Note:
This bundle was mainly MF Spec Fic Romance, but I was asked to do a review because it does have one MM book in it. I wanted to support the fact that a MM novel was included in a MF bundle. I would like more people to read LGBTQ+ fiction, and I think that this is a great idea. Let’s keep a watch on how this goes… Here’s to the future!
I love psychic abilities in my speculation fiction, and this bundle had everything from dream-walkers to life-stealers to clairvoyants, and yes, a few of our protagonists can talk to dead people. Most of these novels were Urban Paranormal Romance, but there was an urban fantasy story. Also to be noted, quite a few of these stories are a part of a series, but most are book one (some aren’t). I didn’t have any trouble keeping up, and they all had a complete plot. Overall I liked the ten-book bundle and it’s a really good deal; I’ll touch on my favorite stories.
Among the Living by Jordan Castillo Price
This novel had an amazing character (Victor Bayne), a fantastic plot, tension of all kinds, and smoking hot sex. Bayne is a psychic for a law enforcement branch that deals with the paranormal aspects of the world. People know about it, but he and his cohorts aren’t exactly popular. Bayne has an…impressive resume; he’s a drug addict, awkward as hell, and has a load of anxiety issues, and most of all of these stunning traits are due to the fact that he can talk to dead people. He’s also the best at what he does, and he hates it.
The story starts out with Bayne at a retirement party for his old partner, and he gets cruised by another cop, Jacob Marks. Bayne’s awkwardness is offset beautifully by Mark’s charm. The two make quite a pair, in and out of the bedroom (or guest bathroom – whatever). There’s a delightfully humorous edge to this novel and a fun plot, so sit back and enjoy!
Armand by April Aasheim
Armand is a warlock, only he doesn’t really consider himself one. Really, he fucks women and right as they come he sucks a bit of their life force out. He calls his power “wishing”. With the life force he steals, he wishes for more power, more strength, or even more charm. But it doesn’t last and he has to do it again. He’s an addict in so many ways, and an asshole. I love it.
Unfortunately he’s not in the States. In Spain there isn’t that convenient idea of “free love” and Armand gets into trouble with the locals, namely the local flower he’s plucked. Also unlucky for him, it seems his past has come back to haunt him – literally – and he’s one step from making the plunge into the afterlife himself. Luckily he has some witches looking out for him, he’s like their troublesome younger brother or something. Hopefully he’s not too much of an ass to accept their help.
I’m a huge fan of assholes and I was instantly in love with Armand. The scenes were vivid, his frustration was palatable, and his misery provided me great entertainment.
Tuesday’s Child by Dale Mayer
I didn’t much like the protagonist, but Mayer did a great job characterizing Samantha Blaire, and I found Blaire’s psychic power interesting. Blaire dream walks, but not only is she being that person in the dream, she also feels everything they feel while she’s dream-walking them. Oh, and these people she’s dream walking? They all end up being violently murdered by serial killers while she’s in their heads. Yeah…
Spirits Among Us by Morgan Hannah MacDonald
I liked the protagonist for this story as well; Jon-Luc Boudreaux is a Cajun FBI agent who goes to Paris to solve a murder. The setting was amazeballs. I loved all the French (I looked up a few words), I loved the atmosphere, and I thought Boudreaux’s power was pretty neat too. He can hitch a ride in people’s heads, even a murderer’s. Unfortunately he can’t really control it, and it’s not clairvoyance, he’s real-timing the action, which is a little less than helpful at times. I loved that.
I also liked our main squeeze, a fashion designer, Angela Henderson. She’s got spunk. I liked her better from Boudreaux’s POV, and I have a feeling that this piece would have been even more powerful in first person.
Touched by Hazel Hunter
Isabelle de Grey is a free lance psychic; she gets impressions when she touches things. This was one of the books in the bundle where the setting is so contemporary it’s pretty much our world right now – the paranormal aspects are very toned down. Psychics aren’t well known – or even respected.
I really like psychokillers, and this novel had a good one. Our killer wasn’t a paranormal monster, but he was a monster in so many other ways.
Goodreads Link to Psychic Storm:
About Me
Beth Brock lives in Portland, Oregon. She enjoys reading, writing, running, family, and food, and fills her life with bent bunk.
You can find the rest of her reviews at bethbrockbooks.com