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Whitacre Foundation #1
Melded Attraction
He hates magic… until he meets a man whose power doesn't ruin him.
Legend has it there's a powerful artifact that can bring magic to the world, not just the gifted few who bear it now, and Morgan's altruistic parents want to find it and do just that. But Morgan's not so sure it's a good idea—after all, magic has always done more harm to him than good.
Then he meets ex-cop turned designer Jake, who has a kind of magic no one has ever seen before. It sets Morgan’s own magic afire… not to mention what Jake does to Morgan’s body.
There’s only two problems: Jake doesn’t know magic exists, and he’s getting married to Morgan’s oldest friend. When the Whitacre Foundation's negotiation to buy the artifact goes deadly wrong, Morgan will need Jake's help—and the help of his strange, powerful magic—to solve the mystery and find out what's really so important about the artifact.
Melded Attraction is the first book in the Whitacre Foundation series. If you like your M/M romance interspersed with magical artifacts, engaging side characters, exciting adventures, emotional intimacy, and undeniable passion, you’ll love the first in this thrilling series of high stakes missions and romance.
Magical artifacts, immersive settings, travel, adventure, well-developed side characters and exes that don’t suck—it’s all here in this exciting new series!
***This is a 2nd edition of this story with over 15,000 new + steamy words and a fresh edit!***
Legend has it there's a powerful artifact that can bring magic to the world, not just the gifted few who bear it now, and Morgan's altruistic parents want to find it and do just that. But Morgan's not so sure it's a good idea—after all, magic has always done more harm to him than good.
Then he meets ex-cop turned designer Jake, who has a kind of magic no one has ever seen before. It sets Morgan’s own magic afire… not to mention what Jake does to Morgan’s body.
There’s only two problems: Jake doesn’t know magic exists, and he’s getting married to Morgan’s oldest friend. When the Whitacre Foundation's negotiation to buy the artifact goes deadly wrong, Morgan will need Jake's help—and the help of his strange, powerful magic—to solve the mystery and find out what's really so important about the artifact.
Melded Attraction is the first book in the Whitacre Foundation series. If you like your M/M romance interspersed with magical artifacts, engaging side characters, exciting adventures, emotional intimacy, and undeniable passion, you’ll love the first in this thrilling series of high stakes missions and romance.
Magical artifacts, immersive settings, travel, adventure, well-developed side characters and exes that don’t suck—it’s all here in this exciting new series!
***This is a 2nd edition of this story with over 15,000 new + steamy words and a fresh edit!***
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2019
9 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Alex Tyler
3 books10 followersAlex Tyler is the pen name of two witchy, witty, bisexual women who love writing other witty bisexual characters. They have each published queer fantasy books, and came together to bring life to Morgan, Jake, and the Whitacre Foundation. With one writer from Australia, and the other having lived in DC, the Whitacre Foundation series is full of lifelike atmosphere, imaginative magic, bi rep, and of course, steamy relationships with tons of feels.
The first full-length book in the Whitacre Foundation series releases February 2019. Follow our page our sign up for our mailing list to be first to know!
Alex Tyler Mailing List: https://rebrand.ly/alex-tyler
The first full-length book in the Whitacre Foundation series releases February 2019. Follow our page our sign up for our mailing list to be first to know!
Alex Tyler Mailing List: https://rebrand.ly/alex-tyler
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 2, 2019
** 4.25 stars **
This is the debut novel by this author, and I found myself liking the world they are trying to build. Magical element is what initially attracted me to this book, and the type of magic described here is a bit unusual. It's certainly a different take on the how and what the magic can be used for. I liked it although I wish there was more of it in the story. The book itself read as staging the background for the entire series, so for the most part there wasn't much happening. There was a lot of day to day activities and character building. Both MCs are bisexual, the story is told in third person with dual POVs that of Morgan and Jake.
I adored Morgan. He is pragmatic, full of sarcasm and disillusioned about life. After a bad break up and a life of chasing after something elusive he has become very cynical. I loved his brand of humor - it ranged from hilarious to self deprecating. I loved his integrity. Even though he wanted his best friend's fiance he never crossed that line. FYI, there is no cheating here. His tedious life is interrupted by appearance of Jake who brings spark back into his life. His zest for life returns together with the possibility of having something new and exciting with a new man.
Jake moves from Australia to America to be with his fiancee Ashley and built a new life after his previous one had gone up in smoke. He suffers from PTSD but can't figure out what caused it. He seems to be lost and adrift. There was not an ounce of desire between him and Ashley, they felt more like friends so I was glad when they called it quits since Jake was extremely attracted to Morgan. I liked that despite his uncertainty and fears Jake never backed down, that he was not compliant and stood up for what he believed when he felt things were not as they were supposed to be. What haunted him turned out to be his salvation. He found his purpose in life as well as passion and intensity that it lacked before. Morgan and Jake became a team. I also liked the fact that Jake ended everything completely with his fiancee before he made his intentions clear with Morgan.
I mostly liked the plot. It just needed to be paced a bit faster for me to love it. I liked the magic, and how it manifested in both Morgan and Jake and Morgan's family but I really wanted more of it. The major excitement happened at the very end of the book. It was not clear as to reason why everything went down as it did but since it's only the beginning of the series I am fine with that.
There was so much UST, you could cut it with a butter knife. I loved the way the author described their mutual attraction except for the moments when it seemed that both men were only that close to each other due to their magic connection but in the end there was genuine attraction, I am glad to say. This was low steam romance which ended on sort of HFN or the equivalent of it, a promise between two men to explore the budding feelings between them. I am curious what will happen next. I recommend it. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
This is the debut novel by this author, and I found myself liking the world they are trying to build. Magical element is what initially attracted me to this book, and the type of magic described here is a bit unusual. It's certainly a different take on the how and what the magic can be used for. I liked it although I wish there was more of it in the story. The book itself read as staging the background for the entire series, so for the most part there wasn't much happening. There was a lot of day to day activities and character building. Both MCs are bisexual, the story is told in third person with dual POVs that of Morgan and Jake.
I adored Morgan. He is pragmatic, full of sarcasm and disillusioned about life. After a bad break up and a life of chasing after something elusive he has become very cynical. I loved his brand of humor - it ranged from hilarious to self deprecating. I loved his integrity. Even though he wanted his best friend's fiance he never crossed that line. FYI, there is no cheating here. His tedious life is interrupted by appearance of Jake who brings spark back into his life. His zest for life returns together with the possibility of having something new and exciting with a new man.
Jake moves from Australia to America to be with his fiancee Ashley and built a new life after his previous one had gone up in smoke. He suffers from PTSD but can't figure out what caused it. He seems to be lost and adrift. There was not an ounce of desire between him and Ashley, they felt more like friends so I was glad when they called it quits since Jake was extremely attracted to Morgan. I liked that despite his uncertainty and fears Jake never backed down, that he was not compliant and stood up for what he believed when he felt things were not as they were supposed to be. What haunted him turned out to be his salvation. He found his purpose in life as well as passion and intensity that it lacked before. Morgan and Jake became a team. I also liked the fact that Jake ended everything completely with his fiancee before he made his intentions clear with Morgan.
I mostly liked the plot. It just needed to be paced a bit faster for me to love it. I liked the magic, and how it manifested in both Morgan and Jake and Morgan's family but I really wanted more of it. The major excitement happened at the very end of the book. It was not clear as to reason why everything went down as it did but since it's only the beginning of the series I am fine with that.
There was so much UST, you could cut it with a butter knife. I loved the way the author described their mutual attraction except for the moments when it seemed that both men were only that close to each other due to their magic connection but in the end there was genuine attraction, I am glad to say. This was low steam romance which ended on sort of HFN or the equivalent of it, a promise between two men to explore the budding feelings between them. I am curious what will happen next. I recommend it. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
April 2, 2019
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
I love magic books!
Morgan grew up in one of the few magical families left in the world. Their life’s mission is to find the artifact that removed most of the magic from the world and restore it, but Morgan is worn down, skeptical, and defeated. This is the story of him regaining his spark.
Jake is off-balance. He’s lost his career and followed his fiancee to a new country. He doesn’t know about magic, and definitely doesn’t know he has it. This is the story of him finding himself.
The Good: I really enjoyed Morgan’s family. The book begins with a nice family dinner, so we get to know them. In general, the whole cast of characters was fun! Everyone is likeable. There is definite chemistry between our men, but absolutely no cheating, not even getting together while the relationship with the fiance is on break. And I loved the moment when Morgan “woke up.” It was like his whole world went from gray, back to color. I really felt his hopefulness restored.
The Less Good: The final showdown was… weird. I’m still a little confused what happened there and why. Not enough plot buildup/explanation on that particular confrontation, while there wasn’t any wrap on the main plot of restoring magic. Definitely a TBC.
Also, the timing on the one bit of getting-it-on. The storage closet of a museum, while in the middle of a tense bit of timing, waiting on a contact to show? Uh, I think real, logical people would just wait til they got home and use sex to settle the adrenaline after such a day.
The Bad: Written in present tense. If I’d picked this up randomly off KU, I probably would have handed it back after 2 pages.
All in all, I think there’s great potential here. But if the series stays in present tense, I doubt I’ll continue. This is good, but there’s just so much else to read…
I love magic books!
Morgan grew up in one of the few magical families left in the world. Their life’s mission is to find the artifact that removed most of the magic from the world and restore it, but Morgan is worn down, skeptical, and defeated. This is the story of him regaining his spark.
Jake is off-balance. He’s lost his career and followed his fiancee to a new country. He doesn’t know about magic, and definitely doesn’t know he has it. This is the story of him finding himself.
The Good: I really enjoyed Morgan’s family. The book begins with a nice family dinner, so we get to know them. In general, the whole cast of characters was fun! Everyone is likeable. There is definite chemistry between our men, but absolutely no cheating, not even getting together while the relationship with the fiance is on break. And I loved the moment when Morgan “woke up.” It was like his whole world went from gray, back to color. I really felt his hopefulness restored.
The Less Good: The final showdown was… weird. I’m still a little confused what happened there and why. Not enough plot buildup/explanation on that particular confrontation, while there wasn’t any wrap on the main plot of restoring magic. Definitely a TBC.
Also, the timing on the one bit of getting-it-on. The storage closet of a museum, while in the middle of a tense bit of timing, waiting on a contact to show? Uh, I think real, logical people would just wait til they got home and use sex to settle the adrenaline after such a day.
The Bad: Written in present tense. If I’d picked this up randomly off KU, I probably would have handed it back after 2 pages.
All in all, I think there’s great potential here. But if the series stays in present tense, I doubt I’ll continue. This is good, but there’s just so much else to read…
March 11, 2019
Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
This is a high three stars, I think. I see a lot of potential and I enjoyed a lot in it. But there's a lot that I wish there was more of. The plot is interesting and I intrigued about where it's headed, but that brings me to the first thing. This doesn't feel like the first in a series. It feels like part one of a book. There's a difference to me. The story doesn't feel complete in and of itself. I know that in series, there's always an overarching story line, that's fine. But normally there's smaller plots that are resolved in the meantime. That doesn't feel like the case here. It feels like 100% pure set up for the rest of the plot to come. It's not bad per se, but I'm left feeling a little unsatisfied by it. I feel like the end climax scene is a bit out of nowhere and I'm a not sure I understand the motive or goal well enough. Similarly, with the romance, there is so much I enjoyed about the set up and the complications. But there's part I wish there was more of. I really like that the awkwardness of the circumstances isn't ignored nor are they downplayed. Both characters have boundaries and they both take steps to respect those boundaries and make correct decisions. I really believe the pull between them and that they're "meant to be" but I would've like to see them spend more time to see how they fit beyond the attraction. Now, since this feels like just the beginning of a longer story, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Especially since they're not claiming love yet. But again, I just wanted more. So kudos to the author for that. I'll be waiting for book 2.
This is a high three stars, I think. I see a lot of potential and I enjoyed a lot in it. But there's a lot that I wish there was more of. The plot is interesting and I intrigued about where it's headed, but that brings me to the first thing. This doesn't feel like the first in a series. It feels like part one of a book. There's a difference to me. The story doesn't feel complete in and of itself. I know that in series, there's always an overarching story line, that's fine. But normally there's smaller plots that are resolved in the meantime. That doesn't feel like the case here. It feels like 100% pure set up for the rest of the plot to come. It's not bad per se, but I'm left feeling a little unsatisfied by it. I feel like the end climax scene is a bit out of nowhere and I'm a not sure I understand the motive or goal well enough. Similarly, with the romance, there is so much I enjoyed about the set up and the complications. But there's part I wish there was more of. I really like that the awkwardness of the circumstances isn't ignored nor are they downplayed. Both characters have boundaries and they both take steps to respect those boundaries and make correct decisions. I really believe the pull between them and that they're "meant to be" but I would've like to see them spend more time to see how they fit beyond the attraction. Now, since this feels like just the beginning of a longer story, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Especially since they're not claiming love yet. But again, I just wanted more. So kudos to the author for that. I'll be waiting for book 2.
February 27, 2019
Jake, ex-member of the Melbourne police force retrained as a graphic designer, has met Ashley in his native Australia. When she asks him to move back to the US with her, he accepts. Because Jake loves Ashley. At least that’s what the reader’s supposed to believe. Thanks to Ashley’s connections, he gets a job at the Washington DC-based Whiteacre Foundation, run by the members of the Whitacre family and specialized in the restauration of antiques. He doesn’t yet know that the Foundation has a secret agenda, which is to bring back magic to humans. Because, you see: the Whiteacres are one of the last families on earth who can do magic (basically, they can transmogrify things). There seems to be an old artefact called the London Hammer capable of “unleashing” magic again, and the Whiteacres dedicate their lives to finding and, one supposes, using that thingy for the greater good of mankind.
Back to Jake. His boss Morgan Whiteacre is a photographer-turned-antiques-restaurer-and-secret-artefact-hunter, in his early thirties and a childhood friend of Ashley’s. He’s currently trying to cope with a recent break-up. As soon as the two men meet, whizz!, the very air surrounding them sparkles with electricity. The keen reader scents at once that Ashley and Jake will be exes before long. Then several things happen. First, Morgan follows a lead in Spain, but his liaison man is killed, and the artefact remains as elusive as ever. Then both Ashley and Jake begin to have second thoughts about their impending wedding (where Jake is concerned, the reader’s thinking “Duh!”). Nonetheless, they decide to play the game when their friends drag them to Las Vegas for their Bachelor Parties. It’s there Jake and Morgan, completely pissed, exchange their first kiss, an almost “epiphany-esque” experience. But both refrain from going any further, Jake because his cop instincts are piqued by some details in Morgan’s behaviour, and Morgan because he’s a decent guy for whom shagging his old friend’s future husband is just a complete No-Go. Unsurprisingly, once everyone’s back in DC, Ashley and Jake decide to call the marriage off. There remain several more twists and turns before the story reaches its temporary ending (we’re told this is the first instalment of a whole “Whiteacre Foundation”-series, after all).
Well, I do love me some nice fantasy novel. Throw in magic, magicians, witches, spellcasters, mythical beasts, and I’m hooked. Alas, somewhat disappointingly, the magical side of this novel was not as strong as I would’ve hoped. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t need complicated Pigeon Latin spells and people waving wands or brewing foul-smelling concoctions (even though that can be nice, too). But here we have mainly Morgan doing magic (and he loathes it), and then his sisters a bit more freely and happily. But it’s as if magic could be summarized as a bunch of not so exciting transmogrification techniques. We’re not treated to any fulfilling, satisfying magical goings-on. I also think books about magic or with magic in them should create a magical atmosphere so that the reader can believe/hope/dream magic is real and happening. The book lacked this aspect a bit.
As for the characters, I really liked Morgan, who’s loveably cynical but loyal and with sane moral standards, and I liked Jake, too (who hasn’t one day fantasized about doing one of those Australian surfer dudes, right?). I think the secondary characters could and should have been more present; they felt somewhat transparent, especially Morgan’s parents. I would’ve really liked to know more about where they “came from”, so to say. We are told a couple of things re. their backgrounds, mainly about Morgan’s mother, but well, telling and showing are two different things.
Now, plot-wise, several things. I had a really hard time imagining Jake ever having been a cop in his life (can’t put my finger on the “why”), but that’s just my personal opinion. What I had an even harder time imagining, however, was him ever having passionate intercourse (or simply intercourse, for that matter) with his fiancée. Just fancy that from the moment Jake and Morgan meet, they seem to be constantly wandering around with throbbing hard-ons caused by the mere sight of each other. There’s not only chemistry, there’s literally (and I really mean literally) electricity between them. Magic? Yes, believable. But Jake and Ashley being lovers? No way.
I also have a slight problem with the leading idea of the novel, and of the whole series, I suppose: that it would be nice if someone gave humans their magical abilities back. Morgan for instance is not convinced that’s such a good idea, given how greedy/stupid/place-any-negative-adjective-here humans can be. I admit I think he has a point.
My last quibble would be the plot twist towards the ending, which was such a complete surprise that it felt… almost out of place, like “Now, where did that come from?”
But the story’s well-written and well-paced, no blank, no yawn, no eye-rolling from me. Maybe a bit too much centred on Jake and Morgan revolving around each other and not enough on the magical intrigue, but the romance builds slowly and nicely, and I heaved a sigh of contentment when the two guys were finally allowed to have it off with each other. I hope the “world-building”, i.e. the magical side of the series, will be more present and stronger in the next instalments, which I will certainly read with as much gusto.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Back to Jake. His boss Morgan Whiteacre is a photographer-turned-antiques-restaurer-and-secret-artefact-hunter, in his early thirties and a childhood friend of Ashley’s. He’s currently trying to cope with a recent break-up. As soon as the two men meet, whizz!, the very air surrounding them sparkles with electricity. The keen reader scents at once that Ashley and Jake will be exes before long. Then several things happen. First, Morgan follows a lead in Spain, but his liaison man is killed, and the artefact remains as elusive as ever. Then both Ashley and Jake begin to have second thoughts about their impending wedding (where Jake is concerned, the reader’s thinking “Duh!”). Nonetheless, they decide to play the game when their friends drag them to Las Vegas for their Bachelor Parties. It’s there Jake and Morgan, completely pissed, exchange their first kiss, an almost “epiphany-esque” experience. But both refrain from going any further, Jake because his cop instincts are piqued by some details in Morgan’s behaviour, and Morgan because he’s a decent guy for whom shagging his old friend’s future husband is just a complete No-Go. Unsurprisingly, once everyone’s back in DC, Ashley and Jake decide to call the marriage off. There remain several more twists and turns before the story reaches its temporary ending (we’re told this is the first instalment of a whole “Whiteacre Foundation”-series, after all).
Well, I do love me some nice fantasy novel. Throw in magic, magicians, witches, spellcasters, mythical beasts, and I’m hooked. Alas, somewhat disappointingly, the magical side of this novel was not as strong as I would’ve hoped. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t need complicated Pigeon Latin spells and people waving wands or brewing foul-smelling concoctions (even though that can be nice, too). But here we have mainly Morgan doing magic (and he loathes it), and then his sisters a bit more freely and happily. But it’s as if magic could be summarized as a bunch of not so exciting transmogrification techniques. We’re not treated to any fulfilling, satisfying magical goings-on. I also think books about magic or with magic in them should create a magical atmosphere so that the reader can believe/hope/dream magic is real and happening. The book lacked this aspect a bit.
As for the characters, I really liked Morgan, who’s loveably cynical but loyal and with sane moral standards, and I liked Jake, too (who hasn’t one day fantasized about doing one of those Australian surfer dudes, right?). I think the secondary characters could and should have been more present; they felt somewhat transparent, especially Morgan’s parents. I would’ve really liked to know more about where they “came from”, so to say. We are told a couple of things re. their backgrounds, mainly about Morgan’s mother, but well, telling and showing are two different things.
Now, plot-wise, several things. I had a really hard time imagining Jake ever having been a cop in his life (can’t put my finger on the “why”), but that’s just my personal opinion. What I had an even harder time imagining, however, was him ever having passionate intercourse (or simply intercourse, for that matter) with his fiancée. Just fancy that from the moment Jake and Morgan meet, they seem to be constantly wandering around with throbbing hard-ons caused by the mere sight of each other. There’s not only chemistry, there’s literally (and I really mean literally) electricity between them. Magic? Yes, believable. But Jake and Ashley being lovers? No way.
I also have a slight problem with the leading idea of the novel, and of the whole series, I suppose: that it would be nice if someone gave humans their magical abilities back. Morgan for instance is not convinced that’s such a good idea, given how greedy/stupid/place-any-negative-adjective-here humans can be. I admit I think he has a point.
My last quibble would be the plot twist towards the ending, which was such a complete surprise that it felt… almost out of place, like “Now, where did that come from?”
But the story’s well-written and well-paced, no blank, no yawn, no eye-rolling from me. Maybe a bit too much centred on Jake and Morgan revolving around each other and not enough on the magical intrigue, but the romance builds slowly and nicely, and I heaved a sigh of contentment when the two guys were finally allowed to have it off with each other. I hope the “world-building”, i.e. the magical side of the series, will be more present and stronger in the next instalments, which I will certainly read with as much gusto.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been originally posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
March 12, 2019
An artifact that could give the world magic and a high class family seeking it for that specific purpose... This story has a really interesting premise that grabbed me right away. It's more often that someone is trying to liberate control from a powerful family and not the other way around. What this story does well is puts truly intriguing characters right in the forefront. They're complex and suffering. There's a lot that needs a bit of attention in the next books to give it the foundation necessary to support them though. I'm not 100% sold, but I do find myself invested in the outcome of Jake and Morgan as well as the fate of the object they seek.
There's a lot of relationship complexity in this story that makes the MC's more than interesting. I was leery of the whole "marrying the best friend" thing, but neither man jumps into anything together without a significant amount of honesty between Jake and Ashley as well as a ton of individual angst. It created a basis for Morgan and Jake to move forward to something eventually. I absolutely appreciate how it played out because I believe it and can respect the men from here on out.
Magic is awesome and one of the main reasons I wanted to read this story. While the powers seem straightforward in the beginning, it turns out there's a whole lot more to everything than the "legacy" members of the magic-wielders know. As great as that plot point is, I have to say that the use, definition of certain powers and their functions, and power names are all quite confusing. Is magic just a general term and everyone has one power but slight differences? It seems as if Transmogrification is the magic and the expression varies. That's what I gathered and that's only after reflection. I certainly hope that gets some serious clarification in the following book.
I do think the world-building needs a bit of work, but the bones are good. I'm looking forward to seeing if there's improvement as much as I'm looking for how everything plays out with Jake and Morgan romantically as well as who the villain is and what they want. The "bad guys" are kind of nebulous at this point and if I would have any wish for what was included in this story, it would be some kind of notion as to who the antagonist might be, what they might want, or why they might want the Hammer. There's really no direction at all in those regards except for the one altercation at the end. Sure there's the thing in Spain, but that doesn't tell us anything other than introduces the inherent danger surrounding this one particular object. So yeah, the book is headed in a good direction and I'm not ready to write off the series despite its drawbacks.
There's a lot of relationship complexity in this story that makes the MC's more than interesting. I was leery of the whole "marrying the best friend" thing, but neither man jumps into anything together without a significant amount of honesty between Jake and Ashley as well as a ton of individual angst. It created a basis for Morgan and Jake to move forward to something eventually. I absolutely appreciate how it played out because I believe it and can respect the men from here on out.
Magic is awesome and one of the main reasons I wanted to read this story. While the powers seem straightforward in the beginning, it turns out there's a whole lot more to everything than the "legacy" members of the magic-wielders know. As great as that plot point is, I have to say that the use, definition of certain powers and their functions, and power names are all quite confusing. Is magic just a general term and everyone has one power but slight differences? It seems as if Transmogrification is the magic and the expression varies. That's what I gathered and that's only after reflection. I certainly hope that gets some serious clarification in the following book.
I do think the world-building needs a bit of work, but the bones are good. I'm looking forward to seeing if there's improvement as much as I'm looking for how everything plays out with Jake and Morgan romantically as well as who the villain is and what they want. The "bad guys" are kind of nebulous at this point and if I would have any wish for what was included in this story, it would be some kind of notion as to who the antagonist might be, what they might want, or why they might want the Hammer. There's really no direction at all in those regards except for the one altercation at the end. Sure there's the thing in Spain, but that doesn't tell us anything other than introduces the inherent danger surrounding this one particular object. So yeah, the book is headed in a good direction and I'm not ready to write off the series despite its drawbacks.
February 26, 2019
This was an excellent beginning to a new series. It is modern day D.C., and only a few people have a magical talent. But, this is a suspenseful adventure book as well, with some definite romantic feelings coming out to play.
First of all, there is the Whitacre Foundation. It is run by the Whitacre family, of which Morgan is the only son. This is an antiques restoration and preservation organization to the mundane world, and that's actually how they earn their revenue. However, it is also a cover for the family's ongoing search for magical artifacts; specifically the London Hammer.
Morgan has become disillusioned with magic; in fact, he hates it. He is the only one of his family who experiences pain when using it, and he's not sure the Hammer is what his parents believe it to be. He's also tired of being sent all over the world on missions to find said Hammer and other artifacts.
Jake has left his entire world behind in Australia to move to the states and marry Ashley, Morgan's best friend. He has not felt right in his own skin since he was forced to leave his job as a policeman due to what he believes is a mental illness of some sort. He has recreated himself by getting a creative designer's degree, and Ashley has already lined up a job for him at the Whitacre Foundation.
As soon as Morgan and Jake meet, there is an undeniable attraction, but both men know it is morally wrong and do their best to deny the electricity in the air. Now, they must work together and keep their hands to themselves.
Unbeknownst to friends and family, Ashley and Jake decide to take a break. At the same time, the Whitacre parents have planned surprise bachelor/bachelorette parties in Vegas. So, they decide to go with "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
Upon returning home, Jake is suspicious of Morgan, and his cop instincts come to the fore. When he confronts Morgan, he enters a world where he learns that maybe he isn't crazy after all.
One last mission puts both MCs and Morgan's sister in a dangerous situation, but Jake is learning fast. However, even after Jake and Ashley call it quits, the men only give in to their growing desires once, and only briefly.
Overall, the characters are well developed and the storyline is unique and flows well. I am SO looking forward to reading the next installment in this series; not only because the magic between the MCs is sizzling, but also because the storyline is addictive.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book. *
First of all, there is the Whitacre Foundation. It is run by the Whitacre family, of which Morgan is the only son. This is an antiques restoration and preservation organization to the mundane world, and that's actually how they earn their revenue. However, it is also a cover for the family's ongoing search for magical artifacts; specifically the London Hammer.
Morgan has become disillusioned with magic; in fact, he hates it. He is the only one of his family who experiences pain when using it, and he's not sure the Hammer is what his parents believe it to be. He's also tired of being sent all over the world on missions to find said Hammer and other artifacts.
Jake has left his entire world behind in Australia to move to the states and marry Ashley, Morgan's best friend. He has not felt right in his own skin since he was forced to leave his job as a policeman due to what he believes is a mental illness of some sort. He has recreated himself by getting a creative designer's degree, and Ashley has already lined up a job for him at the Whitacre Foundation.
As soon as Morgan and Jake meet, there is an undeniable attraction, but both men know it is morally wrong and do their best to deny the electricity in the air. Now, they must work together and keep their hands to themselves.
Unbeknownst to friends and family, Ashley and Jake decide to take a break. At the same time, the Whitacre parents have planned surprise bachelor/bachelorette parties in Vegas. So, they decide to go with "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
Upon returning home, Jake is suspicious of Morgan, and his cop instincts come to the fore. When he confronts Morgan, he enters a world where he learns that maybe he isn't crazy after all.
One last mission puts both MCs and Morgan's sister in a dangerous situation, but Jake is learning fast. However, even after Jake and Ashley call it quits, the men only give in to their growing desires once, and only briefly.
Overall, the characters are well developed and the storyline is unique and flows well. I am SO looking forward to reading the next installment in this series; not only because the magic between the MCs is sizzling, but also because the storyline is addictive.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book. *
March 4, 2019
Morgan Whiteacre works for his family's foundation as a manuscript and photograph restoration expert. The Whiteacre Foundation is, on it's surface, an organization intent on preserving and, when necessary, repairing historical books, sculptures, art etc. On it's surface. But the Whiteacre Foundation, and the Whiteacre family, have a secret. They use magic, one of the few families in the world that can do so. And they're searching for an artifact that can bring magic back to the world. The trouble is, Morgan isn't sure if the world is ready for that. And there are others searching for the the artifact as well, and their intentions are less than honorable and a lot more lethal.
Jake Anderson is officially an Aussie ex-pat as well as an ex-cop. He's packed up his life in Oz to settle down in Washington D.C. with his fiance Ashley Roberts, who just happens to be best friends with Morgan and Ygraine Whiteacre. In fact Ashley managed to snag him a job as the graphic designer for the Whiteacre Foundation. But an immediate and powerful attraction to Morgan has him questioning his commitment to Ashley while a bunch of hinky coincidences have his spidey cop senses tingling, and not in a good way. And then there's all the weird stuff that he thought he'd put behind him when he was let go from the force starting to happen again, especially when he's around Morgan.
Morgan, who just ended a 3 year relationship with a guy, has decided to go back to women when Jake enters his life. His _best friend's fiance_ for the love of all things, and strictly off limits. But the attraction is immediate and powerful. And then there's the fact that Jake is _magic_ and doesn't seem to know it.
But as the hunt for the artifact heats up, things become dangerous for Morgan. People are dead and Morgan is sure he's been 'seen'. That combined with Jake confronting him on the hinky happenings has Morgan revealing all, including the fact that Jake has magic.
This is a slow burn romance, that has a natural break-up of the engaged couple, and the natural progression of a more powerful attraction combined with the mystery of an Indiana Jones style quest for a magical holy grail. It took me a little to get used to the first person present writing style of the author, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm looking forward to the sequels!
**Arc provided by author through LesCourt Author Services for an honest review***
Jake Anderson is officially an Aussie ex-pat as well as an ex-cop. He's packed up his life in Oz to settle down in Washington D.C. with his fiance Ashley Roberts, who just happens to be best friends with Morgan and Ygraine Whiteacre. In fact Ashley managed to snag him a job as the graphic designer for the Whiteacre Foundation. But an immediate and powerful attraction to Morgan has him questioning his commitment to Ashley while a bunch of hinky coincidences have his spidey cop senses tingling, and not in a good way. And then there's all the weird stuff that he thought he'd put behind him when he was let go from the force starting to happen again, especially when he's around Morgan.
Morgan, who just ended a 3 year relationship with a guy, has decided to go back to women when Jake enters his life. His _best friend's fiance_ for the love of all things, and strictly off limits. But the attraction is immediate and powerful. And then there's the fact that Jake is _magic_ and doesn't seem to know it.
But as the hunt for the artifact heats up, things become dangerous for Morgan. People are dead and Morgan is sure he's been 'seen'. That combined with Jake confronting him on the hinky happenings has Morgan revealing all, including the fact that Jake has magic.
This is a slow burn romance, that has a natural break-up of the engaged couple, and the natural progression of a more powerful attraction combined with the mystery of an Indiana Jones style quest for a magical holy grail. It took me a little to get used to the first person present writing style of the author, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I'm looking forward to the sequels!
**Arc provided by author through LesCourt Author Services for an honest review***
March 27, 2019
Thirty-two (turning thirty-three) year old Morgan Whitacre works for his family's antique and art restoration foundation. The foundation while being legit also helps to cover up the families secret operation of recovery magical artifacts. The Whitacre's all have military training and in particular are looking for an item called the Hammer, an item that will help bring magic to everyone in the world.
Jake is an ex-cop, with military training, turned graphic designer. He uproots his life in Australia to relocate to America with his fiancé, Amanda. Now in Washington, DC with her things have just been feeling off for him starting with his irritability with his fiance and ending with tingling feeling and possibly hallucinations, same as the ones that got him kicked off the force.
Amanda has hooked Jake up with the Whitacre foundation and he gets to meet her friends and the three Whitacre siblings. At first sight, Jake and Morgan feel an attraction to each other but can't and won't act on it. The more Jake gets to know the Whitacre's the more he sees the family and foundation isn't what they seem to be.
This book was complex, but not overly so, detailed and had a slow build up. It's kind of what one would expect from the first book of a series. It introduces the characters, details the possible organization/parties involved and what they do and or want, gives readers a look into the characters life and feeling, and gives readers an objective that the characters are working towards while also giving readers a complicated romantic situation.
Amanda and Jake's a couple but Jake and Morgan are crushing hard on each other. The tension between Jake and Morgan could cut like a knife and Jake comes very close to cheating. I wasn't sure how to feel but I think the situation worked put well for all parties involved.
The magic aspect was exciting and I enjoyed learning about the different skills the Whitacre siblings and Jake had. I liked getting a glimpse of their lives with the Vegas bachelor/bachelorette trip and the paintball game. Jake playing a bit dirty and showing his investigative skills to find out what secrets the Whitacre's were hiding and to get opportunity to work the secret ops.
It's quite PG for a little more than 85% of the book so this is a slowburn read.
A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Jake is an ex-cop, with military training, turned graphic designer. He uproots his life in Australia to relocate to America with his fiancé, Amanda. Now in Washington, DC with her things have just been feeling off for him starting with his irritability with his fiance and ending with tingling feeling and possibly hallucinations, same as the ones that got him kicked off the force.
Amanda has hooked Jake up with the Whitacre foundation and he gets to meet her friends and the three Whitacre siblings. At first sight, Jake and Morgan feel an attraction to each other but can't and won't act on it. The more Jake gets to know the Whitacre's the more he sees the family and foundation isn't what they seem to be.
This book was complex, but not overly so, detailed and had a slow build up. It's kind of what one would expect from the first book of a series. It introduces the characters, details the possible organization/parties involved and what they do and or want, gives readers a look into the characters life and feeling, and gives readers an objective that the characters are working towards while also giving readers a complicated romantic situation.
Amanda and Jake's a couple but Jake and Morgan are crushing hard on each other. The tension between Jake and Morgan could cut like a knife and Jake comes very close to cheating. I wasn't sure how to feel but I think the situation worked put well for all parties involved.
The magic aspect was exciting and I enjoyed learning about the different skills the Whitacre siblings and Jake had. I liked getting a glimpse of their lives with the Vegas bachelor/bachelorette trip and the paintball game. Jake playing a bit dirty and showing his investigative skills to find out what secrets the Whitacre's were hiding and to get opportunity to work the secret ops.
It's quite PG for a little more than 85% of the book so this is a slowburn read.
A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
🔥🔥 Heat Level: 2.5 (slow-burn but great chemistry)
A mix of suspense, magic, and a little Indiana Jones-style adventure to create a captivating read.
I really enjoyed this debut story by Alex Tyler. It’s so easy to read and the authors have created a world that’s easy to fall into. It follows the Whiteacre Family, their foundation, magic and their son, Morgan. Newly single and a rather pensive pessimist, he continues his daily monotony until he meets his best friends fiance and sparks fly, and so does a little magic! This starts the adventure of magic discovery, a bit of mayhem and danger and the discovery that there is more to magic than they ever imagined.
The chemistry between Morgan and Jake is hot but they also have a believable emotional (and magic) connection. While Jake is engaged for most of the story there is no cheating or ill will and it is easy to see the breakdown of one relationship transforming into friendship and a new spark ignite to form the start of a new relationship between Jake and Morgan. It’s a very slow burn but their connection is undeniable. The story ends with a happy for now ending for Jake and Morgan and an exciting ‘what’s going to happen next’ ending (not really a chill-hanger, just a lead into the next adventure and magical discovery). I look forward to the monthly adventures of the Whiteacre Foundation and look forward to seeing where Jake and Morgan’s relationship goes!!
Great debut world and story! Look forward to more from Alex Tyler!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
🔥🔥 Heat Level: 2.5 (slow-burn but great chemistry)
A mix of suspense, magic, and a little Indiana Jones-style adventure to create a captivating read.
I really enjoyed this debut story by Alex Tyler. It’s so easy to read and the authors have created a world that’s easy to fall into. It follows the Whiteacre Family, their foundation, magic and their son, Morgan. Newly single and a rather pensive pessimist, he continues his daily monotony until he meets his best friends fiance and sparks fly, and so does a little magic! This starts the adventure of magic discovery, a bit of mayhem and danger and the discovery that there is more to magic than they ever imagined.
The chemistry between Morgan and Jake is hot but they also have a believable emotional (and magic) connection. While Jake is engaged for most of the story there is no cheating or ill will and it is easy to see the breakdown of one relationship transforming into friendship and a new spark ignite to form the start of a new relationship between Jake and Morgan. It’s a very slow burn but their connection is undeniable. The story ends with a happy for now ending for Jake and Morgan and an exciting ‘what’s going to happen next’ ending (not really a chill-hanger, just a lead into the next adventure and magical discovery). I look forward to the monthly adventures of the Whiteacre Foundation and look forward to seeing where Jake and Morgan’s relationship goes!!
Great debut world and story! Look forward to more from Alex Tyler!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
February 27, 2019
There's so much I want to say about this book that I can't say without spoiling the story. Hopefully you'll read it anyway because it's a great story.
If you avoid books with magic because it's an easy way out of any situation please give this book a try. The magic is complex enough that it kept me engaged in the story, instead of wondering why the characters didn't just fix everything magically.
With a partnership for the writing the characters' backgrounds and the descriptions of the places in the story (and the characters' reactions to them) felt more authentic than what could be written based on research alone.
As someone who has lived in different countries I found the culture shock of one of the characters very relatable.
The characters were interesting in their thoughts and relationships. They seemed like people I could be sympathetic to, or even imagine as friends.
Even though the (really cool!) magic played a big part in the story there are moments that reminded me of real events. I love that kind of relevance in fiction.
Definitely worth reading, and I can't wait for the further installments!
I received an ARC of this book, but it did not affect my review.
If you avoid books with magic because it's an easy way out of any situation please give this book a try. The magic is complex enough that it kept me engaged in the story, instead of wondering why the characters didn't just fix everything magically.
With a partnership for the writing the characters' backgrounds and the descriptions of the places in the story (and the characters' reactions to them) felt more authentic than what could be written based on research alone.
As someone who has lived in different countries I found the culture shock of one of the characters very relatable.
The characters were interesting in their thoughts and relationships. They seemed like people I could be sympathetic to, or even imagine as friends.
Even though the (really cool!) magic played a big part in the story there are moments that reminded me of real events. I love that kind of relevance in fiction.
Definitely worth reading, and I can't wait for the further installments!
I received an ARC of this book, but it did not affect my review.
March 10, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It was different from other books where magic is present. Especially since one of the protagonists doesn't even like magic and he has to introduce the world of magic to one of the world's most powerful magic users.
Even though this book is about magic it lacks it in many ways. I understand that Morgan hates magic, but I'm hoping once they figure it out in the other books he gets a better handle on it so that we can see what magic can actually do in this world.
Despite a few hiccups, this book is good. It has a good premise and the characters are interesting. The way Morgan and Jake come together makes me feel for them. First, they are stuck by the fact that Jake is engaged to Morgan's best friend, then when that's not relevant they have to deal with opening Jake's eyes to a new world and trying to figure out what the other wants.
While there were some parts I felt were lacking, overall I enjoyed the story and the premise. It should be interesting to see what the author does with the characters and how they handle what comes their way.
Even though this book is about magic it lacks it in many ways. I understand that Morgan hates magic, but I'm hoping once they figure it out in the other books he gets a better handle on it so that we can see what magic can actually do in this world.
Despite a few hiccups, this book is good. It has a good premise and the characters are interesting. The way Morgan and Jake come together makes me feel for them. First, they are stuck by the fact that Jake is engaged to Morgan's best friend, then when that's not relevant they have to deal with opening Jake's eyes to a new world and trying to figure out what the other wants.
While there were some parts I felt were lacking, overall I enjoyed the story and the premise. It should be interesting to see what the author does with the characters and how they handle what comes their way.
February 28, 2019
Morgan has magic. He hates it and hates using it even more. His family wants to bring magic back to the world. To that end they have dedicated their lives to finding the Hammer. An artifact that might just restore the magic.
Jake is Australian and an ex cop. He lost his job because he was seeing things he couldn’t explain. Now engaged to Morgan’s best friend and relocated to Washington DC, he meets Morgan and life goes to hell.
The premise of this book was interesting. Giving everyone in the world magic. Good or Bad? That’s Morgan’s dilemma. He’s not totally sure it’s a good idea but his family is determined to do it so he goes along.
Then he meets Jake and for the first time in his life knows what he wants.
I liked the characters in this book. Their use of magic was very matter of fact, an everyday type of thing. I also liked the chemistry between Jake and Morgan, I hope to see more of it in future books (there was no cheating involved).
I received an arc of this book.
Jake is Australian and an ex cop. He lost his job because he was seeing things he couldn’t explain. Now engaged to Morgan’s best friend and relocated to Washington DC, he meets Morgan and life goes to hell.
The premise of this book was interesting. Giving everyone in the world magic. Good or Bad? That’s Morgan’s dilemma. He’s not totally sure it’s a good idea but his family is determined to do it so he goes along.
Then he meets Jake and for the first time in his life knows what he wants.
I liked the characters in this book. Their use of magic was very matter of fact, an everyday type of thing. I also liked the chemistry between Jake and Morgan, I hope to see more of it in future books (there was no cheating involved).
I received an arc of this book.
March 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, the plot is entertaining, the characters are interesting. It was really fun, with some good world building. I really loved the whole premise, and the built in moral dilemma.
I struggled a bit, because at times it didn’t feel cohesive. The characters read differently, but after reading the author’s notes I realized it’s two authors, which could explain that.
There is a lot of setup, and due to circumstances, I would barely call this a HFN. But this feels like it’s going to be a marathon in a good way, and I’m really glad the authors didn’t try to rush the relationship and push for more.
I’m definitely going to continue the series, and am looking forward to more. I’m eager to see what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy.
I struggled a bit, because at times it didn’t feel cohesive. The characters read differently, but after reading the author’s notes I realized it’s two authors, which could explain that.
There is a lot of setup, and due to circumstances, I would barely call this a HFN. But this feels like it’s going to be a marathon in a good way, and I’m really glad the authors didn’t try to rush the relationship and push for more.
I’m definitely going to continue the series, and am looking forward to more. I’m eager to see what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy.
May 17, 2019
Got better I read on
I received this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
This is a new to me author but I love magic theme books and this was a magical Indiana Jones like tale. Morgan and Jack are both bisexual and meet through Morgan's friend who happens to be Jack's girlfriend where theres an automatic spark. Morgan has magic but it comes at a cost, a headache or pain when he uses it. Jack was a cop but got dismissed when he sees things that others cant. This is a journey to discovery the unexpected and on the tail of a missing artifact. We've got baddies also on their tail. I found that the beginning was a little bit hard going And I felt it didn't flow as well but middle to ending it picked up and I enjoyed it more. I liked the intrigue and of course the relationship progress as well. There was no cheating involved
I received this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
This is a new to me author but I love magic theme books and this was a magical Indiana Jones like tale. Morgan and Jack are both bisexual and meet through Morgan's friend who happens to be Jack's girlfriend where theres an automatic spark. Morgan has magic but it comes at a cost, a headache or pain when he uses it. Jack was a cop but got dismissed when he sees things that others cant. This is a journey to discovery the unexpected and on the tail of a missing artifact. We've got baddies also on their tail. I found that the beginning was a little bit hard going And I felt it didn't flow as well but middle to ending it picked up and I enjoyed it more. I liked the intrigue and of course the relationship progress as well. There was no cheating involved
July 15, 2020
Morgan Whitacre- a member of one of the few magical families left in the world is tasked with finding locating an artifact. Having lost his magic mojo, Morgan is uncertain whether he can actually do this.
Jake Anderson- former Melbourne police, is forced to retrain and then is asked to move to the US. With so many changes, he thinks he may be at a breaking point. Does he really love Ashley enough to make his move? Does he have a choice?
Well things will soon change for Morgan and Jake. Ashley helps Jake retain a job at Whitacre Foundation. Morgan Whitacre becomes his boss. Should be easy to not have any attraction to your boss. Not really. Both men exchange a kiss and agree not to do it again. That worked out well for them. Its incredibly damaging to be attracted to your best friend's future husband and subordinate.
Many twists, turns, excitement, lust, and intrigue.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
Jake Anderson- former Melbourne police, is forced to retrain and then is asked to move to the US. With so many changes, he thinks he may be at a breaking point. Does he really love Ashley enough to make his move? Does he have a choice?
Well things will soon change for Morgan and Jake. Ashley helps Jake retain a job at Whitacre Foundation. Morgan Whitacre becomes his boss. Should be easy to not have any attraction to your boss. Not really. Both men exchange a kiss and agree not to do it again. That worked out well for them. Its incredibly damaging to be attracted to your best friend's future husband and subordinate.
Many twists, turns, excitement, lust, and intrigue.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
February 27, 2019
Fun and snappy beginning to this new series. I love the idea of Indiana Jones but with magic—it’s a really intriguing premise with two equally intriguing and well developed main characters. Morgan the experienced magic user and Jake the ex-cop fish out of water have great chemistry and an immediate connection. I enjoyed that aspect a lot as well as their internal conflicts over the mutual attraction, which were all very well realised in the text. It felt a very natural progression between them. But I also liked the external magical stuff driving the plot too with the hints of international intrigue and such like.
It’s really well written and a breezy read to boot. The series is off to a great start and I’m keen to see where it goes!
(I was sent an ARC)
It’s really well written and a breezy read to boot. The series is off to a great start and I’m keen to see where it goes!
(I was sent an ARC)
February 28, 2019
Book 1 in this fantastic UF series is such a fun start to an incredible and unique magical world. I really loved the way the magic worked and I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out even more. The author really has a talent for world building that catches your attention right away and makes their characters jump off the page. I loved Morgan and Jake, and Morgan's family, who all had me laughing. One of the best parts of the book are the hints at how magic is bigger than any character realizes it is and watching Jake and Morgan find their way to each other along a rocky road. This story kept me guessing at what would come next and once I started I couldn't put it down! Great series starter!
March 10, 2019
Magic, intrigue, action and a slow-burn romance create a wonderful introduction story. This is the first book in a new series and lots of great groundwork has been laid. Some really awesome world-building in this story that was done with a subtle hand and a creative eye. The writing flowed and the story-line was engaging. Lots of good character development and the supporting characters are impressively done.
Morgan and Jack have an intense connection that creates a fun slow-burn throughout the book. They have lots of promise for an explosive and passionate relationship and that bodes well for the next book in the series.
i am looking forward to the next book!
I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
Morgan and Jack have an intense connection that creates a fun slow-burn throughout the book. They have lots of promise for an explosive and passionate relationship and that bodes well for the next book in the series.
i am looking forward to the next book!
I was gifted this book from the LesCourt Author Services and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
February 20, 2022
Fun and snappy beginning to this new series. I love the idea of Indiana Jones but with magic—it’s a really intriguing premise with two equally intriguing and well developed main characters. Morgan the experienced magic user and Jake the ex-cop fish out of water have great chemistry and an immediate connection. I enjoyed that aspect a lot as well as their internal conflicts over the mutual attraction, which were all very well realised in the text. It felt a very natural progression between them. But I also liked the external magical stuff driving the plot too with the hints of international intrigue and such like.
It’s really well written and a breezy read to boot. The series is off to a great start and I’m keen to see where it goes!
(I was sent an ARC)
It’s really well written and a breezy read to boot. The series is off to a great start and I’m keen to see where it goes!
(I was sent an ARC)
March 2, 2019
This is a new to me author and a series about magic and an artifact which can return it to the world.......apparently.
Morgan has magic and he hates to use it, Jake doesn't know about magic but has some, to solve the mystery and get the artifact they need to work together and their road is not an easy one.
This is a good book, all the characters are well rounded and almost feel real as their personalities are that detailed, the world in which the series is set is so well written that the action flows from the page.
An enjoyable read, I wonder where the author will take us next.
ARC provided by LesCourt services for an honest review.
Morgan has magic and he hates to use it, Jake doesn't know about magic but has some, to solve the mystery and get the artifact they need to work together and their road is not an easy one.
This is a good book, all the characters are well rounded and almost feel real as their personalities are that detailed, the world in which the series is set is so well written that the action flows from the page.
An enjoyable read, I wonder where the author will take us next.
ARC provided by LesCourt services for an honest review.
March 12, 2019
I liked this story, the characters of Jake and Morgan, and the idea of trying to bring magic to the world. It was interesting to read about the search for the hammer, an ancient artifact that could help with that goal. I loved learning of the different talents the characters possessed, and I loved the magic between Morgan and Jake. My only issue was that I was at a loss trying to figure out what was going on throughout most of the story. I found the HFN ending satisfying, and I definitely want to read more of this series. I just hope that my confusion is cleared up as more details are revealed about the motives of the people working against the Whitacre Foundation.
February 28, 2019
Melded Attraction by Alex Tyler is the first booking the Whitacre Foundation series. We get magic, spells, fantasy...and a little flirting action... the book sucked me into its universe and held my attention throughout. I loved the characters, Jake and Morgan were great.... I loved their chemistry. I cant wait to see what happens next.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
March 1, 2019
This debut novel was interestingly angsty. I found myself tangled within its pages and enjoyed the great storyline and characters. It was definitely at times a “hang on and hold your breath” type of read that I’ve not experienced in a book before. The characters are absolutely the key that brings this book to life. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but found this book fascinating. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
March 5, 2019
I really wanted to like this book more because I love magic stories. It just was really difficult to follow and for me to get into. Would I recommend it yes, would it go on my reread list no. I might give the next a try because this one ended without any real closure for the main characters. Thanks for the arc.
March 9, 2019
This was a fun, interesting start to a series. It takes its time to build up, as we're learning how the world works alongside the characters. Some scenes moved very slowly while others raced through action, but all of it left me intrigued! I loved the DC setting, but I'm biased, living here myself. Looking forward to seeing how it continues.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 11, 2019
I really enjoyed Melded Attraction. This story is full of magic, intrigue, romance and so much more.
Morgan and Jack have a connection you can feel right off the bat. This is a slow-burn romance that has great chemistry.
The world building done by Alex Tyler is wonderful. I can't wait to see what comes next!
Morgan and Jack have a connection you can feel right off the bat. This is a slow-burn romance that has great chemistry.
The world building done by Alex Tyler is wonderful. I can't wait to see what comes next!
March 4, 2019
very good.. i dont do fantasy type often but this one was really good.. it was fast paced and had a lot of interesting characters in it. i loved the mystery involved.. i love the magic involved..very good story
July 14, 2020
I was hooked on this book from page one and found it very difficult to put down. I fell in love with the characters and did not want their story to end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2020
Excellent and intriguing start to a series! What do you do when life as you know it, is not? Morgan adjusting to his ex, Greg moving out after 3 months. Upon reflection, he realizes his feelings over the past year and their lack of a physical life were red flags. His family is empathetic and supportive. Mogan is the only one in the family that struggles with his magic. Considering his family is one of the last few remaining magical practitioners. Jake, new transplan,t experiences unexpected unknown sensations of electriity flowing through his body, while he has visions. Jake gets a job with Morgan's family, then the adventure begins. These men embark on a seeking learning expedition that changes their world and personal views. Will Morgan get ahold of his magic? Will he learn to like it? Will Jake learn what his tingles are about? Will they see each other? Interesting fun story. Can't wait to find the answers to the mysteries, write faster. I recevied and ARC from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2020
Magic is real but only a few have it. But maybe....well you will need to read this book to find out as I’m not going to give anything away. I will say that this is a fantastic book and I am so excited that this is going to be a trilogy. Honestly I hope it goes on for more than that. This book meshes many genres together and reminds me a lot of Indiana Jones with magic added in. The two authors who make up Alex Tyler have obviously put a lot into making this book seem real and believable which to me only happens in the best kinds of fantasy fiction. All of the characters are interesting, not just the two main characters who fall in love. This is not just true of side characters who may take bigger roles in subsequent books. For instance there is one character who we never meet until he is killed and yet, with how other people talk about him, he came across to me as a real person and not just a plot point. If you like fantasy then you will probably like this one as long as you are open to two men having a relationship. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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