Ofelia Gränd's Blog, page 72

Friday Reads | Resurrection Man

I'll be super quick today because I've been working, and my kids are jumping up and down waiting for us to go to my mother. But I have read, I have read Resurrection Man by Laylah Hunter.

It's short, it free, and it's a little gruesome. A nice bring-your-partner-back-from-the-dead-and-suffer-the-consequences story.

The copy I downloaded was, sadly, mostly filled with excerpts from other stories and I don't think I've ever read something where 60% of the book is other stories. So that pissed me off, which is unfortunate because I enjoyed the story, a little Frankenstein with your coffee is never wrong!

Check it out!



Necromancy means never having to say good-bye.

Consumption has claimed the life of Adel St. Claire, cutting him down in his prime. But his lover, Josef Leitner, isn’t ready to let him go. To get Adel back, Josef is willing to risk the anger of Adel’s family, make unsavory deals with a corrupt mortician, and challenge the authority of death itself.

Even if he can reanimate Adel’s body, Josef’s next challenge may be more daunting still: when a man returns from the dead, what will it take to satisfy his needs?

For the Love of Chequered Shirts

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I don't see myself as a romance author. I'm fully aware of writing romance. It isn't that I sit down and write about to two people falling in love thinking I'm writing a thriller - I'm not that delusional...yet. But, if someone asks me what I write I usually say that I'm mostly writing speculative fiction, horror and weird and that my format of choice is flash fiction.

Therefore it's really funny that my most read stories are about lumberjacks who live in a fictive village in the middle of nowhere. Nortown is where they fall in love, most often with other lumberjacks.  And don't get me wrong, I love writing these stories, but I do so with a giggle.

It all started during NaNoWriMo 2015. I wrote Once in a Snowstorm during the first half of November, cramming as many tropes and cliches into one single story as I possibly could. Debbie McGowan, my editor/publisher, then waved her magic wand, and in December Aiden and Tristan saw the light of day.

I never meant for it to be more than that. I didn't have any plans of making it into series, but something about Nortown stayed with me, and not long after I started writing Once in a Forest.

Since Once in a Snowstorm, I've concentrated on a few tropes for each story instead of trying to get as many as possible in there, at least if we're talking theme tropes. All those other about looks, top vs bottom etc are still there. But what we have so far is:

Once in a Snowstorm: A mishmash of every possible trope ever found, but with stranded (trapped in a snowstorm) being the main trope.
Once in a Forest: Out for You, Bottom for You.
Once in May: The Healing Power of Sperm.

And between them, we have Aiden and Tristan shorts, and they're just about one thing really. The Empty Egg and Happy Endings are more about moans and groans than plot.

Tomorrow, it's time for two new men to see the world. Chris, we've already met in the previous books, he is the guy standing by the checkout counter in Nortown's only shop and then we have Gabe who was born simply to become the main character in Once in the Underworld. Gabe is in witness protection and is being hidden in Nortown. So to add tropes to the list:

Once in the Underworld: Fish out of Water, Beautiful all along (or ugly duckling or whatever you want to call it)

And of course, there's a little short Aiden and Tristan following. Just Words is smut in the woods where only the birds will hear you moan LOL.

Both Once in the Underworld and Just words are up fro pre-order. Tomorrow they'll be up for real.

Friday Reads | The Name on My Wrist

It's been a busy week and I've hardly had time to read anything at all so I went browsing for a short story simply to have something to write about today. I ended up grabbing The Name on My Wrist by J.M. Snyder. J.M. Snyder is a hit and miss for me, some books I've really liked and some I've ended up not finishing.

The Name on My Wrist is a short one, only ten pages, but it's packed with emotions. It's no secret I love short fiction, I love when an author can make me feel something in a few short sentences, and Snyder does that here.

James lost his boyfriend in the Vietnam war and he's never recovered from it - I don't think you ever would, but his way of coping is keeping him trapped in a life long lost. Little by little information is added and you begin to see James in a new light.

I really enjoyed it. It's short and it's free and it left me with a lump in my throat.



James, middle-aged, is given to one-night flings with younger men in whom he searches for someone he lost long ago. A random comment by his latest catch draws his mind back to the past, to a boy he once loved so fiercely, a boy drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam. A boy lost in the war. A boy James has never forgotten.

Warning: This is a very sad little story. It's also one of my best.

Friday Reads | His Unclaimed Omega

After weeks of having read werewolf stories, I think I've reached a point where it's time to look for something else. I've just finished His Unclaimed Omega (The Mountain Shifters #1) by L.C. Davis and it's totally my own fault for not reading the blurb before starting the book.

It's a fast-paced story and if you have a thing for sheltered Omegas, true mates, Mpreg, and all of that, then this is a story for you. I steer clear of Mpregs when I can so when I realised where the story was going (in the very first pages) I considered putting it away, but then I thought I could at least give it a little longer. I did, I finished it.

I'm absolutely certain many will love this, they'll love Cameron and Barnabas, and the way they put words on their love for each other - I'm, however, not the right audience for this book. I love werewolves and l love them even more when their emotions are bottled up and never see the light of day.

This story is for you romantics out there!



M/M Gay Shifter Alpha Omega Romance

When the idyllic Silver Lake pack is struck by tragedy, young omega Cameron wants nothing more than to use his healing abilities to restore peace to his home -- and his alpha. Can he convince Barnabas of what his heart has always known before he's given to another alpha?

Barnabas is a one-man kind of alpha and when his beloved mate and omega is taken from him, he's left an empty shell. Cameron's gentle strength and unfailing devotion might be what it takes to save him, but Barnabas sees claiming another omega as an act of treachery. Despite his best intentions, Barnabas' instincts as an alpha without an heir are pulling him in the direction of the young unmated omega he's sworn to protect and find a mate of his own. Giving Cameron to the alpha of a neighboring Council pack is the only way he can do right by the orphaned omega and keep the vow he made to his fallen mate so long ago, but can Barnabas' heart withstand the pain of losing yet another omega he loves?

When the elder of the Council makes a shocking decision about Cameron's destiny, the Silver Lake pack is thrown into chaos. Cameron is getting what he's always wanted, but he soon learns that being claimed by his alpha in name only is a worse fate than being held at arm's length. Only time will tell if Barnabas can shed the heavy weight of his guilt to claim the omega who belongs to him, or whether his pain will be exploited by the brutal Mountain Ridge pack that has designs on Silver Lake territory -- and its unique omega.

Grief, love and passion combine to give Cameron a crash course on what it means to be an omega. Luckily the young wolf understands better than anyone that love heals wounds that even time can't touch.

Friday Reads | Worth a Shot

I stayed up way past my bedtime reading Worth a Shot by Lyra Evans. Something about this story hooked me and I just kept on reading even though I should be sleeping.

It's a paranormal mystery. Detective Oliver Worth is a wizard who is trying to solve a murder that looks like it's been committed by a werewolf. When he gets into the land of the werewolves to question them, he meets Connor Pierce an alpha in Logan's court.

I would've given just about anything to get Connor's POV. Don't get me wrong, I liked Oliver, but Connor *swoon*.

This isn't the first werewolf/wizard story I've read. It isn't even the first this month - I read The Duality Paradigm by Lia Cooper just the other week - but I had a hard time putting Worth a Shot down.

If you're into werewolves and wizards, pick it up. There are three books in the series and I regret not buying the box set.



Detective Oliver Worth has everything he needs—the job he always wanted and a knack for picking one-night stands. When a high-born Witch is found murdered on the steps of Nimueh’s Court, Oliver is given the case of the century—because no one else will touch it. Not when it looks like the murder was committed by a Werewolf.

The Treaty between the Courts of Nimueh and Logan has stood for over a hundred years, and peace was hard-won. If a Werewolf is responsible, the murder counts as an act of war and would plunge both kingdoms into chaos. Something Oliver’s Captain is keen to point out.

Treading lightly, Oliver has no choice but to venture alone into Logan’s Court to investigate. The trail of clues leads right to Connor Pierce, a newly minted Alpha of Logan’s kin. Connor is gorgeous and captivating and absolutely a suspect. Determined to do his job and catch the killer, Oliver finds he’s now got more to worry about than an inter-kingdom war. He tries to ignore his growing desire, but Connor keeps drawing him in. Everything about Connor is intoxicating, and Oliver isn’t sure how long he can fight off temptation…

Now there’s not just the peace of two kingdoms on the line—there’s also his heart.

Worth a Shot is a M/M paranormal mystery romance with Werewolves, Wizards, and explicit sexual content. First in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. No cliffhangers.

Friday Reads | Finding a Tomorrow

I've just finished Finding a Tomorrow by Kathleen Kerridge. I picked it up earlier this week for free on Amazon, I think it still is free if you want to check it out.

I really liked the first half of the story. Rami tries to take his life but when he wakes up a the hospital there is a man waiting for him, a man who keeps coming back day after day. He goes through therapy and still the man, Ryan, is by his side. He gets to go back to his old house, and Ryan is still coming to see him. Little by little Rami starts feeling better and Ryan is there then too. I loved how their relationship developed.

Then during the last half of the book, it was like one issue after the other was introduced. I still liked the book and I will keep and an eye on Kerridge in the future - I've already glanced at her Into the Woods - but I would've liked it better if the book ended a bit earlier. But maybe that's just me.

Do give it a try.



Rami doesn't see himself as a survivor. He doesn't want to be one, either. At his lowest point, with everything he cared for lost forever, he knows there's only one way out. Rami is one of life's planners and he plans his death to the last small detail. It's no cry for help; he means to die.

Waking up on a hospital ward, Rami is devastated that he failed. It's impossible that he isn't dead, but the ache in his chest from being resuscitated and the bleeps of the monitors tracking his heartbeat say otherwise. And there's the quiet friendly stranger at his bedside who, for some reason, isn't prepared to let Rami be alone.

Hospitals, drugs and therapy lead Rami slowly towards a path where he begins to see a glimmer of a future, despite the darkness in the corners of his mind and the shadows that haunt him. Despite everything life might throw at him, Rami begins to believe that he has a future, and can find his tomorrow.

Valentine Giveaway | He Melted Us

One year ago tomorrow He Melted Us was released as part of the Love Unlocked Anthology.

On the 1st of June 2015, the padlocks on Pont des Arts and Pont de l’Archeveche in Paris were removed. For years people had gone there to place their lock a symbol of their love. Each story in the Love Unlocked Anthology represents one lock, placed somewhere in the world.

He Melted Us is one of the craziest stories I've ever written. I love writing derange character, and I had a laugh writing this one, but I fear it's infuriatingly stupid LOL.

But, since it's both Valentine and anniversary, I'm inviting you all in to take part of Delron and Phillipe's world.

I've set up a giveaway at InstaFreebie that last for a week (to the 20th).
Get it here!



All Delron wants is to live his life with Phillipe, but when their love lock is stolen from Pont des Art, their relationship is in jeopardy. Without the lock holding them together, Delron is convinced they'll crash and burn. The only way he can save their relationship is to find the stolen lock, and that is just what he plans to do, no matter what.

Phillipe loves Delron, he really does, but it's driving him insane that Delron can't see that a padlock is simply a piece of metal. The lock has nothing to do with them, not really. Up until the night the lock was stolen, their life was great, but Del's crazy behaviour has Phillipe wondering if he has ever really known his boyfriend.

Delron's search leads him through art-filled Paris, but will a symbol of love ever be enough to soothe the mistrust his quest has planted in Phillipe? Phillipe always thought he'd spend the rest of his life with Del, but who can live with anyone willing to break the law just to find a padlock when they can buy a new one in just about any shop?

Friday Reads | The Duality Paradigm

Friday again and I almost blush while typing that I'm reading another werewolf story. I think that makes it three weeks of wolves - maybe my subconscious is trying to get me to run for the hills. I can't really say when I picked up The Duality Paradigm (Blood and Bone Trilogy #1) by Lia Cooper but I've had it for a while.

Ethan Ellison is a magician working as a police detective in Seattle. Partick Clanahan is a werewolf and also a detective. When a girl is murdered by what seems to a werewolf these two are tossed together simply because they're the only two on the force who aren't simple humans. Their relationship starts off bad and gets worse...until it doesn't.

I'm enjoying this story even though I want to smack Ethan on the head for letting his ex control him like he does but yeah, it's intriguing. I haven't read anything by Lia Cooper before. I've been looking at her The Omega Prince a couple of times, but I tend to stay away from royalty when I can :D.

If you like a paranormal mystery you should check out The Duality Paradigm. It has blood and gore and magic and howls.

Everyone knows magic users and werewolves are intrinsically diametrically opposed...

Seattle Police Detective Ethan Ellison, born into a long line of Quebecois magicians, leads a fairly unassuming life working Theft and consulting on magical misdemeanors. He’s spent eight years building a life for himself in Seattle, far from his father's shadow. He works hard, lives under the radar, and fucks whoever catches his eye.

Detective Patrick Clanahan, beta-heir to Pack McClanahan, is a tightly wired bundle of rage and guilt, still trying to come to terms with the murder of his last partner.

When a human woman is murdered in werewolf territory under suspicious circumstances, Ethan is reassigned to worked the case with Clanahan in the hopes that he'll be able to balance out the wolf's rougher edges.

Too bad they mostly just rub each other the wrong way.

This is the first of three books in the BLOOD & BONE TRILOGY.

DISCLAIMER This work contains language and sexual content that may not be suitable for readers under 18. This work contains sexual MALE/MALE content. Not your cup of tea? Don’t read it. Otherwise, please enjoy.

Friday Reads | The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard

I'm continuing my smutty paranormal romance phase with The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard by Liv Rider. I'll be completely honest and admit to almost dismissing this story due to the title, but then I read a review that said something along those lines and how glad the reader was that they hadn't skipped it so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm not sorry!

It all starts with the expected vampire hates werewolves and werewolves hate vampires thing, and we have the fine-limbed bratty bottom and the burly top - not so clearly stated, but almost.

If you like your paranormal tropes this is a book for you. It has all you can wish for plus a good mystery plot. Without meaning to sound like a bitch I'm surprised by how much like it. I haven't read anything by Liv Rider before but I'll definitely keep an eye on her from now on. A quick glance told me she has two more stories out.

Check it out!



What happens when an out-of-control werewolf is hired to guard his immortal enemy?

Simon Caley barely survived an assassin’s strike. The reclusive vampire trusts no one, but he’s still in danger, and the attack left him too weak to defend himself. He needs protection while he hunts for the mastermind behind the attack.

Cody Weston’s werewolf instincts make him a good bodyguard—but only if he can control his wolf. After an accidental shift on the job, he’s on probation, until his boss calls about a very unusual client.

Instincts and tempers flare when they meet, along with something unexpected: desire. Simon’s not just Cody’s fated enemy, he’s his fated mate too. Can the vampire and his werewolf bodyguard work past their differences and save each other, or will Cody lose control—and hurt the man he’s sworn to protect?

The Vampire’s Werewolf Bodyguard is a standalone M/M paranormal vampire/wolf shifter romance with no cliffhangers.

Friday Reads | The Omega Series

I was in the mood for some silly PNR. It happens to me every now and then, and I'll admit to the healing power of sperm being my guilty pleasure when it comes to romance tropes. My favourite monster is the vampire. I'm not a big fan of the soulmate thing that often comes with werewolves but if it's done well I'll cope. But werewolves weren't what I was looking for when I stumbled upon Trouble (Omega #1) by Eileen Glass.

Looking for werewolves or not, I finished it in one go. Then I went on to buy the next, and the next, then I hesitated a little before I bought the next. That's where I stopped. It's the classic scared Omega who is picked up by an alpha who's actually nice even though Alphas are arseholes in general. The four stories I read were all a constant build-up to claiming that will happen some time in the future.

I'm willing to bet my life many will love this series. It's hot, and the characters are nice even thought I'd like to hit them at times. The reason I didn't buy the next book in the seires is that I grew a little tired. I'm quite impressed, though. The last story I read was Upended (Omega #4) and that's  86 pages of sex more of less. I doubt I could write that.

I really like the covers, too. Most often with werewolf stories, you get the naked torso with a wolf in the background. It's all good, you know what you're getting into, but these covers are classier and that was what made me click the buy button in the first place.

If you're into Alphas and Omegas, check this series out. The first book Trouble (Omega #1) is free, so you have nothing to lose.





Alluring but barren, omega is an unfortunate affliction Skye is trying to outrun. He gets away with it for several years, fleeing to a new city whenever the wolves get too close, but his survival mechanism creates a terrible, unforeseen result. By dodging and ducking every rogue alpha to approach him, the one that finally keeps up is the size of a truck. Liam is not a wolf to be disrespected, and Skye is all too aware of his place in the pack. Natural selection has never been kind to him.

But, strangely, Liam sort of is.