Never Hollowed By The Stare

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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • Home
  • NAVIGATION
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
  • MISC
    • MUSIC MONDAY
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • RELEASE BLITZ & GIVEAWAYS
    • COVER REVEAL
    • TAGS
    • POSTS
    • Reviews A-Z
  • About + Ratings
  • Policy + Contact

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  • manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Kono Koi ni Mirai wa Nai

    June 16, 2019 / No Comments
    https://avt.mkklcdnv3.com/avatar_225/18736-kono_koi_ni_mirai_wa_nai.jpg

    Kono Koi ni Mirai wa Nai – Morihashi Bingo & Suwaru Koko

    Yuji Mase, a university student who is rather popular with girls without his knowledge, taciturn and withdrawn type. In fact, he hides a secret wound that will be revealed during the visit of his sister hairdresser-stylist: he does not feel at ease in this body of a man that he’s in …

    It would have been an interesting story about being trans with disphoria but it’s so slow to the point of dragging. Also I don’t understand the appeal of that womanizing love interest. I like how it ended tho. No fairy tales here.

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    neverhollowed

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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Deadly Lover by Jocelynn Drake

    June 16, 2019 / 2 Comments
    42088097. sy475

    Exit Strategy: Deadly Lover – Jocelynn Drake

    Justin Mallory has years of bad decisions to make up for, starting with agreeing to join the CIA after being recruited out of the Marines. Now he chooses the jobs and he works alone. It’s safer that way, and he can make sure the good guy always wins. 

    But this job…he can’t do alone. Two pharmaceutical researchers are dead and a dangerous drug is on the cusp of winning FDA approval if he doesn’t track down the culprit behind the lies and murders. 

    Gabriel Prescott is a well-trained, efficient, and cold-blooded killer. After a brutal betrayal left his lover dead, Gabriel is out only for himself. But when this lucrative contract lands in his lap, he can’t pass it up. Even if it means working with the unpredictable and insane Justin Mallory. 

    Dodging bullets and secret meetings find them depending on each other. And one hot, frantic night together leads to a hidden sweetness…and questions of whether they could possibly have something more.

    A Goodreads friend said it best ( here ):

    “It’s a bit thin on the mercenary procedural angle and highish on the OTT scale. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but this could have been much more. Take out some of the sex, some OTT phrases, add in more mystery, more edge, then we would have had a winner. Alas, that was not to be had.” 

    Deadly Lover introduces us to Justin Mallory and Gabriel Prescott, a mercenary and an assassin with deep secrets and false names, who found themselves partnered against their will. They were drawn to each other despite having opposite personalities.

    The story is part mystery, part thriller, more romance. There’s a bit of fake boyfriend thrown in and some forced proximity angle. I wasn’t a particular fan of the writing. It followed a sex-work-sex-work-sex pattern that would have made it predictable and boring. But what it lack for a more solid storyline, it more than made up for the fantastic chemistry between Gabriel and Justin. I had fun listening to their banter and I could easily overlook the weaker parts.

    Justin is goofy and laidback while Gabriel is more uptight and tends to overthink. If it weren’t for the fact that their jobs involved hacking and killing, they could have been your favorite neighborhood gay couple. And they did a lot of cute couple things like grocery shopping and cookouts. I loved how Justin brought out Gabriel’s playful side. My favorite part was Gabriel knowing exactly where Justin hid his secret cameras and deliberately trying to provoke him. Also the “he can only speak Russian” gag was fun.

    While not exactly a throwaway, the job wasn’t that hard either and the breakthrough was a matter of waiting for a program to finish decrypting the hard drive. Not my favorite way of moving plots forward but it did serve to give the two men more time together and make the development of their relationship more plausible.

    The book ends with a kiss and a promise. And I am eagerly rooting for them to see that promise through. The whole premise of the Exit Strategy series is about two hired guns trying to leave the mercenary life behind and live normal lives. I don’t really like my assassins retiring but I also like them alive and would like Gabriel and Justin’s HFN become an HEA, which is only possible if they permanently remove themselves from their very exciting careers. But knowing these two, I’m pretty sure trouble will still find them no matter what.

    All in all, not that deadly but still enjoyable. Recommended to those who love to see cold-blooded assassins getting hot and bothered.

    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Next Exit
    Artist: Interpol
    Album: Antics

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Next Exit by Interpol

    June 16, 2019 / No Comments
    https://youtu.be/CxDP9GnGQis

    Soundtrack to Exit Strategy: Deadly Lover by Jocelynn Drake

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • Uncategorized
    June 16, 2019 / No Comments

    We ain’t going to the town
    We’re going to the city
    Gonna trek this shit around
    And make this place a heart to be a part of

    We ain’t going to the town
    We’re going to the city
    Gonna trek this shit around
    And make this place a heart to be a part of again

    We’re going
    We’re going
    We’re going
    And we’re gone
    We’re going
    We’re going
    We’re going
    And we’re gone

    So baby make it with me
    In preparation for tonight
    We’ve got so much to live
    But that’s not what makes this right
    We’ve been building up steam
    Ignited by this fight
    So do this thing with me instead of
    Tying on a tight one tonight

    We’re going
    We’re going
    We’re going
    And we’re gone
    We ain’t going to the town
    We’re going to the city
    Gonna trek this shit around
    And make this place a heart to be a part of again

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • trailer,  Uncategorized

    MOVIE FEATURE: Cousins

    June 16, 2019 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

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Hi there! I'm neverhollowed. I read too much MM romance and play music too loud. My blog combines my passion for books and indie music. I write book and manga reviews, create bookish playlists and share LGBT-related movies. Welcome to my blog! Hope you enjoy your visit.

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Book images and promotional materials are from Goodreads or media kits provided for blog tours, cover reveals and release blitzes. Manga covers and other images are sourced through Google image search. The two dorks in the header image is from a manga by TogaQ & Kikuchi Neko. The cat logo is my own design. Reviews and other writings found in the blog are mine unless otherwise stated. All Buy Links to Amazon and Bookshop in my posts contain affiliate links.

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Never Hollowed By The Stare
neverhollowedNever Hollowed By The Stare@neverhollowed·
4h

COVER REVEAL: Not So Sincerely, Yours by A.M. Johnson (Excerpt & #Giveaway)

https://neverhollowed.com/2021/02/25/cover-reveal-not-so-sincerely-yours-by-a-m-johnson-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowedNever Hollowed By The Stare@neverhollowed·
4h

We're celebrating the release of Cinderellis by Evie Drae with an amazing giveaway! #XpressoTours https://neverhollowed.com/2021/02/25/book-blitz-cinderellis-by-evie-drae-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowedNever Hollowed By The Stare@neverhollowed·
24 Feb

Does anyone know how to make Prince Charming fall in love with you? I’m asking for a friend.

…yeah, that friend is me.

COVER REVEAL: Love Practice by A.F. Zoelle (Excerpt & #Giveaway)

https://getbook.at/LovePractice

https://neverhollowed.com/2021/02/24/cover-reveal-love-practice-by-a-f-zoelle-excerpt-giveaway/

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