It’s Wrap-Up Wednesday time, and I’m a little confused about what I’ve read, but let’s give it a go, yeah? I went on a full-on Lousia Masters binge. Or not full on, but last month I read Dragon Ever After and loved it, and I knew that there was another dragon story in the YBBB giveaway, so I meant to read that. I did, but not right away.
I’ll try to do these stories in the order I read them, but I might mess up.
Demons Do It Better by Louisa Masters
This is the first in the Hidden Species series, and had I known what I know now, I’d started here, but as already mentioned, I read Dragon Ever After first. This is funny! Loved it and went right on to the next one!
I work for Lucifer. Only, it’s not as cool and satanic as it sounds.
The truth is, I’m an admin assistant who applied for a job that sounded kind of interesting and ended up working for the Community of Species Government. I’m the only human in the office, and basically I ride herd on a team of rambunctious shifters and demons.
I also spend a lot of time avoiding Gideon Bailey, the demon I had a one-night stand with right before I took this job. He hates me, and I really want to avoid being murdered. But I’ve been offered a promotion that will mean working with him, so we’re both going to have to get over it.
Plus, people are going missing. Pregnant people. And the word is that someone is dabbling in genetic experimentation. Putting a stop to that is more important than the sexual tension Gideon and I have been ignoring… isn’t it?
https://books2read.com/Demons-Do-It-Better
One Bite With a Vampire by Louisa Masters
This is funny, though I’d never have the energy to deal with Andrew. I was surprised by how different this was from the first, and yet it’s the same characters present and they’re fighting the same baddies.
Getting kidnapped was never part of my life plan. But being rescued opened up a whole world of crazy.
It’s not easy being the only human at the Community of Species Government—and especially not when you’re the rescue case. Two years ago, I was planning to go to college, have a wild time, then settle into a normal life. Instead, I was kidnapped, spent months being a test subject, was in hiding for nearly a year, and then found out that my whole existence is a science experiment conducted by the bad guys. It’s definitely time to reassess.
My rescuers at CSG have been awesome… mostly. They gave me a job, a home, and a support network. But the whole demons, vampires, shifters thing is not easy to get used to. Especially when one particular vampire makes me want to take up stake sharpening for a hobby. How can someone be over eight centuries old and have the maturity of a drunk frat boy?
The thing is, teenage mentality or not, Andrew is a fierce protector. With the bad guys still on the loose, I need someone like that on my side. Plus, did I mention that he’s not hard to look at? I could stare at him all day if only he never opened his mouth.
As we race to find my former captor before he can find me, life takes another twist and upends my world all over again. This time, though, I’m ready—after all, I’ve got an eight-hundred-year-old vampire at my back. What could possibly go wrong?
https://books2read.com/OneBiteWithAVampire
Hijinks With a Hellhound by Louisa Masters
Hellhounds. Alistair is a bit… I mean I love him as a secondary character, and it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy this book – I did! – but like with Andrew, I get a bit exhausted LOL
I’m a one-and-done kind of hellhound… I don’t catch feeeeeeeelings…
Once upon a time, my first and last relationship taught me that romantic love isn’t enough to stop your boyfriend from trying to kill you. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. My awesomeness is now strictly reserved for one-nighters and casual hookups. Sure, my friends seem to be matching up in romantic bliss, but screw that—I’m not interested.
Besides, things are heating up at the Community of Species Government, and I’m right in the thick of it all. Those bad guys are going down—and not in the good way. They might seem to have the drop on us right now, but we’re going to turn the tables on them. Even if it means going on a mission with Aidan Byrne.
I’m still not happy about the way Aidan handled things with my bestest bestie a few months back, even if he did turn out to be right. Plus, there’s something about him that rubs my fur in the wrong direction. He’s the kind of guy who thinks karaoke is only for college kids and looks down on me for licking my own balls. He also thinks that just because he’s the species leader, he’s in charge.
Too bad for him, I’ve never backed away from a challenge… even if it is unnervingly sexy and really bendy. A hookup won’t lead to feelings… right?
https://books2read.com/HijinksWithAHellhound
Sorcerers Always Satisfy by Louisa Masters
Series exhaustion. You should realise how much I liked these books since I read them all back to back. That’s not something that happens often. In this book more than the others, I wished I’d read the Hidden Species series before I read Dragon Ever After.
Just because I enjoy planning and researching doesn’t mean I’m not the most dangerous badass mothercracker around.
The world sees me as boring, dependable David. And I like it that way. I know things and I’m organized. Plus, I’ve seen firsthand the harm a chaotic life can inflict, and I’d rather have my lists and be called dull.
Which is what makes it all the more disconcerting when a sexy elf declares his adoration and begins to “woo” me. What am I supposed to do?
Hide, mostly. It’s hard, though, because Caolan and I are supposed to be working together. And he’s tough to resist: sweet, competent, and so incredibly beautiful. He sees something in me that no one else does. Would it really be such a bad thing if I gave in to temptation?
My personal life can’t be the priority right now, though. The bad guys are gearing up to strike, and if we don’t stop them, the end of the world could be nigh. I need to focus on that, not on letting Caolan show me the benefits of spontaneity. Or do I?
https://books2read.com/SorcerersAlwaysSatisfy
How to Vex a Vampire by Alice Winters
This is the first story in the VRC: Vampire Related Crimes series. I figured I like the Alice Winters story I read last month, so why not give it a try? I… It’s not a bad book, I think I was just a little… after the Hidden Species, and this too is funny. It was too much fun in a row if you get me. My bad, not the book.
Finn
Getting into the vampire-only detective unit was the easy part; what’s going to be more difficult is dealing with my new partner, an ancient vampire who keeps threatening to eat me. The unit has never had a human in it, and Marcus—or as I like to call him, Fangy McFangface—would really prefer to keep it that way. He’s grumpy, short-tempered, and broody, but I have a way with words and I know he’s starting to like me, even if he swears he’s not. But what he doesn’t know is that I didn’t join the unit because I was tired of being a homicide detective, I joined because there is someone after me. They’ve already taken enough from me and I’m afraid they’re going to take all of me if I don’t find someone to help. That’s all Marcus was supposed to be, but now, he’s so much more and I can’t imagine my life without him.
Marcus
The moment the pesky human walked through that door, I knew I had to get rid of him. He’s charming and almost everyone else instantly loves him, but he doesn’t understand how risky it is being part of this unit as a human. But as I get to know the stubborn man, I learn that perhaps he’s not as naive as I once thought. And maybe he’s what I needed to realize there is more to life than just work and my dog. A group arises who is threatening to disrupt the alliance between the humans and the vampires, but Finn is the one who shows me how strong that alliance can be and reminds me why it’s worth protecting. When threats hit closer to home, I realize I would do anything for Finn because he’s brought so much joy to my life—and because he’s mine.
This 105k word book contains: A creative use for undergarments, unintentional splits, a wolfhound who just wants to be a part of things, a vertically challenged human who still manages to wrap every vampire he meets around his little finger, the best date ever, possessiveness, really awkward dancing, some workplace revenge, and just a bite or two. Or three.
https://books2read.com/HowToVexAVampire
Freighter Flights by Drew Zachary
This is a story I read now and then when I don’t know what to read. Is it great? Not really. It’s mostly sex, and there are very few stories I like with this much sex in them, but who doesn’t like a growly mechanic? This isn’t available in the shops anymore.
Will is the hot shot pilot and second in command on the Arillia, a pretty little cargo ship making runs just this side of legal. When they lose their engineer, Will goes on the hunt in spacedock for a new one. What he finds is Tab, a gruff, scarred man who can get the job done. For Tab, the Arillia is a job, a good one at that, and if the pilot makes him growl and want more than he should, well it sure beats starving. The sparks fly between them and they begin to care, whether they want to or not. If they can survive their pasts, space pirates and nearly being blasted out of space, they just might be able to survive each other.
How to Date a Dragon by Louisa Masters
Finally, I downloaded this from the YBBB giveaway. Dragons! Who doesn’t love dragons LOL? After this I was about to move on to The Professor’s Dragon, but… I have a thing, I have many things, but teacher-student romances turn my stomach. I think it might be because I’m a teacher and the thought just… Nope, not going there! This is fiction, and if I happily can read about violence and mate-or-die situations, a teacher-student relationship shouldn’t be a problem, right? Well… I might read it later on since I’ve really enjoyed this series.
Tip #1 for dealing with dragons: be prepared for anything
My whole life, I thought dragons were majestic, wise, fearsome creatures. Not to mention fictional, but that belief has been debunked. Dragons are real, they’re living among us, and I’m the lucky guy who gets to sell a house to their leader. I just have to impress his representative first. No problem—I’m a pro.
Except the dragon rep is the guy I hooked up with last night, and he’s fast disproving everything I believed about dragons. Unless “wise” actually means “addicted to glitter” and “majestic” is a euphemism for “overgrown frat boy.”
Hagen might truly be the most annoying person ever, yet I can’t resist a date with him. One thing’s for sure, someone needs to write me a how-to guide for dating a dragon… glitter not included.
Rarely Pure and Never Simple by Angel Martinez
The reread of the month! Freighter Flights is a reread too, but Rarely Pure and Never Simple is the story I talk about over at Holly’s. I’m so glad this series is happening. I read it for the first time many years ago, and then it was gone from the shelves, and all the while it said it was the first in a series. Now it’s available again, re-edited and the ending has been tweaked, and the second story will be released come autumn. Yay!
Variant children are vanishing at an alarming rate. It will take a uniquely mismatched pair of trackers to untangle a web of conspiracy and misdirection to find them.
In his isolated cabin, variant Damien Hazelwood avoids human contact as much as possible to prevent attacks of blind berserker panic. But his rare talent as a locator makes him the go-to contractor for tricky missing person’s cases and when agents bring him a troubling contract involving missing variant children, he finds it impossible to refuse.
Licensed tracker Blaze Emerson can’t help being irritated when he’s expected to follow the strange, twitchy locator’s lead on his latest case. He works alone, he’s damn good, and as a variant sparker, he has both the fire and the firepower to take on anything out there. Though he has to admit there’s something intriguing about a man who can find people with his brain.
With vastly different temperaments and backgrounds, Damien and Blaze need to negotiate quickly how to work together if they’re going to crack this case. Add in the sudden appearance of Blaze’s outlaw ex, the perils of tracking in the wilds, and a maddening lack of discernible motive or method, and they soon find themselves in as much danger as the kids they’re trying to rescue.
Variant Configurations takes place in a future Earth where humanity is reclaiming its spot in a gradually healing world. This book contains mentions of past abuse, action-adventure style mayhem, and the beginning sparks of a slow burn, series-spanning relationship.
Liam loves his life as a linguist and trader on the Rownt homeworld, but he has ignored his heart and sexual needs for years. After escaping the horrors of war, he wants a boring life. He won’t risk letting anyone come too close because he won’t risk letting anyone see his deeply submissive nature. For him, submission comes with pain. Life burned that lesson into his soul from a young age.
Undercover agent Alex Kley is a long way from home. Six months of investigation have brought him to Willow House, a high class brothel on Omanai Station, as beautiful on the outside as it is corrupt on the inside. Sold into sexual slavery to infiltrate an illegal prostitution ring, Alex must find the evidence he needs to bring down the leader of a powerful criminal cartel—a man who may not even be human.
Riley Cooper is on the run. Misha Tokarev, the love of his life, turned out to be an assassin for the Russian mob, and when it comes to character flaws, Riley draws the line at premeditated murder. Alien armor system McClane is also on the run, for reasons that include accidentally crashing a space ship into Earth and evading U.S. military custody. A failed prototype, McClane was scheduled for destruction. Sabotaging the ship put an end to that, but McClane is dubbed a bone rider for good reason—he can’t live without a host body. That’s why he first stows away in Riley’s truck and then in Riley himself. Their reluctant partnership soon evolves into something much more powerful—and personal—than either of them could have imagined.
Kasan, a prince of the feline Kyashin race, is in deep shit. He’s in heat, he needs a consort to help him survive it, and his uncle has locked him away from every available candidate. When he’s offered a small human male at the last moment, he’s quite happy to accept. His new consort, on the other hand, is a little less than pleased with the situation. So what’s a human to do when he finds himself in the bed of a hot, sexed-up alien? We’re about to find out.
Whilst finishing up a good day’s work in the Earth Interplanetary Administration Office, Karlan Staithley is disturbed by the appearance of a strange alien called Tuluscan Six. Tuluscan tells him that in one year’s time, Earth will make contact with his people, the Lamarians, and unwittingly destroy them due to an anomaly in the planetary time lines.
Milton is a low-level employee for the government. All night, he watches over the most prized-possession of the secret laboratory he works in, hoping one day he would be able to see its eyes. However, he finds out something shocking about the subject he’s been monitoring, and starts to feel a small flicker of guilt.
Ofelia Grand 