Sunday, December 31, 2017

Bonfires (Bonfires, #1) by Amy Lane

PERFECTION! This one was truly a treat. I can't remember when or even if I've read a book like this one. It's not just the fact our two MCs are in the late 40s, but also the role of both their families and lets not forget the society around them. This book, for me, was in one word - Hope. Hope that THIS could happen, that even in the darkest times, when horrible things happen, there are truly wonderful amazing people who not only "do their job", they truly care, they make a difference and make a stand for what is right and for everyone who deserves happiness and forgiveness. 


Saturday, December 30, 2017

Tried & True (THIRDS #10) [Dex & Sloane] by Charlie Cochet

As usual, a great read. I would have been crashed if this was actually the last I heard of Dex and Sloane but lucky for us, their story will continue in the new spin off series - TIN. CAN'T WAIT! There is something so terribly beautiful about this series, it combines action, with huge beasts (our Therians or usually called - shape-shifters) but also high-tech and fire arms with a larger than life romance you swoon over. It's no wonder THIRDS is my absolute favorite PNR/UF series. It simply has EVERYTHING I could wish for. 


Friday, December 29, 2017

Kairos by Mary Calmes

Though the idea behind this story was truly endearing it also felt a bit too OTT and kitschy. Things moved a bit too quickly for me, though the love DID make sense since Kade and Joe have been best friends, partners and "roommates" for two years before their relationship progressed to a full blown romantic one. 

The story is told from Joe Cohen's POV. He has been living in Chicago for almost 3 years, being estranged from his family though it takes quite a long time fore us to learn the true reason for that. For me it was one of the things that felt "over-the-top". I don't want to write more not to spoiler, I'll just say that Joe ran away as far from California which is where he found Kade Bosa.



Tuesday, December 26, 2017

What Can Be by Mary Calmes

This was SUCH a nice surprise. I'm not even sure why I'm surprised.. maybe because I didn't expect this one to be so deep and emotional in a little bit more than 100 pages but Mary has a gift in writing and especially with novellas so this one was surely a holiday treat just be prepared for heart ache along with the sweetness. 

Jacob Somerville was born Eli Hartline. When he was 15 years old he left his father and two older brothers for a summer vocation with his mother. 3 months turned into much more and Eli found himself not only separated from his family but changing his identity. It's been years, 13 years to be exact and Jacob feels he isn't sure of his place again. He has a loving boyfriend in Chicago one he has left behind and went on a journey to no where starting with his family. Needing to finally see them and maybe find the courage to explain where he was the past 13 years and mostly - why!



Monday, December 25, 2017

Junkyard Heart (Porthkennack #7) [Jas & Kim] by Garrett Leigh

I'm not exactly sure why but I had a hard time connecting with Jas, our sole POV. I think I needed to know more about him to understand WHY he is the way he is. He has such a loving family and yet since he mostly didn't grow up with them he feels a bit disconnected from them and doesn't accept a lot help from them though he knows they WILL be there for him, especially his step mom. 

Jas Manning recently returned to Porthkennack, a small town he mostly spent his summers in. Now he is here for good after his boyfriend betrayed him horribly and left him a broken shell. He works a lot from his home or generally solitary on graphics and photography. It's something else that keeps him not only from his family who wants to connect with him, but from people in general. But when he meets Kim something changes inside of him and he finds himself craving his company while not being sure it's a good idea AT ALL. 



Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Countdown to Midnight (The Story Sisters #2.5) [Elizabeth & Merit ; Jane & Amity] by Katy Regnery

This was short and sweet, very fitting to the holiday season. When Katy announced that she is going to stop writing the Blueberry Lane Series, I was saddened. I understood why she did it, and couldn't be more respectful of her wishes, this isn't something  she does as a hobby, it's her job. So when I heard she is STILL going to release this novella to at least give as a sort of closure for Elizabeth and Jane Story I was excited. I wanted to get to know these two, as both were mentioned enough in the previous installments and yet I felt I don't know anything important about them. 


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Shear Heaven (A Modern Fairytale #6) [Bella & Nico] by Katy Regnery

Truly an endearing story. Every page, ever passage in this one feels like the fairytale that it is. I admit I don't think I've ever read or seen the story of Rapunzel but really it makes no difference, I FELT our little princes locked in a tower even if it was a grand hotel and even though she technically wasn't unable to step foot outside of it. She was still trapped. My heart broke for her, for the miserable life she had to live with the sad circumstances that led to it. 

Bella Capelli have been working for her godmother for the past few years, ever since her parents died in a car accident. Her godmother and her mother used to be best friends in high school but the years apart and the distance from the small town in Switzerland the grew up in to New York city where her godmother have  been building her salon empire shows us a woman who is determined to work Bella to the ground, using her as much as she can and practically enslaving her to her job and herself. 


Monday, December 18, 2017

Last Call (Heartsville, #1) [Quinn, Gray & Emery] by Felice Stevens & Christina Lee

I"m not sure what exactly I was expecting but it wasn't OMG SWEETNESS! I guess Menage comes with a prejudice (though I've read a few which I really enjoyed and weren't focused on sex..). This story is all about tenderness, love and companionship, in a way everything I expect and want to read in a romance novel only not in a couple, in three beautiful, sweet guys who deserve so much more than the hands they were dealt growing up. 

Quinn Monahan and Grayson Page are best friends. They have been for years since they were teenagers, each struggling with his own issues. Gray coming from a poor dysfunctioning family and Quinn from a very privileged yet cold and uncaring family. They have been managing for a few years now their own bar called "Last Call" in the small town of Heartsville. Things are going wonderfully. They get along great, as usual, living together yet apart in the apartment above the bar, maintaining their close yet platonic relationship. 



Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Man Hands (Man Hands #1) by Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby

Whenever there's a new book by Sarina I get overly excited. It doesn't matter what the book is about, mostly because I don't read any snippets or the synopsis before I start the book - why bother? With this one it was the same even if it's co-written (with an author I haven't read before) but as I started reading this book I've realized it's A LOT different than what I'm used to reading by her. 

You know the phrase - "It's not you, it's me"? It's exactly how I would describe my feelings towards this book. This is not what I expected and mostly it's a genre I very rarely enjoy. If I had to describe this book in less than a sentence I'd call it - 'Young Adult with mature content'. I have very little to no patience for "kids" in my books, it doesn't matter if they are the MCs or if they're literal kids who take a lot of page space. I want mature characters or at the least what we call now "New Adult". I just find I can't relate to younger characters. Their life choices and the way they react to everything around them is truly exhausting to me. 



Tuesday, November 14, 2017

The Long Way Home (A Bite-Sized Romance, #2) [Clarey & Ford] by Katy Regnery

A sweet short read. Clarey Calhoun is taking a 36 hours bus from the college she has being going to back home to her best friends' wedding. A she steps on the bus she realizes the only free sit is near the bride's brother who is also her ex's brother, the one who cheated on her. 

Ford McInerney has been in love with Clarey for most of his life but she was his older brother's girl. But now is his chance to talk to her, about what happened, about his feelings and finally take a chance on having her to himself. 



Friday, November 10, 2017

Goodnight My Angel (Angel Enterprises #2) by Sue Brown

I really enjoyed this one though I was a bit disappointed that the story finished with a cliff hanger concerning the suspense part of the story. Unlike the previous one, this one was mainly told from Cal's POV which was GREAT. I felt I needed to get to know him better since in the previous one he felt quite mysterious. There is still A LOT for us to discover (about his past) but I actually really liked how we got to know both Cal and Josh a little at a time as their relationship builds up around the suspense. If you haven't read the first one please don't continue reading this review (to prevent reading of spoilers) or rather, go ahead and grab the first one - it's AMAZING. 


Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Morning My Angel (Angel Enterprises #1) by Sue Brown

It's been a while since I've read such a fun and witty Romantic Suspense novel. I LOVED this one. I started it on Saturday, truthfully I was too tired to concentrate on starting a new book, so when I resumed on Tuesday I kept reading until I finished, ignoring the fact my eyes are stinging and there seems to be a faint sound of birds from outside, yeah, it was a little after 4 a.m.! I couldn't and wouldn't put this book down and Tuesday was a bit bleary because of it..


Saturday, November 4, 2017

By Tomorrow (A Bite-Sized Romance, #1) [Claire & Jamie] by Katy Regnery

This was the sweetest thing! Claire Higgins and Jamie MacAllister work together in an IT department, Jamie coming from Edinburgh to help out the company with his skills. As time goes by the two of them more than connect. Jamie is all Claire can think of and Jamie is the same only he found himself engaged to be married TOMORROW.


Sleeping 'til Sunrise (Mangrove Stories, #5) [Essien & Roark] by Mary Calmes

While I loved the previous installments in the series, this one felt a bit rushed and even in a way "unfinished". It was fun getting almost all the characters from the previous installments in some capacity I just wanted to see more relationship buildup from Essien and Roark. It's not that I didn't like this one, it's more that I wished we got a more solid story and for that we needed more than 90 pages.

Essien Dodd and Roark Hammond have  been circling each other for the past six month even since Essien moved into town with his teenage daughter. Roark wants the sexy firefighter but he can't make himself hurt Essien with his current situation. Everyone loves the cool Pediatrician including Essien but Roark seems to always disappear on him when they are close by. 



Easy Evenings (Mangrove Stories, #4) [Lazlo & Britton] by Mary Calmes

Yet another endearing story. I expected something else from both Lazlo and Britton though I'm not sure even what. Maybe because I didn't know what they have been through together and the depth of it before I started. 

We've met both MCs in the previous installments in the series. Lazlo Maguire is a laid back guy, well liked in the small town of Mangrove even if everyone knows that half the year he lives here selling his craft and half the year he is a high class rent-boy in the big city. Though most of no one knows his story (except for his 2 best friends) no one resents him or look down on him. Mangrove is truly his home, but up until now he had no reason to stop renting himself out. 



Sultry Sunset (Mangrove Stories, #3) [Hutch & Mike] by Mary Calmes

I'm loving this series! These are such comfort reads! Again with the friends to lovers. I admit I love this turf. It's one of my favorites. It's the best kind of love if you ask me. Someone you first consider your best friend before the next (sexual) step is made. it's the same here with Hutch and Mike though what is different is Mike suppose to be straight.. 

We've met Hutch Crowley in the previous installments. It's fun getting to know the people in this town and see them find their HEA and after having a revisit in the next installment. It makes sense reading these in order but truthfully they all can be read as stand-alones. Hutch runs the grocery store in the small town of Mangrove and building a recreational center. It's easy for him to focus on the new project now that he trusts his best friend Mike to run the grocery store. 



Friday, November 3, 2017

Quiet Nights (Mangrove Stories, #2) [Kelly & Cosimo] by Mary Calmes

Another sweet and endearing story. This one, like the previous one was friends to lovers though everything else about it was different. Kelly and Coz served in the military together, after saving Coz's life, Kelly returns to the small town of Mangrove where Coz lives to make a life of his own by his best friend and his family which has become his own. 

We've met Kelly Seaton for just a minute in the previous installment, he is the new gardener in Takeo and Dwyer B&B and though Takeo and Dwyer have a small part to play in this one, you don't have to read it to enjoy this one. Kelly loves Coz but he also loves his new family - Coz' mother and bigger sister. They have become his only family and he cherishes them. Though it's obvious to him he loves Coz he can't see himself making the first move when he can lose everyone he loves if it falls apart. 



Blue Days (Mangrove Stories, #1) [Dwyer & Takeo] by Mary Calmes

This short novella was SO SWEET and endearing! I LOVED it! I loved the fact that even though the romantic part of this novella was right at the very end I could totally accept that because they were already close friends and we see that happen little by little. 

The story begins with a change of management in the company Dwyer Knolls works at. He expects to be fired for the big project he lost, but actually the new management considered it a failure to support his vision which actually cost the company a lot of money. Now they are willing to give him a big chance and promote him. The company gets "help" from the Japanese branch and so Dwyer gets a new partner. Not the hot one he wanted to get.. but actually a partner who fast becomes a good friend and the best partner. 



Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Reawaken (Under My Skin #2) [Tristan & West] by Christina Lee

You know, I just realized I TOTALLY get the name of this series, this book (like the previous one) GOT UNDER MY SKIN. I sat for I don't know 5 hours barely moving and read the whole thing. Tristan and West broke my heart but managed to put it back together for a heart breakingly beautiful ending. This book was a journey, for both MCs, they needed time to heal, time to connect, time to find the courage inside themselves to make a change. I loved that. Even though there's a rather big age difference between them (10+ years) it meant nothing because they were both dealing with similar issues and "general life experience" doesn't change the impact these things have on ANYONE no matter their age. 

We've met Tristan Rogers in the previous installment - "Regret", he is the owner of "Doggie Styles" a dog day care. Though Tristan have a business he loves and employers he considers family he is still broken up instead over losing his husband 3 years ago to brain tumor. Tristan and Chris build there business together, built their whole lives together and now, everywhere Tristan turns Chris is there though mostly in his head. He misses him terribly and is simply not ready yet to move on. 



Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Late in the Day (The Vault #2) [Darius & Efrem] by Mary Calmes

Like the previous book in the series, this one felt a bit short for a full length novel. I would have LOVED for a more substantial re-connection between the two MCs. This book was engaging with a great pace, and yet it was mostly about Darius' current position as "The Vault" and a lot of recollection of Darius and Efrem's live together when they were a couple 16 years ago when they were both serving in the army together. 


Monday, October 30, 2017

Hammer & Air by Amy Lane

I didn't have patience for this one at all. The language was strange so it was difficult to read at times, our MC Eirn tells us his and his best friend Graeme story. Their lives was pretty horrible even if he just told it "as is" (I guess because that was just life for them). 

Eirn's thoughts are consumed by Graeme or as nicknamed - "Hammer", mostly on the sexual side. Up till where I got (25%) it was about 90% sex thoughts or acts with A LOT of possessiveness from Hammer's side.  This one feels more like an Erotica (PNR?) novel. I"m not even sure how old they are because as Eirn tells it, he runs a bit from past to present and he sounds a bit "childish" to me. 



Saturday, October 28, 2017

The Servant by Mary Calmes

I liked he idea behind this one, but I gotta say, like the previous book I've read by Mary it was all over the place where POVs were concerned. Each paragraph could be right around anyone's POV and it kept changing. I don't like this style of narration though it wasn't that difficult to understand who was "talking". The world building was all over the place as well, though I don't fault Mary for it, there was a lot to build in very few pages.. I've read the synopsis a while back so actually I wasn't sure what is going to happen or rather who our "cat in a hat" is going to chose. That was fun!


Friday, October 27, 2017

The Guardian by Mary Calmes

Though I enjoyed this book it was  a bit too tangled for my liking. It felt rushed at times, disorganized and the relationship buildup was on the verge of insta-love. Yet the story was fun and engaging and I was interested to see how Jude and Eoin would find a way to build a life together. 

Jude Shea had a good life, a job he enjoyed, a gorgeous boyfriend he hopes to build a future together with when he finds himself with no boyfriend and no job in one night. For the past two weeks he isn't sure what to do with himself and then comes a restless night he goes for a walk and stumbles upon a huge dog mauled by a group of stray dogs. Not sure what drew him to the situation he takes the dog to the vet and makes him his own. "Joe" doesn't look or behave like a regular dog but for Jude he's a companion he enjoys having even though his life is so uncertain at the moment.



Monday, October 23, 2017

A Dangerous Invitation (The Rookery Rogues, #1) [Kate & Daniel] by Erica Monroe

I don't read many Historicals which is why starting is always a sort of a struggle to get used to the archaic language. With this one it was no different and yet as the story progressed I realized I'm having a hard time mainly because I'm not interested enough in the MCs. After reading about a third I decided I'm not invested enough in the story and the difficult language was not making it any better..

Kate Morgan's life changed in a blink of an eye. She was wealthy, the daughter of a successful merchant. She and her father were a team, working together and having each other's backs since she was a little girl when her mother left them. She fell in love with Daniel O'Reilly who also worked for her father. They were already engaged to be married when all hell broke loose. Daniel was charged with murder of another worker, from there the business crumbled, her father's health deteriorated until he died and she was left with nothing except for her father's great coat and handgun. To take care of herself she needed to learn a trade - thieving. But she has made it work for the past three years since Daniel escaped from prison before his trial. 



Thursday, October 19, 2017

Bountiful (True North #4) [Zara & Dave] by Sarina Bowen

I always gets excited when there's a new release by Sarina. I love her writing and enjoy her realistically flawed characters. I truly enjoy the journey they take, on their own and together before they can find their HEA with one another. This was no different and yet it was. It was a romance story but it was also HEAVILY focused on raising a toddler which is NOT my cup of tea AT ALL. I know for a fact most women would totally swoon at everything little Nicole did. I found it to be tiresome. I guess she WAS cute but what she was for me was a distraction from the main issue as I see it - Zara and Dave's story. 


Monday, October 16, 2017

Bolt-hole by Amy Lane

I've very little to say about this book because I haven't read most of it. I'll start  by saying something important - It's not the book, it's me. I just couldn't connect to the MC (and our sole POV) Terrell. His mind constantly tells him he is poor from the worst side of the side, with the worst background, not to mention he is black and also - gay. Though he won't allow himself to actually BE gay because that's more than not "allowed" where he comes from. I feel for him, truly. That's horrible to be "dismissed" or looked down upon because of things you have no control over and really shouldn't be put against you because they shouldn't even be an issue nowadays. But sadly - they are. That's not just the book, it's reality (even if things ARE changing). 


Thursday, October 12, 2017

A Seditious Affair (Society of Gentlemen #2) [Dom & Silas] by K.J. Charles

I gotta say this one was not what I expected it to be, or rather, I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would considering two things that mostly put me off - BDSM and politics. Unlike the previous one we were thrown right into the game, maybe because we've already known all of the characters and the interaction between them so we could start with where it all began with Dom and Silas sharing a bed as a brute and a Tori. Not realizing just yet that they are sworn enemies, or at least they're suppose to be.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Midnight Unleashed (Midnight Breed #14.7) [Trygg & Sia] by Lara Adrian

The "Midnight Breed" used to be my all times favorite PNR series though lately its place have been taken. Yet I still get excited when I hear there's a new novel in the series, even though it's just a short novella which doesn't feature most of the known characters in the series. These novellas are a nice way for people to try this series and see if it works for them, because it doesn't reveal too much and allows people who don't know any of things that happen in the 10+ books to enjoy a short novella and also be tempted to grab the first one and immerse themselves in the Midnight Breed world. 


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Finding Home by Garrett Leigh

Math was never my strong side so when I put on the equation - a new book by Garrett vs. a Young Adult novel I did and didn't know what to expect. Thing is, I LOVE Garrett's books, I enjoy the misery she puts me and mostly her characters (!) through, I love the feel of the story, the uniqueness of the characters, the emotional ride that is SO worth it even when my heart is breaking. Yet I dislike Young Adult novels.. I just don't have the patience for it. Not for their issues which seem too far away for me, and not for their interests which seem even MORE distant from the place I am in today and that without mentioning how miserable I was at these ages, which means I have NO desire to revisit these times in someone else's head. Nope! 

That being said, it's no wonder really I LOVED LOVED LOVED this story. For me, the fact that Charlie and Leo were teens is such a non significant detail. It was about love and trust. It was about life disappointing you for too many times for you to expect something wonderful that you couldn't even imagine would happen to you. It's about finding a home in the most unexpected place, it's about finding love when you thought you don't have anything more to give or to feel. I really don't think it matters what genres you read, and if you've ever read a YA or MM novel before you SHOULD give this one a go. It's beautiful and it's different than the usual YA with the issues it deals with that make it not about age but about experience and the MM part is there naturally but there is very little sexual interaction which makes it appropriate for younger reader or ones who feel uncomfortable with (gay) sex. 



Sunday, October 8, 2017

Unloved, a love story by Katy Regnery

This book was SUCH a beautiful heart breaking read! I read it literally in one gulp, it was impossible to put down and frankly, why would I?! Cass and Brynn we the sweetest thing together. They both wanted, no, craved for a chance to love, to care, to have a meaningful person in their lives, yet life has brought them so much pain it's not an easy thing to surrender themselves to. For Cass it's MUCH more complicated.. He can't tell her, he won't tell her and by it break both of their hearts. Yet this IS a love story and the ending, the whole rap of the story was quite surprising in the best possible way. 


Saturday, October 7, 2017

Gummy Bears & Grenades (THIRDS #9.5) [Dex & Sloane] by Charlie Cochet

It's always nice to come back to the THIRDS world, get my fix of my favorite PNR characters and get a taste for how much I want to read MORE about them. Dex manages to try and hitch 3 (!) couples together and I can't wait to get all of their stories! As usual Dex gets into trouble and almost breaks Sloane's heart with how close he brushes with danger even in the most casual day. 


A Fashionable Indulgence (Society of Gentlemen, #1) [Harry & Julius] by K.J. Charles

This book started a bit slow for my liking. It was interesting and even though the the pace was decent for the time frame it was still slow going. There was much to unravel, mostly about Julius and a lot needed to happen for them to build a true relationship which made for a rather slow going of the first third of the book. After that it started get VERY engaging in a way I truly didn't want to put the book down. 

Harry Gordon Vane grew up to a revolutionist parents intended on showing their democratic ideas as loud as they can. He hated this life. One of constant fear with food being scarce on the table. When he was 12 after a certain riot they needed to flee the country. He returned at the age of 17 after their death. Not knowing what to do he found his way to their revolutionist friend Silas Mason. Silas might be a true radical but he also has a good heart, he couldn't refuse taking Harry in, even though food and jobs were as difficult as they were back then. A few years went by and even though Harry still hates this sort of life, he also understand (at least in his heart) that Silas is right in what he is saying even though he hates the way it needs to be demonstrated with the constant risk it puts on everyone's lives.


The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh [Gabriel & Fancis] (Society of Gentlemen, #0.5) by K.J. Charles

WOW, hotness! All it takes is one afternoon between Gabriel Ashleigh and Francis Webster. There is so sort of animosity between Gabriel and Francis, it started with the rivalry between Gabriel obnoxious brother and Francis, years and years ago, but somehow Gabriel got in the mix when he was stupidly drunk, come to think about it, 5 years later he does no better when he gambles his life away and loses EVERYTHING. 

Francis offers to meet him the day after. Gabriel isn't sure what exactly for, and as they return to playing he is even more unsure of Francis's intentions yet when they become clear, they are both desperate for one another. 


Saturday, September 30, 2017

Think of England by K.J. Charles

Though it took me a little bit to get into the story, once I was in - I was ALL in. The whole story is told from the POV of Archie Curtis, a former soldier who was injured by faulty weapons. Hurt and angry for the lose of his physicality and his fellow soldiers he goes to search for evidence it wasn't an accident. Archie is no spy, so lucky for him he encounters a real spy - Daniel da Silva and together, they try to bring the responsible (for much more than what Archie suspected) to justice. 


Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Completely (New York #3) [Rosemary & Kal] by Ruthie Knox

This is not what I was expecting.. I've loved everything I've read by Ruthie so I've been waiting impatiently for this book to finally release and now I feel so annoyed and I'm not sure with what or who. This book just didn't work for me. It started out slow and kept the pace. I felt disconnected from the characters, the way the story was told, both MCs kept their "walls up" which made them feel distant not just from one another but from me as well. I wanted to see ONE big reaction. ONE extreme outburst or breakdown and just - nothing. Composure and simple gratitude for the other person. I needed more. 


Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Epiphany By Mary Calmes

This isn't even a novella, it's almost a scene between Joey and Luke (told from Joey's POV). Joey and Luke have been best friends for a long time, building love and trust, but now they are  ready to take it to the next level. 


Sunday, September 24, 2017

Summer Lessons (Winter Ball #2) [Mason & Terry] by Amy Lane

Rating this book isn't easy for me. It was GREAT at the beginning, funny and engaging, then when Mason and Terry started their relationship I wasn't sure it was working for me, but somewhere on the last third I was SO caught up in Mason's struggles I couldn't put it down! Unlike the previous one which felt lacking because it was too short, this one, delivered a full journey for both MCs (though we only get Mason's POV). They both needed to "grow up" in their own way, they needed time, and Amy gave us this time before they were truly ready to have their HEA with one another. I really appreciated that. Yet still, I gotta say, I"m not fully convinced about this couple. They work! There's no denial in that, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Terry is a nice sweet guy, but I would have preferred seeing Mason with someone more "like him" in any sense really (which is why this is a rounded up 4 stars rating).


Saturday, September 23, 2017

The Tin Box by Kim Fielding

I have no words to how beautiful and yet heart breaking this story was. I loved everything about it, the romance which was there and yet wasn't the main focus, Bill's story (the one who wrote the letters in the Tin Box), the creepy yet mostly sad surrounding of the Asylum but mostly it was William's story. William who is 32 years old, soon to become a doctor (once he finishes writing his dissertation), have been married for 6 years yet with all of this life experience he has never truly LIVED before he took the job at the Asylum. He doesn't know himself, he isn't sure who he is or what he wants. Everything in his life has been somehow dictated even the things he thought he truly wanted. Now, on his own, in a silent decrepit buildings he finally becomes the man he wants to be. 


Thursday, September 21, 2017

Lay It Down by Mary Calmes

This one started out great, but somewhere around the middle it changed in a way that left me annoyed. That's where I stopped for a few days not finding the motivation to keep on reading. The whole idea was great, and I liked a lot of the way it played but the insta-love and insta-lust was SO all-over-the-place I couldn't enjoy the romance at all. 

Dalvon and Hudson are twin brothers, not identical twins but they DO look very much a like. When Hudson comes to visit Dalvon in Ibiza he runs off on Hudson leaving him to deal with his mess. Hudson thought it would be him telling his VERY rich fiancee Miguel García he and Dalvon are over but it turned out it wasn't the ONLY thing Dalvon left in his care.. 



Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Live and Learn by Mary Calmes

This one was SHORT! Yet it actually DID have a romantic story and even a lesson to be learned.
Robert Owens is frustrated, he is at a club with his friends and boyfriend Teague Powers and while trying to be a "cool guy" he drives Teague to dance with Hunter, a guy Teague has known for years and spend many nights with.. Truth is he is NOT okay with it at all.. But Teague isn't as oblivious as Rob thinks..


Where You Lead by Mary Calmes

Though short this was actually a sweet short novella. Our MCs are already a formed couple their issue is more than the usual "taking a step up" in their relationship since Carver needs to return home to his sleepy little town of Colt after his mother suffered a stroke and needs help taking care of. Question is, what would Pete do? Stay in Chicago or follow the love of his life home. 


Monday, September 11, 2017

Temporary by Sarina Bowen & Sarah Mayberry

Beautiful! SO SO beautiful! Sarina and Sarah were perfect together as were the two MCs - Callan and Grace. The story that brought these two together was so touching. Callan lost his uncle, the one constant in his life who made him the person he is today, but his mother is determined to delete all his doing by getting rid of everything he owned and everything he stood for by disposing of his belongings. She uses Grace, a temp at the New York offices to do that job. Yet even though Jack wasn't alive anymore he WAS alive throughout Callan's memories and through his house who is the main setting of the book. I felt connected to Jack even though he wasn't even there. I shed a tear at his eulogy and was heart broken for him many times. I feel as though I WISH I actually "met" him and I have a feeling Grace feels exactly the same. 


Play On (Glasgow Lads, #0.5) by Avery Cockburn

Something didn't work for me in this one. It might be the Scottish jargon I was unfamiliar with, which "helped" with me not really getting the two MCs. There's an undercurrent of events that happened in Duncan's soccer team and though it was explained I couldn't care for the team because I didn't know them and Duncan was just sulking around about it. Brodie seemed too fragile for my liking and mostly too defensive. I didn't like that things was explained LATER rather than NOW, on too many accounts. What happened between the two of them (still not sure at 35%), what happened with the team, what's the issue with a LGBT soccer team and what does it mean? What happened to Brodie to make him hate athletes. I would have loved for ONE straight answer throughout this short novella. 


Thursday, September 7, 2017

Living Out Loud by Christina Lee & Nyrae Dawn

Beautiful and heart breaking at the same time, but also SEXY as hell! I loved both Ben and Xavier. They had a difficult childhood that made them into who they are today, but while Xavier is mostly content with his life, Ben has a lot of exploring to do - in the sexual sense, but also personally, learning to not only accept who he is, but to look for the things he loves and enjoys in the new life he is building himself now that he is free from his past' shackles.

Though this book is not a part of the "Free Fall" series, it's still connected. First because we've met Ben in the last installment "Paint the Stars" (he and Ezra were a couple in college), but also because there are mentions of other characters from the series. 

It can be read as a stand alone no worries. 

Sariel by Mary Calmes

I was quite surprised with the actual story Mary managed to build in only 28 pages! It has a lot of sexual interactions (considering it's length) but there is also a really nice idea behind it. Though it does contain "insta-crash/love/commitment".

When Jacob Gray is offered to go to Italy with the new company he just started to work with he is excited! But as the boss takes JUST him with a few associates on a car ride he starts to get anxious and rightly so... They are planning to rape torture and kill him.. Yet he gets offered to suffer those OR be given to "The Beast". Jacob does the "unthinkable" and decides to go with the unknown beast only to find he isn't actually a beast at all..



Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Circle (Roads #3) by Garrett Leigh

This book wasn't just Ash and Pete coming full circle, it me as well. "Slide", the first book in this series was the first I've read by Garrett. It's been 2½ years and I've completed all of her published work and became addicted on the way. Pete and Ash's story was soul crashing but it was also gentle, loving and endearing even though they are both not the romantic kind. This book brings us and them a true feeling of HEA even though they have to go through a new journey before they get there. 


Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Chevalier (Romanus #2) by Mary Calmes

I enjoyed this novella, like the first part "Romanus" [which you HAVE to read in order to understand the dynamics and basic world building] it was fast paced with a lot of things happening and a lot of information revealed about the Gargoyle species. This one starts a year after the perilous one with Mason and Luc an established couple. Mason still tries to hold Luc back, not because he doesn't want him, rather because of his past experiences with men he dated. Yet in his heart he knows that Luc is the only guy (or rather Gargoyle hehe) for him. It's admitting it, saying it out loud which terrifies him. 


Monday, September 4, 2017

Romanus (Romanus #1) by Mary Calmes

A very detailed short novella. I"m really happy this is part one, with part two "Chevalier" concluding the story because it would really be a shame not to get more of this very detailed world. I've read many reviews describing this one as "confusing" but I think if you are used to reading Paranormal Romance novels you'll get this one - no problem! It's actually quite amazing HOW MUCH we get of the world building in such a short story which naturally also includes romance, though be advised it's almost an "insta-love" or rather "insta-lust" (which is quite common in PNR). 


Friday, September 1, 2017

Still by Mary Calmes

Beautiful heart warming story. I think mostly we read about romance novels which start at the beginning - introduction, relationship buildup up to a sort of HFN we feel will be a HEA. This one is different. We start at the breaking point, 17 years after Sivan Cruz and Walter Wainwright met, now a married couple with two grown kids finding life and romance isn't where they want them to be.