Book Review: A Little Too Familiar by Lish McBride

A Little Too Familiar
Author: Lish McBride
Publication: Devo-Lish; 1st edition (May 17, 2022)

Description: Love brings out the animal in you

Louise Matthews has got it good. Wonderful job? Check. Loving family? The best. Roommates? Pretty fantastic, thank you. All of this helps her stay focused on what she wants: to finish out her apprenticeship and become a fully licensed Switch-an animal mage who bonds familiars to their witches.

Only a problem has just moved in-a hot, occasionally wolf-shaped problem.

Declan Mackenzie doesn't want to be a lone wolf, but he doesn't have a choice. Girlfriend? Gone. Sister? Starting a new life. Parents? In prison where they belong, thankfully. All he wants is a fresh start-new home, new job, new life. What he gets is a house full of witches, a fledgling phoenix named Dammit, and rogue ferrets who won't stay out of his business.

And he could handle all of that if it wasn't for Louise. It's not great to crush on your roommate. It's even worse when you realize she wields the kind of magic that sends you running for the door.

Still, Declan is no pup, and he's not going to let this set him back.

Until the past comes back to haunt him-the parents he put in jail have busted out. They want revenge.

And the only thing standing between them and Declan is Louise and the very magic he vowed never to go near again.

My Thoughts: This was a fun paranormal romance. Declan Mackenzie is a wolf who is starting anew after his girlfriend fell for his sister. In order to give them a chance with their relationship, Declan has decided to move to a new city. Only he doesn't want to be a lone wolf.

Louise Matthews is an animal mage who has a specialty of helping people bond with their familiars. She has a wonderful, supportive family and is happy in her apprenticeship. 

When Declan moves into the house where she lives, their first meeting is not auspicious. Declan had a previous, very traumatic experience with an animal mage who wanted to make him her slave. He's had therapy, but still has anxiety and flashbacks when he encounters any animal mage. 

Lou and her housemates want to help him and are eager to accept him. Declan hopes that he has found a new, but unconventional, pack that he can help. But his enemies, his alpha father and his father's mate, have escaped from prison and targeted Declan for their revenge.

When Declan is attacked by his stepmother, Lou steps in and accidentally binds him. This causes all sorts of problems for her since such a binding is both illegal and immoral. But the binding is all that is keeping Declan safe from his evil stepmother.

The binding comes at a bad time for Lou and Declan's relationship. They are very attracted to each other but Lou fears that they wouldn't be attracted without the binding. So, besides fighting psychic attacks from his stepmother, Declan has to convince Lou that their attraction is real and really important for both of them.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters were all engaging people. Fans of paranormal romance can't go wrong with this story.

Favorite Quote:

It was the kind of kiss that would make every single kiss before it fade into the background. Like there could be only one, and this was it.

It was the Highlander of kisses.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.