The Big Alpha in Town by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden & Kate Baxter

Title: The Big Alpha in Town 

Authors: Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden & Kate Baxter

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: May 15, 2018 

Three hot stories about three sexy shifters from a trio of today's hottest paranormal romance authors, headlined by bestselling authors Eve Langlais and Milly Taiden!

Bearing His Name
Meeting his mate should have been cause for celebration. There’s just one teeny tiny problem. Jade thinks Ark might have impregnated her sister. He didn’t, but convincing Jade is going to take a bit of honey.

Owned by the Lion
Keir’s been told to stop playing the field and settle down—difficult advice for a hard and hot man with a lion’s heart to follow. But his sights have always been set on Ally. She’s his mate, plain and simple. With her sweet and delicious curves, she’s nothing but sugar and trouble all rolled into one. But he’s known her and sparred with her for years. She’s his best friend’s little sister, and it’s going to take a whole new level of convincing that he’s the mate for her.

No Need Fur Love
Moving with his pack to the tiny town of Stanley, Idaho has Owen Courtney a little on edge. With literally no women in sight, Owen will be lucky to find a date, let alone his true mate. But you know the saying about a werewolf walking into a bar…
Gorgeous wood nymph Mia Oliver is on a mission: Find a suitable male to get her good ‘n pregnant and provide her with an heir. But when Mia decides to pick up a gorgeous and oh-so willing werewolf at the bar, she realizes she might be in over her head. …

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Big Alpha in Town is the compilation of three short stories: Bearing His Name, Owned by the Lion and No Need Fur Love. 

Bearing His Name is about a werebear, Ark, who receives a note saying he might have impregnated a woman at the last Halloween party. When Ark goes to the house of the woman, Jade opens the door and immediately, Ark knows she's his mate. There is only one problem, she is not the woman who's pregnant, her sister is.

Owned by the Lion has Keir and Ally as the main characters. Keir has recently discovered that Ally is his mate. He's walking through uncharted territory. He wants to prove to Ally that he can be trusted but how can he do it when every ten seconds a woman from his past is accosting Ally. 

No Need Fur Love is the last story. Mia Oliver is a wood nymph and she's in need of a child pronto. Her father has given her an ultimatum and if she doesn't find a mate and have a child, he will choose one for her. In an act of defiance, Mia goes to the closest bar to look for a candidate to procreate with. When her eyes land on Owen Courtney, she knows he's the right guy for the job. She doesn't want a mate but she needs a child. There is only one problem, as soon as he sees her, Owen knows she's his mate and Mia won't be able to run away from him. 

I liked all three short stories in the Big Alpha in Town. They were fun, fast-paced, and easy to read. There was no major drama or conflict. So if you're looking for something quick this is right up your alley. 

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin Press in exchange for an honest review.

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Title: The Idea of You 

Author: Robinne Lee

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: June 13, 2017

When Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of a prestigious art gallery in Los Angeles, takes her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band, she does so reluctantly and at her ex-husband’s request. The last thing she expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.

What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s disparate worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways. And for Solène, it is as much a reclaiming of self, as it is a rediscovery of happiness and love. When their romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her new status has impacted not only her life but the lives of those closest to her. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“I’m really happy when I’m with you. I get the feeling you feel the same way. And if that’s true, I don’t think you should give a fuck about what people may or may not think of our age difference. Furthermore, if our ages were reversed, no one would bat an eyelash. Am I right? So now it’s just some sexist, patriarchal crap, and you don’t strike me as the kind of woman who’s going to let that dictate her happiness. All right? Next issue…”

I hated the ending. There I said it. 

The only way this could work for me is if Robinne Lee is thinking of writing book #2. 

I have read prior books where there is an age difference between the leading female and male character. On The Island and The Education of Sebastian, both have older women falling in love with a younger counterpart. 

Solène Marchand is thirty-nine-year-old when she meets twenty-year-old singer Hayes Campbell. How does it happen? When her ex-husband fails to deliver taking her twelve-year-old daughter and her friends to the hit popular boy band August Moon's concert.  Solène and the girls meet the band players but only one of them makes his interest clear. Soon she's making up clandestine dates with Hayes and what's starts as a fling morphs into a real relationship. But, Solène has many doubts. First, her daughter is infatuated with Hayes. Then, there's her age difference, the girls, and women trying to get the band players and of course the paparazzi who can destroy her privacy and her daughter's too.

“I’m saying it because I love you.”He was quiet, weighing the moment. And then he smiled, wide. “What took you so long?”I laughed. “I was just making sure it was you, and not the idea of you.”

Hayes is mature for his age. He has traveled the world and he knows what he wants when he sees it. He has charm, looks, and sincerity in his words which is the main reason he was able to woo Solène in the first place. He made her feel important and sexy again. He was also a good listener. Although I kept on thinking at twenty, you really don't know what life is all about. 

“This is insane. You realize that, right?” 

“Only if someone gets hurt.” 

“Someone always gets hurt, Hayes.” 

I went into this book blind. I didn't read the blurb but I knew it was nominated for a Goodreads Award and I didn't have any books in this category.  

I started late at night (big mistake) and it pulled me so thoroughly, I couldn't stop. I knew from the beginning their relationship was doomed. An older woman with a young famous artist in a world where there is a double standard on age in relationships was not going to be easy. The heartache was expected.  The "world" pulling them apart was expected and yet, it touched me on a deeper level.  My heart broke for them and I only wish that Robinne Lee could put it back together by giving me a sequel. After all, a property was up for sale. 

Long, long before I had stopped loving him.

Don't hesitate to read The Idea of You you just need to be aware of its content and if the age difference is a problem then you're missing a great piece of fiction. 

I want to do things that feed me. I want to surround myself with art and fascinating people and stimulating experiences … and beauty. I want to surprise myself.”
Hayes smiled then, slow, knowing. “It’s like unfolding a flower.”
“It’s what?”
“You, revealing yourself. You, who vowed to share as little as possible.”

Cliffhanger: I wish.  

4/5 Fangs