off, Julian is charming, handsome, and kind. And he's kind of getting under Honor's skin with his sexiness in the way that he probably shouldn't since he's HER EX'S FATHER.

That said, they both kinda sorta keep in touch after Honor heads back home. Julian is smitten with her genuine kindness and big heart. Honor sees the good man inside Julian and knows he's more than his money.

When the stars (and Julian's generous donation) align and pave the way for the two to be together, one sexy kiss almost ruins things before they start. Or, well, after they've started, but before they've realized how sticky a public relationship can be.

Let's just say they have to come clean with their families and friends pretty quickly and wade through the court of public opinion once it becomes known that Honor dated Julian's daughter prior to them getting together.

Bottom line: YASSSSSS. *thumbs up*

Guarded by the Kraken by Cassie Alexander [Review]

2026-05-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Guarded by the Kraken (Monster Security Agency #4) by Cassie Alexander
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 16, 2026

Monster Security Agency
1. Guarded by the Golem
2. Guarded by the Snake
3. Guarded by the Spider
4. Guarded by the Kraken - Paperback | Kindle
5. Guarded by the Leshy
6. Guarded by the Vodnik
7. Guarded by the Nightmare
8. Guarded by the Reaper
9. Guarded by the Phantom
10. Guarded by the Krampus
11. Guarded by the Yeti
12. Guarded by the AI
13. Guarded by the Symbiote
14. Guarded by the Steel Seraph
15. Guarded by the Clanker

Cassie Alexander
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A kraken, a scientist, and a love under pressure….

As a kraken bodyguard, I rarely get human clients. When I do, the only way to protect them is to form a telepathic bond. I don’t like it, but after my wife’s death years ago I’ve learned to build an impenetrable shield around myself and my emotions, until I meet my newest client. She's a scientist investigating an ancient relic on the ocean floor. The abyssal plane is no place for humans, but the job is the job, so I shut off my soul, bury my secrets, and link our minds.

The flood of her emotions takes me by surprise. I thought I would be in charge, but our bond is stripping us both bare, layer after layer, until she can see my bleeding wounds, and I can taste her unspoken desires.

We cannot be together. We can’t even touch. She breathes air, and I live at high pressure at the bottom of the ocean. Our feelings bring us nothing but torment, and I know once she’s on dry land again, I’ll have to sever our bond.

But when she’s betrayed by the people she’s working for, and her life is in danger–I will not rest until she’s safe in all of my arms.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Kraken: I must say that I had absolutely no idea how these two individuals were going to make things work since they literally couldn't be together. I mean, Ceph is a creature of the deep and can't survive in the open air (at least not for extended periods) and Elle is an air-breathing human who can't survive the pressure at the depths Ceph lives in. The environments they both need to survive would kill the other and I was having BIG FEELINGS about this.

Anywho. Both Ceph and Elle are drowning in grief. Ceph lost his mate and unhatched child several years ago and has pulled away from the others of his kind. He's mourning and isolating himself and he's not moving on in any way, shape, or form. Elle lost her sister to cancer, found out she carries the same gene and has taken steps to protect herself. Her marriage has disintegrated, she's about to head to an underwater lab cut off from the world above, and she's drifting.

When the two bond, both are DEEPLY surprised by the other. Ceph wakes up again after years in mourning. Elle finds a kindred soul who doesn't see her as lacking despite what she's lost. As they spend time together investigating the structure Elle is trying to translate, they break through all their emotional walls and soon they're figuring out a way to be together despite their differences.

More than a little danger, a find that could change everything, a male who risks it all for the female who captures his heart, and a lady who fits in far better below the surface than she ever expected she could. *thumbs up* ALL the *thumbs up*

Take a Hike by Katie Ruggle [Review]

2026-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Take a Hike (Beneath the Wild Sky #3) by Katie Ruggle
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 15, 2026

Beneath the Wild Sky
1. The Scenic Route
2. Crossing Paths
3. Take a Hike - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters
1. In Her Sights

Search and Rescue
1. Hold Your Breath

Katie Ruggle
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

WHY DATE A MOUNTAIN MAN? Because it's effing in-tents.

Bounty Hunter Charlie Pax is in a bind. Not only did her own mother skip town after putting the family home up as collateral, but it's days before her first court hearing and she still hasn't been found. If she doesn't show, Charlie and her sisters will lose everything. There's only one thing left for Charlie to do: make a big show of leaving town with the one piece of bait sure to lure her mother out of hiding and set a trap for her in the remote Rocky Mountains town of Simpson, Colorado.

Surly Simpson firefighter Kieran Byrne is no stranger to being on the wrong side of the law. He's the prime suspect in the murder of a local militia leader, and he needs help proving his innocence before he can take the fall for someone else's crime. Charlie's got her hands more than full, but pretty soon the two strike a deal: if she can help Kieran prove his innocence, he will use his contacts to track and entrap her mom. Two birds, meet one stone.

As they break into the local militia's compound, dodge flying bullets, and hunt for the stolen necklace, Charlie and Kieran discover they share an explosive attraction…and a growing affection neither can deny. But is there room for something as soft as romance in either of their hardscrabble worlds, or will the call of that lifelong adventure be something neither can find it within themselves to deny?

Thoughts on Take a Hike: The final Pax sister is up and Charlie is a firecracker. She has little to no filter, a casual disregard for personal safety, and a bit of a thing for the grumpy firefighter whose face seems to be permanently etched in a scowl. Yup, Kieran absolutely does it for her. From his head to his toes (and everything in between) to his irritated grunts and near-snarls, he's a treat to Charlie's senses.

While the reason Charlie and Felicity (and Bennett) are technically in Simpson is to catch Jane and make sure she makes her court appearance so the sisters don't lose their house, they're soon caught up in the goings on of Simpson. As in, they're welcomed (with open arms) into the Simpson Murder Club. Which is not a club that commits murders, but one that SOLVES them. Just so we're clear.

One of the murders they need to solve is one that has sexy firefighter Kieran as a person of interest. And as long as they're helping him clear his name, he might as well help them spring their trap to draw their mother out. I mean, fair's fair, RIGHT? Also, Kieran is sort of drawn to Charlie. She's surprisingly direct, isn't put off by his angry face, and makes him feeeeeeel things. Frankly these two are ADORABLE together from beginning to end.

With Jane's court date looming, a murder to solve, a militia to infiltrate (sort of), and treasure hunters to thwart, there's a lot going on here. As an added bonus, we get to spend time with the good folk of Simpson and see what Lou, Rory, Elle, Daisy and their special someones have been up to since their books. GOOD TIMES!

RtP's Week in Review (05/03/26)

2026-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

Hot Wolf in the Country by Honey Phillips [Review] - Werewolf love!
Guarded by the Spider by Cassie Alexander [Review] - Monster love!
Ravished by Teagan Grey [Review] - More monster love!
Knotted by the Beast by Siena Stone [Review] - Beastly love!
Bite Sized Bride by Wynter Raven and Celeste King [Review] - Fantasy romance!
Dublin My Luck by Dee Garcia [Review] - Cursed love!

Bookish Delights

Books added to the pile

None!

Currently reading

A Pack of Leather by Veronica Samek

Dublin My Luck by Dee Garcia [Review]

2026-05-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Dublin My Luck (Festive ASF #3) by Dee Garcia
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 1, 2026

Festive ASF
1. Bad Santas
2. Cupid's Chokehold
3. Dublin My Luck - Kindle
4. Slash or Smash
5. Midnight Mischief

Dee Garcia
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Brigid Clovely is on the rebound.

She just dumped Kyle—her sorry excuse of a cheating ex—and is determined to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow during the annual St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl. Green beer and hot guys are a plenty, and all she has to do is point and choose.

Finn and Liam are cousins vacationing in the States from across the pond. When they planned their time in New Orleans, they hadn’t a clue they’d be caught in the wild crosshairs of St. Patrick’s themed festivities. Pleasantly surprised and feeling right at home, they post up at one of the local bars and knock back enough of the strange emerald lager to put down a sorority girl. Until a buzzed Brigid runs head-first into the twosexy Irishmen and spills her fourth—or is it fifth—beer all over them.

This lass might’ve been on a salacious mission, but never did she think she’d be doubling her luck.

As the body shot counter rises and inhibitions run wild, Brigid allows herself to get swept off her feet…and bent over a railing in the French Quarter. Finn and Liam might not be leprechauns, but by the end of the night, Brigid is spent, sated, and thoroughly convinced these Irishmen do, in fact, have magical powers.

Enough that Kyle and his wandering peen are…

Wait, who’s Kyle, again?

Thoughts on Dublin My Luck: You know the old saying! The best way to get over your ex is to get under two sexy Irishmen on St. Paddy's Day! Which is weirdly specific, but I don't make up the rules.

Brigid was looking for one guy to rebound with to forget her cheating ex, but she crossed paths with Liam and Finn and OH YEAH. The two traveling Irishmen are ready, willing, and VERY giving. In fact, they just might have ruined Brigid for anyone else. But that's a problem for another day, amirite?!?

On Liam and Finn's end, they're smitten with the lovely Brigid from the moment she walks into the bar. Spending time with her is no hardship and she's looking for exactly the type of night they're willing to give. So they head out to their hotel room and MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN. Or at least lots of Os.

Fun, sexy, and chock-full of green beer. GOOD TIMES!

Bite Sized Bride by Wynter Raven and Celeste King [Review]

2026-05-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Bite Sized Bride by Wynter Raven and Celeste King
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 7, 2026

Purchase Links: Kindle

Wynter Raven
| Amazon |

Celeste King
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She’s small enough to break.
But I don’t want to break her.

I want to keep her.

She thought she could run from the monster chained in her master’s temple.
She didn’t realize the moment I scented her, she stopped being prey.
She became mine.

Every time she looks at me with those wide, terrified eyes, I remember my name.
Every time she whispers to me, the rage quiets.
But don’t mistake her softness for safety. I was built to hunt, to kill, to destroy. And now I’ll do all of that for her.

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll put a chain on the world itself before I let anyone take my bride away.

She’s bite sized.
And I’m starving.

Thoughts on Bite Sized Bride: I can't believe I'm about to say this because there's a size joke that isn't even hidden in it and that's NOT how I mean it. But anyway. This book was a little heftier than I expected it to be. Nope, I'm not talking about Kael's size here either (although he is a BIG boy). I'm talking about the subject matter. It wasn't dark-dark or anything (just, like, one dark, I guess. I mean there was a dark elf and his twisted sorceress who tortured people and pretty much took them apart for funsies, but Kael and Mikana have an oddly sweet relationship once they get over the hunting down to bring her back to their mutual master part of their relationship), but it was a little more than I was expecting. (As an aside, my last set of books were a cursed beast getting his freak on with his special someone...OH HEY. That's like this one!...and a high heat prison romance with a werewolf . Come to think of it, I'm kind of seeing a pattern in the books I read and am just going to move on now.)

Anywho. Kael is an Orc who's been twisted into a monster by a terrible woman with dark magic. He's lost himself and the curse burning inside him forces him to follow the orders given to him. Even if he doesn't precisely want to follow them. Then he's sent after Mikana after she goes on the run and one small act of compassion on her part shatters the chains binding him. Well, sort of. The curse is still inside of, but Kael has the opportunity to find himself again.

On Mikana's end, it looks like she's traded one prison for another. Except, Kael is not exactly her master. He protects her and keeps her safe and she catches glimpses of the male underneath the monster that call to her. It doesn't take long before these two are teaming up in more ways than one. Soon they're on the hunt for a way to break Kael's curse once and for all.

More than a little danger, some wild magic, a monster with the heart of an honorable orc, and a lady who sees beneath the monster to the male within. GOOD STUFF!

Knotted by the Beast by Siena Stone [Review]

2026-04-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Knotted by the Beast (Knotty Fairytales #3) by Siena Stone
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 7, 2026

Knotty Fairytales
1. Hunted and Knotted by the Wolf
2. Knotting Cinderella
3. Knotted by the Beast - Kindle
4. Hunted & Knotted by the Minotaur King
5. Knotting the Evil Queen

Siena Stone
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The moment Belle steps into his cursed castle, everything changes. Her scent wakes something feral inside The Beast, turning him into a starving monster, desperate to rut.

But Belle’s not his prisoner. She’s his mate. And once he gets a taste of her lush curves and sweet slick, Beast won’t stop until she’s knotted, marked, and bred.

Belle knows she should run, but her body burns for her massive monster, and her heart recognizes he’s her mate.

Thoughts on Knotted by the Beast: A sex-ay Beauty and the Beast retelling and I AM HERE FOR IT! We have a growly Beast who absolutely doesn't believe in fated mates and the omega who calls to him. Belle is sweet and kind and has never experienced the kind of feelings Beast rouses in her. To say they get down to business VERY quickly might be understating things.

But tangling in the sheets (or christening the various rooms in the castle) doesn't mean she accepts him. Or loves him. Beast has to face the facts that maybe he's destined to remain cursed forever. Which frankly sucks. Fortunately, Belle has a good heart and she's willing to follow her happiness wherever it might lead her. To be fair, Belle's father had to talk some sense into her, but she still listened and did what needed to be done.

A cursed castle, a whole lot of steamy times in the sheets, a staff who are VERY invested in Belle and Beast's relationship, a Beast who learned a serious lesson, and a lady who loves with everything inside her. *thumbs up*

Ravished by Teagan Grey [Review]

2026-04-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

Ravished (The Bastion #2) by Teagan Grey
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 7, 2026

The Bastion
1. Chained
2. Ravished - Kindle

Teagan Grey
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

He’s a monster behind bars. She’s the librarian who volunteered to tame him.

Winnie Hauser is used to the quiet life: dusty books, forgettable dates, and living in the shadows of her own insecurities. But when she signs up for The Bastion’s secretive Tamer Program—where women are paired with imprisoned supernatural beings for “behavioral intervention”—she steps into a world where danger is erotic, desire is a weapon, and monsters don’t play by human rules.

Her first assignment is Torgan, an orc infamous for his brute strength, battle scars, and detached efficiency. Winnie expects a cold, transactional encounter. What she gets is something far more intense. And addictive. With every touch, every growled command, Torgan peels away her defenses, exposing cravings she’s never dared voice. But in a prison where lust is currency and monsters can be more honest than men, what’s the price of surrender?

Thoughts on Ravished: We're back in The Bastion and new recruit Winnie is learning the ins and outs of being a Tamer. A librarian who doesn't quite feel like she fits in (she's too much for some, too boring for others), she's willing to see where this whole thing takes her.

As it turns out, her first assignment takes her a whole lot of places. Torgan's big, possessive, and doesn't let her hide parts of herself away. I'm not even talking physically here (although that too!). Torgan makes her ask for the things she wants and then gives them to her. He's intense in the best sort of way and it turns out that's EXACTLY what works for Winnie.

The Bastion might house some dangerous criminals, but the inmates (so far) have been very giving with the women sent in to tame them. Sure, they're rough around the edges and like pushing boundaries, but their ladies don't seem to mind. *thumbs up*

Guarded by the Spider by Cassie Alexander [Review]

2026-04-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Guarded by the Spider (Monster Security Agency #3) by Cassie Alexander
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 12, 2026

Monster Security Agency
1. Guarded by the Golem
2. Guarded by the Snake
3. Guarded by the Spider - Paperback | Kindle
4. Guarded by the Kraken
5. Guarded by the Leshy
6. Guarded by the Vodnik
7. Guarded by the Nightmare
8. Guarded by the Reaper
9. Guarded by the Phantom
10. Guarded by the Krampus
11. Guarded by the Yeti
12. Guarded by the AI
13. Guarded by the Symbiote
14. Guarded by the Steel Seraph
15. Guarded by the Clanker

Cassie Alexander
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

For my kind, to be without a mate is to be doomed. I know it is too late–all that awaits me is retirement and death, and I’ve embraced it.

But when a suicide mission lands on my old boss’s desk, I’m the one he calls. Who better to tackle the mission in the deep, oppressive mines of my own ancestral homeland, if not an Arachnae already slated to die? And it’s not a rescue mission–he wants me to retrieve the corpse of a billionaire’s daughter kidnapped by a terrorist organization.

Except our intel was wrong.

She’s alive. Tortured and injured–but alive.

And from the moment I scent her, I am certain she’s my mate.

She cowers in fear when she sees me, yet I will stop at nothing to protect her.

And now that I have a reason to live…a whole lot of people are going to die.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Spider: Hoo-boy! I was not expecting to like a spider-esque main as much as I ending up liking Nia'n'an (Nine), but he worked for me. He's resigned to finishing out his life cycle since he hasn't found his mate and then he catches Sloan's scent and OUR DUDE IS ALL IN. Just completely smitten. For a massive spider monster, it was surprisingly sweet.

Now Sloan, on the other hand, is not immediately hit by love at first sight. In fact, she's kind of terrified by her rescuer when he first swoops in the save her. To be fair, she's completely traumatized, has been held captive for a substantial amount of time (to the point MSA thinks this has likely gone from a rescue mission to a retrieval mission), and her emotions are ALL over the place. Since Nia'n'an's translator was damaged, he can understand her, but she can't understand him so there's a whole communication issue on top of her trauma.

BUT...Nia'n'an is all in and he's not going to give up on his lady when the alternative means she'll end up dead in the tunnels without him. Sloan eventually gets on board the whole relationship idea (on her own, since they can't communicate) and begins to see that everything he does is geared toward keeping her safe and worshiping her as the treasure her spider-man thinks she is. (She also has some trust issues revolving around people liking her just for herself as opposed to for her father's money, so there's a lot of baggage both of them to work through.)

A little danger (tunnels! predators! kidnappers!), an escape that gives the two of them time to get to know one another (even with the communication issue), a male who will risk everything to keep his special someone safe, and a lady who has to figure out what she wants before she can grab it with both hands. *thumbs up*

Hot Wolf in the Country by Honey Phillips [Review]

2026-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hot Wolf in the Country (Hot Wolf #2) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 10, 2026

Hot Wolf
1. Hot Wolf in the City
2. Hot Wolf in the Country - Paperback | Kindle

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Working late has never been this dangerous!

Tech genius Harper moves to Monster Island for a fresh start, hoping to escape her workaholic tendencies. She doesn’t expect to fall even deeper into her old patterns, or to accidentally run into the most infuriatingly attractive man she's ever met. Adrian Moonstone isn't just the Alpha of the Moonstone Pack; he's a growly, dominant force of nature.

Adrian wants nothing to do with big city girls, but Harper, with her pink hair, defiant attitude, and tantalizing scent, proves impossible to resist. He knows a tiny human female can't be his Luna. He knows she'll never truly belong in his world. Yet, his wolf’s need to claim her grows with every encounter.

When a vicious cyber-attack threatens his pack, Adrian needs Harper's genius more than ever. But as they fight together to defeat this new threat, their undeniable passion ignites. Can Harper find her happily ever after, or will love prove to be a code that even she can’t break?

Thoughts on Hot Wolf in the Country: We're back in Moonstone Pack territory with the Alpha who fiercely controls himself and doesn't believe love is in the cards for him. BOY, is he wrong. As some backstory, Adrian's father mated with a toxic woman who stirred up multiple issues with the pack, was treacherous and conniving, and who delighted in all the chaos she caused. Adrian has valid reasons for being wary of relationships. Harper just happened to worm her way into his heart anyway.

Which isn't to say their coming together was easy. Adrian is closed off and wary. Harper keeps to herself and doesn't make friends, preferring her work to socializing. In other words, she's also closed off an wary. Given that everyone in her life has abandoned her, she also has reasons for her wariness. BUT...she's trying to open herself up to new possibilities. It's just not as easy as one might think when a person's default when things happen is to crawl into themselves so they don't get hurt.

That said, Harper has stepped out of her comfort zone by moving to Monster Island. She steps a little further out when she grudgingly agrees to upgrade the Pack infrastructure and bring them a little closer to the modern age. She takes that final step when she throws caution to the wind and decides to see where this zinging pull toward Adrian takes them. Of course, Adrian also has to throw caution to the wind in that regard, but he's battling his wolf on that one and his wolf REALLY wants to claim Harper as absolutely soon as possible.

A little tech talk, a elder council that's stuck in a rut, an Alpha who wants the best for his pack, and a lady who is calmly competent in all things (except interpersonal relationships). Wolves, YESSSSSS!

RtP's Week in Review (04/26/26)

2026-04-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

Fieldwork by Adrian Blue [Review] - Monster love!
The Debt by Adrian Blue [Review] - More monster love!
Before the Frost by Adrian Blue [Review] - Even MORE monster love!
The Fog by Adrian blue [Review] - SO MUCH MONSTER LOVE!
Aspen by Adrian Blue [Review] - The monster love just keeps on coming!
The Botanist and the Beast by Honey Phillips [Review] - Alien love!

Bookish Delights

Books added to the pile

Ocean Light (Psy-Changeling Trinity #2) by Nalini Singh
Caught Up (Into Darkness #2) by Navessa Allen

Currently reading

Craved by Monsters by Sylvie Stray

The Botanist and the Beast by Honey Phillips [Review]

2026-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Botanist and the Beast (Fairhaven Falls #8.5) by Honey Phillips
Format: ebook
Source: provided through author's newsletter
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 21, 2025

Fairhaven Falls
1. Trouble for My Troll
2. Fireworks for My Dragon Boss
3. Mistletoe for My Minotaur
4. Valentine for My Vampire
5. Gift for My Ghost
6. Wedding for My Werewolf
7. Kiss for My Kraken
8. Healed by My Hyde
8.5. The Botanist and the Beast
9. Brownies for My Grumpy Bunny
10. Guarded by My Gargoyle

Related books:
(Part of the Sweet Monster Treats series)
Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy
The Single Mom and the Orc
Protected by the Orc
Bidding on the Orc Outcast

Honey Phillips
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis:

Botanist Mia Barnes knew that searching for a legendary glowing plant in the mountains surrounding the quirky Southern town of Fairhaven Falls would be no easy task, but she never expected to land in the arms of Kade, a towering shadow guardian. Teaming up with the grumpy—but undeniably attractive—male to save the mystical plant (and possibly the entire town) from an encroaching darkness, Mia can’t help but wonder if love might bloom in the most unexpected of places... like the foggy, monster-filled woods.

Welcome to Fairhaven Falls where monsters and magic go hand in hand!

Thoughts on The Botanist and the Beast: A short and sweet little story set in Fairhaven Falls. Mia is a human who doesn't quite fit into the great outdoors, but she's determined to step outside her comfort zone a little and search for a plant that might or might not be real. Kade is the guardian of the woods who doesn't understand why he's drawn to Mia, but who can't quite help falling for her charming enthusiasm.

Throw in a little danger when Kade (not to mention the woods and possibly the town of Fairhaven Falls itself) is threatened by the darkness slowly consuming the plant Mia is searching for and he and Mia have to team up to fight whatever this darkness is. Which works nicely since they team up *winkwink* well together.

A fun, quick read with just the right amount of spice. *thumbs up*

Aspen by Adrian Blue [Review]

2026-04-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Aspen (Harvest Moon #5) by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 4, 2026

Harvest Moon
1. Fieldwork
2. The Debt
3. Before the Frost
4. The Fog
5. Aspen - Kindle

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Running from a toxic relationship, she escapes into the November mountains seeking solitude and clarity. What she finds instead are massive hoofprints in the snow, deep claw marks on the trees, and a presence watching from the ridgeline. That night, she wakes to suffocating heat and an impossible need burning through her veins. Something is circling her tent, breathing just outside the thin nylon wall. What she finds in the moonlight is massive, inhuman, and utterly wrong. Every instinct screams for her to run, but the creature has already marked her, flooded her body with hunger so overwhelming she can barely think. She can run all she wants, but they both know how this ends.

Thoughts on Aspen: Taking an overnight trip to the mountains to get some distance from a not so great relationship sounds like a good idea, right? On paper, it was. But then something decidedly not human begins circling our girl's campsite and she's not quite sure what to think. I mean, she's scared, sure. But...BUT there's also something else there.

Something that has her excited when the beast catches her. Something that has her not fighting when he corners her against a tree. Something that has her enjoying everything he does to her.

AB monsters are always a treat and this one hits the sweet spot. So to speak. *thumbs up*

The Fog by Adrian Blue [Review]

2026-04-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Fog (Harvest Moon #4) by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 1, 2026

Harvest Moon
1. Fieldwork
2. The Debt
3. Before the Frost
4. The Fog - Kindle
5. Aspen

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Elizabeth Ashworth arrives in Thornmere seeking nothing more than solitude and silence. What she finds is a cottage on the edge of a dark forest, terrified villagers, and a fog that moves with unnatural purpose. Every night it comes, seeping beneath her door, watching her with silver eyes that gleam in the darkness. The creature offers no safety, no promises, only hunger and the certainty that it will consume her. She should be terrified, but when the creature whispers that she'll never be alone again, Elizabeth knows she's far past saving.

Thoughts on The Fog: Moving to a small village far removed from London after the death of her husband (where she can grieve or not grieve, at her discretion), Elizabeth finds something dangerous and cold in the forest outside her cottage. The village folk aren't terribly welcoming and business hasn't even started to pick up, but that fog creeping in from the trees kind of makes up for it.

Mostly because it isn't normal fog. But I guess Elizabeth isn't a normal woman, because it fascinates her. She watches it and it feels like it watches back. And then one night she finds out it is, indeed, watching back. As it turns out, she's okay with that. She's also okay with all the other things it wants to do to her.

A little danger, a village on edge, a monster in the fog, and a lady who is willing to embrace the dark (or the, umm, glowing thing in the dark) when it reaches for her. *thumbs up*

Before the Frost by Adrian Blue [Review]

2026-04-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

Before the Frost (Harvest Moon #3) by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 31, 2025

Harvest Moon
1. Fieldwork
2. The Debt
3. Before the Frost - Kindle
4. The Fog
5. Aspen

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Widowed farmer Margaret has spent eight years alone, aching with a loneliness she'll never admit out loud. Until the night she burns the last of the harvest and whispers her need into the November darkness. What answers is Jack, a massive creature of vines and earth with a carved pumpkin head and an ancient claim on her land. He says her loneliness summoned him, that she's his now until the first frost. Margaret knows she should run while she still can. But as Jack's vines wrap around her body and his dark voice fills her mind, she discovers that being claimed by a monster might be exactly what she's been craving.

Thoughts on Before the Frost: I don't know what it is about AB's monsters, but I LIKE THEM. This time around, we have a lonely woman who unwittingly summons something she doesn't expect from the depths of the land. Jack is...a lot. He's powerful and hungry for Margaret. He's also into consent. Which means he might claim her as his own, but he won't act on that claim until Margaret is ready for him to.

That said, it takes a day or two for Margaret to come to terms with the creature out in her corn field. He's big, powerful, and not at all what she expected when she whispered her wants into the darkness. To be fair, I don't know that ANYTHING that came out of the darkness would have been expected. I mean, she just gave voice to an off-the-cuff desire. Yeah, she was lonely and she absolutely meant what she said, but she never imagined anything actually coming of it.

Anywho. Margaret is lonely. Jack is there to take care of her loneliness. If Margaret plays her cards right, Jack could very much be more than a one time thing. As in, an every year thing. Since he's a giver, this sounds like an excellent situation for a lonely lady to be in.

The Debt by Adrian Blue [Review]

2026-04-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Debt (Harvest Moon #2) by Adrian Blue
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 30, 2025

Harvest Moon
1. Fieldwork
2. The Debt - Kindle
3. Before the Frost
4. The Fog
5. Aspen

Adrian Blue
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Food vlogger Cary buys a heritage turkey for her perfect Thanksgiving content, unaware she's stolen from a territorial shifter who claims the finest birds as his own. When the enraged creature crashes through her door demanding payment, the debt is simple: flesh for flesh. Submit willingly, or he'll simply take what he's owed. But as her body betrays her with every touch of his clawed hands and silken feathers, she realizes the real danger isn't what he'll take from her, it's how much she'll crave giving him more.

Thoughts on The Debt: I wasn't sure what to expect with an angry turkey-man taking out his upset on an unsuspecting food vlogger, but I mist admit he'd showed Cary the proper way to stuff things. And by things, I mean her. She learned the intricate ins and outs of stuffing.

Anywho. Cary makes the rookie mistake of buying a turkey from the farmer's market that a monstrous creature has claimed as his. To be fair, she wasn't aware of this claiming in any way, shape, or form. But she did it. And the creature was NOT happy to have his bird in her hands. So he demands payment and the payment is...not necessarily something Cary was willing to pay, but she ended up enjoying herself far more than she thought she would.

And she's considering going back next year to buy the finest turkey again. Just, you know, to relive the experience.