Author: Ofelia Gränd

A Case of Possession

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

I read just about everything, or I like to believe that I do, but it’s not true. I don’t read books with religious themes if I can help it, I don’t read YA/NA if I can avoid it, I don’t read menage unless I’m in a reading challenge that demands it, and I hardly ever read historicals.

But, there is always a but, isn’t there? I do love some of the YA/NA books I’ve read, I have a few (very few but they exist) religious-themed books that I’ve really enjoyed, and some of my favourite books are historicals.

I often say I don’t read them unless it’s Jordan L. Hawk, and then I might add ‘And I really liked The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles.’ I did love The Magpie Lord so why it took me so long to I pick up A Case of Possession I do not know.

Once I did, though, I couldn’t put it down. Giant rats! How brilliant. And Lord Crane *swoon*

I love the Britishness in these books, really the world needs more British books LOL. I wouldn’t mind going on a trip with Steph and Lord Crane to China, but for now, I’m just happy to have been able to curl up on the sofa and disappear into the magic world of magpies and lords.

If you haven’t read The Magpie Lord, I suggest that you do, I really do.

books2read.com/ACaseOfPossession *

Looking for more books with magic users? Check these out.

A Case of PossessionMagic in the blood. Danger in the streets.

Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable—especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there’s only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he loathes: Stephen.

Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he’s turned warlock. With all eyes on him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He’s not sure if he can take that risk much longer. Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to.

The rats are closing in, and something has to give…

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Change of Heart – For When You Want to Curl up With a Werepanther

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 1 Comment

First post of the year! It should probably have been about the year that has past and what my hopes and dreams are for 2019, but I’ve just listened to Change of Heart by Mary Calmes. I read this back in 2014, and I remember being a little uncomfortable, but now I saw it as an audiobook in the library catalogue, one of very few M/M books available, and I figured I can ‘re-read’ just for the fun of it.

I’m torn. I like Mary Calmes, I’ve read many Mary Calmes books throughout the years, and you know what you’re getting into. I love the A Matter of Time books – Jory is one of my favourite characters for when I’m longing for those not-really-believable-but-yet-funny-and-quite-hot reads, but Change of Heart? I don’t know.

Jin is a werepanther, and he’s a reah which means he is to mate with the leader of a tribe. The only problem is that he’s a guy and the reah is supposed to be a woman. He was beaten and thrown out of his tribe because of what he is and has spent the last eight or so years running.

I have no problem with there being a lot of ‘My Mate‘ and ‘Mine‘ when in the destined-mate trope but here it was almost all we got from Logan, the alpha who is Jin’s mate. And when there is a lot of ‘Mine‘ and sex instead of communication, I lose interest.

So…I still love Calmes, I’ll continue to read her books whenever I feel like it, but I think I’ll leave Jin and Logan to their destiny…again. But, it’s a new take on shifter stories or at least lots of new words to explain pack/pride/tribe life.

books2read.com/JinandLogan *

Looking for shifter reads, check these out.

Change of HeartAs a young gay man—and a werepanther—all Jin Rayne yearns for is a normal life. Having fled his past, he wants nothing more than to start over, but Jin’s old life doesn’t want to let him go. When his travels bring him to a new city, he crosses paths with the leader of the local were-tribe.

Logan Church is a shock and an enigma, and Jin fears that Logan is both the mate he fears and the love of his life. Jin doesn’t want to go back to the old ways, and mating would irrevocably tie him to them. But Jin is the mate Logan needs at his side to help him lead his tribe, and he won’t give Jin up so easily. It will take time and trust for Jin to discover the joy in belonging to Logan and how to love without restraint.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Up!

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 2 Comments

We have time for one last story before Christmas, have we not? I was gonna write this post yesterday on the release day, but I got a niece (!), so for once reading or writing wasn’t on my mind.

Up! is a delightful story by Claire Davis and Al Stewart and if you’ve read this duo before you know what to expect language-wise. I just love their voice, the poetic, almost dreamy way they tell a tale.

Luke struggles with his mental health, he observes life through his window, afraid to take part in it after his world came crumbling down when he went to college. For years he’s followed Formaldehyde Bob’s blog, an artist Luke fell in love with a long time ago, and when their paths meet something between them grows.

This is such a lovely story about love and struggles, about family and art, about jeans and  Dr Martens. I adore Harry, Luke’s dad, he’s a beautiful character. As you know if you’ve followed this blog YA/NA isn’t really my thing, but few write NA books like Davis & Stewart. Marvellous! And it’s a free story, so go grab it!

books2read.com/Up *

Up!After a failed attempt at college, Luke lives a quiet existence with his dad. He recovers from bitter disappointment and gradually life returns to a regular rhythm. Safe and predictable. Every day he gains confidence, but with health comes boredom. From the window ledge, he watches people outside and wishes he could be like them.

There’s another side to Luke. Underneath his bed are five hidden pairs of jeans with matching Dr Martens: yellow, purple, striped, green and tartan. Some days he feels the itch to get them out. Nope. Those days are gone.

One day, an amazing thing happens. Dynamic blog artist Formaldehyde Bob comes to town with an exhibition of light and dark! Luke has crushed on him since being fifteen, idolising the man and his unusual creations. Something about the art calls to Luke like nothing else, makes him believe there might after all be someone out there who thinks in the same way. A soul mate. A bird with a similar song.

No. Luke isn’t going to go and see Formaldehyde Bob. He isn’t. Because he’s happy with his monotonous lot and doesn’t want to see hope sliding down a mountain of sand.

Will Luke take a chance and visit Formaldehyde Bob?
Can the jeans ever be worn again?
Does grumpy Barbara ever smile?
And the most important question: is there any magic left in the world?

Find out in this snowy tale of young love in the most unexpected places.

Content warning: references to self-harm, mental illness.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.