Guarded by the Kraken by Cassie Alexander [Review]

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]

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)

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]

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]

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]

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]

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*