Charmed and Dangerous in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Jul 18, 2015 Chris, the Dalek King rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-bytes, restaurants-and-drinks, pets, abuse-assault-torture, unusual-jobs, favorites, short-stories, shifters-and-things-that-bite, mc-pairing-mm, historical

A group of us reviewers at Love Bytes kinda all wanted in on this anthology, so we split up the stories between all interested parties. While I only reviewed two stories for this collection, I will say that I enjoyed every single story and a few of them surprised me in how much I liked them. I would totally recommend you pick up this anthology.

The two stories I reviewed are below:

Nicole Kimberling – Magically Delicious (4 stars)

Kieth Curry has a not-so-glamorous job as a food inspector for NIAD ...more

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Aug 25, 2015 Dana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m

Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. 10/10 pots of gold. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard of this anthology, I was so excited. Four of the authors I had read many books from, and the others were in my to-read and wishlist piles. After reading the anthology, I want to read them even more. It amazed me how different each story was different from the others despite the use of the word hexes multiple times and pixies showing up in several stories. Each was compl Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. 10/10 pots of gold. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard of this anthology, I was so excited. Four of the authors I had read many books from, and the others were in my to-read and wishlist piles. After reading the anthology, I want to read them even more. It amazed me how different each story was different from the others despite the use of the word hexes multiple times and pixies showing up in several stories. Each was completely different though, and I loved each one. The authors I have read, surprised me as well, providing stories different from the ones I’m used to reading from them. I can’t do the amazing stories justice by reviewing the anthology as a whole, though. So I will say something brief about each one.

‘Dim Sum Asylum’ by Rhys Ford – I love this author’s writing, and this is no exception. The concept was hilarious to me. After his crooked partner dies, half-fae/half-human detective Roku gets a new partner and their first assignment is chasing a spelled fertility statue around Chinatown. Of course he is endowed and shaking it around. I love the action and the descriptions of the people and the rooftop pathways connecting buildings in the city. I thought that Roku and Trent have good chemistry, and I wouldn’t mind a longer story about them one day. *hint hint*

‘Swift and the Black Dog’ by Ginn Hale – This is the first story I read from this author and I was swept up in the world she created. Most of the other stories still seem to take place on a magically populated Earth, but this feels somewhere different. It could be a dystopian future or a harsher planet where a Tyrant once ruled. Swift was an interesting character who once defeated the Tyrant with his friends who all have magical Ways. Finch is a guard who almost seems inconsequential at first, but ends up being very important to the story when one of Jack Swift’s old friends becomes power hungry.There was a surprise for me, and I don’t find myself caught off guard too often, so I loved it. I will be checking out this author in the future.

‘A Queer Trade’ by KJ Charles – I enjoyed the historical feel of this story. There is quite a bit of craziness when papers with powerful spells go missing after the death of the magician. Sold to a local market the food wrapped in it becomes quite fresh. Then there’s the walking dead man. The magician’s apprentice needs to get the papers back and stop the madness and find out what might come of his attraction to the waste seller who decides to help him. Not only are the two men gay, but one is black and the other Caucasian. Two things that would definitely make their feelings for each other impossible in that time period, but it doesn’t seem to matter to them. Great story!

‘Magically Delicious’ by Nicole Kimberling – This is also the first story I have read from this author and I loved it. The human world is coexisting with all manner of otherworldly folk. Pixies, Leprechauns, and Goblins all play a big part in this story. Vampires, shifters, and faeries exist too. Gunther and Keith are both detectives in a paranormal policing agency and when Gunther is brought down by a case of pixie dust poisoning, Keith has to find out who did it. The story is a lot of fun even though there is a crime to solve. My favorite part is when the leprechaun uses the phrase magically delicious. Do they watch tv commercials? LOL

‘Everyone’s Afraid of Clowns’ by Jordan Castillo Price – This is a Psycop story, though I’m not sure where it falls in the continuity. I love this series as well as Jacob and Victor the two main characters. It probably would help to be familiar with the series, but I think it should be relatively easy to follow if you haven’t read it. Clowns are scary, but oddly the one in this story doesn’t seem to be. Even if he is a ghost. However, the humans who created the twisted haunted house, might be. I’m always happy to read about this couple and enjoyed this story.

‘The Thirteenth Hex’ by Jordan L. Hawk – I love this author’s work. The familiars in this book aren’t just animals, but animal shifters. I liked Dominic right away. He is a relatable character even in this historical setting; working a job that isn’t the one he really wants to have. Rook sounds darkly handsome, and I wish I could see what he looked like with his silky long hair. It was a great story of witches and familiars and police corruption.

‘The Soldati Prince’ by Charlie Cochet – This was so different from the paranormal THIRDS series that I’ve read, though I see some of the same personality quirks between the characters in that series and this story. Riley is human but destined to be the mate of Soldati King, Khalon. The Soldati are shifters that protect humanity from demons that make it through the veil between worlds. They are bigger and stronger, but Riley isn’t afraid to stand up to them or stand beside them in a fight. It isn’t love at first sight, but respect grows quickly and fate is stronger than their stubborn wills. Loved it.

‘One Hex Too Many’ by Lou Harper – One of my favorite stories of the bunch, and the first I’ve read from this author. Extramundane Crimes detective Mike Mulligan thinks he is hexed when it comes to partners, and so does everyone else. Still he gets a new one in the form of Hugh Fox. The crime they investigate in this story was really thought out, and intrigued me. Mike is gay and Hugh is not, but when Mike deceives Hugh in order to protect him from the so called hex, Hugh’s feelings come out and there is a bit of a gay for you love story. Really enjoyed this story.

‘Josh of the Damned vs. the Bathroom of Doom’ by Andrea Speed – This author’s Infected series is in my tbr pile, but I hadn’t even heard of the Josh of the Damned series before this story. Now I want to read them so bad. For me this had a ‘Clerks’ on paranormal steroids feel. There was no end to the craziness that happened in this story. Greek mythology villians, necromancers, vampires, zombie hamsters, and animated bathtubs and toilets all conspire to take over the portal that connects the paranormal world and human world behind the convenience store that Josh works in. So humorous.

‘The Trouble with Hexes’ by Astrid Amara – This is also one of my favorites. It was slightly longer than the others, and I’m a sucker for second chance romances. Tim broke up with Vincent when his hex-breaking caused him to have health issues. He couldn’t stand to see the man he loved hurt himself, and he hardly believed in hexes in the first place. It did make him seem like a jerk, but when he’s hexed and the only person who can help is Vincent, they both admit that their feelings for each other are still there. Even if Vincent can’t just forgive him that easily. The hex is strong though and Tim is only days from dying. My gut clenched when Vincent showed how devoted he was to helping the hexed and in particular his ex when he does something he swore he would never do. The two of them had my heart then, and thankfully the perpetrator is caught. I don’t know if there is a full length book or series about this couple, but I would read it if there was. ...more

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