Reviewed: December 24th, 2023 Released: July 21st, 2023 Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy
Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasn’t so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristan’s “gift,” and they were about to move in together officially.
Life was good.
That is until Death—honest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)—pitches up in Tristan’s kitchen with an unusual request: stop Dusty’s ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences. i.e. an accidental apocalypse.
Determined to do the exact opposite, and avoid potentially the end of the world, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.
Reviewed: December 13th, 2023 Released: August 5th, 2021 Genre: MM Urban Fantasy
Something wicked is moving in the shadows of London…
In the underground world of glitzy illegal auctions, fast cars, and stolen magical artifacts, John “Dom” Domenici knows he’s out of his depth. But he needs the job at Kempthorne & Co like he needs to breathe. The alternative—going back to the organized crime gangs of London’s East End—is unthinkable.
So when Alexander Kempthorne, boss of Kempthorne & Co Artifact Retrieval Agency, wants him on a special case to track down an illegal artifact dealer, Dom can’t say no.
It shouldn’t matter that Kempthorne’s world is full of deadly secrets. It shouldn’t matter that the billionaire is sexy as sin, and it really shouldn’t matter how there’s an American agent stalking Dom, an American who knows more than he should about Dom’s case, including the real reason Alexander Kempthorne hired Dom. Read My Thoughts …
Reviewed: November 29th, 2023 Released: March 6th, 2020 Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy
Rafe Varik: The troublemaker. The risk taker. The sexy club owner full of wicked promises.
Rafe has devoted his immortal existence to pleasure and causing mischief.
The only ones who can depend on him are his brothers. Of course, that’s very much a Varik thing.
But when the leader of the Arsenault clan specifically requests Rafe’s help in tracking down a killer, he can’t say no.
Sure, Rafe claims he’s doing it for his family. They’ve attracted too many enemies and could use a few allies.
That’s not the whole truth, though.
There’s something about Philippe Arsenault that draws Rafe in. He wants more of Philippe. The vampire leaves him longing for another second in his presence, another taste of his lips, another caress of those perfect fingers.
Yet when it’s all over, what will become of Philippe and Rafe? Because Philippe will always be an Arsenault, and Rafe will always be a Varik. Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: November 12th, 2023 Released: October 20th, 2021 Genre: MM Historical Fantasy Format: ebook (KU)
Silas Mercer has faced wily boggarts, mad faerie queens and enraged forest spirits. But can he withstand a daemon who is losing his mind?
Pitch and Sickle are left bruised, battered and reeling after their confrontation with the Verderer. They have learned a startling truth behind the arrowhead that wounded Silas, a truth that must be taken to the Lady Satine and the Order without delay. But his encounters in the Forest of Dean have effected Pitch in alarming ways. The daemon’s body may have healed but his erratic behaviour and wildly unpredictable temper grow ever more concerning. Silas owes his life to Pitch. Their experience in the forest has brought them a closeness he could not have imagined possible.
But what can he do for a daemon who is losing his way?
And how long will Silas survive, if he must ride alone? Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: October 29th, 2023 Released: June 30th, 2021 Genre: Historical MM Fantasy Format: ebook (KU)
Silas Mercer is a dead man walking.
And the mysterious Order of the Golden Dawn have big plans for their newest ankou and his deathly bandalore.
Life as a servant of death has its challenges. But the biggest one of all is Silas’s daemonic guardian, Pitch. He may look like heaven, but he’s making Silas’s life all kinds of hell.
The daemon is arrogant, egotistical and his appetite for violence and tea cakes is fast outgrowing the small village where they have been recuperating since their run-in with Black Annis.
Now, the increasingly unstable Blight is causing new havoc, and fresh monstrosities are emerging. Pitch and Sickle are back in the saddle, and on their way to the haunted Forest of Dean. But can Silas rely on his guardian’s protection? Or will Pitch prove to be the most dangerous encounter of all? Read My Thoughts…
Today, I am excited to welcome fantasy author, Nat Kennedy, to my blog. Nat is chatting to us about her book Blooded. I read Blooded when it first released, I thoroughly enjoyed it and you can find my review here.
Helen: Welcome Nat, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book, Blooded.
Nat: Hi Helen! Thanks for having me. I must say it’s a delight to be here to talk about my writing. I’m Nat Kennedy and I write heroic fantasy with a gay romance bent. The heroics are very important to me. My main characters want to fight the good fight, protect the weak, embrace nobility and honor. My current book is called Blooded.
Blooded is contemporary fantasy where those who can use magic are blooded, descended from a Pure magical being. Nick, a blooded sorcerer, has been on a decade long hunt for an evil megalomanic sorcerer and is burned out on life. Through the words of a prophet, he is led to a dilapidated manor house in the Alps, where he meets his old, hated professor, Byron, who has been turned into a vampire. Byron has given up on life and has tried to starve himself. When Nick arrives, he thinks he is there to kill him. More prophecy leads them to have to create a blood bond to take down the evil sorcerer. Lots of redemption, adventure, love, magic, and heroics.
Helen: I thoroughly enjoyed Blooded when I read it. Nick and Byron are wonderful characters. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Nat: My cover artist was amazing! Silvana Sanchez – Selfpub Designs kept tweaking to make sure I was happy with the scene it created. My two many heroes, Nick and Byron, stand side by side. Byron is wearing his cross, because he’s a religious man, Nick has his magical stone – the conduit for any sorcerer’s power. Behind them is the manor house in which they meet and much of the book unfolds.
Helen: Titles are just as important as covers. Why did you choose the title Blooded?
Nat: Blooded fit on many levels. First, the sorcerers are blooded if they have the blood of a Pure in their veins. This gives them the ability to use magic. Pure can be angels, devils, celestials, immortals, elementals, fae, or other types of mystical/magical beings.
Then there is the vampire aspect. Byron must drink blood and he doesn’t for so long, trying to end his misery. When the prophecy demands him to drink Nick’s blood, it takes on another level of meaning of bring him back to health and how the bond of blood has power over their magic.
Helen: The title is perfect for your story. What made you first start writing?
Nat: This is a story you’ve heard before. I always liked making up stories as a kid. I think I discovered I had a passion for it about twenty years ago when I started roleplaying games. I wanted more to happen other than what happened in the game so I wrote stories about my characters. Of course they were heroic and won the day! But I realized that when I couldn’t find stories I wanted, I would just have to create my own. In the era of grimdark and anti-heroes, I really wanted to find more solid men and women who wanted to do the right thing. Sure, not every character starts out as heroic, but I like to see nobility shine through. So, I write more noble characters because, for a while, I wasn’t finding them. That is my passion.
Helen: Blooded is Heroic Fantasy, which genre do you typically write?
Nat: Fantasy, mainly, though other kinds of speculative fiction such as science fiction and horror. And I like romantic elements or subplots as well.
Helen: It’s been a while since Blooded released. What are you working on now?
Nat: I’m currently writing a romantic adventure fantasy. My hero is a mercenary with a dark past and he’s trying to right a wrong that sent the area into war. He meets up with three hermaphroditic cat people, who hate humans but need him as a guide, and they go on this grand adventure, become friends, romance ensues, heroics are enacted, the day is saved. I’m almost done with this novel. It’s gone through 5 drafting stages, but I know it needs at least two more. Writing for me takes a long time. It’s the first in a series.
Helen: Everyone writes at their own pace. As long as you enjoy writing, that’s all that matters. Which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?
Nat: The middle. I can draft fairly easily and I love the final word-smithing polish, but sometimes I write myself in a hole and I have problems coming out in a reasonable way. I want actions and reactions to be intelligent and make sense. So, the middle where I’m having to assure all plot holes are plugged, all actions make sense, and the pay out is worth it all, that slows me down at times. Writing is hard.
Helen: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Nat: Honestly, I stall out for long periods of time. I have a day job, so when I’m stressed or tired, I don’t tend to write much. I just don’t have the time or energy. I don’t think it’s doubt for me, it’s just lack of ‘success’ that tires me out. I have to remind myself that I love writing and I’m loving what I’m writing and to keep on it. “I write good stories. Keep going.”
Helen: It can be tough to have the energy to write after a long day at work. I’m afraid I am not an early riser, so writing first thing is not for me! Thank you so much, Nat, for spending time with me today. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Nat: Write what you love. Keep writing. Hone your skills. There’s a lot more I would say, but for a newbie I think those are key.
Nat Kennedy writes romantic fantasy of all kinds. She prides herself in delivering engaging, plotty romantic stories. In her worlds, Heroes abound. Here you’ll find good men taking positive actions in rough places. Come along to lands of magic and enchantment—from epic, fantastical worlds to contemporary America, she’ll take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest where the rain keeps the world green.
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If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
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It’s Launch day! The Limited Edition MM Fantasy anthology, Men of Magic and Myth is live! I am so excited to be participating in this short story anthology. Well some are not so short but mine is as I thought we were writing ten thousand words, not that is was minimum of ten thousand words, but never mind!!
There are seven short stories/Novellas from USA Today Bestsellers and award winning Romance anthors.
You still get to meet two exciting new characters from me, set in a brand new world. My short story is Familar troubles. Can’t wait for you to meet Tristan, a Sharian Knight, and Aryhn, a child of the universe.
I hope you enjoyed the Limited Edition Creatures of Magic and Myth, now we have Men of Magic and Myth.
Men of Magic and Myth
Ready to be enchanted by these dashing men?
Magic and passion collide as princes, noble knights, charming wizards, elusive shape-shifters and brooding necromancers fight for what’s theirs in the Limited Edition Men of Magic and Myth Boxset.
In this mesmerizing collection of MM fantasy short stories by bestselling romance authors, dauntless men undertake daring adventures to find their true loves. But fate will throw every possible obstacle in their way. More than their own lives are at stake if they fail their quests.
This limited-time collection captures a breathtaking array of complex characters with their own battles to fight and loves to win—each one ready to set your hearts swooning in bite-sized stories.
The Men of Magic and Myth are setting out to conquer love.
Will you rise to the challenge with them?
I hope you enjoy this anthology and once you’ve read Men of Magic an Myth, it would be really great if you could leave a review and let other readers know what you liked about it. You can find this anthology on a book vendorof your choice and on Goodreads or Bookbub.
If you enjoy fantasybooks then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series which is available on Kindle Unlimited or my Fantasy Romance SoulMist series which is free on Kobo Plus. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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Reviewed: May 20th, 2023 Released: June 28th, 2018 Genre: Historical Fantasy Audiobook Narrated by Emma Powell
India Steele is desperate. Her father is dead, her fiancé took her inheritance, and no one will employ her, despite years working for her watchmaker father. Indeed, the other London watchmakers seem frightened of her. Alone, poor, and at the end of her tether, India takes employment with the only person who’ll accept her – an enigmatic and mysterious man from America. A man who possesses a strange watch that rejuvenates him when he’s ill.
Matthew Glass must find a particular watchmaker, but he won’t tell India why any old one won’t do. Nor will he tell her what he does back home, and how he can afford to stay in a house in one of London’s best streets. So when she reads about an American outlaw known as the Dark Rider arriving in England, she suspects Mr. Glass is the fugitive. When danger comes to their door, she’s certain of it. But if she notifies the authorities, she’ll find herself unemployed and homeless again – and she will have betrayed the man who saved her life.
Reviewed: May 16th, 2023 Released: January 29th, 2022 Genre: MM Historical Fantasy
Theodore Burnett has never been a hero. He prefers comfort to combat-spells, and jam-slathered scones to muddy boots. Fortunately, as the youngest-ever head librarian at the Royal College of Wizardry, Theo can spend his days with books and bibliomancy in place of battle-magic or politics — and in any case Napoleon’s been defeated and the war’s been won.
But now there’s a wounded captain of the Magicians’ Corps in Theo’s library. And he needs Theo’s help. And Theo can never resist a mystery, especially when that mystery’s tall and tempting and handsome.
Captain Henry Tourmaline, formerly of His Majesty’s Army and the Magicians’ Corps, requires assistance. He’s returned to London with scars on his body, soul, and heart — war, after all, will do that to anyone. But one of those scars refuses to heal, a curse that’s slowly draining Henry’s magic and eventually his life. The physicians have no answers, so Henry turns to the College’s books … and the College’s attractive head librarian. But the curse is unpredictable, and the last thing Henry wants is to drag someone else into the line of fire, particularly someone as kind and innocent and brilliant as Theo.
Theo wants to save Henry. Henry wants to keep Theo safe. Together, perhaps they can do both … while uncovering a perilous secret behind a spell, a deadly puzzle in the archives, and their own heart’s desires.
Reviewed: April 21st 2023 Released: February 26th, 2021 Genre: Gaslamp MM Fantasy
His second chance at life will be the bloody death of him.
Silas Mercer is a dead man. Or at least…he was.
Upon waking in his grave, he finds himself without a single memory of the life he once lived. Silas is bewildered and lost, and apparently, now in the employ of the mysterious Order of the Golden Dawn. A secretive organisation who specialise in all things supernatural.
To begin with, their plans for him seem to involve nothing more than making a spectacle of himself in front of London society, with his terrible dancing skills and inept attempts to host the occasional séance.
But Silas’s odd new life takes a startling turn when the Order partners him with the scandalous rake, Tobias Astaroth. A quick-tempered, dangerously beautiful man who harbours some hellish secrets.
Their unlikely, and infuriating, partnership soon faces its first terrifying challenge.
A monster straight out of a nightmare is haunting the woods of Leicester, and the Order want Silas and Tobias to end its rampage.
But nothing in this world is as it seems. Not the Order. Not Silas himself, and certainly not the incorrigible and utterly beguiling Mr Astaroth.
For Silas, the perils that lie ahead are many. But few are as dangerous as the bewitching man at his side.
Helen Garraway 