Never Lie, my first Frieda McFadden book, was entertaining and fun (in a close-your-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best kind of way). I read it in one sit~3.5~
Never Lie, my first Frieda McFadden book, was entertaining and fun (in a close-your-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best kind of way). I read it in one sitting.
It wasn't particularly scary or suspenseful, but I didn't see all the twists coming either.
(view spoiler)[McFadden uses not one but two unreliable narrators: Tricia and Adrienne.
IMO, Dr. Adrienne's narration is more successful because she doesn't lie to the reader. Ironically, despite her brilliance and experience, she doesn't realize that she's a psychopath.
Look. I've revenge fantasized about slashing some asshole's tires, but A. I don't carry a knife around like lipstick and B. I would never actually do it! And trying to rope someone into killing for you? Yeah, no, that's certifiable - not that EJ didn't deserve it because, holy shit, he was a whole other brand of insane.
Tricia, on the other hands, plays a naive wife initially, but when all is revealed, things don't add up: If she set the whole thing up, why didn't she dress appropriately for the weather? Why was she so terrified of the house? Why did she insist on leaving?
The point of first-person narration is that it allows the reader to engage with the thoughts and emotions of the narrator, which was certainly not the case here. For the twist to be successful, Tricia had to keep things hidden.
The only likable character in the entire story was Luke. Poor guy fell in love with the wrong person.
Also, the police who investigated Adrienne's disappearance did the worst job ever. She was a well-known psychiatrist and author, so the investigation should have been exhaustive, yet the police didn't find the corpse down the road, the corpse IN THE HOUSE, the secret room, the tapes; didn't interview any patients.
The incompetence is so staggering as to be utterly unbelievable. (hide spoiler)]
Despite the eye rolling plot holes in the spoilers, I'm rounding up because this story surprised me and the epilogue is such a deliciously creepy take on the traditional HEA....more
None of this is neatly hidden. It's right there on page. There is no redemption for the first 60 percent of the book, and just when you think the worst is over, more comes in flashbacks.
This is not an easy read. My heart felt clenched and heavy.
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Tucker is a broken man. A successful but closeted country music star, he feels lost, ashamed, and terrified.
Mags, his best friend since high school, is a noose around his neck, dragging him into threesomes with women, wanting Tucker to watch him fuck nameless strangers.
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I did not like Mags. He was selfish and oblivious of Tucker's suffering. Even at the end, when Mags finally SEES and "rescues" Tucker, it felt like too little, too late.
The shining star of the book is Jess, the band's pianist. Kind, giving, and incredibly patient, Jess wears a wedding band on his ring finger but never talks about his private life.
Jess begins to break through Tucker's walls, but those walls are so deep and so shadowed and so damn high, it feels like nothing will ever topple them.
What a brutal story this is, REAL as hell, but not for the faint of heart.
Tucker is a victim who blames himself.
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And there were instances where I blamed Tucker, too, unfairly so, perhaps, but it was so difficult to watch his self-destruction, his willingness to just GIVE UP and be had. It was hard to witness his life in tatters, and him going back for more.
Lynn Kelling does an exceptional job painting a very real picture of a downward spiral and recovery.
Be warned that there is a lot of sexual activity in this book, but the majority of it is not between Tucker and Jess. That comes later. And it's gorgeous when it does: evocative, tender, and passionate.
I at once hated and loved this story. It moved me. It shattered me. I licked up every drop of sweetness and craved more. Lord knows there's never been a more hard-earned HEA.
Songs of the Lonesome Cowboy is as terrifying as it is beautiful. Recommended with caution.
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The blurb speaks to an angsty story I'd normally avoid, but I loved Lynn Kelling's
Dark and angsty, Falling sets a somber, broody atmosphere from the first word.
Desperate to find a job, Malachi, 24, struggles by on canned be4.5 stars
Dark and angsty, Falling sets a somber, broody atmosphere from the first word.
Desperate to find a job, Malachi, 24, struggles by on canned beans and constant rejection. Even as he's forced to live in the cramped storage room of his sister and hateful brother-in-law's house, Malachi knows he can't go back to his controlling ex-boyfriend.
Then one day Malachi sees a man with dark hair and pale skin in the shower gel aisle, a man he can't get out of his mind. When they meet again, they don't let go.
If Malachi has it rough, Harper, 34, has it rougher. Freshly out of prison following a ten-year sentence, Harper is depressed and angry. Anyone would be if they were locked up for an atrocious crime they didn't commit.
Harper was set up and is still paying the price. The daily indignities he has to endure are heartbreaking. They would have been just had Harper been guilty of the crime, but he is an innocent man.
"I didn't let myself miss the touch of another person, the promise of a kiss, the caress of my cock by a hand other than my own, conversation that made me laugh, a face that made me smile, a body that drove me crazy with desire. If I'd know you before I went inside, I'd have gone mad with longing."
Elsborg can write, and the suspense builds from the very first page as we're seeped in Malachi and Harper's stories.
Malachi's mysterious ex, Conrad, is a very real presence in this book, even though he's not on page until the end. Conrad isn't a monster, just a deeply damaged man who doesn't know how to feel. He moves from villain to quiet hero to something else. I hope we get his story in the next book.
The mystery surrounding Harper's imprisonment was well done. As Malachi, who used to be a journalist, digs deeper into the circumstances of Harper's trial, he uncovers lies, half-truths, jealousies, obsession, and greed.
We meet Harper's former colleagues (he was a teacher at an at-risk secondary school), his distant, vaguely cruel father who now suffers from early-onset Alzheimer, and his needy ex-boyfriend Brady.
Harper and Malachi are complex characters with multiple layers; the more I learned about them, the less I felt I knew.
Malachi uses humor to deal with uncomfortable situations, and his snark went a long way toward diffusing the tension of the story.
Harper is melancholy and withdrawn, but he loves Malachi and doesn't want to lose him.
"You are what's most important in my life. Freedom tastes like you."
The steam level in this book is high. The men make desperate, passionate love; nothing is off limits. But the sex is an instrument of their emotions; it's not gratuitous, and it doesn't overwhelm the story.
I would have given this book 5 stars, except I think Elsborg inserted at least one angsty incident too many into the plot. Between Malachi's childhood, his promise to Conrad, the vandalism, homophobia, petty cruelty, and fire, I felt like I was drowning.
But the ending makes the angst worthwhile.
In the last chapter, I unclenched; in the epilogue, I exhaled. ...more
The blurb states: Both of their pasts are filled with malicious ghosts that haunt every step....
Translation (trigger warning):(view spoiler)[history of mental, emotional, and sexual abuse, including on-page, detailed descriptions of rape and violence, via flashback and current. (hide spoiler)]
I feel this should be disclosed, because these themes are a trigger for some readers. Had I known exactly what "malicious ghosts" entailed, I may not have read this book.
And I would have missed out.
This is not an easy book to read: the themes are dark and harsh, but the story is also hopeful and romantic.
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Both Dixon and Jaye are damaged characters. Dixon is a 32-year-old Alaska State trooper, big, strong, and steady. Jaye is a 21-year-old with a two-year prison sentence behind him. Jaye is beautiful but haunted; he wears his tattoos like armor.
At first glance, it's Jaye who needs to be saved, Jaye who needs to be protected. Jaye wants to be Dixon's kept boy. The two negotiate an arrangement: Dixon will watch out for Jaye, making sure Jaye doesn't freeze or starve in the Alaskan wilderness, and in return Jaye will be Dixon's whore.
But Jaye is much more than a rent-boy, and Dixon's feelings for him transcend lust.
Their relationship is complex, maddening, ever changing, and it soon becomes obvious that Dixon needs Jaye as much, if not more, than Jaye needs Dixon.
"Being with you makes me happier than I've been in years, Jaye, and not because you know how to get me off. Stop selling yourself short. You're not that kid you used to be. You're the man I love. So, act like it already."
Dixon's ex-boyfriend, Marcus, is back in town, and Dixon becomes a different man with Marcus around. Marcus owns Dixon, owns him whether Dixon wants to be owned or not. The two have a volatile, disturbing relationship.
Both Dixon and Jaye make poor choices that have irreversible consequences. They negotiate for love and friendship. They push and pull. They're angry. And terrified. There is a tenuous balance of power as they struggle with their inner demons.
The chemistry between Jaye and Dixon is off-the-charts BLAZING: toy and role play, handcuffs, kink, and lots of rough, dirty, explosive sex. There is reenactment of abuse that made my whole body clench is terror. But their connection and desire are a living thing, beautiful and necessary.
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"Can't we just fuck?" Jaye sighed, letting his head fall back as Dixon began trailing kisses and little licks down the underside of Jaye's left leg...moving lower and closer to Jaye's ass. "This seems complicated and unnecessary."
"Some things are more fun than fucking, young'un."
While the landscape isn't described in detail, it's every present: the isolation, the bleakness.
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Nothing is black and white in this book; there are only perceptions and layers. It's not always easy to distinguish reality from interpretation, as both MCs deal with cognitive dissonance, a disassociation central to Stockholm Syndrome.
Jaye's "voices," his memories of prison, the reason he was locked up in the first place, are particularly cruel. I couldn't be certain whether Jaye's "protector" in prison was a villain or a savior.
Arctic Absolution is the first Lynn Kelling book I've read. It's emotionally shattering but brilliant, frustrating but redemptive. It made me cry, and it made me think.
Despite the heavy themes and the suffering, Dixon and Jaye's relationship is a beacon in the darkness. The quiet moments in Jaye's cabin are lovely and tender, and there is so much passion and care between the men. My heart melted when Dixon called Jaye "J-bird," or when Jaye sketched the sleeping Dixon.
I believed in their love because it didn't come easily. Dixon and Jaye needed each other. They needed a HEA.
And they got one.
Smiling hugely...Jaye sprinted across the empty parking lot to Dixon's awaiting Expedition.
"Mr Larson," Dixon warned. "I'm going to have to ask you---Oof"
Jaye jumped on him, wrapping his legs around Dixon's waist; arms slung around his neck, and kissed the words away. "To love you for the rest of my life? Deal."
~~~Disclaimer: I bought this book with its original title, Sweet Son, ages ago. I read it but didn't review/rate. Today I reread it.
The blur3.5 stars
~~~Disclaimer: I bought this book with its original title, Sweet Son, ages ago. I read it but didn't review/rate. Today I reread it.
The blurb states that the story has been significantly revised, so please keep in mind that this review refers to the original, UNREVISED story.~~~
This novella is DARK, and more an allegory than a romance. This isn't Dante's Inferno by any means; there are no seven circles of hell. But there are demons and torture and an ILLUSION of hell.
Because isn't hell what we make it?
Eryn, on a quest to find his true love, the raven-haired, alabaster-skinned prince of his dreams, is brutalized and demeaned. He becomes the sex slave of a pasha. He's raped by a demon. He suffers and screams and begs.
He does all this to become a stronger man, to learn that his pomp and arrogance were nothing but illusions.
But everything is an illusion.
And that was the secret, the truth . . . Strength was not something he achieved or was granted. It was something he claimed.
Eryn finds his prince, oh, yes. But he already had him.
What a twisted little fairy tale this was, a play on Sleeping Beauty, Dante's trek, and Odysseus' journey, with hard-core BDMS mixed in.
Eryn's sexual discovery is at the hands of an older pasha, a powerful magician. Most of the sex is Eryn's torture and submission, all non/dub-con.
The story was sexy and dangerous and totally fucked up. It was also a bit muddled, too abstract at its core.
Heidi Cullinan excels in the contemporary genre, be it naughty or sweet. She is the mistress of truck drivers, casino owners, ranchers, dancers, and naive college boys.
And I BOW DOWN.
This story was not my favorite, but it's still Heidi, so I embrace the pain. ...more
Proceed carefully. This is a fine read if you're into daddy kink, humiliation, and sub sharing, as this was plain fucking twisted on so many levels; tProceed carefully. This is a fine read if you're into daddy kink, humiliation, and sub sharing, as this was plain fucking twisted on so many levels; total and complete mind fuck, particularly the ending. I didn't hate it, but it didn't titillate me either. Mostly porn; some plot. ...more
Seriously, kinks are all good and fine. I don't care what gets your rocks off, but this was a bunch of cruel, poorly developed drivel. I haZERO STARS.
Seriously, kinks are all good and fine. I don't care what gets your rocks off, but this was a bunch of cruel, poorly developed drivel. I hate putting it on my BDSM shelf, because this is NOT BDSM. It's ABUSE.
None of the characters grow or change or have independent thoughts.
Jason, the slave, goes along with everything and worships TJ, his "master." Yes, I've heard of capture-bonding, but this isn't it. There is not enough psychological depth to explain why Jason lets TJ treat him like he does. Much of the humiliation here isn't sexual. TJ makes Jason do his laundry and homework, and steals his money. The word "fag" is thrown around casually and used as the greatest insult.
Even the "good guy," Paul, who "saves" Jason, is a giant fucking turd, just not quite as bad as TJ.
All these people need serious meds and a straight jacket. They're going to start killing puppies soon.
(view spoiler)[Book contains multiple, forced "mouth fucking" with various partners and one rape scene, as well as day-to-day, non-sexual humiliation. (hide spoiler)]
Buddy read with my girl Jen. I needed a buddy to hold my hand through this one because it's far outside the typical m/m genres I enjoy.
Unlike any m/m Buddy read with my girl Jen. I needed a buddy to hold my hand through this one because it's far outside the typical m/m genres I enjoy.
Unlike any m/m book I've read, Seven is equal parts paranormal, hidden dystopia, and psychological thriller. The book compares itself to an X-Files episode, and that's quite apt. It's in a whole other category of Mind Fuck central. Don't think about it too hard. Most of the concepts made sense to me, but I'm not a quantum physicist.
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We have sadistic doctors, mind games, future manipulation, clones (sort of?), an escape plot...and that's just the beginning. To summarize this too much is to spoil it. You have to go in blindly and enjoy the ride.
I had a couple niggles:
The editing could have been tighter. I noticed missing words, spelling errors, and dangling modifiers (which put me right into Tourette territory). The fact that I enjoyed the book despite this speaks to the originality of the plot and the fast-paced movement of the story.
Seven and Chase were hot together (loved the side scenes between Three and Four, too), but I'm not sure I fully understood Chase as a person. Seven, yes, I got him and loved him. The secondary characters (Three and Four, Twenty-Three, Nine, and Thirteen) were well developed. The evil Dr. Stone was one-dimensional, but his sadism and cruelty felt plenty real. But Chase? Not so much. There's an incident in his past and the broken relationship with his father, but I couldn't fully SEE him. I wanted more about him, and I definitely want more of him and Seven together.
The book leaves you with some loose threads, so I'm very happy that a sequel is scheduled to come out later this year. ...more
Expect espionage, futuristic technology, alternate reality, evil plots, and lots of mindfuckery.
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This is a Bourne-like psychological s3.5 stars
Expect espionage, futuristic technology, alternate reality, evil plots, and lots of mindfuckery.
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This is a Bourne-like psychological spy thriller where the two main characters just happen to be gay and share a connection. It's an action book first, a romance second (don't expect a lot of steam here; there's almost none).
Trace's grandfather founded the Trust, a biotechnology corporation that is associated with the CIA. Jake is one of Trace's young recruits. The men never even kiss much less talk about their feelings before Trace is shot (the book begins several years after the shooting, although we get a few flashbacks to fill in the backstory).
Before the shooting, Jake receives a prototype of a "sim chip," which grants him access to all of Trace's knowledge, the catalog of his mind. Jake even talks to the sim, and it's like he's talking to Trace himself. Determined to find out precisely what happened to Trace, Jake goes on a double-crossing mission involving cruel scientists, murderous bosses, and lots of weapons. Whom can he trust, and what does he really know about Trace and himself?
The novel stays firmly in the present. Beside the flashbacks, we learn very little history about the Trust itself or the two MCs (and almost nothing about the secondary characters). We see them in the moment and glean their personalities from their thoughts and actions. The POV here is third-person and limited almost entirely to Jake's thoughts, although we get sections told from others' POV, including the villain's.
I'm not entirely sure all the technology stuff was believable or made sense. Maybe that's just me; I'm not a techno-junkie by any means. But whatever. There was meditation, self-healing, soul connections, and mandalas (bonus points if you know what those are OR you can read the book). Each chapter began with a cool Eastern philosophy quote. I usually don't go for this genre, but this one gave a fairly satisfying crunch. ...more
This book was a mindfuck, which probably means I was overthinking (again).
In the story we see Shiloh meeting Travis at age 18 and again at age 36. AtThis book was a mindfuck, which probably means I was overthinking (again).
In the story we see Shiloh meeting Travis at age 18 and again at age 36. At 18, Shiloh is depressed and tired of being bullied; he tries to take his life, and Travis (who's five years older), a paramedic, is the first responder. Travis saves Shiloh's life, and Shiloh notices Travis but doesn't have the courage to ask him to stay.
When Shiloh is 36, he sees Travis smoking outside a school, and the two click instantly. They begin dating; they fall in love. But Travis falls ill. Will this be the end of their story?
Which of the stories is the "real" one? Or is it simply two possibilities, two roads, always leading to the same person but perhaps a different ending?
REALLY BIG SPOILER COMING UP:
(view spoiler)[I finally concluded that the future story, where Shiloh and Travis meet at ages 36 and 41 is the cautionary tale, the WHAT IF, what MIGHT be if you don't grab love when you first see it.
In the future story, a few weeks into their whirlwind courtship, Travis finds out he has lung cancer due to an 18-year smoking habit. Shiloh is about to lose the man he loves. BUT.
He can stop it if he finds the will to live and love Travis in the NOW, if he can find the strength to come out, reach out, and move on. The past can change the future; the decisions we make affect the trajectory of our lives. Shiloh can save Travis the way Travis saved him. (hide spoiler)]
The book was well written and well developed, especially considering the short length. It was also a Hanukkah story; three cheers for that! ...more
I never would have read this book had I not seen the multiple glowing reviews come across my feed. I don't usually read s4.5 UNIVERSE-SHATTERING STARS
I never would have read this book had I not seen the multiple glowing reviews come across my feed. I don't usually read sci-fi. I don't do aliens. And it's not because I'm arrogant enough to think we're the only intelligent beings in the universe, but because I generally prefer not to speculate about the vastness of space and time.
But thank the gods for peer pressure. Because this book was BLOODY. BRILLIANT.
Everything in this novel felt real and right: the war with the Faceless; the bleak future filled with destruction and fear; the brutality of conscription; the harshness of life on the edge of death; Cam, Brady, and Cam AND Brady - in every possible way, I believed in THEM, their connection, their soul-searing love.
The only minor niggle (and one that has been mentioned in other reviews) is that the ending felt rushed and slightly incomplete.
There was ONE question in particular that I don't think was resolved. If you've read the book, please read the spoiler and help me understand. I may go out of my mind if left hanging.
(view spoiler)[ If earth signed the treaty with the Faceless and the war is over, why were the stations and men left in space? Brady is released and Cam sent down with him to make sure Brady gets home, but does that mean Cam has to go back into space? Because that sure as hell wouldn't be a HEA. (hide spoiler)]...more
~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~
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