Final: It's a light-hearted, closed-door, opposites attract M/M magical romance. I did enjoy it (it gives off Angel Martinez or Jordan Castillo Price vibes), and I would buy book two if/when a sequel gets made.
Mostly because of Leopold (miss you, Army bud!).
What I loved: The side characters! All vibrant and larger than life.
Leopold! He's the best poor schmuck there is, you just want to hug him and make everything better.
The reveal mentioned in the blurb! (Finding out WHY the Office of the Lost is so hell-bent on acquiring Leopold... aah!) 😃
What I didn't like: When they meet, they accidentally call each other a nickname. Each of them gently corrects the other; it's Leopold and Crispin, not Leo and Crispy. But despite this, they continue to misname each other throughout the ENTIRE book, ignoring their stated preferences.
What I liked: The two characters, Leopold and Crispin, have clear and distinct voices (it's dual POV). I liked that there wasn't instalove (they are very much opposites), and that their relationship developed naturally and fairly convincingly.
Sometimes it's hard deciding on one (or more) books based just on covers and blurbs, but as soon as I read about the walking disaster that is Leopold Lane, I knew I had to have this one.
(I've been missing an army bud, who personifies Tom Hardy in Venom; a mess of an MC is exactly what I wanted).
Once again, @skyekilaen.bsky.social has come out with her monthly newsletter filled with the latest queer books... and mine's in it!
(Hexes and Heartstrings, yee-haw!)
But we're not here to talk about me, we're here to talk about my newest read, Office of the Lost!
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...
So as I get the house ready for sale by changing lightbulbs that burnt out years ago, and unsticking stuck doors, and FINALLY painting the other half of the wall behind the bed (it's a poly-friendly Alaskan King, very heavy), I happily lie to myself and say, "Next time, I won't wait to fix things!"
In that vein, requesting book recommendations! M/M romance with an absolute mess of a MC, paranormal or SF/F preferred but not required.
I also finally watched the third and last Venom movie! Eddie/Tom Hardy remains a complete mess of a man... which apparently I find super attractive?
Between him and Shane from Stardew Valley, I have come to realize that I have a type, which seems to be my drunken best friend from the army days.
Just watched KPop Hunters with the hubby. I think it might have edged out Moana and Nimona for the top slot in favorite light-hearted movies for me, it's that good. Banger songs, good kitties, good story, and yes, I cried at the end. Strongly recommend. ✨🎵🏳️🌈
Currently available on Kindle and KU, and Book One remains 50% off through Tuesday morning, 22 July. If a story about diverse werebeasts, reluctant mates, a witch finding a new home away from home, and three men supporting each other in the face of long odds is your thing, consider giving it a go!
A promotional image for a newly released, polyamorous paranormal romance novel, Hexes and Heartstrings. It includes the images of the two books currently in the series, which depict a muscular man over gold and blue backgrounds. The promotional image includes multiple short sentences of what you might find in the book, such as "prosthetic wings," "werebeasts in kilts," and "queernormative with supportive families."
Hexes and Heartstrings, released today! Book 2 continues the story of witch Bruin, sweet werewolf Russell, and overworked warlord Sergiy, now with MORE witches, wolves, and warlords than ever before!
🐲✨🐺: M/M/M throuple
😡: Baddies you love to hate
⚔️: Action and Spice
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGHP7GP8
(And also, whoops! Somehow I got the dates wrong for the promotions, so Book 4 of TBM series joins Books 1 and 2. Alas! Next time, I'll just say screw Amazon promotions, and just set the price for the full month.)
If alcohol magic, weredog detectives, and a djinn P.I is your speed, try out The Bartender Mage series.
If you're wanting a coven of witches, a cinnamon roll werewolf, and an over-worked drake-shifter, try out Shifters of Bastion Keep... but wait to buy it until the 15th when it's on sale!
This is a promotional image detailing the dates and discounts of the author's previous five published books. The image illustrates six different book covers over a transparent background of a witch's work table. The promotion informs the viewer that between July 8th and July 14th, Books 1, 2, and 4 of the paranormal romance series The Bartender Mage will be priced between $0.99 and $2.99. Between July 15th and July 22nd, Book 3 of the Bartender Mage as well as Book One of the newest series, titled Witches, Wolves, and Warlords, will be priced at $2.99. Lastly, the image informs the reader that Book 2 of the newest series, titled Hexes and Heartstrings, will be released on July 18th.
With just ten days until the release of "Hexes and Heartstrings," I'm running a limited time promotion on all previously published books. Now's the best time to pick up your next M/M/M paranormal romance read!
TBM Series: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTGK5L7L
SoBK Series: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV49Z2W7
I'm sorry that you're going through that. Our body's stress system can be SO dumb sometimes, and I hope you find a way.
I sometimes like to use sarcasm, as personifying anxiety has helped me. "A gift of adrenaline because I'm ordering pizza over the phone? Gee, THANKS. Totally saved my life, yup."
What I LOVED:
The characters! Luca the saucy sweetheart in "Cubs and Campfires" was my favorite.
The banter! Conversations between the MC's never felt forced or fake or out of character.
The acceptance! The tender supportiveness between the characters. Yes, give me all the feels and the HEAs.
What I didn't like:
Maybe it's a newer trend, but books (book 2) where infatuation begins from just seeing a picture of the other guy. I've seen attractive photos of guys, yes, but an ID mugshot never left be breathless and hard.
Still, gotta start that meet-cute somehow, right?
What I liked:
The characterizations, esp. of the supporting cast. "...a Puerto Rican skyscraper with sleek black hair." All the physical descriptions tend towards the evocative and poetic. Apt for an author poet!
A pair of sweet sex-positive, body-positive M/M books by gay Aussie www.dylandrakes.com
Both books are standalone (though if you read book 1, you get a kind of easter egg in book 2). Both books are adorably sweet (esp. 2). Both books are heavy on the spice, almost erotica, but have a strong plot.
Once again, I find my reading list updated thanks to the terrific author @skyekilaen.bsky.social and her monthly newsletter of LGBTQ+/POC books (I highly recommend joining!)
This last month I grabbed 2, mainly because of the super cute covers.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCP941SF
I'm so excited that it's finally complete. ^_^
Now I have just enough time to give myself one day off before I get the house ready for moving, tweak my earlier Bartender Mage series to tone down the horniness (maybe in exchange for more story?), and then...
Start writing book three! Yee-haw!
Image is of a "trope arrow" for a book called Hexes and Heartstrings by the author Donovan Snow. The tropes are tongue-in-cheek snippets to give the reader a feel for what they might find in the book, such as one that says "Your boyfriends go commando because they're sexy men in kilts; you go commando because you forgot to do laundry. You are not the same." The snippets imply a more light-hearted book tone for a paranormal romance involving a poly relationship with three men.
Hexes and Heartstrings, book two of the paranormal romance series Shifters of Bastion Keep, now available for preorder (July 18th release)!
Includes:
🐺🧌🐲Gay Throuple
⚔️Daring Jaunts
🧹Chores!
🍆Open-door spice
😡Bullies (boo!)
✨And even more witches, wolves, and warlords.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...
Story time!
Recently, I saw someone suggest Book 1 to another reader on reddit. Yay! But, their comment boiled down to, "It's a great book, just ignore the cheesy cover."
Boy howdy, talk about mixed feelings! But it encouraged me to improve my Canva game, so thank you random internet reader! <3
The image depicts the cover of a book, titled "Hexes and Heartstrings," Book Two of a gay paranormal romance by author Donovan Snow. Shown on the cover is a stoic young man standing on a monochromatic beach with white waves and a grey, cloudy sky, with blue lights and ribbons intended to evoke both magic and a maudlin mood.
The image depicts the cover of a book, titled "Witches, Wolves, and Warlords," Book One of a gay paranormal romance by author Donovan Snow. The image is of a noble young man with a very muscular build, the "warlord" of the story. The background is of a bright and sunny day, with forests and a hint of a castle. There are golden ribbons and lights, intended to evoke both a magical and royal theme.
Welp... I had to push Book 2's release back on account of a sudden "Sell the House and Move", so to all of my readers expecting June, I'm sorry.
July release is a go, though! (preorder page up this week)
In the meantime, I hear cover releases are a thing?
And of course I also had to update Book 1!
So close to finishing book 2 of Bastion Keep! Less than a month until more gay witchy goodness, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, if low-angst poly paranormal romance is your speed, Book 1 of The Bartender Mage is FREE through 13 May, with Book 2 discounted until 16 May.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP1LVQXG
I'm definitely more of a M/M action-romance kind of guy, but the premise of a witch story drew my attention, and when the blurb described the conflict/antagonists as "the most terrifying form known to lesbians—hot, successful ex-girlfriends with unresolved emotional baggage," the deal was struck.
Addendum: Skye always gathers the best LGBTQ+ / BIPOC books! I've made it a habit to grab one new book each time her newsletter comes out, and for this month I've chosen "From Hell With Love" by Jax Wilder. (jaxwilderauthor.com)
www.amazon.com/dp/196171468X
I always get a warm fuzzy when Skye @skyekilaen.bsky.social posts her monthly newsletter and my book shows up on it. It's like going to a school play and saying, "That's my kid!" Even if he's just a background tree.
Speaking of, said book is 50% off for two more days! www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSR3RD98
It was great, I loved it, especially Shin's characterization! It's the kind of nice story I'd love to see in an anthology.