#elija

I honestly have reached a point where I read books from the same authours, either to get through their back lists, or keep up with their new releases. I still try out someone new, but it doesn’t happen as much as it used to. That was a factor when I went to figure out my top reads of 2023, there were several books by the same authours that I loved, so I decided I had to pick my favourite

There is quite a selection here: fantasy, MM, DD/lg, womens lit, fake dating, hockey, alien angels, and former service men. They deal with prejudice, abuse, addiction, homophobia, disabilities, and PTSD. Not all were new releases, some had been on my TBR, and made it out this year. They were the stories that stuck with me, brought me into their world and took me along with them, the ones that made me remember and think about the characters long after the I finished. It wasn’t easy wheedling this list down, I started with over 20, but I ended up with these eight because I was immediately drawn back to them time and time again. So, in no particular order, my top reads of 2023

The Rising by Kristen Ashley. I am crying just thinking about this book as I write this. This is a fantasy read, a four book story arc that ends with The Rising, the name of the series. It follows 4 couples, destined to be together, to save the world. It has a rich and full cast of characters, and even more, side characters that are just as important as our couples. I listened to it on audible, and each character has their own narrator, with one narrator for the common story threads. Alternating POV’s, flawed and broken, proud and strong, this whole cast will take you through a myriad of emotions and situations. The audiobooks are only on audible, but the ebooks are available everywhere and in Kobo Plus

The Tragedy of Felix and Jake by J Daniels. Don’t let the title turn you away, this is a heart wrenching story of two addicts, trying to keep their lives together, while falling for each other. It was smart, it was sexy, and it ran the gamut of emotions more than once. It didn’t shy away from the struggles and pain, and the joy and the fun, that life alternately gives to you, and depending on where you are, how it affects you. Ebook available in KU

Act Your Age by Eve Dangerfield. Kicking myself on this one, because I had it on my TBR forever, and when I finally dove in, I completely understood what all the fuss was about that I heard for years! This is a workplace romance. This is a journey of self-acceptance for both our hero and heroine, and the DD/lg dynamic they crave. Add in their age gap, family drama, and possible conditioning elements, and there was a lot for them to unpack, know themselves, and accept their desires. I listened to this with Kobo Plus (with Australian actors narrating), and both the ebook and audio books are available everywhere and in Kobo Plus

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader. When Molly writes a story, I know she is taking me on a journey. This book covers the friendship between two women, who take very different paths in life, yet, stay connected throughout it all. It consumed me, my thoughts, my feelings, and all my moments while I was listening to it, and, long after I finished. Not only do we get our two friends, we get the daughters of one of them, as they try to figure out the connection and why they didn’t know about the friendship. Available everywhere in ebook and audio

Three to Get Ready by Skye Warren. This is the third book in a trilogy, and what made it stand out for me was that everything wasn’t wrapped up in a neat “life is wonderful” bow when it ended. There is an HEA, there are two people deeply in love and living life, it is just life has some adjustments and situations as a chronic disease is part of the package. Over the course of the three books, which starts with fake dating, we learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of our characters, as the maneuver in uncharted waters. Audiobook available at audible and ebook in KU

I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen. The irony of this book, featuring a gay hockey player, is it came out during the real-life ban of pride tape in the NHL. This book highlighted the homophobia the LGBTQ2+ players would be presented with, and the scariness, of being able to be who you are, in those conditions. Our main character has hidden who he is all his life, conditioned by his family and society, to not rock the boat. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t abused, ridiculed, or mocked, he just learned to accept it. His outside persona doesn’t match his inner turmoil, which skewers peoples perceptions. When he can’t hold back his feelings or actions, he becomes even more conflicted. Loved how it worked through it all, without fanfare or comment, just deciding to live his life. Audiobook available at audible, ebook available everywhere and in Kobo Plus

Elija by Eve Langlais. I love how Eve can take preconceived notions of religion and turn it on its’ head! Her space angels series, Elyon’s Warriors, is a serious take on that, with devoted angels to heavens cause, with a twist. Elija was the one book that I loved a little bit more than the rest, though they all were on my top list. For a bit of a paranormal/alien/angel story, with all of our angels finding love with a human woman, you need to check this series out! Ebooks and audiobooks available everywhere. Ebooks in Kobo Plus and audiobook available in Everand

Deserving Henley by Susan Stoker. The series, The Refuge, is all about having a safe place for people suffering from PTSD to go and be themselves. Deserving Henley takes one of the owners who is the most reclusive, and letting him be himself. That was what made the book for me, he didn’t need to change, he just needed to have a life that worked for him. Audiobook available at audible and ebook available everywhere and in Kobo Plus

Chapters: 41/? Fandom: Tales of Arcadia (Cartoons), 3 Below, Trollhunters - Daniel Kraus & Guillermo del Toro Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Jim Lake Jr./Claire Nuñez, Toby Domzalski/Darci Scott, Seamus Johnson/Krel Tarron, Steve Palchuk/Aja Tarron, Eli Pepperjack/Aja Tarron, Steve Palchuk/Eli Pepperjack/Aja Terron, Toby Domzalski/Jim Lake Jr./Claire Nuñez Characters: Steve Palchuk, Eli Pepperjack, Jim Lake Jr, Claire Nuñez, Toby Domzalski, Coach Lawrence, Darci Scott, Seamus Johnson, Logan (Trollhunters), Senior Uhl, Walter Strickler | Stricklander, Aja Tarron, Krel Tarron, Douxie (Tales of Arcadia), Merlin (Trollhunters), Moragana (Trollhunters), Original Characters Additional Tags: Kitten Eli Au, Steve is honestly trying his best., Jim is always annoyed, This is what Eli gets for snooping., things are about to get weird, Tags to be added, Eli sorta has amnesia. All will be explained, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Merlin is still a lying butt, Morgana still wants to take over the world, OT3 Summary:

Prompt: Description: An average human, an Original Vampire, and a bond so strong no magic can break it. New Orleans is in for a hell of a ride.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11

AN: The long awaited part 12, hopefully it doesn’t disappoint!

    If you were forced to describe your situation, you’d use the word seclusion. You’d been held up in the farm house for the past three month, with only your books, Elijah, and occasionally Hope for company. In a lot of ways it had been an amazing time. It had given the two of you time to get to know one another, discover each other’s quirks.

    Your time together had given way to tiny little touches in passing, and a quick peck on the lips when he’d leave to get hope. It was easy to imagine that things were at peace. But as the saying goes, “All good things, must come to an end.” The day your’s came to an end was the day Elijah’s family stormed the farm house. The two of you had been lying in bed, reading when Rebekah had shown up at the door.

    You had to resit the urge to cover your belly with your hand, and instead stayed nestled in Elijah’s side. “Hello brother.”

Elijah’s eyebrow rose slightly, “I’m in no mood to play games Rebekah, what do you want?”

In an instant she’s across the room, the door closed behind her, “I came to warn you, that your little secret has been let loose. Mother knows. Father knows. The witches know. We all know. And we need to take your little soulmate, and get the hell out of dodge.”

You stiffen at her words, “How the hell does everyone know?”

She scowls, “The ancestors were rather chatty. And apparently your future offspring is going to be rather powerful and everyone wants a claim. I’m thinking France. The countryside?” Before you can say anything she’s zooming around the room, while you and Elijah simply watch.

When she notices neither of you moving she says, “Well, what are you waiting for? Chop! Chop!”

You can feel that Elijah is barely keeping his amusement concealed as he says, “Would you mind giving us a moment?”

“One and not a second more! I’ll grab the pictures.”

Your eyes slide to your soulmate, “Your entire family is crazy.”

“We passed crazy centuries ago. That being said her idea does have merit. The French countryside is lovely. I have a home there.”

You sit up, untangling yourself from your soulmate, “Wouldn’t that make us an easy target, if everyone knows you have a home there?”

He shrugs, “Not particularly. The witches and their magic are bound to New Orleans, which means my mother and older brother are forced to stay here. Niklaus won’t leave, because of some silly notion of home and a claim. My father may come after us, but he can be dealt with. Rebekah would come with us, but Kol will stay because of Davina. So, essentially we are in the clear.”

“Only until word leaks out about an Original with a soulmate, brother mine.”

You close your eyes at the sound of a new voice, and stare at the unknown man in front of you. A second later you’re behind Elijah, as he stares him down. The man smiles before saying, “Mother would like a word.”

“Mother can rot in hell, and get out of my home, along with you Finn.”

Rebekah appears a moment later, “Too late, the whole family is here. I told you to hurry.”

Elijah frowns, “Now is not the time for ‘I told you so.’ little sister. Everyone out of our room, we’ll be out in a few moments.”

Once the door closes behind his siblings Elijah says, “Three months, we had three months of peace.”

You smile, “Your family is a pain Elijah.”

He nods, “Agreed, and now we must face the pain head on. Time to get dressed.”

You take your time slipping out of your comfy clothes and into a dress that flows. You’d only started showing a little, and the dress hides your barely there bump. Before you leave the room, Elijah kisses you long and slow, his hand cradling your belly gently, before taking your hand and leading you down the stairs.

You stay behind him, eyeing his family warily. His mother smiles at the sight of the two of you, and takes several steps forward before Rebekah steps in her way, “Three feet away from my new sister, and niece or nephew mother.”

Ester scowls, “The child is of my line.”

Michael growls, “That is where you are wrong woman, the child is of my line. You can have the half breed’s child.” And just like that any chance of a discussion is gone, and in its place is yelling.

Taking a seat on the stairs you say, “France is sounding better and better.”

And just like that the arguing stops, and Ester steps forward, “France? The child needs a coven. It needs New Orleans. This is where it was conceived, and where it will do the most good.”

Kol rolls his eyes, “Says the woman who created vampires.”

    “Never mind that, think of survival. The minute people know you are no longer immortal they will be after you Elijah, to end your sire line. Here we can protect you.”

    Elijah rolls his eyes, “Protect me? You can’t even have a discussion without descending into yelling, and yet you ask me to put my soul mate and unborn child in your protection?”

    As a new wave of yelling starts up, you slip out the door, and onto the porch. You take a seat on the swing there, and enjoy the warmth of the sun. When the door creaks open, you stiffen when he walks out. “Come to try and kill me again?”

    “No, Freya has asked for my help in protecting you, and my niece or nephew, I’ve agreed.”

    You nod, at Finn “And your new look?”

    He shrugs, “My original body. Freya brought me back to it, and surprisingly I don’t hate it like I once did.”

    You lean back a bit, “Oh.”

    He shrugs, “Your bond with Elijah is authentic, he’s slowly becoming human again. He has a child on the way. Everything I ever wanted. It gives me hope that I may one day have it. So, I will protect you, and my brother. And my niece or nephew, because they will be a witch.”

You nod once before standing, “Excuse me, if I don’t automatically make friends with you. I have trust issues with those who once tried to kill me.”

Without another word you leave the porch behind for the garden. It’s the same maze of flowers that you and Elijah had your first date in. You smile at the memory, before someone asks, “Lost in a memory?”

You turn to look at Elijah, “Our first date.”

He smiles, before walking over to you and taking your hand. The two of you walk in silence for several minutes before you ask, “Have our fates been decided?”

He scowls, “They’re still arguing, Rebekah is still packing, and I’m trying to figure out a way to fake our deaths so they don’t come after us.”

You smile, before you kiss him. The two of you continue walking before you admit, “They have a point. You’re not indestructible anymore, and no offense but your family has more than a few enemies. Their help may not be a bad thing.”

Elijah shrugs, “No but it may very well drive us insane.”

You pause, “Your aunt said something that night, that this baby is the first of several.”

Elijah smiles, “And?”

“I want that. I want a big family with you. I had four brothers and I loved it. And while your family is insane, I know you love your siblings, and wouldn’t trade them for the world. But to get that future we may need some help.”

He pauses for a minute, “I haven’t been this vulnerable in over a century. My family has

not been together like thing in over a century. Trouble is on the horizon, and I suspect the only way we get through this is together.”