Never Hollowed By The Stare

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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MEMES+TAGS
    • MUSIC MONDAY
    • LAST YEAR I WAS READING
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
    • GIVEAWAYS
  • About + Ratings
    • ABOUT + RATINGS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • Policy + Contact

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  • manga,  Uncategorized
    December 31, 2018 / No Comments

    My Top BL Manga of 2018

    1. Futari Hyakkei: Kaze no Owari Haru no Hajimari – Mita Ori 

    2. Kosha Ura no Natsu – Sakurabi Hashigo 

    3. Yuujin ga Yuusha – Chocodoughnuts 

    4. To the Sea – Asada Nemui

    5. Madman –  Cangjiuguiyi

    6. Houkago Guitar – Yumeka Sumomo 

    7. I Love You, Black Coffee – Yamashita Tomoko 

    8. Links – Kizu Natsuki 

    9. Stray Bullet Baby – Ichikawa Kei 

    10. Houkago Edge – Muno

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    FLICKer: Dominant Chord

    December 19, 2020

    RELEASE BLITZ: Salvation by Garrett Leigh (Giveaway)

    September 2, 2021

    AUDIO TOUR: Leo On Fire by Patricia Logan (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 16, 2022
  • book,  Uncategorized
    December 31, 2018 / No Comments

    My Top 10 Reads of 2018

    1. Death and the Devil Series – L.J. Hayward

    Explosive, action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thrills. Sizzling unconventional romance. Yes, the entire series is the best thing to come out this year. Everything’s a solid 5

    Reviews here.

    2. The Agency: Merlin in the Library – Ada Maria Soto

    The ace romance story of my dreams

    Review here.

    3. Green Greek: Ravensong – T.J. Klune

    dirt and leaves and rain. packwitchmateheart

    Review here.

    4. On Davis Row – N.R. Walker

    So emotional and emotionally satisfying I got goosebumps.

    Review here.

    5.  Captive Prince: The Adventures of Charls, the Veretian Cloth Merchant – C.S. Pacat

    We’ll make another kind of empire.  

    Review here.

    6. The Auspicious Troubles of Love: The Impetuous Afflictions of Jonathan Wolfe – Charlie Cochet

    A sqee-tastic, tension filled, delicious slow burn dance of the young and impetuous.

    Review here.

    7. Bureau: Creature – Kim Fielding

    Because love means loving him, even though. The best Bureau story so far.

    Review here.

    8. Bad Behavior: Reckless Behavior – L.A. Witt & Cari Z

    A police procedural story that went above and beyond. Perfect combination of flawless writing and heartfelt narration.

    Review here.

    9. Lord of the Butterflies – Andrea Gibson 

    Powerful poetic stuff!

    Review here.

    10. Whyborne & Griffin: Balefire – Jordan L. Hawk

    The best W&G book yet! Whetting our appetites for the final magnificent showdown.

    Review here.

    Bonus:

    A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo – Marlon Bundo & Jill Twiss

    Attack of the super cute!

    Review here.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    COVER REVEAL: Twice In A Lifetime by R.M. Neill (Giveaway)

    October 13, 2021

    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Love Like Ours

    April 19, 2020

    MUSIC MONDAY: 2019 Christmas Playlist

    December 23, 2019
  • Uncategorized
    December 31, 2018 / No Comments

    MY YEAR IN BOOKS: 2018 Yearly Book Wrap-up

          Read More
          neverhollowed

          You May Also Like

          MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: International Spies, Dating Trials and Vocal Anxieties

          September 12, 2020

          BLOG TOUR: Kershin the Fire Mage by Stephen J. Wolf (Excerpt)

          December 5, 2022

          NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Last of the Moussakas by Fearne Hill (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          March 11, 2021
        • Uncategorized
          December 31, 2018 / No Comments
          Read More
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          COVER REVEAL: Fauxmance in the Falls by J.E. Birk (Giveaway)

          March 29, 2023

          FLICKer: Marco

          January 16, 2021

          RELEASE BLITZ: A Right To Know by Jude Tresswell (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          September 6, 2021
        • manga,  Uncategorized
          December 24, 2018 / No Comments
          https://www.anime-planet.com/images/manga/covers/xmas-heart-10876.jpg

          X’mas Heart – Murakami Maki

          Naoki has a dark past and keeps to his friendship with Ryousuke. But when Ryousuke confesses to him everything changes, as Naoki tries to distance himself from Ryousuke. However Ryousuke doesn’t let up easily…

          Find the light, Naoki!

          (source: http://www.mangago.me)

          Read More
          neverhollowed

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          FLICKer: Chance

          October 7, 2021

          RELEASE BLITZ: Unpredictable Fate by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

          May 14, 2020

          BLOG TOUR: Black Moon by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          May 5, 2021
        • book,  Uncategorized
          December 24, 2018 / 3 Comments
          42779749. sy475

          Love Around the Corner – Sally Malcolm

          Real life enemies, online lovers. Two lonely men, destined for each other–if only they knew it.

          Real life enemies.

          Alfie Carter grew up in New Milton, caring for his sick father and keeping their auto repair shop on its feet. He’s touchy about his poor education and doesn’t take kindly to snide remarks from the town’s prickly bookstore owner—no matter how cute he looks in his skinny jeans. Leo Novak’s new life as owner of Bayside Books is floundering. And he could do without the town’s gorgeous, moody mechanic holding a grudge against him after an unfortunate—and totally not his fault— encounter last Christmas.

          Online lovers.

          Left to run the family business alone, Alfie spends his lonely evenings indulging his secret passion for classic fiction and chatting online with witty, romantic ‘LLB’ as they fall in love over literature. Leo’s still reeling from a bad breakup and struggling to make friends in New Milton, so seeks comfort instead in his blossoming online romance with thoughtful, bookish ‘Camaro89’. 

          But as the holidays approach, ‘LLB’ and ‘Camaro89’ are planning to meet, and realities are about to collide…

          Two lonely men, destined for each other—if only they knew it. 

          What a delightful little story!

          Love Around the Corner is the perfect Christmas story for book lovers everywhere. It is an updated version of You Got Mail in which two shop owners don’t get along in real life but connect closely online. While I didn’t enjoy the rom-com because Meg Ryan was forever doing the same character in all her movies  and Tom Hanks was not my type, Alfie and Leo charmed me with their online bond and mutual love of Jane Austen, an author I’m trying to get. 

          I have tried reading Emma twice but I couldn’t move past the mind-numbingly dull conversations but I guess that’s the whole point, it being a commentary on people. I also want to read Pride and Prejudice to see what the fuss is all about with this Darcy fellow. Alfie and Leo understood the whole dissection of human nature thing that Austen is so adept at. Their enthusiasm for classic literature was so contagious I was inspired to read some. I was even pleasantly surprised to learn that Maurice, a book I dismissed as the usual bury your gay classic, has a happy ending! Definitely reading that.

          This is another book set in New Milton, this time, in winter. The story is typical of romantic comedies. But even if we know what to expect, Sally Malcolm was able to keep things interesting. She had me hard rooting for both men. Alfie, the moody mechanic, is not really moody. He is actually such a sweetheart. He finds reading challenging but he worked around it by listening to audiobooks. Leo was the exasperating one and I thought Dee should have egged him harder to tell the truth. Heck, Dee should have gone ahead and told Alfie, spare everyone the drama. But since Leo was cute as a button and he was genuinely hurting, I didn’t feel too inclined to be annoyed. Also his love letter to Alfie was so worth it!  

          If you are up for something warm and fuzzy, Love Around the Corner is for you. That it is about bookworms is an extra treat. Author Sally Malcolm started writing MM in 2016 and she’s an exciting new voice in the scene. I totally loved her New Milton books! I liked how her books are a winning combination of fluff and humor with a side of angst. I recommend this to those who love stories about enemies-to-lovers, second chances and getting into that Christmas spirit. 

          MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

          P.S.

          Review of Sally Malcolm’s book, Between the Lines here.

          Rating:
          4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits 

          Soundtrack: Lost in Austen
          Artist: Mystery Jets
          Album: Radlands

          (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42779749-love-around-the-corner)

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          NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Handsome Death by Sara Dobie Bauer (Excerpt)

          April 10, 2020

          THE COUNT TO TEN WITH ME BOOK TAG + FAVORITE QUOTES

          May 25, 2021

          COVER REVEAL: Harpy Trickery by Jessamyn Kingley

          January 15, 2023
        • song,  Uncategorized
          December 24, 2018 / No Comments

          Soundtrack to Love Around the Corner by Sally Malcolm

          Read More
          neverhollowed

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          RELEASE BLITZ: Take Us There by Louisa Masters (Excerpt)

          October 18, 2020

          LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(November 9, 2022)

          November 9, 2022

          RELEASE BLITZ: The Red Zone by Beth Bolden (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          August 16, 2021
        • Uncategorized
          December 24, 2018 / No Comments

          “I CANNOT FIX THE HOUR, OR THE SPOT, OR THE LOOK OR THE WORDS, WHICH LAID FOUNDATION. IT IS TOO LONG AGO. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE BEFORE I KNEW I HAD BEGUN.”

          Read More
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          NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Rules Of Play by Lane Hayes (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          July 21, 2021

          FLICKer: SOG

          January 9, 2021

          BLOG TOUR: Promise Me by A.G. Meiers (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          November 28, 2020
        • Uncategorized
          December 24, 2018 / No Comments
          Read More
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          RELEASE BLITZ: Full Speed Ahead by Beth Bolden (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          June 10, 2021

          RELEASE BLITZ: Addicted To Lust by Amy Tasukada (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          September 1, 2021

          RELEASE BLITZ: It’s A Steal by Arden O’Keefe (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          July 29, 2020
        • manga,  Uncategorized
          December 23, 2018 / No Comments
          Image result for Awairo Emaki - Fujitobi

          Awairo Emaki – Fujitobi

          When he was little, Ryuuta was attacked by a youkai. An older boy came to his rescue, he was a wandering youkai exorcist called Izumo. Soon after the incident Izumo departed on his travels again, leaving Ryuuta behind, but promising to come back one day and start their own journey together. Years later they meet again, but Izumo seems to have no recollection of their promise. Nevertheless, Ryuuta is determined to stay with him, and they end up travelling together. 

          Light and fluffy.

          (source: https://mangakakalot.com)

          Read More
          neverhollowed

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          FAVORITE COVERS: September 2020

          October 3, 2020

          BLOG TOUR: Ink Anthology (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          August 12, 2021

          NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Before the Fall by S.A. Collins (Excerpt & Giveaway)

          November 18, 2019
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