This novella-length sequel to Pretty Policeman was delightful! Starting this story, Micah has opened up a PI business together with his best friend. ThThis novella-length sequel to Pretty Policeman was delightful! Starting this story, Micah has opened up a PI business together with his best friend. Their first case happens to involve them going undercover at a strip club - something Micah's mob boss boyfriend wouldn't exactly approve of. I love that premise! And I think Rose is spoiling us with these delicious undercover situations (in the first book, he was an undercover hooker) because I will obviously expect something equally thrilling in the next book too. But anyway. It's the perfect setup to cause some juicy drama when Damon eventually finds out about it. The case itself was interesting enough, but honestly, the relationship between Micah and Damon is the draw for me. I freaking love them! With Damon being the older, super possessive, and over-protective in the extreme, and Micah being just a regular happy-go-lucky younger guy. Also, the spice was *chef's kiss*! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the next book won't be delayed in the way this one was because I can't wait to get more of these guys!
*A complimentary e-book was kindly provided by the author and this is my voluntary and unbiased review*...more
Love, love, love this book! And I just don't get how Bowen manages to create these flawed, yet lovable characters! Also, I'm worried AF cause I'm not sLove, love, love this book! And I just don't get how Bowen manages to create these flawed, yet lovable characters! Also, I'm worried AF cause I'm not sure how many books are planned for this series, or if there even will be another book! Okay, so. There's sort of a grumpy + sunshine theme to this one. Tommaso's the grumpy hockey player while Carter is the - at least compared to Tommaso - camp interior designer who despite his struggles still manages to see the positives in life. There are three separate storylines intertwined, and together they're the perfect trifecta of delicious sweet romance. There's Carter's professional and economic troubles, there's Tommaso's internalized homophobia caused (in part) by bigoted relatives, and then there's obviously the romance part of it all. Slurs and homophobia may be triggers for some people, but I think Bowen handles the subject in her usual respectful way. She's found the perfect balance between portraying the true ugliness of it while still preventing it from taking over the story or lingering unnecessarily on the details - which could be an easy way to up the angst of a story like this. So kudos to Bowen for that!
But despite Tommaso's internal and external struggles, I'd still classify this read as mostly low-angst. And it's obviously a delightful romance! It wouldn't have hurt to make the spice slightly more detailed, however. I mean, it wasn't fade-to-black or anything, but you know. A bit more spice is rarely a bad thing. :)
5 stars! Highly recommend!
* A complimentary e-copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher and this is my voluntary and unbiased review * ...more
Apart from fabulous world-building, the most alien talent show you can imagine, and the most reluctant hero ever invented, Phex anEpic trilogy finale!
Apart from fabulous world-building, the most alien talent show you can imagine, and the most reluctant hero ever invented, Phex and Missit's understated love story is to die for! Also, for each book, Carriger has added another layer to the story, creating these unpredictable twists that just make you want more. All of the books in this series have sucked me in like you wouldn't believe - despite the lack of proverbial spice (there's lots of actual spice of course, what with Phex's cooking) - which is an achievement let me tell you!
I don't know what to say really to properly describe how much I love this series. It's hands down one of my favourite YA series, and I'm super bummed that this is the last book. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that Carriger will write more stories set in this universe.
5 stars! No question!
*A complimentary e-copy of this book was kindly provided by the author and this is my unbiased and voluntary review*...more
I adored Divinity 36 and it was frankly a bit difficult to imagine that the next book could possibly match that feeling. But oh boy, Demigod Just wow.
I adored Divinity 36 and it was frankly a bit difficult to imagine that the next book could possibly match that feeling. But oh boy, Demigod 12 did that and more.
You know when you become fully immersed in a story and then all of a sudden you've finished it, and then have a bit of an emotional crash? Yeah, that was me after finishing Demigod 12. Book hangover like you wouldn't believe. I take comfort in that there will be a third book though, so I'll just have to hang on for a while.
So. I adored Phex in all his imperfect perfection and it gave me all the warm fuzzies that he and Missit got their act together - pun intended, when you read you'll understand - during the journey that is this story.
This read is just as alien and exotic in its world-building as the first book, making that feeling of space Sci-fi so much more real. I'd say that's the book's biggest strength, that foreign atmosphere with all those different species and cultures, while weaving it together with Phex's impressions and his very human but overly practical way of viewing the world.
I especially liked to see Phex come out of his shell just a little bit. Although it's a slow and slighthly reluctant process on his part. But having him actually discover his own emotions is heartwarming. Also, there are new revelations explaining the weird franchise that is the Dyesi Divinity.
I loved this story! The storyline and the world building is just so completely 'other'. The alien-ness felt so real somehow, and I was so completely enI loved this story! The storyline and the world building is just so completely 'other'. The alien-ness felt so real somehow, and I was so completely engrossed in the story it's not even funny.
Before starting, I could have never imagined I'd be so pulled into a read that's basically the Sci-fi version of American Idol. It's weird and compelling, and I'm bummed as heck that the second book isn't out yet.
Phex was the best MC. Genetically engineered to be "perfect", he is actually anything but. He's awkward and grumpy, doesn't know how to relate to people, and doesn't really care to learn either. A refugee who's never allowed himself to think big, always expecting the worst, gets a chance to grow and boy does he take it. Involuntarily at first but later with intent.
I simply can't recommend this book enough! I read a lot. And I've read plenty of great books recently, but somehow - even though they may be awesome reads in the moment - they tend to blend together in my mind after a while. Not so Divinity 36. Because I've never read quite anything like it. I loved both The Fifth Gender and Crudrat, but this is now my new favourite Carriger Sci-fi, no competition.
All the stars!
*A complimentary e-copy of this book was kindly provided by the author and this is my voluntary and unbiased review*...more
I loved this story. And Matteo is most definitely my new fave book boyfriend. Although that term feels a bit off since he is well over thirty, but stilI loved this story. And Matteo is most definitely my new fave book boyfriend. Although that term feels a bit off since he is well over thirty, but still.
Leila's and Matteo's story pulled me in, in all the good ways. This is absolutely one of those books where when you start to read, you don't quit until you're finished. And I fell in love with these guys so hard. I didn't even know I needed this kind of feel-good romance until all those warm fuzzies appeared.
Yes, they were frustrating as heck, (why can't they just declare their love already?) and I didn't really get how Leila could have ended up with Rory for so many years, (I mean, Matteo was such a catch even early on!) but that's all part of the deal right?
But honestly, this is just the sweetest romance. And I won't lie, I really appreciated that they were both more mature and not actually falling in love for the first time. I've found that all these early-twenties-something romances are starting to feel a bit far too removed from me. And Leila's and Matteo's maturity also meant that they could actually communicate like adults - which I appreciate very much. Of course, that didn't mean they talked about everything right away mind you.
Anyway. Solid 5 stars. Highly recommend.
*A complimentary e-copy of this book was kindly provided by the author and this is my voluntary and unbiased review* ...more
This read had a lot of promise. For one, I enjoyed the worldbuilding very much, and the premise that werewolves were known t3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
This read had a lot of promise. For one, I enjoyed the worldbuilding very much, and the premise that werewolves were known to humans - and discriminated against - at the same time that there were factions within the werewolf community. And Gabe being an agent of an agency fighting to help and protect werewolves had all the potential. Also, the writing is excellent, and technically this is a very well composed story.
However, this is a slow-burn, and even though those aren't my preferred reads, the blurb was just too tempting to pass up. So I'm not sure if maybe my inherent scepticism towards slow-burns may play a part in my overall rating of the story - so please bear that in mind when it comes to my following comment. But the thing is, I was quite confused when it came to Gabe's and Max's interactions and budding romance. They both kept running hot and cold, constantly vacillating between 'yes, let's do this!' to 'no, I can't possibly'. I don't know if this is the standard approach for most slow-burns, but either way I found it off-putting. But again, that might be my slow-burn reticence that's talking!
Otherwise, my only other concern that took away some of my enjoyment of the read was the initial 'relationship' between Gabe and his friend Zack. I think that a previous relationship would have been fine. It would just have added complexity and realism to the story after all. Even an on-going one had been fine, if it ended when Gabe realized that Max was the one. But the fact was that even though Gabe from the start claimed to have ended that relationship a couple of months earlier, it wasn't actually over. And Zack even told Gabe that he thought that Gabe would come around eventually, and that it was clear that he was in love with Gabe even if those feelings weren't returned... And Gabe didn't really correct him, he just kept low-key encouraging Zack by not being clear enough... Well, I just thought that made Gabe look like an insensitive jerk to be honest.
But I might be over-thinking this. I'm sure lots of people will fall in love with Gabe and Max because this is overall a very well-written story. And it definitely has great potential as a series starter!
A complementary e-book was provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my unbiased and voluntary review....more
This is a really sweet story. It's about Ava and Oliver who are both reluctant to trust after being burnt, but then, when they stopped looking for lovThis is a really sweet story. It's about Ava and Oliver who are both reluctant to trust after being burnt, but then, when they stopped looking for love, love found them instead. It’s a very well-written story and Oliver is truly the prefect boyfriend. And I think that’s one of the reasons I had trouble to enjoy this read. Both Ava and Oliver are just so perfect. Too perfect. They’ve both been cheated on by their exes, but that’s the only trouble in their paradise. It’s also in their past. So there was minimal drama, smooth sailing throughout and no particular emotional highs or lows to be seen, or felt, in this case.
Also, since this was a college romance, the story taking place at a college with, not surprisingly, college-aged characters, I would have expected some college-aged antics. Some humour. Some laughs. But most characters – and most especially Ava and Oliver – acted more middle aged than anything. They were just so freaking mature and (this hurts me to say but) boring. Well mostly. They didn’t feel like twenty somethings at all.
So, Ava’s and Oliver’s freakish maturity combined with the lack of humour and any real conflict had me feeling quite lukewarm towards this read. Not even the nooky was enough to cheer me up. The only book by Chance I had read before (Depravity, book 1 in the King University series) was hot hot hot. Meaning I was counting on some scorching action in Iced as well and was quite disappointed in what I got.
But despite my feelings about it (or, in this case, the lack thereof), Iced is a perfectly fine read. It just wasn’t for me. I require more angst in a story, more emotion and tension, more imperfections and some high quality naughty to enjoy myself. But it’s a really well-written story, albeit short, with lovely characters and a HEA. So, for me, Iced is a solid 3-star. The fabulous cover picture (love it!) might raise the grade to a 3.5 though. But either way, I’m quite positive that for someone more appreciative of sweetness, Iced will be a 5-star. https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blo...
Merged review:
This is a really sweet story. It's about Ava and Oliver who are both reluctant to trust after being burnt, but then, when they stopped looking for love, love found them instead. It’s a very well-written story and Oliver is truly the prefect boyfriend. And I think that’s one of the reasons I had trouble to enjoy this read. Both Ava and Oliver are just so perfect. Too perfect. They’ve both been cheated on by their exes, but that’s the only trouble in their paradise. It’s also in their past. So there was minimal drama, smooth sailing throughout and no particular emotional highs or lows to be seen, or felt, in this case.
Also, since this was a college romance, the story taking place at a college with, not surprisingly, college-aged characters, I would have expected some college-aged antics. Some humour. Some laughs. But most characters – and most especially Ava and Oliver – acted more middle aged than anything. They were just so freaking mature and (this hurts me to say but) boring. Well mostly. They didn’t feel like twenty somethings at all.
So, Ava’s and Oliver’s freakish maturity combined with the lack of humour and any real conflict had me feeling quite lukewarm towards this read. Not even the nooky was enough to cheer me up. The only book by Chance I had read before (Depravity, book 1 in the King University series) was hot hot hot. Meaning I was counting on some scorching action in Iced as well and was quite disappointed in what I got.
But despite my feelings about it (or, in this case, the lack thereof), Iced is a perfectly fine read. It just wasn’t for me. I require more angst in a story, more emotion and tension, more imperfections and some high quality naughty to enjoy myself. But it’s a really well-written story, albeit short, with lovely characters and a HEA. So, for me, Iced is a solid 3-star. The fabulous cover picture (love it!) might raise the grade to a 3.5 though. But either way, I’m quite positive that for someone more appreciative of sweetness, Iced will be a 5-star. https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blo......more
This read has me conflicted AF. There are so many great elements to the story, yet it still feels a bit... light in content?
So there's this s3.5 stars.
This read has me conflicted AF. There are so many great elements to the story, yet it still feels a bit... light in content?
So there's this supposedly powerless witch, Tomasz, who's so desperate to avenge his murdered family that he - with some help - awakens a demon/god to do his bidding.
And that's where I'm first pulled out of the story. You see, it's actually Loki the Norse God we're talking about here. And for some reason the author sees it fit to consistently call Loki a demon throughout the book. There's an initial explanation that demons and gods are merely different names used for the same entities. Loki explains this to Tomasz, and Tomasz accepts this so fully that despite him having heard Loki referred to as a God all his life, he immediately starts calling Loki his Demon. And each time this happened, I was pulled out of the story because of how unnecessary a distinction this is. And how unlikely Tomasz would be to swap out the word God for Demon when they are allegedly the same anyway. I mean, it doesn't add anything to the story but confusion.
Loki is awakened in a very hot and built body. Tomasz is small and lithe. So there's a very distinct size difference there. I approve whole-heartedly. That Loki also appeared to be a complete slut was highly entertaining. It resulted in much appreciated tension between Tomasz and Loki, and was one of the best things with the read if you ask me.
What I mostly found lacking with the story was the inability to weave the plot and the romance together. It was a very clear-cut either/or situation.
Tomasz and Loki weren't gradually drawn together during their hunt for a murderer, instead the first weeks after Loki's summoning, hardly any effort was made to work on the murder case. Instead they just waited on someone to get back to town and in the meantime they got to know each other to eventually get it on.
Then when said friend is back, it's a very compact, action-filled section where everything happened at once. And where there were also some very convenient and unlikely circumstances to make it all possible. That Loki's children - who are Gods btw - would be held captive in the same city that Tomasz lived in pulled me out of the story once again.
And finally, after the action, there's a concluding part where everything is wrapped up and explained.
The writing is excellent, I have no complaints there. But I must say I was surprised at how many other titles Lawless has published. Because from the story composition I assumed it would be a new author.
* A complementary e-book was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my voluntary and unbiased review *...more
What can I say? I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly the kind of read I needed right now; easily digested feel-good with a light sprink4.9 stars
What can I say? I really enjoyed this book. It was exactly the kind of read I needed right now; easily digested feel-good with a light sprinkling of serious in between.
That's pretty much the Bowen trademark. Creating beautiful stories that - despite them touching on heavy subjects – always stays on the hopeful and light side of the spectrum. It's a difficult balancing act, but Bowen excels at it.
Gavin and Hudson were insta-likable (as expected), and the story sucked me in immediately (also as expected). I'm partial to Bowen's MM reads and I wasn't disappointed this time around either. I didn't really read this book, I lived it. Which is pretty much the best rating a story can get. What surprised me though was that despite Gavin being a widower raising his daughter alone, it was Hudson who captured my heart. Hudson with all his issues. His fear, sadness, and loneliness. It was just wonderful to follow him opening up and allowing himself what he had denied himself for so long. Beautiful. However, that didn't stop me from being absolutely pissed at him when... Well, I won't reveal any spoilers. Let's just say he acted pretty thick on occasion and I might have been pretty livid.
This is a truly beautiful love story. Gavin has loved and lost. Hudson was burned in his very first relationship. And these guys find each other. And the ending hints at the possibility of a whole new MM series – which I'm definitely here for!
So why not 5 stars? It was a miniscule detail that nevertheless brought Gavin down in my eyes. At one point, Gavin states that the top four teams in an exclusive, all-American tournament are the four best teams in the world. And that's just ignorant. Like having a world championship but only allowing local participants... So 4.9 it is.
But highly recommend!
* A complementary e-book was kindly provided by HeartEyes Press and this is my voluntary and unbiased review *...more
3 stars in my book usually mean one of two things:
Either it's an interesting or entertaining read but one that doesn't suck me in or engages me emotio3 stars in my book usually mean one of two things:
Either it's an interesting or entertaining read but one that doesn't suck me in or engages me emotionally. Something that I can appreciate in the moment but which is sufficiently unobtrusive and bland that I probably won't remember it after a few weeks have passed.
Or it can be a story that should and could have been a 4-star, but there are too many errors or other issues that bug me that I'll redact a star.
Blaine's Beast is a little bit of both.
On the plus-side: - Shifters. - Size difference. - A retelling that stayed true enough to the original version to be recognizable, but where the adaptions still kept it reasonable fresh and kept it all interesting.
My dislikes: - (view spoiler)[The MC, Blaine - is a young gay man who is a virgin- but has no problem with having full penetrative sex with a man he just met a few hours earlier. (hide spoiler)] That's just silly. I mean, yes this is a fairy tale, but it didn't mesh with Blaine's personality at all, and Abernathy didn't manage to convince me that Blaine was so overcome with lust that he would do such a thing. - Story irregularities and mistakes that hints at a rushed writing process. I'm not talking about things that will be fixed in the final editing, but concerns the content more than the writing itself. Like characters who acts or says something that contradicts previous information. Or knows things they shouldn't. - This is a story which often describes the minute details of Blaine's entire day or even the following day, it has few time-jumps or fade-to-blacks. This leaves a lot of room for implausibility and other mistakes. For example, there were many instances where characters were described as doing something or standing somewhere, only to be doing something else in the next, or being somewhere else without having moved. The biggest example of this is when Blaine runs out in the winter cold without shoes or a jacket, and runs through the forest in the snow only to end up falling in a river. No worst for wear.
In short, my dislikes outweighed the positives and I rate it as a weak 3-star.
*** A complementary e-copy of this book was provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my unbiased and voluntary review ***...more
Action-packed, a bit gory, and a lot of shenanigans. That's my short summary of Violent Mistake. Which, to be honest, could describe most of Nash's boAction-packed, a bit gory, and a lot of shenanigans. That's my short summary of Violent Mistake. Which, to be honest, could describe most of Nash's books. So I'll try to be a bit more specific.
It's forced proximity, a vampire-human pairing, enemies-to-lovers, and sexytimes bordering on hate-effing.
But just to set the scene: Kazi is one of the oldest members of the Brotherhood, and he appears to have lost his empathy through the years and only care about the mission, no matter the consequences for individuals. And the story starts off with him about to fulfil his latest assignment - to kill the inconveniently snooping journalist Felix Quaid. Felix is more or less consumed by hate for Kazi and blames him for everything that's gone wrong in his life. But just before Kazi is about to make the kill, they're attacked and when Kazi wakes up he finds himself kidnapped along with Quaid.
Here's where the forced proximity angle comes in. Kazi and Felix are enemies, even if their reasons for it are widely different. For Kazi, Felix is an inconvenience while for Felix it's very much personal. That they both find the other to be hot AF shouldn't be a factor at all. But as they're forced together, and held captive by verifiable crackpots, they form a tentative truce - which of course is the start of something intense and steamy.
This is non-stop action, steady story-development, and many opportunities for the MCs to be naughty. I really appreciate Nash's ability to compose story arcs that keep me on my toes and deliver surprises. No doubt she's very skilled, both as a storyteller and a writer. In that regard, it's a very easy read since there's never a dull moment and there aren't any poor writing or obvious editorial mistakes that could pull me out of the story.
However, just like for Violent Desire, there's plenty of backstory and supporting characters that's difficult to sort through. And I get that. It's only the second book in a series which I'm guessing will have 12 installments. So naturally, the universe and characters will be revealed and explained as new books are released. But I still think that more effort should have been made to introduce some of the other Brotherhood members more thoroughly. Because I could hardly keep them apart. The only ones I really could keep track of were Zane and Eric from the first book, and Mikalis the bossman.
Also, even if the steamy parts are plentiful, they're not all that great in my opinion. Sure, Kazi's a vampire so there's blood involved, but that's not the problem. Maybe it's the lack of prep? I like man-on-man action as much as the next gal, but going at it dry or close to dry is not hot. I have one word I like to emphasize here: L-U-B-R-I-C-A-N-T. It's good stuff. Nash should use it more.
But overall, this was a satisfying read. Entertaining, with a well-defined and concluded plot, while there's also an overall story arc that'll continue in the next book. 4 strong stars.
* A complimentary e-copy was provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my unbiased and voluntary review *...more
It's not profound or anything, but the way it engaged me was something else!
It was all suck-me-in-take-me-for-a-rideMy oh my.
This was an amazing read!
It's not profound or anything, but the way it engaged me was something else!
It was all suck-me-in-take-me-for-a-ride-then-spit-me-out engaging. And I still haven't recovered fully.
Now, this story requires you to suspend disbelief. Which is quite alright with me, because it's so very well done. It's M/M, Mafia-police Detective romance. I didn't even know that was a thing before Pretty Policeman, but this book opened my eyes and introduced me to a whole new world (Craving? Kink?).
So there's Micah, a very young Detective (I'll get back to the young part later) in NY. Micah's gone undercover as a prostitute in an attempt to flush out a serial killer dubbed the Hooker Hunter by the press. But in doing so, he draws the attention of a big hunk of delicious man who seems determined to save him. And Micah can't very well blow his cover by admitting the truth. Damon Romano is the epitome of tall, dark, handsome and filthy rich (that's how the saying goes right?). He has a protective streak a mile wide and Micah is drawn to him instantly. Unfortunately, Damon also turns out to be a Mafia Don. And the only way for Micah to keep seeing Damon is to keep up the pretence of being a prostitute...
The premise of this story is incredibly juicy, and the read lives up to all my expectations and then some. It doesn't exactly hurt that I'm partial to the young-twink-meets-big-domineering-guy (I refuse to say Alpha male unless it's ABO we're talking about).
Anyway. There are several parallel story arcs in here, which all together makes for a reasonably complex and incredibly interesting and entertaining storyline. The main one is obviously Micah's and Damon's relationship, with Micah upholding his ruse only to get more time with Damon, all the while Damon despises everything law enforcement. But there's also the suspense part, with a serial killer on the loose, the dynamics at the precinct and Micah's father being a Police Captain and Micah's boss. There's Micah's best friend and work colleague, Tessa, who adds levity to the mix, and Damon's family who adds drama galore.
Micah is too adorable for words. The entire story is viewed from his perspective, and his inner monologue is hilarious. It's also what brings a rom-com feel to the book, despite the serial killers and the mobsters. Damon on the other hand is overprotective to the extreme. He has two personalities, the soft, indulgent side only Micah ever sees, and the brutal persona of a mob boss.
This story pretty much held me captive from the very first page. The storyline is entirely absurd and yet so yummy it's impossible not to love it. Also, it's exceedingly well written and composed. I tried to google the author but couldn't find anything. So either Fifer Rose is a pseudonym, or this is indeed Rose's debut novel. And if that is the case I'm thoroughly impressed! Either way, I will definitely keep my eye out for more of her books.
Luckily, there will be more. Sometime next spring there will be a sequel. Pretty Policeman has a happy-for-now ending. It's possibly a bit abrupt. Personally I would have liked slightly more of a resolution between Micah and Damon. I mean, it all ended on a high note but I'm usually all for the lovey dovey epilogues and there's none of that here. Meaning that I'm impatient as heck for the next book.
My one objection(apart from the fact that there's always room for more steam) is that Micah is actually a 23-year old Police Detective. A fresh, low-ranking one, sure, but a Detective none the less. And I think that's what I had the toughest time to accept. Maybe it's because I'm prejudiced and thought Micah was too much of a twink. Or maybe because there's no way a 23 y.o. ever could have gained enough experience to become a good Detective, no matter how brilliant he was during training. So that didn't sit right with me and struck me as unnecessary. He could still have been in law enforcement in another capacity, it would have been more believable somehow. As it were, I thought the clash between Micah's work an responsibilities and how he acted in private was too noticeable. As I said, he's just so very young.
But in the end, Micah's age doesn't matter. This is a fabulous romance and a wild ride for sure. 5 stars. Highly recommend!
But. I loved the premise of this story. Apart from having a soft spot for M/M shifter reads and fated mates, I thought the idea of both protag2.5 stars.
But. I loved the premise of this story. Apart from having a soft spot for M/M shifter reads and fated mates, I thought the idea of both protagonist being weakened and ill was interesting. Usually with these kind of stories, the Alpha is typically the very epitome of power. And his mate is (albeit strong-willed) usually physically weak and reliant on his stronger mate. But not only were both Marshall and Aaron physically weak at the onset, Marshall wasn't an omega and he was an ex Special Forces Operative, in top physical form before his illness, and a martial art expert. So I went in to this read with pretty high expectations.
It starts out with a prologue of sorts, were the circumstance that sets everything in motion is described through Marshall's viewpoint. Then it jumps forward to present day where Marshall has become ill. A fluke encounter brings Marshall's unknown affliction to the attention of Aaron's physician, and Marshall is whisked off to the Pack territory and the Pack house.
The writing is technically well-done. The POV shift between Marshall and Aaron. But the story arc is, well, not particularly interesting and the pacing doesn't help one bit.
When Marshall arrives at the Pack house it pretty soon becomes apparent that both the guys benefits physically from being close to each other. Also, that they have an unfinished “soul bond”. But then the story stalls entirely. It goes something like this: The guys spend some time together, then there's a meeting with some folks where they discuss what a soul bond means. Then it's time for bed and the next day it's just wash, rinse, repeat, some time spent together followed by another meeting. I got so sick of those meetings. They never amounted to anything and didn't bring the story forward. After what felt like eons, Marshall and Aaron completed their bond (well effing finally!). And, whaddayouknow, they got healthy all of a sudden. That was approximately at the same time as the 75% blow-up happened. And can you guess how that “drama” was resolved? By an effing meeting! Now, I stopped reading at 77% so, in all fairness, the story might pick up there at the end. The bad guy might even come back for a final show-down, but I just couldn't make myself stay engaged at that point.
So this story was most certainly not for me. But I guess if you like low-angst and don't require much in terms of storyline, then this book might be something for you.
* A complimentary e-copy was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my voluntary and unbiased review * ...more
Just. Wow. I never would have thought that Steffan - uptight, suspicious, conspiracy theorist Steffan - would become one of my favourite characters in Just. Wow. I never would have thought that Steffan - uptight, suspicious, conspiracy theorist Steffan - would become one of my favourite characters in this crazy and wonderful series. But here we are. And I can't properly express how delighted I am by this story.
Here Be Dragons (and Hidden Species) are full of quirky and ridiculous, yet lovable, characters. Steffan, who's been in the periphery of many of the stories, has always been one of the more extreme eccentrics, and definitely less likable. But, my oh my. This book changed all that. Yes, he's still awkward as all get out. He can't relate very well to other people. And, of course, he's the most distrustful character ever written. But seeing the world through his eyes, getting his story, makes all the difference. And I just melted. I felt, and fell, for him so hard!
In a way, Conspiracy of Dragons stands out a bit compared to the first three books. Because of Steffan's background, the story became much more emotional (while still being cute and corny fluff) and by the end I felt all kinds of warm and soft on the inside.
So, the couple featured is Steffan and Will. Work colleagues (well, technically, Steffan is Will's boss, but that's not really relevant here because it's not that kind of book) and secretly lovers and partners. Steffan's paranoia - albeit understandable - prevents them from living their life out in the open. Which is becoming more and more difficult to take for Will as all of their friends begin pairing up. And when Steffan's wild conspiracy theories turn out to not be so wild after all, Steffan is convinced that he was right in hiding his relationship with Will all along. Then a stranger turns up that forces Steffan to confront his past traumas.
When learning that this installment would cover Steffan's story, I couldn't imagine how Masters would pull off portraying someone as paranoid as him actually falling in love. Love requires trust after all. But the solution to that was genius, with Steffan and Will already being in a loving relationship from the start. But, going in, Will was something of a non-entity to me. Sure, he's been there throughout the series, but always in the background without any specific defining characteristics. And now, in this dual POV story, it was great to get into his head and get to know him. And my heart broke for him when... Well. No spoilers, you'll have to read for yourself. But anyway, even if he obviously was more fleshed out in this book, this was clearly not his book despite him being a main character. It was Steffan's book. And Steffan is a lot to take in, so I get why Will's personality took a backseat. But I still thought that Will could have been a bit more of his own person and a bit less of a supporting character to Steffan. He was the nicest and sweetest ever, and the most supporting partner. But that unfortunately took its toll on his personality.
But this is a lovely story. Despite Will not getting the space he probably deserved. It's heart-breaking and wonderful and cute. And it's silly and funny like all of the Masters' writing. And Steffan is now my second favourite character in this universe right after Sam (sorry Alistair, I love you but third place isn't so bad). 5 stars. Highly recommend!
* A complimentary e-book was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my unbiased and voluntary review *...more
I've waited for this story in what feels like forever.
The Blueprint and A Deeper Blue were among the first M/M stories I ever read, and they remain aI've waited for this story in what feels like forever.
The Blueprint and A Deeper Blue were among the first M/M stories I ever read, and they remain at the top of my all time favourite romance novel list.
Now, Blitzed isn't about Kelly and Blue (even if they do make a few appearances) but about Andrew McAdams - Blue's sort of but not quite arch nemesis. And it's awesome. It doesn't reach the same laugh-and-snort level as the first two instalments. Andrew's more mature than Blue, and Jesse isn't even near as snarky as Kelly, but Blitzed still has that same Harmon vibe that I adore. A glorious blend of immature humour, sarcasm and cynicism. Love it!
Technically it’s not absolutely necessary to read the first books in the series, it’s probably possible to enjoy it as a stand-alone. But why would you want to? If you haven’t read the first two you’ve missed out big time. So read those first.
Anyway. The story starts with Andrew injured, struggling with his physical therapy to work his way back in shape and get back in the game. When a nap in his car ends up getting him community service, Andrew chooses to work at Rainbow Harbor, an LGBTQ+ youth centre managed by Jesse Fox, a guy Andrew's been unsuccessfully trying to charm into going on a date. Jesse is determined to keep turning down Andrew, no matter how tempting he is. Jesse's been burned before, and anyway, a public relationship with an NFL star is out of the question because of Jesse's past.
The tone of this story is different than the first two books. It's more serious somehow. Maybe because of the setting of an underfunded LGBTQ+ youth centre, or because of Jesse's demons and how his troubled past dictates his present life. But it's still light and sweet romance when it comes down to it, with a HEA of course.
Andrew surprised me. Sure, I knew he was a good guy, that much was clear from Kelly's viewpoint in previous books. But I was expecting more of an immature man-child (Blue version 2 maybe?), but instead he turned out to be this super sweet and considerate guy who wasn't afraid to be vulnerable. Fun-loving and goofy, yes, but not so much that it took over his entire personality. Jesse was a bit on the serious side. His job is his life, and his personal life suffers for it. His past experiences - both with his family and a previous partner - makes it hard for him to trust anyone.
It might sound like Andrew pursues Jesse in the "won't-take-no-for-an-answer" creepy kind of way, but's that not the case at all. Harmon managed to keep Andrew's interest and flirting light and playful, without ever crossing the line. And I also thought Jesse's conflicted feelings were nicely depicted. He's obviously very attracted to Andrew but is afraid for so many reasons. I thought Jesse's background was super intriguing, and I would have loved for that to have been an even bigger part of the story. There's him being thrown out on the street as a teen, his on-going tentative contact with his father, and the hard choices he had to make to survive on the street. Jesse's experiences are stark contrasts to Andrew's life, even if he too have some demons of his own.
All in all. This is a delightful read with just the right amount of steam, humour and angst. I can't lie though, Kelly and Blue are still my favourites, but Andrew and Jesse exceeded my expectations. Also, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Trace gets his own book. A redemption story is just what he (and I) needs. Anyway. 5 stars. Highly recommend.
The first word that came to mind when I was about to write this review was 'delightful'. And sure, it is. but it's actually a blend of wholesome low-aThe first word that came to mind when I was about to write this review was 'delightful'. And sure, it is. but it's actually a blend of wholesome low-angst and some pretty heavy subjects. So delightful might be a bit of a misnomer even if it is true.
It's more like there are two parallel story arcs to this read. There's Kip's/Chris' and Leon's lovely love story that unfolds despite Kip's reluctance and overall prickliness. Then there's the underlying story of Kip's struggle to overcome the trauma and betrayal from his childhood. In truth, there's also a third arc, and that's Leon's grief and guilt over the death of his sister, but to me that was the least interesting development. It didn't grab me quite as much as the other two did.
So Kip's a really fabulous guy. He manages Flare, the clothes store of his designer friend/boss. He's beautiful, sassy, and takes no prisoners. Living his life out loud and refusing to be put down by anyone. Leon's the big and hairy tattoo artist who owns the tattoo shop next door to Flare, and also the guy who turned Kip down a few years earlier. And that's the starting point of the story. Kip resenting Leon for, in his eyes, trying to shame him for his 'promiscuous ways', and Leon trying to apologize for being a dick and making Kip feel that way. So when there's water damage to Leon's apartment, Kip's boss decides it's a perfect idea to let Leon live in the apartment above Flare for a few weeks. And so the mating dance begins. *chef's kiss*.
There's a lot about this book that impressed me. Top-notch writing all around. The way several strands of the story were woven together in such a natural way, forming a complex and realistic picture. The genuine feel of... well, everything. Emotional but not exaggerated. The portrayal of both Kip and Leon, apart and together.
But mostly I'm blown away by the heart-warming found family vide that suffuses the entire story. Again, there's nothing exaggerated to it (which is unfortunately otherwise too common) but just authentic and lovely and it gave me all the warm fuzzies. And the fact that I never lost interest for a second! Maybe I've read too many books. Maybe I'm just getting picky. But it appears to be more and more difficult for me to find books that I actually become engrossed in. If the plotline is interesting enough, then the writing is poor, the characters silly/one-dimensional/over-done/etc. Or the story structure or pacing is off. But Sass was practically perfect! There wasn't a single thing that pulled me out of the story or made me roll my eyes. While I read, I lived Kip's and Leon's story.
The one and only thing I'd like to comment on, is (view spoiler)[the very public proposal in the epilogue (hide spoiler)]. I mean, what's with that!? It's a personal and precious moment between two people (or maybe three if you're feeling adventurous), and making it a spectator sport is just weird. Like, in my eyes, that's taking the familial love way too far. But unfortunately for me it's pretty common in romance novels, and I guess even Hogan isn't entirely perfect. (Even if it's a close thing)
I was really intrigued by the blurb. I've read a few stories of the I-accidentally-summoned-a-demon-boyfriend trope, and they're usually both sweet anI was really intrigued by the blurb. I've read a few stories of the I-accidentally-summoned-a-demon-boyfriend trope, and they're usually both sweet and funny. And yes, Holy Hell was sweet, but that was about it. It's the very definition of low-angst and there's obviously a happily ever after. But there are no laughs and the predictability had me bored.
I mean, there are lots of great predictable stories. Those are the ones where you know the general direction the story is headed (and you're perfectly fine with that), but it's the how of it that makes you keep reading. Then there are the predictable stories that just stretch out like a long straight line in front of you. No surprises, not even a little bend in the road ahead. And that's how Holy Hell felt. Sure, it's cute and lovey-dovey. But there just wasn't anything there that could keep me interested. Everything was obvious from a mile away.
Or no, that's not right. There was one thing in the story that surprised me. In the very end. But that thing actually just made me mad. It wasn't part of the main storyline and completely unnecessary if you ask me. The book would have been better if Wells and Parker had tried to add some non-obvious twists to Carter's Beez's and Alcy's story instead.
As it were, I can only describe this book as unobtrusive.
* I received a free e-copy of this book and this is my voluntary and unbiased review*...more
This story started out great and had all the potential of a 5-star read. The I-see-dead-people trope isn't new, but the whole thing with Keir running aThis story started out great and had all the potential of a 5-star read. The I-see-dead-people trope isn't new, but the whole thing with Keir running a funeral home was a new angle that made the story setup feel new and interesting.
After the first few chapters I was fully convinced I would end up giving it all the stars, but it became apparent after a while that the writing was a bit too uneven for that to happen.
Both Keir and Dash are likable characters. Their outward appearances couldn't be more different, but personality-wise they're both very kind men who just wants to find someone to call their own. But I thought that a lot of the character building, and the interactions and dialogues between the MCs were occasionally stilted when the intent was in fact to relay how they grew closer. It didn't really gel for me. Separately, Keir and Dash were great. But I wasn't as convinced as I would've liked by their chemistry and togetherness. It didn't really feel organic. And it wasn't only Keir's and Dash's interactions that felt off at times. How Keir and the Detective, Jay Frick, were together also had some strange moments.
The plot was a bit convoluted. I won't go into details, but there were one or two plot-holes that irritated me. However, the main focus of this book isn't the mystery itself but Keir's and Dash's relationship, so I wasn't bothered too much.
All in all, it's a good read. And as I understand it it's actually Kaye's debut novel. As such it is very promising indeed.
But there's no denying there were some quirky stuff in there. For example, this was the first book I've ever read containing such precise measurements of a certain part of the male anatomy - Keir's anatomy to be precise (despite having read stories with p*rn-star MCs). And honestly, that part, with such an unusual girth/length ratio did ruin it a bit for me. Like, why?! It was an odd detail to include and didn't really add to the story. Instead it became an uncomfortable oddity, mentioned over and over, and it was made the focus in way too many scenes. It's safe to say the story would have been better without Keir's unusual proportions.
My final rating is 3.75 stars. Still, I'll probably read the sequel. I liked the premise, I liked the universe. And I absolutely want more of Keir and Dash.
* A free e-book was kindly provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my unbiased and voluntary review *...more
Reflections of a Swede
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