Guarded by the Golem by Cara Wylde [Review]

Guarded by the Golem (Monster Security Agency) by Cara Wylde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 30, 2024

Monster Security Agency
Guarded by the Golem - Paperback | Kindle
Guarded by the Snake
Guarded by the Spider
Guarded by the Kraken
Guarded by the Leshy
Guarded by the Vodnik
Guarded by the Phantom
Guarded by the Nightmare

Cara Wylde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Morals have no place in my line of work.

Monster Security Agency stands on neutral ground. As long as the client pays, we don't question their motives. Especially when the job is as easy as the one I’m on now.

All I have to do is stand guard outside a steel door in a mad scientist's basement. I don't even need to know who or what I'm guarding.

Then one day, I peek behind the door. From the farthest corner of the basement, bright blue eyes stare at me. Dark hair, fair skin, tear-streaked cheeks, and lips sealed with duct tape. I am doomed.

This woman is my mate. I know that with rock-solid conviction, and I don't care how much I'm being paid to keep her here.

Thoughts on Guarded by the Golem: A golem and a human lady are about to find out just how compatible they might be and I AM HERE FOR IT. Seriously. I wanted to know, too.

So. Mason is our golem. He's big, has morals despite the somewhat questionable jobs his boss sends him on, and he's in a bit of a tough place after "screwing up" (he didn't really screw it up, the client didn't listen to him and ended up in a bad way) the last job he was on. Against his better judgement, he agrees to take on a bodyguarding gig and, well, if things seem to go to be true...you know what that means.

Yep, Mason ends guarding a human lady who is very much being held against her will. Seeing as how Mason got all fired up (kinda literally) after sneaking a peek at her, he can't very well leave her to let the jerk who hired him do whatever it is he's doing to her.

On Maya's end, she has no idea why she's been kidnapped. She's afraid, clueless, and yet she trusts the big golem practically at first sight when he helps her out. Learning why she was targeted, throws her for a loop. Having Mason in her corner? Feels right.

A bad guy who does questionable things, a golem who refuses to walk away when things go wrong, and a lady who is thrown into the middle of it all thanks to a quirk of genetics. Things happen quickly between Maya and Mason and it worked for me!

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley [Review]

A Legend in the Baking (Sugar Blitz #2) by Jamie Wesley
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 10, 2024

Sugar Blitz
1. Fake It Till You Bake It
2. A Legend in the Baking - Paperback | Kindle

Jamie Wesley
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

August Hodges was supposed to be the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes. Emphasis on silent. That is until his impromptu feminist rant about how women bakers are the backbone of the industry and baking cupcakes isn’t a threat to masculinity goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. With a new location in the works, August and his partners decide to capitalize on this perfect opportunity to help cement their place in the community. But the hiring of his best friend’s younger sister, the woman who has haunted some of his best dreams for years, was as much of a shock as his new-found fame.

Social media manager Sloane Dell fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago, but that teenage infatuation cost her dearly. Still, she accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence to take advantage of August’s newfound popularity, knowing it’s the big break her fledgling career needs. She’ll just ignore the fact that August is still August, i.e. sexier and sweeter than any man has a right to be. And that he drives her crazy with his resistance to all her ideas.

They vow to leave the past in the past. But when an explosive make-out session makes it clear their attraction burns hotter than ever, Sloane and August are forced to reconsider what it means to take a risk and chase your dreams.

As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.

Thoughts on A Legend in the Baking: August, the quietest and most reserved of the cupcake shop partners, is up and his special someone is none other than one of his partner's little sister. Which is only minorly awkward in the grand scheme of things.

The most awkward is probably that Sloane declared her undying love to August when she was still in her teens and August (rightfully, at the time) turned her down. Except he's never forgotten her and their long conversations and how *right* things felt when they talked. Now he's older and wiser and divorced and she's on his mind A LOT. Given that she's working on the shop's social media and marketing while she's job hunting, they're sort of forced to spend time together and August is having a tough time keeping his like under wraps.

On Sloane's end, she's determined to put the past behind her. Sure, she might still think August is everything she wants in a man, but he made his feelings clear all those years ago and she's going to steer clear of heartache by keeping that firmly in mind. Except, you know, now they're spending all this time together and August is honestly a great person who consistently puts himself before others. And Sloane is having a tough time keeping her heart in line because of that.

Some big career changes, a little pushback against the new shop location, a disastrous date, a fabulous date, a man who needs a push to reach for the things he wants, and a lady who has to stop and take stock of how far she's willing to go to get what she wants. *thumbs up*

A Body in 3B by Eryn Scott [Review]

A Body in 3B (A Murder at the Morrisey #1) by Eryn Scott
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 12, 2024

A Murder at the Morrisey
1. A Body in 3B - Paperback | Kindle
2. A Secret Staircase
3. A Poisoned Package
4. A Crime in 5C

Eryn Scott
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In the heart of downtown Seattle, a quirky building is home to a cast of eccentric residents, both living and not.

When Meg Dawson moves back to the Morrisey after quitting her career as an artist, she thinks she's found a safe haven. But when she discovers a murdered resident, Meg realizes that her sanctuary may not be as secure as she thought.

It quickly becomes clear that the police are lacking an important piece of the investigative puzzle. Because of her ability to communicate with ghosts, Meg has information about the man’s death no one else knows. Ripley, Meg’s ghostly best friend, is confident they can solve the mystery and keep the rest of the residents safe.

Meg and her friend must navigate strange happenings and unravel the secrets of their building before it's too late.

Thoughts on A Body in 3B: Meg's returned to the Morrisey after some time away and...it's business as usual for the quirky residents. Well, wait. That's not entirely true. I mean, there weren't any people being killed the last time she lived there. Which isn't to say there aren't ghosts. Because there are. And Meg can see them. Which turns out to be helpful when she's trying to figure out what happened to the guy in 3B.

But before we get into that, the other former resident who has recently returned is Laurie. The boy she grew up with. The boy she fell for when she was a kid. The boy (now man) who still makes her heart go pitter-patter. So him being back is absolutely no hardship. Plus, he's willing to help her look into what happened to their neighbor. Which is, again, no hardship on Meg's end.

So. Meg's unique ability to see and converse with spirits means she sometimes finds out things others can't. Given that she's trying to figure out who offed the resident in 3B, this comes in handy. With her trusty ghostly sidekick, Meg (and Laurie) start working through the clues. While Laurie doesn't know about Meg's ability, he's willing to follow her lead when it comes to their amateur investigation.

A couple ghosts, a building with history, a lost ghost who is dealing with his own let of problems, a building full of eccentric individuals, a dog who gives good bark, a ghostly BFF, and a lady who is determined to use her ability to make the Morrisey safe for everyone. Not going to lie, I'm ready for book 2.

RtP's Week in Review (11/17/24)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson [Review] - Werewolves! Yesssssss!
• Tomlin by Honey Phillips [Review] - Alien love!
• Bound by Kirsten Weiss [Review] - Witchy sisters!
• Ground by Kirsten Weiss [Review] - The next sister is up!
• Down by Kirsten Weiss [Review] - The last sister figures things out!
• Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz [Review] - A JAK classic!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• Maplecroft (The Borden Dispatches #1) by Cherie Priest
• Currently reading 
• Wild Goose Chase by Kilby Blades

Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz [Review]

Crystal Flame (Lost Colony #2) by Jayne Ann Krentz
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 21, 2024

Lost Colony
1. Sweet Starfire
2. Crystal Flame - Paperback | Kindle
3. Shield's Lady

Jayne Ann Krentz
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Kalena is focused on a single task…the assassination of the man who destroyed her family. Once he is gone, she will live her life as a free woman. She just has to extract herself from an arranged Trade Marriage first. She has a plan for that.

Her husband, Ridge, works for Quintel, the man Kalena has been sent to kill. Ridge is the Fire Whip, Quintel’s enforcer, and not exactly the type to become involved in a Trade Marriage with an innocent country girl. But he looks forward to instructing Kalena in her wifely duties.

Kalena and Ridge have no plans for a lasting relationship, but the success of their mission depends on learning to trust each other and the passion that flares between them.

Thoughts on Crystal Flame: This is a new-to-me read of an older JAK series and Ridge did a few things that were maybe a bit problematic when it came to his attitude toward Kalena. To be fair, the divide between the male and female roles on the colony ARE one of the main issues between Kalena and Ridge, so his attitudes were addressed. It's just, you know, there was sometimes a little eww going on.

BUT...Ridge did address them. Sure, two people can't change an entire culture alone, so the larger gender disparities are still around, but Ridge and Kalena found something that worked and I'm good with that.

So. A colony world with high families, blood vendettas, legends that have more than a little truth to them, shadowy cults, and two people who have dreams for themselves that don't look like they quite align. Except they do. It just takes time for both Kalena and Ridge to realize that the things they want aren't worth anything if they don't have the other by their side.

Throw in a road trip of sorts, an all-female enclave that wouldn't mind folding Kalena in with them, and an epic battle between light and dark and there's a lot going on. Enjoyable overall despite my issues with the assigned gender roles.

Down by Kirsten Weiss [Review]

Down (The Witches of Doyle #3) by Kirsten Weiss
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 2, 2024

The Witches of Doyle
1. Bound
2. Ground
3. Down - Paperback | Kindle
4. Witch
5. Fey
6. Fate
7. Oak
8. Stone
9. Stream
10. Unbound
11. Harvest of the Witch

Kirsten Weiss
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A shamanic witch and a poet, Lenore retreats into the world of books to escape reality. And why wouldn’t she? For Lenore, reality includes seeing ghosts and forecasting death. It also means Connor, the handsome policeman with an eclectic taste in reading.

But when her friend dies under suspicious circumstances, she can’t hide anymore. And she’ll have to talk to Connor about more than books. Because the two will need to work together to find the killer… before the killer finds Lenore.

As she tracks a murderous adversary through the woods and streets of her mountain home, an otherworldly menace grows. This introverted witch may be her small town’s only hope.

Thoughts on Down: Things are coming to a head for the Bonheim sisters in their ongoing struggle against the fae who has cursed their family line. This time around, it's Lenore's turn to end up tangled in a dangerous situation. She's trying to figure out who killed her friend, while searching for the Rose Rabbit and doing her best to stay out of the killer's crosshairs. On top of all that, she's also dealing with her power being a little off. Not in a big way, but it's a little more unpredictable than it normally is.

As if all that's not enough, the sisters are running against the clock since Karin has a wee one on the way and they all expect the fae to do what she does best when it comes to expectant Bonheim women.

Yeah, Lenore has a lot going on. Throw in an unexpected inheritance, a potential relationship with the policeman she's been crushing on forever, and ghosts who are acting outside the norm and she has more than her fair share of things to deal with. On the upside, she has her sisters and their combined magic and a whole lot of grit and determination.

The Bonheim triplets are in deep and they're doing what they have to do to keep themselves and their town safe. GOOD STUFF!

Ground by Kirsten Weiss [Review]

Ground (The Witches of Doyle #2) by Kirsten Weiss
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 31, 2024

The Witches of Doyle
1. Bound
2. Ground - Paperback | Kindle
3. Down
4. Witch
5. Fey
6. Fate
7. Oak
8. Stone
9. Stream
10. Unbound
11. Harvest of the Witch

Kirsten Weiss
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jayce Bonheim is on the sheriff’s radar, and not in a good way.

The most reckless of her triplet sisters, Jayce is determined to turn over a new leaf. No more wild partying. No more love-em-and-leave-em relationships. Not when the man she’s loved since forever is finally a part of her life.

But when someone leaves a dead body in her pickup, her resolve to become the sensible sister is tested.

Caught in a web of love, murder, and magic, can Jayce clear her name and discover who is behind the curse that holds her family and town in its thrall?

Thoughts on Ground: Oh my goodness, Jayce has a lot she's dealing with. After being accused of murder previously (but beating the rap OBVIOUSLY since she didn't do it), she now has another dead body popping up around her. And given everything that went down before, the sheriff is all too happy to have Jayce in her crosshairs. I might be exaggerating a little about that, but Jayce does have to answer questions AGAIN about a body and that's no fun.

To complicate things even further, she and Brayden (the widower of the body found previously) are exploring a potential relationship since his wife is, you know, not around. While they really were only friends while he was married, people are still giving them the stink eye because this thing happened pretty quickly. To be fair, Brayden has been on Jayce's radar forever, but she steered clear since he WAS married.

No lie, these Bonheim triplets lead complicated lives.

With the sheriff sniffing around her, Jayce realizes she needs to do some digging to figure out who really did the deed before she gets arrested for real. So she digs. She asks questions. And while all this is going on, the sisters are still trying to figure out how to break the family curse. That's a pretty big deal since none of them want to die tragically in the near future.

A stolen truck, a dead body, sisterly bonds, magic that is going a little haywire, a man who is willing to risk everything for his witchy love, and a lady who is working hard to live life to the fullest and keep her family safe. Also, WHOA THAT THING THAT HAPPENED AT THE END. Yikes!