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7 Caged Tigers #1
Frostbite
All spoiled vampire Ezra wanted was a night of fun. Drinks, dancing, and hopefully a lot of sex. What he gets instead is kidnapped by a rival vampire clan. He escapes his captors only to end up lost in the woods. In the middle of a blizzard. Seeking refuge from the cold and snow leads him to a seemingly empty cabin.
Morgan just dropped a bomb on his family for Christmas—after years of training in the family monster hunting business he’s quitting, effective immediately. To escape their judgment he runs away to a friend’s cabin for a week of solitude. No family. No phones. Unfortunately the cabin has a little vampire problem: Ezra.
But this vampire is unlike any monster Morgan has come up against before. For one thing, Ezra is dressed in five inch heels and follows Morgan around like a lost puppy. For another, Morgan can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss a vampire instead of killing one. And the longer the snow keeps them trapped together the more vampire and hunter wonder if they’re really meant to be enemies at all.
Morgan just dropped a bomb on his family for Christmas—after years of training in the family monster hunting business he’s quitting, effective immediately. To escape their judgment he runs away to a friend’s cabin for a week of solitude. No family. No phones. Unfortunately the cabin has a little vampire problem: Ezra.
But this vampire is unlike any monster Morgan has come up against before. For one thing, Ezra is dressed in five inch heels and follows Morgan around like a lost puppy. For another, Morgan can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss a vampire instead of killing one. And the longer the snow keeps them trapped together the more vampire and hunter wonder if they’re really meant to be enemies at all.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2019
13 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 8, 2020
Vampire + monster-hunter m/m romance, snowed in trope, great little paranormal novella.
Disclosure: I was lucky enough to beta read this before it came out, and I’m friends with the author. I’ve re-read it after it came out in December and I loved these guys just as much the second time around. I can’t wait for future installments of the 7 Caged Tigers series because I want more of the world Emery’s building and more of the distinctive, sparky characters they created here.
Disclosure: I was lucky enough to beta read this before it came out, and I’m friends with the author. I’ve re-read it after it came out in December and I loved these guys just as much the second time around. I can’t wait for future installments of the 7 Caged Tigers series because I want more of the world Emery’s building and more of the distinctive, sparky characters they created here.
May 20, 2020
Meh...
This book had a lot of tropes that I love so it was kind of like a nice comfy blanket to fall into when you’re not sure what to read next. Let’s see... we had a snowed in, enemies to lovers, vampire romance with some very mild, and unfortunately off page, kink... what more could a girl ask for??
Well except for ya know... on page kink, or sex or anything other than the BJ we got.... I don’t know why you have to tease a girl with all those promises and leave them off page!!!
Blah... anyways, moving on... the only that really fell flat for me with this book was the wrap up, it was far to easy and too nicely wrapped in a bow for vampire and vampire hunter romance... Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t write a fitting ending, I know that’s probably the hardest part... But it’s the part that makes everything that much sweeter.
I’ll also add that absolutely loved Ezras character... I always love the puppy dog characters... you know the ones that follow you around too close and are always there pouting when you turn around. This was made that much better consisting he’s also an incredibly strong and dear son vampire.
This book had a lot of tropes that I love so it was kind of like a nice comfy blanket to fall into when you’re not sure what to read next. Let’s see... we had a snowed in, enemies to lovers, vampire romance with some very mild, and unfortunately off page, kink... what more could a girl ask for??
Well except for ya know... on page kink, or sex or anything other than the BJ we got.... I don’t know why you have to tease a girl with all those promises and leave them off page!!!
Blah... anyways, moving on... the only that really fell flat for me with this book was the wrap up, it was far to easy and too nicely wrapped in a bow for vampire and vampire hunter romance... Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t write a fitting ending, I know that’s probably the hardest part... But it’s the part that makes everything that much sweeter.
I’ll also add that absolutely loved Ezras character... I always love the puppy dog characters... you know the ones that follow you around too close and are always there pouting when you turn around. This was made that much better consisting he’s also an incredibly strong and dear son vampire.
December 5, 2019
Vampires?
Holiday romance?
Full of tropes?
YES PLEASE!!!
Content warnings include: abduction, violence, sex on-page, mild kink, blood drinking (I mean, vampires, duh); mentions of burning.
Frostbite is a delightful mix of the above mentioned components. I loved all of them. The holiday spirit isn't exactly high but it's there, making it perfect to read over the winter holidays or at any other day of the year.
The vampires here were nothing out of the ordinary, technically, but I found the way they were integrated into the world intriguing, particularly in contrast to what the hunters "knew" about vampires.
If anything I would have liked to know more about the workings of Ezra's family. There seems to be a lot of stuff going on in vampire society that sounds super interesting, and I liked his siblings.
I'm also intrigued by the series name (the book itself gave no hint to its meaning) but I'm hoping for future books to shed light on both vampire society and the meaning of the series title.
So while the worldbuilding was sufficient, the focus was very much on Erza and Morgan, vampire and monster hunter, being stuck in a tiny cabin together with a snowstorm going on outside. Cue a ton of delightful tropes!
I enjoyed reading about their developing relationship, though I also would have liked to know more about Morgan's family, and monster hunting in general. Given how little he actually knew about vampires but how the hunting seems to be a big and frequent thing for his family, the existence of other monster was heavily implied, and I would have loved to know more about them!
Despite me wanting more, the book was a great read, very entertaining and fun for itself.
Greedy as I am, I am hoping for sequels!
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Holiday romance?
Full of tropes?
YES PLEASE!!!
Content warnings include: abduction, violence, sex on-page, mild kink, blood drinking (I mean, vampires, duh); mentions of burning.
Frostbite is a delightful mix of the above mentioned components. I loved all of them. The holiday spirit isn't exactly high but it's there, making it perfect to read over the winter holidays or at any other day of the year.
The vampires here were nothing out of the ordinary, technically, but I found the way they were integrated into the world intriguing, particularly in contrast to what the hunters "knew" about vampires.
If anything I would have liked to know more about the workings of Ezra's family. There seems to be a lot of stuff going on in vampire society that sounds super interesting, and I liked his siblings.
I'm also intrigued by the series name (the book itself gave no hint to its meaning) but I'm hoping for future books to shed light on both vampire society and the meaning of the series title.
So while the worldbuilding was sufficient, the focus was very much on Erza and Morgan, vampire and monster hunter, being stuck in a tiny cabin together with a snowstorm going on outside. Cue a ton of delightful tropes!
I enjoyed reading about their developing relationship, though I also would have liked to know more about Morgan's family, and monster hunting in general. Given how little he actually knew about vampires but how the hunting seems to be a big and frequent thing for his family, the existence of other monster was heavily implied, and I would have loved to know more about them!
Despite me wanting more, the book was a great read, very entertaining and fun for itself.
Greedy as I am, I am hoping for sequels!
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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December 13, 2019Content Warnings
I really enjoyed this vampire/monster hunter snowed in New Years m/m romance! It's full of tropetastic goodness, lovely chemistry, and hits the enemies to lovers aspect just right.
Read my full review on my blog.
I really enjoyed this vampire/monster hunter snowed in New Years m/m romance! It's full of tropetastic goodness, lovely chemistry, and hits the enemies to lovers aspect just right.
Read my full review on my blog.
Want to read
December 13, 2019WELL WELL WELL
THIS BLURB SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING I NEED IN MY LIFE...
GIMME
THIS BLURB SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING I NEED IN MY LIFE...
GIMME
August 7, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect with FROSTBITE but it was a fairly light and fluffy paranormal romance trope fest! Morgan comes from a long line of monster hunters but he's tired of life and after a fight with his family he takes off for his brother's secluded cabin. The last thing he expects is to find an almost starved and frozen vampire in the cabin. Ezra has never been free of his controlling family but a night on the town wasn't supposed to end in a kidnapping. Now he's snowed in with Morgan and finally getting the chance to make his own choices. These two have a rocky start but overall there's very little tension over the fact that Morgan is a hunter. Instead, Morgan's natural born protective instincts come out around Ezra and they quickly find ways to stay warm. There was a lot of sweet and cute intimacy in this one and even though it's fade to black on the sex scenes, it's still very steamy and sexy.
Content Warning: One scene of nonconsensual blood drinking
Content Warning: One scene of nonconsensual blood drinking
December 15, 2019
What a fun little holiday read! ❤ This is a sweet, sexy, funny, mostly fluffy, & super-tropey m/m romance with a paranormal twist, featuring two "runaways" of sorts – an overprotected vampire "princeling" on the lam & a former hunter (of the Buffy persuasion) looking for some alone time after quitting the family business right before Christmas – who end up snowed in together over the holidays in a cozy, remote cabin in the woods. Cue hot (& mildly kinky) sparks, warm snuggles & plenty of squee!
In their acknowledgments for the book, the author thanks their Twitter friends for encouraging them to write "the most ridiculous sounding collection of tropes I've ever put into one book." Maybe so, but I gotta say, it really works! It’s also witty & well-written, and I found both main characters really appealing & endearing.
There are also serious moments for both characters, particularly around family issues, & and there’s some violence both on & off the page, so keep in mind it's not 100% fluff, but the percentage is high! 😊
This is also a new-to-me author, and I'll definitely be reading their backlist asap & looking forward to more from them in the future. Especially as their bio at the end of this book says: "J. Emery is slowly writing their way through every fantasy trope imaginable. And if they can make it weirder and queerer while they do, that's even better as far as they're concerned." I am so totally here for all of that! 😍
Anyway, if the above sounds good to you, I highly recommend this fun, tropetastic novella. It's a real treat, and my favorite holiday read so far this season!
In their acknowledgments for the book, the author thanks their Twitter friends for encouraging them to write "the most ridiculous sounding collection of tropes I've ever put into one book." Maybe so, but I gotta say, it really works! It’s also witty & well-written, and I found both main characters really appealing & endearing.
There are also serious moments for both characters, particularly around family issues, & and there’s some violence both on & off the page, so keep in mind it's not 100% fluff, but the percentage is high! 😊
This is also a new-to-me author, and I'll definitely be reading their backlist asap & looking forward to more from them in the future. Especially as their bio at the end of this book says: "J. Emery is slowly writing their way through every fantasy trope imaginable. And if they can make it weirder and queerer while they do, that's even better as far as they're concerned." I am so totally here for all of that! 😍
Anyway, if the above sounds good to you, I highly recommend this fun, tropetastic novella. It's a real treat, and my favorite holiday read so far this season!
December 3, 2019
Anyone who says that vampires are stale and nothing new can come from stories about them lacks imagination. And I particularly love stories about families of vampires because I feel like they specifically are under done (and perhaps because I've loved every story I've come across where this is a plot).
Plot was definitely lighter in this novella than most, due to length. With dual point of view, we are introduced to Erza who is a vampire child, essentially, even at the age of 24. He has to make up plans to be able to get out from under the yoke of his family's protectiveness.
Where he ends up is the home of a vampire hunter named Morgan, after a kidnapping by ill equipped humans on behalf of a rival vampire house.
It's a bit light hearted as far as premises go, as is the enemies to lovers that Morgan and Erza engaged. So what stood out about this story and made me love it? Morgan was the take charge one of the two of them. Spoiled, bratty and far too sheltered, Erza really doesn't know much about the rest of the world. Morgan knows too much about it and is far more realistic and jaded of the two. Additionally, they communicate well. I'm a sucker for any story where that is demonstrated well, even within a relatively short story.
Plot was definitely lighter in this novella than most, due to length. With dual point of view, we are introduced to Erza who is a vampire child, essentially, even at the age of 24. He has to make up plans to be able to get out from under the yoke of his family's protectiveness.
Where he ends up is the home of a vampire hunter named Morgan, after a kidnapping by ill equipped humans on behalf of a rival vampire house.
It's a bit light hearted as far as premises go, as is the enemies to lovers that Morgan and Erza engaged. So what stood out about this story and made me love it? Morgan was the take charge one of the two of them. Spoiled, bratty and far too sheltered, Erza really doesn't know much about the rest of the world. Morgan knows too much about it and is far more realistic and jaded of the two. Additionally, they communicate well. I'm a sucker for any story where that is demonstrated well, even within a relatively short story.
June 7, 2020
2.5. Weirdly too slow but also not enough development for me?
June 21, 2021
There’s some good stuff in here but it’s basically draft quality and needs more work and depth to turn into a book. Also I didn’t believe the ending, but that’s what a developmental edit could fix.
December 24, 2019
So yummy! Unique take on vampires!
I LOVED this book. Excellent writing, banter, sexual tension, world building, I loved both MCs... gah it was amazing and I’m so sad it’s over! It read like a delicious fanfic tbh and I mean that in the best way. Can’t wait for the next one!
I LOVED this book. Excellent writing, banter, sexual tension, world building, I loved both MCs... gah it was amazing and I’m so sad it’s over! It read like a delicious fanfic tbh and I mean that in the best way. Can’t wait for the next one!
January 15, 2021
In the mood for something that feels fanficcy, but is all original? Do you like vampires? Vampire/monster-hunter romance? Snowed-in cabinfic? This is the story for you!
Ezra is a young vampire, just 24, trying to find his way in the world and get out from under the thumb of his rich and powerful vampire clan. Morgan is also from a long line of monster hunters, and is tired of that being the only thing that anyone can imagine for his futures. Both have just tried to get away from their overbearing families and have ended up stuck in a snowed-in cabin together.
The writing style has a very charming tone, and with a solid narrative voice and style, quite cleanly written. The characters are cute and their personalities really stood out, and there's nothing I love more than characters that learn to communicate and don't hide things from each other. I also really liked the compelling metaphor of them both coming into their own and struggling against very similar but different family issues. And there's so many nice little details that stand out to me. Not just things like the hot chocolate scent, but the sound of snow squeaking, or the painted tourist-store rock, or cereal's sawdust taste.
I did feel that it could use a little more shoring up in the structural stage. Characters sometimes do things because the story requires it rather than providing any reason at the time (as a random example, ). The conflict's resolution comes without any real action on the part of the characters , and it's unevenly resolved across characters, with a lot more attention given to Ezra's family situation and very little given to Morgan's . I feel that it needed to be about 10% longer, not at the end of the story but instead to give the story more room to breathe throughout and add touches of logic into the actions, find a way to pull the things the characters did into the resolution, and balance out the endgame. They're all small things but it keeps the story from feeling as tight as it could be.
But it's cute and fun and it knows what it wants to be, and I'll likely pick up the next 7 Caged Tigers book when it comes out. 3.5 stars rounded up!
Ezra is a young vampire, just 24, trying to find his way in the world and get out from under the thumb of his rich and powerful vampire clan. Morgan is also from a long line of monster hunters, and is tired of that being the only thing that anyone can imagine for his futures. Both have just tried to get away from their overbearing families and have ended up stuck in a snowed-in cabin together.
The writing style has a very charming tone, and with a solid narrative voice and style, quite cleanly written. The characters are cute and their personalities really stood out, and there's nothing I love more than characters that learn to communicate and don't hide things from each other. I also really liked the compelling metaphor of them both coming into their own and struggling against very similar but different family issues. And there's so many nice little details that stand out to me. Not just things like the hot chocolate scent, but the sound of snow squeaking, or the painted tourist-store rock, or cereal's sawdust taste.
I did feel that it could use a little more shoring up in the structural stage. Characters sometimes do things because the story requires it rather than providing any reason at the time (as a random example, ). The conflict's resolution comes without any real action on the part of the characters , and it's unevenly resolved across characters, with a lot more attention given to Ezra's family situation and very little given to Morgan's . I feel that it needed to be about 10% longer, not at the end of the story but instead to give the story more room to breathe throughout and add touches of logic into the actions, find a way to pull the things the characters did into the resolution, and balance out the endgame. They're all small things but it keeps the story from feeling as tight as it could be.
But it's cute and fun and it knows what it wants to be, and I'll likely pick up the next 7 Caged Tigers book when it comes out. 3.5 stars rounded up!
May 19, 2020
Hmmmm.. the premise was great, the execution didn't really work for me. The characters went from enemies to lovers in the blink of an eye and were saying "I love you" after spending one week together. Excuse me, but that just doesn't work for me. I was really enjoying their banter at the beginning, but once they got together, they were just soooo lovey-dovey, I-would-die-for-you-even-though-I-barely-know-you, you know?
I liked the idea that both of them were dealing with family drama and not fitting in with what their parents want them to do, but it kind of got resolved pretty easily and Morgan's side of the issue never really got resolved, which I found kinda sad.
Also, this seriously gave me Supernatural vibes, with Morgan being in the hunting business for supernatural creatures and that being the family business! I wish I got some more information on that, though.
Also, I feel like Morgan's new job is kind of.. weird? Like, isn't what he's doing a conflict of interest or whatever?
Anyway, this can work for a lot of people, it just didn't work for me.
I liked the idea that both of them were dealing with family drama and not fitting in with what their parents want them to do, but it kind of got resolved pretty easily and Morgan's side of the issue never really got resolved, which I found kinda sad.
Also, this seriously gave me Supernatural vibes, with Morgan being in the hunting business for supernatural creatures and that being the family business! I wish I got some more information on that, though.
Also, I feel like Morgan's new job is kind of.. weird? Like, isn't what he's doing a conflict of interest or whatever?
Anyway, this can work for a lot of people, it just didn't work for me.
January 7, 2020
This was my post-exam reward and it definitely delivered exactly what I wanted!
By now I kind of automatically trust I'll have a good time reading a J Emery book. This one was a tropey vampire x vampire hunter romance, and it was soft and fun and sexy and a delight. Like honestly all these weird mix of tropes together should have sounded ridiculous but I was like "Oh I'm gonna love this so much" and then I did.
I loved the characters, which is like 60% of a romance for me anyway, and it had this little something different that made it just that good. I guess what I'm really excited about right now is that the end implies a lot of possibilities for sequels with new characters and I honestly can't wait for them.
By now I kind of automatically trust I'll have a good time reading a J Emery book. This one was a tropey vampire x vampire hunter romance, and it was soft and fun and sexy and a delight. Like honestly all these weird mix of tropes together should have sounded ridiculous but I was like "Oh I'm gonna love this so much" and then I did.
I loved the characters, which is like 60% of a romance for me anyway, and it had this little something different that made it just that good. I guess what I'm really excited about right now is that the end implies a lot of possibilities for sequels with new characters and I honestly can't wait for them.
February 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this fun, quirky enemies-to-lovers, monster hunter-vampire, snowed in/forced proximity story. A lot of tropes? You betcha, but somehow it made for an engaging, entertaining story. I loved the bratty, snarky baby vampire twink and also the 'retired' monster hunter who ends up snowed in with him in a cabin. The beginning of their encounter was no meet-cute, with a little too much fang (LOL), but I loved watching the relationship develop. I sure hope we get to see more in this series and more of these two.
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.
August 6, 2021
I enjoyed this MM paranormal romance. It has a bit of mystery to it with both families. I wish this book was longer. It feels like there was so many missed opportunities to go into both of the main characters backgrounds and learn more about their families. Hopefully we get more books in the series to follow up on some of the unsolved mystery. This book was sweet and well written!
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.
February 22, 2022
I’d seen this novella recommended frequently online, so when I had the chance to get an ARC, I jumped on it. And it’s the exact tropey goodness I needed: a sweet snowed-in and enemies-to-lovers paranormal M/M romance, set around New Year’s Eve.
Morgan’s looking forward to a week of quiet in his friend’s remote and secluded cabin. Which is good, since with a big snowstorm coming in, he’s likely not going to have much choice. But he arrives to find the door kicked in and what appears to be a dead body on the couch… except it’s soon very clear the man is actually a vampire. Stuck together during a snowstorm, can both men fight a lifetime of prejudice – and some very real attraction – until the weather clears?
I liked both men, though Ezra verges close to spoiled brat territory at points, understandably though. After being sheltered by his family for his entire life, he’s so eager to go out and just… enjoy life. Even if that life is being stuck in a cabin in a snowstorm with a monster hunter. Morgan’s from a family of vampire hunters, though he’s relatively sure that they’ve thrown him out after his bombshell declaration that he wasn’t going to follow the family tradition. When it becomes clear they’re both stuck in the cabin – and that neither seems inclined to kill the other one – they slowly fall into a domestic pattern, sharing cereal and hot cocoa along with their vulnerabilities. As they both bond over their lack of worth in their respective families, they also start to hesitantly explore the feelings between them. It’s quite sweet and the attraction is sizzling, though most of it is firmly closed door.
The world-building isn’t much of a focus – beyond setting up that what each knows about the others are wrong – but what’s there was interesting. My main quibble was with Morgan’s ending. Despite Ezra’s being ok with it, it felt vaguely boundary crossing to me. Other than that, this was a fun and quick novella, probably 3.5 stars.
I received an advance review copy of this book from BookSprout. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
Morgan’s looking forward to a week of quiet in his friend’s remote and secluded cabin. Which is good, since with a big snowstorm coming in, he’s likely not going to have much choice. But he arrives to find the door kicked in and what appears to be a dead body on the couch… except it’s soon very clear the man is actually a vampire. Stuck together during a snowstorm, can both men fight a lifetime of prejudice – and some very real attraction – until the weather clears?
“I’m hungry.”
“You already ate. Me. You ate me,” Morgan pointed out.
The vampire propped himself up enough to be seen over the arm of the couch. “I said I was sorry.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Oh. Well then I said it right now.”
“No. You still didn’t. That wasn’t an apology.”
I liked both men, though Ezra verges close to spoiled brat territory at points, understandably though. After being sheltered by his family for his entire life, he’s so eager to go out and just… enjoy life. Even if that life is being stuck in a cabin in a snowstorm with a monster hunter. Morgan’s from a family of vampire hunters, though he’s relatively sure that they’ve thrown him out after his bombshell declaration that he wasn’t going to follow the family tradition. When it becomes clear they’re both stuck in the cabin – and that neither seems inclined to kill the other one – they slowly fall into a domestic pattern, sharing cereal and hot cocoa along with their vulnerabilities. As they both bond over their lack of worth in their respective families, they also start to hesitantly explore the feelings between them. It’s quite sweet and the attraction is sizzling, though most of it is firmly closed door.
“They were supposed to be enemies, weren’t they? Mortal enemies, Ezra had said. Morgan’s family would agree with that assessment. If they had a gospel, that was it. Find the monster, kill the monster. Nowhere in there did it say to suck the monster’s dick.”
The world-building isn’t much of a focus – beyond setting up that what each knows about the others are wrong – but what’s there was interesting. My main quibble was with Morgan’s ending. Despite Ezra’s being ok with it, it felt vaguely boundary crossing to me. Other than that, this was a fun and quick novella, probably 3.5 stars.
I received an advance review copy of this book from BookSprout. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
September 11, 2021
Entertaining but ultimately could have been so much more
A vampire escaping his ivory tower for his first foray out into the real world. A monster hunter who has quit the family business and run away (and weirdly has never met a vampire before). They meet in an isolated cabin in a snowstorm and fall in lust and then love.
Ezra in his five-inch stiletto boots is a cute baby vampire with a smart mouth and a puppy dog attachment to Morgan.
Morgan is very wary of, but fascinated by, this strange, unworldly creature who is nothing like he expected a vampire to be.
The author said she wrote as many tropes into this story as possible, challenged by her readers, and it somehow works. Ezra made me laugh a lot and Morgan was so sweet to him, looking after him and teaching him about the outside world.
There was a lot to like about this book but also a lot to be desired. With insta-love, I expected a lot of sex but that was only hinted at, as was the kink, and so was a letdown. The worldbuilding was incomplete and while we met Ezra's family, Morgan's never made an appearance and seemed to just exist to give him a reason to be at that isolated cabin in the first place. The showdown with Ezra's family was no such thing, just a whimper and a fizzle-out. The epilogue just confused me and didn't give me the ending I expected was coming after the rest of the story.
This book is now nearly two years old but there doesn't appear to be any sign of the other six books the series title '7 Caged Tigers' seems to suggest will be coming. Maybe when, and if, they materialise, Ezra and Morgan's story will continue and we'll see their proper HEA. Despite this being a three and a half star read (the half star for the fabulous cover), I would love to read more of Ezra and Morgan, and see what on earth '7 Caged Tigers' means because there was absolutely no clue in this book, and no tigers unfortunately.
A vampire escaping his ivory tower for his first foray out into the real world. A monster hunter who has quit the family business and run away (and weirdly has never met a vampire before). They meet in an isolated cabin in a snowstorm and fall in lust and then love.
Ezra in his five-inch stiletto boots is a cute baby vampire with a smart mouth and a puppy dog attachment to Morgan.
Morgan is very wary of, but fascinated by, this strange, unworldly creature who is nothing like he expected a vampire to be.
The author said she wrote as many tropes into this story as possible, challenged by her readers, and it somehow works. Ezra made me laugh a lot and Morgan was so sweet to him, looking after him and teaching him about the outside world.
There was a lot to like about this book but also a lot to be desired. With insta-love, I expected a lot of sex but that was only hinted at, as was the kink, and so was a letdown. The worldbuilding was incomplete and while we met Ezra's family, Morgan's never made an appearance and seemed to just exist to give him a reason to be at that isolated cabin in the first place. The showdown with Ezra's family was no such thing, just a whimper and a fizzle-out. The epilogue just confused me and didn't give me the ending I expected was coming after the rest of the story.
This book is now nearly two years old but there doesn't appear to be any sign of the other six books the series title '7 Caged Tigers' seems to suggest will be coming. Maybe when, and if, they materialise, Ezra and Morgan's story will continue and we'll see their proper HEA. Despite this being a three and a half star read (the half star for the fabulous cover), I would love to read more of Ezra and Morgan, and see what on earth '7 Caged Tigers' means because there was absolutely no clue in this book, and no tigers unfortunately.
December 19, 2019
Meh. I wanted to like this so much more. I liked bratty Ezra a lot. I think my eye rolling started with the love declaration. You know. After 3 days. Because of the sheltered life Ezra had lived, it felt like a teenage girl's first crush. And for Morgan it felt like rebellion against his family. I would have been fine with mutual attraction and curiosity for one another, but the insta-love is a no for me.
Something that really annoyed me was the fade to black sex. We get a blowjob and lots of foreplay, and that's it. It's especially frustrating since the foreplay suggests a few kinks, only to never show them at it. We are shown Ezra buying lube and condoms nervously, we know he's a virgin. We get nothing. If I'm gonna have to deal with insta-love, can I at least get the steamy kinky sex too?
And going back home to face Ezra's mother's and family was very boring. I expected a fight, at least least a heated argument. No. There, have everything you asked for.
I'm sorry I don't mean to rant. This novella is well written, it's just... I'm often disappointed with short books because they're superficial. And I try to reason with myself and accept that I can't expect depth in a hundred and twenty pages. But then, I have read a hundred and twenty page books that packed so much emotions, that I tend to demand it from every novella. Hell, I've read a thirty page short that both turned me on and made me cry. So again. Meh. This was a disappointment.
I'm curious to see a full length novel by this author since I enjoyed the writing style.
Something that really annoyed me was the fade to black sex. We get a blowjob and lots of foreplay, and that's it. It's especially frustrating since the foreplay suggests a few kinks, only to never show them at it. We are shown Ezra buying lube and condoms nervously, we know he's a virgin. We get nothing. If I'm gonna have to deal with insta-love, can I at least get the steamy kinky sex too?
And going back home to face Ezra's mother's and family was very boring. I expected a fight, at least least a heated argument. No. There, have everything you asked for.
I'm sorry I don't mean to rant. This novella is well written, it's just... I'm often disappointed with short books because they're superficial. And I try to reason with myself and accept that I can't expect depth in a hundred and twenty pages. But then, I have read a hundred and twenty page books that packed so much emotions, that I tend to demand it from every novella. Hell, I've read a thirty page short that both turned me on and made me cry. So again. Meh. This was a disappointment.
I'm curious to see a full length novel by this author since I enjoyed the writing style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
I absolutely loved this book! Such wonderful and well developed characters! I loved both of them, but found Ezra particularly endearing. He's sassy and spunky and beautiful, but underneath it all is a loneliness that really made me ache for him. He's a vampire, and with the clans warring against each other, his whole life he's been kept guarded and watched. All he wanted was one night of freedom and companionship. Instead he is drugged and kidnapped. He manages to escape, but nearly freezes in a blizzard before taking refuge in an empty cabin. Morgan's whole family are hunters, but it wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. When he quit, not only were they completely unsupportive, they were angry. Storming out, he drove off in a blizzard to spend a week alone in a friend's cabin. He didn't expect to come up against a hungry vampire. With the storm forcing them to remain together in the cabin, distrust slowly begins to wane as they get to know each other and eventually bond. I absolutely loved watching this relationship unfold. The anticipation of danger always kept me a little wary, but I loved these two together and needed to see them get their happily ever after. Great world building. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
March 27, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It was heavy on romance -- it developed quite fast before the 'I love you,' not the best representation of the trope I've seen -- but light on sex. Most of the scenes I was most anticipating were fade-to-black, which might be disappointing if you're a smut-lover like me. The plot was light and the world a bit underdeveloped, but if you're looking for some cute fluff this book has definitely got it.
I adored Ezra. Wow. What a cute little brat. Twinky vampire boys in heeled boots? Yes please.
Morgan was kind of just, 'Morgan.' There wasn't much special about him. If anything, I wish he'd be a little more grizzled than he was. It would have made the love payout a lot more satisfying.
As usual for Emery, the side characters were delightful gems and rounded out the story well, even in its simplicity.
I adored Ezra. Wow. What a cute little brat. Twinky vampire boys in heeled boots? Yes please.
Morgan was kind of just, 'Morgan.' There wasn't much special about him. If anything, I wish he'd be a little more grizzled than he was. It would have made the love payout a lot more satisfying.
As usual for Emery, the side characters were delightful gems and rounded out the story well, even in its simplicity.
September 24, 2021
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Paranormal meets sweet romance with Ezra's night out away from the prying eyes of his mother's lackeys, kidnapped from the hands of masked goons straight in the path of a hot Hunter. Morgan was just trying to get away from family's obligations, only a friends cabin in the woods should've came with a big flashing sign! Which that whole sorry not sorry was funny. Now the vamp can't leave or want, because of the snow. Morgan wasn't sure which yet which would make it out alive-ish, after all he had an adorable monster brat on his hands. The ease that Ezra has with Morgan is a two-sided coin, a drawl there between them but the danger still lurked not only from each other but the people that kidnapped Ezra as well as family.
February 12, 2022
**3.5 stars**
I like enemies to lovers and this one was OK. It had a lot of potential to be great but it left me wanting more. A lot of things could have been explored more between Ezra and Morgan....especially the kink. Close proximity brought on the feelings but not a good enough buildup. Their romance was rushed with a hint of steam...more fade to black and use your imagination. I did enjoy the banter and the fun the guys had with each other. I was invested in seeing how this ended...how a hunter and vampire can have a relationship. Ezra's family was surprisingly accepting but who knows about Morgan's...that wasn't explored enough. All in all their HEA was satisfying and I wasn't disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like enemies to lovers and this one was OK. It had a lot of potential to be great but it left me wanting more. A lot of things could have been explored more between Ezra and Morgan....especially the kink. Close proximity brought on the feelings but not a good enough buildup. Their romance was rushed with a hint of steam...more fade to black and use your imagination. I did enjoy the banter and the fun the guys had with each other. I was invested in seeing how this ended...how a hunter and vampire can have a relationship. Ezra's family was surprisingly accepting but who knows about Morgan's...that wasn't explored enough. All in all their HEA was satisfying and I wasn't disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 13, 2022
4.5 Stars
A vampire with high heels in the snow and a recently unemployed vampire hunter - stuck in a cabin. Together.
Totally by accident. Ezra ran form his captors, only to end up lot and in the cabin. Morgan ditched the family business and tried to escape all the drama he was certain to face.
What they did not expect was to test their will with one another.
Morgan can't shake his feelings for Ezra. It was interesting to see how these two one enemies- managed to find love.
Enjoyed so much more than expected but sort of left me desiring more from this couple. That is always a good sign.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
A vampire with high heels in the snow and a recently unemployed vampire hunter - stuck in a cabin. Together.
Totally by accident. Ezra ran form his captors, only to end up lot and in the cabin. Morgan ditched the family business and tried to escape all the drama he was certain to face.
What they did not expect was to test their will with one another.
Morgan can't shake his feelings for Ezra. It was interesting to see how these two one enemies- managed to find love.
Enjoyed so much more than expected but sort of left me desiring more from this couple. That is always a good sign.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
February 13, 2022
3,5*
The opposite sites, vampire and hunter, attract was enjoyable. Both Ezra and Morgan rebel against their circumstances and happen to find eachother by chance in a cabin in the woods. After sone challenges they find their hfn. For me I felt a slight disconnect to this story, mainly how they got together at first. And how easily Morgan was accepted by the Morales family.
This is the first book in the series, so it would be interesting how the author moves along in future books.
I was given an arc via Booksprout.
The opposite sites, vampire and hunter, attract was enjoyable. Both Ezra and Morgan rebel against their circumstances and happen to find eachother by chance in a cabin in the woods. After sone challenges they find their hfn. For me I felt a slight disconnect to this story, mainly how they got together at first. And how easily Morgan was accepted by the Morales family.
This is the first book in the series, so it would be interesting how the author moves along in future books.
I was given an arc via Booksprout.
December 23, 2022
lackluster
I was ready for some tropey vampire romance, but this honestly just wasn’t done very well. There’s no spice. Every scene is fade to black. And there were a lot of fade to black scenes which was odd. This would have been fine had the plot been deeper, but even the plot almost felt fade to black. There was never any real emotional development and the plot was patchwork at best. I honestly loved Ezra and this wasn’t a bad quick read, but don’t expect any spice or much of a plot.
I was ready for some tropey vampire romance, but this honestly just wasn’t done very well. There’s no spice. Every scene is fade to black. And there were a lot of fade to black scenes which was odd. This would have been fine had the plot been deeper, but even the plot almost felt fade to black. There was never any real emotional development and the plot was patchwork at best. I honestly loved Ezra and this wasn’t a bad quick read, but don’t expect any spice or much of a plot.
February 18, 2021
Entertaining but unfulfilling
The writing is decent, but overall kind of flat. There’s more conflict between the protagonists in the beginning than against any of the possible enemies they interact with during the anticlimactic climax of the story, and I never felt like there was any emotional connection between the characters (and all the sex happens off screen, feeling like a sneeze that never happens).
The writing is decent, but overall kind of flat. There’s more conflict between the protagonists in the beginning than against any of the possible enemies they interact with during the anticlimactic climax of the story, and I never felt like there was any emotional connection between the characters (and all the sex happens off screen, feeling like a sneeze that never happens).
October 25, 2021
I loved Frostbite by J. Emery. It's part of the 7 Caged Tigers series. I loved Ezra and Morgan. Ezra is a vampire, and Morgan is a retired monster hunter. I loved their chemistry and, most of all, Ezra's bratty, pouty nature and his fashion sense. There was a light dominant/submissive theme to the story that I enjoyed.
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.
December 2, 2021
4.5 stars
So many good tropes! This is the first “snowed in together” vampire/vampire hunter “enemies to lovers” story I’ve ever read, and now I kind of want more of them. The chemistry is great, the world building, while not extensive, felt like enough to get me situated in the characters’ reality, and I just loved Ezra for all his Ezra-ness. Well worth checking out.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So many good tropes! This is the first “snowed in together” vampire/vampire hunter “enemies to lovers” story I’ve ever read, and now I kind of want more of them. The chemistry is great, the world building, while not extensive, felt like enough to get me situated in the characters’ reality, and I just loved Ezra for all his Ezra-ness. Well worth checking out.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 12, 2022
Did not expect to enjoy this book so much. I read it in 1 sitting and stayed up way too late. The characters where so engaging and realistic (yes despite being supernatural). Fully expected to not like Ezra so much. He was much more than the brat I first thought.
The heeled boots in the snow will forever haunt me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The heeled boots in the snow will forever haunt me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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