Ozias by Alana Khan [Review]

Ozias (Holidate with an Alien) by Alana Khan
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 27, 2024

Holidate with an Alien
Skruj
Ozias - Paperback | Kindle
Rixen
Yool
Sleye
Tinzel
Khane

Alana Khan
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Selene
Jobless and desperate, I take a demon alien's offer to play matchmaker. I only have to spend one month helping Ozias find a mate of his own species, and then I can walk away with enough money to start over. But the moment we touch down on his planet, he transforms from an aloof attorney to a dominant male who knows exactly what he wants—me.

Ozias
I've never stepped foot on my home planet, so I wasn't prepared for the Shift to overtake me. My body chemistry changes and suddenly I no longer want an Infernian mate. There’s only one female who ignites my flames. It’s the little human, and by the stars above, I will have her.

Thoughts on Ozias: Selene's in a bit of a tough spot (dumped by the guy she followed off-world and about to be without a job) when Ozias asks her to accompany him to his home planet. Which he's never been to. And he's now the ruler of. The kicker? Ozias and Selene don't know one another more than in passing (he's a patron at the diner she works at) and neither of them have ANY idea how steamy things are going to get.

To be fair, Ozias hadn't gone through his shift (basically puberty for his people) prior to landing on-planet and he didn't expect to be hit by all the feels and other bodily nudges that came along with it. Selene was his rock while he was going through everything AND he liked her as a person. Which means that THINGS HAPPENED as soon as his body was able to function in a semi-coherent fashion.

On Selene's end, she's trying to be realistic about this weird scenario she's suddenly found herself in. While she thinks Ozias is a hottie from the start, she doesn't REALLY start noticing him until he notices her. Then? THINGS GET PHYSICAL. Sort of.

An unexpected inheritance, a planet that needs a solid ruler, a male who knows what he wants, and a lady who can't stand by idly while her man is dealing with things. Alien lovin', YES!

RtP's Week in Review (12/22/24)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• An Alien Berserker for Christmas by Mina Carter [Review] - Holiday alien love!
• The Wicked Witch and the Abominable Snowman by Kelly Ethan [Review] - PNR holiday shenanigans!
• Becoming Mrs. Claws by Lynnea Lee [Review] - More holiday alien love!
• The Twelves Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane [Review] - DOGGOS!
• The Detour by K. Bromberg [Review] - Holiday romancing!
• The Package by K. Bromberg [Review] - More holiday romancing!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• Claiming Cure (Dauntless Cyborgs #3) by Cynthia Sax
• Currently reading 
• Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

The Package by K. Bromberg [Review]

The Package by K. Bromberg
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 22, 2024

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

K. Bromberg
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Christmas week can’t get any worse for Jules Jilliland.

Dumped by her boyfriend, rear-ended on the freeway, and fired from her job, she finds herself stuck in an elevator with a handsome stranger.

When their packages are accidentally swapped, will it end up being a misfortunate accident that suddenly brightens her holidays?

Thoughts on The Package: A short, sweet little nugget about a lady who is having a VERY BAD WEEK and ends up unloading (metaphorically) on the man who shares an elevator with her. Given that she was fired earlier in the day, she really doesn't see any reason to hold back on her thoughts. Which...doesn't turn out nearly as badly as it could have.

The man she's stuck in the elevator with is (fortunately) compassionate enough to understand where Jules is coming from. Archer is also smart enough to see the wisdom in what she's saying. While their interaction is short, Jules makes an impression on Archer and Archer is determined to make his own sort of impression on her.

Short, but fun.

The Detour by K. Bromberg [Review]

The Detour by K. Bromberg
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 27, 2024

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

K. Bromberg
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Bestselling author, Harley Humbug, needs an escape.
From the current state of her own love life.
From her deadline she blew past weeks ago.
From Christmas that’s just around the corner and the bad luck it usually brings with it.

When a snowstorm causes a road closure, she chalks it up to one more thing to go wrong.
Little does she know the detour will take her to a town she never knew existed, and right into the path—and possible arms—of a man who might just be her real-life muse.

Thoughts on The Detour: A romance writer who isn't feeling either the season OR the romance she usually writes about ends up detoured into a town that LOVES Christmas. There also happens to be a very charming, handsome, flirty bartender/mayor who pushes all her buttons. And I do mean ALL her buttons.

To start with, Saint is ridiculously attractive. He's also personable, loves his town, and is all about helping out when the situation calls for it. He's also a romance reader and isn't afraid to tell Harley exactly that when her occupation comes out.

Also, he makes for some very HAWT inspiration for her current novel.

On Saint's end, spreading a little Christmas cheer to the not-thrilled-to-be-detoured Harley isn't a hardship. In the least. He knows she won't stick around, but something about her calls to him in all the right ways.

A smokin' hot kiss, some sexy banter, a little Christmas magic, and two people who might have just found what they didn't realize they were missing. GOOD TIMES!

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane [Review]

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (Pine Hollow #1) by Lizzie Shane
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 7, 2024

Pine Hollow
1. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas - Paperback | Kindle
2. Once Upon a Puppy
3. To All the Dogs I've Loved Before
4. Pride & Puppies
5. Four Weddings and a Puppy
6. Like Cats & Dogs

Lizzie Shane
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family's rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he's far more reasonable -- and handsome -- than she ever expected.

As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn't have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town's gossip is spreading faster than Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays. . . and the whole year through.

Thoughts on The Twelve Dogs of Christmas: Ally's in Pine Hollow helping her grandparents out at the shelter. Given that she's at a crossroads of sorts as far as what she wants to do in the future, this time spent at the shelter with her grandparents is sorely needed. Then she gets notice that funding is going to be cut from the city and now Ally has a MISSION. She has to find homes for all the dogs in the shelter while trying to figure out a way to keep the shelter going past the new year.

Ben is the town grump. Except he's not, really. He's floundering and a bit overwhelmed after his sister's unexpected death and his subsequent guardianship of his niece. He's trying his hardest to be everything for everyone - which includes finishing out his brother-in-law's term on the city council - and he's not easy on himself. AT ALL. His guilt at not doing his due diligence with the shelter which resulted in the aforementioned funding cut has him volunteering to help Ally place the pups and raise awareness for the shelter however he can.

As Ally and Ben work together, they find themselves sparking a time or two. But Ben thinks Ally isn't planning to stay in town and Ally is hit by a truth bomb from her grandparents that throws her for a loop. It takes time and some solid communication before these two get where they need to be.

Twelve adorable puppers, a small town with a lot of Christmas cheer, a couple of dog-loving girls, a man who is hardest on himself, and a lady who is ready to find her place in the small town she's come to love.

Becoming Mrs. Claws by Lynnea Lee [Review]

Becoming Mrs. Claws (Tallean Mercenaries #5.5) by Lynnea Lee
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 24, 2024

Tallean Mercenaries
1. A Deal for Zeylum
2. A Chance for Arus
3. A Promise for Vore
4. A Claim for Calix
5. A Minx for Ryek & Holden
5.5. Becoming Mrs. Claus - Paperback | Kindle
6. A Captive for Kean
7. A Future for Zharor
8. A Redemption for Ulrek
9. A Prize for Ckzarr
10. A Home for Berus

Lynnea Lee
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The weather outside is frightful…and so are his claws!

Christmas is coming to Reka 5—well, it’s the winter solstice, but we’re calling it Christmas–and my job is to bring back the perfect Christmas trees. No problem, right? Until I meet my partner in crime. Tradgek is everything I’m terrified of. He’s a massive beast of an alien warrior with sharp fangs and the biggest claws I’ve ever seen.

I freeze like one of those little goats the first time I meet him. How embarrassing! But my body reacts with more than just fear, and I’m left wondering if it’s true what they say about guys with big claws.

Thoughts on Becoming Mrs. Claws: I had read this book previously without being acquainted with the Tallean world and I will definitely say it gains a little something extra when you've already met previous couples and know some of the backstory on the colony. Which isn't to say it's not enjoyable on its own, but Bianca, Mia's mom, makes an appearance and she's come a LONG way from Mia's book.

So. Chelsea and Tradgek. She's new-ish to colony and is maybe a wee bit wary of the Tallean males who help keep the colonists safe. In fact, she has the serious prey instinct to freeze whenever one of them gets close. Seeing how the Tallean are predators at heart, this instinct has Tadgek looking twice.

Fortunately for Chelsea, Tradgek is a sweetie underneath the claws and intimidating size. Chelsea intrigues him and he works on making her comfortable with his presence so they can explore if there's something there.

A little danger outside the walls, a snowstorm that has the two of them stuck together for a bit, and a solstice celebration that ties it all together. GOOD TIMES all around.

The Wicked Witch and the Abominable Snowman by Kelly Ethan [Review]

The Wicked Witch and the Abominable Snowman (Point Muse Christmas Cozy) by Kelly Ethan
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 30, 2024

Point Muse Christmas Cozy
The Wicked Witch and the Christmas Chaos
The Wicked Witch and the Stolen Snow Globe
The Wicked Witch and the Abominable Snowman - Kindle

Kelly Ethan
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Supernatural bounty hunters on the loose, a monster stalking the town, and a nosy Librarian turned sleuth. Let the Mayhem begin….

Christmas in Point Muse isn’t all ho, ho, ho…it’s more die, die, die.

This year, Xandie Meyers-Braun, Librarian to the Supernatural Great Library of Alexandria, is hoping for her first Christmas as a married woman to be one of peace and quiet.

But the town of Point Muse has been invaded by bounty hunters on a monster hunt and Elspeth Harrow, Xandie’s wicked witch grandmother, is suspiciously absent.

With the body count rising, and an abominable snowman, aka the Point Muse Hairy Man, stalking town, Xandie has no choice but to investigate.

Can Xandie stop a monstrous killer and save her Yuletide peace and quiet? Or will Xmas in Point Muse claim another victim?

Thoughts on The Wicked Witch and the Abominable Snowman: There was a lot going on in this book (a LOT) and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. Seeing as how I was new to Point Muse and all the individuals who populated it, I had a tough time keeping track of who was who and how they fit in with the town. I managed, but still.

That said, this was a weird, fun little book. Xandie has an odd, quirky, kinda big family and they're all wrapped up in the goings on in Point Muse. To start with, her grandmother sows chaos. Not literally, but also kind of literally. She's the opposite of peace, for sure. And she's acting suspiciously on every front. Which is apparently normal for her, so Xandie and the fam kind of take all that in stride.

But when you throw in some SUPER obnoxious monster hunters, things take a turn. A slightly murderous turn.

A whole lot of family, some unexpected magical shenanigans, monsters, mayhem, magic, and a witch who is (rightfully) suspicious of anything her grandmother is involved in.