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433 reviews

Ethan & Jag Destroy the World by Maz Maddox

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Jagmarith, Demon champion of the Blood Wars, detests mortal holidays: winter festivals, ridiculous misshapen hearts, flowers, and other traditions are as weak and ridiculous as the humans that celebrate them. Unfortunately, his dislike does little to protect him from the ancient magic that summons him to the human realm. Stolen from Hell, Jagmarith finds himself at the mercy of Ethan, the awkward, adorable human who has accidentally bound Jagmarith to him. To break free from the bond, Jag must endure a series of gruelling human holidays—Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more—whilst pretending to be Ethan’s nice, entirely human boyfriend. But between the upcoming Halloween party, the fuss over finding perfectly ghoulish decorations, and the odd, troubling feelings he’s developing for Ethan, there’s now another small matter to deal with: impending Armageddon. Jag is not pleased.

A lighthearted, feel-good narrative with a pinch of darkness, a dose of humour, and plenty of heart, Ethan & Jag Destroy the World is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Maz Maddox, author of one of my favourite series, RELIC. Ethan’s and Jag’s romance is the right balance of sweet, spicy, and emotional, and their story is a romp from start to finish: from Ethan’s accidental summoning of Jagmarith (second son of Bolor’gath, Champion of the Blood Wars, and carrier of his clan’s armour) to a love so powerful that it almost triggers an apocalyptic end to the world. With parts set during both Christmas and Halloween, it would make for perfect cosy reading in either season, and it’s definitely one I’m sure to visit again!

Guarded by the Marshal by Kennedy L. Mitchell

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

US Marshal Max Williams is eager to wrap up his last assignment. Rachel Smith’s testimony is harrowing, but he knows that he just has to get through the day; after that, he can escort her to a new life and then focus on putting his back together. When an unforeseen twist in the trial halts all his carefully laid plans, Max is forced to react swiftly to keep Rachel out of the hands of the cult she just testified against. There’s only one place Max knows is safe—home—and in the cosy, small town of Grandger, the attraction between Max and Rachel quickly ignites into a sizzling romance. For the first time in months, Rachel begins to feel safe, but all it takes is a single phone call to drag her back into danger. Max knows that they have a fight ahead of them—one he intends to win or die trying—so he can get Rachel back where she belongs: with him.

Guarded by the Marshal is an intense, at times harrowing story, which combines aspects of romance, suspense, and forbidden love. It certainly kept me entertained and engaged, but it did require significant suspension of belief at times. Whilst I admit that I have limited knowledge of the US witness protection program, there are numerous moments that were at best unrealistic, if not blatantly absurd. FMC Rachel was a highlight of the novel; sweet, resilient, and kind-hearted—despite the traumatic baggage she carries into the story — I appreciated her emotional journey and seeing her thrive through the latter half of the novel. On the flip side, MMC Max was unfortunately a miss for me. I enjoy a rugged, possessive, and even tortured hero, the playful, almost boyish side to him often came across as merely childish, and his characterisation felt otherwise inconsistent. Max’s personality and some actions, combined with the backstory set for Rachel and her immediate circumstances, did put something of a damper on the insta-love narrative.

Content Warnings

Runes, Ruin & Redemption by Maz Maddox

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Viewed by society as a monster, former magical Enforcer Sebastian can do nothing but roam the country, hiding when he can, and running from his bloody past and his failures when he can’t—until a series of well-intentioned mistakes leaves him hopelessly lost, waist deep in dark, uncharted territory. To escape certain death, he must make a deal that may well seal his fate. Whilst Sebastian has been running, Lucas has been chasing him—his heart—for years, and he fears that the demon’s from Sebastian’s past are catching up. With the help of Elliot, Stallion Ridge’s charming and enigmatic doctor, Lucas wades into darkness and danger, prepared to face all manner of foes to save Sebastian—but Lucas never expected Elliot to be the missing piece of the puzzle that might save him and Sebastian both.

Departing the eponymous small town, the fifth novel in the Stallion Ridge series—Runes, Ruin, & Redemption—combines elements of an epic quest, redemption narrative(s), and romance, with MMCs Elliot and Lucas leaving the safety of the community in the hopes of finding and saving MMC Sebastian. With themes of forgiveness and self discovery, and the added tension of a love triangle turned sweet, loving throuple, this was an emotional ride at times. I’m a total nerd for the history aspect of this particular paranormal western setting, so I especially enjoyed learning more about some of the recurring characters from earlier novels, as well as more extensive insight into the universe’s broader lore that this novel provided.

Rocks & Railways by Maz Maddox

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adventurous funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

As a former soldier, current deputy, expert coffee drinker, and suave player, Mack Kelly is a man of many talents, none of which bestow the confidence to be in charge of anything—let alone an entire town. Being the sheriff is the last thing he wants, especially when taking the badge now means he has to keep the rapidly growing town in order and facilitate the construction of the shiny new railway. But with Stallion Ridge’s sheriff out of commission, Mack is expected to fill the Centaur sized horseshoes. And, of course, there’s just one more tiny problem to deal with: the demon found sleeping where the tunnel route is supposed to go. But Tahlac, a being made entirely of stone, who has horns, a tail—and, Mack can’t help but notice, an arse lovingly carved by the gods—just might be a god himself.

Rocks & Railways was such a sweet, fun story. I’ve come to adore the whole Stallion Ridge cast, especially the character interactions. The whole crew are gems in their own ways, although Gunner is definitely becoming my favourite, with such deadpan delivery and giving zero f*cks except about what matters most to him. MMC Mack is a loveable rascal and it was such a treat to watch him overcome his anxieties and shine, even in the face of self-doubt, and MMC Tahl was a great addition to the Stallion Ridge cast. His backstory was especially fascinating, as well as packing a solid emotional punch that almost had me reaching for the tissues. Mack’s and Tahl’s romance is definitely insta-lust to insta-love, which isn’t really my jam most of the time, but it was well done and ultimately many warm fuzzies outweighed my reservations over the tropes.

Chokehold by Harleigh Beck, Leigh Rivers

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Cole and Blaise are supposed to be enemies. All it takes is one night behind masks—and one anonymous chase—to upend their worlds. They never expected the thrill of the game to blur the line between hatred and desire, igniting cravings buried deep. The problem? They both have girlfriends. Worse? They’re step-brothers. Yet they both still crave the touch and taste of the man they swear they despise as they wait for the next text message that will send their heartbeat racing, bringing with it the thrill—and the promise—of a forbidden chase.

With the thrills of both a forbidden romance and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, Chokehold was a captivating and intense story from start to finish, as well as being deeply emotional. MMC Cole’s story was especially challenging to read at times; the more I learnt about harrowing childhood and saw how poorly his step-father treated him, the more my heart broke for him. Although there were some repetitive aspects in the first half of the narrative, this was quickly overshadowed as Cole opened up to MMC Blaise, who had his own struggles to face and overcome. The development of their relationship, toxic as it was in the beginning, was raw and cathartic in unexpected ways. This was my first encounter with both authors, Leigh Rivers and Harleigh Beck; although not a five star read for me, I can say with confidence that I’d be happy to pick up another novel by either writer in future.

Content Warnings

Suspects & Scales by Maz Maddox

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cody Moore is no stranger to tragedy and death, but the murder of the young Deputy’s friend pushes him past his breaking point, awakening the monster sleeping deep inside him. With Cody’s heart shattered and the beast within him growing more powerful with each day, he refuses to leave the investigation solely in the hands of the mysterious stranger dispatched to Stallion Ridge to hunt down the culprit. The events by the river had changed him irrevocably, but nothing could have prepared him for the strength of the current drawing him to the dark and charismatic Quellin.

As the third book in the Stallion Ridge Series, Suspects & Scales felt like a final coming of age moment for MMC Cody. There were hints of this element in books one and two, where he featured as a key supporting character, but his journey is central to the emotional narrative of this novel, which deals with themes of grief, survivor’s guilt, and self-acceptance. The topics are handled thoughtfully through some earnest moments between characters that resonated deeply with me. As I’ve come to expect with Maz’s writing, the romance between MMCs Cody and Quellin was the right balance of sweet, steamy, and tense, but I admit that I especially enjoyed learning more about the lore of the Stallion Ridge universe (yes, I am that nerd). This novel had, by far, the best insight into the paranormal western setting and many of the non-human characters without being overwhelmed by exposition.

The Stopover by TL Swan

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I cannot do 500+ pages of this. The MMC is a complete asshole, and the FMC can't decide on a personality. These people are supposed to be adults ffs, yet they fight like toddlers, and no amount of spicy one liners is going to make up for the writing.

Content Warnings

Claw Marks & Card Games by Maz Maddox

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As a widowed father with a crippling gambling debt, Cooper Woodlock can’t seem to get Lady Luck back on his side. Desperate to keep the bloodthirsty Spades at bay, Cooper hits the saloons in the hopes of a winning hand. But when a black-clad gunslinger enters the game, tempting Cooper with a slice of freedom, Cooper realises too late that the stakes are much higher than he’s ever wagered.

Maz Maddox continues to cement her place on my list of all time favourite authors with book two of the Stallion Ridge series, a paranormal take on the wild west. Maddox does well to weave world building into the story without heavy exposition, and I loved learning more about the setting, lore, and the characters. The cast is especially fascinating, being diverse in every way imaginable. Learning more about both MMCs Cooper and Gunner was especially rewarding. They both have their own baggage to work through, and though it made for a few tense moments, their romance was as natural as it was steamy. I didn’t even mind that Cooper was a single parent, a trope I’d normally avoid—I find that the kid(s) and the related tropes that often come with them usually ruin the story for me. In this instance, though, having met his daughter in the previous novel, I knew her presence wouldn’t overwhelm the story. Plus, the little ball of chaos who had some of the best lines.

We Keep Secrets by A.J. Merlin

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Parker should be focusing on her budding romance. Yet with her murderous stalker dead and buried, she’s still plagued by worry: one of her men is a murderer, and the other seems way too comfortable with it. Despite their best attempts to convince Parker that nothing is wrong, she can’t shake the feeling that the problem was never her stalker, but Ashwick—and she’s not the only one to think that. Whilst Parker begins to dig into the small town’s shady history, a group claiming to be her stalker’s friends have arrived, armed with wild accusations and assumptions, and saying things that seem too crazy to be real—but their claims have been on Parker’s mind, too. Although she’s afraid to speak those same thoughts out loud, she doesn’t think she can look the other way. The choice she makes will have deadly consequences for at least one person: who faces them depends on her.

We Keep Secrets is the unsettling conclusion to the Behind Closed Doors duology, with plenty of creepy vibes and grey–to–black morals that make for perfect spooky season reading. The romance between FMCs Parker and MMCs Everett and Kayn continues to develop throughout the narrative, and—as I expected based on the first novel—the spice was extra steamy, although it felt somewhat out of place in some moments. FMC Parker was also a bit inconsistent in this story; I appreciate that she was working through some challenges to her morals, but I did grow somewhat tired of her internal “struggle”. The back and forth became repetitive and it wasn’t especially convincing at any point. The novel has a solid if predictable finish, leaving no glaring loose ends in terms of plot or characters—but plenty of moral questions.

Carnal Urges by J.T. Geissinger

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dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Sloane has met the devil: a blue-eyed, Irish mobster who blames her for starting a war. Fueled by a deep seated hatred, he’s accused her of consorting with his enemies and getting his men killed. Although Sloane is innocent on all charges, Declan wants his pound of flesh, and with her as his captive, he intends to take revenge. But as Sloane and Declan both discover, there are urges more powerful than revenge—and when the devil meets his match in his sworn enemy, that’s when the real war begins.

Intense, dark, and searingly hot, Carnal Urges is a thrilling read from start to finish. FMC Sloane is vibrant and sharp as a whip, her confidence and sass making for some of the funniest exchanges I’ve ever read as she clashed with MMC Declan’s ruthless, charismatic nature. They regularly had me cracking up with laughter to a point where I would consider this one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, even with the darker themes. Although Sloane could be annoying at times, I feel she deserves a spot on my list of all time favourite FMCs, whilst Declan is definitely in my top five of book boyfriends. I felt a great connection with both of them, enjoyed delving into their stories and all the twists and turns along the way, and was utterly enthralled by their romance, which was genuinely moving despite being undoubtedly volatile.

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roksyreads's reviews 433 reviews

roksyreads's reviews
433 reviews