The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley (An Elemental Masters Novel) by Mercedes Lackey

 

 

Blurb:

The sixteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series follows sharpshooter Annie Oakley as she tours Europe and discovers untapped powers.

Annie Oakley has always suspected there is something "uncanny" about herself, but has never been able to put a name to it. But when Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show goes on tour through Germany, Bill temporarily hires a new sharpshooter to be part of his "World Wide Congress of Rough Riders": a woman named Giselle, who also happens to be an Elemental Master of Air. Alongside this new performer, Annie discovers that she and her husband, Frank, are not simply master marksman, but also magicians of rare ability.

As they travel and perform, Annie must use her newfound knowledge and rare skill to combat creatures of the night scattered across the countryside, who threaten both the performers and the locals. Annie's got her gun, and it's filled with silver bullets. 

 

My review:

All I know about Annie Oakley I learned from Annie Get Your Gun. That being said I loved this alternate history tale of an American icon. I loved that Annie and Franks love was closer and he was supportive. I much preferred this version of Annie. She is strong, driven a bit penurious and truly talented. Like any athlete she strives to be the best at whatever she sets her sights on. Magic is a whole nother thing, I enjoyed the pre WWI tour of the Germanic states. The author hits this one out of the park.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

The Case of The Endangered Witch (Magic Investigations Society Archive Book 1) by H.B. Chapman

 

The Case of The Endangered Witch (Magic Investigations Society Archive Book 1) by H.B. Chapman

 

Blurb:

One Friday night in the city of Melbourne, aspiring concert pianist Ella Wentworth mesmerizes an audience of eight hundred people. Yet she’s distraught; she missed a note, and her perfectionism consumes her. Moments later, her hair turns arctic white, and her world descends into Disneyesque hallucinations, where everyday objects appear to sparkle, levitate, and...flash mob.

Ella is referred to Dr Kendra Hamilton, who specialises in treatment for “post-traumatic stress in cases of trauma-induced spontaneous hair depigmentation.” But Dr Kendra’s tennis player grip and capacity to draw bolts of energy from the sky lead Ella to believe there’s more to this psychiatrist’s credentials than MD. What does this mental health professional mean by “you’re a witch?”

Unfortunately, everyone but Ella is frothing about her rare magic skills, and soon she becomes the target of nefarious beings. And all this magical hoo-ha unfolds behind the backs of her husband and daughter. Max is Ella’s sweetheart whom she would never (normally) lie to. But any day now, she’ll confess she’s a witch. Right? Right?

 

My review:

The Case of The Endangered Witch is a delightful tale of a concert pianist who discovers she is a witch and coming into her gifts is messing with her life. I loved that Ella is in love with her husband and daughter. She tries to keep them from the craziness that has become her life. This is a well written tapestry of magic and mystery mixed with a healthy dose of humor.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

Her Dragon Desire by Milly Taiden

 

 

Blurb:

Camile Sawyer is a witch living in hiding with her grandfather, secluded away from those who feared her kind. She doesn’t know what she’s doing when she blows on The Horn of Summoning, and she doesn’t understand why a huge dragon soon crashes onto her family land. And her attraction to this dragon is unlike anything she’s ever felt before. Her need for him is all-consuming.

First, Slag the Magnificent is awakened abruptly after centuries of sleep. Then, he is shot out of the air by some modern human weapons. Finally, he faces off with a human sorceress who transforms him from his fire dragon form into a measly human. But none of that compares to the fact that he’s finally found his one… and she’s a human witch. A beautiful, sassy and strong woman he’s happy to call his mate.

Slag isn’t the only dragon who’s been awakened by the Horn, but the others aren’t as forgiving. Slag and Camile will have to defend themselves and save cities while continuing to search for a way to turn Slag back. Their troubles don’t end there. There are dragon Hunters chasing them, and they’re furious that Camile is refusing to fulfill her duties by eliminating Slag.

 

My review:

Non stop action in this smoking hot tale of a dragon, a witch, hunters and a magical horn. Camile is smart and sassy if a bit naïve and inexperienced. Slag proves that old dragons can be taught new tricks. This is a sexy whirlwind of a tale.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

 

 

Dad Bod Rockstar by Melissa Schroeder

 

Blurb:

A road-weary rockstar finds love with a small town baker, but will his fame destroy the one woman he has ever loved?

Niall

A lot of people look at my life and think I have it all. Multiple platinum records, more money than I know what to do with, and a seemingly never ending string of women. Everyone thinks they know me, but very few do. I’m ready to settle down, but most women see the rockstar and not the man.

Until Blossom.

She’s way too young for me, and so innocent I’m embarrassed by my infatuation. But the moment I meet her, I’m in love. I only have a couple days with her before I have to be back on the road, so I fill them with as much romance as I can and I promise to get back to her.

Blossom

I’ve led a sheltered life. All I have ever wanted was to be a baker. I spent my early twenties building my reputation, and the past two years running my own small town bakery. I’m over the moon at my success, still there has been something missing.

Then in walks Niall Holden, my celebrity crush.

He loves my baking, and insists on taking me to dinner. We spend two glorious nights together because he has to be back on the road. He promises he will return as soon as his tour is done. I want to believe in happily ever after, but stories in the tabloids make me realize I’m not cut out for this kind of relationship.

Only Niall doesn’t agree, and when he shows up in my small town again, he insists that I am the woman for him. That may be true, but does he just want me…or will he want us?

This story is an age gap, small town, surprise baby romance set in Melissa Schroeder’s Instalove World. It includes a grumpy but totally sweet rockstar, an adorkable baker with a quirky way of looking at the world, cupcakes and cookies, and the antics of the Patton brothers and their wives from The Dominon Rockstar Romance series. There is no cheating, an HEA, and can be read as a stand-alone.

 

My review:

I LOVE IT! This sweet story finds rocker Niall Holden in a small town bowled over by gifted baker Blossom. Niall has been on top for twenty five years. He is tired of the road and the one night stands. Blossom stuns him from the get go and he is sure he has found his forever but now he has to convince her. This story is sweeter than red velvet mud pies.

Buy link:

Amazon

Bossed by the Dad Bod: Dad Bod - Men Built For Comfort by Reina Torres

 

 

Blurb:

Doyle Crane is the man people look to for reassurance. He’s a rock. The people who work for him. The people who live in town. His teenage daughter even laughs at his jokes… once in a while. He keeps himself busy, so he won’t think about what he’s missing. What’s even worse is he’s found her. New in town, making a new life for herself. What he wouldn’t do to get his hands on her, but he’s afraid he’ll scare her away. She’s just too sweet to be bossed around by the likes of him.

Shelby Akers is new in town and new to love, but that didn’t stop her from falling for Doyle Crane the first day she met him. It wasn’t love at first sight when he helped pull her car out of the mud or when he shook his head at how she was shivering in the rain, but it most certainly was when he took off his coat, wrapped it around her body and gave her a heated appraising look and muttered, “Someone needs to take care of you, Shelby.”

Doyle knows he’s too bossy to even think of getting close to Shelby. She needed a nice, easy-going guy who could be gentle with her, someone who wasn’t him.

That all changed when her boss put her in danger.

He went from hands-off, seemingly unaffected Doyle to demanding, bossy-as-fu…dge, hands-all-over protector. Shelby couldn’t be happier.

 

My review:

Bossed by the Dad Bod is all the things! Single dad, small town and damsel in distress, Sweet, sassy and just delightful.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Call of her Mate (Sassy Ever After) by Milly Taiden

 

Blurb:

A new Sassy Ever After romance
Morgan’s back… smack dab in the middle of all the drama and violence she once ran from. Despite renouncing pack life and leaving everything magical in her past, she’s ensnared by sensual dreams of a smoking-hot wolf shifter. She tries to ignore the dreams, but fate won’t be denied.

When she sees her dream shifter in the flesh, her mind goes straight to the gutter. Clearly, there’s only one way to end her torment… bend her rule against fraternizing with shifters, just this once. That will get it all out of her system and free her from the sleeping fantasies… right?

Quinn is lone wolf shifter with a dark secret and danger lurking everywhere he goes. When he meets Morgan, his life changes. She’s the mate he’s always wanted, the sassy, curvy woman who ignites a passion he thought long gone, and a complication he can’t afford.

Quinn has no intentions of letting Morgan go, but the threats that follows him will put Morgan in peril. It’s time for Morgan and Quinn to stand together against the world and put an end to the challenges trying to break them down and break them up.

 

My review:

Wolf shifter Morgan is headed back to the pack a place she ran from years ago. She finds a hot wolf that rocks her world. But like any relationship they each come with baggage and Quinn has a bit more than most. Talk about your crazy ex-girlfriend!

This is a smoking hot tale of love and acceptance.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Project X-Force: Bravo Echo Alpha Romeo by K.R. Hall

 

 

Blurb:

Warning Some scenes in this book may be triggering to some readers.

On September 30, 1994, Loring Air Force Base in Maine was officially closed. Unofficially, it remained open for a unique tactics team of some of the most elite forces offered by the Air Force. Project X-Force members were shifters. The team went into situations that were unsafe for humans.

Since he lost his wife in a tragic accident, Staff Sergeant Andrew Fleming likes being in the field. He was quick to join Project X-Force to stay in the field and running into danger to keep his mind off the loneliness.

Andrew and his team are sent to rescue kidnapped scientist Celeste Weaver. He is confused as to why he’s captivated by the photos of her.

 

My review:

Andrew Fleming mourning the death of his wife signs on to Project X-Force hoping it will bring him out of his funk and what the heck he has nothing to lose. Project X-Force gives him a whole new look on life as a polar bear shifter. Project X-Force is sent in where humans fear to tread. When Project X-Force is sent into Ecuador to rescue a kidnapped female scientist Andrew’s heart starts to beat again. He’s conflicted about his feelings for the victim. Twenty-six years after the death of his wife he hasn’t been attracted to another woman but now his bear is screaming MATE.

Project X-Force: Bravo Echo Alpha Romeo is a sweet, sometimes angsty, sometimes violent tale of life, loss and second chances.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N