Never Hollowed By The Stare

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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
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  • Uncategorized

    COSPLAY WISHLIST FOR HALLOWEEN 2019

    October 31, 2019 / No Comments

    Happy Halloween, everyone!

    In celebration of my favorite holiday and in a serious mood for trick or treating, I put together a list of my dream costumes for this special day. I’m too old to go begging for candies but you’re never too old for costumes so here goes…

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    COVER REVEAL: Simplicity by Nicole Dykes

    September 16, 2024

    RELEASE BLITZ: Us Against The World by Shayne Prescott (Excerpt)

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    RAINBOW BOOK TAG

    November 26, 2020
  • Uncategorized

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Claiming Marcus by Jocelynn Drake (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 31, 2019 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    BLOG TOUR: I’m Not In Love by Mia Kerick (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    June 14, 2022

    FLICKer: Staccato

    July 22, 2021

    RELEASE BLITZ: Playing Games by Riley Hart (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 25, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    BOOK BLAST: Memoirs of the Human Remains Box Set and Omnibus by F.E. Feeley Jr.

    October 31, 2019 / No Comments
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    neverhollowed

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Thylacine

    May 24, 2020

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Love Like Salt by Noja Lina (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    February 8, 2023

    MUSIC MONDAY: Timeless by Ambar Lucid

    August 8, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    SPOOKY QUESTIONS TAG

    October 30, 2019 / 1 Comment

    Eight spooky questions for Halloween.

    This tag was created by RedrumReads. Feel free to tag yourselves. Tag me, too. I’d love to see your answers.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    BLOG TOUR: Illegal Motion by Rheland Richmond & Emerson Beckett (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    February 27, 2023

    RELEASE BLITZ: Restored Ruins by G.R. Lyons (Excerpt)

    February 27, 2022

    BOOK TOUR: Realm Of The Vampire Council by Damian Serbu (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    April 24, 2021
  • manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Ano Ko To Juliet

    October 29, 2019 / No Comments
    Image result for あの子とジュリエット

    Ano Ko To Juliet – Kojima Lalako

    “Mitsuru and I, we’re Romeo and Juliet.” High school students, Ryousuke and Mitsuru are lovers since childhood. But their fathers are with daggers drawn. They really don’t want to be separated…With this mind, the decision to elope…?! Besides the main title work, this book also contains the love of a popular idol x childhood friend, and the timid love of the one carrying out someone else’s love letters ♥ The sparkling high school loves, a short compilation gem!

    That Boy & Juliet: Madly in love high schoolers go against their father’s wishes and try to elope. Endearing but we can do without the domestic abuse.

    Dramatic Boyfriend+Melancholy Boyfriend: An unexpectedly angsty and also cute story of an idol and his childhood friend turned boyfriend. We can do without pedo sensei.

    The Funeral Ceremony Of Love Letters: Ghostly letter writing connects lonely high schooler to a boy mourning the loss his girlfriend. Full of tears and longing but also hopeful. Best story.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: Prince Ivan, A. Wolfe & A Firebird by Eric Alan Westfall (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 4, 2020

    FLICKer: Malehood

    November 3, 2022

    BOOK BLITZ: Art of the Chase by Jennifer Giacalone (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    February 5, 2024
  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke

    October 29, 2019 / 2 Comments
    41435160

    Not Dead Yet – Jenn Burke

    Dying isn’t what it used to be.

    Wes Cooper was dead. Then he wasn’t—though he’s not exactly alive, either. As an immortal not-ghost, he can transition between this world and the otherplane, which makes him the perfect thief for hire. For seventy years he’s made a “living” returning items to their rightful owners, seeing his fair share of the bizarre in the process. But he’s never witnessed murder. Until now.

    His latest mission brings him more than he bargained for: a very-dead actor who is definitely going to stay that way. It’s just Wes’s luck that his ex-boyfriend, Detective Hudson Rojas, is assigned to the case. Hudson broke Wes’s heart years ago—and could again, given he’s rocking a hot silver-fox look that shouldn’t be legal.

    As they work together to track down the murderer before anyone else gets hurt, it becomes clear Wes and Hudson have unfinished business. And when a secret Hudson’s been keeping threatens more than just their happiness, it might mean the end of their not-life together—permanently.

    This book is approximately 91,000 words


    Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke has one of the most unique premises I’ve encountered for a while, putting a fresh spin on the ghost lover trope.

    First, it’s set in Toronto and I can’t even remember the last time I’ve read a book with a Canadian setting. So that’s a big plus. Also, Wesley Cooper is a not-ghost. He’s 110 years old, killed by a lover in 1933 and brought back to life by his lover’s sister who was a witch.

    Wes works as a ‘recovery specialist’ aka glorified thief who retrieves certain items per client request. He can become a ghost and go to the other plane at will, which is a very useful ability for his job because ‘no breaking, just entering‘. He has not aged in a century and forever looks in his 20s.

    The other MC is Detective Hudson Rojas, Wes’ ex-boyfriend, with whom he parted in not so good terms. They met in the 80s when people were not open to gay relationships especially in the police force. They met again when Wes was involved in a murder case. Hud turned out to be quite the silver fox at 58. Interestingly, he stopped aging in his 30s (he turned grey early) because, well, you’ll see.

    These established the backbones of a highly entertaining paranormal mystery. The world-building came naturally. Nothing too complicated on the surface, very magical realism feels. But as I get deeper into the story, it became obvious that there’s more to this than merely witches and ghosts. There’s so many fun things you can do with this set-up and different avenues to explore.

    The story is told in Wes’ POV. I loved his ‘voice’. Wes is very open with his feelings. He could be a tad dramatic sometimes but his thoughts never failed to be funny.

    Hudson is the opposite of Wes. He’s grumpy and blunt. He was an asshole to Wes many times. As in, downright insulting at some instances. Then just like that, he turns on the charm. The hot and cold treatment should have been a turn off but Jenn Burke pulled it off really well and I can’t even dislike Hudson that much. He had his reasons.

    I really enjoyed the slow-burn, second chance romantic subplot. It was integrated nicely to the story. It’s pretty obvious that the spark was still strong which was highlighted by how easily they traded zingers as if they never parted. And since slow-burn is my jam, I get a thrill out of the whole process of catching up, dancing around barely suppressed feelings and hashing it out.

    It’s not just the romantic chemistry between them. I liked how the the contract thief and the police detective worked together in the case. Their shared history and complimenting abilities was put to good use in the investigation. Their partnership came together through necessity but they just clicked on many levels.

    Very likable supporting cast too, with Lexi, Wesley’s witch bestfriend and the great grandaughter of the witch who brought Wes to life. There’s also Evan, somebody they adopted because Hudson accidentally killed him when Wes appeared out of nowhere. I appreciated the found family thing forming for these people who always end up alone as their loved ones come and go through the decades.

    The book also has a good ace rep. Wes is demisexual and Hudson is one of the rare few who did it for him. Appropriately, it’s a low heat book with only one sex scene. Low heat or no heat makes reading more convenient for me because it usually means less pages to skip.

    The mystery was a well-written one. For one of his jobs, Wes had to retrieved an item from the house of an actress, only to walk in on her being strangled by a shadowy being. Who suddenly looked directly at Wes while he was still in his ghostly form. That should have been impossible!

    Not Dead Yet effectively blended police procedural and paranormal. It kept me engage all throughout the story and kept me in the dark until the big reveal. I had a few suspects but then there were more mysterious agendas from mysterious masterminds in action. And with this, things unraveled fast. The two men were in a whole world of trouble!

    The story ended with a great jumping off point for the next book. Wes and Hudson came to an agreement. Major career changes were planned. Something is happening to Wes and he doesn’t know what. I need to find out more ASAP!

    Overall, Not Dead Yet is shaping up to be a very promising series. It’s heavy on humor, light on spook, with a just the right balance of romance, mystery and paranormal that really worked for me. Recommended if you like your ghosts sassy, your detectives gruff and your stories twisty.

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

    Soundtrack: Ghost
    Artist: Parachute
    Album: Losing Sleep

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Ghost by Parachute

    October 29, 2019 / No Comments

    Soundtrack to Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke

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    neverhollowed

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  • Uncategorized
    October 29, 2019 / No Comments

    Look behind you
    Avoid the shadows
    Watch your back now
    Make your breathing shallow

    Keep your room locked
    And leave the blinds closed
    I’m right there staring at your window

    And all I need is you
    And all I need is you

    I’m in the background
    On the radio
    I’m in your car
    In your house
    Waiting at your door
    Under your footsteps
    I’m everything you know
    Just let me haunt
    Let me haunt
    Let me be your ghost

    You had your chance love
    You tried to stay strong
    You tried to let go
    Tell yourself you moved on

    But then it comes back
    That feeling in your bones
    Like I’m right there

    And all I need is you
    And all I need is you

    I’m in the background
    On the radio
    I’m in your car
    In your house
    Waiting at your door
    Under your footsteps
    I’m everything you know
    Just let me haunt
    Let me haunt
    Let me be your ghost
    Let me be your ghost
    Just let me be your ghost

    I’m in the background
    On the radio
    I’m in your car
    In your house
    Waiting at your door
    Under your footsteps
    I’m everything you know
    Just let me haunt
    Let me haunt
    Let me be your ghost

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • trailer,  Uncategorized

    MOVIE FEATURE: Jayson Bend: Queen and Country

    October 29, 2019 / No Comments
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    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Sons of Rome by Karrie Roman (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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    BLOG TOUR: Graphic Noiz 3 The Manga by Natsuya Uesugi (Giveaway)

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    RELEASE BLITZ: Talons of Love by Debbie McQueen (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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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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🌈boy's love manga | MM romance | music | giveaways and more 🐾

neverhollowed
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲—𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

COVER REVEAL: Shaken and Stirred by Lilly Atlas



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/cover-reveal-shaken-and-stirred-by-lilly-atlas/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Spy by Mell Eight (Excerpt & #Giveaway)


https://books2read.com/the-spy

https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/new-release-blitz-the-spy-by-mell-eight-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Unrequited love can make you blind.

COVER REVEAL: Doink by Crea Reitan



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/cover-reveal-doink-by-crea-reitan/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Sometimes growing up means growing apart in this queer take on As You Like It featuring first loves and friend breakups, from award-winning author Julia Drake.

BOOK TOUR: Lovesick Falls by Julia Drake



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/book-tour-lovesick-falls-by-julia-drake/

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