How to Catch a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #6)

Here's Shannon Mae's latest book, "How to Catch a Hellhound," which is the sixth and final book in her series Hellhounds of Paradise Falls (which is a spin-off series from Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures).

["Paul
I’m not exactly sure how I became sheriff of Paradise Falls, but I take the protection of the people in my town seriously. That even includes Jude, who’s constantly pulling pranks in the hopes of getting arrested. I know he’s flirting with me, but how can someone as damaged as me be a match for his eternal good cheer? Never mind the fact that I may also be losing my mind—I’m getting crazy feelings about people, and the urge to act on them is getting stronger. My goal has always been to save people, not to harm them. Something is changing, though, and I’m not sure who I am anymore.

Jude
Being an assassin and a hellhound is all-around fun, and teasing my sexy sheriff makes my life complete. Lately, though, something’s been wrong with Paul. He’s been cranky and secretive, and I’m determined to get to the bottom of it. Is something from Paul’s past haunting him? Because if someone needs killing, then I’ll be happy to do it. Although maybe it’s time to show the sheriff what he’s really capable of. He’s a kindred spirit—I can sense it—and I’m only too happy to show him how hellhounds take care of the bad guys."]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["Sheriff Paul can sense things; Jude is, as always, ridiculous; there are numerous Beatle references, so get ready to have songs stuck in your head; Jude is the happiest assassin you’ll ever meet; these two have explosive chemistry; Paul might kill Jude (or at least shoot him); the entire pack is there for all the fun; Paul isn’t exactly what he appears; Oracles give the vaguest advice; trying to get arrested is Jude’s love language."]

I love how literally everyone is like "finally" to Jude about him and Patrick when they technically weren't even together-together yet. Just covering up a murder of a hell-bound soul. Semantics. 

And I loved how literally no one in the pack was shocked by Patrick's reaction to seeing hellhound-Jude for the first time. No one. Just Jude. Maybe Crow.

I loved how this series ended. It was mysterious and odd and left us with a few additional mysteries and unfinished plot points. 

Trigger Warnings: torture, death, maiming, traumatic backstories, paranoia, mentions of human and sex trafficking, and more. Does the Chosen One get a harem? Does Luce get his HEA?

#howtoflirtwithahellhound #howtohackahellhound #howtotameahellhound #howtotrustahellhound #hownottokillahellhound #howtocatchahellhound #hellhoundsinparadisefalls #hellhoundsinparadisefallsseries #shannonmae #demonicdisastersandafterlifeadventures #demonicdisastersandafterlifeadventuresseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

How Not to Kill a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #5)

Here's Shannon Mae's latest book, "How Not to Kill a Hellhound," which is the fifth book in her series Hellhounds of Paradise Falls (which is a spin-off series from Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures).

["Sebbie
Life’s pretty good. I love my job, I feed the crows in my yard, and I have some awesome friends. Sure, I was kidnapped by a cult recently, but my friends rescued me, so no harm done. And, okay, people do tend to die around me, but I work in a hospital. That’s normal… right? Death isn’t scary anyway—it’s just another beginning. Unfortunately, most guys I date don’t see it that way. My love life has been pretty empty, but I just met someone new. He’s ridiculously cute and even likes crows. I just hope he’s not scared off when he learns about my job.

Corbin
I take great satisfaction in removing hellbound souls from the world—especially the ones who prey on the weak. With my pack and my familiar, Crow, at my side, life is steady and peaceful. At least, it was until Sebbie. The cute, bubbly man is far more than he realizes, and he’s about to turn everything upside down. There’s just one little he doesn’t know the supernatural exists… or that he’s a supernatural being. I want to help him harness his powers"]

And the official tags (because they're the best): ["Crows hold grudges; Death is actually cheerful; Corbin’s as obsessed with shiny things as his birds; The pack shows up to create chaos; Thea is determined to be Sebbie’s new bestie; Jude doesn’t get arrested (or maybe he does?); there’s torture and death (but only of really bad people); hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them."]

Sebbie: "Yeah, that probably did my chances with Corbin. Kidnapping and death weren't really a good meet-cute story." Think again little Sebbie. 

A reaper and a hellhound walk into a cult... Honestly, these two were cosmically perfect for each other. Sebbie can ferry the people he cares about, good and kind souls, over to their loved ones, and Corbin can eat the evil souls that Sebbie reaps (on purpose or otherwise). Adorable and kinda career-goals. 

Sebbie was similar to Toby when he learned about the supernatural/paranormal, but also...the opposite. He accepted that magical and mystical things could, in theory, happen--just like, theoretically, angels and demons are real ( ;) ). And in his dreams, which weren't really dreams at all, anything goes. But connecting those two? Toby jumped right on that; it took Sebbie a little longer. 

Then there's Corbin. Always there, always conforming, always warm and safe.

Spoiler: I kneeew that man in the black suit was Luce. And yet, I still teared up. 

Trigger Warnings: torture, death, maiming (but only of really bad people), past trauma, violence, death of a loved on, cult references, repressed memories, feelings of dissociation, and more.

#howtoflirtwithahellhound #howtohackahellhound #howtotameahellhound #howtotrustahellhound #hownottokillahellhound #howtocatchahellhound #hellhoundsinparadisefalls #hellhoundsinparadisefallsseries #shannonmae #demonicdisastersandafterlifeadventures #demonicdisastersandafterlifeadventuresseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Palingenesis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids)

Here's Rae Stone's "Palingenesis." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids.

["New town. New place.

It’s small but it’s exactly what I was looking for when I scoured the map for inspiration.

Coming to Bearcreek felt like a taste of the freedom I’ve been so desperately waiting for.

A town painted in celebration with a local legend is just a bonus.

A fresh start that was supposed to rejuvenate me.

But it’s the past I brought along that might destroy me.

If I don’t go up in flames first."]

My very first thoughts about Henry: I hope someone tortures and murders him. Fuck Henry. 

Then things got a little confusing (not about Henry--fuck Henry). Nightmares and dreams mixed with reality. Nonlinear timelines. Missing weeks/months. I was soo lost. Then again, so was Shannon. 

I really liked the first epilogue, how fate can bring them back together after a death, how their story was shared and popularized. 

And honestly, I totally get why the author's favorite line of this piece was "Hello, beloved." 

Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, verbal abuse, isolation, noncon/dubcon, mentions of fire/wildfire, gaslighting, manipulation, forced amnesia, pain and trauma surrounding hearing loss/hearing devices, isolation, and more.

#palingenesis #raestone #pareidolia #mortis #tenebrous #hollow #feral #tenebrous #golden #hush #leech #noctis #solivagant #solais #marked #mayhemmanuscripts #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwo #mayhemmanuscriptscryptids #mayhemmanuscriptsseasontwocryptids #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye, September

September was a mess of trying to figure life out and trying to be good but feeling like shit, fighting to get out from under the tide, pros and cons lists, negotiating with myself, and some upcoming positives. 

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: 51 (a lot of novellas) (though, I might squeeze one more in before midnight).

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

(2) September Memories: A few fun meals and an adventure to the local converatory with my grandmother. One job interview that I didn't feel great out (and didn't get an offer for). Another doctor's appointment. My sister's (and my best friend's) birthday. Some purposefully lazy days, some get-the-shit-done days. 

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 45.

(4) I realized this month that I was a little traumatized by my old job (fun), so working through that. Working through purposefully lazy days, telling myself that I needed the break and needed a brain break and needed the space to heal. Some days, mostly nights (and afternoons, oddly enough) were a little dark blue. The temperatures dropped, which didn't help. But now that the leaves are changing colors, it feels a little more purposeful and the universe nodding at a change (I do love fall). Here's to new changes and old friends. 

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

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

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeseptember #hellooctober #hello2026 #dontstopreading #makememories #shareloveofbooks #shareloveofreading #bekindertomyself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Hart (Body Heat #2)

Here's "Hart" by Marina Pirlimpou. It's the second novel in her Body Heat series.

["It was supposed to be just one night.
One wonderful night with a handsome alpha at a business hotel.

I never expected him to set my heart and body on fire.
I never expected to walk away with a piece of him inside me.
And I never expected to see him again.

But when an interview for a PA position brings me to a security company a year later, it’s him behind the desk. My new boss.

He should be off-limits for so many reasons; we work together, he doesn’t know what happened after that night, and he carries shadows I know nothing about.
If only I didn’t remember what being in his arms felt like.
If only he didn’t look like he remembers it too."]

DEVON!

This one was sweet too and a little soft. But the mutual pining and the not-really-communicating-in-the-first-place miscommunication and the angst were killers. Back to back to back chapters of pure want and that feel of fate (and more) just outside your reach all mixed with the forbidden-ness of it all. 

Oh but when the softness really set in, when the forbidden lines were so damn blurry? Wow. 

Trigger Warnings: past trauma, panic attack, mention of past physical abuse of SC resulting in blindness, and more.

#wilder #hart #bodyheat #bodyheatseries #marinapirlimpou #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wilder (Body Heat #1)

Here's "Wilder" by Marina Pirlimpou. It's the first novel in her Body Heat series.

["A snowstorm brought him to me.
A beautiful stranger in need.
And I wish he never had to leave.

When an emergency warning goes out for an impending snowstorm, I do what I've always done as a forest ranger; I make sure the trails are clear and secured, and any winter hikers evacuated and safe.

But when I happen upon a young man, stranded, soaked from the cold rain, hurt and terrified, taking care of him is instinct, my cabin the only thing keeping us shielded from the violent storm for days on end.
He's running from something and he needs me.
But what he doesn't know is that I need him even more.
That I wish he'd stay."]

These two! D: They had me feeling all sorts of soft and sweet and posessive and fate-y things from the very beginning. I looove how certain fated mates books or omegaverse books start with that instant chemistry, that immediate but slow rolling heat/rut. They became more than friends that week and a half. After that, they fell in love.

There were just so many moments of home and comfort and safety. It was a warm blanket of love during a snow storm and a little bit of real-life magic during Christmas. 

I want more from Devon's and those twins too.

Trigger Warnings: parental abandonment, stalker situation, attempted sexual assault of MC, violence against a bad guy, and more.

#wilder #hart #bodyheat #bodyheatseries #marinapirlimpou #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Dirty Hit (In The Spotlight)

Here's Avery Collins's "Dirty Hit." It's a novel in the multi-author series, In The Spotlight.

["He’s the campus god with blood on his hands.
I’m the TA who should’ve walked away.

Everyone worships Dominic Volkov—the Russian quarterback with a million‑dollar smile, a body built for victory, and a future everyone wants a piece of. He’s untouchable on the field and off it. The kind of man who owns every room he walks into.

But I know better.

The first time I met him, there was a dead man lying at his feet and blood on his hands. But instead of running, I made a deal with the devil and bound myself to a man who doesn’t believe in mercy.

I was raised to fear sin and resist temptation. To believe wanting the wrong thing would damn me.

I’ve never been good at running from sin.
And Dominic has made it clear that I’m his favorite."]

This book was on my TBR well before it even came out. When it did come out, the sheer size of it intimidated me. But I'm trrrying to get through some TBRs so, here's to these two hot messes. 

Talk about a fucking meet-cute. Brendon walks in on Dominic committing murder. Dominic's response? "Alexa, stop music. Huh, the tutoring's tonight." Brendon all meek. Dominic all cocky (still covered in blood). Brendon somehow, for some reason, listening to Dominic instead of logic Dominic calling him a good boy. And that good boy is sooo different then when everyone else says it. 

This was perfect. It was a smidge of hurt/comfort between MCs, but the real hurt/comfort was between MC and his own mind. With the other MC doing the comforting..with an edge of darkness and forbidden want and pure addictive love. It was a little dangerous, but it was also soo careful and constant check ins and consent. It was falling in love, seeing it happen to yourself, knowing it could end in flames, and falling anyway..and then realizing that had already fallen.

This was just so beautifully written. That's all. 

Trigger Warnings: violence, serial murder, religious trauma, homophobia, mentions of off-page CSA, parental grooming towards violence, panic attacks, gun-use, break-ins/home invasion, near-death situation, threats, assault, emotional and psychological abuse, parental manipulation/control, family rejection, mention of conversation therapy/camps, financial abuse, animal threatened/inuried, PTSD, trauma responses, blood play, knife play, and more.

#dirtyhit #averycollins #inthespotlight #inthespotlightseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks