Title: Cheetahs Never Win ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #11
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Cheetahs are my favourite big cat, so, of course, I absolutely adored the idea of shapeshifting cheetahs – they just hold that special place in my heart. As with all of the Blain books that I have the privilege of reading, Cheetahs Never Win take a shapeshifting species and give them a bit of a special twist. In the case of Cheetahs, Blain creates a slightly manic group of cats that really don’t see gender. And, for the poor females, there are so many problematic choices that the males continuously make (although, this can be observed frequently in the world).

Although it’s pretty obvious who the couple in this story is going to be, I really loved how he had decided on Sassy years ago. And then, eventually, decided to go after her with all of the subtlety of a freight train. Then, there’s the fact that Sassy’s family has already interfered and I was laughing continuously throughout this entire reread. I had previously enjoyed this, but remembering snippets of the story just made this whole story all that much more entertaining, and in some points, hilarious. Plus, the whole cheetah clan is completely out of this world insane, which made me gleefully and deliriously happy.

I enjoy the fact that Blain uses a narrator’s voice from both the female and male perspective, but I did like that in the case of Cheetahs Never Win, it was written from the male’s point of view. It helped to highlight how amazingly joyful and wonderful a female lead Sassy is. She’s completely neurotic in moments, slightly unhinged, and incredibly tough. Then, there’s the fact that her kick ass nature is beautifully complemented by the shoe fetish. And that the man she has set her eyes on is completely willing to placate her with the gift of expensive shoes. If we could all be so lucky.

Even though there’s a psycho on the loose, serial killer/s running rampant and a whole lot of murder, there is just so much damn humour to this story that it was still light hearted. I particularly enjoyed how it wasn’t only about the two leads falling in love, but also about how loyalty and togetherness is what ultimately saves the day. Now I just want one of Sassy’s brothers to find their forever woman and settle down too.

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Title: Blending In ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #10
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

This is another enjoyable story filled with the nonsensical and enjoyable chaos of Blain’s writing. I particularly loved the idea of a woman being cursed by a divine. At first, it makes him seem like a horrible being for cursing his ex. But, I love that, as the story unfolds, the divine isn’t actually all that evil, it’s just that he’s kind of an idiot. I mean, I’ve read this before, so I did know this fact already. But, it was just as fun discovering the ins and outs of the lead’s curse a second time, lots of nuances that I missed in my first read through.

There is something about chameleons that I’m kind of obsessed with. Which meant that the idea of a chameleon shapeshifter was always going to draw me in. Alright, she’s cursed, and it’s not exactly a choice, but still! Being able to shapeshift into a chameleon and all ion the different adventures one can have in this light… brilliant and a whole lot of fun. Plus, it gave me flashbacks to my time in South Africa when I spent forever just watching a chameleon and being seriously entertained…

As someone who is also a Mum, I love that pretty much every choice throughout this story is driven by a mother’s love for her son. I kind of missed some of the interactions between them. I would’ve liked more mother-son relationship time, and less of the romantic relationship building if I’m being honest. But, that might just be the lens that I’m looking through in this day and age…. I’ll be interested to see how I take the relationship dynamics in my next reread!

As a beagle owner, I’m absolutely disappointed that beagles were the victims of the horrible puppy mills. I mean, I know that this actually happens in real live, but it still sucked to read about. I kept cuddling my own beagle throughout this. I’m not going to lie, I also would’ve wanted to commit violent acts in response to the puppy mills. Actually, I thought that some of the reactions were kind of tame… 

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Title: Fowl Play ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #9
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2018

There is something about the idea of a swan shapeshifter that I just adore. I mean, swans are kind of assholes (I had an incident with a Black Swan once), so it makes sense that they would be a bird well suited to being a lycanthrope. The only more evil bird is probably geese, but everyone expects geese to be assholes. A lot of people forget that swans are also violent and vindictive, which, again, made this a phenomenal and fun novel to read. I enjoyed it the first time, but knowing just how violent the lycanthropic tendencies of the fledgling swan was going to be… that made it all that much better.

One of the reasons why I first picked up Blain’s books was that I knew of a few of her books that had shapeshifters, with different animals as the shifted form. The fact that she is able to so effortlessly utilise a swan, combining the grace of a bird with their aggressive tendencies is a big reason why I love her books so much. Creating a woman who is a dancer, lawyer and future law enforcement officer worked incredibly well to reflect what I felt like a swan lycanthrope should be like. Plus, it’s a great reminder that there is no one way to be a person, and “Jail Bird’s” way of being is wonderfully valid too.

Fowl Play is a quick little novella which involves a handful of murders, a dance retreat and a seriously sociopathic woman running free. Then, there’s the start of a romance and the beginning of a happily ever after. It honestly ticked all of my boxes the first time I read it. On the read through? It did that, and more. Honestly, this is just a novella that is a whole lot of chaotic and violent fun. One that, happily, ends in two people agreeing to spend the rest of their lives together.

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Title: No Kitten Around ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #8
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

No Kitten Around is such a fun and gorgeous little second chance romance. One with plenty of violence and insanity, because that is why I read Blain in the first place. I also kind of liked the simplicity of their reuniting, there is a whole lot of angst in the lead up. And then, there is very little when they actually start to talk and reconnect for the first time. On the one hand, I would’ve enjoyed a little more nuance and conversation about their forgiveness of one another. But then, on the other hand, I much rathered their getting trained by the crazy elf with weaponry, so it all worked out well in the end.

I really love how the leads mix of demon, angel, human, and “other” works out throughout this book. Blain manages to spin together some crazy paranormal genetic mixes, and come out with something that somehow makes complete and total sense. I mean, we don’t fully understand genetics now, imagine mixing in supernatural powers? Plus, then there’s just what the “other” turned out to be. That gives extra future chaos to this world building. I also love how it kind of justifies his occasional psychotic tendencies. I want more elf hybrids in my life! Or at least, in this series.

Elves have been touched upon a little throughout this series, but Sam is the first really intense exposure to these cannibalistic chaos demons. The reason why the other paranormals fear them and their well earned reputation is really dived into in No Kitten Around. And I particularly loved Sam and her training tactics. I’m not sure I’d enjoy going through such a thing, but I’m fairly confident that I would enjoy the consequences at the end of such a thing. Plus, there is also the elf wedding rituals which are practiced, again, something I seriously and ridiculously enjoyed.

I might read Blain’s A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) series for the violence, the build up of romance and just the pure insanity. But I also keep returning to it because there is a deep love of pets in amongst these books. I particularly loved that there is a cat and dog who are both the harbingers of the end and the hope for the world. And that they are forever cherished throughout. They are just too damn cute and I wanted to reach through the pages for kitten and puppy cuddles at all times.

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Title: Last But Not Leashed ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #7
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Dale, the pretty coloured wolf lyncanthrope is a whole lot of fun. He’s entertaining, kind of quirky and really just, very sweet. I love that his whole barrier to getting to know the rest of his pack a little better is all based on how he thinks they are going to respond to his unique colouration. Plus, it’s also the reason that he just can’t fight and is all kinds of passive in moments. Honestly, I just really liked everything about Dale’s character and voice. I remember liking it the first time around, but, if anything it was more enjoyable this time around.

Ethel was a great counter point to Dale – she is aggressive and assertive, and kind of, completely unhinged. I love that she is also part elf, and this just adds to the unhinged, violent aspects of her personality. I also really enjoyed the fact that Ethel’s dominance works well for Dale, and that he is more than happy to let Ethel be the loud and aggressive one. Not to say that Dale doesn’t get aggressive at moments, but it is far more entertaining to see how he gently manipulates the situations to suit his own dastardly desires.

I love that the big mystery in all of this (and the secondary story to the romance) is all about who is actually trying to turn people into lycanthropes. And, when it’s discovered who, and why, the logic is… lacking. I love that Blain casts the villain as someone who is a total and utter moron. And really not all that villainous if I’m being honest, mostly they’re just a bit of a blundering idiot who doesn’t quite think through their actions. I found it laughable, even though it is painfully reminiscent of just how stupid real villainous individuals can be.

Of everything that I liked about this story, it was the scene in which Dale just… obliterates the black pixie and deals with the bounty. The entire imagery of a purple werewolf smashing a black pixie into a tree and totally destroying him has stuck with me from my first read through. Then he just increases the chaos and continues to wreak havoc, not only on the pixie and his fellow lycanthrope, but also Ethel’s family. The way Dale deals with them, admittedly, had me cackling out loud at moments.

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Title: Owl Be Yours ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #6
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Even in the reread, Emily’s unwillingness to claim her status as a lycanthrope still kind of confuses me. But, then again, in doing a whole lot of study in counselling and minorities, I suppose lycanthropy is a minority status, and yeah… I begin to get it. Not everyone wants to have to deal with the prejudice and systematic discrimination that is obviously rife in this world. I find it interesting that originally, and even whilst rereading Owl Be Yours, I was constantly wondering about this. But, it wasn’t until I really started to take on board my diversity understanding to really understand why she may not choose to do this.

There was a level of delightfulness in Emily’s desire for violence throughout this story. It had me laughing and smiling throughout. I particularly loved how, as violent as Emily got, Daniel was very willing to just… go along with it. I particularly love how she ties her violent tendencies of revenge in with her happily ever after chances. It had me laughing, smiling, and shaking my head in humour.

As much as I really enjoyed this story as a reread, the thing that I really want to know more about the mating rituals of Ural Owls. I don’t even know if this is a real species (but I’m presuming that it is), but I want to know more about it anyway. I mean, the idea of giving of food and performing acts to prove your worth is fun. I particularly like how stressed out Daniel is when he doesn’t get to perform his acts of service to his standards.

Owl Be Yours is a great, simple and easy read. I really enjoyed it the first time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it just as much on the second read through. There’s a reason why I am seriously enjoying this reread of the series. And Owl Be Yours is a perfect example of this – a shorter read, a fun one. And one that I will definitely pick up again in the future.

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Title: Whatever For Hire ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

ReReading Whatever for Hire after reading through most of the published Magical Romantic Comedies (with a Body Count) makes it somehow even more hilarious. I mean, her entanglements with the Devil were always entertaining for me to read about, but they somehow get better with the knowledge of the rest of the series. Plus, I feel like this is the first of the books in the series which really starts to dig deep into the idea of an overarching storyline. Plus, again, with the knowledge of the rest of the series, I can see where the events of Kanika’s story are touched upon in other stories within the series. Which, of course, meant, that, as much as I loved this for the first read through, reading through it again was even better.

Even though I knew (this time around) what species Malcolm actually is, I loved finding all of the little breadcrumbs and trying to figure it out all over again. And, even in a reread, it wasn’t actually that obvious just what he is. Which, again, I absolutely loved. It was fun trying to find all of the hints, and wondering if I could piece them together organically. Then, there’s the nature of Malcolm’s curse – I’m actually still not entirely sure of the entirety of what his curse entails, but it was a good bit of extra information. Maybe next time I choose to reread this series, I’ll be better able to pick up more about the curse…

Normally I really zone in on the lead female of a paranormal romance, I read women who write strong women for a reason, after all. But, although I absolutely adored Kanika and thoroughly enjoyed her adventures, there is something about Satan that really made me laugh. I’m not sure what it is, but Satin’s (I mean Satan’s), entire storyline and personna throughout this series is really endearing, and often leaves me laughing out loud. With much enthusiasm, and to the sometimes shock of my Fur Babies. He is just such a joyously manipulative being of chaos, one that is endearingly sweet at times, even if he is supposed to be the opposite of Order.

Even if this was a reread, I really didn’t want to put it down. It was light, funny and all kinds of wonderful. Just the perfect book to pick up when life is feeling chaotic and seriously insane. Plus, because I’m beginning to believe that there is rarely a good romance without at least a little bit of violence, this has violence and chaos in spades. Something I can 100% get behind and continue to jump on board with. Now onto the next book, Fowl Play, for more magic, mayhem, and just all round enjoyable chaos.

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Title: Serial Killer Princess ReRead
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2018

I shouldn’t like stories which feature violent and unhinged women so much. And it’s probably seriously problematic that I really loved this novella – a story of a serial killer of serial killers. I mean, I kind of get it, but still… I loved this and I loved it just as much on the reread as the first time I dived into its pages. Part of this may also just be due to the fact that throughout the whole story, Tulip is constantly aware that she is not making “good” decisions. In fact, most of Tulip’s internal dialogue, if it isn’t scheming, is trying to figure out how to be less of a psycho. Which, of course, just makes her seem more psychotic.

I can’t say that I’ve ever thought about what the offspring of a mermaid and a gorgon would be like. Particularly not a Mermaid Queen and Gorgon King – particularly within this story, it provides a great and entertaining child. I also loved how Tulip’s very existence helped Blain to further explain the intricacies of Gorgon society. And Mermaid society, but having read the series before, I didn’t pay as much attention to the mermaids – they don’t seem to be mentioned again. I would actually quite enjoy having more mermaids in the series though…

The idea of a Black Mamba absolutely freaks me out. Particularly one that is giant, and so toxic that it concerns even the Gorgons. I did read this half expecting to have a nightmare about the idea of a reptile / Black Mamba shifter. But, somehow, I didn’t. And, I don’t get the privilege of reading many stories which feature shapeshifters. The difficulties of being a creature without limbs was also investigated – I hadn’t actually thought of what the challenges would be if I didn’t have any limbs at all, so that definitely intrigued me, as much as it still totally freaks me out.

Although this was a reread, I couldn’t quite remember how the couple ended up together. I did remember that they are both species that don’t necessarily get along in the wild. But the brilliance of making the hunted do the hunting had me laughing. There is a bit of truth in loving the thrill of the chase (especially when you are the one who is enjoying the reading of the nonsense), and how it worked out was truly brilliant. And hilarious. And just showed how manipulative and well thought out the entire romance is.

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