Well, I don't think Powered by Ghosts was a huge improvement over the first in the series, but I want these books to be good so badly that I think I wWell, I don't think Powered by Ghosts was a huge improvement over the first in the series, but I want these books to be good so badly that I think I willed myself to a higher rating.
I love, love, love paranormal romances, and give me a historical M/M romance with a magical twist, and I'm sold. But these books are just not quite there.
I enjoyed Grim and Pip and their personalities a great deal, and I was entertained by the plot, but the half-hearted world building and the instalove (only 10 days together??) made the book stay just at the good mark.
I'm hoping that the relationship between Darien and and Silas will continue to deepen and become more meaningful, and I hope that I won't get annoyed with Darien being magically intuitively great at everything (spoiler: already getting annoyed).
Still, despite my complaining, there was something about the story that I liked, and I finished it very quickly, in less than 24 hours. Is it enough to keep me going with the series? Remains to be seen.
Now this was the sugary-sweet Christmas romance I was hoping for from Jay Northcote. Just ooey-gooey feels and family, like a big cup of hot chocolateNow this was the sugary-sweet Christmas romance I was hoping for from Jay Northcote. Just ooey-gooey feels and family, like a big cup of hot chocolate.
Rudy was just so adorable. I'm a sucker for a dorky, secretly-sexy MC, and Rudy just fit that perfectly. I liked his big, loving family and the cozy setting of the story.
Just a sweet, new adult Christmas novella to get you into the spirit of the holidays.
Though a lot of my friends loved this one, I had the hardest time with it. Sure, We Have Till Dawn wasn't a bad book, but I felt underwhelmed by the rThough a lot of my friends loved this one, I had the hardest time with it. Sure, We Have Till Dawn wasn't a bad book, but I felt underwhelmed by the romance.
I immediately wanted to pick up this Cara Dee story because of the promise of an autistic MC. I love MCs that are not cookie-cutter, and I was extremely excited to get that here. However, that wasn't enough to make me enjoy the story.
We Have Till Dawn is the type of story that sorely needs a duel POV. I felt like I didn't understand Gideon at all. Nicky I got more, even if he was a bit too much for my tastes and didn't respect Gideon's boundaries all of the time, but Gideon was a big mystery for me. The whole discovery of his sexuality in his 40s didn't quite make sense to me. Why did it take him so long to get there when he was clearly a hyper-sexual person? I had questions.
I also feel like Gideon's autism got a very superficial treatment. I wanted to get to know him more, as a whole person, but I didn't get that experience. I think it also affected their chemistry because, while they started off with fireworks, I felt like that waned over time.
Truly, I almost DNFed multiple times. It was difficult for me to finish the story, even though there were some highlights, like Nicky's family and the music details. I just wasn't into the romance, which is a shame.
Merry Cherry Christmas was a perfectly nice Christmas story from one of my favorite authors, Keira Andrews, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I shMerry Cherry Christmas was a perfectly nice Christmas story from one of my favorite authors, Keira Andrews, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I should have liked it more.
The story had everything that I normally eat up like ice cream. We get a shy virgin MC, a holiday romance, a jock/nerd dynamic, and a sweet love story. However, I kept putting it down, and it took me over four days to finish (unheard of for a Keira Andrews book!).
I think I struggled with how incredibly insecure Jeremy acted all the time. I get feeling unattractive, but it was every. single. interaction. I think it just wore me out. The physical relationship also moved a little quickly for me (I prefer lots of sexual tension and buildup), but that's just personal preference.
I enjoyed the snowy Canadian setting and the maple syrup farm, the non-white MC, and Max's adorable family dynamics, but it never moved above just pleasant for me.
Though this wasn't a home-run for my tastes, I would recommend it to friends who want to read a light holiday romance, which is more important this year than ever. Ho, ho, ho, everyone!
Don't shoot me for bah-humbug-ing all over this holiday romance, but I couldn't get into the Christmas spirit.
This is my second book by Amy Aislin, anDon't shoot me for bah-humbug-ing all over this holiday romance, but I couldn't get into the Christmas spirit.
This is my second book by Amy Aislin, and it's my second one that I didn't really enjoy. I don't think she is the author for me, I'm afraid. It might just be me as all of my friends seem to enjoy Gingerbread Mistletoe, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I found Gingerbread Mistletoe to be incredibly boring. I fell asleep while reading it 4 nights in a row (!), and I had to push to get through it, even though it's under 200 pages long. I know it's supposed to be a sweet, low-angst contemporary romance, but it was so blah for me that I kept getting the characters mixed up (that's what sleeping while reading will do to you...), especially the secondary characters. It was all just so bland.
The book was sweet and had a lot of holiday spirit, so I think if you like the writing style of Amy Aislin, it might work for you. However, it was not the right fit for me, unfortunately. I'll have to get my Christmas romance fix elsewhere this year.
When life gets you stressed, I think the best medicine is a light, fluffy polyamory book with kinky gay elves and a clueless cowherd. Or so*3.5 stars*
When life gets you stressed, I think the best medicine is a light, fluffy polyamory book with kinky gay elves and a clueless cowherd. Or so I've been told...
Elf Defence is another delightful book in the Adeventures in Aguillon series, though I recommend reading Red Heir first in order to understand this book better. It doesn't work well as a stand-alone.
Funny? Yes. Cute? Yes. A successful romance? Not really.
I think Elf Defence will make you smile and charm you, especially if you like irreverent, light-hearted fantasy, but as a M/M/M romance, it was lacking. I wanted Lars's POV, and without it, I just got two elves that sort of fell into a romance with a human, almost by accident. It didn't work well as a romance, IMO, though I really, really wanted it to.
I also think the book would have been better as a novella, which is something I rarely say. It felt a bit long for a plot that was very, very thin. It ended up dragging for me in the middle, though it recovered by the end.
I'll certainly be moving on with the series, but I'm hoping the romance will be more developed in the next book.
Final overall rating, 4 stars. A beautiful set of supernatural stories, even though some had some flaws. A great read for fans of something sweet and Final overall rating, 4 stars. A beautiful set of supernatural stories, even though some had some flaws. A great read for fans of something sweet and spooky at the same time.
Reparation- 3.5 stars Beautifully written, but the slavery aspect made me extremely uncomfortable. I couldn't get past it, even at the end. I thought the story gave a great sense of atmosphere, and I felt the chilling, barren vibe of the world, but I didn't enjoy the power imbalance. Still, it showcased Eli Easton's writing talents.
The Bird- 4 stars This is a gorgeous, creepy, powerful story that takes place at a Jamaican planation during British rule. The romance knocked my socks off, but I knocked a full star off of this one due to some racist undertones. Yes, I know that the MC is a plantation owner and he might view his servants certain way due to the time period, but I struggled with a few of the descriptions. Really rubbed me the wrong way, and I know it's just a few words here or there, but I wish the author had just omitted those elements. Aside from that, the story was perfect for the Gothika collection.
Among the Dead- 4 stars I really enjoyed this magical realism story. Some spooky elements with all of the dead people and a few emotional moments, but it never got into the realm of extremely sad or extremely upsetting. I got very into the story, and I had a hard time putting it down. Truly, just a well done story with some surprises and a lovely, though very quick, romance.
The Black Dog- 4 stars Another winner to round off the anthology! I really enjoyed this one, and a huge Scottish man with a brogue is never a bad thing. The romance moved a little quickly, which is to be expected in a story of this length, but I loved the cast of characters and the feel of the small, Scottish town. A few twists and turns to keep things exciting. A winner.
DNF- I was lost from not reading the others in the series. I don't think it works as a stand-alone. No rating. DNF- I was lost from not reading the others in the series. I don't think it works as a stand-alone. No rating. ...more
I enjoyed The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns, though I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about it as many of my friends.
I have a real love of magic and paraI enjoyed The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns, though I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about it as many of my friends.
I have a real love of magic and paranormal books, and my bar is set quite high due to my rabid consumption of series like "The Dresden Files" by Jim Butcher and the "Hidden Legacy" series by Ilona Andrews. I expect a lot from my paranormal romances, and though I thought The Fantastic Fluke was charming, and the fox was so fantastic, I also struggled a lot with plot holes and the romance.
For one, I really don't know what Gideon actually taught Sage except for how to lust after a non-corporeal being?? There were a lot of murky details about their training and how Sage came into his powers. I had a lot more questions than answers by the end, and I was left wondering if I missed something or if my questions will be answered in the next book.
Also, the romance was a bit... weird. It was underdeveloped, IMO, but as a series I would hope that relationship building would continue in the next book. Between that and the pacing, which was quite slow, I checked out a bit in the middle before getting into the story again at the end.
I enjoyed the overall vibe and the supporting characters a great deal, but I thought the story was a bit clumsy and needed more details to make it feel real. It was a good start, but I wasn't in love.
Melissa and The Vicar is a raw, sexual, angsty historical romance with a bisexual female MC and a virgin male MC. There was so much to love in this story, and though the plot was messy at times, I couldn't put it down.
There is a lot to unpack with this book, and S.M. LaViolette never lets us have it easy. This isn't a simple story with a titled man falling in love with a Madame and then they all live happily ever after. There are lies, there is waffling back and forth, and the path to this marriage and HEA is not at all easy. It felt real to me, honestly, and I'm glad the author put these characters through so much to get that authentic feeling.
The highlights of the story for me was the scorching hot sex scenes in this story. Magnus is a very studious pupil, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how sex-positive the story ended up being. The chemistry between these two MCs is electric and their sex life is no missionary-only, that's for sure. Fire.
My one complaint is that the plot felt overly complicated at times, but I often see that with this author. Truly, I didn't mind it much because all of the pieces fell into place, and it was almost beautifully messy. This author has such a way with words that she wins me over, every time.
Erotic, painful, difficult, and lovely, Melissa and The Vicar captures the whole range of emotions and shows the true depth of S.M. LaViolette's talent. I couldn't get enough.
This is an extremely difficult review for me to write, so much so that I don't even want to do it. I mean, did being in quarantine during *2.5 stars*
This is an extremely difficult review for me to write, so much so that I don't even want to do it. I mean, did being in quarantine during Covid break my brain? How could I not love the final book in the Green Creek series?? I feel like crying right now, and it's not from the emotional ending to Brothersong.
Brothersong has a sea of positive, raving reviews from my friends, and I got warnings about you'll be crying your eyes out!, but I finished the book feeling, well, like nothing much at all. I enjoyed it, but I have to say, I feel epically disappointed.
Here is my honest (spoiler-free) breakdown:
I found the first part of the book to be confusing. The story in the beginning feels like you are reading it from underwater. It's all blurry, and gloomy, and muddled and the writing is purposefully vague and dark. I had a very hard time with it. At first, it was interesting to me, a stylistic choice from T.J. Klune that I was excited to try out, but then it just got flat-out difficult to read. There was so much going on, so much just thrown at us with lots of questions that I didn't feel were answered, that I felt just lost.
There are too many time jumps. The book flashes back a lot in time, and while a few of those are okay, I kept having to reorient myself and remind myself of what was going on and where I was in time. All of those flashbacks felt like clutter.
There wasn't enough focus on the romance between Carter and Gavin. I wish they had their own book prior to this final story because I felt like the romance was squashed in between the wrap up for the series. I truly didn't feel the love between these two guys, and that saddened me. There wasn't a lot of page time with just Carter and Gavin together, and I didn't feel like the romance was nearly as strong as the other pairings in the book. Gavin needed more time to show his entire personality, IMO. I really didn't feel like I knew Gavin as much as I needed to. And Carter, Carter!. He had so much potential based on his personality in the other books, and I fell like it was barely shown here.
There is too much page-time with secondary characters. I feel like it was a everyone in the pot! situation. Even minor characters got their chance in the sun, and it made the book feel unfocused for me.
I wish there were more times where Carter and Gavin got to shine, just the two of them. The story is very long and very plot-heavy, but the middle dragged on and on for me. It is extremely unusual for me to take three days to read a T.J. Klune book, but here we are.
No, I don't only have negative things to say about this story. I could see T.J. Klune's passion in Brothersong and his deep love of these characters. I felt like he really tried to show EVERYTHING in this book: the love between brothers, the love between mates, the love between pack, and the love between family. Every character gets a lot of page-time, and I feel like TJ was trying to send them off in the best way possible.
I don't know, I must be broken. BROKEN. I didn't cry, I didn't feel overly emotional, I felt sort of... nothing. And isn't that sad? I love these characters and this series, so it makes me feel truly upset that this book didn't touch me. It might be my mood, it might be the length of the story, it might have been a combination of things, but, alas, that is life. It isn't a bad book, but it didn't make me feel like I was expecting to feel.
Green Creek, I will miss you and your fantastically gay werewolves, even if this story wasn't a 5-star read for me.T.J. Klune wrote a powerful, memorable, awesome, emotional series, and I'll remember it for always. packpackpack forever.
I love Lisa Henry, and I really love her when she writes funny stories, so it's natural that I couldn't wait to try Red Heir. Though it was*3.5 stars*
I love Lisa Henry, and I really love her when she writes funny stories, so it's natural that I couldn't wait to try Red Heir. Though it wasn't a full home-run for me, it was charming and utterly delightful.
Red Heir really shined for me with the comedic moments. It reminded me a little bit of The Lightning-Struck Heart but dialed down a bit. There were scenes where I was shaking with laughter while reading in bed (sorry, hubby). The dialogue and the cast of character was just so fun. It was such an easy, entertaining read. However, I could have used even a wee bit more of that energy with the romance aspect of the story.
I think having only one POV made the romance feel a bit weaker for me. I didn't get into the head-space of both MCs, which made it harder to see the relationship evolving. Sure, I heard about how these guys liked it each other, but it felt very sudden when they got together. It felt too soon, like I needed more UST to really ramp up the emotions. I didn't get the whys of their relationship, and, honestly, the heat level was fairly low for Lisa Henry book. Also, the characters didn't feel as developed as I would have liked.
Though the main characters and their romance could have used some work, the story was so fun that I didn't even care all that much. Plus, I was excited to be introduced to a new author (Sarah Honey), and I'm pumped to see what else she has in store for me. As always, a very enjoyable read from the lovely Lisa Henry.
Of course I loved this, guys, I mean it's DADDY KINK.
I'm a picky, picky reader who has read thousands of romances, but for some reason, give me a braOf course I loved this, guys, I mean it's DADDY KINK.
I'm a picky, picky reader who has read thousands of romances, but for some reason, give me a bratty boy and a stern daddy and I'm like putty.
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Cabin Fever had a lot of sex in it, but unlike some readers, I found it to have enough plot to keep me more than satisfied. It was S-T-E-A-M-Y, and readers who like their books with sex, sex, and more sex will be happy.
I'm not a huge fan of suspense, but the suspense was sort of the backdrop for a predicament romance, which is something a I adore. Oh no, I'm trapped in a house with a super hot bodyguard and just these *tiny, tiny* pairs of underwear. Whatever shall I do?? I mean... Yes. Every day, yes.
I loved how utterly submissive Michael ended up being. Vincent couldn't push him far enough, though I liked to see him try. This isn't a high impact play or master/dom-ish BDSM kind of book, which is why I enjoyed it so much.
The perfect length to keep me up all night reading. Cabin Fever was a deliciously kinky, charming erotic romance. It might not suit all readers, but it suited me just fine.
I could tell right away it was an older book (aI'm a huge Anyta Sunday fan, and I beta read for her often, but Better Be Sure was an odd read for me.
I could tell right away it was an older book (at least, I hope it was) because it had a lot of awkward phrasing and confusing scenes. That intro football scene was particularly disorienting for me. There was a stiffness and a forced-feeling to the writing that didn't work for me. There were also character inconsistencies that needed resolving.
What really made me struggle with this book was the absolutely unnecessarily ridiculous set up to the major tension in the plot. Books with forced conflict due to betting don't usually work for me, but a bet of this magnitude when the MC knew how much was riding on it, and a bet that was insanely easy to win (just explain things, dude, it's a pretty important bet!!) didn't make a whole lot of sense. I didn't get why the bet was made in the first place, I didn't get why Jack didn't just explain things to Ed, and I didn't get why Jack didn't just tell the frat boys to screw themselves and keep going on his merry way.
This was an unnecessarily dramatic read that felt very, very teenage drama. I was not into it, but I hope the series continues to improve as these two authors have certainly stepped up their game since this was written.
I love Roe Horvat and everything that he writes, and Third One was just as scorching hot as I was hoping it would be.
Historically, I have a much hardI love Roe Horvat and everything that he writes, and Third One was just as scorching hot as I was hoping it would be.
Historically, I have a much harder time with poly romance books than romance books with only two people in a relationship, though some of my favorite books feature a poly romance. However, they tend to be the exception. While I thoroughly enjoyed Third One, the actual romance of it wasn't as strong for me as in the first two books in the series.
The sex was there and the book was nearly unputdownable but the love between Lucas and Liam in such a short span of time... ehhh.
I think this book will be a hit for most readers, and I loved reading it, but I enjoyed it more for the electric, raw sensuality than for the deep romantic connection. I think poly books are just much harder to pull off. And, to be frank, the first two books are some of my all-time favorites and are a very difficult act to follow.
Roe Horvat is one of my favorite authors, and if you loved The Other Book and Adam Only, you will enjoy this one too. Roe truly never lets me down.
I've always enjoyed Jay Northcote and his books, and I liked Happy Place also, though I had a few issues.
I love a good age-gap story and I*3.5 stars*
I've always enjoyed Jay Northcote and his books, and I liked Happy Place also, though I had a few issues.
I love a good age-gap story and I love a coming out story, so I was excited for this one. And I think that those parts of the story were done very well. I particularly liked how Jay allowed his characters to have "bad sex." Yup, awkward, first-time sex where things don't go as planned and you are trying to figure each other out. I loved that, because real life sex is often not even a close cousin to the *explosions* seen in romance books.
Where I think the story needed more work was in the relationship development. The chemistry felt a bit off, both sexually and romantically, and I struggled to feel the love. It felt like the very, very start of a relationship, not long enough to develop real feelings, and I'm not even quite convinced that these two are a good match. Something never fully clicked.
Also, and this is going to seem so petty and minor, but it's a big pet peeve of mine when an author using too many exclamation marks. It's pretty ironic because I *love* using them myself in reviews and correspondence, but just like characters giggling grates on me, I find the overuse of exclamation marks makes the story seem phony. Jay is a big user of exclamation marks, and, though it might seem super minor, it was enough to detract from the story for me.
Fairly quick, low angst, and a nice coming out story, Happy Place worked for me, despite my minor issues.
I'm a big fan of Minerva Spencer, and I was very excited to read A Figure of Love after I loved the first in the series. And Minerva did it again withI'm a big fan of Minerva Spencer, and I was very excited to read A Figure of Love after I loved the first in the series. And Minerva did it again with another interesting, exciting historical romance story.
Though it doesn't explicitly say so, I loved how we got a male MC on the autistic spectrum. Autistic MCs are fairly rare in romance, though I've read a few, and it was exhilarating to find one in this story, even if he was on the very high functioning end of the spectrum. I sincerely hope that this author keeps coming up with interesting, less mainstream characters because I'm absolutely here for it.
Minerva Spencer writes characters with tortured, angsty pasts, and I liked how she balanced the true hardships they've been through without weighing down the story and making it feel overly depressing. She is an expert at that, and I really enjoyed it here.
The plot was a bit confusing and muddled at times, but I didn't want to put it down. It's fairly fast-paced, and you will want to keep reading straight through in one sitting. The great chemistry and pacing makes up for the overly complicated plot.
Part of it was immensely enjoyable. I love a good sexuality discovery story and theFake It 'til You Make Out was both SO much fun and SO frustrating.
Part of it was immensely enjoyable. I love a good sexuality discovery story and the MC's realization of his bisexuality was refreshingly angst-free. He wasn't hung up on the whys or hows, and I adored how he just embraced his desires. The whole set up was pretty much my crack. Friends-to-lovers and fake boyfriends... I mean, just take my money! I couldn't get enough.
But, alas, not all was perfect.
Simply put, this author needs an editor. Badly. So many easy to correct errors. EVERYWHERE. All of the characters are supposed to be American, yet "centre" was spelled the British way in every instance. There were other examples of non-American spellings and idioms, and I wanted to scream every time I read them. Also, please, either put dialogue in quotes or italics, not BOTH! The author randomly switched back and forth in how she did her dialogue from italics to quotations and, most annoying, often both. Please, no.
And, finally, the real kicker: An incredibly silly misunderstanding to create drama. WHY???? The author made it through most of the book so drama-free, and then she had to throw a wrench into everything. And it was 100% unnecessary! Just lazy writing.
Despite my issues, I have to admit, this book was adorable.. Super fun, hot bisexuality discovery story with some funny banter and an easy-to-read plot. The author better step up her editing game for the next in the series because I really want to continue.
Angsty, angsty pain that hurts so good, Lisa Henry wrote a book that pulls no punches and was extremely hard to put down. The Parable of *4.5 stars*
Angsty, angsty pain that hurts so good, Lisa Henry wrote a book that pulls no punches and was extremely hard to put down. The Parable of the Mustard Seed is a beautiful story that will stay with you for a long time.
Honestly, I wouldn't have thought that I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did. To start, it is extremely angsty with no easy fixes, which means that there is no "magic sex button" that makes all the pain go away. The pain is real, the trauma is real, and it's an ongoing issue throughout the story.
Also, I don't usually like stories where the love is already established. True, the dynamics of the relationship between the two MCs changes over the course of the story, but the love they have for each other is a constant in their relationship, no matter the form. I usually go for books that take us through first meeting to a slow-burn love story, but this wasn't that type of novel.
Also, there are a lot of flashbacks, which also doesn't usually work for me. I didn't mind it here, and it gave me a lot of insight to their characters.
I was awed and disturbed by this story. Parts were a bit hard to read, but I found it to be endlessly interesting and nearly impossible to put down. I read it straight through, practically all in one sitting. I loved the love that I felt between the two MCs, and I loved that we got a POC MC. There was a lot to love in this story.
If you are in the mood for an intense but rewarding read with a hard-fought HEA (yes, it's there, I promise), The Parable of the Mustard Seed is exactly what you are looking for.
I read this book almost a month ago, but I wish I could re-read Caulky right now because I need something sweet, hot, and fluffy in my life (as we allI read this book almost a month ago, but I wish I could re-read Caulky right now because I need something sweet, hot, and fluffy in my life (as we all do).
K.M. Neuhold is fast becoming an auto-buy for me, and this book is exactly why. Caulky is a funny, light, improbable romance and just makes you feel good. Sure, the plot is not very realistic (hook-up app relationship happening simultaneously with a real-life hook-up, and they happen to be the same person??), and it's a story similar to ones I've read before, but I simply did not care. I was hooked.
I read this on vacation, and it was the perfect "vacation read." Whether you are actually on the beach or you just want a real-life vacation, this book will take you there. Lots of fun banter, great texting game, and two guys who carry just enough baggage to make it interesting. You won't be disappointed.
Sweet story, but not particularly impressive, unfortunately.
I think this is one of those stories that could have really benefited from a d*2.5 stars*
Sweet story, but not particularly impressive, unfortunately.
I think this is one of those stories that could have really benefited from a duel POV. Just being in Vaughn's head made the story feel very one-sided. I never felt like I really understood Alex's side of things and his motivations.
The secondary characters didn't add much to the story, and I didn't like Vaughn's judgy sister. Lots of meh here. The plot was cute and puppies!, but a few sweet dogs and a small-town romance doesn't always equal a win. A few too many insecurities and not enough communication also hurt things.
A sweet story that will work for some readers but I wanted more.
I love Barbara Elsborg, and I read almost everything she writes, so I was really excited for Second Chance. On the plus side, it has that q*3.5 stars*
I love Barbara Elsborg, and I read almost everything she writes, so I was really excited for Second Chance. On the plus side, it has that quirky humor and witty banter that I always associate with Barbara's work. However, without getting into any spoilers, I thought that the relationship had too many cooks in the kitchen.
I love when Barbara writes paranormals, but I wish this one had a less convoluted plot. Parts were really predictable, but I thought it just got to be a little over complicated. I would have killed for just a funny, well-written "fish out of water" paranormal romance. Through in some werewolves, dead-panning twinks, and oodles of hot sex and I'm a happy camper. But I felt like Barbara just couldn't help herself and the plot kept getting layers thrown on.
I might have been okay with some of the twists had everything not resolved so quickly. Simply put: I didn't buy that the romance was fully there between Ryder and Callan. I found the story to be charming and an easy read, but I thought it needed a lot more for me to squee over the romance.
A nice story from the always great Barbara Elsborg, even if it doesn't come close to my favorite Elsborg books.
I'm a huge fan of Minerva Spencer, and I'm an even bigger fan of atypical MCs, so I was immediately drawn to The Music of Love. And, truly,*4.5 stars*
I'm a huge fan of Minerva Spencer, and I'm an even bigger fan of atypical MCs, so I was immediately drawn to The Music of Love. And, truly, Minerva Spencer didn't let me down.
What really sets this story apart is that the male MC has albinism, which is very unusual for a character in a romance book. Now, as a person with a science background, I was a little dismayed at how the character was portrayed as there were some glaring errors (eye color, how albinism is passed down- very rare as it requires two recessive genes so it can be buried in a family for generations), but I'm hoping the author corrects some of those in the final copy.
Aside from some science-y things that may not bother most readers, I loved the story. I read the story all night long, and didn't want to put it down. It's a fairly long book, but I breezed through it. It was addictive and oh so good.
The more I read romance, especially historical romance, the more I like a feisty female MC. I'm done with meek little mouses, and I like a woman with bite. Portia did not play when it came to her emotions, desires, and temper, and I loved every second of it. She was sensual and sex-positive, and just a delight to read about.
Stacy was a good contrast, actually, and I liked that under his cool exterior he was also explosive, both in the bedroom and with his emotions. He was smart, strong, and different, and I admired all of those things. I also loved, loved how he didn't subscribe to society's expectations of who he should be and who he should associate with. He made his own rules, and he was his own man. Loved it.
Sure, the story is pretty outlandish, but I've come to realize that life is outlandish also, so who says a story like this couldn't happen. The plot moved forward with a fast, exciting pace, and it kept me interested through every page.
A story full of intrigue, deception, and a male MC with a rare genetic condition, The Music of Love was exactly the type of book I love to read.
Keira Andrews never fails me, and The Christmas Deal delivered with a delicious opposites-attract, fake boyfriend, sexuality discovery story that madeKeira Andrews never fails me, and The Christmas Deal delivered with a delicious opposites-attract, fake boyfriend, sexuality discovery story that made me want to squee and beg for more!
I heart holiday stories that make me happy, and though this book features two guys going through some rough times, the overall vibe is support and love. Ex-Marine Logan has such a wonderful family that it was a joy to read about, even with the drama with his step-son. I usually don't like kids or kid-drama in my romances, but Keira Andrews has a way of doing family books right. I loved the heart-warming feeling of the story, and I thought Keira pulled everything off seamlessly.
Yes, let's talk about the bisexuality of Logan because I love a repressed sexuality character coming to terms with his attractions for the first time. Yes, Logan pushed those feelings towards men way down, but the way he acted with Seth... whew sexy and sweet, all at the same time! I love how the romance was slow burn (slow burn is my crack!!), and the way the feelings developed felt organic and explosive. I could have read about their sexy-times all day and all night!
Sexy, sweet, heart-warming, and yet packing an emotional punch, The Christmas Deal should be your one-click Christmas romance of 2019!
Yaaaaaaas! The time has come, and this long awaited book is finally here. And friends, this book is so glorious that it is WORTH the wait.
Guys, if youYaaaaaaas! The time has come, and this long awaited book is finally here. And friends, this book is so glorious that it is WORTH the wait.
Guys, if you haven't read Dark Space and Darker Space, don't even THINK about picking up Starlight. It is not a stand-alone. Not even a little bit. But, honestly, why would you want to pass on the majesty that is books 1 and 2 in this series?
I feel a little bit about Starlight that I did about Darker Space in that it's hard to explain what actually happens and how Lisa Henry manages to make everything so freaking compelling. And, friends, this book is compulsively readable. I'm talking, "clear your schedule" kind of a book. I read Starlight straight through in one sitting, finally finishing it around 2 am. I could NOT put it down.
We get a lot of the nitty gritty details that I was hoping we would get. We learn a LOT more about the Faceless, and we get even more progression in Brady and Cameron's relationship. We really dig deep into this wonderful and scary and interesting world that Lisa Henry created, and I couldn't get enough.
And then, we get a twist, baby! Man, there are some surprises that I did not see coming. Don't read spoilers because this book gets really good the longer it goes. I don't think I could have stopped reading if I tried in the last 30%.
All Dark Space fans, you WILL love this book. Trust me. And this book still leaves off with so much potential for more. Even Chris will get under your skin, and if he doesn't get his own book, I may die. (Very slightly exaggerating.)
I can't even talk about it anymore because I want you to experience it for yourself. Just buy it already.
I really, really wanted to like this book, mainly because I usually enjoy Jay Northcote's stuff, and the book is so sweet, but I struggled *2.5 stars*
I really, really wanted to like this book, mainly because I usually enjoy Jay Northcote's stuff, and the book is so sweet, but I struggled to get through it, if I'm being honest.
The story was very... nice. I'm usually a sucker for hurt/comfort types of books, and I like MCs who are going through some real-life turmoil, but I found the pace to be torturously slow. There are a lot of everyday details in the story, like what they are eating and what they are planting, and I often found my mind wandering, which isn't a great sign for me.
The chemistry was not super strong either. Luke was nice, but I wasn't sold on Stephen. I found their interactions to be very stiff and forced, and though there were some very sweet moments, I didn't feel the love like I was hoping to.
The book is blander than Jay normally writes, and though I see that it worked for many of my friends, it was just okay for me.
I am crushed that I didn't like Happy for You, especially since I'm gaga for the other two books in this series, but I struggled with it all the way tI am crushed that I didn't like Happy for You, especially since I'm gaga for the other two books in this series, but I struggled with it all the way through.
I'm a huge Anyta Sunday fan, and I've even beta-read books for her in the past. However, that doesn't mean that I've had a smooth road with her writing. I've 1 and 2-starred books from her, and what they all have in common in a sense of missing fundamental pieces of the story.
The best way to describe my feelings about this book is that I felt like I jumped into a story 5 chapters in.
I was... confused. I felt like people knew (or didn't know??) that Felix and Mort had chemistry and maybe a thing going, but then, in the next scene, it seemed like no one knew. Part of the book felt like Felix hid his feelings all along from Mort, but then it seemed like an open secret. Did people know they both were gay? Did they think that neither of them were gay?
I didn't get where Mort went or why. It seemed like neither of them ever worked, they just hung out at an arcade/dance studio? The dance studio details were also strange. Did they all dance together? Is that how they all knew one another or was it from school and then they just liked dancing?
My head hurts.
Anyta Sunday does stories and slow burn so well, but this felt like the burn was already burnt. These guys already had all of these emotions (I think???) for years, so it felt like insta-love and simultaneously like an established couple story. One minute they've barely interacted, and the next they are talking kids? I had whiplash.
I don't know. I felt like I was was missing something major, like I was thrown into the middle of a bigger plot line. The story seemed to work for some people, but I wasn't one of them.
I really wanted to like this Fated Hearts, if that counts for something.
Sometimes, I'll read an urban fantasy or sci-fi book, and I'll feel like I waI really wanted to like this Fated Hearts, if that counts for something.
Sometimes, I'll read an urban fantasy or sci-fi book, and I'll feel like I was just thrown into the fray. Like I can't get my bearings straight and I have no idea what thehell is happening. That's how I felt reading this one.
My friends seem to be either in the "love it" or "meh" camp with this one, and I was hopeful I would be one of those who adored it. It started off okay, and I was excited to see where the story would take me, and then it just... stopped grabbing me.
One of my biggest issues with the story was the lack of physical descriptions. I felt like I could picture none of the characters, so they all blended together like character soup in my head. I had trouble keeping them straight, and I was less invested in them as a result.
I also found the whole plot to be more than a little confusing. The world-building made little sense to me. What roll did humans play with the shifters? Is this a post-apocalypse-type situation, or is this a fringe of society and the rest of the world is resuming like normal? Why did the shifter factions hate each other? Where did the shifters come from? I had so many questions. World-building done well is a very hard thing to accomplish, and it was lacking here.
I know Garrett Leigh can write her butt off, but this one wasn't it for me.
Gah, this book was so adorable. I'm a total sucker for a long, slow burn, and Anyta Sunday knows how to deliver that so well.
I can take it or leave it when it comes to books involving children and lots of family drama, but Anyta Sunday really pulled it off here. Made for You managed to balance some really heavy stuff, with the loss two parents and an insane amount of responsibility for the MC, and keep the story light and fresh. It wasn't a downer-type of story, so though the plot has some angst to it, it is the kind of book that will keep you smiling.
I love, love, love an age gap, but though the age gap was pretty big here, it didn't feel like such a chasm. The two MCs felt like they meshed together so well, that their personalities combined perfectly, that the age gap felt like no big deal. They also were both responsible adults (more of less, ha), so there wasn't that "party animal vs stuffy old man" thing that many age gap romances have.
I enjoyed the whole story so much, but I think I needed just a little something more to light up that fifth star. However, this was Anyta Sunday doing what she does best, and I can't wait to read more of these kinds of stories from her. I'm loving the direction she has been taking recently!
Mel Bossa can write her ass off, and The Witchin' Canoe was another example of her fine work. Though i wish some things were different, it*3.5 stars*
Mel Bossa can write her ass off, and The Witchin' Canoe was another example of her fine work. Though i wish some things were different, it was a lovely, atmospheric story that you'll remember for a long time.
I really, really wish this story was a regular historical romance with a Gothic flair instead of a supernatural romance. The beginning of the story was incredibly lovely, and the romance really sang. I love an opposites attract story, and the tension between the two MCs was palpable. I think there was enough there to make a complete story without the twists and turns at the end.
I loved most of the story so much, and I really enjoyed Mel Bossa's skillful and powerful writing. I got a great sense of the whole setting of the story, and I felt transported to that gloomy and somewhat hopeless time.
However, I didn't love the ending. There were too many POV (we didn't need the butler's), and the Witchin' Canoe lore felt convoluted. I never really understood it, and I thought it detracted from the romance, something I don't often say because I love sci-fi and paranormal romances. There was also so much drama at the end that it felt like the story lost some momentum.
Still, my take away is that of a lovely story about two special characters, and I think all Mel Bossa fans should try this one.
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
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