Who needs love when getting justice sounds so much sweeter…?
Shae Silverstorm
Freedom is all I’ve dreamed about for the last fifteen years.
When I see my chance to escape captivity, I have to take the risk. And for once, luck is on my side.
However, I have no doubt my captors are looking for me.
When I get approached by an eccentric group of misfits called MEOW Squad (don’t even ask) offering to keep me safe and help me get justice, I don’t have much choice but to accept.
The only problem? One of them has the bonkers notion that I’m his fated mate.
Fine. I’ll admit, Wolf Boy has a seriously hot surfer bod, not to mention unfairly cute furry ears and a tail. Talk about a deadly combo.
But love is for suckers and fated mates aren't to be trusted. I've got proof of that. Taking down my evil father, wicked stepmonster, and cruel stepsister has to be my top priority.
But damn if Griffin isn’t starting to break through my strongest defenses though, with his puppy-dog eyes, sunshiny personality, and dog-like (pun intended) devotion to me.
Griffin McIntyre
When I find a magical gold coin straight out of Tolkien (sweet!), it tells me it’s my “Lucky Day.”
And that’s proven the moment I meet Shae because he’s my fated mate.
As a Wolfkin with empathic magic abilities, I was a disappointment to my old pack. Now, as a member of MEOW Squad, I use my powers to help those in need. And I’ve never met anyone who needs me more than Shae.
All I want is to help him heal and get the justice he deserves. Oh, and have him accept our mate bond. If I can conquer a ten-foot wave, then I can do this!
I’ll wait as long as it takes. Just like ice cream and apple pie, we’re meant to be.
Siren in the Rain is about a gorgeous but grumpy siren Cinderfella with the voice of an angel and a mouth full of sass and the golden retriever of a Wolfkin who’s his fated mate. It features more grumpy/ sunshine vibes than one can shake a stick at, all the swoon-worthy hurt/comfort feels, a found family made up of lovable weirdos, and a guaranteed HEA. It’s the first book in a new spin-off series set in the Monsters Hollow universe.
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Siren in the Rain is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure.
Chloe Archer writes queer sci-fi and paranormal rom-coms with laugh out loud humor, zany shenanigans, silly acronyms, and plenty of spice!
She currently call Minnesota home, but has lived abroad in places like Montreal, Edinburgh, and Tokyo. She’s hoping to relocate to Scotland permanently in the next few years if the stars align.
Chloe is a fur mama to two adorable Yorkies, Jasper and Teddy, and she loves them in a crazy dog mama kind of way. When she isn’t busy writing, she enjoys visiting friends and family, traveling, reading, binge watching movies and TV shows, and practicing her karaoke skills. She does a mean cover of Pat Benatar and Cher, or so she’s been told.
I liked this introduction to the new bunch of Otherkind who are going to be getting their HEAs.
Shae and Griffin were super cute, there's very much a slow burn vibe which makes sense given the background, but when the heat comes, it's spicy enough to satisfy.
I liked the plot here too, Coin is slightly more involved but still only on the periphery of the action. Still, there's a good bunch of characters introduced here I'm happy to find more about.
Ahh, this book had all the feels! Griffin our lovable Wolfskin was totes adorable. He was too cute for his own good. He made you love him right from the start. His backstory was sad, it helped to give us a peek at why he is the way he is. Shae, oh boy. That poor baby needed all the love! His life was tragic. I couldn't imagine having my own family treat me the way he was treated. He was so guarded and rightfully so. Having the MEOW squad being the one to find and help him was the best thing that could have happened to him. That group of misfits were able to show him what family really should be like. And of course Griff was able to use his gift to ease his fears and worries. This was a great start to a spin off series. I can't wait to see what happens next
So cute and cheesy and sweet and fun and silly… and then there’s the ✨r e v e n g e✨… baybeeee! Phew!
But damn it all to shit, it just had to have some wonky bits. A lot of little inconsistencies and whiffs. Didn’t change how much I loved it or how good it was, but (as always) it was a thing that was there and tried to trip my brain up enough to stand out so I gotta mention it.
So many good multi-author series came out this year, and I’m still playing catch-up, but this one has been amazing so far.
4.25/5. I seriously cannot wait for more of the Monsters Hollow universe. It just gets better every installment. The acronyms alone are reason enough to love this author’s work, but definitely stay for the insanely imaginative and interesting stories.
Awe this was sugary cute! I love this band of misfits. The writing was great, and the smexy was nice. If you like your fantasy family cute and adorable this is the story for you with all sugar and sweetness. Hurt/comfort grumpy/ sunshine so bright you can hardly see.
For future me.
No cheating/sharing Kinda insta but still had to do a little work Not sure about diversity in race but did have diverse species No smexy before relationship
3,5 stars for fluffy reading fun. This book is fun to read and doesn't take itself too seriously. The fluff is a good counterpoint to the tragic background story of Shae.
The story itself is well drafted ... although I always get a bit antsy, when one of the MC says that he gives the other one time, they need and then whines that it doesn't go quick enough. Nevertheless, Griffin was fun even if he was a bit too much for me.
I loved especially Harper and Cal and would love a book for these two.
Siren in the Rain is a charming paranormal romance that blends darker themes with warmth and healing. As part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae, and a spin-off set in the Monsters Hollow universe, this book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.
At its heart, this story is a paranormal retelling of Cinderella (Cinderfella) featuring fated mates, a grumpy/sunshine pairing, and a good dose of hurt/comfort. It follows Shae, a prickly half-siren who has endured years of abuse at the hands of his father, stepmother, and stepsister. After finally escaping, he meets Griffin (his fated mate), who’s a lovable Wolfkin empath with a golden retriever personality. Griffin is also a part of the MEOW (Missing and Endangered Otherkind Welfare) squad, a team of misfits who quickly become Shae’s new family and play a big role in the story.
The relationship between Shae and Griffin is a slow burn. This allows time for Shae’s trauma to be acknowledged and for his healing to happen naturally (as naturally as possible in a world with magic). I liked how the author did a great job handling these heavier themes with care, while also making sure the story is both touching and hopeful. Griffin’s gentle, supportive nature is exactly what Shae needs, and watching their relationship develop was really heartwarming.
However, the story is not just about Shea and Griffin’s romance. The story is also about the strong bonds formed with the other members of the MEOW squad. The side characters in the MEOW squad are just as lovable as the MCs, and they are bringing plenty of humour and sense of found family. Their playful banter and camaraderie also bring a sense of lightness that balances the more intense elements of the story. So it’s no surprise if you easily get attached to these characters and hope they each get their own happy ending in future books. I know I did.
Despite the underlying dark tones like trafficking, this book is ultimately a story of resilience, love, and finding joy after pain. For me the pacing of the book was engaging, and the twists kept me hooked. But it’s Griffin’s bright personality, combined with Shae’s gradual healing, that made this book a satisfying read for me.
All in all, this is a lovely read that balances depth with sweetness. Chloe Archer has created a world full of lovable characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to more stories in this universe.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my unbiased review.
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CW: enslavement, physical and mental abuse (including withholding food), rejection by family, childhood trauma, PTSD, mention of past parental death through domestic violence and Otherkind trafficking.
Rounded up at the time of writing this review to 4* because of Griffin and Dallas May change my mind later 🙈
Loved Griffin. I can see why everybody would be so enarmoured with him and can't say no to him. Even though I'm not a dog person per se (they are cute and all but I just can't stand the near constant licking, or maybe it is just the dogs I know) I can relate to the power of cuteness.
You really have to be in the mood for a book not taking itself too seriously to be able to enjoy this kind of writing style. Although, this book was a lot tamer than the first book of another series It's Not Unusual to Be Loved by an Alien which I tried to reread earlier this month and had to reschedule because of exactly that same reason - you have to be in the mood for it and set aside rationality.
I think this was the first book of Chloe Archers where a character confronted with the rediculousness of a task force actually acknowledged that fact and questioned if they were for real - and I'm not talking about the acronym here.
I will keep my eye out for future books in this series specifically, not the overarching Fae series in this context, as I'm quite interested in who some of the other characters might end up with. Especially my cat loving friend (yes, I'm a cat person, sue me, I LOVED all the cat jokes). If I could, I would crawl my way in there and try my luck with this bear of a man who can cook, bake, loves cats and loves family.... Where is my magic coin I ask you?
There were times where I didn't quite get a feel for who Shae truely was. I get that trauma can make some people hide and some people become snarky and abrasive but he felt too abrasive at times to me, too badass for someone who was also supposed to be scared out of his skin around people he doesn't know. But that is exactly what I mentioned before. When reading Chloe Archer you just can't be too rational and logical but just go with the flow. Paired with it not being too overly so like the book I mentioned before I could enjoy the ride for what it was. A relaxing pasttime with a dash of fun, a lot of cuteness and an escape from reality.
Chloe Archer never misses and this was such a tender and sweet love story that made me giggle and awww quite a few times. Half siren Shae has been a slave in his own home, used by his father and stepmother so they could steal his voice for their gain. When he manages to escape, after 15 years of captivity, he meets Griffin, a wolf boy part of a rescue squad called MEOW. Yes, they have a cat lover in their midst. The connection they have is immediate but only Griffin recognises it as a bond between fated nates. Due to his trauma, it'll take Shae a bit longer to come to terms with his growing feelings towards cuddle puppy eyed Griffin who is willing to leave everything behind for his mate. I loved how their relationship was slow building and Griffin never once tried to force Shae to try or rush things he was not ready for. He gave him 100% of his attention and his time, all of his support and love. It was impossible to resist those puppy eyes and wagging tail for long, though. They were too sweet together and I loved their journey. Their journey to love and also to revenge towards the people who enslaved him. I loved the group chat messages! It was so much fun!! I finished the book with a big grin on my face! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, one I love, was as usual perfect in both the MCs roles!
It's not often I pick up an audio before I've read the book, but this is one of those times. The only thing that bums me out about it is that I don't have any quotes handy to include in my review and there were so many funny moments I would have liked to share!
When we meet Shae, the half siren, he is just escaping from the terrible abuse and confinement he's suffered for years. I honestly felt so awful for him, especially since it was his own "family" that were behind it all. Shae is brought to the M.E.O.W squad headquarters for safety reasons where he promptly meets his fated mate, an exuberant himboesque wolfkin named Griffin. As you can probably guess, Shae is in no way shape or form ready to have anything to do with being a fated mate. In fact, he doesn't even know if he believes in them.
Griffin, being the absolutely LOVABLE guy he is, doesn't take too long to convince Shae to at least spend some time together. I loved how understanding and patient Griffin was. all he cared about was his mate's happiness and comfort. He did everything he could to help Shae on his journey of healing. It was so sweet.
I want more from this world. I don't even care who is next cause I want them all. Well, that's a tiny fib. I think my heart has landed on hoping for Harper next. I'm a sucker for a vampire romance and I love how kind, yet vicious Harper can be. Either way I hope there is more to come in this universe and soon!
I love Chloe Archer, her characters, her stories and omg her humor. I'm here for it. And yes, I want to see all the stories about Harper, Cal and Dallas. Thank you very much. For me, it doesn't quite come close to Monster Hollow and her Tentacle series: Shae and Griff are super cute, but I would have liked a little more plot. The story about Shae's stepmother, stepsister and father is made so big, but for 80% of the story it loses its acute meaning. I would have liked more confrontation, more action, more revenge (it wasn't at all wise to read River's and Kai's series beforehand, because that's one of my new favorite series, the holy grail and the benchmark of what Chloe can write and do with my heart... 😂🙈). Against this background, this story remained very fluffy, pale and with a clear focus on Shae's healing and how he finds his freedom and Griff. Don't get me wrong, I still loved the story, but I just expected something 🤏🏻 more. 4 stars from me and I hope that our remaining bachelors will also get their mates... 😏
This is a book filled with cliches and mediocre writing, another example of writing that would benefit from a top notch editor. This author has also fallen into the oh so common trap that many inexperienced and undereducated writers succumb to - explaining and telling instead of allowing readers to use their imagination, especially for descriptions of locales and people. It’s a very clinical and academic way of writing, and has zero place in fiction. The plot line can only be described as ridiculous, and mostly just tries too hard to be too many things. As for the style of writing itself, most of it reads like a 12 year old writing in a journal. And for the paste time - scissoring is not a thing gay men do stretch! All of these problems coupled with glaring editorial errors (formatting, grammatical, etc.) made this book painful to read. Zero stars would have been given if possible.
Siren in the Rain is part of the multi author Fortune Favors the Fae series . Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the rest of the series. The coin comes out for a new couple, this time it's Shae a half siren who's been a prisoner most of his life and Griffin a Wolfkin who is a member of theMEOW Squad. I loved these two so much because they were so opposite and yet they each have their own issues. Chloe Archer does another amazing job with this book but I would expect nothing else from her. The characters and world building are outstanding. I really want more books involving the MEOW Squad as there are other members I would love to see find love. Any book that can make me laugh and cry is one I would recommend and this one did both many times. This was definitely a 5 star read.
The writing style isn’t for me. The plot is good and so are the tropes but i think it is the wrong time, good book kinda thing. Was looking forward to reading this but the characters are too cutesy and Griffin is just annoying me right now. Maybe ill give it a chance someday.
I seem to be in a minority here, but I didn't love this book. I did enjoy the premise of the story, but to me it just felt slow and I found myself skimming big chunks in the middle where nothing seemed to be happening. I didn't connect with the characters and where everyone else seems to have found them endearing, I just thought they were annoying. Once I got to 80% is picked up again, but for me this could have been around 50% shorter than it was. Sorry Coin, this one's not for me
Chloe has paired with Joel Leslie, has the narrator for this, and omg, he is the perfect choice! He has a way of making the emotions stronger for these men who were made to be together. Brings in the right sass when needed and the true pain when needed. It's perfect work. I'm so happy to see this pairing and hope to see it happen again in the future.
From reading all of Chloes' previous works, you know she can write, but wow, she proves to us in this how diverse of a writer she truly is. Yes, you still get the chaos of her previous works in this, but now you see the angst of a broken past righted. Shae has been held captive for the last fifteen years, and this is his tale of finally being free and falling in love at the same time. His past has left him understandably jaded, so it's no surprise it takes a loveable wolfkin to break down those barriers. Griff is a beautifully excitable, slightly himbo surfer wolfkin who will do everything and anything for his fated mate. He shows a true honor in the way he allows Shae to set the pace of their relationship. These two have undeniable chemistry from the getgo, yet it takes time to get there. With the help of the MEOW team, Shae gets his well-deserved vegence of the family that wronged him in so many ways. The story is a fun and emotional tale from start to finish in Shaes' new free life. The MEOW team is a loveable buch of characters that I hope to see more of in the future, to find their hea as well.
I really enjoyed reading this one. While it is cute at different points, it does deal with some heavy issues. That doesn't take away from how enjoyable this story is. Griffin is so cute and the perfect mate to help grumpy Shae heal from what he's endured. I wouldn't mind seeing some of the other MEOW squad members get their happily ever after also. Update: I enjoyed listening to this story even more than reading it. I absolutely loved Joel Leslie's narration for this.
One thing you can expect with Chloe's writing is exquisite details, humorous characters, and a comedic undertone that's bound to make you smile. Even though there are serious matters being discussed throughout this book, it isn't all heavy. There's a nice lightness to the story and the characters help bring that lightness to life.
What Shae went through at the hands of his dad and step-mother is awful, I felt so bad for him that he had to experience all the horrors that he suffered through. When him, Haku, and Emma escaped I was so happy for him. Especially because not too long after they escape, they meet MEOW Squad.
Chloe has a way of creating characters and universes that you can't help but get completely immersed in. As soon as I start one of her books I'm immediately transported somewhere else. Chloe is also great at creating acronyms for the places her characters work at, I loved the one she came up with in her alien series, but I adore MEOW Squad so much more. It's such a cute name for a group of people who have formed a family, and helps saves OtherKinds.
I liked the details that went into describing not only the scenery but also the details that went into describing each and every character. I could visualize what the characters might look like with the details that Chloe provided. I also enjoyed the creative liberty Chloe took with creating her own version of what Sirens look like, what powers they posses, and how they have their own magical island they call home. I found the characters to be unique and creative and I love each and every character.
The side characters are as excellent as the main characters are, they help provide comedic dialogue, a warm found family feeling, and, you can't help but to adore them. Griffin, aka Papa Bear, is truly the papa bear of the MEOW Squad, he cares so profoundly for his found family, and he makes sure everyone is healthy, safe, and well fed. The other members of MEOW Squad are just as lovey, I hope each one of them gets their own story eventually.
The relationship between Griffin, and Shae was so sweet. Even while Shae was grumpy and constantly rejected Griffin, Griffin continued to stay by Shae's side and tried to provide as much comfort as he could while respecting Shae's wishes. Shae and Griffin together are literally the epitome of Grumpy/Sunshine. Griffin's character is absolutely adorable, it was so heartwarming reading about all the ways he cares for those around him. I loved the slow burn between the two MC's, I thought it was executed excellently! The pacing was spot-on, things developed naturally, and the flow of the plot was so smooth.
The conversations that occured in the MEOW Squad text chat was probably my favorite part of the book. They provided a comedic relief when things were getting more heavy and serious, and the jokes that took place in that chat was funny and exceptionally cheesy. I also liked the short conversations that happened between Griffin and his magical coin, that coin has a sassy personality.
I truly loved this story and I'm excited to see what's coming next in this new series that Chloe's embarking on. I sincerely hope you give this story a chance.
Siren in the Rain is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae and the start of a new spin-off series set in the Monsters Hollow universe but can be read as a standalone.
I haven’t managed to read all of the Fortune Favors the Fae books, but I have read quite a few and was intrigued by the blurb for this one. I don’t normally get ARCs from authors I don’t know so this book is special in that way as I felt compelled to read it.
Shae has had a horrible life being enslaved and abused by his father, stepmother and stepsister. Due to his half siren nature, his “family” used his singing to make his stepsister famous by impersonating his voice. The only good thing in his life is his drake (similar to a tiny dragon), Haku, who is protective and cute. Until he meets Griffin and the rest of the MEOW (Missing and Endangered Otherkind Welfare) squad.
Griffin is a wolfkin and has empathic magic. He’s an adorable ray of sunshine that has been rejected by his pack due to him not conforming to their ideas of how he should be. A wolfkin is more similar to a werewolf than a wolf shifter. It means that they don’t transform into a wolf but always have a tail, ears and sometimes claws and fangs when agitated.
The rest of the squad includes: Ruby, an elemental witch with healing powers, she was the only female in the group until Emma joined. Emma helped Shae escape and is a potion master. Cal is a mage, his magic is very powerful and described as hacking. Harper is a vampire and has been alive for a long time. Lastly there is the leader, Dallas who is a Bearkin.
Even though I don’t normally read this author’s work, I will definitely be keeping an eye out to see if there’s a Harper, Cal or Dallas book in the future. These three men intrigue with their vast differences: Harper’s cool elegance, Cal’s sarcastic charm and Dallas soothing protective bear personality.
I liked how Chloe Archer portrayed Shae’s healing process with respect and didn’t rush it. It was really beautiful to watch Shae discover joy in life again.
Shae and the MEOW squad discover a shocking secret about Shae’s past that puts them into action … I won’t say anything else but I did really like this group of characters.
Overall, despite the dark tones of Shae’s life and the theme of trafficking people, this book radiates healing and sweetness. It didn’t blow me away or make me want to reread, but it was very enjoyable and I would recommend it if the below tropes are what you like.
This book contains triggering content such as enslavement, severe physical and mental abuse (including withholding food, including by family), rejection by family, childhood trauma, PTSD, mention of past parental death and human/ non-human trafficking.
🏰 MM PNR Cinderella Retelling 💞 Fated mates 🌤️ Grumpy/ Sunshine ❤️🩹 Hurt/ comfort 🥰 Found family 🧜🏼♂️ Prickly half siren 🐾 Golden retriever wolf boy 🐉 Adorably protective drake familiar
Plot: 📚📚📚📚 Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ World building: 🌎🌎🌎🌎 Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥 Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊
More and more, it feels like being fae is secondary and the coin is... not actually a requirement? It was here, sure, but as with previous books, it felt like a footnote instead of an integral part of the story. I mean, this is a book about a secret group of paranormals who rescue others of their kind - they're called MOEW squad. Like, that in itself tells you what kind of book this is. And I am not even complaining, Sherwood (the first book in this "universe" - multiverse, I guess) is the queen of dorky and cute and all things gooey even amidst Serious Events but she also used the coin as an actual plot device. It transported the MC where he needed to be, gave him powers, advice, commented regularity and medled. Not everyone can be like that, naturally, but here, the coin was... nothing. It did nothing besides "saying" a few lines. Which would be less of an issue if we didn't switch to half-siren. I am not sure anyone ever even said the word fae and that feels unfair to other books?
Look, I am enjoying exploring all these new works but this does feel like a group assignment with super simple and straightforward rules yet people are already cheating and doing their own thing.
The vibes of this book where definitely similar to the first book, which is why I am so stuck on that fact even though this is not the first author who just shoved the coin into an already made book/plot. The beginning was definitely, absolutely different.
In fact, I considered quitting while reading it, which would be a shame because that first (?) chapter is COMPLETELY different from the rest of the book. Absolutely. Couldn't be more different. The book itself is a very gentle, very quirky and dorky and huge bear-person wearing cute apron and feeding people before discussing Serious Stuff kind of place, where most of the plot is about the siren accepting the wolf. Wolf-kin, cause how can you make your world cuter? By giving them actual wolf years and a tail like a constant cosplay to make them irresistible. It was very much a romance and about healing and getting better, all nice and gentle and everyone's nice and the first chapter is the absolute opposite and I just don't get it. I don't think I am a softie but someone who likes the rest of the book isn't someone who would like the beginning? And not to go about Sherwood again (I sure have some reservations there too) but she gave her MC the same kind of start, he was married to an absolute jerk and his last years were kind of hellish but we came to see him triumph and take names and kick asses and whatever and it was great while seeing the mess and abuse in those first moments - like a first impression of the book? If I didn't skimm it, I wouldn't be here is what I am saying.
Anyway, I was glad I was able to withstand and even kind of enjoy the adorkable story and characters and there are books in this series I didn't finish so yes, three nice stars for you.
'Oh no. I let my Wolfkin side take over a wee bit too much. I licked him. Now he’s mine, my inner wolf tells me. Waaah! He’s gonna think I’m so weird!'
I absolutely loved this book! It was such a beautiful story, not only of healing and love, but of found family. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved Shae and all the MEOW Squad members. The group overall is fun, warm, quirky, loyal, caring, and funny. They are also all very skilled and work smoothly as a team. I liked that they each had different strengths. My heart hurt for Shae's abuse by his family. I really enjoyed his road to healing in this book- especially the uniqueness of the island (I won't say more).
Cheerful himbo Griff was so precious. I loved his optimism and empathy. He made me laugh out loud a number of times. And I could completely see 'Wolf Boy' through Shae's eyes as an adorable anime character with the wolf ears, fluffy tail that could wag in a blur, and whose puppy eyes were deadly to even the rest of MEOW Squad. The praise kink was both understandable- due to his past with his family- and adorable because I kept hearing, "Whose a good boy?" in my head in the way one says to their pet dog. And I loved it. His insecurities made me want to hug him (and pet his ears) even more.
Dallas "Papa Bear" was one of my favorite characters. The leader of the team, but also a caregiver trying to take care of everyone and keep everyone fed. (I definitely want his book! His mate will be a lucky man indeed!) I was also very drawn to vampire Harper and would love to read his book and learn more about him. Beautiful, mysterious, and strong.
This story had healing, trust, and love. It had suspense and tension in regards to Shae's family and the unknown. How his father and stepmother was handled was great. But nothing was as perfect as Bella. So, so satisfying! It was one of my favorite scenes. Not just for her comeuppance, but also because in that moment, we really see how far Shae has come from the beginning of the book.
As much as I LOVE Tentacular Tales (and Monster's Hollow), this is my favorite. I really, REALLY hope we get more books with MEOW Squad!!
Joel Leslie delivers another superb performance bringing this book to life. Everyone has a unique voice from cheerful Griffin, strong Zane, seductive Harper, adorable Haku, and even haughty Margaret Divine. As always, you can really hear the emotion and love come through. Forever my favorite narrator!
I am a big fan of Chloe Archer's series Tentacular Tales so when I saw she was part of a multi-author series Fortune Favors the Fae I was very keen to read her contribution and wow it was so good!
Siren in the Rain had me feeling so many emotions, sadness, anger, joy, hope, love, humour, and heartbreak, I got to experience a gamut of emotions as I got to know the characters and their backstories and travel with them on their journey to a HEA.
The MEOW Squad, yep, that's their name were wonderful characters, all of them played a big part in the story and I really hope Chloe Archer writes more in this world she has created soon because all of the team deserve their HEAs too.
Shae Silverstorm should be broken after what he has endured and while he is damaged, his strength shines through from the start. He's snarky and sarcastic and afraid to let anyone in but he didn't count on meeting the MEOW Squad, especially Griffin who is the most adorable and caring Wolfkin you'll come across.
I loved the relationship that grew between these two men who are fated mates, though Shae fights against this determined not to be tied to anyone, partly because of the relationship he witnessed between his parents. Man, these two gave me so many feelings 💛.
The world of magic and magical beings was a great one to dive into, there was plenty going on as the MEOW Squad helped protect Shae from his Father and Stepmonster and uncover more crimes than they expected while trying to take them down.
There is definitely plenty of scope left in the trafficking theme to uncover and as I said more members of the MEOW Squad needing to find the HEAs. This is the first book in a spinoff series from her Monsters Hollow Universe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Siren in the Rain is a part of the multi-author series, Fortune Favors the Fae. From spicy to sweet, zany romps to epic adventures, there’s something for everyone in this mystical series. Discover destiny and true love and follow the coin on its fickle journey to the next world and a new magical adventure. All books are standalone reads.
I'm a huge fan of Chloe Archer's quirky writing style. I love how lively each character is, they really come to life for me and tell a great story - I loved the Scooby gang feel of working together to get the bad guys. With the rather large cast of characters I would have enjoyed a character list at the beginning for reference to make my life easier in keeping everyone and their supernatural flavour straight, but I got there eventually. There are some darker themes in this one so heed the CWs but be assured that you aren't mired in awful and there's an overall uplifting, hopeful, tone to the book.
My heart broke for Shae, but I loved the work he did to heal; his strength and resilience were commendable. I adored his friendship with his drake companion, Haku. I wish more time had been given to him learning about his siren song and gifts, it felt like he gained command over them too easily, though I loved the time we spend with him connecting with his mother's family.
Griffin was OTT sunshine and such a empathetic sweetheart. His unwavering support of Shae was just what the siren needed to begin to heal and believe in love. He has some family drama and heartache in his past that is barely delved into and I wish a little more had been said/done with it to give him a little more depth since I know he wasn't as superficial as he came across.
I'm a hard sell on fated mates and this iteration didn't sway me - the way they cement the bond? Yikes, I definitely felt some kinda way. And if they don't, double yikes, I just don't like the lack of free will and empathize with Shae 1000% If I can put my head in the sand about that aspect of things then I really enjoyed the story. I loved the slow burn, I do love when one fated mate has to woo/win over though the other, but given Shae's trauma I wish Griff weren't quite so focused on the end goal with Shae/worrying that he won't come around - if you say you'll given him the time he needs, then that needs to be be followed by action and it was disappointing to have an invisible clock counting down to essentially madness.
Like I said, I could have done without the fated mates bit, but then again it absolutely isn't my jam, but there was enough other plot to keep me fully engaged and turning the pages; a daring escape, found family, reconnecting with roots, the sweetest first date, a daring rescue, and villainous villains that get their just desserts.
I'm sure the rest of the MEOW squad will be getting books, which I have mixed feelings about. I don't love it when an author starts a series as part of a larger multi-author series. If any continuation or overlap occurs it show be within the series otherwise what's the point of a collaboration? The coin was a cute plot device, and I thought Griffin's little conversations with the 'Magic 8-Coin' were cute and funny, but I have no desire to commit to a series of this length with such a thin thread connecting them.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
Shae Silverstorm is half-siren / half-human and he’s been kept in captivity by his evil father, step-mother, and step-sister since the age of 12. But he’s worked out an escape plan and with the help of the Missing & Endangered Otherkind Welfare (MEOW) Squad, Shae sets out to right the many wrongs he’s suffered over the years. Surfer dude Griff McIntyre is a wolfkin (think wolf ears and tail) and, as part of the MEOW Squad, he uses his empathic magic to soothe and mentally heal the abused otherkind that the Squad rescue. Griff isn’t expecting to feel the true mate bond when he first lays eyes on Shae and although he’s immediately convinced they should be together, Shae’s is deeply distrustful of mate bonds and anyway, he needs time to heal. Can Griff be patient and can he convince Shae to trust the bond?
I always enjoy Chloe Archer’s lighthearted supernatural / tentacle romances and I loved this one too! As part of the 14-book multi-author Fortune Favors the Fae series, the themes are a bit more serious than the other Chloe books I’ve read (TWs include slavery & forced shackling)—not quite as zany but still warmhearted and fun. As usual, Chloe has rolled out another fun acronym (MEOW) and peppered the chapters with cat-related puns. I liked being introduced to the rest of the MEOW Squad, which is a super-powered rescue & victim-support team: Ruby (elemental witch & healer), Callum (mage), Harper (vampire & undercover specialist) and their captain, Dallas (bearkin), and I’m hoping we’ll get they’ll each get books over time. I also liked Shae’s magical pocket dragon, Haku, who can speak. 🎧 Joel Leslie is a such a versatile voice actor who always pulls out an impressive array of accents and voices from his bag of tricks. He’s adept at conveying humour as well as emotion so he was a great choice for the audio.
I LOVE that this story is part of the Monster's Hollow extended universe. Each book in the main series is amazing, and I know this new spinoff will be just as awesome. Chloe Archer's ability to give paranormal characters just as much depth and quality as any other human character is incredible. You almost forget they're ever anything "other" at all.
I'm always in awe of the varying Cinderella-like stories and how the main character escapes their horrors. Siren in the Rain appears to have especially evil wenches as the villains, more so than even some of the other non-Disney versions of the story. They made the details of Shae's abuse growing up even more disturbing than it would be as even the simplest of Cinderella stories.
In all background stories we hear from Shae, I'm incredibly grateful that he had the beautiful & loyal drake Haku with him at all those staggeringly horrible times. It's amazing what he had to endure.
I'm very much looking forward to Cal's story to see how many punny t-shirts he'll wear. I hope his will be the next story, but I'm excited to know them all! ❤️
I'm really loving the unique qualities each of the MEOW squad has. They're diverse in both species and abilities, and it's fascinating to think about all the possibilities.
There is an AMAZING vindication for the horrors of this story. I'm also loving Shae's special power being so wonderfully useful. I know he'll be careful with the power he holds in his hands.
I'm so very happy for Shae and Griffin and their HEA. They're going to be quite the powerhouse couple in the MEOW squad in future stories.
I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
A somewhat ridiculous but amusing story of paranormal mates in a world that does not always support the paranormal.
This book is set in two worlds, the magical coin series it is in, and also the paranormal cozy series that Archer has of supernatural safe cities. The difference is that this happens in that world but not in a supernatural safe city so we see what can happen to paranormal citizens in this unforgiving world. It follows Shae, who was locked away by his own father as a young child and is being used for his siren abilities to further the careers of his step mother and steo sister. Shae manages to escape and finds himself being helped by an odd crew of paranormals including Griffin, a perky and happy dogkin who insists they are mates.
Shae has plenty of healing he needs to do, while also wanting revenge against the family that has hurt him so much. Griffin and his team want to help with that, but they also want to make sure Shae can heal and adjust to life outside of imprisonment. There is equally time out to building a plan to take down those who do hurt Shae as there is to building new connections and plans for the future. Putting equal emphasis on these two things really make this an enjoyable book of both writing wrongs and finding a way to move on from them. The relationships are sweet and given time and space to develop as they come at a difficult time, but also a time they are most needed. The characters are really given a chance to show themselves and build a life as they work to stop others from being hurt. A good fun read with sweet characters and a fun and heartfelt storyline.
- shared universe - grumpy/sunshine - fated mates - found family - hurt/comfort
This is Chloe Archer's entry in the Fortune Favours the Fae multi author series, and it's an utter joy. Grumpy/sunshine is my absolute favourite trope, and add in found family and a healthy dose of righteous revenge and you have a recipe for possibly my favourite book of this shared universe series. I actually don't think I can count all the tropes and that's a wonderful thing, it really fits for this book. MEOW (yes really 😂) is wonderful, so full of great side characters that I really want to visit with again and let them all find their HEA. However, this is Shae and Griffin's story.
Shae has been through a lot when we first meet him, traumatised and beaten down by life and then thrown straight into meeting his fated mate, it's a lot. Thankfully Griffin is biggest, sunshiniest, ball of joy ever and just exactly what Shae needs, even if he fights it all the way. But you can't fight Griff and those puppy dog eyes, apparently. Heck, I couldn't do it through the pages of the book so Shae had no choice but to fall for him. There are dark themes here, it's not all sunshine but Griff is so perfect for Shae and so patient and right, it never feels like too much. I laughed with them, I maybe cried a little (although I will never admit that!) and ultimately cheered when Shae got his revenge and his HEA. Nobody deserves it more and these two were just an utter joy to read. I can't wait for more from MEOW.
This book had a little bit of everything...action, suspense, humor, and some angst but with lots of sprinkles of sweetness through the story. The sweetness is not toothaching sweet, the author sprinkles it perfectly into the story when the reader needs a break/buffer from the heartbreak. There is some angst but since the author does not delve too deep or too long into the mental or emotional abuse, it is not overwhelming. However, the author does not dismiss the MCs emotions or pain but treats it respectfully. Shae life was horrible, being held captive and abused by his family until he was able to escape. He receives help from the MEOW organization, a group made up of misfits who help Otherkind in trouble. Included in this group was Griffin, a loveable, optimistic, ray of sunshine Wolfkin with undefeated puppy dog eyes, cute ears, and never stopping tail. He was exactly what Shae needed to help him see that the world wasn't full of cruel and untrusting people. Griffin was so patient and caring with Shae, giving him the space and support Shae needed to heal emotionally and physically. Griffin made sure he was by Shae's side every step of the way, even when Shae tried to push him away. And since Shae could not resist those puppy dog eyes, Griffin was able to wiggle his way into Shae's heart. The MEOW group was very intriguing, created by different types of Otherkind, each with a different set of powers. I really hope we get their stories too.
Shae is a half Siren, half human prisoner. His father, step-mother and step-sister are evil and using him and others to make millions. With the help of a friend Shae escapes and finds help with a found family of otherkind. There he meets his fated mate but he's not too sure he wants a mate. He has a lot of healing to do and this found family is determined to help.
Griffin is a Wolfin. He has features of a wolf but doesn't shift like a werewolf. He has a sunny, optimistic personality that everyone loves. He's over the moon excited to meet his fated mate. While he and his found family help Shae heal and get justice, he slowly convinces him to give him a chance, and that's all he needs to have Shae falling for him.
This is a really good story. It has great world and character building. The chemistry between all of the characters is good. The sexy times between Griffin and Shae go from sweet/innocent to hot/heavy. The group texting is so funny and had me LOL. There was a few places that had me shedding a few tears too. Shae is a half Siren, half human prisoner. His father, step-mother and step-sister are evil and using him and others to make millions. With the help of a friend Shae escapes and finds help with a found family of otherkind. There he meets his fated mate but he's not too sure he wants a mate. He has a lot of healing to do and this found family is determined to help.
This is my second book from this series and I absolutely love what Chloe Archer has done with the gold coin, making it basically a sentient being. Griffin may just be my favourite ever character, nothing seems to bring him down and he is all about ensuring everyone else is happy, but especially the person he discovers is his fated mate. Unfortunately, it's also someone who has just been rescued from the most awful situation. Shae is so strong for escaping what he did. The most terrible father and step family had him basically living as a slave but now he's free to recover, under the protection of the MEOW squad (best name ever!) and the wolf kin who calls himself Shae's fated mate. However, his parents were fated and look how that turned out. What follows is a journey of bravery, recovery and building of trust, friendship and bonds, not just between the MC's, but the group of people who come to mean so much to Shae. There are more emotional moments with reunions and discoveries of what truly happened in his past. Chloe has written an excellent story of romance, hurt and comfort, along with the found family who do all they can to protect those who need it. I cannot wait for more from this group of highly entertaining people. Joel Leslie is one of my very favourite narrators. He is one of the best when it comes to character voices and especially getting across their emotions but what always stands out is how their personalities shine and the fun moments bring joy to both the character and reader/listener.