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| 1623003180
| 9781623003180
| B00D1XKU6C
| 3.50
| 131
| May 27, 2013
| May 28, 2013
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it was amazing
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Let me start with saying that there were times while I was reading this book that I would get confused as to who said what and had to go back and re-r
Let me start with saying that there were times while I was reading this book that I would get confused as to who said what and had to go back and re-read the passage. Typically, this would not give a book a 5-star rating. However, in the case of Mighty Casey I think my confusion had more to do with me getting caught up in the story and losing track of the “he” than it did with the author’s writing. To put it simply, this was such a fun read that I got so engrossed in the story and I confused myself. The bulk of Mighty Casey takes place over the course of one day. We learn from the beginning that Casey and his boyfriend Nate have been together for several years despite major differences that would seem to make them not compatible. Casey is a wedding planner and Nate HATES weddings – not marriage, but the actual wedding – and as much as Casey is a romantic and has fantasies of his ideal wedding, he loves Nate more than a ceremony. On the other hand, Nate is a HUGE sports enthusiast and Casey HATES all sports to the point that he has brain-dumped any and all rules of the games he learned growing up. These two should not be compatible, they shouldn’t work as a couple, yet they do. They are absolutely endearing and sexy as all get out in their love for each other, especially in the shower … yummy! As much as Casey dislikes sports, he finds himself enjoying the day at the softball tournament and not just the sexy fun times he and Nate keep sneaking off to have during the breaks between games. But I don’t know which part of the story I liked the best. When Casey went up to bat OR the proposal scene in which Nate actually managed to fool Casey OR the epilogue. Heck, who am I kidding? I loved it all. I spent most of the time reading with a grin on my face. Ms. Okati has written an entertaining read that I devoured in a matter of hours and I am so excited about reading the sequel, Home Run. I cannot wait to spend more time with Casey and Nate and certainly hope that Mimi makes an appearance too. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Let me start with saying that there were times while I was reading this book that I would get confused as to who said what and had to go back and re-read the passage. Typically, this would not give a book a 5-star rating. However, in the case of Mighty Casey I think my confusion had more to do with me getting caught up in the story and losing track of the “he” than it did with the author’s writing. To put it simply, this was such a fun read that I got so engrossed in the story and I confused myself. The bulk of Mighty Casey takes place over the course of one day. We learn from the beginning that Casey and his boyfriend Nate have been together for several years despite major differences that would seem to make them not compatible. Casey is a wedding planner and Nate HATES weddings – not marriage, but the actual wedding – and as much as Casey is a romantic and has fantasies of his ideal wedding, he loves Nate more than a ceremony. On the other hand, Nate is a HUGE sports enthusiast and Casey HATES all sports to the point that he has brain-dumped any and all rules of the games he learned growing up. These two should not be compatible, they shouldn’t work as a couple, yet they do. They are absolutely endearing and sexy as all get out in their love for each other, especially in the shower … yummy! As much as Casey dislikes sports, he finds himself enjoying the day at the softball tournament and not just the sexy fun times he and Nate keep sneaking off to have during the breaks between games. But I don’t know which part of the story I liked the best. When Casey went up to bat OR the proposal scene in which Nate actually managed to fool Casey OR the epilogue. Heck, who am I kidding? I loved it all. I spent most of the time reading with a grin on my face. Ms. Okati has written an entertaining read that I devoured in a matter of hours and I am so excited about reading the sequel, Home Run. I cannot wait to spend more time with Casey and Nate and certainly hope that Mimi makes an appearance too. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Sep 14, 2014
not set
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Sep 14, 2014
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
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ebook
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| 9780990805205
| B00OP3PRG0
| 3.94
| 359
| Oct 19, 2014
| Oct 21, 2014
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really liked it
|
Anika cared for her “partner” Jergan and while she mourns his death, she also relishes the freedom she has had in not having to answer to a man other
Anika cared for her “partner” Jergan and while she mourns his death, she also relishes the freedom she has had in not having to answer to a man other than her brother Marlix. Needless to say she is NOT happy when Marlix announces that she will become the breeder to Commander Ilian. Unlike Jergan, who was a beta, Commander Ilian is an alpha and she knows he will be far more controlling than Jergan was. Much to Marlix and Urazi’s dismay, Anika steals away in the night to avoid being sent to the Commander the next day. Marlix’s dismay is due to his disbelief that his sister would disobey him. Urazi is dismayed because he and Anika had been engaging in beta sex (anal sex to prevent betas from procreating) and he thought they had grown close enough that she would have come to him about the issue. Against his Alpha’s orders, Urazi sets off to find Anika and bring her back – better him not be able to see her because she is with Ilian than because she is dead. What follows is an action-packed adventure as Anika attempts to maintain her freedom while avoiding being caught by Marlix’s men and enemies. I loved Anika’s strength and determination. Clearly she underestimated the dangers the a warring Parseon presented to her, but her ability to adapt to the situation demonstrates her intelligence and shows Urazi that he really shouldn’t underestimate women in general and her in particular. As they spend time together under extremely stressful conditions (you’ll have to read the book to find out because they’re too spoilerish to reveal), Urazi’s commitment to his Alpha and Parseon protocol weaken until he initiates non-beta sex with Anika. While many of their interactions are rushed due to the situation, it does not diminish their steaminess or thoroughness. As is usually the case in war, things get worse for the couple before they get better and things definitely get WAY worse – bad enough that I questioned whether or not Ms. Bristol was going to give Anika and Urazi the happy ending they deserved. Although Warrior is the third book in the Breeder series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. That said, I suspect that I would have enjoyed a slightly richer reading experience had I read Breeder and Terran first as characters from both books either appeared or are mentioned in Warrior; however, I never felt at a loss of what was going on in their world. I do intend to go back and read books one and two to learn Marlix’s and Dak’s stories and I hope that Ms. Bristol is working on a fourth book in the series as there seem to be a lot of changes on the horizon for Parseon. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Anika cared for her “partner” Jergan and while she mourns his death, she also relishes the freedom she has had in not having to answer to a man other than her brother Marlix. Needless to say she is NOT happy when Marlix announces that she will become the breeder to Commander Ilian. Unlike Jergan, who was a beta, Commander Ilian is an alpha and she knows he will be far more controlling than Jergan was. Much to Marlix and Urazi’s dismay, Anika steals away in the night to avoid being sent to the Commander the next day. Marlix’s dismay is due to his disbelief that his sister would disobey him. Urazi is dismayed because he and Anika had been engaging in beta sex (anal sex to prevent betas from procreating) and he thought they had grown close enough that she would have come to him about the issue. Against his Alpha’s orders, Urazi sets off to find Anika and bring her back – better him not be able to see her because she is with Ilian than because she is dead. What follows is an action-packed adventure as Anika attempts to maintain her freedom while avoiding being caught by Marlix’s men and enemies. I loved Anika’s strength and determination. Clearly she underestimated the dangers the a warring Parseon presented to her, but her ability to adapt to the situation demonstrates her intelligence and shows Urazi that he really shouldn’t underestimate women in general and her in particular. As they spend time together under extremely stressful conditions (you’ll have to read the book to find out because they’re too spoilerish to reveal), Urazi’s commitment to his Alpha and Parseon protocol weaken until he initiates non-beta sex with Anika. While many of their interactions are rushed due to the situation, it does not diminish their steaminess or thoroughness. As is usually the case in war, things get worse for the couple before they get better and things definitely get WAY worse – bad enough that I questioned whether or not Ms. Bristol was going to give Anika and Urazi the happy ending they deserved. Although Warrior is the third book in the Breeder series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. That said, I suspect that I would have enjoyed a slightly richer reading experience had I read Breeder and Terran first as characters from both books either appeared or are mentioned in Warrior; however, I never felt at a loss of what was going on in their world. I do intend to go back and read books one and two to learn Marlix’s and Dak’s stories and I hope that Ms. Bristol is working on a fourth book in the series as there seem to be a lot of changes on the horizon for Parseon. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Jan 09, 2015
not set
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Jan 09, 2015
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
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ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 0989447952
| 9780989447959
| B00FUTYLR4
| 3.65
| 4,211
| Oct 12, 2013
| Oct 15, 2013
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it was amazing
|
This is a book that I’ve wanted to read for a while but never got around to it. Needless to say, when the review opportunity came up, I was all over i
This is a book that I’ve wanted to read for a while but never got around to it. Needless to say, when the review opportunity came up, I was all over it. And now that I’ve finished reading Madeleine Abducted I don’t know how to write the review. From the first chapter, Madeleine’s fragility is apparent. She’s that friend that you do your best to shelter because she’s too sweet, too naïve, and too vulnerable that you don’t want her exposed to the wrongs of the world because you like how genuine she is. That she is abducted on the night of her first public performance, after actively avoiding them for so long, made me want to rail at the universe. But her abduction is only the beginning of her descent into h*ll and what follows is a terrifying tale of physical, mental, and sexual abuse as Maddy learns that her worst fears were not the worst things that could ever happen to her. But within her new world, she finds someone to cling to … her Master. Maddy’s reliance upon Aaron aka Master isn’t because of Stockholm syndrome as much as it is a case of the lesser of the evils surrounding her. That he wasn’t directly responsible for her abduction and had no desire to make her his slave, made it easier for her to trust him. Make no mistake, even though Aaron wasn’t interested in making her his slave does not mean that he isn’t a bad man, because he is, just in a different way. Aaron was put in a precarious situation where he was forced to train Maddy even though he didn’t want to because if he didn’t, one of his father’s men would and he knew that she wouldn’t survive it. While Maddy was the abductee, I found myself feeling sorry for Aaron for what he had to do to insure Maddy’s safety. While I anticipated that Maddy would help heal Aaron’s darkness (not cure it though) and that Aaron would help Maddy become stronger, I found myself thrown for loop after loop by the evil machinations of Aaron’s father. I felt Aaron, Maddy, and Xander’s pain each and every time someone knocked on Aaron’s door because you just never knew what that madman had up his sleeve. Madeleine Abducted is dark erotica and Ms. Willis proves once again that she cannot only write really hot sex scenes, but that she can create characters who share an intense connection in spite of the circumstances. Madeleine Abducted is a great start to The Estate series and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Despite how much I gleefully enjoyed his demise, I am looking forward to reading Joseph Fallen to learn what events created the madman. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: This is a book that I’ve wanted to read for a while but never got around to it. Needless to say, when the review opportunity came up, I was all over it. And now that I’ve finished reading Madeleine Abducted I don’t know how to write the review. From the first chapter, Madeleine’s fragility is apparent. She’s that friend that you do your best to shelter because she’s too sweet, too naïve, and too vulnerable that you don’t want her exposed to the wrongs of the world because you like how genuine she is. That she is abducted on the night of her first public performance, after actively avoiding them for so long, made me want to rail at the universe. But her abduction is only the beginning of her descent into h*ll and what follows is a terrifying tale of physical, mental, and sexual abuse as Maddy learns that her worst fears were not the worst things that could ever happen to her. But within her new world, she finds someone to cling to … her Master. Maddy’s reliance upon Aaron aka Master isn’t because of Stockholm syndrome as much as it is a case of the lesser of the evils surrounding her. That he wasn’t directly responsible for her abduction and had no desire to make her his slave, made it easier for her to trust him. Make no mistake, even though Aaron wasn’t interested in making her his slave does not mean that he isn’t a bad man, because he is, just in a different way. Aaron was put in a precarious situation where he was forced to train Maddy even though he didn’t want to because if he didn’t, one of his father’s men would and he knew that she wouldn’t survive it. While Maddy was the abductee, I found myself feeling sorry for Aaron for what he had to do to insure Maddy’s safety. While I anticipated that Maddy would help heal Aaron’s darkness (not cure it though) and that Aaron would help Maddy become stronger, I found myself thrown for loop after loop by the evil machinations of Aaron’s father. I felt Aaron, Maddy, and Xander’s pain each and every time someone knocked on Aaron’s door because you just never knew what that madman had up his sleeve. Madeleine Abducted is dark erotica and Ms. Willis proves once again that she cannot only write really hot sex scenes, but that she can create characters who share an intense connection in spite of the circumstances. Madeleine Abducted is a great start to The Estate series and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Despite how much I gleefully enjoyed his demise, I am looking forward to reading Joseph Fallen to learn what events created the madman. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
|
Feb 22, 2015
not set
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Feb 22, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 9781623006624
| B00HI63PG0
| 3.58
| 97
| Dec 23, 2013
| Dec 23, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
I absolutely loved A Collar for Christmas. It’s an odd thing to say about a BDSM romance, but it was an unbelievably sweet story and one I can see mys
I absolutely loved A Collar for Christmas. It’s an odd thing to say about a BDSM romance, but it was an unbelievably sweet story and one I can see myself reading many, many times again. Ms. Lawless created an extremely powerful Prologue that served to illustrate the devastating effect that Liam’s panic attacks had on him, while at the same time showed where his relationship with Aaron started. While momentarily awkward when the book jumps ten months forward with the first chapter, Liam’s reaction to an online article and his subsequent actions filled in the pieces rather quickly as to how their relationship had evolved over that time. Any remaining gaps were filled in as the book progressed through memories, musings, and conversations between Liam and Aaron. As the story is told from Liam’s point of view, the reader gets a firsthand look at how the changes in their relationship have both helped Liam and exacerbated the situation. While Aaron’s presence and his ability to exert the control over Liam that he needs have helped reduce Liam’s anxiety in dealing with the world at large, his increasing dependence upon Aaron causes a separate set of anxieties for Liam as he worries about what will happen to him should Aaron ever refuse to be a part of his life. Add to that Liam’s ever increasing need for “more” from Aaron despite Aaron having clearly stated that there could be nothing more, well it’s no wonder Liam is a confused bundle of emotions. While the scene in which Liam finally tells Aaron that he needs more than what they’ve been doing was heartbreakingly devastating, it was good to see Liam confront Aaron about what he wanted and needed. The emotional rollercoaster ride that A Collar for Christmas took me on was heightened by how fully I connected to Liam. I felt his anxiety, fear, and heartbreak when he confronted Aaron; I felt his calm seep in when he went home for Christmas and spent time with his family; I felt his anger and worry when Aaron called him with his drunken confessions; I felt his hope when Aaron showed up at his house on Christmas day; I felt his submission during THE sex scene that was off-the-charts hot; I felt his relief and happiness at his family’s easy acceptance of Aaron; and I felt his love for Aaron. The author has managed to encompass a ton of emotion within the pages of this novella and I loved every bit of it. I cannot wait to check out more of Ms. Lawless’s writing. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: I absolutely loved A Collar for Christmas. It’s an odd thing to say about a BDSM romance, but it was an unbelievably sweet story and one I can see myself reading many, many times again. Ms. Lawless created an extremely powerful Prologue that served to illustrate the devastating effect that Liam’s panic attacks had on him, while at the same time showed where his relationship with Aaron started. While momentarily awkward when the book jumps ten months forward with the first chapter, Liam’s reaction to an online article and his subsequent actions filled in the pieces rather quickly as to how their relationship had evolved over that time. Any remaining gaps were filled in as the book progressed through memories, musings, and conversations between Liam and Aaron. As the story is told from Liam’s point of view, the reader gets a firsthand look at how the changes in their relationship have both helped Liam and exacerbated the situation. While Aaron’s presence and his ability to exert the control over Liam that he needs have helped reduce Liam’s anxiety in dealing with the world at large, his increasing dependence upon Aaron causes a separate set of anxieties for Liam as he worries about what will happen to him should Aaron ever refuse to be a part of his life. Add to that Liam’s ever increasing need for “more” from Aaron despite Aaron having clearly stated that there could be nothing more, well it’s no wonder Liam is a confused bundle of emotions. While the scene in which Liam finally tells Aaron that he needs more than what they’ve been doing was heartbreakingly devastating, it was good to see Liam confront Aaron about what he wanted and needed. The emotional rollercoaster ride that A Collar for Christmas took me on was heightened by how fully I connected to Liam. I felt his anxiety, fear, and heartbreak when he confronted Aaron; I felt his calm seep in when he went home for Christmas and spent time with his family; I felt his anger and worry when Aaron called him with his drunken confessions; I felt his hope when Aaron showed up at his house on Christmas day; I felt his submission during THE sex scene that was off-the-charts hot; I felt his relief and happiness at his family’s easy acceptance of Aaron; and I felt his love for Aaron. The author has managed to encompass a ton of emotion within the pages of this novella and I loved every bit of it. I cannot wait to check out more of Ms. Lawless’s writing. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Jul 03, 2015
not set
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Jul 03, 2015
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 141999302X
| 9781419993022
| B00MFQ6HX6
| 3.75
| 28
| Aug 06, 2014
| Aug 08, 2014
|
liked it
|
Pack of Lies was a well-written and enjoyable paranormal romance that combined some steamy sex, a bit of romance, a bit more intrigue, a good amount o
Pack of Lies was a well-written and enjoyable paranormal romance that combined some steamy sex, a bit of romance, a bit more intrigue, a good amount of suspicions run amok, and a complicated relationship between two brothers and the village they’ve lived in for over 400 years. The Adams brothers were born in Eyam and with the help of the ancestors of the town’s oldest families, they have continued to call Eyam their home ever since their secret was discovered. With Isaac serving as one of the village physicians and Matthew acting as a handyman when not bartending, the brothers have maintained a comfortable existence and become an integral part of the community. Until a sheep is found mutilated the morning after a full moon and a few of the townspeople in the know begin to question whether or not the brothers are responsible. They are werewolves, after all. I enjoyed getting to see how strong the relationship between Matthew and Isaac was. To tell the truth, there was far more of a focus on their relationship than I would have expected from an Ellora’s Cave book but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. When the sheep is slaughtered, the brothers find out just how loyal their close friends are. And while it was frustrating for them to learn that some villagers were suspicious of them, they understood how things looked. I liked that Felthouse was able to show how a few misguided individuals could cause suspicions to run rampant when there was no foundation for them. Despite having spent 400 years avoiding romantic entanglements with village residents, the stress of the situation sent them both into the arms of someone living in Eyam. Whereas Matthew’s encounters were with a woman on holiday for a month who was as insatiable sexually as he was, Isaac found himself attracted to a new resident of the town and began seeing Nathan despite his better judgment. The sex scenes in both cases were steamy. I did feel that there was a lack of relationship development shown between Isaac and Nathan, especially as we learn from a conversation towards the end of the book that they began seeing one another regularly. Although glad that the culprit behind the sheep slaughtering was apprehended, it wasn’t quite as dramatic of a reveal as I expected. The end of Pack of Lies at least pointed to a hopeful future for the brothers and I would be delighted to read its sequel should the author write one. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Pack of Lies was a well-written and enjoyable paranormal romance that combined some steamy sex, a bit of romance, a bit more intrigue, a good amount of suspicions run amok, and a complicated relationship between two brothers and the village they’ve lived in for over 400 years. The Adams brothers were born in Eyam and with the help of the ancestors of the town’s oldest families, they have continued to call Eyam their home ever since their secret was discovered. With Isaac serving as one of the village physicians and Matthew acting as a handyman when not bartending, the brothers have maintained a comfortable existence and become an integral part of the community. Until a sheep is found mutilated the morning after a full moon and a few of the townspeople in the know begin to question whether or not the brothers are responsible. They are werewolves, after all. I enjoyed getting to see how strong the relationship between Matthew and Isaac was. To tell the truth, there was far more of a focus on their relationship than I would have expected from an Ellora’s Cave book but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. When the sheep is slaughtered, the brothers find out just how loyal their close friends are. And while it was frustrating for them to learn that some villagers were suspicious of them, they understood how things looked. I liked that Felthouse was able to show how a few misguided individuals could cause suspicions to run rampant when there was no foundation for them. Despite having spent 400 years avoiding romantic entanglements with village residents, the stress of the situation sent them both into the arms of someone living in Eyam. Whereas Matthew’s encounters were with a woman on holiday for a month who was as insatiable sexually as he was, Isaac found himself attracted to a new resident of the town and began seeing Nathan despite his better judgment. The sex scenes in both cases were steamy. I did feel that there was a lack of relationship development shown between Isaac and Nathan, especially as we learn from a conversation towards the end of the book that they began seeing one another regularly. Although glad that the culprit behind the sheep slaughtering was apprehended, it wasn’t quite as dramatic of a reveal as I expected. The end of Pack of Lies at least pointed to a hopeful future for the brothers and I would be delighted to read its sequel should the author write one. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Aug 07, 2015
not set
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Aug 08, 2015
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1623007623
| 9781623007621
| B00IJ01PMK
| 3.60
| 104
| Feb 18, 2014
| Feb 18, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
Another stellar read from Lyn Gala. The crew of the Candiru is back for more action, more emotional upheaval, and, thankfully, more hot sex. This time
Another stellar read from Lyn Gala. The crew of the Candiru is back for more action, more emotional upheaval, and, thankfully, more hot sex. This time around the story focused on Allie and Shank - that's Lacroix for those of you who read Turbulence. While we learn more about Allie as she comes to terms with feelings of failure due to leaving Jacqs and Zeke behind, I found that Shank's character development was far more fascinating. His familial background and the distinctions between family and non-family ships within their culture were presented in such a way that I received a history lesson without being bored or wanting to skip parts; but then again, we're talking about pirates and pirate tales are always interesting. In Drift, the crew has to adjust to the fact that the war is now over. Allie's conflict with this new reality is a central theme in the book. However it's not how the non-war status will affect her that concerns her as much as what her crewmates will be expected to do in their new assignments, as well as what happened to Jacqs and Zeke after being left behind. These two things are what lead to some of the crew embarking upon a rescue mission to retrieve Jacqs and Zeke and thus the action begins, complete with jail breaks, pirate (space)ships, grand theft, and crossing the border into bat territory (an act which could restart the war). Are they successful? You'll have to read Drift to find out for yourself. What I will tell you is that the sex scenes between Allie and Shank are hot. There is some light bondage play farther into the book and as it is just being introduced to the couple's sexual interactions it is by no means advanced BDSM, but it definitely increases the sensuality level. Ms. Gala has produced a sequel that is just as good as its predecessor and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Another stellar read from Lyn Gala. The crew of the Candiru is back for more action, more emotional upheaval, and, thankfully, more hot sex. This time around the story focused on Allie and Shank - that's Lacroix for those of you who read Turbulence. While we learn more about Allie as she comes to terms with feelings of failure due to leaving Jacqs and Zeke behind, I found that Shank's character development was far more fascinating. His familial background and the distinctions between family and non-family ships within their culture were presented in such a way that I received a history lesson without being bored or wanting to skip parts; but then again, we're talking about pirates and pirate tales are always interesting. In Drift, the crew has to adjust to the fact that the war is now over. Allie's conflict with this new reality is a central theme in the book. However it's not how the non-war status will affect her that concerns her as much as what her crewmates will be expected to do in their new assignments, as well as what happened to Jacqs and Zeke after being left behind. These two things are what lead to some of the crew embarking upon a rescue mission to retrieve Jacqs and Zeke and thus the action begins, complete with jail breaks, pirate (space)ships, grand theft, and crossing the border into bat territory (an act which could restart the war). Are they successful? You'll have to read Drift to find out for yourself. What I will tell you is that the sex scenes between Allie and Shank are hot. There is some light bondage play farther into the book and as it is just being introduced to the couple's sexual interactions it is by no means advanced BDSM, but it definitely increases the sensuality level. Ms. Gala has produced a sequel that is just as good as its predecessor and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Mar 29, 2014
not set
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Mar 30, 2014
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1640800018
| 9781640800014
| B0777BJ7XR
| 3.84
| 91
| Nov 22, 2017
| Nov 22, 2017
|
really liked it
|
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Counting on You is the third book in the Counting series, and hopefully not th I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Counting on You is the third book in the Counting series, and hopefully not the last. Why? Because I adore Marc and Henry and I was so happy to see how far their relationship had progressed since their last disastrous date. These two guys have not had an easy time of it, at all, and this installment is no different. As this is a continuation of their journey, Counting on You should NOT be read as a standalone because while you won’t be terribly lost, you also won’t understand the significance of some of the events that take place or the references to past events. This time around, Marc and Henry get the chance to work together again. While this sounds perfect for two guys who’ve been unable to spend more than a few days together in the past two months, it also raises some interesting issues they haven’t had the chance to address. The out-of-town project is high priority and expected to take only a few days, and their first day goes swimmingly until Marc “runs into” his father at the business they’re working from. Henry finds the extremely formal interaction between Marc and his father to be disconcerting, but even that doesn’t prepare him for their lunch with Marc’s parents the following day. And HOLY COW! That was a meltdown and emotional lashing out of epic proportions on Marc’s part. My feelings were bouncing all over the place as my heart broke for Marc, while at the same time I was mortified and angry for Henry at the position Marc put him in. Like both men, I wondered if their fledgling relationship could survive that scene – it was that harsh. Fortunately, Jensen doesn’t let the guys (or the readers) down as she guides them to where they need to be so that a future together is still a possibility. Chapter 13 is the perfect epilogue to their story. In fact, when I got to the end of chapter 12, I actually expected that to be the end of the book. So I was delighted when I swiped the page and discovered there was more to their story, and it made for the perfect ending to Counting on You. And don’t worry, Jensen still manages to include the requisite disaster that has become Marc and Henry’s trademark. On a side note, I finally figured out why I have a hard time keeping Marc and Henry separated in my head when I begin reading each installment, and it was because we finally met Marc’s parents that made me identify the issue I was having and why. Henry is out – at work, at home, with his friends, family, and colleagues – everyone of significance in his life knows he’s gay. Marc, on the other hand, had never been attracted to a man before Henry (although a memory in Counting on You suggests that it’s likely that he never acknowledged it before). With only a four-year age difference, I keep expecting Henry to be the more confident of the two in regard to his sexuality. However, Marc presents as someone much older than his 28 years and I am repeatedly surprised that he’s so comfortable with his budding relationship with Henry. However, upon meeting Marc’s parents and seeing just how cold, indifferent, and judgmental they were, I understood why Marc seemed so much older than Henry – because Marc has been an “adult” far longer than Henry (and more than the four years that separate them) due to the expectations placed on him at an early age, thus being forced to grow up faster. Or at least that’s how it seemed to me after the awful interactions with Marc’s parents. I’m just glad to finally understand why I’ve had to work so hard at not getting Marc and Henry confused while I read, and it was all on me and my expectations of the characters. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Counting on You and hope that Jensen is inspired to bring us more stories of Marc and Henry. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] Merged review: I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Counting on You is the third book in the Counting series, and hopefully not the last. Why? Because I adore Marc and Henry and I was so happy to see how far their relationship had progressed since their last disastrous date. These two guys have not had an easy time of it, at all, and this installment is no different. As this is a continuation of their journey, Counting on You should NOT be read as a standalone because while you won’t be terribly lost, you also won’t understand the significance of some of the events that take place or the references to past events. This time around, Marc and Henry get the chance to work together again. While this sounds perfect for two guys who’ve been unable to spend more than a few days together in the past two months, it also raises some interesting issues they haven’t had the chance to address. The out-of-town project is high priority and expected to take only a few days, and their first day goes swimmingly until Marc “runs into” his father at the business they’re working from. Henry finds the extremely formal interaction between Marc and his father to be disconcerting, but even that doesn’t prepare him for their lunch with Marc’s parents the following day. And HOLY COW! That was a meltdown and emotional lashing out of epic proportions on Marc’s part. My feelings were bouncing all over the place as my heart broke for Marc, while at the same time I was mortified and angry for Henry at the position Marc put him in. Like both men, I wondered if their fledgling relationship could survive that scene – it was that harsh. Fortunately, Jensen doesn’t let the guys (or the readers) down as she guides them to where they need to be so that a future together is still a possibility. Chapter 13 is the perfect epilogue to their story. In fact, when I got to the end of chapter 12, I actually expected that to be the end of the book. So I was delighted when I swiped the page and discovered there was more to their story, and it made for the perfect ending to Counting on You. And don’t worry, Jensen still manages to include the requisite disaster that has become Marc and Henry’s trademark. On a side note, I finally figured out why I have a hard time keeping Marc and Henry separated in my head when I begin reading each installment, and it was because we finally met Marc’s parents that made me identify the issue I was having and why. Henry is out – at work, at home, with his friends, family, and colleagues – everyone of significance in his life knows he’s gay. Marc, on the other hand, had never been attracted to a man before Henry (although a memory in Counting on You suggests that it’s likely that he never acknowledged it before). With only a four-year age difference, I keep expecting Henry to be the more confident of the two in regard to his sexuality. However, Marc presents as someone much older than his 28 years and I am repeatedly surprised that he’s so comfortable with his budding relationship with Henry. However, upon meeting Marc’s parents and seeing just how cold, indifferent, and judgmental they were, I understood why Marc seemed so much older than Henry – because Marc has been an “adult” far longer than Henry (and more than the four years that separate them) due to the expectations placed on him at an early age, thus being forced to grow up faster. Or at least that’s how it seemed to me after the awful interactions with Marc’s parents. I’m just glad to finally understand why I’ve had to work so hard at not getting Marc and Henry confused while I read, and it was all on me and my expectations of the characters. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Counting on You and hope that Jensen is inspired to bring us more stories of Marc and Henry. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Nov 21, 2017
not set
|
Nov 21, 2017
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 0986356212
| 9780986356216
| B00ZBM3YVO
| 4.45
| 270
| Jun 09, 2015
| Jun 29, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
I have been anticipating this book from the moment Gunny picked Sharon up and refused to let her go in Jase. And in typical deMora fashion, the author
I have been anticipating this book from the moment Gunny picked Sharon up and refused to let her go in Jase. And in typical deMora fashion, the author made it worth every moment between then and now. Consistent with the prior books in the series, we meet Gunny when he was Gunnery Sergeant Lane Robinson before he joined the Rebel Wayfarers MC. Back when his military career was coming to an end as he was the only surviving man on his team after an ambush attack. An attack he barely survived and spent 3 weeks getting to safety only be sent home on a medical discharge. Needless to say, PTSD was one of many themes found in Gunny and as the story plays out, we learn that Gunny is not the only one experiencing it. I love how deMora takes the time to introduce the reader to Gunny, showing us how his life since the military has brought him to the Rebel Wayfarers MC and how the club filled a hole in him that his discharge from the military had left. While there are many instances in the series where the timelines of the books overlap, it’s never a recycling of scenes. In this case, I got to see a bit more of DeeDee’s life before she lost her husband and daughter and how important of a person Gunny was to their lives even when so few of the club members felt as if they “knew” him. What little we learned of Gunny in Jase demonstrated how closed off the man was, so it was nice to see how Deke sponsored him into the club and made the effort to befriend Lane, learning his triggers and doing his best to insure that Lane was successful in the club. The conversations between Deke and Mason regarding Lane provide a good measure of the man and I liked how Deke’s faith in Lane urged Mason to get to know Lane better and foster a friendship with the man who eventually became Gunny. While we’re almost a third of the way into the book before Gunny and Sharon’s scenes from Jase play out, fans of the series will recognize the events leading up to it and I for one appreciated that even the few places where the scenes overlapped, seeing them presented from Gunny’s perspective gave them an entirely different feel than we got from Jase. I give deMora massive kudos for the snippet scenes that served to introduce Sharon’s history. Despite the first few scenes being extremely short, the author manages to pack so much emotion into the scenes that I felt Sharon’s fear and hopelessness at the hands of her husband. With just a few words and well-placed scenes, the author illustrated how non-military personnel can develop PTSD and how it can be just as devastating for them. That Sharon saw Gunny as safe rather than someone to fear made his visceral reaction to her that much more significant. Because of their damaged pasts, their instant bond does not make for an insta-love situation even if Gunny did move her into his house as soon as possible. Theirs is a relationship built on trust, safety, and protectiveness and while neither is willing to let the other out of their life, they are slow to recognize when love enters their relationship as both expect the other to leave them eventually. While you can probably get away with reading Gunny as a standalone, I really advise reading Jase first at the bare minimum but the entire series is well worth the read as the Rebel Wayfarers MC has an increasingly complex series theme building in the background that will make the book more meaningful when read in order. Gunny was everything I hoped for and more and I am excited that it brings us one book closer to Mason’s story as I’m looking forward to his book even more than I was Gunny’s. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: I have been anticipating this book from the moment Gunny picked Sharon up and refused to let her go in Jase. And in typical deMora fashion, the author made it worth every moment between then and now. Consistent with the prior books in the series, we meet Gunny when he was Gunnery Sergeant Lane Robinson before he joined the Rebel Wayfarers MC. Back when his military career was coming to an end as he was the only surviving man on his team after an ambush attack. An attack he barely survived and spent 3 weeks getting to safety only be sent home on a medical discharge. Needless to say, PTSD was one of many themes found in Gunny and as the story plays out, we learn that Gunny is not the only one experiencing it. I love how deMora takes the time to introduce the reader to Gunny, showing us how his life since the military has brought him to the Rebel Wayfarers MC and how the club filled a hole in him that his discharge from the military had left. While there are many instances in the series where the timelines of the books overlap, it’s never a recycling of scenes. In this case, I got to see a bit more of DeeDee’s life before she lost her husband and daughter and how important of a person Gunny was to their lives even when so few of the club members felt as if they “knew” him. What little we learned of Gunny in Jase demonstrated how closed off the man was, so it was nice to see how Deke sponsored him into the club and made the effort to befriend Lane, learning his triggers and doing his best to insure that Lane was successful in the club. The conversations between Deke and Mason regarding Lane provide a good measure of the man and I liked how Deke’s faith in Lane urged Mason to get to know Lane better and foster a friendship with the man who eventually became Gunny. While we’re almost a third of the way into the book before Gunny and Sharon’s scenes from Jase play out, fans of the series will recognize the events leading up to it and I for one appreciated that even the few places where the scenes overlapped, seeing them presented from Gunny’s perspective gave them an entirely different feel than we got from Jase. I give deMora massive kudos for the snippet scenes that served to introduce Sharon’s history. Despite the first few scenes being extremely short, the author manages to pack so much emotion into the scenes that I felt Sharon’s fear and hopelessness at the hands of her husband. With just a few words and well-placed scenes, the author illustrated how non-military personnel can develop PTSD and how it can be just as devastating for them. That Sharon saw Gunny as safe rather than someone to fear made his visceral reaction to her that much more significant. Because of their damaged pasts, their instant bond does not make for an insta-love situation even if Gunny did move her into his house as soon as possible. Theirs is a relationship built on trust, safety, and protectiveness and while neither is willing to let the other out of their life, they are slow to recognize when love enters their relationship as both expect the other to leave them eventually. While you can probably get away with reading Gunny as a standalone, I really advise reading Jase first at the bare minimum but the entire series is well worth the read as the Rebel Wayfarers MC has an increasingly complex series theme building in the background that will make the book more meaningful when read in order. Gunny was everything I hoped for and more and I am excited that it brings us one book closer to Mason’s story as I’m looking forward to his book even more than I was Gunny’s. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Jul 31, 2015
not set
|
Jul 31, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1619233665
| 9781619233669
| B014882IS6
| 3.35
| 91
| Dec 22, 2015
| Dec 22, 2015
|
really liked it
|
Twofer ended up (no pun intended) being a much sweeter read than I expected. As we’re dealing with two college freshmen, one of whom was new to sex, I
Twofer ended up (no pun intended) being a much sweeter read than I expected. As we’re dealing with two college freshmen, one of whom was new to sex, I was expecting the obligatory angst, a butt load of sex (still, no pun intended), and just a little bit of romance. Harris does angst well as Frankie sets out to help his roommate, Jeremy, navigate the perils of dating and sex. Fortunately, the author does not go over-the-top with the angst as Frankie finds himself getting far more attached to Jeremy than he expected. After all, how can a relationship ever work between two bottoms with no interest in topping? I really liked both Frankie and Jeremy, and that there was a true friendship between them that served as the basis for their story. Their friendship makes it easy to understand why Frankie is willing to get Jeremy in the dating scene, even more so once we learn that Frankie finds Jeremy attractive even while admitting to himself that a relationship between them could never work because he believes them to be completely sexually incompatible. Frankie’s willingness to go the extra mile for his friend makes for some seriously sexy scenes as he provides some hands-on instruction. While Frankie’s lessons are clear, his signals are mixed, and this leaves Jeremy questioning what they are to one another more than once. But as the lessons progress and their relationship changes, Frankie makes a last-ditch suggestion for a threesome in hopes that he can discover a way to keep Jeremy and get their needs met sexually without destroying their fledgling relationship. Jeremy’s “dates” were a mix of hilarious and creepy. I caught myself laughing at his misery more than once when dealing with the latest dating app disaster. The threesomes were their own brand of misery and I began to question Frankie’s decision to keep trying them. I was surprised at how clueless Frankie was regarding Stephan. For a guy whose hit-it-and-quit-it routine demands that he be able to pick up on others’ signals, he was surprisingly obtuse when it came to Stephan’s feelings for him. Matt and Bruce turned out to be a pleasant surprise and I was so happy that friendship worked out as well as it did. I loved how supportive Frankie’s family was of him and Jeremy. But it was watching the awkwardness that was Frankie and Jeremy as their relationship changed over the course of the novel that was my favorite part of the book. I was pleased that Harris didn’t make their relationship easy and that their age and experience or lack thereof was obvious in their approach to one another. There was just the right amount of angst for their age and situation that made it believable for me, which also translated into some sweet and rather heartfelt moments between the guys. I thoroughly enjoyed Twofer and hope this is not the last we’ve seen of Frankie and Jeremy. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Twofer ended up (no pun intended) being a much sweeter read than I expected. As we’re dealing with two college freshmen, one of whom was new to sex, I was expecting the obligatory angst, a butt load of sex (still, no pun intended), and just a little bit of romance. Harris does angst well as Frankie sets out to help his roommate, Jeremy, navigate the perils of dating and sex. Fortunately, the author does not go over-the-top with the angst as Frankie finds himself getting far more attached to Jeremy than he expected. After all, how can a relationship ever work between two bottoms with no interest in topping? I really liked both Frankie and Jeremy, and that there was a true friendship between them that served as the basis for their story. Their friendship makes it easy to understand why Frankie is willing to get Jeremy in the dating scene, even more so once we learn that Frankie finds Jeremy attractive even while admitting to himself that a relationship between them could never work because he believes them to be completely sexually incompatible. Frankie’s willingness to go the extra mile for his friend makes for some seriously sexy scenes as he provides some hands-on instruction. While Frankie’s lessons are clear, his signals are mixed, and this leaves Jeremy questioning what they are to one another more than once. But as the lessons progress and their relationship changes, Frankie makes a last-ditch suggestion for a threesome in hopes that he can discover a way to keep Jeremy and get their needs met sexually without destroying their fledgling relationship. Jeremy’s “dates” were a mix of hilarious and creepy. I caught myself laughing at his misery more than once when dealing with the latest dating app disaster. The threesomes were their own brand of misery and I began to question Frankie’s decision to keep trying them. I was surprised at how clueless Frankie was regarding Stephan. For a guy whose hit-it-and-quit-it routine demands that he be able to pick up on others’ signals, he was surprisingly obtuse when it came to Stephan’s feelings for him. Matt and Bruce turned out to be a pleasant surprise and I was so happy that friendship worked out as well as it did. I loved how supportive Frankie’s family was of him and Jeremy. But it was watching the awkwardness that was Frankie and Jeremy as their relationship changed over the course of the novel that was my favorite part of the book. I was pleased that Harris didn’t make their relationship easy and that their age and experience or lack thereof was obvious in their approach to one another. There was just the right amount of angst for their age and situation that made it believable for me, which also translated into some sweet and rather heartfelt moments between the guys. I thoroughly enjoyed Twofer and hope this is not the last we’ve seen of Frankie and Jeremy. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Dec 11, 2015
not set
|
Dec 11, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 9780698408951
| B00S75RYBS
| 3.89
| 1,439
| Apr 21, 2015
| Apr 21, 2015
|
really liked it
|
Although There You Stand is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I know this because that’s what I did. I
Although There You Stand is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I know this because that’s what I did. I have not read any of the other books in the series, nor have I read any of Ms. Lee’s other work, but I had no problem reading this installment out of order and would not have known that it was part of a series were it not listed as such. Cory Easton is suffering from a bad case of unrequited lust. For a straight man. Or so he assumes. And because aloof and stand-offish don’t even begin to accurately describe how much distance Jude puts between himself and others, Jude’s heterosexuality is a fair assumption on Cory’s part. Thankfully, it was the wrong one. While both Cory and Jude have some serious baggage from their pasts, as Ms. Lee reveals the tidbits about Jude’s past, his distance is understandable. But thanks to one seriously unmindful dog, Cory finds himself thrust into Jude’s life repeatedly – despite Jude’s best intentions. While the sex is intense, it is the actual development of the relationship between Cory and Jude that I enjoyed the most. Watching Cory navigate the waters of Jude’s past and present proved to be an interesting combination of entertaining and frustrating. Speaking of frustrating (terrible segue, I know), I’ll be honest – I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this book. I kept wavering between three and four stars and as I rarely give a half-star rating because none of the reviews sites I post on allow it, I was unsure of what to do. However, as I wrote this review I realized why I was so indecisive (me? indecisive? I know!). I often found myself as frustrated with the book as Cory found himself frustrated with Jude. But once I realized that my frustration mirrored that of Cory’s and suspected that that was the author’s intent, the decision was easy. Although I did find it harder to connect with the characters than normal, coming to the understanding that it wasn’t the writing but rather the manner in which the storyline played out made the 4-star rating a no-brainer because even though I was often as frustrated as could be while reading the book, it was Cory’s frustration I was channeling. I really enjoyed There You Stand and look forward to checking out more of Ms. Lee’s writing. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Although There You Stand is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I know this because that’s what I did. I have not read any of the other books in the series, nor have I read any of Ms. Lee’s other work, but I had no problem reading this installment out of order and would not have known that it was part of a series were it not listed as such. Cory Easton is suffering from a bad case of unrequited lust. For a straight man. Or so he assumes. And because aloof and stand-offish don’t even begin to accurately describe how much distance Jude puts between himself and others, Jude’s heterosexuality is a fair assumption on Cory’s part. Thankfully, it was the wrong one. While both Cory and Jude have some serious baggage from their pasts, as Ms. Lee reveals the tidbits about Jude’s past, his distance is understandable. But thanks to one seriously unmindful dog, Cory finds himself thrust into Jude’s life repeatedly – despite Jude’s best intentions. While the sex is intense, it is the actual development of the relationship between Cory and Jude that I enjoyed the most. Watching Cory navigate the waters of Jude’s past and present proved to be an interesting combination of entertaining and frustrating. Speaking of frustrating (terrible segue, I know), I’ll be honest – I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this book. I kept wavering between three and four stars and as I rarely give a half-star rating because none of the reviews sites I post on allow it, I was unsure of what to do. However, as I wrote this review I realized why I was so indecisive (me? indecisive? I know!). I often found myself as frustrated with the book as Cory found himself frustrated with Jude. But once I realized that my frustration mirrored that of Cory’s and suspected that that was the author’s intent, the decision was easy. Although I did find it harder to connect with the characters than normal, coming to the understanding that it wasn’t the writing but rather the manner in which the storyline played out made the 4-star rating a no-brainer because even though I was often as frustrated as could be while reading the book, it was Cory’s frustration I was channeling. I really enjoyed There You Stand and look forward to checking out more of Ms. Lee’s writing. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
May 22, 2015
not set
|
May 22, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 1635335027
| 9781635335026
| B06Y2LMDMM
| 4.40
| 1,478
| Apr 26, 2017
| Apr 26, 2017
|
it was amazing
|
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. This is the first of Klune’s books that I’ve actually read. In the past year, I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. This is the first of Klune’s books that I’ve actually read. In the past year, I have enjoyed several of his audiobooks, with the majority of those causing me to laugh so hard it was a wonder I didn’t pull a stomach muscle. As such, I was not the least bit prepared for how hard Olive Juice would hit me. I knew that Klune could rip my heart out with his words, but I did not expect the level of devastation I experienced while reading this novella. I have spent much of the past two hours bawling my eyes out and now have puffy eyes, a runny nose, and a book hangover that rivals that of books I have spent days reading. Seriously! A novella that I can read in two hours should not make my heart hurt this much. And yet, even as I read the final words, tears running down my face, I was still left with hope. Hope that David might accept the redemption that Phillip was offering. Hope that two men who loved each other so deeply, who endured a horrific tragedy no one should ever have to experience, and who lost their way might find their way back on life’s path together. Olive Juice has one of the better written blurbs I’ve encountered in while. This may sound like a strange thing to mention in a review, but I’ve had discussions recently with others of how readers’ demands for trigger warnings has resulted in blurbs that often remove the element of surprise. While Olive Juice doesn’t contain content that would require a trigger warning, in my opinion, the blurb is written to entice a reader without preparing them for just how emotionally devastating the story can be. Even though Klune’s fans are familiar with how well the author is able to convey his characters’ emotions and how easily it is to fall into the story, that may not be enough because “the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived” does not even scratch the surface of what David and Phillip are dealing with. The author’s words are so poignant that I could not stop reading, no matter how hard I cried, no matter how much I wanted to walk away from the heart break, no matter how much it hurt, because there was always hope. A few words of warning for potential readers. First, don’t read Olive Juice in public. I am not a pretty crier, but even if I were, there was no hope with this one as there were moments when I was full-on sobbing. Second, have your tissues handy. This was a two-tissue read for me and while that might not sound like a lot, it only took me a little over two hours to read it. Third, the story is told from David’s point of view and we spend a LOT of time in his head as memories play out. Personally, I don’t have a problem with books filled with character introspection, especially when it’s appropriate for the story, but I know some readers don’t care for that style of writing. I will say that for Olive Juice, it works perfectly and because I refuse to spoil the story for potential readers, it’s nearly impossible for me to explain why except to say that the way in which David and Phillip’s history and redemption plays out is well-suited for the introspective style. Olive Juice is one of those books that earned five stars from me not because it’s a story I know I’ll reread, but because it’s one that hit me hard, made me think, and will leave a lasting impression long after I finished it. It was not what I was expecting, but I’m so glad I read it. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] Merged review: I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. This is the first of Klune’s books that I’ve actually read. In the past year, I have enjoyed several of his audiobooks, with the majority of those causing me to laugh so hard it was a wonder I didn’t pull a stomach muscle. As such, I was not the least bit prepared for how hard Olive Juice would hit me. I knew that Klune could rip my heart out with his words, but I did not expect the level of devastation I experienced while reading this novella. I have spent much of the past two hours bawling my eyes out and now have puffy eyes, a runny nose, and a book hangover that rivals that of books I have spent days reading. Seriously! A novella that I can read in two hours should not make my heart hurt this much. And yet, even as I read the final words, tears running down my face, I was still left with hope. Hope that David might accept the redemption that Phillip was offering. Hope that two men who loved each other so deeply, who endured a horrific tragedy no one should ever have to experience, and who lost their way might find their way back on life’s path together. Olive Juice has one of the better written blurbs I’ve encountered in while. This may sound like a strange thing to mention in a review, but I’ve had discussions recently with others of how readers’ demands for trigger warnings has resulted in blurbs that often remove the element of surprise. While Olive Juice doesn’t contain content that would require a trigger warning, in my opinion, the blurb is written to entice a reader without preparing them for just how emotionally devastating the story can be. Even though Klune’s fans are familiar with how well the author is able to convey his characters’ emotions and how easily it is to fall into the story, that may not be enough because “the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived” does not even scratch the surface of what David and Phillip are dealing with. The author’s words are so poignant that I could not stop reading, no matter how hard I cried, no matter how much I wanted to walk away from the heart break, no matter how much it hurt, because there was always hope. A few words of warning for potential readers. First, don’t read Olive Juice in public. I am not a pretty crier, but even if I were, there was no hope with this one as there were moments when I was full-on sobbing. Second, have your tissues handy. This was a two-tissue read for me and while that might not sound like a lot, it only took me a little over two hours to read it. Third, the story is told from David’s point of view and we spend a LOT of time in his head as memories play out. Personally, I don’t have a problem with books filled with character introspection, especially when it’s appropriate for the story, but I know some readers don’t care for that style of writing. I will say that for Olive Juice, it works perfectly and because I refuse to spoil the story for potential readers, it’s nearly impossible for me to explain why except to say that the way in which David and Phillip’s history and redemption plays out is well-suited for the introspective style. Olive Juice is one of those books that earned five stars from me not because it’s a story I know I’ll reread, but because it’s one that hit me hard, made me think, and will leave a lasting impression long after I finished it. It was not what I was expecting, but I’m so glad I read it. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Apr 23, 2017
not set
|
Apr 23, 2017
not set
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Sep 27, 2024
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1250094577
| 9781250094575
| B016VJAZK8
| 3.91
| 201
| Feb 02, 2016
| Feb 02, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
Even though this is the first of a three-part serial and is on the short side of a novella, Walker doesn’t skimp on the story. The author actually doe
Even though this is the first of a three-part serial and is on the short side of a novella, Walker doesn’t skimp on the story. The author actually does a bang up job of walking that fine line of giving you just enough clues and suggestions to hook you without actually telling you everything you need to know, so you’ll be compelled to grab the next installment. Or at least that’s how I felt when I reached the last page. And let me tell you, it took everything I had in me not to say “eff it” to my review schedule and buy the next installment. Seriously, if I wasn’t borderline running late on reviews (my poor, poor blog boss), I would have bought the next part immediately and read on – and probably done the same for part three. Right now, it’s killing me not to know what happens next; obviously not literally, but you know what I mean. Then again, that’s pretty much my state of being anytime I finish a book in one of Walker’s series, ready to dive right into the next one immediately. In the first installment we meet Ella. According to the blurb, Ella doesn’t like to be touched because she is a survivor of childhood abuse. Her dislike of being touched comes across loud and clear, and while we get hints at aspects of the abuse she suffered – including what it was not – we do not find out the exact nature of the abuse she endured in this installment. See!?!?! That’s what I meant when I said the author gives you just enough to hook you. I need to know what happened to Ella in the past for her to have become the woman we meet. And why it is after all these years, that the first man she trusts enough to touch her is one of the last men she should. Don’t get me wrong, Sean is all kinds of hot and nothing revealed in the novella points at him being abusive. Quite the opposite in fact. But the book’s not called Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy for no reason. Sean is a “dirty boy” because women pay him for sex. Truth be told, based on Ella’s musings and observations, I can understand why. This man oozes sex appeal and he’s the first man to cause Ella to respond in … well, ever. Add that to the fact that his time can be bought and Ella’s overwhelming loneliness, well you can see right where it’s headed – Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy. The mystery regarding Ella’s past. The 30-day contract. And a sexy as sin, tattooed bad boy. Yep, I need Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 2 and reading time STAT. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Even though this is the first of a three-part serial and is on the short side of a novella, Walker doesn’t skimp on the story. The author actually does a bang up job of walking that fine line of giving you just enough clues and suggestions to hook you without actually telling you everything you need to know, so you’ll be compelled to grab the next installment. Or at least that’s how I felt when I reached the last page. And let me tell you, it took everything I had in me not to say “eff it” to my review schedule and buy the next installment. Seriously, if I wasn’t borderline running late on reviews (my poor, poor blog boss), I would have bought the next part immediately and read on – and probably done the same for part three. Right now, it’s killing me not to know what happens next; obviously not literally, but you know what I mean. Then again, that’s pretty much my state of being anytime I finish a book in one of Walker’s series, ready to dive right into the next one immediately. In the first installment we meet Ella. According to the blurb, Ella doesn’t like to be touched because she is a survivor of childhood abuse. Her dislike of being touched comes across loud and clear, and while we get hints at aspects of the abuse she suffered – including what it was not – we do not find out the exact nature of the abuse she endured in this installment. See!?!?! That’s what I meant when I said the author gives you just enough to hook you. I need to know what happened to Ella in the past for her to have become the woman we meet. And why it is after all these years, that the first man she trusts enough to touch her is one of the last men she should. Don’t get me wrong, Sean is all kinds of hot and nothing revealed in the novella points at him being abusive. Quite the opposite in fact. But the book’s not called Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy for no reason. Sean is a “dirty boy” because women pay him for sex. Truth be told, based on Ella’s musings and observations, I can understand why. This man oozes sex appeal and he’s the first man to cause Ella to respond in … well, ever. Add that to the fact that his time can be bought and Ella’s overwhelming loneliness, well you can see right where it’s headed – Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy. The mystery regarding Ella’s past. The 30-day contract. And a sexy as sin, tattooed bad boy. Yep, I need Thirty Nights with a Dirty Boy: Part 2 and reading time STAT. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
|
Feb 13, 2016
not set
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Feb 13, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 1619227320
| 9781619227323
| B00VVIXXXG
| 4.20
| 639
| Apr 14, 2015
| Apr 14, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
This is actually the first of the Hot Rods series I've read and while Touch of Amber can be enjoyed as a standalone, I've been assured that the earlie
This is actually the first of the Hot Rods series I've read and while Touch of Amber can be enjoyed as a standalone, I've been assured that the earlier books on the series do not do as well on their own. This is perhaps due to the fact that this book features the weddings of the couples and trios from the earlier installments. So while I had no problem following along with the developing relationship between Amber and Gavyn, I suspect fans of the series will enjoy it even more than I did and that's saying a lot because I enjoyed the heck out of it. Amber is a bit of a control freak, which makes her the perfect choice to plan the simultaneous weddings of the Hot Rod crew. The author did an excellent job of showing how much the crew respects and cares about Amber during their interactions, even if she's not into the polyamorous relationships they are. But when the wedding bus encounters a delay that is outside of Amber's control, she immediately goes into action to keep the unexpected delay from impacting the wedding weekend. Fortunately for all, Gavyn happens upon the crew and steps in to help Amber keep things on schedule. Because he is already taken with her, he seizes upon the opportunity to spend time with her by offering his help. This also had the added benefit of him keeping busy, which would help him avoid alcohol as he is in recovery. While the control freak is hesitant to delegate, Amber soon accepts his help and the two find their chemistry is even stronger than they anticipated. To celebrate the successful, if altered wedding, Amber and Gavyn discover just how compatible in bed they are and boy were they hot together. Unfortunately Gavyn's concerns regarding his worthiness lead him to self-destruct and push Amber away. While Rylon does an excellent job of showing how the beginnings of a relationship between Amber and Gavyn form and are then destroyed so thoroughly within a single night, I actually appreciated that she moved their story ahead by three months. The spectacularly destructive way in which their relationship went down in flames before it even had a chance meant that it was unnecessary to show how both Amber and Gavyn had suffered during that time – the added angst wasn't needed to show their emotional pain. I thought it was sweet as could be when their matchmaker got involved and I was glad that they were able to talk it out. As hard as it was to see Amber send Gavyn away that first night, it was an authentic reaction by her character. It also made the following day's event even more important. I thoroughly enjoyed Touch of Amber and will be adding the previous books in the series to my to-be-read list so I can see how everyone's relationships developed and I really hope to do it before the next book in the series is released because I suspect I will need all that background to fully appreciate it. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: This is actually the first of the Hot Rods series I've read and while Touch of Amber can be enjoyed as a standalone, I've been assured that the earlier books on the series do not do as well on their own. This is perhaps due to the fact that this book features the weddings of the couples and trios from the earlier installments. So while I had no problem following along with the developing relationship between Amber and Gavyn, I suspect fans of the series will enjoy it even more than I did and that's saying a lot because I enjoyed the heck out of it. Amber is a bit of a control freak, which makes her the perfect choice to plan the simultaneous weddings of the Hot Rod crew. The author did an excellent job of showing how much the crew respects and cares about Amber during their interactions, even if she's not into the polyamorous relationships they are. But when the wedding bus encounters a delay that is outside of Amber's control, she immediately goes into action to keep the unexpected delay from impacting the wedding weekend. Fortunately for all, Gavyn happens upon the crew and steps in to help Amber keep things on schedule. Because he is already taken with her, he seizes upon the opportunity to spend time with her by offering his help. This also had the added benefit of him keeping busy, which would help him avoid alcohol as he is in recovery. While the control freak is hesitant to delegate, Amber soon accepts his help and the two find their chemistry is even stronger than they anticipated. To celebrate the successful, if altered wedding, Amber and Gavyn discover just how compatible in bed they are and boy were they hot together. Unfortunately Gavyn's concerns regarding his worthiness lead him to self-destruct and push Amber away. While Rylon does an excellent job of showing how the beginnings of a relationship between Amber and Gavyn form and are then destroyed so thoroughly within a single night, I actually appreciated that she moved their story ahead by three months. The spectacularly destructive way in which their relationship went down in flames before it even had a chance meant that it was unnecessary to show how both Amber and Gavyn had suffered during that time – the added angst wasn't needed to show their emotional pain. I thought it was sweet as could be when their matchmaker got involved and I was glad that they were able to talk it out. As hard as it was to see Amber send Gavyn away that first night, it was an authentic reaction by her character. It also made the following day's event even more important. I thoroughly enjoyed Touch of Amber and will be adding the previous books in the series to my to-be-read list so I can see how everyone's relationships developed and I really hope to do it before the next book in the series is released because I suspect I will need all that background to fully appreciate it. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Aug 10, 2015
not set
|
Aug 10, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1623806429
| 9781623806422
| B00DW0GTGE
| 3.69
| 351
| Jul 11, 2013
| Jul 12, 2013
|
really liked it
|
Shadows in the Night was an enjoyable shifter novel. I loved the way Ms. Church opened the book with a scene from Chip’s past. Not only did we get to
Shadows in the Night was an enjoyable shifter novel. I loved the way Ms. Church opened the book with a scene from Chip’s past. Not only did we get to see the bond that young Chip had with the black panther (sorry, I’m a Florida girl and that’s what we call them) but also the bond the cat had with Chip’s grandmother. This introduction served as a nice foundation for the story and goes a long way in explaining why Jason seems to move so fast when Chip returns to town to take up residence in his recently deceased grandmother’s home. Because she helped raise him and was an influential person in his life, Chip loved his grandmother immensely and her death was an unexpected blow. That it came so close after losing his job due to downsizing turned out to be an unwanted blessing in disguise as it gave him a place to live, a much needed change of scenery, and a sense of purpose as he was able to focus on fixing up the house a bit. I will admit that even knowing that this was a shifter book, I was a little thrown by Chip’s reaction toward some of the side characters – well, except for his reaction to Garon because that dude just screamed bad news. But none of that compared to his reaction to Jason – now THAT man sounds like sex on a stick and I was right there with Chip in wanting to tangle my fingers in Jason’s hair. Yummy! Being privy to Jason’s true nature made watching their courtship unfold rather entertaining. On one hand you’ve got Chip who feels a stronger attraction to Jason than he has ever felt for anyone before and who is trying hard the rein in his inner slut (his words). On the other hand you’ve got Jason who we know is a shifter and we assume from the opening chapter that he recognized Chip as his mate when Chip was a child (not as gross as it sounds, just think Renesmee and Jacob and you’ll get over it). So while Chip feels as though he’s just met Jason and doesn’t want to move too fast, Jason has been waiting more than 20 years for Chip to become an adult so that Jason could claim his mate. Fun times, fun times. Jason’s slow seduction over several dates made for some steamy foreplay encounters, I particularly enjoyed the drive-in movie scene. But Chip’s life has never been easy and the manner in which he learns Jason’s secret was no exception. The threat to Chip’s life makes Jason want to speed up the claiming of his mate, while Chip merely wants to catch the first train out of Freaksville (again, Chip’s word – the man did make me laugh a lot). As the remainder of the story plays out, Ms. Church treats readers to the fascinating tale of Jason’s history and how it converged with Chip’s ancestors, Chip finding himself in a whole lotta danger as someone uses him as a means to seek revenge on Jason, a snazzy little hummingbird, and a seriously hot bout of mating sex. Yep, I thoroughly enjoyed Shadows in the Night and have added its sequel, To Touch the Sky, to my to-be read list so that I can enjoy Simon and Hawk’s story. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: Shadows in the Night was an enjoyable shifter novel. I loved the way Ms. Church opened the book with a scene from Chip’s past. Not only did we get to see the bond that young Chip had with the black panther (sorry, I’m a Florida girl and that’s what we call them) but also the bond the cat had with Chip’s grandmother. This introduction served as a nice foundation for the story and goes a long way in explaining why Jason seems to move so fast when Chip returns to town to take up residence in his recently deceased grandmother’s home. Because she helped raise him and was an influential person in his life, Chip loved his grandmother immensely and her death was an unexpected blow. That it came so close after losing his job due to downsizing turned out to be an unwanted blessing in disguise as it gave him a place to live, a much needed change of scenery, and a sense of purpose as he was able to focus on fixing up the house a bit. I will admit that even knowing that this was a shifter book, I was a little thrown by Chip’s reaction toward some of the side characters – well, except for his reaction to Garon because that dude just screamed bad news. But none of that compared to his reaction to Jason – now THAT man sounds like sex on a stick and I was right there with Chip in wanting to tangle my fingers in Jason’s hair. Yummy! Being privy to Jason’s true nature made watching their courtship unfold rather entertaining. On one hand you’ve got Chip who feels a stronger attraction to Jason than he has ever felt for anyone before and who is trying hard the rein in his inner slut (his words). On the other hand you’ve got Jason who we know is a shifter and we assume from the opening chapter that he recognized Chip as his mate when Chip was a child (not as gross as it sounds, just think Renesmee and Jacob and you’ll get over it). So while Chip feels as though he’s just met Jason and doesn’t want to move too fast, Jason has been waiting more than 20 years for Chip to become an adult so that Jason could claim his mate. Fun times, fun times. Jason’s slow seduction over several dates made for some steamy foreplay encounters, I particularly enjoyed the drive-in movie scene. But Chip’s life has never been easy and the manner in which he learns Jason’s secret was no exception. The threat to Chip’s life makes Jason want to speed up the claiming of his mate, while Chip merely wants to catch the first train out of Freaksville (again, Chip’s word – the man did make me laugh a lot). As the remainder of the story plays out, Ms. Church treats readers to the fascinating tale of Jason’s history and how it converged with Chip’s ancestors, Chip finding himself in a whole lotta danger as someone uses him as a means to seek revenge on Jason, a snazzy little hummingbird, and a seriously hot bout of mating sex. Yep, I thoroughly enjoyed Shadows in the Night and have added its sequel, To Touch the Sky, to my to-be read list so that I can enjoy Simon and Hawk’s story. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
May 10, 2015
not set
|
May 10, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 9781619234468
| B01AKRJ0X0
| 3.92
| 404
| Mar 22, 2016
| Mar 22, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Acknowledging that I haven’t read the first three books in the Bend or Break s I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Acknowledging that I haven’t read the first three books in the Bend or Break series, I really thought my favorite book in the series was Love Me Like a Rock. That was, until I read Hard Candy. There was just something about the aloof and socially inept Vinnie, falling in love with the out, loud, and proud dancer, Bryan, that had me smiling almost the entire time. And when I wasn’t smiling, it was because I was either clenching my jaw in anger over the bigotry Vinnie and Bryan faced because of their homosexuality or shaking my head in sadness when Vinnie got in his own way. Apparently still reeling from Austin finding love with Sean, Vinnie ties one on and tries to hook-up with a stranger for some much needed stress relief. The book begins the morning after, when Vinnie wakes up in a stranger’s bed with the hangover to end all hangovers (at least his hangovers). Mortified because he spent the night and has no memory of what they did, Vinnie can’t get out of the room fast enough. Thankfully, well-bred manners meant he asked Bryan’s name before he fled and ends up tracking him down a few days later, using the excuse of returning Bryan’s shirt. Bryan fascinates Vinnie. He’s not used to being around someone whose flame burns so brightly. While his reserved nature tends to steer him away from people like Bryan, Vinnie finds himself drawn to Bryan in a way that he’s never been drawn to anyone before, not even Austin. It turns out, Bryan is just what Vinnie needs because Bryan is blunt and has no problem telling Vinnie what he wants, which is something our socially inept Vinnie desperately needs in a partner. But it’s more than that because Bryan is also very affectionate, using endearments when talking to Vinnie and touching Vinnie in non-sexual ways whenever they’re together. I don’t think Vinnie realized what he was missing out on before Bryan gave him no choice but to accept it. I loved how Bryan taught Vinnie that sex didn’t look the same for everyone. We learn that Vinnie’s hang-ups – poop paranoia and performance anxiety – where likely why he felt the need to get drunk before he and Austin hooked up. Although we do get a full-on sex scene toward the end of the book, most of the sex scenes involve oral and hand jobs because Bryan, much to Vinnie’s relief, prefers sexual intimacy through touch (ugh, I don’t think I’m explaining it right). I loved the dinner with Vinnie’s parents because Vinnie got it right when he saw Bryan’s outfit. I would have loved to see them walk into that restaurant because I know my imagination does not do them justice. While I wasn’t overly surprised by Vinnie’s father’s reaction, I was pleasantly surprised that his mother warmed up to Bryan so much. Of course, following the high of that evening with the confrontation by the homophobes broke my heart for so many reasons. And the showdown at the party was perfect! I really, really enjoyed Hard Candy and I hope that Cousins has more books planned for this series, but until then, I still have the first three to read. [image] Merged review: I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. Acknowledging that I haven’t read the first three books in the Bend or Break series, I really thought my favorite book in the series was Love Me Like a Rock. That was, until I read Hard Candy. There was just something about the aloof and socially inept Vinnie, falling in love with the out, loud, and proud dancer, Bryan, that had me smiling almost the entire time. And when I wasn’t smiling, it was because I was either clenching my jaw in anger over the bigotry Vinnie and Bryan faced because of their homosexuality or shaking my head in sadness when Vinnie got in his own way. Apparently still reeling from Austin finding love with Sean, Vinnie ties one on and tries to hook-up with a stranger for some much needed stress relief. The book begins the morning after, when Vinnie wakes up in a stranger’s bed with the hangover to end all hangovers (at least his hangovers). Mortified because he spent the night and has no memory of what they did, Vinnie can’t get out of the room fast enough. Thankfully, well-bred manners meant he asked Bryan’s name before he fled and ends up tracking him down a few days later, using the excuse of returning Bryan’s shirt. Bryan fascinates Vinnie. He’s not used to being around someone whose flame burns so brightly. While his reserved nature tends to steer him away from people like Bryan, Vinnie finds himself drawn to Bryan in a way that he’s never been drawn to anyone before, not even Austin. It turns out, Bryan is just what Vinnie needs because Bryan is blunt and has no problem telling Vinnie what he wants, which is something our socially inept Vinnie desperately needs in a partner. But it’s more than that because Bryan is also very affectionate, using endearments when talking to Vinnie and touching Vinnie in non-sexual ways whenever they’re together. I don’t think Vinnie realized what he was missing out on before Bryan gave him no choice but to accept it. I loved how Bryan taught Vinnie that sex didn’t look the same for everyone. We learn that Vinnie’s hang-ups – poop paranoia and performance anxiety – where likely why he felt the need to get drunk before he and Austin hooked up. Although we do get a full-on sex scene toward the end of the book, most of the sex scenes involve oral and hand jobs because Bryan, much to Vinnie’s relief, prefers sexual intimacy through touch (ugh, I don’t think I’m explaining it right). I loved the dinner with Vinnie’s parents because Vinnie got it right when he saw Bryan’s outfit. I would have loved to see them walk into that restaurant because I know my imagination does not do them justice. While I wasn’t overly surprised by Vinnie’s father’s reaction, I was pleasantly surprised that his mother warmed up to Bryan so much. Of course, following the high of that evening with the confrontation by the homophobes broke my heart for so many reasons. And the showdown at the party was perfect! I really, really enjoyed Hard Candy and I hope that Cousins has more books planned for this series, but until then, I still have the first three to read. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Mar 19, 2016
not set
|
Mar 22, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 9781623005870
| B00NUGAIT4
| 4.25
| 2,385
| Sep 23, 2014
| Sep 23, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
No surprise here – I absolutely LOVED Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities. As it was a full-length novel, I got to spend even more time with
No surprise here – I absolutely LOVED Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities. As it was a full-length novel, I got to spend even more time with Ondry and Liam this time around. Not only was I treated to a front-row seat at the furthering strengthening and deepening of their palteia and chilta relationship, but I got to explore even more of Rownt along with Liam. As such, I am in awe of Ms. Gala’s ability to create such an interesting world – one which I agree with Liam on: the Rownt make far more sense than humans. I found the action and intrigue that accompanied the introduction of Captain Diallo fascinating. It not only increased the excitement factor in this installment, but it also provided the reader the opportunity to learn exactly why the Rownt are considered predators. Had Liam possessed any lingering doubt regarding Ondry’s commitment to his position as Liam’s chilta, it would have been annihilated when Ondry killed the kawt. As the book progresses we also learn that Diallo’s introduction also lays the foundation for a sequel – a thought which makes me giddy with anticipation. As much as I enjoyed the action and intrigue, it is actually Liam and Ondry’s relationship that I love most about this book. Under Ondry’s care and attention, Liam has flourished as a man and in his role as a palteia. The most telling example of this was when Ondry was mounted and mated by a Grandmother (that term has a different connotation in the series). The Rownt mating process is rather aggressive and from a human perspective, it looks a lot like rape – something that Liam was the victim of. Yet his time spent with Ondry had healed him to the point that he could easily detect the difference between his non-consensual experiences and Ondry’s completely consensual mating and rather than being horrified by the act as he would have been when he first arrived on the planet, he took pride in the fact that Ondry was chosen by a Grandmother and said what Ondry needed to hear in order to go through with the mating. Of course, the mating is strictly for procreation, so it has nothing on Liam and Ondry’s seriously erotic sexual interactions. Ms. Gala has again produced a well-written and highly enjoyable m/m sci-fi romance that I look forward to reading Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities again as I hope that there will indeed be a book three in the series posthaste. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: No surprise here – I absolutely LOVED Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities. As it was a full-length novel, I got to spend even more time with Ondry and Liam this time around. Not only was I treated to a front-row seat at the furthering strengthening and deepening of their palteia and chilta relationship, but I got to explore even more of Rownt along with Liam. As such, I am in awe of Ms. Gala’s ability to create such an interesting world – one which I agree with Liam on: the Rownt make far more sense than humans. I found the action and intrigue that accompanied the introduction of Captain Diallo fascinating. It not only increased the excitement factor in this installment, but it also provided the reader the opportunity to learn exactly why the Rownt are considered predators. Had Liam possessed any lingering doubt regarding Ondry’s commitment to his position as Liam’s chilta, it would have been annihilated when Ondry killed the kawt. As the book progresses we also learn that Diallo’s introduction also lays the foundation for a sequel – a thought which makes me giddy with anticipation. As much as I enjoyed the action and intrigue, it is actually Liam and Ondry’s relationship that I love most about this book. Under Ondry’s care and attention, Liam has flourished as a man and in his role as a palteia. The most telling example of this was when Ondry was mounted and mated by a Grandmother (that term has a different connotation in the series). The Rownt mating process is rather aggressive and from a human perspective, it looks a lot like rape – something that Liam was the victim of. Yet his time spent with Ondry had healed him to the point that he could easily detect the difference between his non-consensual experiences and Ondry’s completely consensual mating and rather than being horrified by the act as he would have been when he first arrived on the planet, he took pride in the fact that Ondry was chosen by a Grandmother and said what Ondry needed to hear in order to go through with the mating. Of course, the mating is strictly for procreation, so it has nothing on Liam and Ondry’s seriously erotic sexual interactions. Ms. Gala has again produced a well-written and highly enjoyable m/m sci-fi romance that I look forward to reading Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities again as I hope that there will indeed be a book three in the series posthaste. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
|
Nov 15, 2014
not set
|
Nov 16, 2014
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 1623006910
| 9781623006914
| B00IDMV57O
| 3.63
| 318
| Feb 10, 2014
| Feb 11, 2014
|
really liked it
|
WOW! I did NOT see that story coming. When I read the blurb for the book, I hadn’t read book one yet so I didn’t know who Vlad was and by the time I g
WOW! I did NOT see that story coming. When I read the blurb for the book, I hadn’t read book one yet so I didn’t know who Vlad was and by the time I got to read both books I had forgotten that Hiding in Plain Sight was about Vlad, so needless to say I was flabbergasted. I must say that I’m glad that I started the book with no expectations as to what it was about because they may have impacted my enjoyment of the book otherwise. I love that Ms. Carr’s Safe Harbor series is (so far) about an in-the-closet gay professional hockey player finding the person that makes him feel safe in admitting who he really is and being true to his sexual preferences. That she accomplishes this with a plentiful amount of hot sex scenes is just the icing on the cake. Vlad’s story is no different. We learn why he did what he did during the Olympic Games in See the Light – I was astounded and quickly found myself saddened for him and the situation he was in. The way in which Joe and Vlad meet was quite the scene and I liked that the author started the book off with a bang. The testosterone levels in this installment are just as high as in book one – Joe may not be a hockey player, but he is former Delta Force, so there was no shortage of aggressively hot sex between him and Vlad. This, of course, just made their relationship development even more entertaining. Hiding in Plain Sight is a well-written sequel that makes for a very enjoyable addition to the series. I look forward to reading the next book in Ms. Carr’s Safe Harbor series. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! Merged review: WOW! I did NOT see that story coming. When I read the blurb for the book, I hadn’t read book one yet so I didn’t know who Vlad was and by the time I got to read both books I had forgotten that Hiding in Plain Sight was about Vlad, so needless to say I was flabbergasted. I must say that I’m glad that I started the book with no expectations as to what it was about because they may have impacted my enjoyment of the book otherwise. I love that Ms. Carr’s Safe Harbor series is (so far) about an in-the-closet gay professional hockey player finding the person that makes him feel safe in admitting who he really is and being true to his sexual preferences. That she accomplishes this with a plentiful amount of hot sex scenes is just the icing on the cake. Vlad’s story is no different. We learn why he did what he did during the Olympic Games in See the Light – I was astounded and quickly found myself saddened for him and the situation he was in. The way in which Joe and Vlad meet was quite the scene and I liked that the author started the book off with a bang. The testosterone levels in this installment are just as high as in book one – Joe may not be a hockey player, but he is former Delta Force, so there was no shortage of aggressively hot sex between him and Vlad. This, of course, just made their relationship development even more entertaining. Hiding in Plain Sight is a well-written sequel that makes for a very enjoyable addition to the series. I look forward to reading the next book in Ms. Carr’s Safe Harbor series. I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
|
Apr 17, 2014
not set
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Apr 17, 2014
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 163533098X
| 9781635330984
| B01LZQYAH5
| 3.91
| 34
| Sep 19, 2016
| Sep 19, 2016
|
really liked it
|
Review to be posted. Merged review: Review to be posted. |
Notes are private!
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2
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Sep 22, 2016
not set
|
Sep 22, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1640802940
| 9781640802940
| B07857YQLR
| 3.99
| 102
| Dec 01, 2017
| Dec 01, 2017
|
it was amazing
|
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I absolutely adored this holiday romance. Casey and Ellis are so completely in I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I absolutely adored this holiday romance. Casey and Ellis are so completely in love with one another and make such a cute couple, that I had zero chance of not falling in love with them. At first glance, Casey’s happy-go-lucky attitude and lighthearted nature (despite their somewhat depressing circumstances) seem to suggest that he was the more submissive half of the couple – at least to me it did. But when they hit the bedroom, Casey is the one to take charge and that makes the sexy times just that… sexy. Despite its short length, Iris manages to include just the right amount of strife and conflict to keep the story from giving readers a toothache, while at the same time uses the issues to illustrate why Casey and Ellis are meant for each other. And their Christmas presents to one another were perfect! I will confess that the emphasis on Ellis and Casey’s dismal finances coupled with the repeated admiration of Casey’s long, beautiful hair had me expecting a M/M take on O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. While this really wouldn’t have bothered me as I’ve always loved that story, Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings is not a retelling of the classic. Nope, Ellis and Casey’s story is all their own and one I enjoyed so much that I actually read it twice. In fact, my enjoyment was such that I’ve actually gotten my hands on another of the author’s Christmas novellas and cannot wait to dive in. Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings has secured a spot on my yearly holiday reading list. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] Merged review: I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I absolutely adored this holiday romance. Casey and Ellis are so completely in love with one another and make such a cute couple, that I had zero chance of not falling in love with them. At first glance, Casey’s happy-go-lucky attitude and lighthearted nature (despite their somewhat depressing circumstances) seem to suggest that he was the more submissive half of the couple – at least to me it did. But when they hit the bedroom, Casey is the one to take charge and that makes the sexy times just that… sexy. Despite its short length, Iris manages to include just the right amount of strife and conflict to keep the story from giving readers a toothache, while at the same time uses the issues to illustrate why Casey and Ellis are meant for each other. And their Christmas presents to one another were perfect! I will confess that the emphasis on Ellis and Casey’s dismal finances coupled with the repeated admiration of Casey’s long, beautiful hair had me expecting a M/M take on O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. While this really wouldn’t have bothered me as I’ve always loved that story, Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings is not a retelling of the classic. Nope, Ellis and Casey’s story is all their own and one I enjoyed so much that I actually read it twice. In fact, my enjoyment was such that I’ve actually gotten my hands on another of the author’s Christmas novellas and cannot wait to dive in. Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings has secured a spot on my yearly holiday reading list. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Nov 25, 2017
not set
|
Nov 25, 2017
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1640802991
| 9781640802995
| B077WFQTPC
| 3.77
| 61
| Dec 01, 2017
| Dec 01, 2017
|
really liked it
|
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I really enjoyed the magical element of A Timely Gift. Whether it’s solstice m I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I really enjoyed the magical element of A Timely Gift. Whether it’s solstice magic or Christmas magic matters not as Rory’s enchanted pocket watch does exactly what his grandfather says it will – sort his life out by Christmas Day. While the skeptic would view Rory’s reconnecting with an ex as no more than a series of coincidences, the romantic will delight in the seemingly magical nudges that Rory’s pocket watch provides to keep the guys on track for their second chance at love together. One of the things I really liked about this second chance romance is that Rory and Deacon’s parting was completely amicable rather than being due to a miscommunication or someone splitting them up. Because their initial relationship ended before major commitments were made, there are no hurt feelings to overcome. This lets the progress that is made in the story’s short timeline feel realistic as Rory and Deacon get caught up on one another’s lives over the past few years and discover that the spark is still there. Apollo’s mimicking abilities and Rory’s grandfather added delightful touches to an enjoyable holiday story. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] Merged review: I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. I really enjoyed the magical element of A Timely Gift. Whether it’s solstice magic or Christmas magic matters not as Rory’s enchanted pocket watch does exactly what his grandfather says it will – sort his life out by Christmas Day. While the skeptic would view Rory’s reconnecting with an ex as no more than a series of coincidences, the romantic will delight in the seemingly magical nudges that Rory’s pocket watch provides to keep the guys on track for their second chance at love together. One of the things I really liked about this second chance romance is that Rory and Deacon’s parting was completely amicable rather than being due to a miscommunication or someone splitting them up. Because their initial relationship ended before major commitments were made, there are no hurt feelings to overcome. This lets the progress that is made in the story’s short timeline feel realistic as Rory and Deacon get caught up on one another’s lives over the past few years and discover that the spark is still there. Apollo’s mimicking abilities and Rory’s grandfather added delightful touches to an enjoyable holiday story. Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that any errors were corrected prior to publication. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Nov 25, 2017
not set
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Nov 25, 2017
not set
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Sep 27, 2024
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ebook
|
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 3.50
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 14, 2014
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
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|||||
|
| 3.94
|
really liked it
|
Jan 09, 2015
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.65
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 22, 2015
not set
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Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.58
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 03, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.75
|
liked it
|
Aug 08, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.60
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 30, 2014
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.84
|
really liked it
|
Nov 21, 2017
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 4.45
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 31, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.35
|
really liked it
|
Dec 11, 2015
not set
|
Sep 28, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.89
|
really liked it
|
May 22, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 4.40
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 23, 2017
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.91
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 13, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 4.20
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 10, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.69
|
really liked it
|
May 10, 2015
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.92
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 22, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 4.25
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 16, 2014
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.63
|
really liked it
|
Apr 17, 2014
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.91
|
really liked it
|
Sep 22, 2016
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.99
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 25, 2017
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
|||||
|
| 3.77
|
really liked it
|
Nov 25, 2017
not set
|
Sep 27, 2024
|
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