Wolf Girl

Wolf Girl by Alyssa Stadnyk
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book feels like a high school romance, but I will simply blame that on the downright juvenile behavior of the main character, Ashton. This had some really unique lore that I did enjoy.

Brayden has moved around her whole life, but college was supposed to be when all that stopped and she could focus on medical school. Instead, her father threw a wrench in her plans by making her promise to do 2 years in business school in the middle of nowhere before transferring to medical school. Her mostly absent parents are still paying her way, so she agrees, but is almost immediately the target of the local bully. Said bully, Ashton, is also the alpha and kid of a very abusive but powerful man in town. His sister and older brother are great, but Ashton is TERRIBLE. I can’t oversell this. It was painful to read how he treats Brayden “to protect her” when he realizes she is his mate.

I was kind of sad that she ends up with him (obviously) because of what kind of story that tells. For the greater good of the pack and the overall story, I get it, but it was still a struggle for me. Other than that, Brayden is a great, tough main character who forms some good relationships in this terrible town.

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Wicked State of Mind

Wicked State of Mind by Gina LaManna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jeez, you thought she had to deal with workplace drama when she was just a special consultant? Well now she has to report directly in to her ex-boyfriend after they re-hooked-up *AND* the world’s most annoying coworker is circling her like a vulture.

What should be a relatively routine elf kidnapping case gets infinitely more complicated when a magical secret ramps up the stakes and puts everyone, including Dani, in mortal danger. She is forced to navigate tricky office politics, battle magical threats, and survive some truly terrible big bads. This chaos is starting to become her new normal, though, so she finds a way to mix humor with the ability to solve almost impossible cases, all while delivering a satisfying blend of emotional growth and supernatural shenanigans. Oh, and I’m relatively happy with how we have kept un-triangled so far with the wolf. And I love Willa.

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Connall

Conall by Margo Bond Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Sunburst Pack certainly hasn’t had a moment’s peace since they discovered the larger plot to insert sleeper cells into their ranks. The end of the previous book set up the start of this one, with the introduction of Nadine, who prowled onto Sunburst land and was confronted with Connall, her mate.

Nadine is on the hunt for her father’s killer, who she believes is on Sunburst territory in the form of the twins. All of her plans are blow to shreds when she and Connall are attacked and poisoned. Oh, yeah, and the whole mate bond, which they both of course fight tooth and nail. All during this, we are along for the ride, trying to solve the mystery, identify who in the pack could be responsible (because it couldn’t be Connall) and maybe root for the romance.

There really wasn’t much time for romance in this one, but we have mystery and action a’plenty. I think I suspected everyone by the end and still got it all wrong. This poor pack and what’s waiting for the other packs now! While I was happy with how final the payoff was in Nadine’s story, this larger story is a long way from over. I enjoy that these can somewhat be read standalone but don’t have to wrap everything up.

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Wicked Long Nights

Wicked Long Nights by Gina LaManna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dani couldn’t go back to the pizza place to live her “quiet” life and instead got pulled in to solve her friend/backfill hire’s potential kidnapping. Of course, things don’t end up going according to plan and now she’s allllll the way back into the precinct’s drama.

Putting aside that Dani is working with her ex and they still love each other, she’s determined to prove that her replacement was kidnapped and that she didn’t just disappear. Unfortunately, it seems like nobody wants to believe that. While digging into that case, she ends up sucked into a case that ends with 3 disappearing bodies and a lot of drugs.

I gotta say, I was caught off guard by the whodunnit in this one, and was along for this wild ride right next to Dani here. Could she have gone about her detective work without being so paranoid and aggressive? Sure. But I guess that’s who Dani is, so I’m here for it all. I’m also here for the sizzle between her and “Captain King.” I am distinctly NOT here for the forced vampire, werewolf, love triangle I can see coming from a mile away. Here’s hoping that never materializes.

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Bloodlust Shadows

Bloodlust Shadows: A gripping and utterly addictive urban fantasy by Luanne Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After the way the previous book ended, we knew Charley would not get a break. At this point, I’d just tie up any newcomers so that could you preempt whatever terrible thing they are bringing to town. Sadly, that’s not the case here.

This book gives us tons and tons of Samuel’s mysterious backstory, but we need to be faced with impending doom in the form of vampire retaliation for it to come to light. There’s an underground fight club, a poison in the blood commune’s supply, and some very strange developments with Charley’s powers. Throw in some sizzling time in a dungeon and you’ve got yourself a jam-packed installment here.

The gang really rallies together to a greater degree to support their resident bar owner and her boyfriend vampire. Oh - and we get some good development with Charley’s resident waitstaff! All of this made for a pretty satisfying and exciting book. Poor Charley and Samuel could use a vacation though. Maybe next book?

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Bloodlust Curse

Bloodlust Curse by Luanne Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another wild and crazy adventure for Charley in this one - complete with enough family reveals to keep you guessing throughout!

Charley once again can’t catch a break. She’s drowning in both magical conspiracies and family drama this time, all thanks to the murder of a local witch and the bigger bad behind it all. The witch crew, of course, rallies behind her, only to get dragged in even deeper. With all the supernaturals on edge, it seems like Crimson might be the next ground zero for a showdown.

While we get some relationship progress, this book is mostly about Charley’s family history and all the things she thought she knew. She is put through even more magical tests here and has to choose between her chosen family and her true one. Oh - and we have oodles of unresolved bar waitstaff issues that I’m sure we’ll learn more about in future books. I love the way this world just keeps growing with each installment and feel a little bad that Charley has to get nearly killed for us to have such an entertaining adventure.

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