Lessons with the Mothman

    

Title: Lessons with the Mothman

Series: Monster Smash Agency #3

Author: Kathryn Moon

Publisher: January 14, 2025

Pages: 295

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Elias - freelance consultant to Monster Smash Agency, and prestigiously rare moth fae - has never been in love. Granted, he's never been interested in the emotion, but with his friends mating with their clients, the new curiosity is keeping him up at night. If only the act of loving made any logical sense. And if only he could find someone to draw him in like the moth to the flame.

Victoria is looking for facts not feelings. She wants to understand why the monster species are so much more satisfied than humans, than her. But the handsome mothman who volunteers to aid her study wants to stimulate more than her intelligence. She's willing to explore their physical chemistry, but she wants no part of his designs on her heart.

Some lessons can't be taught, and love is certainly one of them.

Elias and Victoria are so perfect. For being so smart, they're exceptionally dim about feelings. They could benefit from watching Inside Out. But they are fascinating, and seeing them figure each other out was very hot.

I loved how she handled Victoria's bedroom needs. I guess I loved how Elias handled them. :) The consent is impeccable, per usual. And getting to see and talk to all of the other monsters through the lens of Victoria's thesis research was really fun.

Elias's plan for finding love was fascinating. And the idea of making himself be in love no matter what was also very relatable. Their ending is perfect for them as well. UGH so good. I want to squeal about it but I don't want ultra mega spoilers in here.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 5/5

Under Loch and Key

      

Title: Under Loch and Key

Author: Lana Ferguson

Publisher: Berkley, December 3, 2024

Pages: 416

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

I am beginning to believe that angst is just Lana Ferguson's thing. I know that two instances don't make a pattern, but dang the angst was angsting! 

Really bold take to make the Loch Ness monster a man. Love that for her. There was quite a bit of grief in this book. Unsurprisingly, Key is traveling, ultimately, to scatter her dad's ashes. And I just had to use all of the whimsy in my soul to allow me to overlook all of the red tape that I can imagine is involved with transporting ashes internationally. But it was also a reclaiming of family, and identity which was beautiful. 

And there was hijinks and shifting and Highland Games. It was all pretty cozy, and I'd read Blair's and Rory's books for sure! Even if they would have too much angst in them.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 3/5

Last Guard

                                                 

Title: Last Guard

Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #5

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: Berkley, July 20, 2021

Pages: 384

Genre: Paranormal Romance

The psy-changelings' lives are at stake when a new darkness threatens to overpower and eliminate them. In a destabilized world with countless lives at stake, two people defined by their aloneness must stand together to stave off ultimate destruction--

Canto and Payal are great. I really loved what this book did for bringing them together, and for furthering the intrigue surrounding the destruction of the PsyNet. But I, personally, want to go back to Black Sea. The saving grace for me was that Canto is so close to the bears, so we still got quite a bit of Changeling interaction in this book. All of that makes it seem like Payal and Canto weren't enough on their own, they definitely were. I love that Payal was written as neurodivergent. And the story of them bonding as children, and then finding one another again as adults was very compelling.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

Alpha Night

                                                

Title: Alpha Night

Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #4

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: Berkley, June 9, 2020

Pages: 365

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Alpha wolf Selenka Durev’s devotion to her pack is equaled only by her anger at anyone who would harm those under her care. That currently includes the empaths who’ve flowed into her city for a symposium that is a security nightmare, a powder keg just waiting for a match.

Ethan Night is an Arrow who isn’t an Arrow. Numb and disengaged from the world, he’s loyal only to himself. Assigned as part of the security force at a world-first symposium, he carries a dark agenda tied to the power-hungry and murderous Consortium. Then violence erupts and Ethan finds himself crashing into the heart and soul of an alpha wolf.

Mating at first sight is a myth, a fairytale. Yet Selenka’s wolf is resolute: Ethan Night, broken Arrow and a man capable of obsessive devotion, is the mate it has chosen. Even if the mating bond is full of static and not quite as it should be. Because Selenka’s new mate has a terrible secret, his mind surging with a power that is a creature of madness and death…

Mating at first sight! I mean, it says it in the blurb, and I was still surprised. But considering these two spoke for all of 5 minutes maybe before they were actual mates, this was one of the slower burns in this series. They just have to deal with one catastrophe after another before they get to...consummate their mating. Which does go a long way to build the trust between the two of them. I love that Selena mating with Ethan brought her and Valentin closer. I would have loved to see their night on the town together!

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

The Fall That Saved Us

                                                

Title: The Fall The Saved Us

Author: Tamara Jerée

Published: Water Sign Books, September 5, 2023

Pages: 327

Genre: Sapphic Fantasy

Cassiel has given up the family tradition of demon hunting, leaving behind her sacred angelic duty and fated sword. What she can’t leave behind are the scars. To cope, she spends her days immersed in work, pouring all her attention into New Haven Books, her small bookstore and anchor in the new world she’s carved for herself.

But the past hasn't let go of Cassiel yet. When a succubus named Avitue arrives to claim her angel-touched soul, Cassiel's old hunter instincts flare, forcing her to choose between old knowledge and her truth. What should be a fatal seduction becomes a bargain neither woman expects. As they grow closer, Avitue is surprised to find her own pain reflected in Cassiel, a nephilim deemed fallen by her own family’s standards.

By choosing trust, they reveal the lies that bind them. Falling for each other begins a path towards healing. But exorcising the effects of trauma is harder than naming it, and to explore the unfettered possibility Avitue represents, Cassiel must find a way to reclaim and redefine her angelic heritage.

This was stunning. It took everything I loved about reading The Mortal Instruments series, and made it sexier and older and more interesting. I love reading about angels and demons, especially when they are very attractive women who love women. OK, I can't mislead you, Cassiel isn't technically an angel. She's descended from angels and named after an angel and can tap into angelic power, so like...might as well be in my book. But Avitue is very much a demon, and she's fabulous. 

While the writing of this is stunning, and the overall lore is fascinating, this was very hard to read at times. Cassiel did not grow up in a loving home, and her relationship with her family is not good. She wants desperately to rely on her sister, and to take care of her sister. But her sister has her own demons to battle, figuratively and literally, and they don't fully trust one another for much of the book. Family is weird at the best of times. And I wouldn't call the events of this book, the best of times. I also recommend checking trigger warnings. There was quite an emphasis on living with self harm and disordered eating. It's a heavy story, but a beautiful one. And I do hope we get a sequel.

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Wolf Rain

                                               

Title: Wolf Rain

Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #3

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: Berkley, June 4, 2019

Pages: 392

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Kidnapped as a young girl, her psychic powers harnessed by a madman, Memory lives a caged and isolated existence . . . until she comes face-to-face with a wolf. Labelled an empath by her bad-tempered rescuer, Memory knows that her ‘gift’ is nothing so bright. It is a terrible darkness that means she will always be hunted.

But Memory is free now and she intends to live. A certain growly wolf can just deal with it.

Alexei prefers to keep his packmates at bay, the bleak history of his family a constant reminder that mating, love, hope is not for him. But Memory, this defiant and fearless woman who stands toe-to-toe with him awakens the most primal part of his nature—and soon, he must make a choice: risk everything or lose Memory to a murderous darkness that wants to annihilate her from existence . . .

I said the other day that all of these books are exactly the same in the best way. And I mean it! It's so cozy and comforting to know that you know what you're getting yourself into with these books. A hot dude and a hot lady falling in love. And then you're mixing in a massive dose of trauma and political intrigue. You wouldn't think that bit would be comforting, but it still doesn't change just how cozy everything about this series is to me! 

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

Ocean Light

                                              

Title: Ocean Light

Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #2

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: Berkley, June 12, 2018

Pages: 411

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling...

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine...

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy...

Does Kaia's animal make sense as our welcome into Black Sea? Absolutely. Does it make sense for her character? Absolutely. Am I disappointed that she's not a mermaid or narwhal or beluga whale? Absolutely! 

This was still a great book. I have been really looking forward to getting a deeper look into Black Sea, and I don't think it gets any deeper than this station in the black. I love everything about it. I want more. I want to look ahead to see if we get to return to Black Sea anytime in the next few books. My fingers are still crossed.

I do think it's very interesting that Kaia had not one but two major traumatic events that affected her so severely. Obviously this happens. And it's what made this book so compelling. But for her to have to face both of these traumas in such quick succession after avoiding them for like 20+ years is a lot to ask of her! I love this series so much.

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

On Trails: An Exploration

                                

Title: On Trails: An Exploration

Author: Robert Moor

Published: Simon & Schuster Audio, August 27, 2024

Length: 11 hours 53 minutes

Genre: Anthropology

While thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to wonder about the paths that lie beneath our feet: How do they form? Why do some improve over time while others fade? What makes us follow or strike off on our own? Over the course of seven years, Moor traveled the globe, exploring trails of all kinds, from the miniscule to the massive. He learned the tricks of master trail-builders, hunted down long-lost Cherokee trails, and traced the origins of our road networks and the Internet. In each chapter, Moor interweaves his adventures with findings from science, history, philosophy, and nature writing.

Throughout, Moor reveals how this single topic—the oft-overlooked trail—sheds new light on a wealth of age-old questions: How does order emerge out of chaos? How did animals first crawl forth from the seas and spread across continents? How has humanity’s relationship with nature and technology shaped world around us? And, ultimately, how does each of us pick a path through life?

Moor has the essayist’s gift for making new connections, the adventurer’s love for paths untaken, and the philosopher’s knack for asking big questions. With a breathtaking arc that spans from the dawn of animal life to the digital era, On Trails is a book that makes us see our world, our history, our species, and our ways of life anew.

This was very interesting. If Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly made me want to hike the PCT, this book made me desperate to hike the IAT-SIA! Will I do it? In no way. I am not a thru-hiker. Even reading this book and hearing about all of the physical, mental, and emotional clarity you can gain from thru-hiking, I have no desire to do that. But could I see myself looking for a 10-er next time I'm in the right region?! Absolutely. That sounds like a glorious use of a day! 

This book brought us along trails laid by everything from ants to goats to elephants to humans. It explored the difference between various ways to lay a trail and how trails remain in use or go defunct. It was a cool look at the ebb and flow of nature and civilization. Sometimes trails grow out of need, and sometimes out of desire. It was really neat to see how similar these trail blazing techniques could be. 

I think my favorite little nugget from this book has to do with desire lines and switchbacks. There's a bit about making trails. Well quite a few bits, really. But there was a bit about the engineering choices that go into human-made trails. And it talks about how important it is, in certain areas, to be sure that hikers can't see where the trail is going. Because if they can see the trail, they will inevitably search for shorter routes to get to it. Whether that's good for the landscape around the trail or not. And that little insight is going to stick with me for a while. 

Ratings

Stars: 4/5

Two Can Play

                               

Title: Two Can Play

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Published: Spotify Audiobooks, October 1, 2024

Length: 4 hours 24 minutes

Genre: Holiday Romance

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

She is so good at enemies to lovers. Every time this larger than your average bear man is obsessed with a girl who's not like all the other girls. Somehow I don't cringe about it until I look back on what I've just read. Ali Hazelwood is just so dang good at what she does. I can't wait until the next one!

Ratings

Stars: 3/5

Spice: 2/5

Holiday Hostilities

               

Title: Holiday Hostilities

Series: Cyclones Christmas #2

Author: Katie Bailey

Published: Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc., November 22, 2024

Pages: 332

Genre: Holiday Sportsball Romance

There’s only one thing Olivia Griswold hates more than Christmas: her brother’s best friend, Aaron Marino.

The NHL’s favorite playboy has hordes of adoring fans, but to her, he’s still the cocky jerk she’s loathed since high school.

But when Aaron hears Olivia’s spending the holidays with her roommates from hell, he offers her a place to escape to.

His place, to be exact.

In return, all she has to do is be his date to his hockey team’s Christmas gala. It seems simple enough, but Olivia soon discovers that sleeping behind enemy lines is a dangerous game—especially when the enemy looks like that. 

Olivia knows she’s playing with fire, but she won’t let herself get burned again.

And they do say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

I like the concept of this series. But I don't know that I actually like this series. I don't love the concept of "steamy, closed door romance." That sounds oxymoronic to me. BUT I do love hockey and the holidays, so like. What's a girl to do. Read this book, and potentially read the next one if she releases Dallas and Caelin's story later this year. Maybe. We'll see because one of my goals this year is to make more discerning choices regarding my reading. And this one..I did not love that miscommunication was the main conflict everywhere. And when miscommunication wasn't the conflict.... it was a woman who falsely accuses men. It gave me the ick.

Ratings

Stars: 3/5

Season's Schemings

              

Title: Season's Schemings

Series: Cyclones Christmas #1

Author: Katie Bailey

Published: Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc., December 1, 2023

Pages: 262

Genre: Holiday Sportsball Romance

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.

Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.

All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?

Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.

On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter offer: he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.

Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.

Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

This was pretty cute. A festive, light read to end the year. I love a baking show and I love hockey and I love a marriage of convenience, so what's not to love about this book? Maddie's family was one thing, apart from her brother, of course. Her mom and stepdad kind of sucked a lot, in a semi-triggering way. But mostly everybody got what they wanted for Christmas!

Ratings

Stars: 3/5