Evan.
A fun introduction to the series.
I like the 'hidden paranormal town', though it could have used some more details and description.
Seems to be a common problem in these paranormal romance novella's.
The FMC was reasonably strong, smart enough, and wasn't 'constantly' controlled by her hormones.
The MMC was a fun, cliche good looking, alpha shifter.
I enjoyed this well enough.
Garrett.
Bloody hell!
The first went so well, sigh ...
Both MC's are immature, arrogant, and annoying.
Though the FMC is the worst. I so would have loved to have read her taken down a notch or two.
They spent the first half of the story childishly one-upping each other.
This, despite both having important jobs requiring a high level of responsibility, and an awareness of right and wrong (an Ambassador and representative for her kind, and a deputy).
The rest of the story improved in maturity and depth, it was also done in a manner that was evolutionarily believable.
I even began to truly like the male, and accept the female by the end.
What I truly loved and appreciated however, was the authors warning, mid story, of a possibly triggering scene.
It was such an aware and considerate choice to include. I've never come across such within a work before.
It enables a reader to enjoy her work, while still being prepared, rather than having to completely forego a story because they don't know when, where, or how the issue will present.
One more issue, I didn't understand the justification for the legal decision near the end, it was confusing, upsetting, and aggravating! It also didn't fit the world that had been created, a very large disappointment.
I did not enjoy this story.
Adam.
A nifty dragon shifter transient, searching for his mate.
Gee, I wonder who it will be ... ? Duh!
But of course, they jump right in, and rub our faces in the obvious.
What a disappointment.
More than the previous, this becomes about the romance. It's a romance-action, but still primarily the first. 😴
The woman is depressing, and never laughs.
If not for the action, and it's unexpectedly, unpredictable story, I might not have bothered.
But, the mystery and action squeezed in, was interesting. Just wished it could have been fleshed out more, and allowed to be a true, and complete narrative.
It's conclusion is left off, TBC in the last short.
Nikolai.
He's the man-whore from the third short. (They still treat male & female different, even with a female author. In the first short, a female who is presumed to be sleeping around, is spoken of negatively. You, KNOW, how the male is regarded, sigh...)
Spoiler alert* the bastard doesn't get his just desserts, be forced to experience his behaviour from the other perspective, or simply have his face rubbed, just a little bit, in his ass-hole-ness!
I wouldn't care so much, if he had just been honest, and dealt with those who understood, and agreed to the terms, BEFORE, he had sex with em. We know this isn't true though, because of the previous short and it's heroine.
Obviously I read that short first, developed an opinion of his character, and never had it believably changed, or him to make amends that satisfied. (Okay, so I'm a bitch, I acknowledge.)
The FMC knows his rep, he admits it, she accepts, everyones happy (except this reader 👿).
He decides he wants permanency, so of course she says yes.
It's not like I'm revealing any plot secrets here. Only it's lack of originality in the romance plot, and my ability to respect either MC.
Again, the squished in action-mystery-thriller, that was good. If the author would only focus there, and actually write the full story, she might have something really worthwhile...