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Willow Lake Supernaturals #4
Cats Never Fly
Protect his nine lives. Check. Find a pretty treasure. Check. Summon a dragon. Ch-- Wait, what?
Cat shifter Simon refuses to jeopardize any of his nine lives, thank you very much. That saying “curiosity killed the cat” won’t ever apply to him. No way, no how.
Except…
When he’s out hunting for field mice one night, he finds the most wonderful whistle. It’s magical and intriguing and so very, very pretty. He knows he should return it, but what’s the worst that could happen if he blew on it first? Just once.
Months later, he finally has the courage to do just that, and when he does, the craziest thing happens. He summons a dragon, of all things.
Now what is he supposed to do? Particularly when Simon would rather keep the gorgeous dragon shifter than send him back to where he came from…
Tags: MM Fated Mates Paranormal Romance, a scaredy cat who needs to find his inner lion, a flirtatious dragon, more caged supes, gray sweatpants, shiny magical whistles do amazing things, cats don’t fly, having nine lives is the best, are ‘50s songs better than ‘80s songs?
Note: This book will be best enjoyed if you've read the first books in the series.
Willow Lake Supernaturals Series
Book 1: Hellhounds Never Lie (Ash and Dillon)
Book 2: Wolves Always Bite (Jeremy and Adrian)
Book 3: Oracles Always Win (Jake and Gage)
Book 4: Cats Never Fly (Simon and Ogden)
Cat shifter Simon refuses to jeopardize any of his nine lives, thank you very much. That saying “curiosity killed the cat” won’t ever apply to him. No way, no how.
Except…
When he’s out hunting for field mice one night, he finds the most wonderful whistle. It’s magical and intriguing and so very, very pretty. He knows he should return it, but what’s the worst that could happen if he blew on it first? Just once.
Months later, he finally has the courage to do just that, and when he does, the craziest thing happens. He summons a dragon, of all things.
Now what is he supposed to do? Particularly when Simon would rather keep the gorgeous dragon shifter than send him back to where he came from…
Tags: MM Fated Mates Paranormal Romance, a scaredy cat who needs to find his inner lion, a flirtatious dragon, more caged supes, gray sweatpants, shiny magical whistles do amazing things, cats don’t fly, having nine lives is the best, are ‘50s songs better than ‘80s songs?
Note: This book will be best enjoyed if you've read the first books in the series.
Willow Lake Supernaturals Series
Book 1: Hellhounds Never Lie (Ash and Dillon)
Book 2: Wolves Always Bite (Jeremy and Adrian)
Book 3: Oracles Always Win (Jake and Gage)
Book 4: Cats Never Fly (Simon and Ogden)
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2024
198 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Lori Ames
10 books125 followersWhen Lori was in elementary school, she wrote a very compelling story about a girl with a prickly personality who turned into a rose. (Sounds amazing, right?) Then she discovered romances in her teens and, well, she knew she wanted to write romances. It took her a little longer to find MM romances, but once she did, she was addicted. She lives in a small town in Alberta with her husband and an elderly black cat who might be a familiar.
Lori Ames writes MM romance with touch of magic!
Lori Ames writes MM romance with touch of magic!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
July 19, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Behind me, Simon purred. The kitty cat liked what he saw. Then he abruptly stopped, coughing as if to cover up his reaction. But it was too late, I’d already heard.
This was mostly cute but not my favorite in the series. I have been in a rough reading slump too so I’m sure that affected my enjoyment, but I felt the story dragged/was boring. I didn’t feel like either character was very clear.
We got a few moments with the MCs in their shifted form eventually, but I did get a little frustrated with the lack of time spent shifted.
I am still excited about the next book in the series and I enjoy the found family and small town vibes. The writing is good too. I just think I need some more angst and things happening at the moment.
3.3 ⭐️
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Cat shifter
Dragon shifter
Accidental summoning
Paranormal
Found family
Small town
Fated mates
Purring
Lingerie
Age gap
Size difference
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
MC held captive (shifter trafficking ring)
Brief mention of past suicides (unnamed characters)
Explicit sexual content
Graphic violence
Death of bad guy
MC severely injured in fall
MC abducted
Dismemberment (bad guy, on page)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Paranormal shifter romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Twenties and several centuries
Series: Interconnected series with overarching plot. Would not read as standalone.
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 333
Happy ending: Yes
I’d hyperventilated so severely the paramedics rushed over, put a paper bag over my mouth, and told me to breathe slowly. For the record, holding a paper bag over a dragon’s mouth when they’re upset is a shitty plan, because then there was a fire to deal with on top of everything else.
“I don’t have a bubble butt.” “Of course, you do, and it is extremely biteable.” I snapped my teeth at him. His cheeks darkened. “Is that why I have a bruise on my bum today? Every time I sat down, I felt it.” I grinned at him. “I bet you thought of me every time.” “I think about you all the time anyway,” he muttered.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Behind me, Simon purred. The kitty cat liked what he saw. Then he abruptly stopped, coughing as if to cover up his reaction. But it was too late, I’d already heard.
This was mostly cute but not my favorite in the series. I have been in a rough reading slump too so I’m sure that affected my enjoyment, but I felt the story dragged/was boring. I didn’t feel like either character was very clear.
We got a few moments with the MCs in their shifted form eventually, but I did get a little frustrated with the lack of time spent shifted.
I am still excited about the next book in the series and I enjoy the found family and small town vibes. The writing is good too. I just think I need some more angst and things happening at the moment.
3.3 ⭐️
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Cat shifter
Dragon shifter
Accidental summoning
Paranormal
Found family
Small town
Fated mates
Purring
Lingerie
Age gap
Size difference
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
MC held captive (shifter trafficking ring)
Brief mention of past suicides (unnamed characters)
Explicit sexual content
Graphic violence
Death of bad guy
MC severely injured in fall
MC abducted
Dismemberment (bad guy, on page)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Paranormal shifter romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Twenties and several centuries
Series: Interconnected series with overarching plot. Would not read as standalone.
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 333
Happy ending: Yes
I’d hyperventilated so severely the paramedics rushed over, put a paper bag over my mouth, and told me to breathe slowly. For the record, holding a paper bag over a dragon’s mouth when they’re upset is a shitty plan, because then there was a fire to deal with on top of everything else.
“I don’t have a bubble butt.” “Of course, you do, and it is extremely biteable.” I snapped my teeth at him. His cheeks darkened. “Is that why I have a bruise on my bum today? Every time I sat down, I felt it.” I grinned at him. “I bet you thought of me every time.” “I think about you all the time anyway,” he muttered.
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
November 26, 2024
"Bravery isn't about jumping into fights or rushing into situations or taking impulsive actions.. Don't understimate your own bravery, Simon."
Es una pena porque le tenía muchas ganas a esta novela. Siento que me esperaba algo más de cara a la relación de los personajes. Al final, me he dado cuenta que ha sido un libro de paso para los siguientes personajes.
Es una pena porque le tenía muchas ganas a esta novela. Siento que me esperaba algo más de cara a la relación de los personajes. Al final, me he dado cuenta que ha sido un libro de paso para los siguientes personajes.
August 18, 2024
Wanted to Love It!
On page 126, a third way through and just cannot read anymore. I loved the prequel and prior 3 books but this one seems like a different author. Simon is just a whining, sniveling, annoyance. I don’t understand the repetitious self deprecation on every page. Won’t be finishing the story.
On page 126, a third way through and just cannot read anymore. I loved the prequel and prior 3 books but this one seems like a different author. Simon is just a whining, sniveling, annoyance. I don’t understand the repetitious self deprecation on every page. Won’t be finishing the story.
December 11, 2024
After a disappointing book 3 this series is back on track.
Simon, an extremely shy cat shifter, comes upon a magical whistle. Inexplicably drawn to it he keeps it and when he blows into it he summons a dragon. Ogden is not terribly pleased about being summoned but he was in a bit of a sticky situation so it works in his favor. To his surprise, his summoner is an adorably awkward cat shifter. Their immediate attraction to one another can't be denied, but is it because of the whistle or something deeper pushing them together.
Simon grows a lot throughout this book. I’ll admit his inner monologue read a bit childlike to me at first. It gave me a bit of the ick knowing this was going to be a spicy romance. But I stuck with it and that went away pretty quickly. Him taking about his “mama” so much at first didn’t help him. Once he meets Ogden we get to see his protective side come out. It was sweet and adorable since he is literally a little kitty cat trying to protect a dragon.
Ogden was also protective of Simon. I loved that he stood up to his mom for him. That is not a healthy mother son relationship but moving on. I liked that he never let Simon feel bad for his insecurities and anxieties.
Final thoughts. I enjoy this series. There are a lot of futures couples teased in this book and I’m looking forward to more citizens of Willow Lake getting their happily ever after.
Simon, an extremely shy cat shifter, comes upon a magical whistle. Inexplicably drawn to it he keeps it and when he blows into it he summons a dragon. Ogden is not terribly pleased about being summoned but he was in a bit of a sticky situation so it works in his favor. To his surprise, his summoner is an adorably awkward cat shifter. Their immediate attraction to one another can't be denied, but is it because of the whistle or something deeper pushing them together.
Simon grows a lot throughout this book. I’ll admit his inner monologue read a bit childlike to me at first. It gave me a bit of the ick knowing this was going to be a spicy romance. But I stuck with it and that went away pretty quickly. Him taking about his “mama” so much at first didn’t help him. Once he meets Ogden we get to see his protective side come out. It was sweet and adorable since he is literally a little kitty cat trying to protect a dragon.
Ogden was also protective of Simon. I loved that he stood up to his mom for him. That is not a healthy mother son relationship but moving on. I liked that he never let Simon feel bad for his insecurities and anxieties.
Final thoughts. I enjoy this series. There are a lot of futures couples teased in this book and I’m looking forward to more citizens of Willow Lake getting their happily ever after.
September 26, 2024
Not the best series
Though there are more books coming in this series, this one is the last one I'll read.
I enjoyed the first book in this series with ash and Dillon. I thought the remaining books would be similar. I was wrong. book 2 took a steep nosedive. I think I did more scrolling than reading, and I still didn't miss anything interesting. Jeremy's character reminded me of a four-year-old who just watched his first Avengers movie and is telling all his friends all about it and asking a lot of questions and coming up with different answers, rather than a twenty six year old man. His character became annoying very quickly.
Book 3 was better than book 2, but only marginally and now book 4. Back to nosedive.
I didn't realize until this book, how little description there is. This is book 4. It's the same town, but I can't describe the town. I can't describe the bar. I can't even describe the characters, except to say that someone has a nice tush, the hellhounds have fire in their eyes, the wolves have a ring around the iris of their eyes and the demon has horns. Not until this book did I realize that Simon, is taller and bigger, but from all the other books, including the beginning of this book, I pictured Simon as this tiny, frail looking male because he was always said to be afraid of his own shadow and no description existed to really contradict my interpretation.
Is it even mentioned in the book how old Simon is because his fear of his mom, yet desire to please her seems very problematic and something a kid or super sheltered young adult would do. Rather than a late 20s adult who lives alone. The fact that he can't say no to his mom, believes everything she says and follows her rules makes him seem less scaredy and more naïve and co-dependent.
The characters don't seem complete. The story seems like it was edited last minute to come up with something more exciting, but it falls flat. We switch drastically from this radical group who are all about a wolf only existence, trying to take over the town and think the town is theirs, to a bunch of other supernaturals that are trafficking other supernaturals . No deep discussion as to why, not even a brainstorm of ideas.
We have Hayden who's supposed to be the alpha, but then there is Gage who's the unofficial leader, Ash who is a fire Mage, but his talents are completely overshadowed from book two by the death mage. Nothing is cohesive. When reading, I want to lose myself in the book, be dragged into the story and taken along for the ride, not necessarily have to create the the imagery or my own story in order to enjoy the book. And that's what I feel like I'm doing.
I found I was 40-50% in the book before anything really happened.
Though there are more books coming in this series, this one is the last one I'll read.
I enjoyed the first book in this series with ash and Dillon. I thought the remaining books would be similar. I was wrong. book 2 took a steep nosedive. I think I did more scrolling than reading, and I still didn't miss anything interesting. Jeremy's character reminded me of a four-year-old who just watched his first Avengers movie and is telling all his friends all about it and asking a lot of questions and coming up with different answers, rather than a twenty six year old man. His character became annoying very quickly.
Book 3 was better than book 2, but only marginally and now book 4. Back to nosedive.
I didn't realize until this book, how little description there is. This is book 4. It's the same town, but I can't describe the town. I can't describe the bar. I can't even describe the characters, except to say that someone has a nice tush, the hellhounds have fire in their eyes, the wolves have a ring around the iris of their eyes and the demon has horns. Not until this book did I realize that Simon, is taller and bigger, but from all the other books, including the beginning of this book, I pictured Simon as this tiny, frail looking male because he was always said to be afraid of his own shadow and no description existed to really contradict my interpretation.
Is it even mentioned in the book how old Simon is because his fear of his mom, yet desire to please her seems very problematic and something a kid or super sheltered young adult would do. Rather than a late 20s adult who lives alone. The fact that he can't say no to his mom, believes everything she says and follows her rules makes him seem less scaredy and more naïve and co-dependent.
The characters don't seem complete. The story seems like it was edited last minute to come up with something more exciting, but it falls flat. We switch drastically from this radical group who are all about a wolf only existence, trying to take over the town and think the town is theirs, to a bunch of other supernaturals that are trafficking other supernaturals . No deep discussion as to why, not even a brainstorm of ideas.
We have Hayden who's supposed to be the alpha, but then there is Gage who's the unofficial leader, Ash who is a fire Mage, but his talents are completely overshadowed from book two by the death mage. Nothing is cohesive. When reading, I want to lose myself in the book, be dragged into the story and taken along for the ride, not necessarily have to create the the imagery or my own story in order to enjoy the book. And that's what I feel like I'm doing.
I found I was 40-50% in the book before anything really happened.
July 13, 2024
Lori Ames is one of my newest favorite authors. And this book doesn’t disappoint. I love how the plot continues on through all the books and how the world keeps expanding.
This one I think is the most action packed of the series yet, but don’t worry there is still enough time for a sweet romance to develope also. Simon and Ogden were so cute together and I want to see Simon covered in Ogden’s horde of jewels too now.
I can’t wait to read Hayden’s book next. ❤️
This one I think is the most action packed of the series yet, but don’t worry there is still enough time for a sweet romance to develope also. Simon and Ogden were so cute together and I want to see Simon covered in Ogden’s horde of jewels too now.
I can’t wait to read Hayden’s book next. ❤️
August 16, 2024
DNF
The novel was bogged down by excessive internal dialogue from the main characters, which made it tiring to read. While the mystery surrounding the cages was intriguing, it wasn’t compelling enough to overcome the book’s other shortcomings.
The novel was bogged down by excessive internal dialogue from the main characters, which made it tiring to read. While the mystery surrounding the cages was intriguing, it wasn’t compelling enough to overcome the book’s other shortcomings.
July 28, 2024
Cats Never Fly is a fourth book in the Willow Lake Supernaturals series, continuing the sweet and cozy charm of its predecessors while weaving an ongoing plot through each book.
I recommend reading the series in order to fully appreciate the world-building and overarching mystery.
I was excited to see the return of familiar characters and to continue the overarching storyline that has been building from the start. The author’s style remains easy to read, and the world she has crafted continues to expand in delightful ways.
This time, the main focus is on Simon and Ogden, each bringing a mix of strengths and vulnerabilities. Simon, previously a small side character, takes on a much bigger role. He’s a bit of a scaredy cat, but watching him grow and gain confidence was really satisfying. His struggle with his self-esteem issues and fear of failure were very relatable, which made his journey even more meaningful. Ogden, on the other hand, a bold and confident dragon shifter, complements Simon perfectly. Their chemistry is evident from the start, and their relationship is both sweet and earnest.
The plot, though, felt a bit slow at times. I wished for more background on the villains or more significant encounters with them (like in the first & second book), and a deeper dive into Ogden’s past to give his character more depth. The book feels like a connector novel (which it kinda is), setting up things for future books without giving a full resolution. This is in no way a bad thing, it just left the book feeling less complete compared to the others in the series.
However, the suspense and action kept me engaged and entertained, and the cozy vibe of the book provided a lovely reading experience.
Seeing characters from previous books was a treat and added to the enjoyment. The way the group in Willow Lake continues to grow and support each other is heartwarming. And the mix of humour, action, and romance made for a well-rounded read.
All in all, Cats Never Fly is essential reading, particularly for those who have been following the series. Simon and Ogden’s dynamic, along with the ever-expanding magical world, makes it a valuable addition to the series. The character growth and the engaging world-building make it a really enjoyable read.
I’m looking forward to the next book and more adventures in Willow Lake!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my unbiased review.
_______________________
CW from author's page:
- Swearing
- Violence
- Unexpected bond created between main characters due to an external force
- Sexual content
- Abduction
- Fall from a great height
- One mention of suicides of unnamed characters
- Injuries
- Bad guy loses his hand in fight
- Trafficking of Supernatural People
- Supernatural people in cages
- Death (not of main characters!)
I recommend reading the series in order to fully appreciate the world-building and overarching mystery.
I was excited to see the return of familiar characters and to continue the overarching storyline that has been building from the start. The author’s style remains easy to read, and the world she has crafted continues to expand in delightful ways.
This time, the main focus is on Simon and Ogden, each bringing a mix of strengths and vulnerabilities. Simon, previously a small side character, takes on a much bigger role. He’s a bit of a scaredy cat, but watching him grow and gain confidence was really satisfying. His struggle with his self-esteem issues and fear of failure were very relatable, which made his journey even more meaningful. Ogden, on the other hand, a bold and confident dragon shifter, complements Simon perfectly. Their chemistry is evident from the start, and their relationship is both sweet and earnest.
The plot, though, felt a bit slow at times. I wished for more background on the villains or more significant encounters with them (like in the first & second book), and a deeper dive into Ogden’s past to give his character more depth. The book feels like a connector novel (which it kinda is), setting up things for future books without giving a full resolution. This is in no way a bad thing, it just left the book feeling less complete compared to the others in the series.
However, the suspense and action kept me engaged and entertained, and the cozy vibe of the book provided a lovely reading experience.
Seeing characters from previous books was a treat and added to the enjoyment. The way the group in Willow Lake continues to grow and support each other is heartwarming. And the mix of humour, action, and romance made for a well-rounded read.
All in all, Cats Never Fly is essential reading, particularly for those who have been following the series. Simon and Ogden’s dynamic, along with the ever-expanding magical world, makes it a valuable addition to the series. The character growth and the engaging world-building make it a really enjoyable read.
I’m looking forward to the next book and more adventures in Willow Lake!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my unbiased review.
_______________________
CW from author's page:
- Swearing
- Violence
- Unexpected bond created between main characters due to an external force
- Sexual content
- Abduction
- Fall from a great height
- One mention of suicides of unnamed characters
- Injuries
- Bad guy loses his hand in fight
- Trafficking of Supernatural People
- Supernatural people in cages
- Death (not of main characters!)
July 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.5)/5
🌶️🌶️/5
❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
To confess: my expectations where not particularly high. Shifter story with a normal hous cat? A scaredy one at that. How exciting could this be...
But Lori Ames proofed me wrong, and I am so gratefull for it!
We visit old friends, meet new people and get to know a little bit more about both sides.
Simon gets a character development in a way I didn't expect and steps up to be an interesting character.
His dragon is ..different.. than what you would expect, different than HoD/GoT told us. Forget what you know about them, and get to know a new one. He is so cute, I wanted to hug him all the time!
The villains are villaining again, but I still would give this book a cozy vibe label. It was exciting on the right parts, however nothing realy unexpected happened. And sometime this is exactly what I need.
As a non nativ english speaker, I didn't find any errors in spelling or grammar. It was easy to understand, with just the right amount of words I needed to translate to keep my brain tickled.
Something that is different to similar books of this genre:
Simon finds it difficult to curse.
H E double hockey sticks, he find's it almost impossible!
Did I enjoy this book? Yes!
Would I read it again? As part of a full reread of the series, yes.
Could it become a comfort book I revisit regularly? No. But this is on my personal preferences. What should I say, I'm more of an hellhound/wolf person, than a cat person...
What do I look forward to in this series:
The next book of course! 🤗
And I hope, there sometimes in the future will be a pairing, where both characters are more on the masculine side. As much as I like the girly counterparts, isn't it always necessary for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🌶️🌶️/5
❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
To confess: my expectations where not particularly high. Shifter story with a normal hous cat? A scaredy one at that. How exciting could this be...
But Lori Ames proofed me wrong, and I am so gratefull for it!
We visit old friends, meet new people and get to know a little bit more about both sides.
Simon gets a character development in a way I didn't expect and steps up to be an interesting character.
His dragon is ..different.. than what you would expect, different than HoD/GoT told us. Forget what you know about them, and get to know a new one. He is so cute, I wanted to hug him all the time!
The villains are villaining again, but I still would give this book a cozy vibe label. It was exciting on the right parts, however nothing realy unexpected happened. And sometime this is exactly what I need.
As a non nativ english speaker, I didn't find any errors in spelling or grammar. It was easy to understand, with just the right amount of words I needed to translate to keep my brain tickled.
Something that is different to similar books of this genre:
Simon finds it difficult to curse.
H E double hockey sticks, he find's it almost impossible!
Did I enjoy this book? Yes!
Would I read it again? As part of a full reread of the series, yes.
Could it become a comfort book I revisit regularly? No. But this is on my personal preferences. What should I say, I'm more of an hellhound/wolf person, than a cat person...
What do I look forward to in this series:
The next book of course! 🤗
And I hope, there sometimes in the future will be a pairing, where both characters are more on the masculine side. As much as I like the girly counterparts, isn't it always necessary for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2024
Cats Never Fly is the 4th book in the Willow Lake Supernaturals series. This is not a standalone and the series is best read in order. This is Simon a cat shifter who considers himself a scardy cat and Ogden the dragon shifter who Simon accidentally summoned him. I love all the books in this series and this one is no exception. It was so fun watching Simon grow from the character we were first introduced to in the other books. These two are brought together in an unusual way but it's easy to see they are just perfect for each other. We are still working through the main storyline that runs through the whole series. I can't wait for the next book in the series to see what more we can learn. I love this series so much. I would definitely recommend this book and series as a 5 star read.
August 5, 2024
I loved Simon and his scaredy cat tendenicies. Also the fact he wanted to keep all his 9 lives.
Liked Ogden and I think he and Simon blended really well and look forward to more from this series.
Liked Ogden and I think he and Simon blended really well and look forward to more from this series.
August 4, 2024
great characters and storyline, a winner
Rating: 4.5🌈
“Where there is magic, anything is possible!
They'd always suspected there might be something special about Willow Lake, and now there isn't just magic in the air, but love too!
If only all the jerks in the world would leave them alone, everything would be perfect... “
Cats Never Fly is the fourth book in Lori Ames Willow Lake Supernatural series, where fated mates find each other, but not before they’re involved in the series (and town’s) ongoing conflicts, mysteries, and magical criminal investigations.
I never know who Ames is focusing on next at the end of the last book. All threads lead to a certain individual but that doesn’t seem to be the one who “spoke” to her. So it’s Simon, the cat shifter who made minor appearances that’s getting his story and fated mate here.
Honestly it turns out to be a wonderful choice and a great story in terms of character development, new intriguing elements introduced, and a overall expansion of the series thread and arc mystery.
Simon is a particularly interesting being. When Simon showed up in other books, he wasn’t an appealing figure. A timid creature who looked out for himself. Here where we can hear his voice, its different. Simon’s actions are now hard to determine if he’s being overly cautious, truly fearful, or if something undefined is actually determining the course of his activities. He doesn’t seem cowardly, but his personality maybe stem from ingrained patterns of his family’s beliefs, ones that drive him away from the direction he often knows or feels is the right one to take. It’s frustrating at the beginning but deeply satisfying to be invested in as Simon grows and strengthens as a person and part of a relationship.
Simon is the strongest character here and makes the greatest strides in development. Dragon Ogden Walsh, a singing, passionate, albeit ancient , fated mate is a fascinating character but has less of an emotional journey here. I wished we had more of him with regard to his abilities and personal experiences, especially given the trauma he has to go through. Ames does a really great twist in making Simon, a cat shifter, the physically larger of the two people in human form, while Ogden, the ancient powerful dragon, is the smaller, colorfully dressed man. Yet shifted, it’s the opposite that’s true. That dichotomy impacts their dynamic in interesting ways throughout their relationship and their storyline.
The ongoing supernatural trafficking investigation and storyline introduces several new elements and characters in Cats Never Fly while expanding further into the series arc and villainy. It potentially opens up a new dimension and pairing who I hoped would come next.
Unfortunately, per the author’s note, yet another one has spoken out first. Hayden, the would be Alpha looks to be next.
Either way, I’ll be there to grab up the book. I’m absolutely invested in Willow Lake, its inhabitants, the magic and its fated mates storylines.
Add this to your TBR list! It’s a winner!
Willow Lake Supernaturals :
Ravens Never Fall #0.5 prequel
Hellhounds Never Lie #1
Wolves Always Bite #2
Oracles Always Win #3
Cats Never Fly #4
Rating: 4.5🌈
“Where there is magic, anything is possible!
They'd always suspected there might be something special about Willow Lake, and now there isn't just magic in the air, but love too!
If only all the jerks in the world would leave them alone, everything would be perfect... “
Cats Never Fly is the fourth book in Lori Ames Willow Lake Supernatural series, where fated mates find each other, but not before they’re involved in the series (and town’s) ongoing conflicts, mysteries, and magical criminal investigations.
I never know who Ames is focusing on next at the end of the last book. All threads lead to a certain individual but that doesn’t seem to be the one who “spoke” to her. So it’s Simon, the cat shifter who made minor appearances that’s getting his story and fated mate here.
Honestly it turns out to be a wonderful choice and a great story in terms of character development, new intriguing elements introduced, and a overall expansion of the series thread and arc mystery.
Simon is a particularly interesting being. When Simon showed up in other books, he wasn’t an appealing figure. A timid creature who looked out for himself. Here where we can hear his voice, its different. Simon’s actions are now hard to determine if he’s being overly cautious, truly fearful, or if something undefined is actually determining the course of his activities. He doesn’t seem cowardly, but his personality maybe stem from ingrained patterns of his family’s beliefs, ones that drive him away from the direction he often knows or feels is the right one to take. It’s frustrating at the beginning but deeply satisfying to be invested in as Simon grows and strengthens as a person and part of a relationship.
Simon is the strongest character here and makes the greatest strides in development. Dragon Ogden Walsh, a singing, passionate, albeit ancient , fated mate is a fascinating character but has less of an emotional journey here. I wished we had more of him with regard to his abilities and personal experiences, especially given the trauma he has to go through. Ames does a really great twist in making Simon, a cat shifter, the physically larger of the two people in human form, while Ogden, the ancient powerful dragon, is the smaller, colorfully dressed man. Yet shifted, it’s the opposite that’s true. That dichotomy impacts their dynamic in interesting ways throughout their relationship and their storyline.
The ongoing supernatural trafficking investigation and storyline introduces several new elements and characters in Cats Never Fly while expanding further into the series arc and villainy. It potentially opens up a new dimension and pairing who I hoped would come next.
Unfortunately, per the author’s note, yet another one has spoken out first. Hayden, the would be Alpha looks to be next.
Either way, I’ll be there to grab up the book. I’m absolutely invested in Willow Lake, its inhabitants, the magic and its fated mates storylines.
Add this to your TBR list! It’s a winner!
Willow Lake Supernaturals :
Ravens Never Fall #0.5 prequel
Hellhounds Never Lie #1
Wolves Always Bite #2
Oracles Always Win #3
Cats Never Fly #4
September 1, 2024
By far the worst book in the series: the writing style falls flat for this entry. Neither MC interests me, and I finally gave up reading for just the larger “supe-trafficking” thread
August 21, 2024
This is book four of the Willow Lake Supernaturals series and the main characters are scaredy cat shifter Simon Rivers, who somehow manages to summon dragon shifter Ogden Walsh from the middle of a bad situation. Simon comes form a litter of four brothers, with a further two younger brothers, and unlike all of them, he has lived a very careful life, still having all of his nine lives and always listening to his mama, who seems to always know what the brothers have been up to. He works as a night security guard at the motel, scared of shadows even as he does his patrols and especially the blow-up figure! A few months ago, he was on his night off, relaxing in a tree on the outskirts of town, when he saw and heard three wolves suddenly appear, with a large bag over one of their shoulders. They talk about stealing items from the Willow Lake Inn, which recently changed hands to Jake, a seemingly non-magical nephew of the previous owner Ulric, who Simon had found quite scary. He sees a shiny item fall from the bag and he waits till they leave, and then a bit longer to be careful obviously, before going over and picking up a silver whistle. He has no idea what it might do and keeps it in a zipped-up pocket, not even telling the police or his mother, after reporting the wolves and the theft to the police afterwards.
It takes Simon months to even pluck up the courage to blow on the whistle and when he does, a water dragon comes flying out of the lake he was sitting beside and then straight at him! It wraps around him but doesn’t squeeze him too tight somehow. Ogden had found himself waking up in a small metal barred cage, amongst what seemed like a warehouse full of other naked and small supernaturals, including a unicorn and a phoenix. Ogden has lived for a long time and not worried about hunters for his scales in years, but somehow, he has found himself caught out and uncertain of his fate. That is until someone blew a whistle, which was made to summon dragons like Ogden, using ancient magic. Usually, the dragon would be the summoners captive or slave, made to do whatever its master wanted. Simon wants nothing to do with that but can’t give the whistle to Ogden or even anyone else, as the two of them are now bound together. They must make a deal and that will then bind them, but Ogden wants to get to the police station before agreeing to anything, to get plans in action for when the magic pulls him back to the cage he was within. Simon can’t help looking at this naked man and be attracted to him as he talks of what he wants to do to Simon when he is free! Not that Simon really wants to let him go back into danger, once they get to connect.
Lots of interaction with the other characters from this series, such as Van the hellhound, Gage the demon guardian of Willow Lake who has found his fated mate in Jake, the oracle, and the rest of the team, who join in to try and locate this next warehouse of rare supernaturals, being held against their will. They soon find the diabolical scheme is being controlled by someone with another of the dangerous items stolen from the inn. I loved how Simon found a bit of a backbone as he connected with Ogden, and they figured out they were fated mates. He certainly has to act against his own cautious character, to protect Ogden and to do all he can to help get him back safely. Even if that is to pretend he can fly! Another great read in this series, with lots of laughs and a wonderful couple of fated mates somehow coming together, even when at such odds and do different than each other. I can’t wait to read the next one. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
It takes Simon months to even pluck up the courage to blow on the whistle and when he does, a water dragon comes flying out of the lake he was sitting beside and then straight at him! It wraps around him but doesn’t squeeze him too tight somehow. Ogden had found himself waking up in a small metal barred cage, amongst what seemed like a warehouse full of other naked and small supernaturals, including a unicorn and a phoenix. Ogden has lived for a long time and not worried about hunters for his scales in years, but somehow, he has found himself caught out and uncertain of his fate. That is until someone blew a whistle, which was made to summon dragons like Ogden, using ancient magic. Usually, the dragon would be the summoners captive or slave, made to do whatever its master wanted. Simon wants nothing to do with that but can’t give the whistle to Ogden or even anyone else, as the two of them are now bound together. They must make a deal and that will then bind them, but Ogden wants to get to the police station before agreeing to anything, to get plans in action for when the magic pulls him back to the cage he was within. Simon can’t help looking at this naked man and be attracted to him as he talks of what he wants to do to Simon when he is free! Not that Simon really wants to let him go back into danger, once they get to connect.
Lots of interaction with the other characters from this series, such as Van the hellhound, Gage the demon guardian of Willow Lake who has found his fated mate in Jake, the oracle, and the rest of the team, who join in to try and locate this next warehouse of rare supernaturals, being held against their will. They soon find the diabolical scheme is being controlled by someone with another of the dangerous items stolen from the inn. I loved how Simon found a bit of a backbone as he connected with Ogden, and they figured out they were fated mates. He certainly has to act against his own cautious character, to protect Ogden and to do all he can to help get him back safely. Even if that is to pretend he can fly! Another great read in this series, with lots of laughs and a wonderful couple of fated mates somehow coming together, even when at such odds and do different than each other. I can’t wait to read the next one. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
July 28, 2024
3.25/5 I was still really engaged with the overall plot of this series, but unfortunately, the Simon and Ogden romance wasn’t as compelling for me as I was hoping for. I honestly just found Simon … incredibly lacklustre. His anxiety/scaredy-cat persona seemed to make up his entire personality: he had no friends, no hobbies, almost no belongings in his apartment, a job he didn’t much like (or liked because nothing happened), a mother he was cowed by, and he was cripplingly risk averse. He felt like a cypher, and I was left unsure for the longest time about any of his actual likes, what he did with his time, if he was happy or even aspired to be happy…
A lot of this stayed the same even once Ogden was added to the mix, although that at least added some action and drama. But at the point that I was really expecting some action with the kidnapping plot, there was a lot of shopping and intimate moments instead. (These are totally okay in and of themselves, but the pacing just seemed off.) The action then finally took off through the characters being incredibly imprudent, but this at least led to a little more information and an action-filled climax.
Fated mates is one of my favourite tropes, but it winds up getting warped here, which made me sad. Ogden and Simon already didn’t have much time together, and now the feelings are kind of suspect for a big chunk of the novel? We get some character development at the very end, but I just didn’t feel the close connection that was there in the previous books. I did enjoy spending time with previous characters, and I liked Jeremy’s attempts to connect with Simon and ask everyone awkward questions. I loved Ogden’s love of music and desire to inspire people, and I did like Simon’s eventual realisation about Ogden’s importance to him.
I’m still looking forward to Hayden’s book and the continuing overarching plot.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
A lot of this stayed the same even once Ogden was added to the mix, although that at least added some action and drama. But at the point that I was really expecting some action with the kidnapping plot, there was a lot of shopping and intimate moments instead. (These are totally okay in and of themselves, but the pacing just seemed off.) The action then finally took off through the characters being incredibly imprudent, but this at least led to a little more information and an action-filled climax.
Fated mates is one of my favourite tropes, but it winds up getting warped here, which made me sad. Ogden and Simon already didn’t have much time together, and now the feelings are kind of suspect for a big chunk of the novel? We get some character development at the very end, but I just didn’t feel the close connection that was there in the previous books. I did enjoy spending time with previous characters, and I liked Jeremy’s attempts to connect with Simon and ask everyone awkward questions. I loved Ogden’s love of music and desire to inspire people, and I did like Simon’s eventual realisation about Ogden’s importance to him.
I’m still looking forward to Hayden’s book and the continuing overarching plot.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
August 3, 2024
This is book 4 of the Willow Lake Supernaturals series and you should really read the books in order. Otherwise you will not understand the secondary characters and what the implications are when they show up in the story. Each book focuses upon a different couple and this time it is the story of Simon and Ogden. Simon has lived in Willow Lake his entire life. He is a cat shifter (think housecat). He is unlike his brothers in that he wants to keep all of his nine lives, thank you very much. He is not impulsive nor outgoing. His self confidence is low. Ogden on the other hand is outgoing and shiny. He wants attention. He is also a water dragon. When the story starts, Ogden has been kidnapped and trapped in a cage in a warehouse. Unsure how he will every escape, everything is thrown off when he is summoned. Simon found are ancient artifact in the shape of a whistle. After worrying about it for awhile, he finally blows it without knowing what will happen. He has accidentally summoned Ogden. Once all the miscommunication is sorted out, Simon knows that he and Ogden need help. Officer Hellhound and the supernatural team get pulled in to try and help Ogden. Ogden plans to go back and help rescue the other trapped supernaturals. Everyone gets involved in coming up with a good plan to make this happen. This is their story. I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written and easy to read. I loved reading how Simon began to build confidence and wanted to protect Ogden more than he wanted to save lives. Ogden and Simon made a cute couple. The fact that they find out they are fated mates is an added bonus. The only sad part of this book is when you come to the end and realize that you will have to wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 11, 2024
Loved it.
It started out so cute and funny and got more serious the longer the book went on. In the end I sometimes missed the funny little things I grew so fond of in the beginning but I guess the plot and the seriousness of the situations didn't allow for much levitation.
It was an opposites attract story for sure as Simon was Ogdens opposite in next to everything. Where Ogden was posh and loved this outfits, Simon didn't really care much and probably could live a happy life with two jeans and a t-shirt for every day of a week. Where Ogden loves the finer things and knick-knacks, Simons apartment is the epitome of minimalism.
The only thing I would say is that I don't know if they would have worked if they weren't fated. That fact made both of them compromise and relent on things I'm not sure a normal couple would, especially right from the start and on things that are so ingrained in them and are so important.
What I loved were all those little cat things that were just charming and gave the scenes that extra flavor.
After possessing the whistle for approximately twenty-one hours, thirty-seven minutes, and forty-three seconds, I was a mess. I jumped and hissed at every little sound.
Die, you blasted thing! Die!
I didn't stop until the thing lay limply across the ground. I panted and stared at it, daring it to come after me again.
It didn't.
Eventually, my breathing slowed, and my heart rate returned to normal.
I surveyed the mess I'd made. Bits of fabric covered the sidewalk, the road, and the lawn. The air blower still hummed as usual, but only a sliver of fabric still wiggled in its breeze.
Uh oh.
What had I done?
Behind me, Simon purred. The kitty cat liked what he saw.
Then he abruptly stopped, coughing as if to cover up his reaction. But it was too late, I'd already heard.
It started out so cute and funny and got more serious the longer the book went on. In the end I sometimes missed the funny little things I grew so fond of in the beginning but I guess the plot and the seriousness of the situations didn't allow for much levitation.
It was an opposites attract story for sure as Simon was Ogdens opposite in next to everything. Where Ogden was posh and loved this outfits, Simon didn't really care much and probably could live a happy life with two jeans and a t-shirt for every day of a week. Where Ogden loves the finer things and knick-knacks, Simons apartment is the epitome of minimalism.
The only thing I would say is that I don't know if they would have worked if they weren't fated. That fact made both of them compromise and relent on things I'm not sure a normal couple would, especially right from the start and on things that are so ingrained in them and are so important.
What I loved were all those little cat things that were just charming and gave the scenes that extra flavor.
After possessing the whistle for approximately twenty-one hours, thirty-seven minutes, and forty-three seconds, I was a mess. I jumped and hissed at every little sound.
Die, you blasted thing! Die!
I didn't stop until the thing lay limply across the ground. I panted and stared at it, daring it to come after me again.
It didn't.
Eventually, my breathing slowed, and my heart rate returned to normal.
I surveyed the mess I'd made. Bits of fabric covered the sidewalk, the road, and the lawn. The air blower still hummed as usual, but only a sliver of fabric still wiggled in its breeze.
Uh oh.
What had I done?
Behind me, Simon purred. The kitty cat liked what he saw.
Then he abruptly stopped, coughing as if to cover up his reaction. But it was too late, I'd already heard.
May 25, 2025
Love and bravery
I loved this supernatural small town, opposites attract, fated mates romance. The story had the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, big feels and spice. Despite the element of danger, the story was such a warm and happy read for me. This whole series has just been a warm read for me. Simon is a cat shifter and security guard who lives in Willow Lake, a supernatural friendly small town. He is a scaredy cat who is very protective of his 9 lives. Ogden is a water dragon shifter who wakes up naked in a magical cage in a warehouse full of supernaturals locked in similar cages. Simon and Ogden meet when Simon blows a magic whistle he found several months ago and summons Ogden. Despite summoning usually being a evil way to control supes, there is instant chemistry and attraction between them. Besides Simon’s summoning rescued Ogden. Now they just need to find the warehouse and rescue the other trapped supes. I loved the way Ogden gently, lovingly, and beautifully helped Simon come out of his fear based prison and begin to shine. This story was well written and included witty dialogue, good world building, three dimensional characters who grow, and an engaging storyline. I love this little town and am excited to read more in the series. While this book can definitely be read as a standalone, there are recurring characters and part of the storyline weaves through multiple books so to get the most enjoyment read the series in order. 4.5 stars.
I loved this supernatural small town, opposites attract, fated mates romance. The story had the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, big feels and spice. Despite the element of danger, the story was such a warm and happy read for me. This whole series has just been a warm read for me. Simon is a cat shifter and security guard who lives in Willow Lake, a supernatural friendly small town. He is a scaredy cat who is very protective of his 9 lives. Ogden is a water dragon shifter who wakes up naked in a magical cage in a warehouse full of supernaturals locked in similar cages. Simon and Ogden meet when Simon blows a magic whistle he found several months ago and summons Ogden. Despite summoning usually being a evil way to control supes, there is instant chemistry and attraction between them. Besides Simon’s summoning rescued Ogden. Now they just need to find the warehouse and rescue the other trapped supes. I loved the way Ogden gently, lovingly, and beautifully helped Simon come out of his fear based prison and begin to shine. This story was well written and included witty dialogue, good world building, three dimensional characters who grow, and an engaging storyline. I love this little town and am excited to read more in the series. While this book can definitely be read as a standalone, there are recurring characters and part of the storyline weaves through multiple books so to get the most enjoyment read the series in order. 4.5 stars.
July 22, 2024
To start, I think the book probably needs a TW for human trafficking, kidnapping and nonconsensual bonds.
What I did like: story continues and links to the over-arching storyline that has been going on in the previous three books. This ongoing plot is actually pretty interesting and I look forward to its conclusion. We got to see some of the previous characters some of whom I really like. The author’s style is easy to read and she does have some interesting characters just not the two in this book.
What I didn’t like: Not a particular fan of the forced bond trope. The two main characters aren’t as interesting as some of the characters in the previous novels. There are other side characters we have met whose story I would much rather read about.
The main characters are a momma’s boy scaredy cat (literally) and a dragon that was kinda dull compared to some of the other characters. There was a lot of potential for growth for the characters that was never realized.
The plot is a little stagnant and we don’t get some of the resolution as to the motivation of the bad guys which I think would have helped nor did we get much in the way of background for the dragon. This feels like a not great connector novel. It felt unfinished like it needed more.
Overall: it’s not my favorite of the series and if it wasn’t part of said series I would say skip it. But since it has new characters and information that is part of the ongoing plot, give it a quick read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What I did like: story continues and links to the over-arching storyline that has been going on in the previous three books. This ongoing plot is actually pretty interesting and I look forward to its conclusion. We got to see some of the previous characters some of whom I really like. The author’s style is easy to read and she does have some interesting characters just not the two in this book.
What I didn’t like: Not a particular fan of the forced bond trope. The two main characters aren’t as interesting as some of the characters in the previous novels. There are other side characters we have met whose story I would much rather read about.
The main characters are a momma’s boy scaredy cat (literally) and a dragon that was kinda dull compared to some of the other characters. There was a lot of potential for growth for the characters that was never realized.
The plot is a little stagnant and we don’t get some of the resolution as to the motivation of the bad guys which I think would have helped nor did we get much in the way of background for the dragon. This feels like a not great connector novel. It felt unfinished like it needed more.
Overall: it’s not my favorite of the series and if it wasn’t part of said series I would say skip it. But since it has new characters and information that is part of the ongoing plot, give it a quick read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2024
Jack was in the woods when he saw three wolves with stuff they had taken from the inn but they dropped one. He waited until they were gone and picked up the whistle his cat liked shiny things the next day he went to the police and told them what he saw and heard but nothing about the whistle. After working at his bar he would go for a swim but he was drugged and woke up in a cage his neighbor was a unicorn and many mor3 shifters were caged too. So he started singing he loved to sing hoping to ease everyone’s fears then he was pulled out of the cage to where Simon had blown the whistle. They went to the police and Ogden told the police were he had been held he was going in so they could track him to get the shifters rescued. But the summering bond took over instead Ogden realized that his manager was behind his kidnapping so he changed his will. Jack and Ogden went to move his hoard together in the same room so his sister could get everything to a secure place but then he got taken again. Jack fell off the roof and hurt himself pretty bad found the police that was supposed to be on guard so went to chasing the van but they lost it. The team from Jack’s town used his mate bond to find the place Ogden and the others were at. When the unicorn was shoved into a portal he threw the tracker he had in his hand in too. Got everyone out and when they did bond they were given mating signs.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2025
1'5 stars and because there were interesting bits like the dragon rescue. It took me a long time to finish it, in the middle it became tedious and it doesn't get off to a fast start, to be honest. It's strange because these books go from more to less, or maybe when you read them in order, the author's mechanisms become more evident and it gets tiresome as the series progresses. Spoiler-questions:
Seriously, this one goes straight to my ‘I'm ashamed that something like this could have interested me’ shelf. Simon is a hideous, boring, weird, shifter cat character who we're told is a mama's boy, scared of her Electra complex style and also doesn't really do much beyond being a bit of a goofball. Ogden is a dragon. Ogden is sexy. Ogden sings. A lot. All the fucking time. Everything reminds him of some fucking song. They're not characters, they're caricatures. I only liked the part in the middle where Even this book isn't good at sex scenes. There are a couple and you should read them to know that they give so much cringe that even I think about stopping reading this kind of books. For my girls and gays who have had enough but don't know when to stop, this book is for you.
Seriously, this one goes straight to my ‘I'm ashamed that something like this could have interested me’ shelf. Simon is a hideous, boring, weird, shifter cat character who we're told is a mama's boy, scared of her Electra complex style and also doesn't really do much beyond being a bit of a goofball. Ogden is a dragon. Ogden is sexy. Ogden sings. A lot. All the fucking time. Everything reminds him of some fucking song. They're not characters, they're caricatures. I only liked the part in the middle where Even this book isn't good at sex scenes. There are a couple and you should read them to know that they give so much cringe that even I think about stopping reading this kind of books. For my girls and gays who have had enough but don't know when to stop, this book is for you.
July 22, 2024
Cats Never Fly is a paranormal MM romance by Lori Ames, and is the fourth book of the Willow Lake Supernaturals series.
While this book does work as a standalone, I think people that haven't read this series before should consider going back to the start just for a bit of background information on the drama and general happenings and inhabitants of Willow Lake. I have been loving this series from the start, so I am also probably a little bias with my affection for the world that Ames has been building.
In this book we get to know one of the local cat shifters of Willow Lake, Simon. He's a bit shy, loves his mum and prides himself on listening to her to keep all his nine lives so far. Simon is an absolute sweetheart, but seems to have a nose for danger these days. That's sort of how he gets hold of an artefact that summons dragon shifter, Ogden, who was having his own dramas before appearing out of thin air in Willow Lake.
This is a bit of crazy ride, but Ogden and Simon fit so well from the start. I love their chemistry. I also love Simon's sweetness. The trouble is, they need to recognise that they need to be together, and there are some pretty major problems both in and out of Willow Lake that need to be solved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While this book does work as a standalone, I think people that haven't read this series before should consider going back to the start just for a bit of background information on the drama and general happenings and inhabitants of Willow Lake. I have been loving this series from the start, so I am also probably a little bias with my affection for the world that Ames has been building.
In this book we get to know one of the local cat shifters of Willow Lake, Simon. He's a bit shy, loves his mum and prides himself on listening to her to keep all his nine lives so far. Simon is an absolute sweetheart, but seems to have a nose for danger these days. That's sort of how he gets hold of an artefact that summons dragon shifter, Ogden, who was having his own dramas before appearing out of thin air in Willow Lake.
This is a bit of crazy ride, but Ogden and Simon fit so well from the start. I love their chemistry. I also love Simon's sweetness. The trouble is, they need to recognise that they need to be together, and there are some pretty major problems both in and out of Willow Lake that need to be solved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2024
CATS NEVER FLY is the fourth book in the Willow Lake Supernaturals series and features Simon and Ogden. Simon is a cat shifter, firmly in his mother's shadow and attached by a multitude of apron strings. Ogden is a solitary dragon shifter, bold and confident. When Simon blows on a whistle he 'found', he gets more than he bargained for.
I haven't read book three in this series yet, but I don't think you absolutely have to. It would help to at least have some idea of Willow Lake and its inhabitants, but missing the odd one is okay.
Simon wasn't my favourite character, although it was good to see him become more confident and self-reliant, rather than relying on his mum all the time. Ogden was a delight from the start, and I liked the contrast between the two. I can't say it felt like a natural pairing, but that's just me.
The writing was smooth although the plot felt a little slow in places. There is foreshadowing of a future pairing, whether it's the next book or not, which should be fun. All in all, a good read that I enjoyed and recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 1, 2024
I haven't read book three in this series yet, but I don't think you absolutely have to. It would help to at least have some idea of Willow Lake and its inhabitants, but missing the odd one is okay.
Simon wasn't my favourite character, although it was good to see him become more confident and self-reliant, rather than relying on his mum all the time. Ogden was a delight from the start, and I liked the contrast between the two. I can't say it felt like a natural pairing, but that's just me.
The writing was smooth although the plot felt a little slow in places. There is foreshadowing of a future pairing, whether it's the next book or not, which should be fun. All in all, a good read that I enjoyed and recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 1, 2024
February 13, 2025
Spectacular. I adore the way each book in this series has *so much* plot for itself but still manages to set up future books as well (I'm making some assumptions here, but I also know who the next book is about).
Simon. Oh, Simon. He has so little going for him as a typical romance/paranormal "hero." He isn't the prettiest twink, the cuddliest bear, or the most muscular badass. He doesn't have incredible magical powers or shift into something rare. He has no deep trauma or harrowing past to overcome. In fact, while he's not thrilled with his life, he's pretty okay with the status quo. He's timid and has anxiety like woah. And that makes him amazing because despite all those fiction-hero marks against him, he still makes the hard choices (albeit reluctantly at times). He still does the right thing (even if he does need some time in a nice, safe hiding place first). I didn't think he would be, but it's entirely possible he's my favorite (sorry Jer).
And then there's Ogden. I love that he's tiny and sassy af and wants nothing more than to spoil Simon. ALSO! He knows about Paws and I'm insanely jealous. Just saying.
I can't wait to see what happens with Morgan and Nelson and poor, tortured Hayden. I want to know about Van and the doctor. As I've said before, I want alllllll the books about Willow Lake.
Simon. Oh, Simon. He has so little going for him as a typical romance/paranormal "hero." He isn't the prettiest twink, the cuddliest bear, or the most muscular badass. He doesn't have incredible magical powers or shift into something rare. He has no deep trauma or harrowing past to overcome. In fact, while he's not thrilled with his life, he's pretty okay with the status quo. He's timid and has anxiety like woah. And that makes him amazing because despite all those fiction-hero marks against him, he still makes the hard choices (albeit reluctantly at times). He still does the right thing (even if he does need some time in a nice, safe hiding place first). I didn't think he would be, but it's entirely possible he's my favorite (sorry Jer).
And then there's Ogden. I love that he's tiny and sassy af and wants nothing more than to spoil Simon. ALSO! He knows about Paws and I'm insanely jealous. Just saying.
I can't wait to see what happens with Morgan and Nelson and poor, tortured Hayden. I want to know about Van and the doctor. As I've said before, I want alllllll the books about Willow Lake.
August 2, 2024
Simon's litter mates call him a 'mama's cat'. But at least he still has all his nine lives, whereas his brothers might be down to their last few. Not very brave, he's a rule follower. But when he breaks the rules, he really breaks them. Finding a golden whistle that he knows is stolen, he refuses to return it. And when he blows it, he ends up summoning a dragon shifter. Ogden, a dragon shifter, owns an infamous bar in Aspen Bay, one town over from Willow Lake. Taken by paranormal traffickers, he's working on an escape plan when he's summoned out of his cage. By Simon.
An accidental summoning bond turns into a mating bond. And the two mates can barely keep their hands off each other. They sizzle together and their romantic night on Ogden's rooftop garden is beautiful.
With four fated mate pairings, Willow Lakes is extremely blessed by the Eternal Magic. The town's found family is diverse and extremely protective. Simon's family, ruled by Mama, is hysterical and very nosy. No boundaries nosy.
All four of these Willow Lakes books have been wonderful. Quick, fun reads. Book five is Hayden's book. Hopefully book six will be Officer Hellhound's.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
An accidental summoning bond turns into a mating bond. And the two mates can barely keep their hands off each other. They sizzle together and their romantic night on Ogden's rooftop garden is beautiful.
With four fated mate pairings, Willow Lakes is extremely blessed by the Eternal Magic. The town's found family is diverse and extremely protective. Simon's family, ruled by Mama, is hysterical and very nosy. No boundaries nosy.
All four of these Willow Lakes books have been wonderful. Quick, fun reads. Book five is Hayden's book. Hopefully book six will be Officer Hellhound's.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
August 3, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Cats Never Fly is the fourth book in Lori Ames’ entertaining Willow Lake Supernaturals series. While the books all feature new couples, the overarching storyline carries over across books and I think this is best read by those familiar with the series. The timeline for the start of this story overlaps some of the other books, so it helps to be familiar with past installments to understand some of the events here. I liked the sense of getting an alternate view on past events, as we see Simon encounter Robbie and his group on the night they are stealing from the inn. As series readers, we know what is going on, but Simon is unaware of what is happening, so it is a clever set up to start off the book.
I am really enjoying this series overall, particularly the characters and the world building. I liked Simon and Ogden and appreciated that Simon has some nice growth over the book. We learn the next lead character at the end of this story and I am super excited to get his book. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing on.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Cats Never Fly is the fourth book in Lori Ames’ entertaining Willow Lake Supernaturals series. While the books all feature new couples, the overarching storyline carries over across books and I think this is best read by those familiar with the series. The timeline for the start of this story overlaps some of the other books, so it helps to be familiar with past installments to understand some of the events here. I liked the sense of getting an alternate view on past events, as we see Simon encounter Robbie and his group on the night they are stealing from the inn. As series readers, we know what is going on, but Simon is unaware of what is happening, so it is a clever set up to start off the book.
I am really enjoying this series overall, particularly the characters and the world building. I liked Simon and Ogden and appreciated that Simon has some nice growth over the book. We learn the next lead character at the end of this story and I am super excited to get his book. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing on.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
August 1, 2024
The Willow Lake books (and characters) are unlike any other paranormal books I've read, there's something refreshingly innocent and light about them that I love (even in the smuttier parts), especially when the characters don't behave the way you expect them to - or the way almost every other paranormal author would write them . Cat Shifter Simon is the archetypal scaredy cat, almost pathologically obsessed with keeping "his 9" as he refers to them and obedient to his loving but overbearing mamma cat. I wanted to cuddle and protect him whilst also yelling "go live a little' at this sweet, slightly naive guy. So of course he ends up accidentally summoning a flashy confident dragon shifter with a penchant for singing his way through every situation, and getting himself caught up in all the paranormal kidnapping and other dangerous shenanigans that have begun to play out in the previous books. I've not read the sequence in order, dipping in and out and found the books eminently enjoyable that way, they do well as standalone, but there's a complex overarching plot line I think benefits from reading in sequence, even if you - like me - do that after reading a few at random.
October 7, 2024
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was another good addition to the Willow Lake Supernaturals Series. I thought Simon and Ogden were great together and their chemistry was off the charts. I loved seeing Simon’s cat would come out and be extra protective of his dragon Ogden.
We didn’t get to know Simon much throughout the series, apart from his reactions when he ran into or had to interact with certain people throughout the other books seemed pretty odd but it all made sense when he was worried that he’d get in trouble about keeping the magical whistle that he found that was part of the magical items that were stolen from Jake by the bad wolves.
Ogden seems like such a colourful fun person to be around. Yes, the relationship between these two moves at warp speed which doesn’t bother me as much since they’re both supernatural creatures, and fated mates. I love this series and I’m really looking forward to reading Hayden’s book when it’s released, as well as more books by Lori Ames in the future. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was another good addition to the Willow Lake Supernaturals Series. I thought Simon and Ogden were great together and their chemistry was off the charts. I loved seeing Simon’s cat would come out and be extra protective of his dragon Ogden.
We didn’t get to know Simon much throughout the series, apart from his reactions when he ran into or had to interact with certain people throughout the other books seemed pretty odd but it all made sense when he was worried that he’d get in trouble about keeping the magical whistle that he found that was part of the magical items that were stolen from Jake by the bad wolves.
Ogden seems like such a colourful fun person to be around. Yes, the relationship between these two moves at warp speed which doesn’t bother me as much since they’re both supernatural creatures, and fated mates. I love this series and I’m really looking forward to reading Hayden’s book when it’s released, as well as more books by Lori Ames in the future. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.
January 28, 2026
2.5. Far too much use of the words “mamma” and “kitty cat” I thought I was reading Forest Gump crossed with Puss in Boots. Really irked me. This book, like others in the series, is quite long. Which is surprising given the overarching plot has not advanced since book 2 when the trafficking ring was introduced. The steam in this was oddly placed and took away from opportunities to advance the plot. I was not rooting for this couple, I didn’t feel the connection between them.
While we do get some action, we are left with so many unanswered questions. In the last book, they completely zoomed past all the action and picked up when the battle was over. I thought some of those questions would be answered here, but no, only more questions have been piled on. That’s just related to the trafficking situation, we still don’t know what kind of creature Jalke’s cat is either. At this point, I am not committed to seeing the conclusion as I can tell book 4 will continue to ramble. I can spot at least 3 more couples, so I don’t think we will be getting answers anytime soon. I will be concluding the series here.
While we do get some action, we are left with so many unanswered questions. In the last book, they completely zoomed past all the action and picked up when the battle was over. I thought some of those questions would be answered here, but no, only more questions have been piled on. That’s just related to the trafficking situation, we still don’t know what kind of creature Jalke’s cat is either. At this point, I am not committed to seeing the conclusion as I can tell book 4 will continue to ramble. I can spot at least 3 more couples, so I don’t think we will be getting answers anytime soon. I will be concluding the series here.
July 15, 2024
I adore this series, and Cats is a great installment! Simon, a self professed scaredy cat shifter, was in previous books, but we didn't know that much about him.
I found that I could really relate to Simon's self esteem issues, mixed with fear of rejection/failure/disappointing people, and feeling 'stuck' in life. When Simon meets Ogden, a carefree, bold, confident dragon shifter....by accidentally summoning him with a magic (semi illegal) whistle... all bets are off. They have an instant connection both magical and personal. I thought they were very sweet and earnest with each other. They faced struggles and issues head on! With real communication?! Bless!
There is an over arching plot to these books, so best read in order, and I thought the puzzle pieces we got in this one were the right level of drama paired with the sweetness of Simon/Ogden's relationship.
I'm already hyped for Hayden's book next (and will continue to wait on tenterhooks for Nelson!!)
*advanced reader. thoughts and opinions my own*
I found that I could really relate to Simon's self esteem issues, mixed with fear of rejection/failure/disappointing people, and feeling 'stuck' in life. When Simon meets Ogden, a carefree, bold, confident dragon shifter....by accidentally summoning him with a magic (semi illegal) whistle... all bets are off. They have an instant connection both magical and personal. I thought they were very sweet and earnest with each other. They faced struggles and issues head on! With real communication?! Bless!
There is an over arching plot to these books, so best read in order, and I thought the puzzle pieces we got in this one were the right level of drama paired with the sweetness of Simon/Ogden's relationship.
I'm already hyped for Hayden's book next (and will continue to wait on tenterhooks for Nelson!!)
*advanced reader. thoughts and opinions my own*
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