A Monstrous Light by Cari Z.

I liked the idea behind this novella. I wonder if at a different time I would have felt differently about it. Reading it left me feeling.. sad. I'm not even sure what I feel about the ending as I'm not entirely sure what it means for Beniel and Korran. 

The story is told from Beniel Tallance's POV. He has lost his lover in - a monstrous light - a few months ago in the battle of a lifetime. Korran was gone and yet, and yet he didn't really. He became something else. Something Beniel isn't sure how he's going to find and when he does what he's going to do in order to have him back in his arms. 

This novella is his journey, through unfriendly towns and scary roads to the end of the universe where they fought. Writing these words saddens me. Beniel doesn't have anyone besides his lover. Their relationship was even more complicated with Korran being a prince and Beniel his "Indulgence", let's call him his valet, since a young age. Now after the war is over, the old ruler (Korran's father) dethroned, his brother Ormyr is the ruler and things aren't exactly working in his favor. He needs Beniel's help and he is offering the one thing that matters to him. Beniel accepts.

Spirited (Treasured #4) [Jack & Garrick] by Cari Z.

My thoughts are a bit jumbled. I liked this one but I can't say I loved it. It was action packed which was great, moving the plot and allowing the two MCs to work together and through that work their own issues with one another. The magical part was pretty cool! Each on his own as well as when they finally joined forces near the end.  

Detective Jack Haney is working a case and he isn't getting closer to solving it. There's a new drug on the market and since there's magic involved, it's almost impossible to track. That's where Garrick O'Connel - his former partner and lover comes in. They are assigned together AGAIN to try and catch the sorcerer who is making and distributing the drug. 

Dauntless (Luckless, #2) by Cari Z.

I've got say this wasn't my favorite.  In general it felt like an interlude and not a whole story even if in a way we got what I was missing in the previous one "Luckless" (also novella length) - seeing Evan and Lee / Ladon as a formed couple and how they manage life in Forge together with Lee's son Jason. 

In the previous installment we've met Evan Luck, or as he was referred to - Luckless - for losing his dragon. The same dragon his father and grandfather rode. When he came to Forge it was expected he would find a dragon to bond with, but until that happened, he was basically shunned. When he met Lee Caldwell he didn't know half of it.. 

You Had One Job by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

Such a  WONDERFUL read! Sometimes you need a time-out of life to relax. You'd think a suspense novel with the mob clashing one against the other would do the opposite hehe It was THE BEST escape from life into a world I would NOT want to be a part of, though what Nikita and Lorenzo found in each other WAS beautiful and heartfelt which is exactly the kind of novels I love the most. 

Nikita Ravenov has been working for the Bratva for the past ten years. This is not what he aspired to be growing up but he got mixed up with them when he was young and getting out simply isn't an option especially since he literally has NO ONE. No one to help him, no one to share his daily agony in the horrible world he was thrown into. His only coping mechanism is using drugs. My heart broke for him for most of the book, maybe even more after Lorenzo and him started to have a connection and he saw that with the right person beside him - loneliness and isolation can be replaced by compassion, trust and partnership.

Lorenzo Ferrari has a very specific and hopefully short mission dealing with the Bratva, his own people - La Cosa Nostra - might not always like him that much (being openly gay might is part of the reason) but they know he is good at his job and also - he is family. His first night on the job he takes his best friends' son out to a few gay bars. He is surprised he is watched but when he confronts the guy things get kinda out of hand. So when he sees "Nick" the next day on his meeting with the Bratva and later that day catches him thrown out of a car beaten badly it's even more of a WTF. 

His Holiday Crush by Cari Z.

 ~sigh~ This was SUCH a sweet and heartfelt story. I simply ADORED it. So glad I decided to read it this weekend when I wasn't my best and definitely needed a cheer up. For both Max and Dominic this years' holidays was a time to reflect on what they are missing - seeing exactly that in each other's eyes made the decision a lot easier. 

Max Robertson used to live in the sleepy town of Edgewood but when he left 10 years ago he had VERY good reasons never to return again. He kept his distance physically and mentally but he did his best to keep in touch with his best friend Hall Bell. Now that Hall is divorced and he is having a hard time dealing with raising two little girls, he doesn't expect Hal to come visit him in New York, so he reluctantly accepts coming to visit them even if only for a day. After all he'll be closing on a HUGE client the next couple of days and he needs to stay focused. 

If you know these kind of holiday novels it's obvious without even reading the synopsis Max will be spending more than just a day in Edgewood. It started with his car getting stuck at the side of the road and immediately after with Police officer Dominic coming to his rescue. He sees exactly what he likes in the guy even if he doesn't realize he was checking out his best friend's younger brother he always remembered as Nicky.

The Lost Ship of the Tucker Rebellion by Marie Sexton & Cari Z.

I tried, I really did but I just couldn't continue on with this book. I'll admit I'm not a fan of Sci-Fi novels but I've read a few by Cari and LOVED them so it was a given I'm going to give this one a go. So I delved in hoping for something different and exciting and finding myself ANNOYED and mostly, truth being said - bored. I didn't connect or even like any of our 3 MCs, their constant banter was tiring and it led to almost nothing happening in the first quarter of the book. I think I actually got to the point things started to happen but I can't commit to it. I'm sorry. 

I won't say a lot about the plot firstly because VERY little actually happened besides Denver Clayborne (our sole POV up until 22% where I stopped) finding a "pod" coming from at least a century ago and in it a promise of something extraordinary. His sick twin brother Laramie is skeptical and moreover he doesn't want Denver to put his life at risk for his sake (hoping for a cure) and their third member - Marit - isn't able of doing anything but complaining. There's a lot of not really world building but references to the past and how everyone came to be living in space (and Earth becoming uninhabitable). I didn't care about any of it because it was all done in their usual banter which threw me off this book in the first place. 

Summer's Child (Titania's Court #2) (Dis & Marten #2) by Cari Z.

This novella starts right after the ending of the previous one - The Solstice Gift (the 4th installment in Oberon's Court). Dis is on his way to the Summer Fae's lands to bring Queen Titania the gift from her husband King Oberon. With his protective wolf Ciurlen by his side and a heavy heart for leaving his lover Marten behind he sets on his journey. 

The Summer Fae and their land couldn't be more different than the Winter land he has grown up in. It's warm and sunny. Filled with laughter and celebrations. Most of the Fae are friendly and charming and though they try to convince him he should stay he always denies them. He needs to come home to Marten even if his life there is far from perfect. Titania is nothing like what Dis expected she is honorable and welcoming. So very different than anything he has come to associate with the Fae world. Yet not everything is perfect.. 

The Solstice Gift (Oberon's Court #4) (Dis & Marten #1) by Cari Z.

This short novella was SO interesting. I was glued to it and couldn't put it down but then it ended. SO abruptly. I could see the promise of a better tomorrow if only Dis would survive today which is still something no one can be sure of. 

Dis is a "Changeling" - a human stolen from the human world to become a slave in the world of the Fae. These aren't your friendly faeries, oh no, these ones are mean and cruel and their world is no different, always frozen and cold, so so cold for Dis' human body. 

Dark Around the Edges (Cambion #1-6) by Cari Z.

This book was unavailable for a while now but it was suddenly "revived" so while I was a bit worried it's going to be more on the erotica side (which I haven't been interested in reading lately) I was happily surprised this was a sweet romantic read with a lot of intriguing suspense and action. Our MCs worked great together even though they seem like total opposites (and in a way they are..) but it also what made their relationship so special. 

Devon Harper and Rio Pagani both work for Safeguard Systems. It's a security company though they also deal with discarding demons and the cult they create around them. This time Devon is after Porter Grey a very powerful demon summoner whom the company have been hunting for years. He's finally in the US and it's time to get him. When his plans don't exactly go according to plan and his cover or rather his identity as half human-half incubus is revealed he is rescued by his favorite Safeguard's employee - Rio. Once together - they stay together and do their best to track and capture Porter who seem to be one step ahead of them. 

Hitman vs Hitman by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

I don't even know how much time it took me to read this book as I started and stopped a few times before I committed myself into it. Something about Ricardo and August/Augustus didn't "work" for me. They spent most of the book quarreling with one another disagreeing about anything and everything. The attraction was always there - I got that and I actually really appreciated that it took them time to act upon it. The book was very suspenseful but the real action started I think round 70% in and didn't stop right until the end which is when I got REALLY invested in the story. 

If you look at the almost satirical website "Rate Your Hit" you'd find the best hitman out there is Ricardo Torralba and right under him is August Morrison. This might look like the kind of website to have a good laugh about but it's actually genuine. But when Ricardo and August find themselves on the same job to off billionaire Lance Baldwin they feel like something is wrong. So very wrong. 

They run without finishing the job only to realize that since they didn't off each other whomever put them on the job is more than willing to finish it on his own. That means that though they're not exactly team players they need to work together and learn to trust one another and FAST.

The Tank (The Train #3) by Cari Z.

While this isn't my usual read Cari is! This is the third installment in what I refer to as "The Train" series, as it was the first story of Anton and Camille. Where last we left off it's clear both men wish for more than they have but it doesn't seem like a future together is something they can have at the moment. Camille's post as "a Lumiere" the Emperor's investigator takes him whenever there is trouble and Anton is all invested in his academic studies. Please be advised, if you haven't read the first two installment you MUST start at the beginning but no worries, all three are free reads though Cari's blog.

Now that Anton Seiber has finished his Master training in Thaumaturgy (magic) in the Universitate Zurich he isn't sure what to do with his life. His previous "adventure" with Camille has brought him no more trouble but the association with the man who has tried to kill him has left him with no employment offers. On the eve of his graduation he wishes for a friendly face. He has contacted both his mother and his closest friend from childhood Caroline but both haven't replied to his letters. He would have LOVED for Camille to come but he doesn't even know how to contact him. Camille seems to appear out of the blue and stay for the shortest time. Yet before the evening ends two of the three appear with a promise of adventure, one he isn't really sure about..

Luckless (Luckless, #1) by Cari Z.

Though I liked this novella I can't say that I loved it. Maybe it was the dystopian setting I'm not that fond of, or my greediness wanting MORE of our couple. There is a friendship buildup but I was missing the romantic part. It was under the surface, but I would have liked to have something more substantial. 

Evan's last name is Luck, but everyone calls him Luckless - after he has lost his Dragon. She has been with his father and grandfather Dragon before him. Losing her was the worst experience of his life and he is still not over it. He is broken. His emphatic ability, the one that enabled him to bond with a dragon in the first place has shattered after her death. 

House Rules by Cari Z.

Though I'm usually a BIG fan of Cari's novels this one missed the mark but that's mostly becuase it was too short and also BDSM mostly doesn't work for me. Are you into spanking? Because if the answer is yes I think you'll really enjoy this one. Thing is, there is a lot in the first part of the novella that REALLY intriged me. The life of Jon and Al seems to follow rules that are made to keep Jon healthy and safe but sadly as this was rather short what we got isn't more about the two of them but what Jon knew he'll get once Al is home - what he deserved.

Cuddly Behavior (Bad Behavior #6) by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

I'll start by saying I'm NOT a fan of cats. AT ALL. Though I did thought at a certain point I'll have a Maine Coon (probably at least partly the breed of Mark's cat). What I AM a fan of? Andreas and Darren. ~sigh~ After everything these two have gone through together seeing them in such a domestic relationship was simply heart warming. When the big decisions in life is where to order takeout from or if to fall asleep on the couch with the cat on you or keep on working on your paperwork. I couldn't have asked for more from these two so adding the cat into the mix (even with my general dislike of the spices) was still cute and fun.

While reading this novella without reading the previous installment of Mark and Ryan IS possible I think it's a silly idea considering who GREAT it was. So I'm asking you here - don't make short cuts! But generally speaking all you probably need to know is after Mark is injured on the job he could have Harley (his cat) in the house with him while recovering considering her disregard to him having stitches all over his stomach. Darren who have been feeding her while Mark was in the hospital suggested he and Andreas take her for a week or two till Mark gets better.

Protective Behavior (Bad Behavior #5) [Mark & Ryan] by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt

Our surprise has arrived and it was perfectly timed! It was also something I REALLY wanted or rather hoped Cari and L.A. would write - Mark's story! YAY! I LOVED this book. The story of Mark and Ryan was beautiful and heartfelt and exactly what I needed to read. Their romance was so tender and sweet even with the chaos and uncertainty around them.

Remember Detective Mark Thibedeau from the Internal Affairs Bureau? The guy who doesn't know how to have fun? Well, now that Erin Ruffner (Andreas' daughter) is working for him and more than that have really came to care for him she decides to find him a date! With a bit of help from her boyfriend an Orthopedic doctor she sets Mark up with his co-worker Ryan. 

Mark isn't sure what he thinks of the idea of a date, a BLIND date. Who goes to those these days? But from the little texting he did with Ryan he seemed like a nice guy so why not? But when Ryan's smile literally fills Mark's world when he first sees him he knows he is a goner. Too bad the date is cut short due to a situation at the hospital where Ryan works. Sadly this seems to happen too many times to count, making it very hard for them to actually find a time for even the second date. Mark knows what it's like being a cop himself, even if his job now is mostly a desk job. But it sure gets frustrating!

Mutable by Cari Z.

WHY and HOW did I wait this long to read this wonderful story? It's the usual, I'm not a fan of Sci-Fi and yet AGAIN I find myself immersed in Cari's characters and story, unable to put the book aside. So there are "aliens" and "mutants" and different galaxies in the unknown future, so what? Everything else about the story of Rone and Cas was simply AMAZING. Well, not to them, most of the time or at least not till the very end. I'm not sure what I think of the ending. It WAS good and yet I'll admit I was surprised, wondering how things will work out. Hoping Cari re-visits these two that's for sure. And as usual not understanding why this is a free read on Cari's blog when she DEFINITELY should be paid for her wonderful work.

Cas Farling has grown up in the planet of Leelinge, but his nation - the Delacoeur - have been fugitives in this planet ever since they arrived from their own uninhabitable planet. Hiding in caves they assimilated as best as they could, some of them, the strongest ones, being able to accept into their body a sort of bacteria they call "Phage" enhancing their physical abilities (and making them excellent trained assassins). Yet his kind was betrayed - by someone of their own and now there are so few of them left.. and only one other who like him contains a Phage inside him - Christala. Cas deduced she must be the one to play a huge part of the betrayal who cost him his little brother Beren as well.

Evergreen by Cari Z.

WOW. I can't really tell you what I expected this novella to be like because I don't even know myself.. I haven't even read the synopsis until AFTER I finished it so I didn't even know what it's going to be about so everything was a surprise as I was reading it. I'm not a fan of Sci-Fi but I AM a fan of Cari so I HAD to give it a go even if I was skeptical about it - silly me..

Lieutenant Commander Cyril Konstantin, our sole POV, is a Russian soldier on a special training in the Evergreen project with a few selected officers from all over the world. The mission is a one way ticket (not to the moon, stop humming for a second) to Mars. Though he is extremely passionate about the program he isn't a very friendly guy so the only person he connects with is the one guy who started talking to him first - Captain Scott Andrews. It doesn't take him more than two sentences to introduce himself as Scottie and nickname Cyril - Cy. From there a tight friendship forms which soon blossoms into a relationship even if a rather secret one considering they are not allowed to have a relationship between the group.

The Wild Hunt by Cari Z.

This novella was DIFFERENT. As I'm not Christian, though I know OF the holidays at the end of the year, I'm still lacking tales and surely mythology which is why I had no idea what I'm getting into with this one. The Wild Hunt refers to Gwyn ap Nudd - the King of the Faeries, the Lord of Annwn and the Winter God who rides on Halloween collecting the souls of the dead. David Evans is five years old when he sees Gwyn for the first time on Halloween night and from then on it becomes an obsession of his to become worthy of The Wild Hunt and especially be worthy of Gwyn himself.

The Art of Possession by Cari Z.

I can't really say why but this book just didn't work for me. I think there was somehow not enough of the adventure - action or the romance. The premise of this one was quite different, a bit like Indiana Johns yet unlike him our MCs were not about STEALING treasures but rather making it available to the world to enjoy, especially the country of origin which is a hot debate at the moment and I really appreciated Cari bringing us a modern approach to artifacts and how they should be treated.

Malcolm Armstrong used to work for the British Museum before his name got tainted. He alluded to an artifact being fake only to find himself out of a job, his name shattered and also sans boyfriend - Gerard Thorburn who also works for the British Museum and in fact has donated a lot of artifacts from his personal collection.  Gerard found it very easy to move on from Mal but now he needs him and he has no problem calling him back to retrieve a stolen artifact that was suppose to be donated to the Museum and later on be moved to it's country of origin.

Mal isn't thrilled by Gerard offer, but after speaking to the guy who up until recently have owned the artifact - Specter - believes it could be genuine. What he isn't sure about is the guy with the gun - Alex Tucker, an american working for a private security company who is hired to be the muscle of the operation (him being there just to verify the item's authenticity).

The Tower (The Train, #2) by Cari Z.

This is the sequel to "The Train" which I've read almost a year ago. It's not my usual read for sure, but as usual Cari manages to hold me to the edge of my seat with the most unexpected (for me) stories. This one was no different!

We've met Anton Seiber in the previous installment, back then he was on his was to Zurich to become a student of Thaumaturgy there. Thaumaturgy  basically means magic. Most people have some magical abilities in this post WWI world Cari created but only some can actually manipulate it and use it to any advantage.

On his was to Zurich - on the train - he met Camille Lumiere an investigator to the Emperor and there he found himself helping him uncover a murderer. Now, 3 months after they depart, Camille is back and though Anton's immediate reaction is pure joy, it changes when he realizes Camille is here to let him know his life is in danger.

Upon Camille and Anton's departure from the train, Anton takes with him a manuscript of a VERY powerful spell. He is still working on uncovering the way it works and both he and Camille realize the person who is murdering Englishmen who arrived to Zurich recently must be looking for Anton. It's only a matter of time before he finds him, better to look for the murderer together.