The Werewolf's Deputy (Charmed Away Temp Agency #7)

Here's Amy Padilla's "The Werewolf's Deputy" is the seventh novel in her latest series, Charmed Away Temp Agency. 

["Jonah spent his entire life raised in a human-only community with anti-supe family members trying to brainwash him, to no success. When his father demands he get off his computer and go get a job, he knows accepting a job at a supe-run temp agency is risky, but he’s determined to experience the world and finally see what he was missing. He didn't expect his first assignment to be at the largest supe-run company in the world. Maybe he should have considered asking for a smaller assignment for his first supe experience. Werewolves don’t eat humans, right?

When Emmett notices a nervous human at Spellbound, it’s his job as a member of security to ensure he feels safe. It has nothing to do with thinking the easily startled human is adorable and smells delicious. Out of the kindness of his heart, he offers to be the human’s authority on all things supe, answering all his questions and giving Jonah a safe harbor while he learns. When the adorable human starts receiving some unwanted attention and mentions a fake relationship to give himself a buffer, Emmett is happy to play along. Fake dating should include actual dates, though. Right?"]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["Jonah has no experience with supes, Emmett is the Supe Guru Extraordinaire, texting is their love language, getting hit on by supes is a little much for Jonah, Emmett volunteers as tribute, dates include kisses, and maybe some other stuff, Taron decides to adopt Jonah, Jonah thinks he’s joking, who’s going to tell him?, Emmett gets growly, Jonah finds out what it’s like to be claimed by a werewolf, guaranteed HEA."]

My GOD did I love this book...even if it made me cry several times. This book was cuteness and fluff overload, plus all of the found family and new friends and pack shenanigans (I really hope we get a pack spin-off).  Jonah and his sweet blushes and sassy replies. Emmett and his wagging tail. The puppy cuddle puddle. The picnic lunches. I can't. 

Plus Taron being...Taron but so mature and so responsible. 

This is one of the books (and the previous one in the series) that I would erase from memory just so I can reread it again. 

Trigger Warnings: species-ism, toxic parents, men who can't understand 'no,' and more.

#theincubssassistant #thedragonsaide #theshapeshifterssecretary #thevampiresreceptionist #thetelephathstemp #thdemonsattendant# #thewerewolfsdeputy charmedaway #charmedawayseries #charmedawaytempagency #charmedawaytempagencyseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

May's Book Shape Challenge 2026

2026 Book Shape Challenges... Last year, I went with an animal-theme. This year, I'm thinking zodiac constellations (which is less--and yet more--of a challenge (we'll see how it goes)).

Here's May's Book Shape Challenge! Taurus!!

#reading #readingchallenge #readingdare #bookdare #bookchallenge #alphabetchallenge #beatthebacklog #monthlythemes #monthlychallenge #bookshape #bookshapechallenges #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Unholy Bad Decisions (Not Quite Dead #1)

Here's JF Miev's "Unholy Bad Decisions." It's the first novel in the Not Quite Dead series. 

["TOMMY

I might be a little crazy. I just tried to bribe a priest with a good time. In my defense, he’s not just a priest. He’s Nikolas Stavros—an ex-mercenary, supposedly dead, and the only man who can keep me alive.

I stole from the wrong people, and now I’m on the run. Niko is hot, dangerously capable, and very much not interested in helping a disaster like me. Too bad for him, because when I show up at his church, I’m not exactly giving him the option to say no.

NIKO

A decade of peace shatters the moment a sassy troublemaker lands on my church steps after midnight. I should send him away. The mercenary he’s looking for no longer exists. I’m a man of the cloth now.

But Tommy has zero survival instincts. Without me, he’s as good as dead. The people hunting him aren’t the forgiving type. Protecting him isn’t my job, but the brat is pure temptation. He makes it impossible to say no. And who knows, maybe the crazy mess he drags me into is the kind of out-of-this-world plot twist I’ve been secretly hoping for."]

YES. All of the yes. SOOO much yes!

I loooved these two. They connected instantly, and very nearly instantly was the love. It was fast, sure, but their lives were on the line again and again. The trust was there right away, the protectiveness was there right away, and the feelings were right behind. 

And honestly, I totally forgot about eh paranormal/supernatural aspects until they practically bit me in the ass.

Trigger Warnings: violence, guns, death threats, murder, and more.

#unholybaddecisions #notquitedead #notquitedeadseries #jfmiev #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Callback (Evergreen University #2)

Here's Lee McCormick and RS McKenzie's "Callback." It's the second novel in their new Evergreen University series.

["Luca
My life has always boiled down to two words: be good.
Be good because your grandparents didn’t have to take you in when your dad abandoned you. Be good so you can get a scholarship for college. Be good… and don’t tell anyone what happened freshman year.
But when Maddox Levine tells me I’m good, all the stress, all the worry… it fades away. Being good for him makes me feel like I’m floating… but wanting to be good for my professor…
That might be the thing that makes me fall.

Maddox
I’ve spent twenty years ignoring my past, never allowing my frozen heart to thaw for anyone. I’ve kept most people at arm’s length, my attitude ensuring no one gets too close.
Then I meet Luca and he cracks something inside me that’s been locked up for decades. He’s soft… innocent… sweet. More than I deserve. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting.
Or showing him a whole new world."]

Another fabulous look from Lee and RS. Another slightly dark romance in this universe (that is probably dark for most people but light gray to me). 

These two were perfect for each other. The angst and personal histories and emotional baggage kept them on the edge of falling in love for week. The chemistry and fluff and pining kept them coming back for more. It was a perfect balance.

Also, kinda miss Sandy (and his "psychotic blond boyfriend"--Luca's words, not mine)

Trigger Warnings: discussions of domestic violence against SC, discussion of sexual assault against MC, sexual assault against MC, violence, murder, mentions of homophobia, absent/poor relationship with parents, and more. 

#blitzd #callback #sacked #evergreenuniversity #evergreenuniversityseries #rsmckenzie #leemccormick #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Den of Paradise

Here's "Den of Paradise" by Eryn Hawk. 

["As the head of the most prestigious pack in the city, Caine Devereux doesn’t have the time or desire for a mate. That is until a routine visit to one of his “clubs” sparks an encounter with an omega in heat, and his resolve wavers. For the first time in his life, he’s not repulsed by the scent that greets him, so he lets instinct take over. It’s only three nights, after all? Except, what Caine doesn’t expect is for that same omega to show up on his doorstep two years later, begging for his help.

He shouldn’t get involved, he’s not interested in the archaic existence his father expected of him, but he can’t deny how the wilful little thing has captured his attention—it’s been a while since anyone dared to show him their claws.

Dylan Park is down on his luck, a single man with hardly a penny to his name, and after his first heat compels him into the arms of a powerful stranger, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. He quickly realises there’s no escaping the wolf’s den once you’ve ventured in, and he’s given no choice but to seek the leader’s aid. He’s offered a lifetime of protection, and with his baby girl in mind, Dylan signs on the dotted line, forfeiting his freedom and the chance of a bond like his parents had.

One tryst was all it took to flip his world on its axis, to tie him to an arrogant Alpha who barely tolerates his presence. But is security really worth never experiencing a fairytale ending for himself?"]

I waited for months for this book to come out! I counted down the days...and then it took me days to read. I was apparently not in a place for the kind of angst this book provided.

But it was soooo worth it!

This book was the perfect combination of spice and sass, of fluff and fire, of protection and possession. It was all over the top obsession and denial. It was found family and fate. It was fighting what you desire, fighting what you feel. It was overcoming those fears and accepting that love can concur.  

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, torture, past sexual coercion/assault, physical abuse, parental death, sexism, feelings of abandonment, old-fashioned ideals/traditions, ableism, asshole parent, scars/permanent injury, hospital aversion, guns/shooting, severe injury, blood and violence, 

#denofparadise #erynhawk #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

the witch doesn't drown in this one (women are some kind of magic #3)

Here's Amanda Lovelace's "the witch doesn't drown in this one." It's the third poetry in her series Women Are Some Kind of Magic

["In this one, the witch doesn’t burn or die or drown. In this one, she rages.

In the witch doesn’t drown in this one, celebrated poetess amanda lovelace revisits the titular voice behind her 2018 bestselling collection the witch doesn’t burn in this one. With candor, honesty, and well-earned wisdom, lovelace expounds on the roller coaster of feelings brought on by simply trying to exist as a woman in the sociopolitical climate of 2025’s America. Through poetry that encompasses a myriad of fem-centric themes, including queer love, trans rights, patriarchal oppression, and intersectional feminism, she demands that women of all backgrounds and lived experiences be seen, heard, defended, and loved.

the witch doesn’t drown in this one is a deeply felt and hard-won reminder that though some stories that start with bitch-fire end with tear stains, women are powerful, resilient beings who have always contained the strength to rise again, especially when we swim back to the surface together."]

another powerful and empowering collection. it screams female rage just loud enough for everyone to hear, even if they want to ignore it. 

#theprincesssavesherselfinthisone #thewitchdoesntburninthisone #thewitchdoesntdrowninthisone #womenaresomekindofmagic #womenaresomekindofmagicseries #amandalovelace #poetry #poetrybooks #poems #poetrycollection #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, April!

It's already May..which is strange. Because each month this year seems longer than the last.

2026 Resolutions:

     (1) Don't stop reading
            (b) Complete Monthly Reading Challenge(s)
     (2) Make memories
     (3) Share love of books/reading
     (4) Be kinder to myself

(1) Book's Read This Month: 42 (though, I might squeeze one more in before midnight).

    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Ares. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Some ARCs. Got a lot of Beat The Backlog done.

(2) April Memories: Lots of work. Lots of books. A few nice lunches with work friends. Nothing overly exciting this month. 

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 34.

(4) Ehh. Most days were good. The weather being indecisive as hell hasn't been fun. Nor the additional work stressors. Nor the endless work hours. Nor the season depression playing peek-a-boo. But the days that the sun is out and the temperature is warm, those have been nice. The laughter has been wonderful. The books have been the best of friends. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting May reads? Any existing 2026 reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeapril #hellomay #hello2026 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks