Kol Livingston believes in the so-called fairy tales, the clichés—love at first sight, soul mates, and happily-ever-afters. He wants it all, but after a series of failed relationships, he’s beginning to think he’ll never meet Prince Charming. He loves his job at Blackhaven Manor, but with all the gorgeous paranormals strutting around the hotel, why would anyone choose him?
When cheetah shifter and infamous bad boy, Remington Raines, is asked to perform for the Heritage Festival at Blackhaven Manor, he can’t say no. Literally. Still, an all-expenses-paid vacation from tour buses and screaming fans might be just what he needs. Falling for the quirky concierge with big, brown eyes and a smile that melts him, however, wasn’t part of the plan.
He’s used to people—men, women, supernatural and human—throwing themselves at him, but Kol doesn’t care about his fame or his money. He’s been hurt, and he’s not about to give his heart to just anyone.
Image is everything, but if Remington wants to win over this jaded human, he’ll have to dig deep and show Kol the man behind the reputation.
This was super cute and different. When a shifter meets their mate, they claim them on site... Bite now. Talk later. A lil claim n bang. 🤭 I loved it. I'm going to read this whole series now.
I liked this book ok. Who is going to keep their job in an hotel when their mated to a rock star? That is just stupid, it knocked a star off the book for me.
Human concierge Kol works at a hotel that is mostly frequented by "Otherlings" - shifters, vampires and fae. After a break-up he swears off dating shifters. But when famous pop star and cheetah shifter Remington Raines stays at the hotel he might have to overthink his no-dating-rule.
I, personally, don't like the fated mate trope. Where is the romance if one can not choose a partner but has to make do with the fated one? And in this particular case I could not even see what Kol found so special about his pop star mate except that he was starstruck by his famously good looks.
Thus it is only begrudgingly that I give this a 3 star rating. Because other than that (and a weak plot line) it was very well written and I loved the side characters as well as the world building. I might even look up the next book in the series. They are mercifully short, less than 150 pages each.
Stats: - only two descriptive sex scene that could easily be skimmed. - very little shifting going on. - a lot of mine jealousy masked as protectiveness going on. But then again - I like strong characters, but not this alpha-blablabla so much. It's me, not the book ;-)
4.5 stars. This book came to me at just the right time. Had been feeling pretty slumpy lately and just needed a fun, easy, short read. Saw someone recommend this author on Facebook and took a look as it sounded good. So glad I did as I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
I really enjoy fated mates stories and it really helps to have them when stories are shorter as it doesn’t feel as rushed. This story was great with its timing and I really enjoyed seeing the MCs get to know each other better after they were mated.
Kol was a fun character and it was neat to see the hotel and the whole mating thing as a human from his eyes. I also really liked how even after being mated to a famous rockstar he didn’t give up himself or the job he loves. I loved how feral Remi was for Kol throughout the whole story and how he was so intuned with what Kol wanted to do!
This story had a fun balance of sexy times, daily life and even a bit of action. I definitely recommend this story and I can’t wait to continue with this series! Especially as it’s a long one so hopefully it will keep me throughly entertained!
That was a fun ride. Great start to this series. Witty banter, excellent characters. Human Kol, an employee of Blackhaven Manor, a hotel for Otherlings, meets his fated mate, a rock star cheetah shifter named Remi. It's not all sunshine and roses, but it's definitely a happy ever after.
KU, paranormal, book in a series, standalone, musician, hotel employee, lol
I really enjoyed this! Fated mates with some humour, a little danger and action, and a wonderful epilogue (though I never get why fated mates need to marry or would say no if ever asked...)
Somehow I missed both this author and her supernatural romance series , Blackhaven Manor. I’m rectifying that now.
Each story is a quick satisfying read if the first is any indication.
Blackhaven Manor is an enormous castle-like structure settled on an equally humongous wooded estate . Think ginormous 5 star hotel that’s comprised of Otherly niches , each suitable for a certain supernatural species, be it Vampire, Fae, type of were shifter, or anything else in the Other spectrum. And run by a meddling Dragon family.
It’s human concierge is Kol Livingston. Kol is one of the few humans on staff and the first to get his romance. He’s fresh from a bad breakup and currently swearing off any new relationships.
That’s when famous singer and infamous bad boy cheetah shifter, Remington Raines, arrives at Blackhaven Manor . He’s set to perform at the fabulous annual Festival held at the manor, a event so exclusive that it’s sold out far in advance.
Steele’s story is a fated mates romance with a hint of suspense to it. The author crafts her characters with an eye towards detail. Then, with a narrative smack, quickly nails the powerful impact a mate call has on a shifter and the couple.
It makes the fated mate a very believable element. Which I think was made more impressive given the shorter length of the book.
There’s a mystery and suspense aspect to the story that is something I both like and yet wish was given more time to develop. What we have is terrific but could have been so outstanding with a bit more “seasoning buildup“.
There are more characters I hope will will get to know better in the future novels. This universe has the potential for some very dramatic storylines and romances. I look forward to books.
I’m definitely recommending you start your journey here.
Blackhaven Manor Series: - [x] Purrfect Harmony #1 - [ ] Night and Fae #2 - [ ] Dragon It Out #3 - [ ] Grin and Bear it #4 - [ ] Pixie Little Liar #5 - [ ] Dead Over Heals #6 - [ ] Silent Knight #7
A really lovely and enjoyable paranormal romance with low angst, high romance, and a neat little skirt around mating insta-love.
Set in a world where paranormal came out, Kol already knew about paranormals before they revealed themselves. He works in a paranormal resort and lives in a largely paranormal town, which means most of his relationships have been with paranormals, both friends and lovers. His most recent relationship ended with his lover finding their mate and while he understands, it hurts losing a relationship like that. Being human he is certain that is how it will always be.
Remi is a rock star but he needs a little normalcy. Whisked to the resort for a work vacation by his brother, Remi finds himself intrigued by the concierge who meets the need of every guest, but denies Remi a date. He has to show that he is more than just some fling to truly get Kol's attention, and in doing so finds out how much more he is.
Once the two are mated attraction is there as well as loyalty and desire, but they are not immediately in love. The bond paves the way for a relationship and allows love to grow but doesn't force it. This way of doing it allows the relationship to happen quickly and yet actually gives it a chance to build on page. There is low angst as the two communicate well and are dedicated to figure g each other and their lives out. There is some drama from the past that adds a bit of intrigue to the whole story which just tops it all off nicely. It was an easy read with likable characters and an interesting world which opens itself well to future stories.
Fun, but the writing style could be better developed
Even for the typical shifter mating trope, this insta-love happened really fast. There wasn’t a lot of world building in here, so you had to make assumptions on some things simply based on the genre/trope.
I liked that Kol was okay with being Remi’s mate, and that he understood how the whole mating thing worked. I’m curious to know why we never heard anything about either character’s parents, or other family, besides Ruger. We know that Remi is an only child, but what of his parents, or extended family, in the town? Almost everything that happened here seemed to exist outside of their normal lives, but we never really got to see how they were able to integrate their mating into life. Did Remi and Jarrett ever get to a point where they feel comfortable and friendly with each other? I know that there is absolutely no indication of it, but wouldn’t it be interesting if Jarrett reacted as he did because he’s actually Ruger’s mate?
I came across this book via Kindle Unlimited. I have since purchased the whole series. I really enjoyed the world building and the characters that will be interwoven throughout the series. Kol and Remi's characters and personalities were not fleshed out as much as I would have liked, but it was enough to establish them and Blackhaven Manor. I do feel that it would have been a good addition if the author went with the mpreg approach I also enjoyed that the story wasn't overly drawn out, which becomes very tedious rather quickly. It's light-hearted and doesn't take itself too seriously, which is the norm of most omegaverse and shifterverse authors'approach. Overall, a great start to a fantastic series. I'd encourage anyone to read this book. In fact I would push them to read the whole series.
Relatively OK but not as good as I'd hoped. Shifters, elves, etc are a widely known part of human society with no explanation given. Fated Insta-mates (not my preferred trope) mate for life on first sight - Kol and Remi have 2 prior five minute meetings that don't trip the mating due to scent blocking stuff.
To my mind this is too short to build any complex conflict - the majority of the story is about the humorous, staff-side difficulties of running a large, all-inclusive resort for supernatural guests. The primary conflict is with Kol's ex-lover James, and James' new mate, Missy. Two, short set-up scenes and a super quick climax with an off-screen conclusion don't really seem to make much of a story.
I'll pass on the rest of the series and wait for more of EJ Russel's Myth Investigations or go back to read "Nudging Fate" for a better take on a similar plot.
I rated this book 3.5 stars, so I rounded it up to 4 stars. I’ve read these books completely out of order as I started with book 8, Pain in the Ice. I enjoyed this book and thought that it was a good start to the Blackhaven Manor Series. I liked being able to immerse myself in this magical world that Arden has created.
This is a paranormal fated mates story between human Kol and cheetah shifter rockstar Remi, their relationship moves at warp speed which is expected. I thought that they were cute together, they had a couple of bumps along the way to their happily ever after, especially with issues of jealousy. I’m looking forward to reading Night and Fae next, as well as more books by Arden Steele in the future. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Going on man-cleanse after the last breakup from otherlings, everyone one was finding their mate but him. As a human that worked in the blackhaven manor that vow was about to be put to the test as the famous Remington was checking in. A break from the stage, Remi is at the Blackhaven by invention or demand TBD in his opinion. Finding a half naked hotty in his was both a shock and a thrill. Unable to catch his scent for two days is driving him crazy until Kol delivers supper that is when everything changes. But is Kol ready what is to come? Trouble is foretold, who will be the victim. I just loved these characters and book it set in a fast but funny pace that is so worth a great read.
Shifters, humans, magic, and more. Just what I love in a series!
After being dumped by who he thought was seriously his boyfriend, Lol has decided to swear off men for a while. His boss, she thinks otherwise and has a slight little smile as he says that. As the next guest comes into the hotel, Kohl suddenly realizes that things are going to change. Remi is unsure of playing this festival but has decided to accept the gig. He notices the very handsome concierge. Kol greets him to let him know if there's anything he needs to call him and he will see to it. Things definitely get more interesting, hot, and steamy. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series. If there anything like the first they'll all be fun and entertaining.
This was a cute, quick read of a little story. In under 140 pages, Arden manages to develop her characters to an acceptable level, build an alternate reality world, and tell a story. The plot was the basic plot for a HEA-fated mate genre. Meet mate - mind blown - a problem or two - solve the problem - live HEA. As long as you understand the genre, you will not be disappointed. Do I wish this was a more developed genre? Yes as Arden's writing style is lovely and pulls the reader through the story. But the reality is that it isn't so I will enjoy what I have. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
It’s a very simple easy read. Not much drama, or really barely any at all. I love a quick romance and fated mated but it just felt….. idk? Bland? What’s the background of the characters because we weren’t really told a thing. There isn’t any kind of introduction really to who they are besides the bare minimum. The summary made it seem as though there would be pining and tough decisions and etc but it wasn’t that at all. It’s an easy read. Honestly there’s not much to it or their interactions really. Read this if you just want something quick and easy to read where you don’t have to think or really pay attention at all.
Rock star, hot shifters, adorable human, a tad bit of angst, humor and a beautiful HEA, what more could you want from a book?! This truly is a sweet story of two opposites in everyway coming together and making a normal loving couple. Normal in that they admit to having ups and downs but they always work it out and keep their bond string and loving. Remi and Kol are cute in the beginning while trying to figure out why they can't stop thinking of each other. Not to mention the humor of how Remi meets Kol for the first time!
Kol is a human who works at Blackhaven Manor, a hotel for shifters and other paranormal beings. After being betrayed by his shifter lover he decides to go on a man cleanse to save his heart from future pain. Except only a few hours later Remington, a gorgeous cheetah shifter rock star, checks in to the manor and hits on Kol multiple times before discovering they're mates.
The story is on the shorter side. It was light and romantic with no angst. The MC's were loveable. Perfect book for a quick mood pick me up.
For me this was a two-stars entry. Short (thank goodness) and mostly sweet. I wanted there to be more of a chase, but I must have glossed over the insta-love warnings in other reviews, because once Remi goes all "MINE!!!" it's all over but for the sex scenes and jealousy. Arden Steele was able to make the characters vibrant enough that I stayed to the end, even if I skipped the last bit of sex. So, if insta-love is your bag, if mates being jealous of minor interactions makes you happy, this story should make you very happy.
I liked this book a lot. It was short but fun, pretty low-angst but still with some drama, and the amount of world-building was just right for the story. The classic shifter tropes like fated mates, insta-love and possessiveness come out strong in this book, so it's a pretty quick dive into the relationship but it worked for me and I found the relationship sweet. The only thing that bothered me with the writing was an overuse of "the female" when "she" would do fine. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
This is a paranormal romance series, this is the first of the series. I really struggled to connect with the characters of this series let alone the two MC’s. It’s your basic fated mates story between a human and a shifter. There is some great writing here, the world-building was fantastic; I felt like I was in that place but the characters really didn’t do it for me. I’m going to give book two a try before I give up. I’ve heard great things about this series so I have hope that there’s more to it.
This is such a cute and adorable story about dates mates with a touch of danger!
I loved this book. It isn't particularly long so it was great for wanting something quicker to read but that doesn't mean it was lacking in anyway, Arden Steele just clearly didn't feel the need to drag it out, a bonus if you ask me.
It's a light hearted, fun book with just a hint of danger to keep the reader interested. I can't wait to get through the next book "Night and Fae"
Thank for such an entertaining, quick paced book 😊
It's not ground-breaking, and it's not going to win any awards, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable bit of fluff, I found myself smiling through a lot of the book. On another note, I normally avoid third-person books as I struggle to connect with the characters, but Arden Steele's writing made me forget that I wasn't reading first person for the majority of the book, so I applaud them for that. If you want a lovely palate cleanser in between angsty books, then this is a book I would recommend.
Great introduction to the Blackhaven Manor series of books. Kol a human working in a paranormal hotel has had his fill of failed relationships and is doubtful his HEA will ever happen. he did not count on Cheetah shifter Remington Steel and famous star with a reputation to go with it. its love and attraction at first sight with a bit of action and suspense thrown in. but heh Remington cant deny fate...
Purrfect Harmony is a fun, quick read. The characters are enjoyable and the world building is interesting. The book was not plagued by typos and errors as so many are.
The one thing I wish was different is the length of the book. There was an awful lot of story in too short an amount of time to be truly satisfying. I will be trying the next book in the series, though. This was well worth the read.