**spoiler alert** Book Two of "The Illborn Saga" did NOT disappoint! Easily 5 stars.
"It was time for vengeance. It was time for justice. It was time f**spoiler alert** Book Two of "The Illborn Saga" did NOT disappoint! Easily 5 stars.
"It was time for vengeance. It was time for justice. It was time for renewal of the world, and a purging of sin. He unleased his power."
"Aiduel's Sin" was just as good as Illborn. I feel like this happens rarely- I often feel that the second book in a fantasy series can suffer from middle-child syndrome, but that was not the case here!
Everything I loved so much in Illborn was magnified here- more bloodshed, increased power, higher stakes. We see the 4 Illborn navigate their world- which is fully and completely at war now- as their powers grow at breakneck speed.
Corin's story is still my favorite, and that may be because he is the only one who is removed, thus far, from the modern and civilized word at war, and is grappling with and fighting forces totally different than those of the more "civilized" Illborn. His total domination over the barbaric clans that threaten the livelihood of his people was my favorite part of this installment. He has come into his own- fueled by the desire to save Agbeth and find answers-- and his determination to do just that, as compared to the boy he was at the beginning of Illborn- it's awesome. His character arc is so exciting to witness.
"Before the Gods, I swear that if any other man said those words," said the Borl chief, "they'd be laughed at. But when you say it, I hear my spirits soar to the sky, and I know that I stand alongside the greatest of men. One who I'm honoured to serve. I pledge my spear to you, Corin of the Karn, for as long as you may need it."
His path is totally different from the one that Leanna, Arion and Allana are walking, and in my eyes, he is the biggest hero. He is the character who has accomplished the most-- and the respect he has earned as a result-- the way he has completely remade the foundation of the civilization in which he lives- well, it is nothing short of incredible. It is Corin's story I am most eager to see progress in book 3. Big Corin fan, if you cannot tell. Lol.
Leanna is, of course, being the "Angel of Arlais," fighting on the moral side, much more so than Corin, even- most of her decisions being motivated by saving lives, healing, and preventing death. The lack of "morally grey" in her makes me so curious about what her future holds. We have already seen big "spoilers" in the dreams of multiple Illborn regarding the gate (and who will live/who will die)- and I am dying to know how we end up at that outcome by the end of the saga. The addition of Caddin to her journey, and the insights into his past/his journey make her much more intriguing to me in this part of the story.
Man oh man, do we have evil lurking around the corner though with our resident evil Illborn! Allana has crossed over from grey to black, turning into one of the most delicious villains I have read in a while.
"The darkness beneath the edge of the precipice was beckoning to her."
Even though I clicked the "hide review because of spoilers" button, I really hesitate to go into too much detail here-- but I found myself losing it a little while reading of her foray into absolute debauchery- the acts she is now capable of shocking me- and making my heart bleed a little for Arion.
Speaking of Arion-- there is dialogue between Caddin and Leanna in the story regarding the "good" and the "evil"-- I hate seeing him begin to be lumped in with Allana. Bad decisions, yes... but I have a total crush on him and I feel like he has a good heart- and has been tricked into some really shitty situations- both with Allana, but also with the Prince, for example. I am really hoping for a redemption arc for Arion as the story continues.
The writing here is flawless- I cannot believe these books are DTJ's first published works. The story flows easily, my interest never wanes, I am always eager to read what is happening next. The characters are so well fleshed-out by this point that I am thinking about them constantly in between reading.
Bravo!! Can't wait for the third book!
Merged review:
Book Two of "The Illborn Saga" did NOT disappoint! Easily 5 stars.
"It was time for vengeance. It was time for justice. It was time for renewal of the world, and a purging of sin. He unleased his power."
"Aiduel's Sin" was just as good as Illborn. I feel like this happens rarely- I often feel that the second book in a fantasy series can suffer from middle-child syndrome, but that was not the case here!
Everything I loved so much in Illborn was magnified here- more bloodshed, increased power, higher stakes. We see the 4 Illborn navigate their world- which is fully and completely at war now- as their powers grow at breakneck speed.
Corin's story is still my favorite, and that may be because he is the only one who is removed, thus far, from the modern and civilized word at war, and is grappling with and fighting forces totally different than those of the more "civilized" Illborn. His total domination over the barbaric clans that threaten the livelihood of his people was my favorite part of this installment. He has come into his own- fueled by the desire to save Agbeth and find answers-- and his determination to do just that, as compared to the boy he was at the beginning of Illborn- it's awesome. His character arc is so exciting to witness.
"Before the Gods, I swear that if any other man said those words," said the Borl chief, "they'd be laughed at. But when you say it, I hear my spirits soar to the sky, and I know that I stand alongside the greatest of men. One who I'm honoured to serve. I pledge my spear to you, Corin of the Karn, for as long as you may need it."
His path is totally different from the one that Leanna, Arion and Allana are walking, and in my eyes, he is the biggest hero. He is the character who has accomplished the most-- and the respect he has earned as a result-- the way he has completely remade the foundation of the civilization in which he lives- well, it is nothing short of incredible. It is Corin's story I am most eager to see progress in book 3. Big Corin fan, if you cannot tell. Lol.
Leanna is, of course, being the "Angel of Arlais," fighting on the moral side, much more so than Corin, even- most of her decisions being motivated by saving lives, healing, and preventing death. The lack of "morally grey" in her makes me so curious about what her future holds. We have already seen big "spoilers" in the dreams of multiple Illborn regarding the gate (and who will live/who will die)- and I am dying to know how we end up at that outcome by the end of the saga. The addition of Caddin to her journey, and the insights into his past/his journey make her much more intriguing to me in this part of the story.
Man oh man, do we have evil lurking around the corner though with our resident evil Illborn! Allana has crossed over from grey to black, turning into one of the most delicious villains I have read in a while.
"The darkness beneath the edge of the precipice was beckoning to her."
Even though I clicked the "hide review because of spoilers" button, I really hesitate to go into too much detail here-- but I found myself losing it a little while reading of her foray into absolute debauchery- the acts she is now capable of shocking me- and making my heart bleed a little for Arion.
Speaking of Arion-- there is dialogue between Caddin and Leanna in the story regarding the "good" and the "evil"-- I hate seeing him begin to be lumped in with Allana. Bad decisions, yes... but I have a total crush on him and I feel like he has a good heart- and has been tricked into some really shitty situations- both with Allana, but also with the Prince, for example. I am really hoping for a redemption arc for Arion as the story continues.
The writing here is flawless- I cannot believe these books are DTJ's first published works. The story flows easily, my interest never wanes, I am always eager to read what is happening next. The characters are so well fleshed-out by this point that I am thinking about them constantly in between reading.
Fae Quin is one of my very favorite MM authors. I love her contemporary "Christmas Daddies" series and I am also a huge fan of every one of the "SpookFae Quin is one of my very favorite MM authors. I love her contemporary "Christmas Daddies" series and I am also a huge fan of every one of the "Spooky Boys" books! I had been looking forward to this release for ages- and I am so happy I read it right in time for spooky season.
I got to go back to Elmwood, y'all! Blair and Richard were there... and Colin! HOORAY!
Jeffrey, whom we met in the previous books, is Richard's bio brother who was stolen from his family as a child and ended up being raised as Blair's brother. Long story... if you have read the previous books, you know that Jeffrey and Blair both went through a hell of a lot of trauma and abuse- different kinds of abuse for each of them, but abuse, none the less- and Jeffrey, who has finally followed Blair to Elmwood and escaped his life, is a very broken man.
He is unsure of who he is after having played a very specific part for most of his life- the part his abuser wanted him to play- and he cannot find his way back to himself. Man, Fae has a total talent for writing heavier topics within this series- many of her MCs have very troubled pasts- but she tempers that with so much hope, and a giant dose of humor and banter- I find it to be realistic, but also easy to read and less angsty than it could have been written by someone else.
And hot DAMN-- if anyone is going to swoop in and save Mutt's day, I AM SO HAPPY IT WAS MUTT. Sighhhhh. Oh, sweet Mutt. Think of your most primal, basic alpha wolf- one who loves his family and has a giant heart- but who is a basic boy. Mutt can't read, he doesn't own a phone, his favorite food is squirrel. And man, oh man, is Mutt infatuated with Jeffrey from the moment he catches a whiff of him in a truck stop parking lot.
So our beautiful himbo werewolf does a little stalking.... he cannot let Jeffrey out of his sight. Unfortunately, everything in him and his wolf think Jeffrey is his mate. But wolves cannot mate with humans, so that must be wrong. Which devastates Mutt, because his time is ticking down- he needs to find a mate soon, or his alpha will take over and he will become feral and have to be put down.
What a tangled web we find ourselves in.
But dear god- when these two finally cross paths face to face, I was pretty much dying from the heat. Mutt is PRIMAL. He is the most primal wolf character I have ever read, and that is saying a lot- I have read a lot of shifter books. The spice is WHOA. I mean.... his nickname for Jeffrey is his "pretty bitch," if that is telling you anything. But it IS SO HOT. Fae never ever lets us down on the spice front.
Jeffrey has a really, really hard dating because of his past. He truly is a mess- but Mutt is the perfect match. He doesn't care about anything other than what boils down to basic instincts- he wants to feed Jeffrey, make sure he is warm and happy, has everything he needs, and..... comes a LOT. Multiple times a day, over and over again. Because that is what a good mate does.
I felt for poor Mutt as the time started to tick down on his mate clock... and he was in love with a human and unwilling to find a wolf as a mate. My heart broke for Jeffrey as he did everything he could to try and find a solution to solve the issue so he and Mutt could be together. It was so endearing- I trusted Fae to get us through to the HEA, although she did put me through the wringer there a bit!
The found family was on point- I was literally feral for any glimpse of Richard and Blair I could get- and the developing brotherly relationships between Jeffrey and Blair, and Jeffrey and Colin were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I am reallllly hoping that Mutt's brothers will be getting their own books in the future!...more
Okay, this was fun, hot and hilarious- everything I needed while I anxiously await the releases of "Matehub King" and "Impulsive Connections!"
Zayn anOkay, this was fun, hot and hilarious- everything I needed while I anxiously await the releases of "Matehub King" and "Impulsive Connections!"
Zayn and Aiden are college roommates. Aiden is a werewolf shifter, and Zayn is human. Both secretly pine after one another for yearsssss- Zayn thinks Aiden is WAYYY TOO HOT for him and out of his league, and Aiden cannot do a thing about his obsession with Zayn without revealing his wolfy secret.
Aiden's pretty sure based on the way Zayn smells that he has found his mate. His ability to keep that a secret is put to a very big test when Zayn, who films himself reviewing sex toys, ends up in possession of a toy that is DEFINITELY not for the human world- good ole Richard Knotz's dildo, complete with it's magical knotting abilities. Aiden has no idea what to do- and ends up enlisting the help of a Matehub mage to ensure Zayn does not find out about the wolfy world. HI TRISTAN! LOVED SEEING YOU, BY THE WAY!!!
What ensues is parts sweet and adorable and parts smokin' hot. These two needed a little push for Aiden to understand that Zayn discovering his secret would not be the worst thing to happen- since they are totally meant to be together. And when Zayn gets to experience a real knot with Aiden-- not just good ole Richard's stand-in- IT WAS HOT AND I LOVED IT.
I also really enjoyed more Matehub chatter and another trip to the studio. This novella is a "Matehub" prequel, so expect to see Richard in bonding contracts (the horror-- not with Hunter--) so it was kind of fun to flash back in time!
I cannot wait for Marie Reynard to release her next book- I really love everything she has written! She is so funny-- and the spice- OMG THE SPICE. If you haven't read her books yet, consider this your nudge to remedy that, ASAP!...more
Full RTC for this little gem... but can I just say that this was the ANGSTIEST Sadenverse book I have read yet? I was so not expecting to cry reading Full RTC for this little gem... but can I just say that this was the ANGSTIEST Sadenverse book I have read yet? I was so not expecting to cry reading one of these... but, alas, here we are.
**spoiler alert** 5 stars for these two idiots bumbling through the wilderness and falling in love!
Toby and Harry are on opposite ends of the politica**spoiler alert** 5 stars for these two idiots bumbling through the wilderness and falling in love!
Toby and Harry are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Toby is the face of the British Labour Party, while Harry represents the Conservatives- and they have "hated" one another since they first met in their university days. They are known in the media for their public showdowns in their debates, always pushing each other's buttons and ending up in heated arguments.
GOTTA LOVE THAT "enemies" banter!!!
When Toby and Harry find themselves on a chartered plane together, heading to a political event, all hell breaks loose when the plane has to emergency land off-course, and they discover that they are actually part of a terrorist plot and have been kidnapped. All of a sudden, they are on the run from kidnappers in the Scandinavian wilderness.
OKAY SO LISTEN. I really had to suspend disbelief to make this work for me. So much about the whole kidnapping plot, as well as the methods these guys had to use to survive- it was unrealistic, to say the least- BUT DO YOU REALLY CARE?! I didn't-- and if you can just roll with that part, you can sit back and enjoy what is really happening here, which is BANTER- and ENEMIES IN FORCED PROXIMITY IN THE WOODS. Body heat- necessary. Saving each other's lives in order to survive- yep. No one for a zillion miles other than each other- check check.
"I'm not going to be the little spoon." "Well, neither am I. I am decidedly a big spoon," Harry says firmly. "Well then, I'm an ice cream scoop." "You're a what?" "An ice cream scoop. Big enough to envelop all spoons of any size." "I'm an inch taller than you, Toby." "Ah, but my ice cream scoop persona is more about my personality than my size." "Fine, if you're an ice cream scoop, I'm a soup ladle." "Actually, I think you're more of a salad fork." "Exactly how am I a salad fork?" "Formal, rarely needed, and incredibly pretentious," I offer.
Toby is a liberal dude and an openly pansexual man. He dates, but has never been in love. His biggest fear when the whole kidnapping scheme is unfolding and he realizes that he is stuck trying to survive is that he might die without ever experiencing true love. (And, considering he is Oliver Hartwell's best friend from book one, he has SEEN what true love is- and he wants a piece of that for himself). I mean, don't we all want what Oliver and Callum have?! YES. But I digress. Harry is gay, but is in a "lavender marriage-" he is married to an asexual woman (a great friend of his!) for political gain to them both, but not for love. To the world, Harry is straight.
"People deserve more than a lavender marriage, Harry. People deserve a rainbow glitter marriage if that's what they want," he says softly.
Similar to in "The Unlikely Heir," the writing here is what takes home the awards. The banter is out of this world. I really loved how as they got to know one another on a much more intimate level, Harry started realizing that when Toby got scared, goading him into a debate or some heated discussion actually ended up being what calmed him down- heading back into familiar territory. They had nowhere to hide from one another in the situation they were thrust into, and had nothing to do other than talk, and talk, and talk, for hours- so the writing had to be top notch to support all of that conversation (and it was!)
The heat between the two was there from the beginning, but the slow glide into admitting it (and acting on it) was delicious. SO. MUCH. PINING. Once the two of them gave in, the book just kept getting better and better. It was HOT.
"Toby tastes of smoke and energy bars. He tastes of Oh my God, holy f*ck, and don't stop because those are the words he's gasping that I'm swallowing down. As much as I don't usually agree with what comes out of Toby's mouth, I'm definitely obeying his instruction not to stop."
I definitely felt that the last 25% or so- after the rescue- was my favorite-we are finally privy to the insider details that shed light on past secrets-- and watching these two navigate their lives once they are back to the real world was kind of devastating. They went from being one another's everything... to having to go back to not speaking.
"My family needs me. My party needs me. My country needs me. But there's one more thing I must do before I can fully step back into my old life, one last piece of unfinished business. I have to say goodbye to Toby."
And we ALL KNOW THAT I AM A TOTAL SUCKER FOR GRAND GESTURES! These two have to find their way back somehow, and the grand gesture in this book was so damn good. Not only are we heaving down barriers to these two being together, but we are also heaving down barriers against loving who you want, against acceptance, against humanity.
"This is Toby. He will challenge me. Always. He makes me into a better version of myself. Which is part of what love should be."
It was swoony!
I highly recommend this series- and I am excited for Nicholas to get his own book in the next installment! ...more
I am so happy that this book was recommended to me- this author was not on my radar whatsoever, but I absolutely loved this, and really enjoyed the seI am so happy that this book was recommended to me- this author was not on my radar whatsoever, but I absolutely loved this, and really enjoyed the sequel as well.
This was swoony in that "soulmates" style of story I adore so much, while also being heavy on "forbidden" aspect. I really love books where the romance plays out heavily through text/email or app chat, and this relationship was on point in that regard, unfolding over text and full of witty banter/jokes-- it really ticked all the boxes for me!
Oh my GOSH I was madly in love with BOTH of the MCs here. This happens rarely for me- I always have a favorite- but I could not tell you who I was more enamored with in this case.
Callum is a little bit of a hot mess. He works in a call center in California, floating a bit through life. He is SO interested in SO many things, but he can't bring himself to focus on ONE THING long enough to make an education of it or make it his career. He stumbles in romantic relationships with women he has dated, finding that despite his good looks, women tend to flee from him after a couple of dates, because.. well... he is odd. He comes off as flighty. He rambles on about his current obsessions, whatever it is that has struck his fancy that day, and can appear to be strange, and difficult to connect with.
Everything changes for Callum when, due to a bunch of misbehaving on the part of his distant British relatives, his "eleventh in line" claim to the throne becomes a very big reality. Going from insurance sales rep in the US to British royalty overnight was never something he had considered even a remote possibility, but there he was.
And what a disaster poor Callum is. He is mocked by the media for his clumsy nature, his ignorance when it comes to British politics and customs and his general, well, awkwardness. He is floundering and alone-- until he meets the British Prime Minister Oliver Hartwell, with whom he he finds an unexpected connection to as an easy friendship forms.
The friendship consists mainly over text- but it progresses fast, and before they know it, the two men are dependent on their nightly conversations. Oliver is a divorced gay man, and Callum has always believed himself to be straight-- until he can no longer ignore the pull towards Oliver, and attempts to bring the friendship to the next level.
"I have a major problem. I am not built to withstand this. I am not built to withstand him."
Oh it was so damn delicious. These two are fated- they are so damn perfect for one another. Oliver is ENTHRALLED by Callum's bumbling nature- absolutely entranced by the way Callum sees the world. He believes him to be fascinating, and a breath of fresh air.
"Sometimes I want to climb into Callum's mind so I can see the world the same way he does, as something to investigate in all its technicolor glory rather than just something to conquer."
Callum sees Oliver as the steadying presence he never knew he needed- someone to ground him in his self worth. They never tire of talking, have enough inside jokes to fill a library, and are mad for one another. BUT-- OF COURSE- to be together would mean political suicide for Oliver, and it would mean giving up his claim to the throne for Callum.
This was such a ROMANTIC story. These two are at the very top of the British press for everything, being scrutinized for every move they make- and with the validity of the Monarchy in question, they have to be VERY careful not to give the public any reason for mutiny. But how long can you ignore true love?!
"This is so much more than two guys hooking up. Hell, this is more than just a standard relationship. We're in soulmate territory right now. When it feels like every beat of my heart is for him."
This one was CHOCK FULL OF romance and grand gestures. There was growly-style jealousy, frantic middle of the night "Brief your security team to keep their mouths closed because I NEED YOU NOW" pleas, "I would die for you" style sacrifices and more. It was a romance-lover's dream.
My words emerge in a gush. "I need you, Oliver. I don't care if I have to crawl over broken glass or through blazing fire to get to you. I don't care. I need to touch you. I need to kiss you." My chest heaves and tears prickle my eyes.
GAHHHHHHH I LIVE FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF!
I am super impressed by this "new to me" author-- I will be reviewing the next book in this series- "Unlikely Pair-" later this week!
"This is Sutton, who loves Wren. This is Wren, who loves Sutton. It should be so easy."
Okay, so Briar Prescott is one of mARC Review- 5 gorgeous stars
"This is Sutton, who loves Wren. This is Wren, who loves Sutton. It should be so easy."
Okay, so Briar Prescott is one of my very favorite authors. I have yet to read a book written by her that I didn't love, and "Maybe You" was no exception. "Until You" and "And Then You" were standouts for me, and I thought "Maybe You" was just as good. We have that twisty, secret-esque feel that "Until You" had running through this book, and the added suspense made it that much more exciting (and emotional).
When Sutton first spies Wren, he can't help but make a big, flashy, cocky play to sleep with him. That is his personality, after all- he is a total f*ckboy with no regrets and no strings attached-- but he has discovered that with Wren, it isn't going to be that easy. Which really trips him up, since Wren is kind of an enigma-- a mini-obsession from the minute he first sees him, even if he won't admit that to himself.
"Attraction's been there before. It makes an appearance every now and then like a chronic condition. He's learned to ignore it. He's learned never to act on it. But it's never been like this. Never this sudden. Never this sharp. He took one look at this man, and it all settled inside him without so much as a thought."
Wren is a multi-layered soul. He has been through physical and emotional hell during his short life and he has lived his years thus far being afraid of intimacy. His body and heart bear the scars of past trauma, so relationships have not gone well for him in the past. He lives like a ghost- duck into college classes, then the library, then to his nighttime job as a janitor at the pool facility Quinn owns. Wren is NOT the guy to proposition if you are Sutton (even if Sutton is the hottest guy Wren has ever seen in real life).
But the thing about Wren is..... (shit this where I am going to become emotional.......) Wren realizes, after the zillionth time he has turned Sutton down, after the zillionth time Sutton keeps showing up... that maybe he doesn't want to hide anymore. Maybe it's time to open up, risk the rejection- in order to potentially find happiness (or at least a little sexual release along the way).
"Recovery is like picking up pieces scattered all around me and putting them back together to make something new. I'm still me, but all new. And this new Wren? This new Wren wants more."
DAMMIT GUYS this book was so well-written. These two falling slowly in love was PALPABLE. The way that Sutton opened himself up to all of Wren's quirks and beautiful, soul-like ways-- he was changing just by being around Wren. And the confidence that Sutton instilled in Wren- that was the stunner here-- that was the piece that wrecked me and made this book such a standout, in my opinion. Sutton completely changed the way that Wren saw himself- he literally brought him back to life. It was absolutely perfect in its evolution.
"You made me look beautiful."
And the secrets-- the intrigue- I was dying to find out why Sutton was so hesitant to fall in love, to learn about his past, to discover more about the mysterious prologue. The way everything unfolded was very Briar- after the big reveal we have heartache, but not heartache just for heartache's sake. I love how real Briar writes her characters, and how believable their emotional struggles really are. I hurt right alongside Wren and Sutton both, as I was rooting for them to find their way back to one another.
Amazing addition to this series- I could not have asked for anything better. If you have yet to read a Briar book, you need to change that immediately!
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read!
Also, BRIAR-- the next book needs to be Jordan's. Please and thank you. Because NO ONE deserves a happy ending more than he does!...more
The Franklin U and Franklin U 2 series have been hit or miss for me. The multi-author style means that certain authors I absolutely adoreI LOVED THIS.
The Franklin U and Franklin U 2 series have been hit or miss for me. The multi-author style means that certain authors I absolutely adore are going to hit me in the feels, while other authors just aren't doing it for me. This one was in my top 2 for Franklin U 2, which was no surprise to me considering it was written by N.R. Walker!
Chase and Amos are theater majors in college. Their senior project consists of a "method acting" assignment (which is actually more like the early days of reality TV- Laguna Beach, for example-than it is actual method acting), but you get the idea. Their theater class is supposed to "immerse" themselves in their characters for two weeks straight as cameras roll and film them real-time, as they go about their day to day activities.
Chase (larger than life golden-retriever hottie who makes no secret of how much he enjoys sex with both girls and guys) is partnered up with Amos (emo, black-cat energy type, growly, broody, hot). They are supposed to be playing a couple who has dated for a year, which means very comfortable with displays of affection, being in one another's space, etc. They are supposed to "become" the character around the clock, convincing everyone in their daily lives that they are truly a couple. This is wound in with the other theater kids who are playing other roles- friendship roles, newer couple roles, etc. Cameras are rolling all the time around campus, watching as this "group" navigates college life.
Love the concept!
Obviously, this duo starts off clashing. Amos and Chase are VERY different, so playing a couple is intimidating. Amos, deep down, has always noticed Chase (who hasn't noticed Chase?!) but wonders why, with all of the people Chase HAS noticed and slept with, why hasn't he ever been into Amos? Tension.
I really liked how Walker spun this. It wasn't anything earth-shattering, but none of these books are supposed to change the world- they are here to provide some smutty entertainment. Sometimes, this makes them kind of forgettable for me- once I put them down, I forget most of what happened. This, on the other hand, was one of those where I was HOOKED from the very beginning.
The concept was unique and the execution was spot-on. The acting teacher leads them in the weeks prior to their immersion in all kinds of exercises to make them comfortable kissing, touching one another, etc. The chemistry was SO HOT as we watch them each tumble separately into a little spiral as they catch feelings. These feelings were SO EASY to dismiss as acting, in this case, which made this story different than others I have read. Chase and Amos begin hanging out constantly, and anytime any of their friends question it, they have the "method acting" excuse to fall back on.
Pretty soon they are the talk of the school.... are they just acting, or are they a new couple? If they are just acting.... they are doing a DAMN GOOD JOB OF IT. I loved how they were not only "acting" for others, but also "acting" within their own little bubble. As each one is falling for the other, they are obviously thinking that all reciprocated actions are just "acting," and not "real."
This story concludes with kind of a grand finale- because, well, their story is tied into the final wrapup of their "method acting" assignment. It involves most of the student body, and some pretty awesome reveals. I ate it right up- read it one sitting and never once got distracted!
NR Walker is ALWAYS a hit for me-- the other book in the Franklin U2 series I enjoyed as much as this one was "Full Service" by Cora Rose, which I will also be reviewing.
OH MY GOD. This book was pure dopamine from start to finish.
It was probably the hottest book I have read this year to date-- it was a total smutfest OH MY GOD. This book was pure dopamine from start to finish.
It was probably the hottest book I have read this year to date-- it was a total smutfest in such a FANTASTIC way. Perfectly executed- I ate it right up! I was literally laughing my face off while fanning myself off from the very first page.
Silas is a buttoned up college professor. His life is boring and he doesn't see a huge problem with that. The very first chapter has him dragged by friends to a strip club for a bachelor party, and Silas proceeds to get a little too worked up during a lap dance given by the sexiest man he has ever seen-- and ends up coming hands-free in his pants. He is embarrassed beyond belief, but cannot get the man out of his mind. He feels like a horny and obsessed teenager.
"It was the hottest experience of my life, and one that I'm mostly ashamed of. Never in my life have I come like that, not even as a teenager. It only took a few rolls of his hips and rubs from that butt on my weeping dick and I was done for. An abomination, a complete scoundrel. Jerking and grunting as I unloaded into my khaki dress pants."
Imagine his surprise when he meets his new TA a week later, and he is none other than Mr Lap Dance?!
Hilarity. The real star of this book is Silas and his inner monologue. He is hysterical- he can barely see Everly without practically coming spontaneously all over himself. I have never read such a comical character- he was such a vibe. He is completely and totally head over heels in lust, with absolutely no idea how to make it stop. Working together seems out of the question, considering that Silas is incapable of existing in the same room as Everly without losing his mind. He is constantly giving his dick pep talks to try and keep it under control (and failing miserably).
"I mumble a thank you and take a large sip of the coffee, burning my throat and tongue in the process. Great, just great, I think as I sputter and cough. Now I won't be able to swallow for the foreseeable future. Honestly, probably a good thing at this point. It will be a deterrent against falling to my knees and offering to suck his dick."
Everly is absolutely NO HELP in this situation, considering the fact that he is totally enthralled by the older, buttoned-up professor and makes it his absolute MISSION to knock down those walls and get a much bigger taste of Silas. He makes no secret that he wants Silas, professor/TA relationship be damned- and man does that make things difficult on poor Dr. Silas Sinclair. How is he supposed to resist when Everly is showing off his new strip club outfits behind the poor professor's closed office doors? Snort.
I loved both of these silly characters so much. There is something so refreshing about a book that is so angst-free-- these two are just lust drunk over one another, and that made it so much FUN. Circumstances arise, of course, that place them in the "temporarily living together" category- and although they try hard to resist one another, that doesn't last long. Being written in dual POV, we get treated to both of their thoughts, and honestly, I have never been so entertained.
There is a really fun side story taking place here-- Silas has befriended an elderly man in a nursing home- Lee-- and the antics between Silas and Lee in the nursing home had me snorting with laughter. This book was equal parts hilarity and fire- and it was just SO MUCH FUN. This was in my top two in the F U 2 series-- this one and "Method Acting" by N.R. Walker were amazing- I purchased both in paperback for future comfort reads.
Perfect beach/vacation read- all the heat, all the laughs. ...more
"The Summer Palace" was exactly what I needed after I finished the emotional storm that was "King's Rising." I love**spoiler alert** ALLLLL the STARS.
"The Summer Palace" was exactly what I needed after I finished the emotional storm that was "King's Rising." I loved each and every story in it- my two favorites, though, were "The Summer Palace" (Damen and Laurent) and "Pet" (Ancel and Berenger).
"Green for a Season" was a little peek behind the curtain that is Jord. I loved getting to see some more background regarding Laurent's Guard, and how they came to be in the earlier years, after Auguste's death. I laughed my butt off at the way in which Laurent schemed and conspired to earn enough respect to finally get the Regent's Guard off his tail- it was SO TYPICALLY LAURENT- and I ate it up. Getting to see more of him doing what he does best is kind of what I am living for these days.
This story made me extremely sad though, knowing what I know regarding Aimeric and how the relationship between he and Jord played out.
"I think about you," Aimeric said.
Jord is such a loyal, honest man- and all he ever tried to do was the right thing. Reading about the private interactions between he and Aimeric kind of cleaved me in two. Hope- he had SO MUCH hope- which should be a beautiful thing-- but was so soul-crushing because of how things ended.
"Out here, the camp was a collection of mismatched halves, mercenaries, and Prince's Guard, camped together, too small, he thought, to do much damage in a fight, but each tent housed a man ready to do what he could. It was an unlikely partnership, but hope sprang in what could be done together, and not alone. He felt the kiss on his lips again, its newness, its promise, and in that moment he was part of something, a beginning, the night like lights and the border, ahead of him."
"The Summer Palace" was, of course, Laurent and Damen's story. This literally may have been my favorite part of the entire series. It was absolutely stunning. I expected to see some more romance between them (and that delivered in spades-) but I was not prepared for the depth of emotion, as they come full circle regarding their pasts. It was SO DAMN TOUCHING. Absolutely beautiful.
"I knelt for you," said Damen. Kiss it. The remembered words when Laurent had forced Damen to his knees, and extended the toe of his boot. Kneel then. Kiss my boot. He thought, Laurent would never do that. Laurent had too much pride. Deliberately, Laurent went to his knees. All the breath left Damen.
Laurent visiting the statue of Damen's mother, and assuring her that he would take care of her son. Laurent attending Damen in the baths, taking the traditional role of the slave, atoning, in a way, for all that had transpired between them- it was absolutely shocking. Damen was shocked, and I was shocked. But it was so perfect.
"Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it. It was gentler between his shoulders than it had been against his chest. Flesh and self were linked. The cleansing was slow, attentive, drizzling water, then soaping his skin. It was healing something he hadn't known needed to be healed. Like breathing, it was necessary, even as the tenderness of it was too much, gentleness where he had never expected Laurent to be gentle."
Absolutely and devastatingly romantic.
"You were watching the road."
The third story featured Charls, our beloved and hilariously clueless traveling merchant. I'm not going to go into too much detail for this one, because the ending is a hilarious piece of funny that should NOT be spoiled, even in a review stating it has spoilers. This one is of the lighthearted, laugh out loud variety-- we have Laurent throwing olives in a barroom brawl, costumes, masterminded schemes, and Charls being Charls, which is to say that he is CLUELESS. In the most adorable way that only Charls can be.
We also have one of my very favorite exchanges in the whole book here, when Laurent, Damen, Charls and a few others are on a merhcant journey, where the Prince is playing the part of Charls' cousin and Damen is playing the part of his apprentice- royal identities hidden.
"Here in Aegina, they say Damianos takes the Prince every night, but that it's not seemly for a king to renounce his slaves and limit his appetites, denying himself all but one person." "I think it's romantic," said Guilliame. "Oh?" said Alexon. "I heard Damianos disguised himself as a slave to uncover the secret of his brother's treachery, and the Prince of Vere fell in love with him not knowing who he was." "I heard that they allied themselves in secret months before," said Alexon. "And that the Prince hid Damianos from Kastor, pretending he was a slave, while they courted privately." "What do you think, Charls?" said Guilliame to the Prince. "I think they had help," said the Prince, "along the way, from those who were loyal." Charls felt himself flushing at the Prince's kind words, despite the improper subject of the conversation. He raised his tin cup.
SWOOOOOONNNN.
The last story, "Pet," features Ancel. I didn't think it was possible to enjoy anything as much as "The Summer Palace," but Ansel really came close. I was absolutely captivated by Ancel and his journey. This is the real background of what life is like for the pets in Vere- it is soooo interesting to make the comparison between the slaves in Akielos and the pets in Vere. This makes it feel much more like the pets are highly paid escorts instead of slaves, which was somewhat described in the books, but not to this extent.
I absolutely LOVED Ancel. He worked his way up from the brothel to a contract with a merchant's son to a Lord, and ultimately, to court. He was SMART, CUNNING and knew exactly how to get what he wanted. And what he always wanted was to make it to the palace, to court, to be paid the most and desired as a coveted member of the Regent's entourage.
AND SHIT. HE WAS SO HOT. The way he performs in public... the way he takes control of every situation he is in.... DAMN. He is a total force to be reckoned with and everyone knows it. He is captivating, confident and irresistible.
"I've never had a redhead," said Lord Rouart. "Put your pet in the ring with me. I'll pretend he's you." Amazed laughter came from one of the minor nobles. Ancel's eyes were only on Lord Rouart. He had riveted the attention of everyone here, and he knew it. They didn't know what to make of him. Unpredictability excited them."
I also got the BEST alternate POV scene ever when we read the scene where Ancel blows Damen, from Ancel's POV. I SQUEALED.
"Take it all the way down," said the Prince, and Ancel took it deep into his throat. Not quite all of it. He heard the slave say something in Akielon. It sounded like a swearword. Ancel half expected the Prince's hand on his head, pushing him down the last inch, but when he glanced up, neither of the men were paying him any attention, their eyes locked on one another.
The slave was panting, looking up through a tangle of curls in a furious way, as though he'd like to have a second go-around, this time with his hand around someone's throat. But he wasn't looking at Ancel at all. He lifted that gaze and fixed it right on the Prince.
The two of them were locked together, Ancel utterly forgotten as he rose steadily to his feet.
And then, at the very end of the novella, I was shocked right in the chest by some BIG emotions regarding the ending. It was emotional and touching.... AND NOW I NEED MORE. SO MUCH MORE of Ancel and Berenger.
"When I saw you in the ring, I thought you were incredible. You were fearless, powerful. You took on every lord in the room, and beat them. I couldn't take my eyes off you."
These stories are an absolute MUST-READ if you are a fan of the Captive Prince trilogy. They provide so much insight into the events in the prior books, as well as that much-needed dopamine hit we all required- Damen and Laurent naked will do that to you. LOL. Bravo- so good! ...more
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