Kelpie's Claiming (Fairview Chronicles 10)
Author: Alexa Piper
Cover Art: Bryan Keller
BIN: 010324-03353
Genres: Action Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Everand Subscription Service, Paranormal Women's Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Urban Fantasy
Themes: Alternative Universe, Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures, Gay, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, Murder Mystery, Shapeshifters
Series: Fairview Chronicles (#10)
Multiverse: Fairview (#1)
Book Length: Novel
Page Count: 147
Top 100 Bestseller at Amazon.co.uk!
Rob’s current goal in life? Do not eat people. That’s easier said than done when you’re a kelpie in the service industry. While Rob pursues his goals from behind the bar, a stranger walks in, and Rob catches the man’s scent. Yet, patrons are not for eating, and it should have ended there… except when Rob smells that delicious scent again, the beautiful stranger needs help.
Bertrand wants to fit in, but because he’s part Fae, part Elf, and grew up human, he’s not really at home in either human or supernatural society. Still, he likes being a reporter and following a story all the way to its conclusion. The story he’s pursuing when he walks into Rob’s bar one night is one of supernaturals going missing, and Bertrand seems to be the only one who cares.
Meeting Bertrand might just shift Rob’s life goals. Coming face-to-face with a kelpie stallion might be enough to help Bertrand see where he fits in perfectly. Except Bertrand doesn’t really know what to make of Rob, and also, Bertrand's missing persons story is bigger than even he envisioned. It’s turning into a case of abduction and trafficking he needs to unravel before he can even think about Rob’s advances. The story will lead Bertrand to some dark places before the year is out.
Praise for Kelpie's Claiming (Fairview Chronicles 10)
"This book was amazing. Rob and Bertrand are one hell of a mated couple. The book was sweet without being overly sappy and it definitely had enough spice to give you the sweats, lol. I highly recommend you check this book out, you won't be disappointed."
-- 5 Stars from Bertram, Goodreads Review
"I loved this book. I finished it in one sitting, I just couldn't put the book down. Growly, vegetarian, philanthropic Rob and sweet, gorgeous Bertrand are quite the couple. Don't miss out on reading this book, you won't be disappointed."
-- 5 Stars from Simon Monroe, BookBub Review
"One of the things I enjoy about Alexa Piper is their use of unusual paranormal creatures as the main characters of their books and Kelpie’s Claiming is no exception."
-- 5 Stars from Kadlady, Amazon Review
"I have not read many books that included kelpies but the one that comes to mind definitely mentions keeping your hands out of its stall because it WILL eat you if given the chance. With that background I can really appreciate that Rob the Kelpie shifter's main goal is to be a vegetarian and a philanthropist, too. I love his inner dialogue, full of haughty assertiveness and loyalty to those people he has chosen to surround himself with. This was sweet, cute, and pretty dark in spots. A great story!"
-- 5 Stars from AmandaK, Amazon Review
"I loved Rob and Bertrand's story. I loved that Rob was a vegetarian and decided that Bertrand, aka Snowdrop, was his mate, even though kelpies don't usually have a mate. I loved that Bertrand is two-thirds fae and one-third elf and that he can barely do magic, has enhanced strength and healing, and has been reared and educated in the human realm by the human education system. I loved their chemistry."
-- 5 Stars from Carrie Krogh, Amazon Review
"I loved Rob from the first as we follow his attempts to stay vegetarian/vegan and especially not to eat the unpleasant people who come into the bar. Bertrand, a part fae, part elf raised as a human, however grabs Rob's attention immediately and it isn't long before both of them are enmeshed... and in the process that leads to a great romance."
-- 5 Stars from Susie Umphers, Amazon Review
"I loved the unique MCs. I have read kelpies as secondary characters and villains before, but never as an MC/hero. Having elves and fae as distinct and separate races was different, too. I really enjoyed the mix of humor, mystery, and romance, brushed with darkness (kidnapping, trafficking). A very sweet and enjoyable paranormal romance."
-- 5 Stars from alias11, Amazon Review
"This story is a great incarnation of the blend of heat, sweetness, darkness and humor that animates the whole Fairview Chronicles series, and while you could read it as a standalone…the other books are pretty awesome too, and some plot threads/context do carry over. This one might just be my favorite: Rob and Bertrand are rocking the growly/sweet dynamic and just kind of fit together beautifully. Well worth a read."
-- 5 Stars from Coffee <3 Amazon Review
"I absolutely loved Rob and Snowdrop's (aka Bertrand) story. The story had a perfect blend of wit and dark. With lots of steamy scenes. The dialogues were hilarious. Everything that Alexa Piper writes is just perfect."
-- 5 Stars from J's Reviews, Amazon Review
"I enjoyed this story. Rob and Bertrand's chance meeting sparks things in Rob that he didn't know he could feel. I also loved that Bertrand didn't just accept their attraction immediately as what happens some matings. With their relationship developing along with the story's actual investigation, this was a great read."
-- 5 Stars from DLB2572, Amazon Review
"Alexa has done it again. This is another book in the Fairview Chronicles series. In this story we have Rob who is a Kelpie and Bertrand. Rob is extremely growly and possessive and Bertrand is just impossibly sweet. This book is the perfect blend of dark and comedy. Any book that makes me laugh and root for the characters, is one I would recommend and this one did both."
-- 5 Stars from Cynthia Brow, Amazon Review
"Loved Rob and Bertrand!! Loved the insta love aspect along with the mate bond. I loved how Rob was possessive of Bertrand, and Bertrand was so freakin adorable. They were perfect for each other with some comedy and steam thrown in. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order. It’s really well written, highly recommend."
-- 5 Stars from Janet L. Hunt, Amazon Review
"While there are some dark moments, it’s overall a fun read, with boners at the most embarrassing moments, so much fun. The possessiveness coming from Rob was delicious, Bertrand’s weak and helpless attempts to resist, which made Rob even more convinced, were a delight... I enjoyed it all hugely. It’s captivatingly written, steamy, funny, angsty, with the most adorable magical creatures!"
-- 4.25 Hearts from True, Love Bytes Reviews
Kelpie's Claiming (Fairview Chronicles 10)
Alexa Piper
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2022 Alexa Piper
Rob
In his more philanthropic youth, Rob had been excited about opening a bar-slash-diner and making a name for his establishment. He had succeeded with the Ragdoll, which was known for amazing sandwiches and exquisite liquor concoctions in supernatural circles and human circles alike. Going fully vegetarian had been the logical choice for Rob when he’d moved to the city of Fairview.
Now, he had over twenty years in the service industry under his belt, and the occasional slice of liver sounded so appealing when Rob had to cling on to his smile for all he was worth in front of a customer. It was why he’d hired a half-succubus and sexy Ilya whatever-he-was to handle the personal interactions.
(Rob was convinced Ilya could have, if he’d ever shown the inclination, charmed the pants off a barstool if barstools wore pants.) But now, with Ilya in love with a disgustingly rich witch and consequently out of town for whatever spell the Fey had planned to put on Rob’s most beloved employee, Rob had to pick up the slack behind the bar. And Ilya’s brother was not a suitable replacement, even if he was responding well to getting trained for the job.
“There is not enough rum in this,” the customer told Rob again, and Rob was pulled from his musings and back to wishing for a slice of liver.
“I’m ever so sorry,” Rob said without conviction. He looked up from the lime he was about to dismember on his cutting board behind the bar and glanced over the customer’s shoulder at Titi. The busboy was taking down the Fat Man Day decorations and prepping the Ragdoll for Sparklers and Public Drunkenness Day. There would be even more early drinkers here on Sparklers and Public Drunkenness Day, and Rob would have to be behind the bar, because sweet Ilya was getting bewitched.
“So are you gonna make me a new one?” the customer asked. Apparently, the red-faced man in his thirties with a beer belly threatening already was still there. At three in the afternoon. To consume rum cocktails. Not that Rob was the judgy type.
Rob had no intention of making another Mai Tai. He took a step to his right, located the dark rum, and poured the customer another finger of the liquor into his glass. “There you go,” Rob said, giving the man his best take it or leave it look.
The man looked from Rob to the cocktail, back again, and took it. He was complaining under his breath as he moved back to the table he’d occupied with two equally annoying male companions. The beer bellies were imminent in all of them, in Rob’s opinion. Sadly, that meant their livers would be fatty rather than yummy.
“Sorry,” Ilya’s brother said. Rob looked over to the man, who wore a black button-down shirt and jeans, but not as well as Ilya. He didn’t look half as sexy as Ilya. Rob still could not understand how that worked, how they were related. Ilya was a mysterious pale-skinned and raven-haired delight (who could easily handle over-drunk patrons with his charm). Kyle was plain dishwater blond. It made no sense, apart from being unfair to Rob, who would have loved nothing better than two Ilyas behind his bar.
“It’s fine,” Rob said. “The drink wasn’t the issue.”
Kyle narrowed his eyes and looked at the floor. “Okay.”
Rob frowned. Kyle was an odd one, but he followed direction perfectly. The real downside was simply that he wasn’t the sexy barman his brother was.
“Really, it’s okay. Some people just need to be assholes, and there is nothing you can do about that.” He patted Kyle on the shoulder. Kyle jerked a little at the contact before he relaxed.
Rob felt that was enough life advice, so he went back to murdering the lime. About five seconds later, the door opened, and on a breeze of cold air, the local mage and one of her lovers drifted into the bar. This lover (the nice one) was slightly too chatty for Rob’s taste, but judging by the time, the two of them were just here for a late lunch or coffee and something sweet. (This time, Rob hoped they wouldn’t have their… dessert in the ladies’ room. Rob wasn’t a prude by any means, he just disliked cleaning a bathroom after people spent time on their knees in there for whatever reason, and it was extra work, even if Kyle happily volunteered each time.)
Predictably, after the mage -- in conversation with the nice lover -- waved hello at Rob and Kyle, who seemed like he wanted to hide under the bar at seeing her, they made for a table rather than the bar. Rob knew Ilya, and possibly the Fey witch, had gotten the mage to become a regular, and it made Rob miss his night bartender all the more.
Kyle sidled up close to Rob. “Uhm, do you want me to serve them?” he asked quietly.
Rob put his knife down. This lime was getting lucky, for now. “I can do it. I don’t think she bites, and that lover definitely doesn’t.”
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