SPELLBOOKS AND SHORTBREAK by Denise D. Young

Title:  SPELLBOOKS AND SHORTBREAK
Series:  Christmas Cookies #1
Author:  Denise D. Young
Publisher:  Wild Rose Press
Publish Date:   10.20.2021
Category /Genre:  Holiday Romance
Recommended for:  18+
Grammar/editing:  B – a few small errors
Received from:  Denise D. Young (as a gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Spellbooks and Shortbread
Date completed: 12.12.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Juniper Whitethorn is a faerie, a thief for hire, and kind of a scrooge. So, when the Order of Magicks needs a last-minute job done on Christmas Eve, of course she's the one they'd call. Stealing a book from an unsuspecting human bookstore owner is child's play for her.

Until she steps into a small town filled with twinkling lights, carolers, an annual cookie contest, and Magnus MacDougal, her devilishly handsome mark. Circumstances force her to play the innocent tourist at the town's holiday festivities. But the more time she spends with Magnus and his daughter, the harder it gets to steal the book and walk away. 
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SPELLBOOKS AND SHORTBREAD is the first book in the multi-author Christmas Cookies series.  These are each stand-alone, holiday short story romances. 
 
This is the story of a young woman who was brought up by a stepfather who should have been named Fagin.  Juniper (June) believes that the title “thief” defines her.  She is sent to Mount Holly, PA, an idyllic Christmas Capital on Christmas Eve to retrieve a book of magicks that would cause another Dark Age if it were to be discovered by the wrong type of human.
 
What she finds is the gorgeous owner of the bookstore that is housing the relic, Magnus MacDougal, and his teenage daughter.  The instant attraction suggests that there is a fate at work here.
 
Spellbooks and Shortbread is a wonderful, slow-steam, short story that is just right for a Christmas vacation afternoon.  Cozy up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy!
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via StoryOrigin, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Christmas Cookies Series:
1.      Spellbooks and Shortbread (Denise D. Young) 10.20.2021
2.      The Great Christmas Jelly Cookie Hunt (Rena Leith) 10.25.2021
3.      Werewolves Prefer Shortbread (Dakota Issacs) 10.25.2021
4.      Gingerbread Men and Toad’s Wart (Daniel Kamin) 10.25.2021
5.      Luring the Lykan with Almond Macarons (Leslie Ann Brown) 10.27.2021
6.      Krampus and the Kolaches (J.D. Douwes) 10.27.2021
7.      Death by Gingerbread Drops (Jo A. Hiestand) 11.01.2021
8.      The Nutcracker Nibbles Christmas Case (Jeanne Kern) 11.01.2021
9.      Let It Snowball (Margot Johnson) 11.02.2021
10.  Peanut Blossoms and the Matchmaking Kitten (Claire Davon) 11.02.2021
11.  Red Velvet Crinkles and Christmas Sprinkles (Maria Imbalzano) 11.02.20221
12.  Cookie Collision (Darlene Deluca) 11.03.2021
13.  Snickerdoodle Snowmen (Sarita Leone) 11.03.2021
14.  The Gingerbread Lodge (Vicky Burkholder) 11.03.2021
15.  Gingerbread Knight (Pam Binder) 11.08.2021
16.  Macaroons by Moonlight (Annette Miller) 11.08.2021
17.  Magic and Midnight Mint Bars (Iona Morrison) 11.08.2021
18.  Candles and Honey Cookies (Shari Elder) 11.09.2021
19.  Merry Little Wishing Spritz (Cherie Colyer) 11.09.2021
20.  The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder (Marla A. White) 11.09.2021
21.  Coconut Macaroon Scandal (Virginia Barlow) 11.10.2021
22.  Linzer Tarts and Broken Hearts (Carol Henry) 11.10.2021
23.  Snowdrop Cookie Wishes (Laura Strickland) 11.10.2021
24.  Candy Cane Cookie Cover-Up (Jael Allen) 11.15.2021
25.  Eight Nights of Apricot Cookies (Roni Denholtz) 11.15.2021
26.  Kris’s Kringles (Linda Bleser) 11.15.2021
27.  Shortbread Shakedown (Sofia Aves) 11.16.2021
28.  Chocolate Chip Charm (Margaret L. Carter) 11.16.2021
29.  The Gingerbread Cookie Code (Ann M. Trader) 11.16.2021
30.  Fortune Cookie Christmas (Jeanne Kern) 11.17.2021
31.  A Christmas Cannoli Kiss (Anne Armistead) 11.17.2021
32.  Tackling Molasses Crinkles (Laura Freeman) 11.17.2021
33.  Sugar’s Cookies (Anya Sharpe) 11.29.2021
34.  A Little Kringle Magic (Loretta C. Rogers) 11.29.2021
35.  Snowdrop Dreams, Cherry Thumbprint Screams (Kimberly Baer) 11.29.2021
36.  The Spy Who Loved My Russian Tea Cakes (Marilyn Barr) 11.30.2021
37.  Chocolate Chip Christmas Wishes (Nicole McCaffrey) 11.30.2021
38.  Ginger Snapped (Shelley White) 12.01.2021
39.  Snow Kiss Cookies to Die For (Wendy Kendall) 12.01.2021
40.  Swiss Mistletoe and Macarons (Amey Ziegler) 12.01.2021
41.  Secret Family Recipes for Love and Butter Cookies (Melissa McTernan) 12.01.2021
42.  Not a Chocolate Snowball’s Chance in Hades (Lianne Kelly) 12.06.2021
43.  Kisses and Lemon Snowflake Cookies (N. Jade Gray) 12.06.2021
44.  Wedding Cookies at a Christmas Party (Ursula Whistler) 12.06.2021
45.  A Maple Cookie Homecoming (Judy Ann Davis) 12.07.2021
46.  Caramelized Pecan Cookie Holiday Hideaway (J.W. Garrett) 12.07.2021
47.  Caught Up in Candy Cane Kisses (Shannon Robinson) 12.07.2021
48.  Murder Over Macaroons (Kary Harris) 12.08.2021
49.  Spritz Cookie Showdown (Melanie Hoffer) 12.08.2021
50.  The Gingerbread Man (Kim Turner) 12.08.2021
51.  Date Pinwheel Devotion (Christine Smith-Allison) 12.14.2021
52.  Tinsel and Tea Cakes (Jill Piscitello) 12.14.2021
53.  Her Sugar Cookie Heart (Sarita Leone) 12.15.2021
54.  Oh, Gingersnap! (Sonja N. Griffing)12.15.2021
 
Also from Denise Young:
·         Fractured Moonlight
·         Spellbooks and Shortbread (Christmas Cookies #1)
Into the Faerie Forest Series:
1.      The Beltane Kiss
2.      The Faerie Key
3.      The Midnight Path
4.      The Cursed Woods
Tangled Magic Series:
1.      Tangled Roots
2.      Tangled Fates
3.      Tangled Souls
 

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DIAMOND IN THE RUFF by Jodi Kendrick

Title:  DIAMOND IN THE RUFF
Series:  FUC Academy #15, Pedigree #2
Author:  Jodi Kendrick
Publisher:  EveL Worlds
Publish Date:   01.12.2021
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Rom-Com
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Jodi Kendrick
Goodreads link: Diamond in the Ruff
Date completed: 01.01.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Corra Terry is about to start a new life as a newly enrolled cadet at the Furry United Coalition Academy alongside her BFF Bryah Lam. After her experiences at the hands of Bryah’s crazy ex-boyfriend, Corra has decided that becoming a FUC agent is the best way to get dangerous shifters like him off the streets. And nosy, arrogant Tomcats have no place in her plans.

Ladies’ man, Darcy Karak is enjoying the single life while deep in his training to become an agent at the academy. When his roommate, Caleb Terry’s newfound sister enrolls with her quirky best friend, his curiosity gets the better of him and he can’t help his sudden determination to teach Corra Terry how to have some fun - if he can ignore her bark and evade her bite.

…Until Families suddenly show up and throw a monkey wrench into their business sending them on unexpected missions to save Darcy’s future and inadvertently uncover Corra’s past.
This book is part of Eve Langlais' Furry United Coalition ‘F.U.C.’ EveL Worlds.
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DIAMOND IN THE RUFF is the fifteenth book in the multi-author FUC Academy series.  Each is a stand-alone, paranormal, romantic suspense story set in the FUC world created by Eve Langlais.  You do not need to have read any of those books to start this series – I haven’t, though I wish now that I had.  
 
It is also the second book in the Pedigree series.  It will stand without reading TOUGH NUT first, but for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading them both.
 
The FUCnA books seem to encourage the authors to pair up unusual pairings of shifters and/or shifters you’ve never seen before.  This is a cat and a dog – not a werewolf and a wereleopard (done to death), but domestic dog and an unusual cat. 
 
This is a fun, quick read that embraces the quirky FUC Academy world to perfection, plus it adds to the Pedigree series storyline.
 
Corra and Darcy just plain belong together, and it was fun reading their relationship grow as they figured out how to mesh their personalities.  The mystery was perfectly paced and good cozy-puzzle to while-away an afternoon.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
FUC Academy Series:
1.      FUCN’A Introduction (Eve Langlais)
2.      I’ll Be Dammed (Mandy Rosko)
3.      Goose and the Ocelot (Renee Hewett)
4.      Bat and the Bone (Alexa Gregory)
5.      Jumping the Bull (Jenn Burke)
6.      Pawsitively ImPurrfect (Lucy Farago)
7.      Chinchilla and the Devil (C.D. Gorri)
8.      The Tiger and the Unicorn (Susan Hays)
9.      Tough Nut (Jodi Kendrick)
10.  The Turtle and the Hare (Amanda Kimberley)
11.  Tabby and the Den (T.B. Mann)
12.  Trash Queen (Mandy Rosko)
13.  The Siberian’s Winter (Lucy Farago)
14.  A Tree and Her Honey Badger (Julie Mills)
15.  Diamond in the Ruff (Jodi Kendrick)
16.  Moose and the Narwhal (Renee Hewett) (releases 02.09.2020)
 
Also from Jodi Kendrick:
·         Awakened (Federal Paranormal Unit / Aqua-terrestrial Task Force)
·         Return Flight
·         Wish (Paranormal Dating Agency)
Dragon Island Series:
1.      Dragon Heat (Sassy Ever After)
Pedigree Series:
1.      Tough Nut (FUCN’A #9)
2.      Diamond in the Rough (FUCN’A #15)
 

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MUSE UNLEASHED by Robbie Cox

Title:  MUSE UNLEASHED
Series:  Crimson Moon Hideaway #4
Author:  Robbie Cox
Publisher:  Sandy Shores Publishing
Publish Date:   11.05.2020
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Robbie Cox
Goodreads link: Muse Unleashed
Date completed: 11.09.2020
 
Description from the publisher:
When the well of inspiration dries up, there's only one place to go - Crimson Moon Hideaway.

Something is sapping his creativity, and it's as if Maxwell Bourland can feel it digging its claws into his brain, draining the stories out of him. He falls asleep, dreaming of elaborate plots, only to have them vanish by morning. This is more than writers block; it's a theft of his mind. With his editor nagging him, Maxwell flees to the redwoods of California, hoping to shake whatever has him in its clutches.

Inspiring the masses is exhausting, and so the muses, Thalia and Calliope, seek a vacation where the only creativity they need to stir up is how to spend the cold evenings. However, as they plot to lure the lifeguard off his tower, they notice a slumped figure trudging through the resort, a slight shimmer draping his body. Now their curiosity is peaked.
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MUSE UNLEASHED is the fourth book in the multi-author Crimson Moon Hideaway series.  Each story will stand on its own, but all books are set at the fictional resort of Crimson Moon Hideaway.  The first five were released in November 2020 and I was lucky enough to read this one.
 
Now I was first introduced to Crimson Moon Hideaway in Gracen Miller’s FINDING HER WIZARD(, which I loved!).  So, of course I wanted to return to visit the fairies and wizards in the redwood forest of California.  Absolutely not disappointed.  I knew I wouldn’t be since it was Robbie Cox doing the writing.  Still, he blew me away with his entry into the Crimson Moon world.
 
An author is told to write what you know about.  What author of over forty books wouldn’t know a little something about muses and writer’s block?  Add in that this particular author lives a polyamorous lifestyle and he is truly writing what he knows about!  Hmmm… do you suppose Robbie Cox is a panther shifter, too.  It does make for a compelling argument.
 
The story is fun, intriguing, has great banter, and fantastic imagination.  I loved that little-known demi-gods are brought into play, proving that the author has done his research to provide more entertainment for the reader’s mind.
I’m looking forward to more vacations in Crimson Moon Hideaway!  Who knows what creatures we may find there next.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Crimson Moon Hideaway Series:

1.      Dragon Falling (Julia Mills)
2.      Chimera’s Edge (Renee Hewett)
3.      Time Wasn’t Ready (Terri A. Wilson)
4.      Muse Unleashed (Robbie Cox)
5.      Winning Paradise (Mireille Chester)

 
Also from Robbie Cox:

·         Circle of Justice
·         Muse Unleashed (Crimson Moon Hideaway #4)

Best of Both Worlds Series:

1.      Ribbons & Bows
2.      Under the Wrapping

Black Hollow Series:

5.      It’s the Little Things  
9.      To Trick the Devil  
14.  April’s Fool  
18.  Blood Shadows

Bull Creek Chronicles Series:

1.      Alpha Rising
2.      Panther Hunted
3.      Bear Necessities

Cauldron Coven Series:

1.      Death’s Shroud
2.      Daughters of Darkness

Destined Mates series:

1.      Magic’s Mate
2.      Mate’s Appeal
3.      Mate’s Touch
4.      My Lover’s Mate  
5.      My Mate’s Wife

Fangirls Series:

1.      Nikki
2.      Lily
3.      Cassie
4.      Olivia
5.      Willow

Halloween Seduction Series:

1.      Come Halloween
2.      Behind the Mask

Harper Twins Series:

1.      Sibling Rivalry
2.      Taming Karla
3.      Always Aimee

Life’s Moments Series

1.      Green is the Grass
2.      Waiting Room
3.      Second Light
4.      Saturday at the Inlet

Rutherford Series

1.      Losing Faith
2.      Roll the Dice  
3.      To Be Cherished

Sanctuary of Bull Creek Series:

1.      Shards of Sass
2.      Blades of Sass
3.      Touch of Sass

Warriors of the Way Series

1.      Reaping the Harvest
2.      Lore Master
3.      The Warrior’s Blade
4.      Summerlands

Witches of Savannah Series:

1.      Enter the Witch

 

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