Legendary Loves Volume 2

by Nell Iris

JMS Books' Trios are themed collections of three gay romance stories by a trio of authors. Each story is available separately, but readers can get all three for a discounted bundle price.

Legendary Loves Volume 2 contains three paranormal shifter M/M romances just in time for Halloween! Contains the

In My Arms Again by Nell Iris : Oxen is lonely, feeling like he's waiting for something, and can't focus. But when a very ill stranger collapses on his doorstep, everything changes. The stranger, Vinge, is a Pegasus unable to transform. Both men feel an instant connection that swiftly grows deeper. The questions surrounding Vinge are many. Why is he so familiar? What will it take for the depth of their connection be revealed?

The Murky Depths by Kassandra Lea : Tired of the daily grind of his job, Keston heads out for a weekend at his family's cabin in Kona Woods. Turns out he isn't alone, though, as there are others lurking in the shadows. When a near-death experience brings Ness waltzing into his life, everything Keston thought he knew is turned upside down. Will facing what scares him bring to Keston's life what it's missing most?

Weekend at Bigfoot's by Addison Albright : There's nothing about perky -- twinky? -- Oliver Hughes that would make Sensational News' (Never Fake! We Swear!) reporter Wilson Banks think Bigfoot actually exists. But while pursuing soundbites for a tabloid story about Bigfoot, Wilson witnesses something he wasn't meant to see. In Wilson's new reality, is there room for love with someone whose dreams are as big as his ... er ... feet?

Genres: Anthologies, LGBT, Novella, Paranormal

306 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2019

About the author

Nell Iris writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angsty, short over long, and quirky characters over alpha males. She published her first book in 2017.

Nell is an author with a day job that steals too much time from her writing, her reading, her gardening, and her crocheting. She’s an introverted tea drinker who loves her family, her books, and her home in the Swedish countryside.

Reviews

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

In My Arms Again by Nell Iris

Nell Iris is one of my favorite authors. The writing is always the finest, the details explicit, characters with depth and characteristics, the environments original, the romance the warmest, the sexuality the most sensual and the whole picture always developed in an unique way, for me always a moving experience and bring my to tears. Whatever this author writes it’s one of a kind and should be read by everyone!

Oxen and Vinge
Where shall I start. It is so beautiful, so magical. The surroundings are breathtaking.
Oxen hears a bang on his cabin, which stands in the middle of the forest.
When he opens the door a beautiful man falls exhausted into his arms.
He takes care of him for days. It’s unexplainable but he feels the heart of the man beside his own. Vinge is his name and he feels the same, a strong connection.
He left everything he knows behind because he was not accepted for who he is.
A Pegasus without the ability to change.

What follows is such a beautiful, warm and intense story. My heart felt so bonded with both men and the whole story.
They live close with nature, the one where magic is standard. Feelings, intense can be found everywhere. You can feel it’s special what they have.
I saw everything, I smelled the scents, I heard the sounds, I felt the sparkles and I felt the deep love. Breathtaking it was, and the end was one with the most beautiful magic you can imagine.


The Murky Depths by Kassandra Lea

When Keston got saved by Ness out of the swirling dark water, he never could imagine who this beautiful man really was.
Secrets, more creatures and a lovely plot made this for me a kind and sweet read.
The surroundings were beautiful, the creatures gave me a big smile.
World wide secrets exposed by this little fantasy tale! All written in a captivating, appealing way


Weekend at Bigfoot’s by Addison Albright

Review follows today

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful anthology. All three stories give a mixture of romance, emotion and humour.

The first story by Nell Iris, is one of make believe and romance. Deeply thoughtful, imaginative, and so romantic.There is a lovely, drawn out romance here between Oxen and Vinge. They have very different backgrounds, but both of them shine with such care for one another and those people who are subjugated by society. If you're a fan of deep characters, immersive writing, imaginative fantasy, and slow burn love, this is the story for you.

Excellent second story by Kassandra Lea. Ms Lea really creates characters that are so well developed that you believe in them, and feel you honestly know them. This story follows the couples journey, which is by no means drama free, but which is still fun.There is such a real feel to the story, and Ms Lea is able make the story and the characters so believable that you just keep hoping that they will make it. I loved Ness, he was such a free spirit.

I'm a fan of Addison Albrighton, she writes such high spirited and romance full of humour. If you enjoy fantasy novels, this third story will not disappoint, it's so much fun. Oliver and Wilson are superb together, and there's real potential here for a great series. I'd love to read what happens next with our MCS.

Highly recommended.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally pass on paranormal stories unless the characters are unique, and in this volume of stories, I loved getting immersed in each world created by these three very distinct authors.

I think I've read everything from Nell Iris and I love how she writes characters who are unapologetically original. The connection between Oxen and Vinge throughout the story is so strong, despite outside pressures, they make their relationship work.

This was my first story from Kassandra Lea and I have to say the depth of her characters drew me in from the start. Both are unique, but the way Ness comes into Keston's life and shakes it up had me rooting for them and their HEA.

And lastly, Addison Albright's story is funny and her characters, Oliver and Wilson are so fun together. It's a wonderful story that made me smile throughout.

This is a wonderful collection and I highly recommend each of these stories!!

[Anabela.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are three short stories in this collection, and all three are so brilliant that I can't even choose a favorite.

All with different subjects but they have one thing in common: they brought me joy and kept me smiling.

𝗜𝗻 𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 by Nell  Iris

Oxen,the lonely hunter and Vinge,the pegasus that can't shift. Two souls that recognize each other from the first moment,that keep getting more and more intertwined the more time they spend together.

Oxen ,Vinge and their connection is magical and I found In My Arms Again  sweet and beautiful.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 by Kassandra Lea

This one made laugh a lot.

Corporate manager Keston is close to burnout and what better solution than to do some soul searching in his family's cabin? The forest,the lake,peace and quiet...

Except, that's not what he finds ,especially after nearly drowning. Instead,the poor guy discovers his skin lights up touching a certain scotsman and that  there are mythical creatures living in the world. Keston is most adorable in his reactions to the new informations. And  he's absolutely cute when he slowly unfolds the mystery of who his love interest,Ness, really is.

Loved it.

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁'𝘀 by Addison Albright

Wilson Banks is a tabloid reporter for 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑠 and a huge hunk of his job is to go on wild goose hunts,so to speak. That's why he's not surprised by his boss sending him to Tallbear,where supposedly there have been sightings of Bigfoot.

I loved the way the author wrote this short story,making it light and entertaining. Wilson's interviews are a great opportunity to meet interesting people,all the while interlacing the "investigation" with his encounters with Oliver.

Wilson and Oliver are so cute and lovely together. Undeniably connected and sweet on each other. And then a surprise...

Delightful story.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed two of the three stories in this collection and would hightly recommend them.

In My Arms Again by Nell Iris

Oh my, this story is lovely. It has a fairy tale feel and is gentle and charming. I know this collection is advertised as an anthology of shifter stories, but this isn't a shifter story in the normal sense and I certainly wouldn't class it as such.


Weekend at Bigfoot's by Addison Albright

I loved this. It was so much fun. I adored the set up and the 'Bigfoot' headlines. The two leads were endearing and really cute together. The town was goregous, just the sort of place I'd love to visit. The only thing I didn't like was the cover.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good little anthology or collection of stories. They aren't long stories, but they are packed with fun, love, hope and a little magic. Each story brings it own set of good characters that are fun and exciting in their way. The writing is fun and magical and something to curl up with on any day to have a happy read. They each have an HEA that just makes your heart happy for all involved. Even if the circumstances getting there aren't always great. It's a good read and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/

[Zakarrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legendary Loves must be the most delightful collection of stories you could curl up with this Halloween. ‘Tis a hat-trick of treats not to be missed. Three charming tales steeped in legend and lore; each featuring a lesser-spotted (not least in fiction) shifter at its heart…


In My Arms Again is all that a story from the head and heart of Nell Iris promises to be. Beautifully written and told with genuine warmth, drawing you into a world where people are pure of heart and noble of spirit, no matter what fate thrusts in their path. They suffer but never become bitter. There is a rare grace in her stories which makes them sing, a calibre of character as seductive as a roaring fire on a frigid night. Men who encapsulate the very essence of: ‘Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength..’

There is a weight in words that flow with the life giving force of a mountain spring, their warmth as irresistible as the glisten of sunlight off its surface.

In My Arms Again is every bit as magical as the mythical creature at its heart. A tale of two kindred spirits who had lost all faith in themselves and the value of their existence. Soulmates who see their best selves reflected in the eyes of one another and strive to honour that image. Theirs is a story of acceptance and the power of affirmation upon self. Of hearts made whole and encapsulated in a single sentence:

‘I’ve finally found somewhere I belong…’

As beautiful as it is brilliant.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

The Murky Depths by Kassandra Lea

This might be the shortest story, but therein lies a lot of plot. A feat in itself to one who can scarce cram a dinner date into twenty thousand words. Better yet, the legendary creature at its centre is one I never imagined I might encounter in a romance; a fact so splendid I was seduced from the start…and there is lots to love. A quirkiness of character I found enchanting; creatures of legend and lore, living their lives, going about their business, every bit as credible as they are incredible.

‘Little did he realize he was being watched, had been since the second he turned down the barely two lane road that wove like a scar through the mostly untouched landscape…the forest abuzz with the arrival of a human. There was a ripple of concern on what he planned to do, how long he’d stay and if he knew. Those who remembered him as a youngster questioned if he recalled any of the events that transpired when he was a child.

Minds were more easily manipulated back then, more willing to believe in the magic that tried its best to remain hidden.’

As an adult, I’ve held firm to that belief; never quite relinquishing the hope that I’ve simply become too damnedly grown up to share in secrets too sacred to be sullied by adult sensibilities.

‘Shall we be on with our adventure then?’
‘Um, one tiny problem, dear, we’ve no boat to get me there…’

Boat schmoat...it was wonderful to spend a wee while in a world where such matters are mere mundanities when setting forth on life’s great adventure with your soulmate.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

Weekend at Bigfoots by Addison Albright

I adore Addison Albright. If that were not true, I may never have come across this treasure trove of tales as I rarely read shifter stories. That matters not; some authors are exceptions to all such customs. A truth that has reaped rich rewards along the way and gifted me one of my very favourite trilogies. I had never read a castaway tale before, nor imagined that I might.

I devoured the ‘Vows’ box set (Til Death do us part, From This Day Forward, To Love & To Cherish) for all the world as if I’d been marooned for five years with nary a book to feast on in the interim.

If informed that I might salivate in anticipation of a Bigfoot tale, I would have scoffed. Rather than scoffed it with relish. The latter proved true…I never doubted for a moment that it would. I’d already delighted in being stranded in scorching sunlight without a stitch to my name, and figured (for some reason) that I was about to freeze my bits off with the abominable snowman in Alaska. I may have got super(natural)heroes in a muddle. No matter, off I set; snowbooted and suited to brave the elements. Instead, I found myself transported to Tallbear, Northern California to reside among the finest townsfolk I’ve encountered for many a moon; as quirky as their tourist town is quaint.

How I loved this story. How I laughed. I hadn’t reached the foot of the first page before I was cackling away to myself like a crazy ol’ cat lady on the subway. This, on accounts that our hero, Wilson—none too keen on the prospect of said trip—was offered the following alternative:

“You want to interview all the victims of the chimney shitter in Bosie?”

Chances are, I’d have delighted in the shitter’s story just as much, had its author elected to immerse me in it.😋 Shitters or shifters…like I said, it matters not a jot.

I may have fallen in love with Oliver the moment we met. Swiftly after being bedevilled by jam. Jam is my very favourite word. (This is partially Eddie Izzard’s fault. Never has the word Jam been uttered with such luscious relish and to such chuckle-fest effect).

Strawberry with lemongrass—perchance you were wondering—the latter adds ‘tang’ promised its purveyor. The allure of Oliver can be attested to by his attention snaffling proclivities from said preserve.

‘But what really made him stand out was his bearing–the “I’m going to be me and I don’t care what anybody thinks” jut of his chin that came across more as a life philosophy than as a challenge to all comers.

Okay, maybe the shoulder-length black hair with sparking streaks of silver, gold, and purple stood out too. And the azure-blue eyes that seemed too brilliant to be real–yet Wilson sensed they were…’

Wilson may not be a supernatural being, but he is far from your bog-standard sort of scribe. Despite working for a tabloid newspaper, his cynicism is infused with a warm humour that never belittles his subjects. He is never cruel or careless in pursuit of his prey; instead he radiates a charm that never feels forced. Even his innermost musings are free from ridicule in the face of the unfeasible…no matter how unlikely the claims of his interviewees, or their steadfast insistence upon them.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

Pegasus, Ness and Bigfoot unleashed in a five star Halloween treat t’die for.

[Scooby2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t pass up the chance to read a collection of stories containing mythical, legendary creatures. And having only read one of the authors in the anthology, I thought why not give it a go. When it comes to anthologies, the stories can be hit or miss for me and this one was no different. My favorite of the three would be “In My Arms Again”. Each of these stories are insta-love stories so if you aren’t a fan of those don’t read this anthology. The copy I read was an advanced copy and had several typos, so hopefully they will have been fixed by release day. Overall this anthology was just an okay read for me, I wanted to like it more than I did.

“In My Arms Again” by Nell Iris
I really enjoyed this one and thought it was a cute quick story that included a pegasus (not very often you get a story with one of them). If you’ve read Nell Iris before you know you’re going to get a sweet story with a touch of angst and insta love.

3.5 stars

“The Murky Depths” by Kassandra Lea
This was my first book by Kassandra Lea and it was just an okay read. I didn’t really feel the connection between Ness and Keston or their relationship. This story just didn’t really hold my attention, which is disappointing because I really wanted to like this one because of who Ness was.

1 star

“Weekend at Bigfoot’s” by Addison Albright
I thought “Weekend at Bigfoot’s” could have been a good read if it had not been overly wordy. I wanted to be shown things not told every single detail or thought. I did like Oliver and Wilson as a couple and wished for more of them together overall.

2 stars

I received an ARC of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I give this anthology overall 3 stars