3 stars adult - 18+ Angst Level Book Closeted co-workers to lovers Contemporary Friends to lovers Gay GFY/OFY Heat Index Hockey Homophobia Hurt/Abuse m/m May/December May/December Mid level angst Mid level steam/heat Mild/low level heat Morgan Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Older MCs Part of a Series Purchased Rating Single Parent Sports
Changing Lines (Harrisburg Railers #1) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
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https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Lines-Harrisburg-Railers-Hockey-ebook/dp/B071WKKJC8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500583305&sr=8-2&keywords=harrisburg+railers
Can Tennant show Jared that age is just a number, and that love is all that matters?
The Rowe Brothers are famous hockey hotshots, but as the youngest of the trio, Tennant has always had to play against his brothers' reputations. To get out of their shadows, and against their advice, he accepts a trade to the Harrisburg Railers, where he runs into Jared Madsen. Mads is an old family friend and his brother's one-time teammate. Mads is Tennant's new coach. And Mads is the sexiest thing he's ever laid eyes on.
Jared Madsen's hockey career was cut short by a fault in his heart, but coaching keeps him close to the game. When Ten is traded to the team, his carefully organized world is thrown into chaos. Nine years his junior and his best friend's brother, he knows Ten is strictly off-limits, but as soon as he sees Ten's moves, on and off the ice, he knows that his heart could get him into trouble again.
This drew my attention since I'm currently jonsing for some hockey! I was also curious about these two authors as a writing duo. I've not really been a Vocey fan, and some of RJ Scott's latest works haven't really impressed me – but I love her earlier books.
I think – overall – that they're a good team. I think the new subgenre is good for Scott and gives a new direction – away from ranching and crime fighting – for her considerable writing talents.
The premise of this story and it's start are very promising. May/December, Coach/player, family friend, closeted professional athlete, single father… you name it – lots of sexual tension and the need to keep things on the DL. I think, however, that the end result of all these reasons to keep things quiet were too many for our MCs to overcome in a short story.
There were just so many hurdles and not enough time for them to be really overcome in a way that made sense.
I appreciated that they didn't just jump into bed, but the "slow" was too slow and Jared came across way too "father figure" and not enough "lover". He was bossy and I never felt his emotions other than lust.
Ten seemed- sometimes – ridiculously immature and I thought his family was both ridiculous ( his oldest brother) and wonderful (his sweet mother). I wasn't sure why he was there, but the Russian goalie – Stan – was my favorite and I hope we get to see more of him!
The book kept my interest and I'll definitely pick up more in this series, but this wasn't my favorite hockey book of all time.
(The cover does NOT help this story !)
4.5 stars Action/Adventure adult - 18+ Alternate World Angst Level Book Dee Dreamspinner Gay Heat Index Humor Little to no angst m/m May/December May/December Mid level steam/heat Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Paranormal Speculative Fiction Standalone
Seti's Heart by Kiernan Kelly
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https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/setis-heart-by-kiernan-kelly-8703-b
Cursed by the god who shares his name, Seti was an Egyptian king who lost everything; his name, his kingdom, even the man he loved more than anything in the world. For centuries he's waited in a dusty, forgotten sarcophagus, until Logan comes along. Logan is a graduate student who stumbles on Seti in the basement of a museum and accidentally awakens him. Logan figures any way he looks at it, a missing mummy is going to be bad for his career, so he takes Seti with him until he can decide what to do. He doesn't want to be accused to theft, but who's going to believe in a mummy coming back to life? Seti and Logan have a lot more to worry about than the modern day police. There's a group of scientists that want Seti for more than decoration and a vengeful god with an agenda to get Seti gone once and for all. Logan has to deal with all of that, but his biggest problem might just be Seti himself, who's trying hard to get into Logan's pants, and his heart.
This is a fun, exciting story. I love ancient history and mythology and with this book, you get both! This a fantasy book, so belief has to be suspended, but it's so much fun that you won't care ☺
Logan is a put upon assistant curator who accidently awakens a cursed warrior/sorcerer – Seti. Seti has been asleep for the last 5000 years, so it's a shock for him to wake up in the 21st century, lol! The only things he is certain of are 1. That he wants Logan and 2. He wants revenge for the loss of his past life and punishment. What ensues is a story about ancient history, love, betrayal with a few twists. Along the way, both men, (man and mummy sounds a bit weird), have to deal with enemies ancient and modern; and the attraction they have for each other.
I enjoyed every bit of this story. Seti was arrogant but fun. His misunderstanding of all things modern, including the fact that you cannot order people around at will was hysterical. Logan, on the other hand, was sweet, a little snarky and funny. Together they were hot ☺
Fun fact – I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook way before reading it. It was my first Joel Leslie narration – I really thought there were 2 people narrating – one for the American accents and the other for the Egyptian and British accents (he is that talented☺).
A Tour/Guest Post/Blitz Giveaway
EJ Russell's Guest Post and Giveaway for Cutie and the Beast!
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OS Welcome to EJ Russell author of Cutie and The Beast! Thanks so much for stopping by!
EJR:
Stonehenge Analogs
When I started working on the books in the Fae Out of Water series, I knew that my version of Faerie would have a Stonehenge analog in it. It's prehistoric! It's iconic! It's mysterious! It also has a weight to it, both physical and historical that made it a perfect "anchor" for Faerie.
I've set scenes in the Stone Circle (the name for my Stonehenge analog) in each of the three stories. But unlike Stonehenge, my Stone Circle is intact. So in keeping with my habit of finding pictures that fit my ideas of my characters or settings, I went searching for images of what Stonehenge might have looked like in its heyday.
You can find some pretty cool artist's renderings of the site on the internet—here, for instance:
https://www.hexapolis.com/2014/08/17/6-interesting-features-of-the-stonehenge
But the most amazing thing I discovered was that about three hours from where I live, there's actually a full-sized replica of Stonehenge at the Maryhill Museum of Art in Washington.
http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/visit/stonehenge-memorial
The site was constructed by museum founder Sam Hill as a memorial to servicemen from Klickitat County who had fallen in World War I. He mistakenly believed that the original Stonehenge was built as a site for human sacrifice, and he chose to replicate it as a commentary: his statement about the sacrifice of so many on the altar of war.
The memorial was dedicated in 1918, but not completed until 1929, two years before Hill's death. In 1995, the museum and the Klickitat County veteran's association partnered to erect a second memorial to all county servicemen and women who have given their lives since World War I. Both memorials can be visited daily, from 7:00am until dusk.
Welcome to the Fae Out of Water blog tour, phase one–Cutie and the Beast! I'm so looking forward to introducing you all to the Kendrick brothers and their guys, starting this month with Alun and David. As you follow along on the tours—phase two, The Druid Next Door, in August, and phase three, Bad Boy's Bard, in September—please leave a comment and your contact information for a chance at a $50 Riptide gift card. The drawing will take place after the last Bad Boy's Bard blog stop. Thank you so much for stopping by!
About Cutie and the Beast
Temp worker David Evans has been dreaming of Dr. Alun Kendrick ever since that one transcription job for him, because holy cats, that voice. Swoon. So when his agency offers him a position as Dr. Kendrick's temporary office manager, David neglects to mention that he's been permanently banished from offices. Because, forgiveness? Way easier than permission.
Alun Kendrick, former Queen's Champion of Faerie's Seelie Court, takes his job as a psychologist for Portland's supernatural population extremely seriously. Secrecy is paramount: no non-supe can know of their existence. So when a gods-bedamned human shows up to replace his office manager, he intends to send the man packing. It shouldn't be difficult—in the two hundred years since he was cursed, no human has ever failed to run screaming from his hideous face.
But cheeky David isn't intimidated, and despite himself, Alun is drawn to David in a way that can only spell disaster: when fae consort with humans, it never ends well. And if the human has secrets of his own? The disaster might be greater than either of them could ever imagine.
Available now from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/cutie-and-the-beast
About the Fae Out of Water Series
Once upon a time, there were three brothers, nobles of the Seelie Court of Faerie, who set out to seek their fortunes. The eldest—
Scratch that. Rrrrrewind.
Nowadays, when tales are told in 140 character bursts on tiny LED screens, rather than spun out by the glow of a midnight campfire, even Faerie's elite have to get with the program.
The Kendrick brothers have traded longbow for briefcase, battle steed for Harley, and enchanted harp for electric guitar. But while they're finding their feet in the modern world, instead of finding their fortunes, they stumble straight into love.
#faeoutofwater
Check out the Fae Out of Water series! http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/series/fae-out-water
About EJ Russell
E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she's spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.
E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.
Connect with E.J.:
Website: ejrussell.com
Blog: ejrussell.com/bloggery/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/E.J.Russell.author
Twitter: twitter.com/ej_russell
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ejrussell/
To celebrate the release of all three books in the Fae Out of Water series, one lucky winner across all three tours will receive a GRAND PRIZE of a $50 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on September 23, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the Cutie and the Beast tour, and don't forget to leave your contact info!
5 stars adult - 18+ Angst Level Audiobook Audiobook Month Book Contemporary DA Established Couple Gay Heat Index Humor Hurt/Abuse Little to no angst m/m Mary D Misunderstanding Monthly Theme Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Opposites attract Part of a Series Purchased Rating Scorching/high heat writer
Audiobook Month: Hard Edit (Black Balled #2) by Andrea Smith and Eva LeNoir Narrated by Joel Leslie
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Audible Link
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Hard-Edit-Audiobook/B01N7NAJX7?qid=1500745482&sr=1-1
It's all fun and games until egos get hurt.
After a year of a seemingly happily-ever-after, Troy Babilonia throws a curve ball that smacks Larson Blackburn right in the head. When Troy's debut novel, Bridge to Lonely, threatens to overshadow Larson's own success, inviting a past shadow into the light of their present, the two alphas must learn to adjust.
Bridge to Lonely has garnered an unexpected success both in the literary world and in the film industry, forcing Larson to accept that he is not the only successful author in the building. But as Troy's old flame decides to make an appearance, the two alphas are forced to test the strength of their love. Let the battle of the egos recommence, where sarcasm is the preferred weapon and the testosterone levels go beyond the boiling point.
Because Black Balled just wasn't enough…Smith & LeNoir bring you Hard Edit
I love this story because it's a comedy of errors and misconceptions by two snarky irascible alpha males. Larson has some brilliant one liners and Troy is magnificent in his arrogance. I loved the first book Black Balled but this one is my favourite. You don't need to listen (or read) Black Balled to follow the events in Hard Edit. Black Balled is about a fight between an author and reviewer which turns into a relationship. Hard Edit is the next step in that relationship where the insecurities come to light in the most amusing ways. Especially when Troy's first love turns up.
The egotistical alpha males and they do refer to themselves as alpha males so much that I ended up rolling my eyes. But it is just that sort of over the top ego that makes me love them and the story work so well. Especially when Troy's first book surpasses anything that Larson has written so far. I found the authors signing event particularly funny I could picture it from the ones I had been to. The bickering before hand over swag made me grin. Actually all the bickering between Troy and Larson made me grin.
Joel Leslie's narration is exceptional. He brings Troy's swaggering attitude alive and the way he delivers Larson's sarcasm is razor sharp. His narration is the reason I snort with laughter while traveling on a train (not the done thing in England!) Not to mention the wonderful Jewish mother Ida. I just love her. There are two superb bonus chapters at the end and I truly believe they the only way to do justice to them is to listen to Joel's narration.
5 of 5 stars!
Kinks Monthly Theme
August's Theme: It's Time to Get Kinky!
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August is hot, right? We thought we'd keep the heat turned up with a month dedicated to kinks!
We're going to be stretching our limits and exploring some subjects that we haven't necessarily explored before:
Dark Romances
Roll Playing
Check us out this month and see what other flavors exist beyond "vanilla"!
3.5 stars adult - 18+ Angst Level Audiobook Audiobook Month Billionaire Bodyguard Book Boss/employee Contemporary DA Dreamspinner Exploration Gay GFY/OFY Heat Index Hurt/Abuse m/m Mary D Mid level angst Mid level steam/heat Monthly Theme Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Sexuality Standalone
Audiobook Month: Pent Up by Damon Suede Narrated by Christopher Kipiniak
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https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pent-up-by-damon-suede-8724-b
PENT UP: Mix business with pleasure and take cover.
Ruben Oso moves to Manhattan to start his life over as a low-rent bodyguard and stumbles into a gig in a swanky Park Avenue penthouse. What begins as executive protection turns personal working for a debonair zillionaire who makes Ruben question everything about himself.
Watching over financial hotshot Andy Bauer puts Ruben in an impossible position. He knows zero about shady trading and his cocky boss lives barricaded in a glass tower with wall-to-wall secrets and hot-and-cold-running paranoia. Can the danger be real? Is Andy for real?
What's a bullet catcher to do? Ruben knows his emotions are out of control even as he races to untangle a high-priced conspiracy and his crazy feelings before somebody gets dead. If his suspicions are right, Andy will pay a price neither can afford, and Ruben may discover there's no way to guard a heart.
The story is from Ruben's point of view. Ruben is quite a complex character. Newly divorced and a recovering alcoholic. He moves to New York to work for his brother in low end security company. This is where he meets Andy Bauer. I like liked that Ruben questions his attraction to Andy and doesn't jump straight in as happens in other gay for you stories. Ruben does a lot of soul searching trying to understand why he is attracted to Andy and struggling with staying on the 12 steps program. Andy is a mysterious character. There isn't a lot of depth to him but that is probably because the story is from Ruben's view point. There is a long slow build up to the first kiss and during this time Andy is pursuing Ruben. Andy is very touchy-feely and watches Ruben, I found that mildly creepy.
I was never quite sure if Andy was a good guy or not and that kept me interested. I must admit the financial mystery/conspiracy aspect did nothing for me. It ran in the background up until towards the end things started happening again. The ending was a surprise, from the financial mystery aspect which was good although I still didn't completely understand it. But that is on me. I liked the happy for now ending for Ruben and Andy fitted well with their characters.
This is the first book I've listened to narrated by Christopher Kipiniak and I liked it. The voices he gave Ruben and Andy suited them and were easily distinguishable. His portrayal of the four female characters was excellent. They were quite varied in age and backgrounds, his brother's girlfriend, Andy's young assistant, Ruben's sponsor (an elderly Jewish lady) and Andy's mother (a society wife).
This is a long story. Due to circumstances I ended up listening to it over a week. I managed to to easily pick up where I left off in the story without needing to go back and get my bearings. I will listen to it again because it's a well crafted story with strong main characters and I am sure there is more I will discover.
Overall Impression: 3.5 of 5 stars
4 stars adult - 18+ Alternate World Angst Level Beth Jumper Book Extasy Books Fated Mates Gay Heat Index Hurt/comfort m/m Magic Mid level angst Mid level steam/heat Novella 20-160 pgs (20k-40k words) Paranormal Part of a Series Shifter Standalone Time Period
Cerris (Council Enforcers Book 4) By Catherine Lievens
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Extasy Presents
http://www.extasybooks.com/cerris/
Cerris is an orphan who's been told he's a monster all his life, and he's come to believe it. He did his best to keep his werewolf half under control, but when he killed a hunter, Dominic asked the enforcers for help. Cerris is sent to work with their only werewolf, but as soon as he sees the man, he realizes they're mates, and he runs.
Jackson doesn't understand why Cerris runs, but he intends to find out. When he finally locates Cerris, Cerris' friends intervene and explain what happened to him and why he doesn't want to see Jackson—Jackson is a werewolf, and all werewolves are monsters.
Jackson knows he'll have to work hard to convince Cerris of the contrary, and he hopes finding Cerris' long-lost father will help. He also has to teach Cerris to control his wolf before something happens.
Will Cerris learn control, or will he become the monster he always thought he was?
The more I read this series the more involved in the storyline I get. I am actually looking forward to the next books in the series.
In this story we have Cerris who has been physically and mentally beaten down his whole life. Dealing with a prejudice cultivated by his tribe leader, he lived basically as a slave and believed himself a monster. When Cerris discovers he is Mates with Jackson, he is first terrified and then intrigued. Jackson knows something is up but for him it takes a while.
I like how we are shown Jackson's family as an example of normal. Just everyday people or beings that worry about the same things a typical family does. I also liked how Cerris confronts his protagonist to learn the reasons behind his actions.
In the end there is a HEA and the carrot dangled of another story.
4 stars Action/Adventure adult - 18+ Alternate World Angst Level Book Contemporary Enemies to Lovers Fairies Fated Mates Gay Heat Index High but not hopeless Hurt/Abuse m/m Magic Mid level steam/heat Misunderstanding Morgan Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Paranormal Part of a Series Purchased Race/Species Difference Shifter vampire Witches/Warlocks/Wizards
All or Nothing (Shadow Creek #4) by Leah Blake
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Siren Bookstrand Presents
http://www.bookstrand.com/book/all-or-nothing
[Siren Everlasting Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Fantasy Paranormal Romance, shape-shifter, vampires, werewolves, M/M, HEA]
Mikhail Borreagous loathes anything paranormal. After witnessing the vicious murders of his older brothers in an attack that left him clinging to life over twenty years ago, he vowed to hunt and kill anything not human. That is, until Nico Montague crosses his path.
Nico is a wolf shifter and no stranger to Mikhail's killing ways. The infamous hunter is his mate, but Nico will do whatever it takes to protect him against the lamabra. When a second attack from the vampire half-breeds goes south, Nico makes a crucial decision in hopes of saving Mikhail: return to Shadow Creek…with his mate.
Mikhail wakes up in the heart of the paranormal sanctuary his boss has dreamed of breaching. Caught between his fierce attraction to Nico and his loyalty to his leader, Mikhail has to make a life-altering decision: betray the creatures that have protected him despite his reputation, or risk his life to stay with Nico?
I still really love this series!
I have to admit, Mikhail was really hard to love. He and Nico have a strange dynamic and it wasn't as easy to root for them as a couple as I did the others – especially Raul and Victor – sigh – who are so amazing together. (I didn't like all the "beast and beastly" adjectives – they didn't sit well.)
We spend A LOT of time dancing around the fact that Mikhail is a hunter and therefore the enemy but knowing he's mated to Nico so the two will have to figure it out eventually.
There's some craziness with Jude and his compound and I appreciated how Nico eventually got Mik to see the truth as well as how he pointed out how "cult like" Jude's group was.
This totally kept my attention and is a great addition to the series. I'm in anticipation of the next book!
(I don't think this is as good as a standalone. There's just too much backstory that is needed to make this really resonate.)
4 stars Action/Adventure adult - 18+ Alternate World Angst Level Audiobook Month Book Contemporary Cop/Crime Dreamspinner Established Couple Gay Heat Index m/m Mid level angst Mid level steam/heat Monthly Theme Morgan Novella 20-160 pgs (20k-40k words) Opposites attract Paranormal Part of a Series second chance at love Shifter
Audiobook Month: Thick and Thin (THIRDS Book 8) Audiobook by Charlie Cochet Narrated by Mark Westfield
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https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/thick-thin-by-charlie-cochet-8114-b
Sequel to Smoke & Mirrors
In a matter of days, Dex has been kidnapped, tortured, killed, revived, become half Therian, offered the chance to become a spy, and accepted a proposal to marry his jaguar Therian boyfriend, Sloane Brodie. It's been a lot to take in, and although Dex is still trying to wrap his head around everything that's happened, he knows he has to move forward.
After the events of Smoke & Mirrors, Dex and Sloane find themselves in one of the most frightening situations of all: revealing the truth to their Destructive Delta family. When the dust settles, nothing will ever be the same, and it's up to Dex to prove that in the face of change, the one thing that will always remain the same is family.
(Book Reviewed Here Previously)
This is a novella that feels like a bridge story between books 7 and 9. In it Dex and Sloane get some stuff cleared up and we see the team take a new direction. We learn a bit more about some other players and we get a very, very hot sex scene with Sloane and Dex – supercharged!
I'm still a bit confused about some of the political stuff – not quite sure who's who and what's what – but I imagine that's how it's supposed to be – setting us up for the next installment.
For fans of the series this is a must – for anyone else – you'll just be confused. 😉
You know how sometimes you're just in a funk – well – I don't know if that's the case here or what but… typically I really enjoy Mark Westfield's narrations and especially his narrations of Charlie's THIRDS series. This one had some issues that kept me from loving it.
There were some subtle differences that I either didn't catch before or just stood out this time that caught my ear and wouldn't let me ignore them. I didn't love Dex's dad's voice – Tony – it just rubbed me the wrong way as did Cael's voice. I didn't remember Cael sounding so goofy before. I also was able to focus on Mark's breathing sounds and his tendency to lilt up at the end of non-dialog sentences way more than I was in other narrations.
Mark does a wonderful job with the "extras" and I always appreciate how inventive he is in making his voice sound like it's in different places. I think fans of the series will still love this and once I got into the story it was easy to keep listening, I just didn't love it as much as I'd loved some of the others in this series.
Copy Generously Provided by Publisher For Honest Review
4 stars Action/Adventure adult - 18+ Angst Level Book Contemporary Demons Fantasy Fated Mates Gay Heat Index Merpeople Mid level angst Mid level steam/heat Morgan Novel 140 pgs + (80K + words) Paranormal Part of a Series Purchased
You've Got To Be Kidding Me (The Gods Made Me Do It #2) by Lisa Oliver
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https://www.amazon.com/Youve-Kidding-Gods-Made-Book-ebook/dp/B071GGVHJP/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1498852857&sr=1-1&keywords=you%27ve+got+to+be+kidding+me
Poseidon, ancient Greek God of the Sea, ruler of earthquakes and once worshiped by thousands as a fertility god, was bored and that could be a dangerous thing for people around him. Deciding to visit his son, Nereus and friends at the Cloverleah pack; Poseidon causes his own brand of trouble, resulting in a night out at a club. All he wanted was a bed partner for a few hours. What he got was so much more.
Alpha Claude wanted nothing more than to rule his pack, care for his pack members and accept the offer of a warm body when his urges got too strong. When Kane, Alpha of Cloverleah calls and says he wants to bring a special visitor, he was intrigued. But when a silver-haired god walks into his club, he knows his life is going to change. He just didn't realize how much.
Gods dropping in, visits from family and pesky secrets have a way of making things difficult. Fighting outside foes is easy; the problems that flare between two very different men might be enough to scupper their mating before it has a chance to settle. Will they ever find their HEA or are the differences between a land creature and a god of the sea too great to overcome?
This is an M/M true mates book and as such comes with the obligatory warnings. While this is book two in the series and can be read as a standalone, readers will have a better understanding of secondary characters and off page references if they have read book one and the Cloverleah series, in particular, On the Brink.
I love that we get to see all the guys from Cloverleah and that Kane is still an overprotective jerk at times!
Poseidon is hard to like. He's very selfish and doesn't really have a lot going for him – despite being a god. Claude was suprsingly sweet, given his being an Alpha and BDSM club owner. (There is no BDSM in this book.)
There wasn't much "new" to this story, it felt a bit like some of the others in the series, but it was still fun and sexy.
I definitely think these are best read in order, though, I suppose, it could be a standalone, but you'd be missing a lot of background.
For fans of the series, I recommend this. If you're new to the author or this series, I wouldn't start with this.