This is a charity anthology, so I tend to think of the stories as a thank you for donating money. All aI would rate this whole collection 3.75 stars.
This is a charity anthology, so I tend to think of the stories as a thank you for donating money. All anthologies are a mixed bag and people will like different stories than I do, but here are a few of my favorites from this collection. There is a variety of combinations (M/M, F/F, M/M/F, M/F) with bisexual, trans, and ace represented. They all contemporary except for the one historical, paranormal romance. The foreword by Roan Parrish is quite eloquent.
R.L. Merrill, Pinups and Puppies (F/F, 4 stars) This is told from the first person POV of Marianne, who is struggling with grief and reintegration after her retirement from the Air Force. She owns a vintage plane and volunteers to transport dogs to help shelters who find them homes. That's how she meets Dinah, who co-owns the shelter. They both seem to have great support systems filled with family and friends. With great chemistry, their lives and interests slot nicely together, making them a cute couple.
Susan Scott, Shelley Sugar Crush (Bliss Bakery Series) (M/M, 4.5 stars) Jack, a horror novelist gets to know a baker, Gabriel when he joins a softball team to help his friend Shane This has an opposites attract trope with great sexual tension and friends as extended family. This is about fitting into someone's life and making room for them to fit into yours--giving each other a safe space and carving out shared time, while still having their own interests. Also, not letting fear or the past get in the way of the future.
Xio Axelrod When Frankie Meets Johnny (M/M, 4.25 stars) DJ meets contractor/teacher in this hurt/comfort tale with an age gap. This story is what you make it. I highly recommend listening to all the songs that he plays for a hell of a good time. If an artist is mentioned, but not a song, pick one that has a title that fits the scene. I would have rated this higher, but I couldn't tell if this was Johnny's first time with a man or he was demisexual? There is certainly a misunderstanding I think could have been handled better, but the story is charming.
Merged review:
I would rate this whole collection 3.75 stars.
This is a charity anthology, so I tend to think of the stories as a thank you for donating money. All anthologies are a mixed bag and people will like different stories than I do, but here are a few of my favorites from this collection. There is a variety of combinations (M/M, F/F, M/M/F, M/F) with bisexual, trans, and ace represented. They all contemporary except for the one historical, paranormal romance. The foreword by Roan Parrish is quite eloquent.
R.L. Merrill, Pinups and Puppies (F/F, 4 stars) This is told from the first person POV of Marianne, who is struggling with grief and reintegration after her retirement from the Air Force. She owns a vintage plane and volunteers to transport dogs to help shelters who find them homes. That's how she meets Dinah, who co-owns the shelter. They both seem to have great support systems filled with family and friends. With great chemistry, their lives and interests slot nicely together, making them a cute couple.
Susan Scott, Shelley Sugar Crush (Bliss Bakery Series) (M/M, 4.5 stars) Jack, a horror novelist gets to know a baker, Gabriel when he joins a softball team to help his friend Shane This has an opposites attract trope with great sexual tension and friends as extended family. This is about fitting into someone's life and making room for them to fit into yours--giving each other a safe space and carving out shared time, while still having their own interests. Also, not letting fear or the past get in the way of the future.
Xio Axelrod When Frankie Meets Johnny (M/M, 4.25 stars) DJ meets contractor/teacher in this hurt/comfort tale with an age gap. This story is what you make it. I highly recommend listening to all the songs that he plays for a hell of a good time. If an artist is mentioned, but not a song, pick one that has a title that fits the scene. I would have rated this higher, but I couldn't tell if this was Johnny's first time with a man or he was demisexual? There is certainly a misunderstanding I think could have been handled better, but the story is charming....more
I like unique, so this book is a breath of fresh air. It's told in vignette style from the first person POV of one part oI would rate this 4.5 stars.
I like unique, so this book is a breath of fresh air. It's told in vignette style from the first person POV of one part of a couple, whose names we never learn. Nothing happens here: the plot is man meets man, they are both attracted to each other and embark on a lust fueled tumultuous ride with an expiration date. But as we know, when you give someone that level of trust and intimacy, feelings get involved even if you don't want them to. These are pivotal scenes of their relationship, but they exist in a bubble, not just because of Coronavirus, but because friends are mentioned but never met, work is done, but not important. The focus is how this man becomes his whole world; it is psychological, not narrative, world-building of the mind, not the environment. There are a lot of sexually explicit scenes, so I wouldn't recommend reading it all in one go, but rather sip it and let it breathe. Though they do titillate, they are just a natural part of the relationship that quickly turns serious due to the level of jealousy and possessiveness along with the power games they play. I found all of this hot and interesting, but I didn't feel the heart of it until about 80% in. Although this all takes place in one summer, it feels like longer because it's everything one has to give to another. ...more
This is book five in the series, but I've not read the previous four and had no issues reading it as a standalone. This oI would rate this 3.75 stars.
This is book five in the series, but I've not read the previous four and had no issues reading it as a standalone. This one focuses on Donovan, an alpha from Southern Pack who comes to Northern Pack territory as a bounty hunter for a runaway omega named Carmen. When he arrives, Judge Tarek refuses to give him an extradition order. His stay, while trying to convince Carmen to voluntarily return to her family, shows him how restrictive the wolf caste system is. As he acknowledges his forbidden desire for another alpha, he has an affair with Tarek that is rapidly becoming something else. Can he confront the difference between what he's been taught his whole life, and the reality he is faced with?
Since this is about Donovan's character development, the POV stays with him. The politics snuck up on me, although I don't know why; the correlation with patriarchy and gender roles is obvious. In this world, omegas are treated differently in each region as is the legality of same sex and mixed caste unions. Central and Western Pack are mentioned, but don't play a role. Here's where some more in depth world-building would have made this really shine for me. Maybe that's unfair because perhaps it was already done in previous books, but with this writing style, I doubt the previous books were markedly more detailed. Ditto the secondary characters in this book who have had their own books: they are all likeable and move the story forward, but not much is learned about them here. So reading the previous books might have given me a greater emotional attachment to them. However, it's cleverly written because you can read them all in order for the overarching political story, or you can just read the ones you want if that couple strikes your fancy without missing much.
The sex scenes are steamy and well written. While this world has heats and knotting, there was no mpreg. The development of Tarek and Donovan's relationship is fast--a matter of days. While cute, I would have liked more connection outside of the sex. In the end, did me wanting more detail about everything affect my enjoyment of this book? Nope. This is a new to me author and I really loved the writing style. As a fun, easy to read, steamy, paranormal erotic romance, this is a great choice when you want to be entertained for a few hours and have some food for thought (it's okay to be who you are), without a lot of angst. I will read this author again.
Sheriff Quoitrel meets Omega Daisy whilst he is renovating the old bordello in North Leland into a new bordello. This is wheI would rate this 4 stars.
Sheriff Quoitrel meets Omega Daisy whilst he is renovating the old bordello in North Leland into a new bordello. This is where North Leland's progressive values about omegas having autonomy over their own bodies comes into conflict with their paternalistic or moralistic view towards sex workers. Ideas like: protection versus control, support instead of saving someone, and that sometimes you have to fight, actually fight, for what you believe in--are explored here. Many people support something in theory, but standing behind that in actuality may be entirely different. Since this is the final book in the series the overarching storyline of succession is finally answered. Although having previous knowledge of some of the characters might make one more invested, there is no reason why this couldn't be read as a standalone.
I liked Quoitrel and Daisy, singularly and together. Quoitrel learns about himself and his own sexuality while adapting his view of what a relationship is. Daisy is still a sex worker, so if you think him that doing his job is cheating, this is not the book for you. They find the relationship that is right for them, filled with mutual respect. Good communication is key to a relationship like this, so I do wish I could have seen more of it. There is some violence as the political situation gets sorted, but the other five books have been building up to this. One of the things I like in the whole series is that the characters are both human and wolf; they hunt and use their teeth and claws, yet the best of them don't allow their humanity to be overcome by animal instinct, nor use it as an excuse for bad behavior. That's really what the series is about: striving to be the best version of themselves for equality and equity for all. With steamy sex scenes, heartfelt moments of caring and loss, and striving for a better tomorrows for their citizens, this book is very entertaining. ...more
Brandon goes on vacation to fulfill his sexual fantasy with a werewolf Dom at the El Corazon adult entertainment club in AI would rate this 3.5 stars.
Brandon goes on vacation to fulfill his sexual fantasy with a werewolf Dom at the El Corazon adult entertainment club in Arizona. The werewolf he gets is Raul, grandson to the club owner and professional bounty hunter. One scene is not enough for either of them and a bond is struck. But Brandon is a scintilla, a magical human that wields electricity, and an expert with using electronics to glean information. Months later Brandon disappears and his father shows up to hire Raul to find him, leading everyone down a path filled with paranormals, human trafficking, and betrayal.
For me, this book is split in two with the first half being a bit awkward where some things are explained, and the second half where there is a lot of action and a better connection between the characters. The first love scene wasn't quite as hot as I would have liked, but that's just sex. They hang out for a week, having more sex, which is not shown. Too many sex scenes back to back can be boring, but skipping out on the time they spend together lessens the intimacy. The reader is told they emailed for months after, but that didn't make me feel attached to either of them. Then, the second half has the intimacy and connection I wanted--almost too much as it also actually distracted them from their own undercover operation. There are a plethora of kinks here, with the age gap, Raul being a hairy bear type, knotting, and Brandon basically being a violet wand. I did like that Raul is actually a wolf, it is always part of who he is and that is consistent.
The world-building was a bit haphazard. There are four classes of magical humans, so what are they? There are five types of jinn, but only effrit and sila are referenced. There is a leprechaun and a prism character, but neither are explored. Later, acoustic and aether paranormals are also mentioned. The only thing I know about werewolf culture is they are pansexual and matriarchal. Raul's family is also Latin, so that comes across the most. As the matriarch, Natty is a force to be reckoned with, and a welcome, loving presence. A jinni, Fahim, who is a business partner of Raul's cousin, Tad, is always there to lend of hand, but I don't know anything about him. At first I felt I missed something as a character named Janey was introduced; I had no idea who she was. She is described as a prism, and ends up being the police captain, but I have no idea what she or her lieutenant, Iva, whom Raul has known since grade school, actually look like. So, really, the world-building here is contained to Raul's family life and glimpses of his work as a bounty hunter. Things that need to be known are thrown in scene by scene. That's a shame since the plot is actually interesting. This is really just a fun, low angst for the subject matter adventure, with some steamy sex scenes, a bit of violence, and likeable lead characters. Expect that instead of urban fantasy and it'll be an enjoyable diversion.
At first glace this seems like a love triangle with Teo in love with his childhood friend of twenty years Chris, and his gI would rate this 4.5 stars.
At first glace this seems like a love triangle with Teo in love with his childhood friend of twenty years Chris, and his growing feelings for a one night stand turned friend, Jack. But Chris, who is bisexual, acts heterosexual for his parents, and while happy to have sex with Teo if they keep it on the down low, is not ready to come out and settle down in his twenties. When Teo loses his virginity to Jack, he starts to realize childhood dreams are just that. Teo is ready settle down and he is a forever type of guy. As Chris does everything in his power to manipulate his friend in order to keep him close and under his power, Teo is finally learning that there is a difference between love and being in love. Jack learns that maybe his happiness with traveling and playing the field is just what he tells himself to avoid being hurt or hurting others. What Jack wants is Teo, but being in love with someone who is in love with someone else is not on his agenda.
Switching POV between Teo and Jack is utilized to great effect, allowing me to enjoy seeing them fall in love from both sides. This led with the erotic, but subtly pulled me into a romance; the sex scenes are hot, hot, hot...yet surprisingly sweet. This features an age gap and a fake boyfriend trope with forced proximity. Their conversations flow naturally. I laughed and got choked up; I got so attached to everyone. They are adorable together, and as their passion grows into friendship, I was rooting for them. As their friendship changes, it's not that they don't communicate, it's that they don't check-in with each other when their feelings start to change, leading to misunderstandings. Learning about Teo's relationship with Chris through his fleeting thoughts about past events makes me want to smack him, but it's his current treatment of Teo that makes me want to punch him out. I also realized he is navigating the difference between his vision of his future and holding on possessively to the person actually most important to him, like a safety net. Kudos to the author for giving me an understanding of Chris without his POV, humanizing him through Teo's eyes.
All the side characters here are very effectively integrated into the story: family, co-workers, patients, clients, etc. Jack is a pilot and Teo is a nurse while Chris works in the family's medical business. If I had a quibble, it would be that while Jack's family is shown, Teo's family is not. However, the secret to Jack is his family whereas Teo's character is best seen through his caregiving for everyone he knows, especially parts of Chris's family he has known all his life. It's nice to see people handle things maturely without a lot of drama: people who grow through their experiences, work out their differences, and support each other. The author foreshadows the story well, so I knew exactly where this was going, but I never felt like it was formulaic even with the expected grand gesture. It's great to have a romance story actually touch me emotionally without me feeling manipulated, without the focus on some sort of emotional trauma or being high angst. I have to say this is an excellent romance that I throughly enjoyed. ...more
How vampire lore works in this story is layered in through the musings of an unknown narrator, which we learn is Ethan. He I would rate this 4 stars.
How vampire lore works in this story is layered in through the musings of an unknown narrator, which we learn is Ethan. He uses his skills as a mercenary for a man named Marco. He becomes intrigued by a pretty man in front of a coffee shop, who is a student named Tristan. His protective urges grow, but I'm unclear as to whether vampires have a mating instinct or are obsessive by nature? I don't like stalking as love, so frankly, I'm glad it's illegal here, so I guess that answers the question really. Since Tristan has a vampire fetish and their kinks line up well, the story gets steamy very quickly. What saves this for me is that Ethan is actually trying to do the right thing, the struggle is real. It's also hot, hot, hot. Parts of it are a lust fueled haze of toys, light blood play, bondage, and shibari. If the book would have stayed that way, I'd have been perfectly happy with it as an erotic romance.
This didn't quite go how I thought it would, so I struggled to figure out why. First, the cover would fit in quite well with the dark erotic gay romance series Criminal Delights (twelve different authors), so I think I subconsciously put it in that category. Of course, Ethan is portrayed over and over again as a ruthless killer for hire, albeit he now kills "the bad guys" although I am unclear who decides that. Mario? So, when this turns into a sweet, sappy romance with flashes of dry humor and a meet the parents, I am perplexed. Then I figured out why: it heads into New Adult territory even though the sole POV is from an ancient vampire. Tristan's parents are fantasy perfect. Tristan makes Ethan human again. Ethan goes from unlawful to legit without anyone blinking an eye. Tristan realizes his own self worth, thanks to Ethan's love. It's all very enjoyable with "all the feels," but it could have been something more nuanced, more intellectually interesting--and I'll probably still read it again. ...more
Although there is a previous book (The Rainbow Clause), I can say with absolute confidence this can be read as a standaloI would rate this 4.25 stars.
Although there is a previous book (The Rainbow Clause), I can say with absolute confidence this can be read as a standalone, since I had no idea. This is the story of Heath and Sam, NFL quarterbacks on different teams at different points in their careers, who end up on the same team after a holiday fling that left them both wanting more. Moving from opposites attract to frenemies to love, as they navigate both their personal and professional issues, the book also changes from erotic romance to something more interesting and nuanced as the psychology of the characters is touched upon. I would describe it more as tension-filled rather than full of angst, since past trauma isn't dwelt upon just addressed so that the leads can have a believable HEA.
That tension is stretched taunt at several points--the longing, that breathless feeling, the fear of discovery--all of which are palpable. I like how the author also breaks the tension, with some fun at Heath's expense. Heath is endearing in his awkwardness; knowing his thoughts is crucial to liking him. Sam is actually the more emotionally mature of the two in some ways, even though he is younger. As much as Heath watches football film to find tells for rival plays, Sam studies Heath for his tells, finding ways to break down the walls Heath has spent a lifetime fortifying. Heath is the mind of the book, while Sam is supposed to be the heart; but Sam, while nice and fun, only becomes more three dimensional to me when he starts to play football. Their miscommunications are very realistic, as is their using past experiences to "fill in the blanks" and decide what the other is thinking. I really liked that Heath allowed himself to explore his sexuality and realize his need to see a mental health professional.
This may only be me, but for the first five chapters it was difficult for me to keep Frankie and Felicity straight when the POV flipped between Heath and Sam--maybe because they weren't real to me yet as they hadn't been introduced as characters. I still wish the best friends of the main characters hadn't had similar names. I also found that even though the book changes POV between Sam and Heath, the book seems more skewed towards Heath, explaining him to create empathy for him and show his character development. Sam's bits tend to be more geared to how his personal development helps his career development. So, it felt a bit uneven. Also, I know we sometimes want that big gesture, but here I felt it detracted from the team and their achievement--not a way to win over your teammates. Overall, I enjoyed this immensely. With interesting lead characters, heartfelt emotions, steamy sex scenes, and a good supporting cast of friends, this was an entertaining read with the right amount of football for fans and non fans alike. ...more
Mitch's brother Greg shows up out of the blue to J.T.'s Bar. He's on the run from someone trying to kill him, having beeI would rate this 3.25 stars.
Mitch's brother Greg shows up out of the blue to J.T.'s Bar. He's on the run from someone trying to kill him, having been in witness protection for fourteen years. When his marshall Riordan tracks him down and takes him away to safety, the attraction they have been battling for the last few years boils over with the forced proximity. The numerous sex scenes are steamy and more detailed in this one, so it works better as an erotic romance than a suspense/thriller. It is on the insta-love side because although Riordan may know almost everything about Greg, Greg knows next to nothing about Riordan and it's his POV.
Unfortunately the character descriptions are still not very detailed, so there is nothing more about the covert ops team members, nor about the sheriffs or marshalls either. There are a few plot twists as they try to catch the bad guys, including the mole in WITSEC. When the danger is over Mitch's and Greg's parents show up, so the last third is family drama. This is actually my favorite part as Mitch and Greg bury their past and start fresh with Greg working as a cook at the bar. Greg also has to figure out how to move forward with Riordan. I felt more attached to Mitch and I really liked Greg and Riordan as characters.
Based on the blurb, this book wasn't quite what I thought it would be, so I struggled to rate it and review it without spoI would rate this 4.5 stars.
Based on the blurb, this book wasn't quite what I thought it would be, so I struggled to rate it and review it without spoilers. This is billed as a paranormal erotic romance, and while that is true, it is so much more. Tags are spoilers, so as per usual, I will only give them when I think stories could be triggering to people. This book contains multigenerational family trauma, sexual abuse, incest, attempted suicide in first person, suicide, bipolar and OCD mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, and ghosts thrown in with kinky sex. Since this is told in a single first person point of view, I got very attached to this character, but talking about him is a spoiler. This story is not told in linear time, so it might be difficult to get into the first two or three times it goes from the present to the past, but then it seems very natural as he shares his life through memories. The characters become complex and multifaceted the more the book goes on--one minute I might hate a character and the next I felt sorry for them even though that doesn't absolve them of their awful choices.
Let's start with the erotic romance, which I think worked very well. He meets a Dom named Devon in a club and everything goes sideways. Luckily another Dom named Mike helps him when he needs it, allowing the reader to get to know more about the main characters before any sex actually happens. The trust comes when the paranormal aspects are believed by everyone involved, which helps the romance move forward. I think this was effective. All the characters here are likeable and believable. The sex scenes are hot. With an 11 year age gap, the huge disparity in circumstances, and the added D/s aspect, there is plenty of the hurt/comfort trope in play. Devon ends up being compelling as a Dom and very endearing as a person.
There are so many great secondary characters in this book: Officer McBride, Devon's sister-in-law Maya, Dom Mike, and the medium Maxine are the obvious favorites. There are also well written characters that evoked very negative emotions for me like Uncle Barry, Mom Dana, and Vern. Barry seemed confused about right and wrong without ever trying to figure it out. Dana deserves credit for doing the best she could at the time, she made an effort...but not enough of one to actually heal, so that saddened and frustrated me. She had plenty of opportunities to get help from mental health professionals, but just didn't. That may seem like victim blaming to some, but she had children to raise and could have done better by them. As for Vern, I hate him. At its heart, this is the story of two brothers and their tragedy, as well as how everything got to this point--it's a story of an American family tragedy.
As for the paranormal aspects, occultism is treated with respect here, not as a party trick. I believe in energy work, in cleansing, in the benefits of ceremony and feel like this is a really good idea for anyone who wants to find closure for grief and trauma...we have funerals for a reason. Often, the difference is at a funeral people focus on the good, forgetting the bad...and that might not help people find any sort of resolution, especially with the ridiculous notion of not "speaking ill of the dead," which is just a whole layer of guilt people get wrapped up in. I don't agree that intention matters most. For many, this will be a lot of woo but this is based in what some people actually practice, so either the author does believe or has done excellent research on the topic. It does walk a fine line...and then gets preachy at the end. I would have rated this higher, but I don't like being prostalitized to. Also, evoking Robert Monroe and the Matrix Control System is strange in an LGBTQIA book because he believed one reason for his theory is because all mobiles are split into two genders, ever seeking reunion with each other. Ugh.
This book is a rare gem--entertaining and packs an emotional wallop without wallowing in emotional pornography. I like how the ideas of Platonic solids, sacred geometry, and reincarnation are synthesized together, yet the New Age ideas used to explain the phenomena were a bit offputting for me. There is a lot to unpack here, but I'm not going to get into spiritual arguments about an erotic fictional book. Finally, there is an epilogue about 4 years later than the main events of the book. I liked the range of reactions to what happened because in the end, people still choose how to process things. Having or creating an opportunity for closure doesn't mean everyone will let go and move forward in a positive way. I'm glad theirs is psychological work with a therapist, rather than only relying on New Age ideas.
The cover design was made by Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com. At first I thought the images combined with the title were a bit misleading, but the more I think about it, I really like them for the metaphorical imagery. The main character is trapped until he gets to see the bigger picture and find his asylum, his safe place where he is free. ...more
This is the third book in the series and by now, I feel like they need to be read in order for the full emotional experienceI would rate this 4 stars.
This is the third book in the series and by now, I feel like they need to be read in order for the full emotional experience because much of the information about each of the doms is layered into each book, weaving a greater whole. This book focuses on Gray, who is way more interesting than I've seen previously, yet less time is spent with him. The majority of it feels like this is Avery's story as a spoiled, ungrateful, selfish brat; his character development is forced as he is finally having to be responsible for himself, beholden to Gray instead of his parents. Even with what he's seen as a veteran and working as a beat cop, Gray still has things to learn too--the age gap doesn't seem all that large when gauged by emotional maturity. When his trying moments come, they are devastating. As they traverse the issue of trust between a masochist and a sadist, they learn the hardest parts are sharing more of themselves than just their bodies.
This series is so rich in main characters, it doesn't need much from its secondary characters. Information about Charlie has been building in each book and he will get his story soon. As the advice giver, peace maker, and heart of the group, his character is frequently the bridge that connects everyone. Avery's friend Derik is a good mirror for Avery--the more he grows and changes from the way he was, the more he sees how shallow, vain, and cruel his life used to be. The author did set up situations that I felt deepened the friendships of all the men, and yes, that includes more shared sex scenes. The sex between Gray and Avery at the beginning and the sex at the end are completely different with the added intimacy gained on their journey.
Large parts of this are a huge indictment against social media and against people who don't educate themselves so they are well rounded citizens. While it is couched in terms of Avery's character development, and Gray's upbringing, there are times when the pointed social commentary subsumed the narrative. I support the positive message, about building the world you want to have, even as I think the way the story all fell into place was too pat. That made this relationship less realistic to me than the ones in the previous books. I enjoyed Avery and Grey moving through their story together, I just felt like it wasn't Avery who was meant to be learning the life lessons, but the reader and that made their love story take an occasional backseat to the larger themes. ...more
Even though this is the second book in a series written in linear time, I feel like you could read this first and go back I would rate this 4.5 stars.
Even though this is the second book in a series written in linear time, I feel like you could read this first and go back to learn more about Warren and Taylor's story from book one. For maximum emotional impact, I feel they are best read in order. River is grieving over the break-up of his marriage and floundering through his days when he meets Phil in a professional confrontation at the hospital. River is naturally submissive and is drawn to Phil's personality even though he doesn't understand why, doesn't really understand what he wants or needs. His husband works at the same hospital with his new boyfriend, but River hasn't signed the divorce papers yet. Phil is set in his ways, his rigid control only serviced through one night stands or rentboys, yet he responds to River in a way that makes him want to try for a casual arrangement. As they work through the change from an arrangement to a real relationship, these two lonely men find they have more in common than they would have believed. Both men are lucky to have the support of Phil's friends, in every regard and there is certainly sharing, so if you have to have a couple that has no sexual contact with others, this is not the series for you. The sex scenes are hot and explicit, but the confidence, care, and camaraderie throughout the book is even more appealing. I felt much more attached to the other characters in this series, as little details about Gray and Charlie are sprinkled throughout, than in the first book.
The first part of this book was a little difficult to get into because I felt Phil's distance through the writing; the pay-off comes at the end when Phil is finally overtly emotionally engaged, rather than his usual suppression. Strangely, it's the second half of the book that is easier to navigate as everything gets more complex professionally and personally for all the characters. When people have a personal epiphany, they can choose to ignore it and explain it away, or they can fall into the change it encourages. This requires taking a personal inventory. Both of them need to slough off the expectations of others, in different ways. Phil is dealing with his upbringing and ghosts of past expectations, while River is trying to find himself again after stuffing himself away to be what his husband wanted.
What I really like about this series is the sexual freedom the characters experience as they each do what is best for themselves, as they struggle to not be embarrassed or ashamed of what they individually need as it clashes with what society says relationships "should" be like--or even what other people in a BDSM lifestyle think. They are "heretics" for a reason. It's also a good reminder that sometimes people need to let go of their own rules, that what served you in your twenties, might not be what serves you in your forties. I found this journey of self realization for both men very satisfying. Although my own bias is for Warren and Taylor, I enjoyed seeing River and Phil create the life they want. I am excited for Gray's story next and hope to learn more about Charlie in book four. ...more
The blurb here tells you the whole plot. Warren is ex-military, with survivor's guilt, and has created a life for himselI would rate this 4.75 stars.
The blurb here tells you the whole plot. Warren is ex-military, with survivor's guilt, and has created a life for himself many would feel was unconventional. He helps people in his own way, but isn't terribly happy. Taylor is a rent boy with past demons whose moments of fleeting happiness aren't enough to give him a life raft. When these two damaged people meet, it's a case of them finding the right puzzle piece--they match in the way they both most need. I'm not talking about love conquers all, but rather hope giving them each the chance to make changes, make different decisions to increase their happiness. I loved both these characters. I always felt like they were real people. For me, there is a HEA, but I feel like they are both out there, stuggling to continue to make the best choices for them.
This novel goes to some dark places, so pay attention to the tags. I will highlight two things because, frankly, this book is awesome and I don't want people leaving bad reviews just because it isn't their cup of tea. There is humiliation. There is urination. Although a flogger and BDSM eqipment is used, it's not really the focus of this book. The author concentrates on the psychology of the characters and their daily lives. There is no "play." Also, Taylor is a whore and has sex with multiple people in this book. There is no cheating because there is no expectation of monogamy at the time, but I know some people don't like that. I felt like this was all very realistic and well written without feeling full of tropes. Yes, there is an age gap and plenty of hurt/comfort, with a power exchange--they are there because they are real for this couple, not just to have a list of buzzwords to attract readers. In other words, things aren't just there to be salacious, not that they aren't intriguing, just that it is all very heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns.
If I have any small complaint, it's that I wanted to see more of Warren's friends and have them be as real also. They all get books, so I will have my wish, but it would have made this even more compelling. I don't feel like I know Warren's friend Charlie as well as Taylor's friend Riley, for instance. Then again, everyone's life is very bleak already, so focusing on this bubble of happiness that Warren and Riley fight hard to create by being truthful and brave...that is everything and it is more than enough. ...more
Taji is a human linguist who was supposed to be on a small moon, mostly isolated, to compile information on its language,I would rate this 4.75 stars.
Taji is a human linguist who was supposed to be on a small moon, mostly isolated, to compile information on its language, culture, and inhabitants for the Interplanetary Trade Coalition (IPTC) databases. After the deaths of two members of a diplomatic team on the planet below named Mirsa, he is conscripted to assist Ambassador Tsomyal since he is the only person in nearby space even remotely qualified to help decipher nuances of communication in Asha, the language used throughout most of the Sha Empire. Shavians value control and stoicism except in precise culturally acceptable situations. Although humanoid, they seem to have a vast amount of nonverbal communication with their cat like ears. As a native Anglisky speaker with no training in diplomacy and a translator device with inferior software translations, he is thrown into the deep end of a foreign alien culture in political turmoil. Nicknamed Mouth by the IPTC security team, he will find out how accurate that description is as he tries to stay alive.
The IPTC sending a diplomatic team to encourage trade is just an experiment to save the cost of war. They are on the outskirts of space, with a steep learning curve for survival by their wits alone. The author successfully conveys a sense of peril as there is no one close enough to rescue them in time should anything go wrong--even a misunderstanding about the meaning of a word can upend their mission. Here several words cause trouble: shehzha, honor, and gender pronouns. The entire book hinges on Taji's communication minefield. This does what the best scifi does, examines our own society through the lenses of alien society with social commentary on: oligarchy, figureheads, finding the balance between tradition and change, stagnation vs. innovation, rule by fear, class warfare, devaluation of skilled labor and the arts, an uneducated populace, xenophobia, and the dangers of not treating all peoples equally and equitably.
I love all the genders and skin colors represented. Taji, with a bad leg and misaligned prosthetic that hurts him, is surrounded by aliens that are larger, stronger, and not used to dealing with making accommodation for such an injury. Many IPTC like Trenne, join them to get away from societies with restrictive rules. Although Trenne is from Mirsa, he is not considered Shavian, since he is descended from conquered peoples, thus he is discriminated against due to his skin markings. This is used to good effect as how people treat them both, reflects on them. All the characters here are interesting as shown through Taji's viewpoint whilst trying to help navigate the circumstances. The reader knows and understands them as Taji does, so as his opinion changes, so did mine. The political intrigue makes it difficult to tell friend from foe. The love story between Taji and Sargent Major Trenne is moving, explicit, and erotic. Because Taji is caring and kind, he is the heart of the book; since Trenne holds his heart, he also holds mine. Be aware that the sex also has a biological component--a chemical reaction that causes "heat" so although everything between Taji and Trenne is consensual, this could be abused like sexual slavery since it causes addiction like a drug.
This book is like the author mixed up a few of my favorite ingredients (the Claiming series by Lyn Gala, The Prince He Loved by Michael Barnette, the Breeds series by Lora Leigh, Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula le Guin) to make me a cake. Really, really good cake, but I missed the nuts. In other words, I didn't rate it higher because the world-building was mostly political, less physical. The book didn't paint pictures in my mind as much as I would have liked. All of it takes place in the capital or the home territory of the emperor's family. I know there are different districts of the capital like the Gardens, or the Fires, but I don't have a real sense of them. It's alright, because I know some people are allergic to nuts. Althought this is a slightly darker book than I am used to by this particular author, it will be loved and read again, as I usually do with her stories. I really loved it. ...more
I would rate this 3.75 stars. Heath is a 39 year old Sub who has suffered past trauma with his Dom. When he meets 24 year old Beau on a dating app, thI would rate this 3.75 stars. Heath is a 39 year old Sub who has suffered past trauma with his Dom. When he meets 24 year old Beau on a dating app, they have more in common than he could have imagined. With their first date, the dynamics slot into place nicely. Having Heath’s point of view creates a nerve-wracking tension, while having Beau’s point of view cements his confidence and maturity. The author creates a nice push and pull. This gets intense on the second date with Heath telling Beau about his ex. Beau handles Health’s abuse well throughout the relationship. Once Heath finds out Beau is a student, and in a class he is subbing for, things get complicated. On the one hand it’s taboo sexy, on the other hand it’s wrong of Beau to put Heath in this position as his Dom. I think that is why the author makes it Heath’s decision to out them to a colleague Michael. But then it’s just dropped with no mention of the ethics of Heath grading Beau’s work at the end of the semester.
One focus is on Beau’s five half brothers and that family dynamic, yet I can’t figure out if this is only to try and give Beau more depth, or if they are added so the author can make this a series and give them their own books. Of all the brothers, Cameron keeps pushing for a relationship with Beau and I’m not really sure why. Heath’s sister and her wife are also included, but considering he speaks to her daily, she is still not not given a lot of life. Michael is given the least to do even though he unintentionally plays a pivotal part. There is a plot twist with a big reveal, but that too seems glossed over: there is more emotional resonance coming from the postscript by the author, than the story she fictionalized about it. For me, I enjoyed Beau’s top drop and his crisis of faith in himself, yet his real emotions weren’t explored. At this point I successfully felt Heath’s frustration with Beau not trusting his own judgment. The reader is not really privy to how Heath worked out how to trust his judgment after what happened with Mac.
This is an erotic romance that basically goes from one hot, graphic, explicit and messy sex scene to another. They do build a relationship, but the dialogue gets stuck on awkward talk of family or Health’s job. I enjoyed the sex and there were moments I really liked the characters: it’s just that after being privy to so much of their intimacy, I still don’t feel like I know them very well from their own points of view. For instance, what does Beau want to do after he graduates? I have no idea. Their collaring and planning their lives together is romantic, it just would have been even more so if I would have been more emotionally invested. Think of this as high on kinky sex, and low on plot and character development with suprisingly low angst for the subject matter....more
Gideon and Jesse work together as private investigators and after years of friendship, become an established couplI would rate this 3 out of 5 stars.
Gideon and Jesse work together as private investigators and after years of friendship, become an established couple in book one. This isn’t difficult to follow if you haven’t read the first book, but your understanding of the characters will be very different. The case investigated here revolves around a missing young woman found killed after an exclusive party. Right after leaving a hideous crime scene where Jesse is emotionally devastated, Jesse and Gideon go to the vampire club Sangre where they participate in a gang bang that involves other vampires and a lot of blood. Why this isn’t traumatic for Jesse after the way the woman was killed, is a mystery to me. While there they rescue an empath named Emma who can sense and transmit the feelings of others.
The world building never had a hint of anything else paranormal except vampires, so it felt abrupt to have an empath thrown in to this world. The vampires must know Gideon works with the police. Why would they do anything illegal like sell him a human slave? They were able to rescue Emma because no one already “owned” her, so if she had already been bought, they wouldn’t have helped her? The author seems to skirt the line, maybe not wanting to go into non consensual territory, but that’s too little too late with these characters. Clearly there are limits and rules as to when they are the good guys. In book one, Gideon is not always shown in the best light so it felt like here, Emma was used to reassure the audience (and Michelle and Jesse) that he really is a good guy. I’m not sure why this is actually necessary since the audience can have more of Gideon’s POV any time the author chooses to write more of it. Both main characters seem pansexual so adding Emma into their mix wouldn’t be too unexpected if it were just sex, but laying the groundwork to add her to their relationship was unexpected. In this book, she is just used for titillation–a will they, won’t they–that could be expanded upon in later books.
Emma is also utilized to give them a lead on the case; she was taken while trying to find her sister, who went missing after dating a vampire. I didn’t like when a scene suddenly switched to Emma’s point of view for a very short time. The usual POV is Jesse’s. However, once Gideon and Jesse go undercover, Emma goes to help Michelle and there needed to be another point of view as action happens in different places. As the only other established character, I am unclear why this couldn’t have been Michelle’s POV. My concern is that because she’s a lesbian, and therefore will not be having sex with Jesse or Gideon, her POV is considered unimportant. For me, this seemed like a lost opportunity.
The interaction between law enforcement and the private investigators is really lacking. The world is built with humans knowing about vampires, but this is another situation where the author seems to hedge and not commit to that. Why are the police not asking Gideon for help on vampire cases? Why do the police only raid the party when Gideon says so? This is written as Gideon being the only vampire who actually cares about humans, but then the author has Rina, who was friends with the murdered woman, and promptly dismisses her of being capable of being a complex person.
While the use of humans, alive or dead, to entertain the wealthy is not an original idea, the “art” created by Jesse and Gideon with Emma’s help sounded interesting. Sadly, it wasn’t described in a way that came alive as scenery, it was used as a means to an end. The other artists and their creations weren’t shown, even though the story was Gideon’s POV at that point. Then, the final confrontation with the killer(s) fizzled out. In the end, I felt like I was left with many sex scenes, some more successful than others, without an intriguing enough plot or emotional connection to the characters to hold them all together.
This is the first book in a trilogy and as such is the introduction to the romance of Sam and Thomas. It's not a cliI would rate this book 3.25 stars.
This is the first book in a trilogy and as such is the introduction to the romance of Sam and Thomas. It's not a cliffhanger, so the reader can just read this and be content, or read the second book coming out soon for a continuation of their relationship. When Sam's brother James gets murdered in New York, the family sends Sam to take care of his apartment and send back his things. Both his mother and older brother Bowie put a lot of unreasonable pressure on Sam to also find James's killer. This is supposed to be a suspense element, but it's not the focus and stays on the back burner. When Sam meets his brother's lover, Thomas, neither of them are expecting to need each other. Thomas is missing James and feeling the pull to help Sam, but he's smart enough to worry the grief could lead to something unhealthy.
Sam is floundering and needs direction; he's also too busy trying to please everyone else, he can't seem to get his own life together. They were getting to know each other, and then suddenly Thomas is using what he's learned about human psychology as a dom, to help Sam. I felt the transition could have been smoother, especially the part about Thomas finding out Sam is also gay. The way Sam learns about his brother James being a sub was an easy way for Sam to understand who Thomas is, who James was. The book seemed to flounder with introducing some of James's friends, coworkers, and neighbors. No one is fleshed out, and I assume these are meant to give the reader suspects to James's murderer? There were more jarring moments like his job interview when all of the sudden Angel, someone he met at the BDSM club, is also at the biker bar and helps him home. This seems like too huge coincidence. The main point here seems to be BDSM is healthier than bar fights. This all happens a bit too fast for me, there is still an element of Thomas taking advantage of Sam, his naivete, or even them using each other to escape processing their shared grief.
James and Sam are somewhat alike, they were brothers, but they are also different enough and those differences are never forgotten. The writing here is deftly handled so James doesn't feel forgotten, but they are not constantly compared--rather Thomas struggles to learn how to be what Sam needs. For the subject matter, there is surprisingly low angst and guilt which seems at odds with the way the book was set up. Sam has always felt he was was supposed to stay in Emory, help with the ranch, have babies, and die there. Yet he suddenly throws off the expectations of his family quite easily and dives into a relationship with his brother's lover. It's good that Tommy is not an all seeing, all knowing dom. I like that he makes mistakes and recognizes them. I like that he realizes that where James fit into what he wanted, his style, Sam is much for challenging, taking him out of his comfort zone. They build their relationship and trust scene by scene, yet this is a bit messy--not just the emotions of the characters, but the writing. The sex scenes are always hot, it's moving the characters around to get them there that seems to not flow well.
I like both these characters, so I'm a bit frustrated that the whole book isn't as smooth as the parts are or I would have rated it much higher. With more time and effort, this could have had so much more depth, but maybe that's just what I wanted and not where the authors wanted to take it. I'd like to see more of Sam and James, but this was all too easy, so I'd like to see more about the conflict with Sam's family. Also, there is nothing about Thomas's family at all. There is a little intrigue about James having different characters or roles he fulfilled for different people; I definitely would like to see more about that. For right now, James doesn't seem like a real person, so I don't care who killed him. I hope the second book takes more time to draw the audience into that part of the plot.
This series takes place in the same town, though each book is by a different author. Jagger and Preston meet on the firstI would rate this 3.75 stars.
This series takes place in the same town, though each book is by a different author. Jagger and Preston meet on the first day of junior year after Preston gets punished for flunking out of several private schools and sent to a rough Boston public school. Although Jagger is from a family that skirts the law, Preston sees more kindness in them than his own blue-blood family. After being disowned Preston feels his only way to make something of himself is to go into the service. On his last leave a year ago he kissed Jagger...and then ghosted him. Now that Preston is out of the service, they will have to deal with what is simmering beneath their friendship.
Jagger is bi, but Preston clings to the idea he's straight: allowing a gay for you/bi for you/out for you trope. There is also a M/F scene in this book. This has many firsts for Preston: first time with BDSM, first time with a man, etc. There is very slight dubcon in that Preston doesn't want to admit what he wants--he wants to be tricked or forced into it, which he is when Jagger wins him in a card game. Of course, that is Jagger's friends setting them up, and Preston finding a way to act out to get what he wants. I found this was one of those books where I just got so frustrated because no one is honest and they don't communicate until the very end. I also think that the Green Beret manly-man realizing it doesn't make him weak to be submissive, is getting to be an over-used trope lately.
The big mystery here is Preston's family, but ultimately it's about control...and, as the reader finds out later, something more. There are secrets and lies that bind Jagger and Preston closer than Preston knows. Jagger has always had his eye on the prize, an endgame. The villians here are supposed to be the good guys. In a way this does glorify a family with mob ties whilst trying to have it have its cake and eat it too, as Jagger tries to go legitimate. This one sentence is a spoiler: everyone is being investigated by various alphabet agencies, yet no one knows about Preston co-owning everything?! Is that even possible?
This has all the feels, but it's slow to start, quick to resolve and then over the top after a quick 180. It's enjoyable, hot, even romantic in its own way (ride or die), but it could have been even better if it had been longer, in order to allow more time for the story arc. Also, it tries to straddle that bad boy line whilst still trying to make Jaggar noble - to mixed success.
The cover art design is by Sleepy Fox Studio. It does pertain to the story, but it just shows Jagger, so for me it doesn't show a partnership. ...more
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