Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 108
November 30, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Experiment
The Experiment by Rebecca Raine
Patrick is a straight psychologist, and web designer Logan is his gay friend. Patrick loses a bet over a game of pool and has to kiss the opposite sex. The person ends up being Logan. Patrick doesn't expect the kiss to rev his engine, but it does. So in proper scientific method style, Patrick decides further practical experimentation about his bi-curiosity with Logan is warranted. This is a friends-to-lovers story with a titillating premise and some super-hawt sex scenes. I mean, wowza! Overall, this was above average.
https://amzn.to/3llZf4S
comments
Patrick is a straight psychologist, and web designer Logan is his gay friend. Patrick loses a bet over a game of pool and has to kiss the opposite sex. The person ends up being Logan. Patrick doesn't expect the kiss to rev his engine, but it does. So in proper scientific method style, Patrick decides further practical experimentation about his bi-curiosity with Logan is warranted. This is a friends-to-lovers story with a titillating premise and some super-hawt sex scenes. I mean, wowza! Overall, this was above average.
https://amzn.to/3llZf4S
comments
November 29, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Invisible, as Music
Invisible, as Music by Caren J. Werlinger
I am glad I got to judge this amazing book! One of the most beautiful books I have read in recent memory. Set in the 80s it perfectly catches the mood and mores of this time. A master storyteller shows us how women had to struggle and survived – I so loved the merry band of strong women! Seeing the two main characters Henrietta and Ryn come into their own was a joy. A must read if there ever was one.
https://amzn.to/3D4lN0b
comments
I am glad I got to judge this amazing book! One of the most beautiful books I have read in recent memory. Set in the 80s it perfectly catches the mood and mores of this time. A master storyteller shows us how women had to struggle and survived – I so loved the merry band of strong women! Seeing the two main characters Henrietta and Ryn come into their own was a joy. A must read if there ever was one.
https://amzn.to/3D4lN0b
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Midnight Man
The Midnight Man by Kevin Klehr
At times, especially the beginning of this story, it's a bit hard to know who I was 'listening' to. It was quite confusing. As I started reading, I thought that Stanley, one of the couple MCs, was going to give in and slip into eternal sleep at the insistence of Asher, the midnight man, who is a spirit (?) that invades his dreams nightly and wants Stanley to join him in the afterlife. Frank, Stanley's partner, is one lucky guy considering that in the end, Stanley decides to stay with him even though Frank has hurt him by cheating on him. Once I'd read a few chapters, I got hooked on the story. I only wish the first half of the book was as easy to read. At times, it felt as if I was reading something similar to Ebenizer Scrooge's A Christmas Carol.
https://amzn.to/3FXxWpu
comments
At times, especially the beginning of this story, it's a bit hard to know who I was 'listening' to. It was quite confusing. As I started reading, I thought that Stanley, one of the couple MCs, was going to give in and slip into eternal sleep at the insistence of Asher, the midnight man, who is a spirit (?) that invades his dreams nightly and wants Stanley to join him in the afterlife. Frank, Stanley's partner, is one lucky guy considering that in the end, Stanley decides to stay with him even though Frank has hurt him by cheating on him. Once I'd read a few chapters, I got hooked on the story. I only wish the first half of the book was as easy to read. At times, it felt as if I was reading something similar to Ebenizer Scrooge's A Christmas Carol.
https://amzn.to/3FXxWpu
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Forsaken Fae (The Complete Series, Books 1-3)
Forsaken Fae (The Complete Series, Books 1-3) by R.A. Steffan
Action packed. Drama packed. Great plot. Awesome world building. This story has a lot to like. I'm glad the author sent out the entire series, though, because the first two books end on a cliffhanger and that's something I really despise. This is an enjoyable read that'll keep you hooked all the way to the end. So, if you like fantasy, drama, action, demons, vampires, Oh, My! This book is definitely worth reading.
https://amzn.to/3rhSpkF
comments
Action packed. Drama packed. Great plot. Awesome world building. This story has a lot to like. I'm glad the author sent out the entire series, though, because the first two books end on a cliffhanger and that's something I really despise. This is an enjoyable read that'll keep you hooked all the way to the end. So, if you like fantasy, drama, action, demons, vampires, Oh, My! This book is definitely worth reading.
https://amzn.to/3rhSpkF
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Take Me With You When You Go
Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven
First, let me say that this story was written in an epistolary style via emails between brother and sister. The MM part of it I feel was a secondary 'thought'. The story concentrates between the abuse the two siblings endured from their stepfather and a mother who didn't give a damn. It's heartbreaking at times and hopeful at others. To me, it's rare to read a story written in this format. Did I like it? I'm still not sure. The plot was good, I must confess. I liked the MCs, which I consider to be the brother and sister. They endured a lot, and in the end found the solace they'd been seeking. Good story all around.
https://amzn.to/3xyhIjy
comments
First, let me say that this story was written in an epistolary style via emails between brother and sister. The MM part of it I feel was a secondary 'thought'. The story concentrates between the abuse the two siblings endured from their stepfather and a mother who didn't give a damn. It's heartbreaking at times and hopeful at others. To me, it's rare to read a story written in this format. Did I like it? I'm still not sure. The plot was good, I must confess. I liked the MCs, which I consider to be the brother and sister. They endured a lot, and in the end found the solace they'd been seeking. Good story all around.
https://amzn.to/3xyhIjy
comments
November 28, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Medium to Well (Haunted Hollywood Ever Afters #1)
Medium to Well (Haunted Hollywood Ever Afters #1) by Edie Montreux
The characters (alive and dead) really shone out in this story.
https://amzn.to/3CTNc4I
comments
The characters (alive and dead) really shone out in this story.
https://amzn.to/3CTNc4I
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Shadow of Justice
Shadow of Justice by Jess Faraday
I had not read anything by this author before and I don't usually like collections of shorter stories. I also don't often read historical fiction, but I do like it, when it is well-written! This story was! The style of writing, the perfectly crafted and authentic setting and the complex characters really drew me into their ban. While this book is a collection of stories, there is a red line that leads through these stories, a romance that felt interesting and realistic with a lot of chemistry. The mysteries were very different, some very easy to solve, some impossible to solve, but always kept my interest. I loved and devoured these stories and am happy to have found a master wordsmith in this new-to-me author. I will need to check out her other works, too.
https://amzn.to/3cS8epU
comments
I had not read anything by this author before and I don't usually like collections of shorter stories. I also don't often read historical fiction, but I do like it, when it is well-written! This story was! The style of writing, the perfectly crafted and authentic setting and the complex characters really drew me into their ban. While this book is a collection of stories, there is a red line that leads through these stories, a romance that felt interesting and realistic with a lot of chemistry. The mysteries were very different, some very easy to solve, some impossible to solve, but always kept my interest. I loved and devoured these stories and am happy to have found a master wordsmith in this new-to-me author. I will need to check out her other works, too.
https://amzn.to/3cS8epU
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Keeping Kellan (Keeping Him #2)
Keeping Kellan (Keeping Him #2) by Amy Aislin
Wonderful tale of friendship that develops into a beautiful romance. Two men. The younger one runs away when he thinks his love for the older one is unrequited. The older one thinks the man he has fallen in love with could never love him back. Their love. A secret that neither knows they share. I really enjoyed this story. Oh, so romantic and beautiful! A book worth re-reading. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3xtseZv
comments
Wonderful tale of friendship that develops into a beautiful romance. Two men. The younger one runs away when he thinks his love for the older one is unrequited. The older one thinks the man he has fallen in love with could never love him back. Their love. A secret that neither knows they share. I really enjoyed this story. Oh, so romantic and beautiful! A book worth re-reading. Highly recommended.
https://amzn.to/3xtseZv
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Soft Limits (A Deviations Novel)
Soft Limits (A Deviations Novel) by Jodi Payne
After reading the first book, I was kind of leery about this book. The first book was quite heavy into bdsm and although I like reading books in that genre, I thought it was way too much, for me at least. I was so glad once I started reading this story to see this story wasn't heavy into it. The romance between Dom Bradford and homeless Nikki was fantastic and beautiful. The slowburn friendship to love was well written and it took its appropriate time to develop. This is definitely quite an enjoyable adventure.
https://amzn.to/3FXUkPB
comments
After reading the first book, I was kind of leery about this book. The first book was quite heavy into bdsm and although I like reading books in that genre, I thought it was way too much, for me at least. I was so glad once I started reading this story to see this story wasn't heavy into it. The romance between Dom Bradford and homeless Nikki was fantastic and beautiful. The slowburn friendship to love was well written and it took its appropriate time to develop. This is definitely quite an enjoyable adventure.
https://amzn.to/3FXUkPB
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Breaking the Rules (The Triskelion Series #1)
Breaking the Rules (The Triskelion Series #1) by Jodi Payne and B.A. Tortuga
Fantastic story about finding love again... with a much younger man, and a Dom to boot! This was well written, well put together and quite entertaining. Payne and Tortuga are a perfect match where writing BDSM is concerned. I really enjoyed reading about this (odd) couple. They are certainly the perfect match.
https://amzn.to/319mybh
comments
Fantastic story about finding love again... with a much younger man, and a Dom to boot! This was well written, well put together and quite entertaining. Payne and Tortuga are a perfect match where writing BDSM is concerned. I really enjoyed reading about this (odd) couple. They are certainly the perfect match.
https://amzn.to/319mybh
comments
