Review: Mated Knight (Immortal Knights #5) by Marcy Jacks

Kevin loves being mated to his immortal lion shifter. The man is alpha in all ways, but he is annoying in his insistence that Kevin stay perpetually in bed until the birth of their child. Especially considering that Keaton, the man who murdered Kevin in a past life, is still out there and finding new and inventive ways to stalk Kevin, including threatening to steal his and Alistair’s child to get back at Alistair.

Alistair hates that he can't have peace with his mate, and he's terrified in the most un-alpha way that history will repeat itself and his lover will be taken from him again.

When the best bargaining chip falls right into Alistair's hands, he will be forced to go against his morals to protect the man he loves more than his own life and their unborn child.

Title: Mated Knight (Immortal Knights #5)
Author/s: Marcy Jacks
Publication Date: January 2017
ISBN:978-1-68295-765-3
Buy it from Bookstrand

Maria's Rating: ★

One of the reasons I'm still closely following this series is that I am super curious about Keaton and his mate. In the first place, this whole fiasco about the mates dying and getting reincarnated in the present time all started with him and his mate Golda. As silly as it sounds, I'm a sucker for big bad guys being brought to their knees by their mates. I have been holding out for that bit. But it already looks like I will be very disappointed.

In this book we're introduced to Gary, who is Golda's reincarnation. Interestingly enough, the story begins with Gary running away from Keaton, because Gary has been getting visions about Keaton and all the nasty things that he has been doing without Gary/Golda around. I thought was an interesting twist. I felt like this added more conflict that what would have otherwise been a smooth reunion between the two of them. Gary just falling into Keaton’s arms upon reunion would have been too easy and unexciting, too, if you ask me.

Unsurprisingly, when Gary meets Keaton, he knows he's not supposed to like the guy, but he does. We get a bit of introspection, where Gary feels a pull strong enough to make him question why he ran away from Keaton in the first place. Despite being conflicted, Gary also graciously tries to convince Keaton to just let Kevin go.

On the other hand, for some bizarre reason – and this is where I really have problems with the narrative and characterization – Keaton is overall… subdued when he finally sees his mate again. In the flesh. Reincarnated. After literally hundreds of years.

Sure, we’re told Keaton cries when he meets Gary, but… well, that’s about it. In fact, he spends so little time fawning over Gary and returns almost immediately to terrorizing the very pregnant Kevin.

Uh-huh.

For the last four installments, we’ve been told time and again how much Keaton adores his mate. How much it destroyed him when Golda died. So much so, in fact, that he killed his brother’s mates when they refused to help him get back at the people who killed Golda. And since the first installment, when he first meets Kevin and learns there must be some way to bring back Golda, he’s made it a point to persistently hound them for her. And then now he meets her reincarnation in Gary, and he spends about two minutes talking to her before going back to ruining Kevin’s life.

ARE. YOU. FREAKING. KIDDING. ME.

This is Keaton. He’s obviously not right in the head, but clearly if there’s one thing he wants more than he wants to kill his brothers and their mates, it’s to get his mate back. In fact, he spends the first few installments repeatedly saying that he will leave them alone if Kevin just brings him back his mate. I will be the last person to believe the words of a nutjob like Keaton, but WHY ON EARTH ISN’T HE FAWNING OVER GARY THE WAY HE’S SUPPOSED TO??? It’s such a deviation from what he’s been telling us for the last few books. I’m not even complaining that he still wants to ruin Kevin’s life and his brothers’, but his reaction to Gary is so flat I’m honestly asking if this is really the person he jeopardized his own life for. It’s so disappointing.

As for Gary – I have some concerns about how he thinks his relationship with Keaton should go. Uhm, I think we all know that the thinking that you can reform a horrible person with your love is the very strong foundation of abusive relationships. It just doesn’t work that way. And even if it did – Gary, dude, my man, you literally just met Keaton. Fuck your history; that was in the past. Honestly, I’m not even sure I’m pissed that he’s giving himself too much credit by assuming that Keaton will immediately listen to him just because they’re mates, or I’m upset because he’s giving up so easily on Keaton without even trying. Maybe it’s a 50-50 split. Either way, I’m not happy with this guy.

Oh, and just to make matters worse, can I just say how much Carlisle pisses me off? UGH. I can already see some bullshit ménage à trois happening in the future. I’m not a fan of that arrangement, and I never will be. My biggest pet peeve is when authors add this idea in the middle of a fucking series. Just when you’re invested enough and cannot get away. It’s just terrible, especially if you really dislike it but have to put up with it because you won’t understand what happens next if you skip that particular installment. THIS IS A REALLY SHITTY THING TO DO. Look, I don’t care if you like ménage à trois; that’s totally you’re thing and I respect that. BUT DON’T ADD IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SERIES THAT’S ORIGINALLY TAGGED TO BE FEATURING A TWO-PERSON RELATIONSHIP. Go start a new series with a menage theme for fuck’s sake.

I'm so disappointed in this book I want to cry. One star.

Review: Sideline Submission (Up-Ending Tad: A Journey of Erotic Discovery #3) by Kora Knight

Round two with Scott hadn't been what Tad expected, but it did end up providing a few important realizations. For one, that crazy first encounter was definitely more than mere male hormones. Which meant he felt a true attraction to the guy. Something that explained his defenselessness against Scott's smoldering charms. Seriously, the dude had cut through his fortifications like the things hadn't even existed.

Which, yeah, was pretty unsettling.

So Tad had resolved to cope with his findings the only logical way he knew how: purge the guy from his system once and for all by staying away for good. Unfortunately, that proved way more uncomfortable than he'd anticipated. Seemed his 'stupid infatuation' ran considerably deeper, which made going cold-turkey one miserable chore.

So when Scott unexpectedly seeks him out, Tad's too drained to fight his turmoil any longer. Allowing himself a much needed fix, he agrees to hang out, neither he nor Scott knowing Dom boy Max will end up part of the deal. What starts out as an unassuming evening quickly turns shockingly licentious. Question is, will Tad be able to handle it? And more importantly, what path will it send him down in his ongoing journey of discovery?

Title: Sideline Submission (Up-Ending Tad: A Journey of Erotic Discovery #3)
Author/s: Kora Knight
Publication Date: November 2014
ASIN: B00PYBITZS
Buy it from Amazon

Maria's Rating: ★★★★★

Not sure I'm entirely into Max and Sean at the moment but OH LAWD TAD AND SCOTT MY TWO FAVORITE PEOPLE GETTING IT ON FUCK YEAH. I swear I spent a godawful amount of time just squealing and giggling and actually pausing from reading because they're so unbearably cute. Particularly that bit about Tad fretting over the fact that hey, Scott totally could have called him. And then Scott actually did call him just when he was running out of ideas for an excuse to call the man. GUYS PLS.

I was surprised they were able to finish the workout session without anyone getting too... err, handsy hahaha. I was particularly happy about the introspection here, because we get a chance to know more about how stressed Tad is about the whole thing, because it's all that he's thought about for literally a month. That despite the fact that he's so conflicted, he just can't seem to ignore how much he appreciates Scott and what he does to him, makes him feel when he's around, etc. I thought it was a solid step toward the ~relationship~ direction.

What really stuck to me in this installment are Scott's hella smooth pickup lines. Man, I enjoyed those more than I can say. It made him very charming to me. I didn't feel like he was coming on too strong, but just vocal enough to remove any doubts that yup, he's definitely into Tad and Tad would have to be blind not to pick up on those things.

I'm not totally sure of Max and his lifestyle as a full-time Dom, because I'm not really into that thing. When I initially read the summary of this installment I had some concerns because I don't like threesomes or menage or any variation thereof. THANK GOD THAT'S NOT THE TWIST. I originally ventured into this series wanting to read about Max and Sean, but I'm seriously so invested in Tad and Scott that there's no room for any other couple. Sorry, guys. Maybe in your own book haha.

Towards the end of the book, when Tad and Scott finally got it on GOOD LORD. I'm not even talking about Scott's skills in bed. Let's talk about Scott having a way with words. Him saying everything while they're fucking just seems so wrong and so right at the same time. Of course Tad will think Scott is just saying things in the heat of the moment. On the flip side, damn if that didn't make the delivery more... meaningful. I'm pretty positive that anyone in such vulnerable position would be more honest than if there were under any other situation. I have no words how adorable and hot and sweet I found that scene.

For some reason, I feel like Max's interruption was totally called for. Like, I'm happy to know that Tad would have gone for the kiss if there hadn't been any distraction, but I'm also glad it didn't happen. I feel like there could be more buildup towards that step, but at least knowing that Tad is not averse to the idea at all just leaves me very excited for how he and Scott will get to that point. I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Oh, and Max's reaction and that bit about Scott's tone when he was talking about his background? I feel like there's more to that. Maybe something happened to Scott in the past that he doesn't want to tell Tad? I'm not totally sold on Max yet but he has a bro vibe to him that I like; kind of like he's protective of Scott in a way a brother would be. I'm definitely waiting for the big reveal. I think there's something important here.

Yet again solid five stars for this installment.