It was boring as hell. Also I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't even like them all that much. The bo
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I was bored*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
It was boring as hell. Also I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't even like them all that much. The book centers around South London mechanic, Devan ‘Dev’ Thompson (24) who is in Porthkennack looking for his mother who gave him up at birth. While being there he mets Kyle Anthony (33) who suffers from narcolepsy. The two find themselves wanting to be around each other, but Dev is only there on vacation. Also who would ever want to put up with someone who can fall asleep anytime. Overall, I just didn't care for the story, nor the characters. I started skimming, even the sex scene, and that's when you know the book doesn't do it for you. I also disliked Ceri Harper a lot. There's also the insta-love feeling. It all happened in less than a week. I hate insta-love.
As if life had gone for a ceasefire on the constant lemon bombardment, and chucked him something he actually wanted for a change.
[image] Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Series (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Kyle Anthony. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - No. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars.
Merged review:
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I was bored*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
It was boring as hell. Also I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't even like them all that much. The book centers around South London mechanic, Devan ‘Dev’ Thompson (24) who is in Porthkennack looking for his mother who gave him up at birth. While being there he mets Kyle Anthony (33) who suffers from narcolepsy. The two find themselves wanting to be around each other, but Dev is only there on vacation. Also who would ever want to put up with someone who can fall asleep anytime. Overall, I just didn't care for the story, nor the characters. I started skimming, even the sex scene, and that's when you know the book doesn't do it for you. I also disliked Ceri Harper a lot. There's also the insta-love feeling. It all happened in less than a week. I hate insta-love.
As if life had gone for a ceasefire on the constant lemon bombardment, and chucked him something he actually wanted for a change.
[image] Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Series (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Kyle Anthony. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - No. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
I started this one, even though I didn't like the first book in the series, simply because I needed to know what wou
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Still Not For Me*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I started this one, even though I didn't like the first book in the series, simply because I needed to know what would happen. I'm one of those who HATES leaving things unfinished. It's like a burden on my shoulders. So I somewhat skimmed through the book - I'm a fast reader so I'm lucky there. Overall, I don't like the timeline. Everything is too fast. The timeline of book one and two combined is a week and a half. And the connection between the two main characters are too deep for knowing each other so little. At least in my eyes. I hate insta-love.
The Characters: The list is a bit long so I've put it in a spoilers tag. (view spoiler)[→ Hawes ‘Big H’ ‘Prince of Killers’ Madigan (33), the Fog City’s Prince of Killers. → Christopher ‘Dante’ ‘Mr. Hair’ Perry/i (28?), a private investigator. We learned in book one that he's a Special Agent of the ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Isabelle/a ‘Izzy’ Costa Constantine was his partner, who Hawes killed by mistake. Unbeknownst to anyone, Isabelle, a secretary at MCS, had been carrying on an affair with one of their operatives, Zander Rowe. → Braxton ‘Brax’ Kane, the chief of police and ally of the Madigans. → Callum ‘Papa Cal’ Madigan, Hawes’s grandfather and was the CEO of the family company until his declining health which had first made news five years ago. Dies due to his sickness at 61% into book one. → Jodie and Ray, associates for Hawes - his lieutenants, who tried to kill him; were hired. Hawes snapped her neck, and Dante shot and killed Ray in book one. → Holt ‘Little H’ Madigan, Hawes's twin (Hawes was born first). Amelia, his wife. When she wasn’t on duty (nurse) at the hospital, tortured answers out of the organization’s targets. Lily their daughter of eight months. Holt's the eyes and ears of the organization and does what he do best—digital assassination: financial, social, and otherwise. Amelia was the true traitor who tried to have Hawes killed in order to gain more power. → Helena ‘Hena’ Madigan, Hawes's sister. A talented lawyer by day, and there was no one Hawes would rather have by his side in a fight at night. → Rose, Hawes's grandmother, Papa Cal's wife. → Avery and Lucas, high-ranking, trusted associates for Hawes - his lieutenants? They were also the two people who’d accompanied Helena to the scene of Isabelle’s death. Who’d found Hawes on his knees on the rain-slicked asphalt, trying to staunch the flow of blood from a gunshot wound he’d delivered. Lucas was a traitor in book one; killed by Avery. → Zoe, works for Hawes; primary objective was to warn them in the event of a breach. Her secondary objective was to hold off any intruders long enough for the floor to power down and assume the roles the rest of the company and world thought they played. Executives, support staff, and IT. Translation: Madigans, assassins, and hackers. (view spoiler)[Was a traitor, Chris killed her. (hide spoiler)] → Vivienne Tran, Chris's boss. → Jax Dillon, SFPD IT, They/Them. Jax was Holt’s star mentee at the LGBTQ shelter: another member of Team Madigan at the SFPD. A hacker. Agent Scotty Wheeler , a by-the-book menace. Tran’s pet UC wrangler. → Celia ‘Cee’, Chris's sister. → Marco ‘Plato’ (12), Chris's nephew and Celia's son. → Gloria, Chris’s mother. → Mia (15), Chris's niece and Celia's daughter. → Dex, Celia's sorry excuse of a husband who abuses her. (view spoiler)[→ Rochelle ‘Ro’, Chris's daughter would have been seventeen this coming December. Jennifer Petrie, Ro's mother, who got pregnant the night of Chris's senior (18) prom. Chris's sister had picked her daughter and Ro up from school. Drunk driver ran a red light less than a block from the house. He died, and so did Ro - 10 years ago. (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]
Quick basic facts: Genre: - Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book Two. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars.
Merged review:
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Still Not For Me*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I started this one, even though I didn't like the first book in the series, simply because I needed to know what would happen. I'm one of those who HATES leaving things unfinished. It's like a burden on my shoulders. So I somewhat skimmed through the book - I'm a fast reader so I'm lucky there. Overall, I don't like the timeline. Everything is too fast. The timeline of book one and two combined is a week and a half. And the connection between the two main characters are too deep for knowing each other so little. At least in my eyes. I hate insta-love.
The Characters: The list is a bit long so I've put it in a spoilers tag. (view spoiler)[→ Hawes ‘Big H’ ‘Prince of Killers’ Madigan (33), the Fog City’s Prince of Killers. → Christopher ‘Dante’ ‘Mr. Hair’ Perry/i (28?), a private investigator. We learned in book one that he's a Special Agent of the ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Isabelle/a ‘Izzy’ Costa Constantine was his partner, who Hawes killed by mistake. Unbeknownst to anyone, Isabelle, a secretary at MCS, had been carrying on an affair with one of their operatives, Zander Rowe. → Braxton ‘Brax’ Kane, the chief of police and ally of the Madigans. → Callum ‘Papa Cal’ Madigan, Hawes’s grandfather and was the CEO of the family company until his declining health which had first made news five years ago. Dies due to his sickness at 61% into book one. → Jodie and Ray, associates for Hawes - his lieutenants, who tried to kill him; were hired. Hawes snapped her neck, and Dante shot and killed Ray in book one. → Holt ‘Little H’ Madigan, Hawes's twin (Hawes was born first). Amelia, his wife. When she wasn’t on duty (nurse) at the hospital, tortured answers out of the organization’s targets. Lily their daughter of eight months. Holt's the eyes and ears of the organization and does what he do best—digital assassination: financial, social, and otherwise. Amelia was the true traitor who tried to have Hawes killed in order to gain more power. → Helena ‘Hena’ Madigan, Hawes's sister. A talented lawyer by day, and there was no one Hawes would rather have by his side in a fight at night. → Rose, Hawes's grandmother, Papa Cal's wife. → Avery and Lucas, high-ranking, trusted associates for Hawes - his lieutenants? They were also the two people who’d accompanied Helena to the scene of Isabelle’s death. Who’d found Hawes on his knees on the rain-slicked asphalt, trying to staunch the flow of blood from a gunshot wound he’d delivered. Lucas was a traitor in book one; killed by Avery. → Zoe, works for Hawes; primary objective was to warn them in the event of a breach. Her secondary objective was to hold off any intruders long enough for the floor to power down and assume the roles the rest of the company and world thought they played. Executives, support staff, and IT. Translation: Madigans, assassins, and hackers. (view spoiler)[Was a traitor, Chris killed her. (hide spoiler)] → Vivienne Tran, Chris's boss. → Jax Dillon, SFPD IT, They/Them. Jax was Holt’s star mentee at the LGBTQ shelter: another member of Team Madigan at the SFPD. A hacker. Agent Scotty Wheeler , a by-the-book menace. Tran’s pet UC wrangler. → Celia ‘Cee’, Chris's sister. → Marco ‘Plato’ (12), Chris's nephew and Celia's son. → Gloria, Chris’s mother. → Mia (15), Chris's niece and Celia's daughter. → Dex, Celia's sorry excuse of a husband who abuses her. (view spoiler)[→ Rochelle ‘Ro’, Chris's daughter would have been seventeen this coming December. Jennifer Petrie, Ro's mother, who got pregnant the night of Chris's senior (18) prom. Chris's sister had picked her daughter and Ro up from school. Drunk driver ran a red light less than a block from the house. He died, and so did Ro - 10 years ago. (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]
Quick basic facts: Genre: - Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book Two. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
A cute little short story with Brian ‘Briney’ ‘Bri’ McCarthy (33), who we met in Finding Zach and Jerry ‘J
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might contain spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
A cute little short story with Brian ‘Briney’ ‘Bri’ McCarthy (33), who we met in Finding Zach and Jerry ‘Jer’ Abruzzi (how old?) who we heard from in Finding Zach. It's short story with the timeline around Christmas, which Brian hates. Yes, he hates Christmas. But he have to go to a treatment for an injured knee where he meets Jerry, the physical therapist. Insta-love was pretty much what this short story was. They loved each other after less than two weeks and Brian and Jerry got their happily ever after.
“You’re running.” Two words. Simple. Not complex, not complicated, not harsh or pejorative. So the fact that they hit me with the force of a one-two punch made the pain seem all the more vicious.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book Two Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Jerry Abruzzi? Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes, first book. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars.
Merged review:
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might contain spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
A cute little short story with Brian ‘Briney’ ‘Bri’ McCarthy (33), who we met in Finding Zach and Jerry ‘Jer’ Abruzzi (how old?) who we heard from in Finding Zach. It's short story with the timeline around Christmas, which Brian hates. Yes, he hates Christmas. But he have to go to a treatment for an injured knee where he meets Jerry, the physical therapist. Insta-love was pretty much what this short story was. They loved each other after less than two weeks and Brian and Jerry got their happily ever after.
“You’re running.” Two words. Simple. Not complex, not complicated, not harsh or pejorative. So the fact that they hit me with the force of a one-two punch made the pain seem all the more vicious.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book Two Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Jerry Abruzzi? Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes, first book. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
The book centers around bodyguard Brogan Smith (29) and assistant Embry Ford (23). While the book was a bit intere
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Meh With Potential*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around bodyguard Brogan Smith (29) and assistant Embry Ford (23). While the book was a bit interesting, it lacked a couple of things. I liked Brogan, I did, but sometimes he "appeared" a bit... dumb? I don't know if it was how he acted or what he said, but sometimes I kinda pictured a child in a grown man's body. Because the thing is, he's not apparently dumb because he's good a reading people and figuring things out. There was just something bugging me.
And then there's Embry. I struggled with him as well. I felt like he didn't really let us readers, nor Brogan in. So it was a bit hard to see the chemistry between the two. Specially for most of the book. It wasn't until the last.... 5-10 chapter that we got to see them getting truly closer. And that bothered me as well since Brogan seems to fall in love quite quick. What did he fall in love with even? I mean, he didn't really know Embry - only how he looked and a couple of sentences here and there.
But the book was still interesting and enjoyable, and it had real potential to be great. But yeah, there was just a couple of thing the didn't sit quite right. That said, I did like it, I just couldn't completely dive into it. The timeline is around/over two months, and while there isn't insta-love, there's strong insta-lust from Brogan. Oh and I wished more happened. I wanted more quick as.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No, they were never exclusive until the end. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Brogan Smith, I think. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure, I think. Will I read this again in the future? - Don't think so. Rating - 3 (weak) stars.
Merged review:
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Meh With Potential*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around bodyguard Brogan Smith (29) and assistant Embry Ford (23). While the book was a bit interesting, it lacked a couple of things. I liked Brogan, I did, but sometimes he "appeared" a bit... dumb? I don't know if it was how he acted or what he said, but sometimes I kinda pictured a child in a grown man's body. Because the thing is, he's not apparently dumb because he's good a reading people and figuring things out. There was just something bugging me.
And then there's Embry. I struggled with him as well. I felt like he didn't really let us readers, nor Brogan in. So it was a bit hard to see the chemistry between the two. Specially for most of the book. It wasn't until the last.... 5-10 chapter that we got to see them getting truly closer. And that bothered me as well since Brogan seems to fall in love quite quick. What did he fall in love with even? I mean, he didn't really know Embry - only how he looked and a couple of sentences here and there.
But the book was still interesting and enjoyable, and it had real potential to be great. But yeah, there was just a couple of thing the didn't sit quite right. That said, I did like it, I just couldn't completely dive into it. The timeline is around/over two months, and while there isn't insta-love, there's strong insta-lust from Brogan. Oh and I wished more happened. I wanted more quick as.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No, they were never exclusive until the end. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Brogan Smith, I think. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure, I think. Will I read this again in the future? - Don't think so. Rating - 3 (weak) stars....more
This was a easy read. Nothing fancy, nothing great. Pretty straight forward and a theme of guilt and heali
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A beast who's not a beast*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
This was a easy read. Nothing fancy, nothing great. Pretty straight forward and a theme of guilt and healing. The book centers around Dante ‘the Beast of St. Giles’ Bartholomew (how old?) and counselor Beau Clarity (how old?). Beau sees more to Dante than just a beast; he sees someone in pain and Dante finally has someone who actually sees him. Overall, I got a bit annoyed with the use of ‘the Beast’, as I didn't see a beast, only a man with a past he can't let go off. Still it was a quick read, with a little bit a insta-love.
“It’s been a long time since anyone stood up for me.” Dante seemed genuinely shocked. “Then it’s about fucking time,” Beau said with more vehemence than he initially intended.
[image] Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Dante ‘the Beast of St. Giles’ Bartholomew. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2/2.5 stars.
Merged review:
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A beast who's not a beast*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
This was a easy read. Nothing fancy, nothing great. Pretty straight forward and a theme of guilt and healing. The book centers around Dante ‘the Beast of St. Giles’ Bartholomew (how old?) and counselor Beau Clarity (how old?). Beau sees more to Dante than just a beast; he sees someone in pain and Dante finally has someone who actually sees him. Overall, I got a bit annoyed with the use of ‘the Beast’, as I didn't see a beast, only a man with a past he can't let go off. Still it was a quick read, with a little bit a insta-love.
“It’s been a long time since anyone stood up for me.” Dante seemed genuinely shocked. “Then it’s about fucking time,” Beau said with more vehemence than he initially intended.
[image] Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M) Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Dante ‘the Beast of St. Giles’ Bartholomew. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2/2.5 stars....more
Forth re-read: 28.02.2021 God I wish insta-love was my thing but I just fucking hate it. This book could've been such a good book had it not haForth re-read: 28.02.2021 God I wish insta-love was my thing but I just fucking hate it. This book could've been such a good book had it not had insta-love. If there had been more build-up in the relationship, this book could've been so fucking great. Insta-love is the fucking worst for me. Also, have you noticed that the author's main male character's POV is usually quite similar. Jin, Miro and Jory is almost the same character, just a change of name.... Maybe that is what is bothering me as well...
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Insta-love Is Its Downfall*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Third re-read: 24.11.2018 I hate myself for not loving insta-love. I love the concept of the book, I love the animalistic side of the characters, and I love Jin and Logan as characters and as a couple, BUT that damn insta-love destroys it all for me. I absolutely detest insta-love and this book is so insta that it isn't fair nor should be allowed. The whole book centers around a semel finding his reah but the timeline for that is TWO ONE DAYS before the word love enters the picture, and less than 2 week from start to finish after meeting!!!!!!!!!!! Why are you doing this to me?! I just.... I can't stand insta-love but the book could've been so damned good if the timeline was months of build-up instead of just a couple of days of meeting (technically just one day) and love is in the picture. I'm so mad. The book could've had it all...
“So you’re saying no semel can afford to wait for his reah.” “Realistically, no, they’re too rare. The chances of finding one are too small.” “And yet,” he said with a flourish, “there you stand.” I flipped him off. “Oh, c’mon, Jin, all this talk about reahs and here you are, the rarest of all panthers, the one and only male reah in existence.” “I don’t count.” “You count, idiot; you’re a reah.” “I’m not a real reah; I’m not a girl.” “Who says a reah can only be female?” “Oh, I don’t know… everyone,” I said, sounding bitter even to myself.
Other Characters: → Crane Adams (26?), Jin's best friend; has known him since childhood and left with him when Jin was left for dead by their old pack. Crane is the beset (companion of a reah) to Jin. → Delphine, Logan's sister. → Andrian Basargin, a khatyu, a fighter of Logan's pack (the Mafdet tribe). → Simone Danvers, the sister of Pakhet tribe semel, Christophe Danvers. Simone was supposed to mate Logan to covenant bond between the two tribes. Talon Danvers, Christophe yareah (wife). (view spoiler)[Jin names Simone as his aset; the appointed mate of a semel in the event of the death of their reah. An aset can only be chosen, made, by a reah. (hide spoiler)] → Raymond ‘Ray’ Torres, Jin and Crane's boss; they work at Fusion; a nightclub on the strip. Jin bartends in the club, and Crane bartend upstairs in the Bossa Nova lounge. Ray wants Jin to take over the night manager spot at his restaurant in King’s Beach so he could run the club (with Crane working there as well), though the restaurant is in Logan's territory and Jin and Crane would need permission to cross their territory, which he gets (from Andrian) as he saves Logan's sister. → Yuri Kosa, the sheseru of the tribe of Mafdet (enforcer of the tribe, guardian of the mate of the semel; Jin was a reah, his place was to stand as his champion. Instinctively, he wanted to be my shield, as he was supposed to be the mate of a semel). → Mikhail Gorgerin, the sylvan of the tribe of Mafdet (the crook, the shepherd, teacher of the tribe, counselor to the semel). → Domin Thorne, semel of the tribe of Menhit. (view spoiler)[After Logan wins the challange against Domin, he declared: “The tribe of Menhit is gone. Your tribe will forever run with mine; you are now maahes, prince of the tribe of Mafdet, and you will be my emissary to others, my voice, my persuader, and my counselor for peace. Blood has been spilled; let there now be kinship between us.” (hide spoiler)] → Ruslan ‘Russ’ Church, Logan's brother. → Korneiley ‘Koren’ Church, Logan's brother. → Eva and Peter Church, Logan's parents. → Avery Cadim, Christophe Danvers’s sheseru. → Markel, Domin's sheseru. → Mitchell Rayne, Jin's father and the sylvan of Jin's old tribe, the Anuket tribe. Their new semel, Archer Pike, brother of the previous semel, Gabriel. Danny, Jin's cousin.
My smile had the desired effect; the man stepped back, shaken. He wasn’t like me; he wasn’t a reah. He didn’t have my power. He could be man or beast; he could not be pieces of either by choice. He could not take the form of a werepanther; it was the ability of only a semel or a reah. “I… I don’t….” He trailed off, unsure of what I was. I was not a semel; he knew that. There was no mistaking the power of a semel, and that kind of raw, primal energy didn’t radiate from me. What rolled off me in waves was different, warmer and gentler because of what I was. A reah was the yin to the yang of the semel, each complimenting the other, fitting together so that the reah gave softness and compassion to the semel, the semel bringing strength and logic to the reah. Every semel exuded strength and dominance, but I did not, so the man standing before me was at a loss as to what to make of me.
[image]
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I like the beginning*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Second re-read: 08.12.2017 Don't ask. I don't know. I seriously HATE the insta-love that is soooo damn INSTA (like 2 days), BUT I adore the animalistic side of things. And man, I really do love the first... 12% (?) or 20% of the book. But why I decided to re-read yet again? I have no clue. I guess I'm just tired of trying to find any new interesting books to read, but all I end up is disappointed... [image] Re-read: 23.05.2017 Why the hell did I re-read this? I'll tell you why: I'm sick and tired looking for books only to get disappointed, so why not read books I know I won't get disappointed in? It's not that this book is great, because it isn't. But it's good, and have a strong potential to be great. My main problem is, of course, the insta-love. I hate insta-love. But as far as the story goes, it's actually kinda good. The plot about finding acceptance, love and safety, to find a home, somewhere to belong. It's good. And I also like Jin and Logan's connection. I do, but I still hate how fast the connection became. [image] First read review: Damn, it could've been so damn good... Thank god for SheReadsALot's review, or else I would have been so damn lost. This book really had potential! Fuck, I really loved the beginning, but then, of course, there had to be insta-love. And if you know me, then you know I hate insta-love. I felt like Logan Church (32) and Jinnai ‘Jin’ Rayne (24) didn't actually know each other, specially not personally. So you can understand that I'm kinda pissed that so much potential got wasted.
So there's three things I definitely didn't like: → That damn insta-love. (view spoiler)[Took them two days for the L word to be told. (hide spoiler)] → Jin's father and Jin's old tribe didn't get (view spoiler)[punished for what they did to him (hide spoiler)] → Too little depth and action
Overall, it's was good, then it was alright and then I got bored. I wanted more from the book, more from the characters and when I didn't get it, I was kinda disappointed. I did like Logan's possessiveness though. Don't know if I'll continue the series...
“It was surprising to hear it from his lips, my plain, ordinary name spoken as it never had been before, with awe, lite it was sacred, like treasure. Like I was treasure.”
[image]
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M) Series: - Series, Book One Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Logan Church. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - First half: 3.5 stars, second half: 2.5 stars | overall: 2.5/3 stars.
Merged review:
Forth re-read: 28.02.2021 God I wish insta-love was my thing but I just fucking hate it. This book could've been such a good book had it not had insta-love. If there had been more build-up in the relationship, this book could've been so fucking great. Insta-love is the fucking worst for me. Also, have you noticed that the author's main male character's POV is usually quite similar. Jin, Miro and Jory is almost the same character, just a change of name.... Maybe that is what is bothering me as well...
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Insta-love Is Its Downfall*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Third re-read: 24.11.2018 I hate myself for not loving insta-love. I love the concept of the book, I love the animalistic side of the characters, and I love Jin and Logan as characters and as a couple, BUT that damn insta-love destroys it all for me. I absolutely detest insta-love and this book is so insta that it isn't fair nor should be allowed. The whole book centers around a semel finding his reah but the timeline for that is TWO ONE DAYS before the word love enters the picture, and less than 2 week from start to finish after meeting!!!!!!!!!!! Why are you doing this to me?! I just.... I can't stand insta-love but the book could've been so damned good if the timeline was months of build-up instead of just a couple of days of meeting (technically just one day) and love is in the picture. I'm so mad. The book could've had it all...
“So you’re saying no semel can afford to wait for his reah.” “Realistically, no, they’re too rare. The chances of finding one are too small.” “And yet,” he said with a flourish, “there you stand.” I flipped him off. “Oh, c’mon, Jin, all this talk about reahs and here you are, the rarest of all panthers, the one and only male reah in existence.” “I don’t count.” “You count, idiot; you’re a reah.” “I’m not a real reah; I’m not a girl.” “Who says a reah can only be female?” “Oh, I don’t know… everyone,” I said, sounding bitter even to myself.
Other Characters: → Crane Adams (26?), Jin's best friend; has known him since childhood and left with him when Jin was left for dead by their old pack. Crane is the beset (companion of a reah) to Jin. → Delphine, Logan's sister. → Andrian Basargin, a khatyu, a fighter of Logan's pack (the Mafdet tribe). → Simone Danvers, the sister of Pakhet tribe semel, Christophe Danvers. Simone was supposed to mate Logan to covenant bond between the two tribes. Talon Danvers, Christophe yareah (wife). (view spoiler)[Jin names Simone as his aset; the appointed mate of a semel in the event of the death of their reah. An aset can only be chosen, made, by a reah. (hide spoiler)] → Raymond ‘Ray’ Torres, Jin and Crane's boss; they work at Fusion; a nightclub on the strip. Jin bartends in the club, and Crane bartend upstairs in the Bossa Nova lounge. Ray wants Jin to take over the night manager spot at his restaurant in King’s Beach so he could run the club (with Crane working there as well), though the restaurant is in Logan's territory and Jin and Crane would need permission to cross their territory, which he gets (from Andrian) as he saves Logan's sister. → Yuri Kosa, the sheseru of the tribe of Mafdet (enforcer of the tribe, guardian of the mate of the semel; Jin was a reah, his place was to stand as his champion. Instinctively, he wanted to be my shield, as he was supposed to be the mate of a semel). → Mikhail Gorgerin, the sylvan of the tribe of Mafdet (the crook, the shepherd, teacher of the tribe, counselor to the semel). → Domin Thorne, semel of the tribe of Menhit. (view spoiler)[After Logan wins the challange against Domin, he declared: “The tribe of Menhit is gone. Your tribe will forever run with mine; you are now maahes, prince of the tribe of Mafdet, and you will be my emissary to others, my voice, my persuader, and my counselor for peace. Blood has been spilled; let there now be kinship between us.” (hide spoiler)] → Ruslan ‘Russ’ Church, Logan's brother. → Korneiley ‘Koren’ Church, Logan's brother. → Eva and Peter Church, Logan's parents. → Avery Cadim, Christophe Danvers’s sheseru. → Markel, Domin's sheseru. → Mitchell Rayne, Jin's father and the sylvan of Jin's old tribe, the Anuket tribe. Their new semel, Archer Pike, brother of the previous semel, Gabriel. Danny, Jin's cousin.
My smile had the desired effect; the man stepped back, shaken. He wasn’t like me; he wasn’t a reah. He didn’t have my power. He could be man or beast; he could not be pieces of either by choice. He could not take the form of a werepanther; it was the ability of only a semel or a reah. “I… I don’t….” He trailed off, unsure of what I was. I was not a semel; he knew that. There was no mistaking the power of a semel, and that kind of raw, primal energy didn’t radiate from me. What rolled off me in waves was different, warmer and gentler because of what I was. A reah was the yin to the yang of the semel, each complimenting the other, fitting together so that the reah gave softness and compassion to the semel, the semel bringing strength and logic to the reah. Every semel exuded strength and dominance, but I did not, so the man standing before me was at a loss as to what to make of me.
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Second re-read: 08.12.2017 Don't ask. I don't know. I seriously HATE the insta-love that is soooo damn INSTA (like 2 days), BUT I adore the animalistic side of things. And man, I really do love the first... 12% (?) or 20% of the book. But why I decided to re-read yet again? I have no clue. I guess I'm just tired of trying to find any new interesting books to read, but all I end up is disappointed... [image] Re-read: 23.05.2017 Why the hell did I re-read this? I'll tell you why: I'm sick and tired looking for books only to get disappointed, so why not read books I know I won't get disappointed in? It's not that this book is great, because it isn't. But it's good, and have a strong potential to be great. My main problem is, of course, the insta-love. I hate insta-love. But as far as the story goes, it's actually kinda good. The plot about finding acceptance, love and safety, to find a home, somewhere to belong. It's good. And I also like Jin and Logan's connection. I do, but I still hate how fast the connection became. [image] First read review: Damn, it could've been so damn good... Thank god for SheReadsALot's review, or else I would have been so damn lost. This book really had potential! Fuck, I really loved the beginning, but then, of course, there had to be insta-love. And if you know me, then you know I hate insta-love. I felt like Logan Church (32) and Jinnai ‘Jin’ Rayne (24) didn't actually know each other, specially not personally. So you can understand that I'm kinda pissed that so much potential got wasted.
So there's three things I definitely didn't like: → That damn insta-love. (view spoiler)[Took them two days for the L word to be told. (hide spoiler)] → Jin's father and Jin's old tribe didn't get (view spoiler)[punished for what they did to him (hide spoiler)] → Too little depth and action
Overall, it's was good, then it was alright and then I got bored. I wanted more from the book, more from the characters and when I didn't get it, I was kinda disappointed. I did like Logan's possessiveness though. Don't know if I'll continue the series...
“It was surprising to hear it from his lips, my plain, ordinary name spoken as it never had been before, with awe, lite it was sacred, like treasure. Like I was treasure.”
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Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M) Series: - Series, Book One Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Logan Church. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - First half: 3.5 stars, second half: 2.5 stars | overall: 2.5/3 stars....more
The book centers around widow of three years, Guy Keaton (45), a WoodCrafter and his soulmate Theo Fraser (30) an e
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The book centers around widow of three years, Guy Keaton (45), a WoodCrafter and his soulmate Theo Fraser (30) an empathic and a Delegate; a Craft Councilmember - The Council mostly mediated disputes between Crafters and handled public relations with the larger non-gifted population. Guy is still grieving the death of his wife and does not want anything more. Little did he know that a hike would lead to meeting his soulmate. His soulmate that is a man. But Guy is straight, isn't he?
Overall there's a lot of repeating, insta-love, lack of depth. You all know I HATE insta-love, and this was quite insta. As in not even a week has passed. Only on the second meet is 'I love you' said. Yes, that insta. I understand that they were soulmates, but still. The relationship - for me - needs a foundation and depth, and here it was none. I also felt like there was three (Guy, his deceased wife and Theo) people in this relationship, instead of two, and since I wasn't that prepared for that, it kinda ruined things for me. I somewhat made me uncomfortable when they had a sexual moment and they were talking about Guy's wife. Didn't sit right with me.
With the insta-love on top of that... yeah, the book had potential, but it sure didn't live up to it. Then with the action that didn't feel like action put into the story as well, it just didn't work for me. But still, it did have potential! I will not continue reading the series though. I needed more from this book to make me want to dive deeper into the series.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (A) Fantasy (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No, but the dead wife was constantly mentioned. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No, wife has been dead for three years. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Theo Fraser. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - If you like insta-love, yes. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2.5/2 Stars....more
This book was quite interesting. In the beginning, I truly did not want to put the book down. I felt such an
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Could've Been G.R.E.A.T*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
This book was quite interesting. In the beginning, I truly did not want to put the book down. I felt such an excitement. The concept was enjoyable and I liked the characters. However, while the book didn't turn bad per se, I lost a bit of... excitement about half way through simply because of (view spoiler)[the hate turned love too fast. I liked the "do I wanna kill him or kiss him" situation and it was over too quick. (hide spoiler)] That said, it was still really enjoyable and frankly the book was left in such a way that it could've been a series instead of standalone.
The book centers around Crow (25), king of Northlands, birthmark: a raven. Black flags and pennants for Northlands, and Tancho (25), king the Westlands, birthmark: a koi fish. White flags and pennants for Westlands. The two has never met, yet when they are summoned by the Elders, their lives - and that of the other rulers - are changed forever. Nothing is as what they have been taught growing up, and everything is answers that makes more questions. Overall, this was a good book that I wish was a series where we'd get to see a romance develop in each book instead of rushed in one where it became insta-love. I have to say I absolutely loved the possessiveness and jealously between Crow and Tancho. I just loved the animalistic side to it and I wanted WAY more of it.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Fantasy Romance (M/M). Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Crow. Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes. Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes actually, even though it has insta-love. Will I read this again in the future? - Who knows. Rating - 3.5 stars....more
The book centers around Rafe Bridges (33), a P.I and Jeremy Halliday (27?), an officer who started up a friendship dur
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Was Alright*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around Rafe Bridges (33), a P.I and Jeremy Halliday (27?), an officer who started up a friendship during a case Jeremy asked Rafe to take on. What Jeremy hadn't anticipated was his strange feelings for Rafe, and Rafe is trying not to fall for his straight friend. Overall, the book itself wasn't all that bad but the romance part annoyed me a bit. Because it had a serious case of insta-love. I hate insta-love. And it was a little bit of an overreaction scene by Brian over Rafe's friendship with Jeremy; if you've read the book you might understand. Especially since they've only known each other for a couple of days.... (they met for the first time six weeks ago, but didn't start to hang out until a couple of days ago).
Then there was Rafe's reaction to certain things, like Jeremy just asking him if he's gay. On top of that, there was this case, which was boring. It wasn't anything with suspense or emotions as the book was more focused on Rafe and Jeremy's friendship turned relationship. I wish however that there was more of a build-up, more sexual tension and feelings. More excitement and such. But, that said, it was still a alright read, I just didn't like certain reactions and the insta-love. I also wished it had a bit more action and depth.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No, though Rafe's ex wants him back. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Jeremy Halliday. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure, if you like insta-love. Will I read this again in the future? - Probably not. Rating - 3 (weak) stars....more
No rating due to DNF I got to 30% (chapter 8) into the book and I just gave up. I felt no connection to t
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No rating due to DNF I got to 30% (chapter 8) into the book and I just gave up. I felt no connection to the characters, nor between the characters. There was nothing special about either character - they were too kind for my taste. There was nothing sexy about Deacon Mathers (29), who design interactive games for a company based out of Asia. There was nothing that drew me to him - and you all know the male character is the most important part of the book for me; I know, I'm shallow. I knew the second I met him that he wouldn't do anything for me, and the feeling continued the longer I read. I also didn't feel much for Carys Kincaid (24), the main female character. Nor her daughter, Sunny Kincaid (6 months), who was the result of a brief relationship with Carys' former boss (38). I guess, in my eyes, there was so little depth to each character. I didn't feel that Sunny was cute which most kids tend to be - and no it has nothing to do with her having Down syndrome, it was just the way the book was written. The book just felt shallow to me and I knew it the first chapter. But I didn't want to give up, but at the same time, when I reached chapter 8 and I still felt the same, I knew I couldn't keep going. Overall, others seems to like it, but it just didn't work for me at all.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance. Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[Don't know due to not finishing. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[Don't know due to not finishing. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Don't know due to not finishing. But I'm guessing yes as it's a standalone. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - No one. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Probably Would I recommend this book/series? - No. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - NO RATING DUE TO NOT FINISHING THE BOOK....more
The first book in this series centers around human Emma ‘Em’ Walters (17, turns 18) and Lexen ‘Lex’ Draken (6
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The first book in this series centers around human Emma ‘Em’ Walters (17, turns 18) and Lexen ‘Lex’ Draken (65), a Daelight aka alien. Emma is dealing with the death of her parents just eight months ago, and starting a new school doesn't exactly help, but it's a distraction. However, she hadn't anticipated getting the attention of the Elites at the school. When her guardians disappear, the only ones who can help are the Drakens, even if they sorta kidnapped her. Overall, I had this goal of trying each one of Jaymin Eve's series, which I now how. This was the last one so far. I like her writing and I love her male characters - though not when they become sidelined as just the female lead's love. They deserve more than that.
Anyways, this time that wasn't the problem for me, my problem here was the timeline - which is also another problem I have with this author. If you know me, you know I hate insta-love. I mean, from what I understand, the timeline was a week. But apparently a went month by?! I mean, was she in the prison for three weeks? Or did I miss something? Or was the timeline truly just a week? Which is what it felt like. Because if it was then the insta-love was too much. Also Emma was a bit doormat - I mean not once did she panic about there being an entirely new world out there... I wanted more depth from her. But at least Lex was hot....?
The book has potential though. I liked the characters, and I liked that Emma wasn't so "I'm an independent woman who can do things on my own" and actually let people help her and acknowledge that she was out of her dept. I like a woman who knows she's still a strong independent woman even though she lets her man take care of her. I want more of that though. Overall, I like the book and it was an interesting concept. Though the alien part felt more like fae... That said, I enjoyed it but I'm still unsure if I want to continue with the series. I have a feeling the rest of the series will also have insta-love relationship and I need depth in my relationships and I feel like insta-love doesn't give me that.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Upper YA) Fantasy Romance. Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[For this couple, yes, but for the plot, no. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Sebastian ‘Beck’ Roman Becket. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure. Will I read this again in the future? - Don't think so. Rating - 3 (weak) / 2.5 stars....more
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Hawes while being a leader, didn't feel like a leader. He didn't have that... fee
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I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Hawes while being a leader, didn't feel like a leader. He didn't have that... feeling of power, if that makes sense? Though I think, mainly, that it was the writing that didn't work for me. Then of course, the insta-lust/love thing. I hate those. How can you trust someone so fast (a day of knowing each other) when you're a goddamn assassin?! Doesn't make sense. Then on top of that, it's was very predictable. And of course I should mention that none of the characters were interesting enough to enjoy the book, nor was the sex hot - hell I skipped the sex scenes.
I didn't find Hawes nor Dante hot, at all. None felt powerful, none felt commanding, none felt like Alpha males... I like the concept though, assassins, so there was potential; it just didn't live up to it in my eyes. Overall the timeline was a couple of days, less than a week. It all felt too fast forward, same with the apparently connection (that I didn't feel) between the two main characters. There was no build-up, not development, nothing. I must say I was quite disappointed. However, I knew from the first chapter that I wasn't gonna be for me; I just hate giving up and kept giving it a chance - it didn't get better. Hell, even the action wasn't all that, it was too fast.
The Characters: The list is a bit long so I've put it in a spoilers tag. (view spoiler)[→ Hawes ‘Big H’ ‘Prince of Killers’ Madigan (33), the Fog City’s Prince of Killers. → Dante ‘Mr. Hair’ Perry, a private investigator. (view spoiler)[In truth a ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Special Agent Christopher Perri, and Isabelle Costa was his partner. (hide spoiler)] → Braxton ‘Brax’ Kane, the chief of police. → Callum ‘Papa Cal’ Madigan, Hawes’s grandfather and was the CEO of the family company until his declining health which had first made news five years ago. He also had to step down from the various charities and local boards he sat on. Hawes had stepped into his shoes at twenty-eight, two years before he could even access the trust fund his deceased parents had left him. Reporters had come back around last month, when news had leaked that Pacific Heights’s much beloved—and to a different segment of San Francisco, much feared—Papa Cal had been moved into a local hospice house for end-of-life care. A leak, the origin of which Hawes’s brother still couldn’t hack. (view spoiler)[Dies due to his sickness at 61% into the book. (hide spoiler)] → Isabelle Costa, someone innocent that Hawes killed by mistake. Unbeknownst to anyone, Isabelle, a secretary at MCS, had been carrying on an affair with one of their operatives, Zander Rowe. → Jodie and Ray, associates for Hawes - his lieutenants, who tried to kill him; were hired. Hawes snapped her neck, and Dante shot and killed Ray. → Holt ‘Little H’ Madigan, Hawes's twin (Hawes was born first). Amelia, his wife. When she wasn’t on duty (nurse) at the hospital, tortured answers out of the organization’s targets. Lily their daughter of eight months. Holt's the eyes and ears of the organization and does what he do best—digital assassination: financial, social, and otherwise. (view spoiler)[Amelia was the true traitor who tried to have Hawes killed in order to gain more power. (hide spoiler)] → Helena ‘Hena’ Madigan, Hawes's sister. A talented lawyer by day, and there was no one Hawes would rather have by his side in a fight at night. → Rose, Hawes's grandmother, Papa Cal's wife. → Avery and Lucas, high-ranking, trusted associates for Hawes - his lieutenants? They were also the two people who’d accompanied Helena to the scene of Isabelle’s death. Who’d found Hawes on his knees on the rain-slicked asphalt, trying to staunch the flow of blood from a gunshot wound he’d delivered. (view spoiler)[Lucas was a traitor. (hide spoiler)] → Zoe, works for Hawes; primary objective was to warn them in the event of a breach. Her secondary objective was to hold off any intruders long enough for the floor to power down and assume the roles the rest of the company and world thought they played. Executives, support staff, and IT. Translation: Madigans, assassins, and hackers. (hide spoiler)]
Quick basic facts: Genre: - Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
The book centers around Jimmy Poe (26) and mafia boss Roderick ‘Boss Cold’ ‘Cold’ ‘Roddy’ ‘Rod’ Legrand (44, turns
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The book centers around Jimmy Poe (26) and mafia boss Roderick ‘Boss Cold’ ‘Cold’ ‘Roddy’ ‘Rod’ Legrand (44, turns 45). Jimmy owns a huge depth (because he's trying to get his father out of jail), and in order to pay pack, his body becomes Cold's. What Jimmy hadn't expected was his feelings for Cold. Overall, this was a huge bust. I didn't like it and I knew it early on. But I kept going just in case something could've saved it. Nothing did though. The thing is, I wanted to like this one. I mean, it's a mafia boss M/M book; what's not to like?! Except I got a couple of.... dislikes for this book: ● 1. The sex was not hot. I ended up skimming them. Quite disappointing. ● 2. Insta-love. After two days, Jimmy felt that Cold made him feel complete and happy. They don't know a shit about each other. ● 3. Apparently Cold has never acted this way before, therefore, it's Jimmy who is the cause; must be love. According to Cold's sister, Jimmy makes Cold happy. After. 2. days. ● 4. Cold is apparently this cold, badass mafia boss.... I don't feel it at all. ● 5. Jimmy was such a boring character. He always believes 3 days is enough to; "Last night had been full of so many intimate moments, and Jimmy thought he had finally made a crack in that icy armor of his.". No, if Cold is as cold as everyone pretends, than three fucking days isn't enough to open him up. That's just stupid. ● 6. The names. The name Jimmy reminds me of some pimp, and Roddy/Rod is not a name that makes me thing of a mafia boss. There's no power in that name. ● 7. Rowena was a terrible character. She's the mafia boss' sister and she tell a man she's known for 2-3 days pretty much everything. All she does is drink and shop/dress up. ● 8. Jimmy was a weak as man. He has no spine. ● 9. No depth. It just didn't work. ● 10. No chemistry between the characters. I didn't even feel it in the sex scenes. I felt nothing.
Other Characters: → Maurice ‘Maury the Mouth’ Martine, Jimmy's loan shark, who he'd known since he was a child. He's also Jimmy's only ‘friend’ and family, with his father in prison. → Jules Price, Cold’s top enforcer → Detective Augustus Duplin, who adopted Jimmy after Jimmy's father went to prison for his mother’s murder. He was also the very same cop who had arrested his father, testified against him at the trial, and kept Jimmy from seeing him. Their relationship had been rocky and finally broke when Jimmy turned eighteen. He had demanded to see his father, and Augustus had again refused to let him. Jimmy ran away that night and never looked back. → Rowena ‘Roe’ Legrand, Cold's sister. Boris, their father, used to abuse the fuck out of the siblings. Especially Cold. Cold killed him and served time for it; two years for voluntary manslaughter. Rowena and Cold has different mothers; both dead. → David Poe Jimmy's father who had been arrested 17 years ago for the murder of his wife and Jimmy's mother, Eliza. → Anna, Augustus Duplin’s daughter and Jimmy’s childhood crush. → Mickey ‘The Shadow’ Tamerlane, who just got out of jail. He’s one of Cold’s original Gentlemen; that’s their little family of criminals: the best of the best of Strassen Springs’ not so law-abiding citizens. He's a hitman. → Roger Lorre, Tamerlane's lover/boyfriend who also works for Cold/member of the Gentlemen.. → Theodore Pym, also works for Cold/member of the Gentlemen.. → Francis Von Valdemar, and Francis ‘Thirdsies Von Valdemar III, Valdemar’s grandson, the pair represented both the youngest and oldest members of the Gentlemen. → Rufus Corman, member of the Gentlemen. He’s not exactly the most loyal Gentleman; he was the last one to join, and he only did when it was clear Cold was gonna win. → Dickie White, Rowena's ex-boyfriend. He's the guy whose murder they’re trying to pin on Cold. (view spoiler)[Rowena was the one who killed him. (hide spoiler)] → Dario Romero, works for Rowena at La Belle. She runs it, while Cold owns it. → Jerry, Rowena's limo driver and part time chef. → Luigi, Cristian, and Matteo Luchesi, their father used to be the mafia boss in Strassen Springs before he was killed, and Cold ran them out of the city. (view spoiler)[Turnes out that Corman was the one who had killed their father, and also Jimmy's mother for the ring the father wore, as it is a symbol. (hide spoiler)] → Madeline Queen, a doctor who Cold has on his payroll, who both Jerry and Jules wants.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Standalone. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Not likely. Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really. Will I read this again in the future? -No. New Rating - 1.5/2 stars....more
Ummm, how do these two characters care so much for each other? They've barely been in each others presence and sh
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Where's The Depth?*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Ummm, how do these two characters care so much for each other? They've barely been in each others presence and shared a bed three times.... and there's talk of love? Just like that? What? It's like I'm missing something here. I like that Mateo< (19) for once acted more human and smart and not just a mindless slave. I like that we got to see another side of Eloy (over 200 in his human body). BUT not that fast. It was like a switch was turned on when it comes to Eloy and his development. Like he went from being selfish and egoistic, to speaking of love. Where was the middle part? It's like a huge chunk was taken from this book. I excepted some slow-burn love here and not insta-love. The book really lacked depth, for sure. I'm glad next book is the last in the series.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Dystopian Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book Two. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No, it has no "relationships". (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure. Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure, but if you like dark themes it might be for you. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
Contains spoilers. The thing is... this book could've been good. But there's the lack of depth and character development,
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Contains spoilers. The thing is... this book could've been good. But there's the lack of depth and character development, but most importantly lack of relationship development. They just apparently had a connection and then they were in love? The vampires felt weak, specially considering a human hunter managed to be an equal in a fight with a vampire, even winning the fight. I got a complete Twilight pregnancy vibe. And why wasn't Henry more... shocked over the pregnancy? This book was weird, and the timeline was too short and I felt no connection to any of the characters, and then Henry becomes the true leader of the Carraway vampire clan? What?! Nothing made sense to me.
I think that the story didn't work because of 1) Insta-love. 2) I felt like we were from the outside looking in. 3) No development. 4) No alpha males. 5) The vampires were weak and not powerful monsters/bad boys at all. 6) There was nothing special about any of the characters. 7) No one felt sexy, hot or attractive to me. Not even the sex scene(s). Overall, the story, the character, the plot (where was the plot btw?)... nothing of it worked for me. It's hugely important to me to connect with at least one of the characters, but I felt nothing here. I mean, apparently the Carraways were the vampire mafia, yet none of the felt badass at all.
The Characters: → Henry, (19, turns 20), a Catholic human: he believes that being a vampire would be a one-way ticket to Hell. → Lyle Carraway (?), a vampire and love interest to Henry. → Cian ‘Gray Suit’ (25?), and his dead wife Stephanie ‘Steph’ Thomas, who Nikolai ordered to be killed. They are hunters: they kill supernaturals. Mostly vampires. (view spoiler)[Cora and Cian used to be an item - they are like soulmates, only more extreme. (hide spoiler)] → Ash ‘Sapphire’, Steph's sister. (view spoiler)[Cian kills her toward the end of the book, saving Cora. (hide spoiler)] → Dustin and Mike, Henry's brothers. → Coraline ‘Cora’ Carraway, Lyle's sister, and the vampire Sapphire tortured and Henry tried to help only to be staked accidentally by Cian: Henry took the stake that was meant for Cora. → Vincent, a vampire guard for the Carraway family? → Nikolai Carraway, Lyle's father and the head of the family - like mafia. All vampires in the Carraway family line are capable of compulsion. → Fiona Mills, one of the oldest vampires in the family. → Beatrice, Lina and Adam, vampires. → Elizabeth Carraway, Lyle and Cora's mother who killed herself because she believed her family were monsters?
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - None. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - I'll try. Would I recommend this book/series? - No. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more
The book centers around owner of a game store (as in, board games and puzzles) Conor Matthew Newell and Wellingto
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The book centers around owner of a game store (as in, board games and puzzles) Conor Matthew Newell and Wellington ‘Wells’ ‘Trace’ ‘That Asshole’ ‘Glacial Grange’ Archibald Grange the Third who is according to Conor; ‘the most controlling, egotistical, emotionless SOB he' ever met’, ‘the scariest motherfucker to ever be considered a corporate raider’. He's the multimillionaire CEO of one of the world’s most powerful biomedical companies and Conor is there to make a deal. Unfortunately, he's nervous and has actually no idea what to do, luckily a mistake dick-pick to a stranger makes his life easier. What he doesn't know is that the stranger is actually Wells.
Overall, it wasn't bad story. I liked the concept and the characters weren't all that bad. However, there's the insta-love and the predictableness. Which annoyed me. I don't like insta-love and I don't like when you know what will happen before it has happened. It ruined a lot for me. It also bothered me that Wells loses a bit of what he's supposed to be: cold and emotionless and so forth... it was those things that made me want to read the book in the first place, but he became more and more... sweet. Ugh. Though the book made me smile at times, it still didn't live up to its expectation.
“Tall, dark, and handsome?” I squeaked. “Little intimidating? Scowly, but in an ohmygod kind of way?” Shut up. Shut up. Before I had the chance to describe the tiny mole below the edge of the man’s lip, the barest hint of a laugh line appeared next to one of the receptionist’s eyes. “Might it be Mr. Grange himself?” Wellington Archibald Grange the Third. The scariest motherfucker to ever be considered a corporate raider. The man my mother despised with every ounce of her disease-riddled body. The man who wanted to gobble up my mother’s life’s work like it was a generic box of bran cereal and shit out a shoddy version of it to sick people in need at a staggering upcharge.
The reason Conor is in New York closing an important business deal: ‘Dr. Elizabeth Newell invented a new type of biomedical 3-D printer that used hydrogel and biological material to create critical large human blood vessel prostheses, and Wells' company was aggressively negotiating the purchase of the technology. There were two components to the process: the printer adaptation itself and the medical materials used as the “ink.” Through a clever bit of maneuvering, Wells and his company acquired the rights to the latter the month before. Now Wells intended to use that as leverage to buy the patents to the former. Until recently, Dr. Elizabeth Newell, the engineer who’d perfected the mechanics of the printer, had been unwilling to even discuss selling the technology to them. He’d made a reasonable offer and she’d refused. She still hadn’t accepted that now that Grange BioMed owned the rights to the “ink,” either she sold them the printer technology or her invention was useless. It put his company in an excellent bargaining position. She had no choice but to sell, and at a price well below its value.’
Everything around me froze; even the sounds from the street traffic vanished. I read the message again in case I’d misread it the first time. Stupidly, I felt my chin begin to wobble. I looked up at the crowds on the sidewalk. There were couples and families, groups of friends and people chatting animatedly on their phones. It was one of those moments where it seemed that everyone had someone in their lives but me. But what had I really expected would happen? Where could things with Trace have ever gone? Trying to have any of my relationship needs met by some random stranger in a city hundreds of miles away from where I lived was ridiculous. He could be married for all I knew. Or a criminal. Or prefer DC over Marvel. I felt a gurgle of disgust escape my throat. I was pathetic. By putting expectations on my sexy stranger after a couple of texts, I was grasping at straws.
Other Characters: → Dr. Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Newell, Conor's mother. She has a rare autoimmune disorder that had significantly weakened her lungs. The concoction of drugs she’d been on for the last several months had been helping to keep her lungs strong, are no longer working. She has now pneumonia again. → James Allen, attorney for Dr. Newell and a friend of Conor’s. His live-in boyfriend, Richard. → Deborah ‘Deb’ Hines, Wells' assistant for many years. → Oscar Overton, Wells' last regular fuck buddy and dated James. → Dr. Yvonne Krauss, the lead research and design scientist on the 3-D printer deal. → Winifred ‘Win’, Wells' sister and his niece (almost 3). Her husband is a schoolteacher in Danbury, Connecticut. Win is a stay-at-home mom. (view spoiler)[Mark cheated on Win (among other things), tossed Wells aside to be with his sister instead; they used to be lovers. Wells' made sure that Mark’s half of the business went to his sister. And then he worked his ass off to grow the business so she’d never have to rely on someone else ever again. (hide spoiler)] → Hank, Wells' driver. → Mark, Wells' previous business partner when Grange BioMed was PharmDash and best friend. He also married Wells' sister. → Bill, Elizabeth's neighbor. → Scotty, the carriage driver.
He spoke of his own family, his European mother and his American father who’d met in college in Massachusetts before starting their family in Greenwich, Connecticut. “Your dad’s an investment banker, right?” I asked. Wells nodded. “He’s worked on Wall Street since before I was born. Not sure he’ll ever retire. The man’s a workaholic.” I stared at him. “Pot, meet kettle…” Wells snorted softly and looked away.
Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes, for the couple. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Wellington ‘Wells’ Archibald. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Maybe. Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure, others probably love it. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2.5/3 stars....more
The book centers around Deckard ‘Deck’ Warren, the lead enforcer of a werewolf pack called Ironheld Wolves an
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The book centers around Deckard ‘Deck’ Warren, the lead enforcer of a werewolf pack called Ironheld Wolves and Colt (23?), who suffers memory loss. They meet when Colt is chased by a rival pack (the Bramble Pack, the coyotes) of the I.W. into their territory. Unfortunately, Colt has no idea who he is, but one thing is certain for Deck, Colt is his mate. But with Colt not knowing who he is or his past, Deck decides not to tell Colt that information because he fears Colt has a life waiting for him. However, something is happening with Colt, and they need to find out what it is and fast.
Overall, it was a strong dose of insta-love. I should've known. The story - it's concept - had potential, but it didn't live up to that potential. It also lack some depth that was needed. Oh and am I the only one who found the name ‘Deckard’ weird? I've never heard it before... and it certainly didn't sound good in my head. Not sure if I want to continue the series. I have no idea if it'll continue to be about Deck and Colt or if it'll be about someone complete different. I'll probably have this series at the back of my mind in case I get bored sometime, but for now....
“Who is Nero?” She held my gaze and for a moment we took the measure of the other. Finally, she nodded. “He’s Gavin’s father and—” She nodded at Colt. “His father. This one looks just like him. Their father’s a mage. Ruthless and power hungry. Enough so that he kills his own children to keep that power growing. Do I have your attention, yet, Deckard? If this one is trying to escape—” “His name is Colt,” I growled. “If Colt is trying to escape Nero, then I’ll do whatever I can to help him. I’ve hidden Gavin here for almost twenty-five years, but if he’s here on his father’s bidding…” She shook her head. She would continue to do whatever she had to in order to keep her son safe. She didn’t have to say it. I could see it in her eyes.
“I suppose the one good thing that’s come from your blunder, Seppius, is the manifestation of your power. And fire at that. Other than your mooning over a cur, I’d say your father will be most pleased with this development.” Seppius? Was that his name? The woman’s voice was clinical. She was standing in front of the cell Colt was in. She was tall and muscled and wearing the type of leather armor that looked like it came from a museum of Ancient Rome.
Other Characters: → Josh Warren (20), Deckard's cousin, the youngest enforcer of the Ironheld Wolf Pack. → Gavin, Deckard's human Alpha and brother-in-law: was married to Isobel, Deck's sister who is dead. She had been the Alpha, Gavin the Alpha's mate, now he's Alpha. → Emery (4), Deck's niece and Gavin and Isobel's daughter. → Blaze, Viper, Carnival, and Walrus ‘Wally’, enforcers of the Ironheld Wolf Pack. → Jerry, a wolf who want to be Alpha. → Blake, the only werewolf detective on the very human police force of Hanover Hills. → Zeb Mullin, a werebear and lived on one of the outer edges of Ironheld Wolf Pack territory. → Sera, Josh’s sister and she was as fierce a woman and wolf. → Lena, Gavin's mother, a witch and sometimes she can sense things about people or events. She predicted Isobel's death.
“Watch your six,” I called as Josh reached to open the door. “I always do.” Then he was gone and I was left with my thoughts and the steady breathing coming from the other room. What the fuck was I going to do with him? Climbing to my feet, I walked to the open door of the guest room. Even in the darkness, I could make out the details of his face. He was handsome, but I wouldn’t put him at more than twenty-five. Too young for me. Maybe my wolf had finally gone off the deep end, thinking this one was somehow for us. Not that it mattered. He was human and had no way to know what his smell did to my wolf. No way to know what him being in this house did to the chasm that lived in my chest. And I sure as shit was never going to tell him.
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Quick basic facts: Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M). Series: - Series, Book One. Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)] HEA? - (view spoiler)[Not really. (hide spoiler)] Favorite character? - Deckard ‘Deck’ Warren. Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure, probably not. Would I recommend this book/series? -Not really. Will I read this again in the future? - No. Rating - 2 stars....more