#Review - Dancing With a Demon by L. R. Braden #Paranormal #Fantasy

Series: The Rifter Series # 4
Format: Kindle, 298 pages
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Publisher: L. R. Braden
Source: Bell Bridge Books
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Mira's always up for a good hunt, but things get complicated when she goes undercover as her partner Ty's plus one for his sister's upcoming wedding. Her job? To confirm whether a dangerous paranatural has infiltrated Ty's family.

As a PTF agent, Ty Williams has faced down powerful fae, hungry demons, and worse, but he never expected to find a threat in his own home. Haunted by the past and unable to trust those around him, Ty needs Mira's help to protect those he loves.

Unfortunately, Mira's brought troubles of her own to town, and her skills are proving unreliable. Adding to her misery is her less-than-warm welcome from Ty's family. All too soon she's ready to get the hell out of Boston…but that would mean abandoning more than just her partnership.

Mira and Ty are facing something new, and nothing will be the same after.

L.R. Braden's Dancing With a Demon is the fourth installment in the authors Rifter Series. This series follows the adventures of Mira Fuentes—a human possessed by a demon since childhood—and her partner Ty Williams, a Paranormal Task Force (PTF) agent who has sworn to protect humanity from people like Mira and her demon. After traveling to Arizona to help her friend Vivi with a small issue of fae cat that got away from her, she wonders why Ty ditched her in Texas for a solo mission. So, Mira, her demon, and yes, a fae cat (nekomata) she will soon call Peanut, end up in Boston. 

Mira ends up going undercover as Ty’s plus-one at his sister’s wedding in Boston—a seemingly innocuous assignment that quickly spirals into a life-or-death investigation. Her mission is to determine whether a dangerous paranatural entity has infiltrated Ty’s family, a task complicated by her own unpredictable abilities and the frosty reception she receives from Ty’s relatives. Mira’s undercover role forces her to grapple with her outsider status, both within Ty’s family and in her own skin, while Ty’s journey reflects the difficulty of reconciling personal loyalty with professional duty. 

Meanwhile, Ty, haunted by his past and grappling with trust issues, must confront the possibility of a threat within his own home—a scenario he never anticipated after years of battling fae, demons, and other supernatural foes. Ty emerges as a more vulnerable figure than in previous books. His past traumas and self-doubt, hinted at in earlier works, come to the forefront as he navigates the personal stakes of protecting his family. This vulnerability humanizes him, making his partnership with Mira—a relationship built on mutual reliance despite their differences—all the more poignant. 

Mira’s internal struggle—balancing her human identity with the demon she shares her body with—remains a fascinating thread. Her demon, a snarky yet loyal presence, isn’t just a plot device but a fully realized character whose evolving connection with Mira adds depth and humor to the story. The budding romance between Mira and Ty, subtle yet palpable, adds an emotional layer that enhances the stakes without overshadowing the central mystery. The narrative crescendos into a gripping clash between old enemies and new threats, with Mira’s demon playing a pivotal role in the unfolding drama.

This is a nice addition to the series, and the ending will leave readers finally feeling warm and fuzzy. Although, I have to wonder if the dynamics between Mira and her Demon have changed thanks to the events of this book. No spoilers!!  

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#Review - The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin #Fantasy #Romance #Vampires

Series: The Scarlet Veil # 1
Format: Hardcover, 640 pages
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Vampires

Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in its wake, each one drained of blood.

Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.

The Scarlet Veil is the first installment in author Shelby Mahurin's The Scarlet Veil duology. It is a spin-off from the author's Serpent and Dove series with most of the same characters, adding a few new ones like Michal, Mikail, Odessa, and Mila. Centered on Célie Tremblay—a character once relegated to the sidelines as the pious, heartbroken ex-fiancée of Jean Luc in the original trilogy—this spin-off transforms her into a fierce, complex heroine navigating a dark and bloody mystery. 

The story unfolds six months after the events of Gods & Monsters, with Célie having defied tradition to become the first female Chasseur—a holy huntswoman tasked with protecting Belterra from supernatural threats. Her fiancé, Jean Luc, now captain of the Chasseurs, hovers over her with suffocating protectiveness, a dynamic that chafes against Célie’s determination to prove herself. When a string of murders rocks Cesarine—victims drained of blood with twin puncture wounds on their necks—Célie seizes the chance to investigate, only to be kidnapped by Les Éternels, ancient vampires long dismissed as nursery-rhyme bogeymen. 

Her journey leads her to Requiem, a hidden island ruled by the enigmatic vampire king Michal Vasiliev, where she must unravel the killings while confronting her own buried trauma and an undeniable pull toward her captor. Cesarine’s fog-choked streets and Requiem’s shadowy, candlelit halls evoke the eerie elegance of Dracula or Interview with the Vampire, while the vampires themselves—silver-averse, sun-shunning, and unapologetically bloodthirsty—pay homage to classic lore without feeling derivative. 

While the mystery is at the heart of the plot—who’s behind the murders and why—unfurls with tantalizing twists, keeping readers guessing until the final, jaw-dropping reveal, Célie’s transformation is the soul of the book. Once a prim, rule-following foil to Lou’s wildness, she emerges as a woman wrestling with grief, self-doubt, and a steely resolve to redefine her strength. Her arc is raw and relatable—haunted by the horrors of Gods & Monsters, she battles panic attacks and the lingering whispers of guilt over her sister's death yet refuses to be coddled. The romance between Célie and Michal is a slow burn steeped in enemies-to-lovers tension. 

With his brooding charisma and morally gray complexity, Michal is a perfect counterpoint to Célie’s earnestness. The supporting cast breathes life into Requiem’s eerie halls. Dimitri and Odessa, a sibling duo of vampires, along with Mila, Michal's ghost sister, brings playful banter and warmth, while familiar faces like Louise, Cosette, Beau, and Reid weave in threads of nostalgia without stealing the spotlight. Jean Luc remains a thornier figure; his overbearing control veers into unlikeable territory, making Célie’s frustration with him all too palpable. 

Newcomers to the Serpent & Dove world might feel adrift amid references to past events, though the story stands well enough on its own. And while the cliffhanger ending is a brutal gut-punch—setting up The Shadow Bride with merciless precision—it leaves some threads dangling too abruptly, testing the patience of readers who crave closure. The Scarlet Veil is a love letter to vampire lore, wrapped in a mystery that’s as gripping as it is gruesome. 

Note: If you click on any of the links, you will see that this book is currently selling for $1.99. With the book being 640 pages, this is an absolute bargain for those who love paranormal romance novels. 

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#Review - Fate & Furies by Helen Scheuerer #Fantasy #Romance

Series: The Legends of Thezmarr # 3
Format: Kindle, 466 pages
Release Date: February 22, 2024
Publisher: Alchemy
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Fantasy / Romance

With darkness cursing the world around her, Althea Zoltaire is desperate for vengeance. But brutal secrets begin to unravel as she hunts Wilder Hawthorne across the kingdoms.

Not knowing what – or who – to trust, Thea and her companions find themselves entwined with a destiny far greater than one man. Together, they must navigate the haunting revelations that could shatter the very foundations of the midrealms.

Yet it’s not only the world at stake but Thea’s heart too. As everything teeters on the verge of destruction, her fate collides once more with Wilder’s.

Will their reunion ignite their fiery passion amidst the ashes of betrayal? Or will it end in a heartbreaking, deadly showdown?

In a journey fraught with danger, where the lines between enemies and allies blur, Thea must decide where her loyalties lie and who will stand at her side against the looming evil.

Fate & Furies is the third installment of author Helen Scheuerer's The Legends of Thezmarr series. The story picks up a year after the gut-wrenching betrayal at the end of Vows & Ruins, with Althea “Thea” Zoltaire consumed by a thirst for vengeance and darkness bleeding into the Midrealms poisoning the world with its curse, wraiths, reapers, and other monsters. Her target? Wilder Hawthorne, the brooding Warsword, shattered her trust and set her on a relentless pursuit across the midrealms. 

As Thea and her companions—loyal friends like Callahan Whitlock and Kristopher "Kipp" Snowden—chase Wilder through a landscape teeming with shadow wraiths and political intrigue, they uncover revelations that threaten to upend everything they know about their world. Thea also knows that her life is ticking towards either the end of the road or being successful when she gets the call to participate in the Great Rite. Something she's been training for, thanks to Wilder. The narrative hinges on a tantalizing question: will Thea’s reunion with Wilder reignite their fiery passion or end in a deadly showdown? 

Thea herself is a force to be reckoned with, but her storm magic appears to be fighting her. Her evolution from the determined novice of Blood & Steel to a hardened warrior grappling with love, betrayal, and destiny is beautifully realized. Scheuerer doesn’t shy away from her flaws—her stubbornness, her rage—but uses them to fuel a character arc that’s both empowering and relatable. The supporting cast shines just as brightly. Characters like Anya, a fierce Delmirian warrior, and Adrienne, Wilder’s ex-lover turned ally, add depth and complexity to the found-family dynamic that Scheuerer excels at crafting. 

Their banter and loyalty provide moments of levity amidst the darkness, while their own subplots—like Anya’s growing prominence—hint at bigger roles in the series finale. Fate & Furies is a rollercoaster of twists and revelations. Brutal secrets about Thezmarr’s history and Wilder’s actions come to light, forcing Thea to confront her loyalties and her heart. The cliffhanger ending is a gut punch, leaving readers desperate for Shadow & Storms. It’s darker and more intense than its predecessors, pushing Thea and Wilder to their limits while setting the stage for a cataclysmic finale. 

This book takes readers deeper into the sprawling, monster-haunted world of Thezmarr, where darkness looms, secrets unravel, and the stakes—both global and personal—reach dizzying heights. The looming threat of the Furies—enigmatic forces tied to the series’ overarching conflict—adds a layer of dread that permeates every chapter. This isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing entity that shapes the characters’ choices and amplifies the stakes.

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