A Spooky Legacy by S. E. Harmon (The Spectral Files #5)

TITLE: ⟫ A Spooky Legacy

AUTHOR: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

SERIES: ⟫ The Spectral Files #5

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Rain Christiansen is settling into married life with fellow cold case detective, Daniel McKenna, and life is good. Better than good, even. But when it comes to the topic of expanding their family, Rain isn't so sure he's ready. Yes, a new addition could enrich their lives. But it could also tear down the delicate balance they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Do they really want to take that risk?

He’d love to brood over that a little more, but murder never takes a day off. A decade-old mystery of the missing Parker family is heating up. Most seem to think the Parkers pulled a disappearing act to get out of financial debt. It isn’t before the PTU finds out the reality is far grimmer than that. It seems that Quinn stumbled upon something better left hidden. Now that Rain has stumbled upon it, too, he has to be careful that he doesn’t meet the same fate.

Sometimes it amazes him how far he’s come from strait-laced FBI agent who couldn’t admit—even to himself—that he saw ghosts. He’s done the work, learning to get some measure of control of his paranormal side. And while his relationship with ghosts may not be perfect, it’s evolved into something symbiotic... which is a very good thing. Because in order to protect himself from the living, he might need a little help from the dead.

REVIEW: ⟫ I was so pleased when I saw that S.E. Harmon was doing another story in the Spooky files and this story didn’t disappoint. It was fantastic to be back with Rain and Danny, as well as the cast of usual suspects and to a certain extent, it felt like we’d never been apart.

I love Rain as a main character – he has no illusions about himself, about how grumpy and sarcastic he is – but there is also an understanding of just how lucky he is, despite all of the issues being able to communicate with ghosts have caused him. He and Danny are taking a truly grown up step, and we get to watch as Rain realises that he is ready, that he and Danny represent something good and kind, and that despite his flaws, Rain might just be exactly what is needed.

The cold case they are working is entertaining, twisty and downright insane on occasion, and we have our usual circumstances where Rain gets himself into situations that no-one else possibly could. I loved his interactions with the people in his life (his mother cracks me up every time she’s there), but throughout it all, I love that the relationship between he and Danny is centre stage. Slices of domestic life, including Watson, are treated with the respect that they deserve as Rain knows just how badly things can turn out for people through his work and his supernatural experiences.

This book was lovely to dive into – it was like turning on a new episode of your favourite TV programme where you know all of the characters and get to enjoy everything about them that you weren’t aware you missed. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and so pleased with the conclusion where Rain begins to understand just a little about the new star.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer by S.E. Harmon

Title: ⟫ The First and Last Adventures of Kit Sawyer

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ In the archaeology community, Christopher “Kit” Sawyer’s family is a legacy. And while he may be a historian, not a treasure hunter, he thinks he does a pretty good job of living up to the Sawyer name. He's a book-smart research fanatic and does his best work at his tidy desk. No fedora and whip for him, if you please—a nice cup of coffee and a comfy chair will do. But decoding an ancient relic soon gives him more adventure than he bargained for.

Unwittingly, he unleashes a force he doesn't know how to control. And now he has to reunite the relic with a powerful Aztec God. The trouble with that? Kit doesn’t where to find the Tlaloc’s temple. No one does, in fact. Finding it could be a discovery for the ages. It could also lead to his untimely death. So...yay? But it’s not like he has a choice. So off to the Mexican jungle he goes.

At least he isn’t going alone.

Ethan Stone, former stepbrother and overall pain in the rump, horns in on the expedition. An experienced archaeologist, he's only coming along at their grandfather's request—which annoys Kit to no end. But he knows Ethan is just the right person to get them through the jungle safely. It’s just too bad someone is trying to beat them to the temple. And he’s willing to do anything to get there first.

Ethan thinks Kit is in over his head. Kit is secretly afraid he just may be right. In manners of archaeology...and manners of the heart….

Review: ⟫ Ooh think Indiana Jones meets National Treasure and you have this book, but throw in some hot men falling in love and it gets SOOO much better! I happen to list the Indiana Jones and National Treasures as some of my favourite comfort movies, so reading the blurb of this had me happy dancing in my seat.

And I was not let down!

This book was a humdinger of a ride, with thrills galore, a smidge of the supernatural and banter and hot sex – an absolutely perfect recipe if you ask me! Kit made me laugh with his self-deprecating humour and he touched my heart – feeling such an imposter in a famous, adventurous family and health concerns meaning he literally couldn’t pick up the family mantle.

I felt for poor Ethan – there he was, thinking he was being so blatant and at every turn Kit misunderstood him and his intentions. It’s enough to drive a swashbuckling hero insane. His protectiveness over Kit yet his willingness to stand back and let Kit have his shot was just one of Ethan’s good points – he was an absolutely brilliant foil for Kit, understanding both sides of his personality and aware of his history enough to just get why Kit felt the way he did.

This was a fun read, with some hot sex amidst the adventure and I am really pleased I read it – S.E. Harmon has never let me down yet!

I received an ARC from GRR.

Cross by S.E. Harmon (The Formicary #2)

Title: ⟫ Cross (The Formicary #2) 

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon 

Blurb: ⟫ I thought getting shot, losing my memory, and being hunted by people I didn’t know for reasons I couldn’t remember was rock bottom. Turns out I was wrong. I found a shovel, dug a little deeper, and found a whole new sublevel of suck. 

Apparently, I took something from the Formicary that doesn't belong to me. The boss, Petar Dobroslav, is willing to do just about anything to get it back. Making an enemy of a super-secret organization of assassins might seem like a bad idea and…well, it absolutely is. 

To be honest, it was inevitable that Grayson Laurie would get dragged into my mess. In my line of work, love is a luxury, a vulnerability I can't afford. But I couldn't stay away, and now we're both paying the price. But I can fix this. I will fix this. 

Everyone knows the Formicary is a formidable adversary. It's time to remind them that so is Christian Cross. 

Review: ⟫ Yeah, so I didn’t fangirl over the first book enough, but book two surpassed it! Talk about action packed – this was a wild ride, full of twists and turns and the return of favourite characters. 

Can we have a moment of appreciation for Chaos please? And his relationship with Nick cracked me up constantly. Like, can we have the two of them getting together, even if it’s just for a one-off hate thing? 

The Formicary #2 was full of fascinating characters, a better understanding of what Cross had got himself into and why, and the story just kept twisting itself into pretzel-like knots, then smoothing out. 

I loved it – Gray and Cross are so sweet in a hyped up, horny duo and intensely messed up pairing. On paper, Gray should be completely out of his depth, but he more than showed his mettle this time and I really appreciated seeing more of what makes Cross love him so much. Villains, henchmen, Operation Genesis – I raced through this book and was so sorry to put it down. 

Really appreciated how this was written, and have now got a kindle full of S.E. Harmon’s books to read because I just wanted more. Another 5/5 from me!

Blitzed by S.E. Harmon (Rules of Possession #3)

Title: ⟫ Blitzed (Rules of Possession #3)

Author: ⟫ S.E. Harmon

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so...yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun. Right?

Wrong. Jesse may have to put up an athlete using his center as a "get out of jail free" card, but that's where he draws the line. And who cares if Andrew is unexpectedly sweet and thoughtful? The people in Jesse’s life think he should get a life outside of charity work and find love. And maybe he will. But it won't be with a playboy NFL player wearing an ankle monitor as an accessory. Besides, anyone who dated someone like that would be thrust into the public eye. Jesse has worked hard to become someone else—someone better—and he's not about to dig up the past.

That's just not a game he's willing to play.

Too bad it’s not in Andrew’s nature to give up on something he wants. It may have started as simple attraction, but now it’s much more than that. He doesn’t just want Jesse for now…he wants Jesse for always.

And that's not a game he's willing to lose.

Review: ⟫ I kinda went into this expecting a relatively shallow book about two guys falling in love, with the NFL and a community centre in the background. But this book was so much more than that.

Jesse has had a tough life and is doing everything he can to pay it forward and ensure that others don’t have to struggle the way that he did. In doing so, he’s protecting his heart – especially after his last relationship with a closeted NFL player and how that turned out. That doesn’t mean he’s blind – he can see that Andrew McAdams is a fine looking man and is attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean he has to make the same mistake again.

I really liked Jesse – I liked how aware he was of his flaws and weaknesses; how he could look at his past and the people who let them down and acknowledge that loving them might be something he couldn’t stop but that didn’t mean he had to let them in. I especially liked how he was at the Centre – it shone out of him how much the place, the people and the kids meant to him and he sounded like an exceptional person.

Andrew McAdams took me by surprise. It would have been so easy for him to be some dumb jock trying to get into Jesse’s pants, with no appreciation for what he had and no understanding of why Jesse was the way he was. Instead, he proved himself to be sensitive, caring and just an outright good person who it was practically impossible not to love.

They made a lovely couple, even if they spent almost 75% of the book trying to deny that that’s what they were. Both of these characters were so well written, with a brilliant supporting cast including Blue and Kelly from the previous Rules of Possession books, and an underlying plot that was enthralling, amusing and touching in so many ways.

I motored through this book even though I was completely exhausted and wanted to sleep because I needed to see Andrew and Jesse get their HEA. I have enjoyed every book I have read by S.E. Harmon and this was no exception – well worthy of a read and unputdownable in the best way.