The Better To See You
A fallen fairy godmother finds refuge in the arms of a wolf—until a series of murders threatens to break the spell—in this gritty paranormal romance.
Thanks to a spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, Make Believe characters have been cast into the ordinary world. Now that the Tales are flesh and blood, their storybook lives aren’t so simple. But fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending.
The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to a deadly reality.
Lavender Seelie is the reason that Tales have been transplanted into the Ordinary world and there are many who are, let’s say, pretty peeved about it. Even though it’s been a very long time there are those who still haven’t adjusted and it makes them a tad cranky. Blaming herself (rightly so) she becomes an alcoholic, drowning herself in booze and self-loathing. Until one day, Tess “Red” Little tells her to pull up her big girl panties and get on with life. Maybe not exactly like that, but same difference. Lavender stops drinking and comes back to life. Only to piss off Prince Charming and have to relocate where he can’t easily exact his revenge. That’s how she ends up at The Refuge and falls straight into Self Wolf’s arms. A fairy and the Big Bad Wolf. Let’s hope this has a happy ending.
I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a book about the person who caused so much pain to so many people, but Lavender is a compelling character, full of flaws, but ready to do something with herself. What, she has no idea. When she gets to The Refuge though, murders start happening and she decides she (and Seth) need to figure out what in the hell is going on. But it’s dangerous. There is something going on in the shadows that remains hidden, her magic is all wonky, and Seth is a hot sexy man/wolf with plenty of his own baggage. But the heart wants what it wants and they muddle through while trying to avoid being killed.
The plot moves along at a good clip and I was not expecting where it went. The romance between Seth and Lavender is believable and swoon-worthy. I love the characters and the world. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
My Rating ~ 5 bites
Read an Excerpt
It was over.
I was going to be torn apart here in the middle of nowhere by some winged demon dog. I’d never get the chance to start over. I’d never get the chance to prove I was more than just a colossal failure in every regard—as a daughter, as a woman, as a fairy.
I couldn’t believe my unbelievably shitty luck.
Shaking violently from the pain wracking my body, I lay there, the raindrops mixing with my tears as I sobbed and watched helplessly as pine needles gathered together, creating a thick rope that wound itself around my arms and torso, pinning me to the ground.
Briefly, I wondered how people would remember me after I was gone. Would they speak the name Lavender Seelie and think of the fairy godmother who’d once wielded almost unparalleled power and skill? Or would they remember only the screwed-up fairy who’d ruined their lives when that same power had betrayed her?
After several agonizing moments, I finally heard the creature leap across the ravine and snapped out of my last-minute pity party, fear and panic once more flooding my veins.
There was no point in trying to summon my magic now—it had deserted me, that was pretty freaking clear. I just hoped like hell my death would be quick.
The creature prowled toward me, its massive bulk a mercifully indistinct silhouette, and I swear I thought I heard it chuckle, the sound sending chills down my spine. Then from behind me came the whisper-soft padding of paws on the underbrush. In the next instant, a great white wolf leaped over me and slammed into the shadow-creature. The two rolled end-over-end in a tangle of claws and teeth, coming to rest with the wolf on top, its lips peeled back in a vicious snarl.
I turned my head to get a better look just in time to see the wolf grab the creature’s throat in its teeth. The beast’s howl ended abruptly as the wolf gave a powerful shake of its head, tearing out a large section of demon dog’s throat.
The wolf flung the chunk of flesh into the underbrush then cautiously padded toward me, its head down between its shoulders, sizing me up. As it came closer, I realized it wasn’t an ordinary timber wolf. This animal was easily twice the size of any wolf I’d ever seen and had a distinctly human intelligence shining in its eyes.
I didn’t stand a chance.
It bit through the pine needle rope and shook its head, scattering the needles all over the ground. The rest of the needles instantly fell away, and the trees halted their brutal assault.
I raised a bloody, trembling hand, not sure if I’d just exchanged one predator for another. “Please,” I managed to gasp between the quick, shallow breathes that were all my punctured lung would now allow. “Please…”
In response, a soft shimmering light encased the wolf, and where the beautiful creature had stood, now crouched a man, his ice-green eyes still glowing. As he gently lifted me into his arms, I cried out, pain engulfing me.
“It’s all right,” he said softly, cradling me against him. “You’re safe now.”
I looked up into the grim face of my rescuer, now recognizing him. How could I not when I’d seen his face on Wanted posters and in the Tale news so often over the centuries?
As pain and nausea sent me careening toward a dark abyss, his name drifted to me:
Seth Wolf.
Transplanted Tales Series
Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.
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Loving your 5 bites
ReplyDeleteI also loved this one and wasn't sure I was going to love Lavender, but I did! Great review :)
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