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BLOG TOUR: Falling Awake IV: Retribution by Kristoffer Gair (Excerpt + Guest Post)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Unus by Stephanie Burke (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Shai by H.L. Night (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Courting Nightfall by Amanda Meuwissen (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE: Of Fire & Bone by Natalina Reis (Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Kline Agency by Ana Raine (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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MANGA: Galge no Sekai de Shinyuu ga Ore o Sukida to Iidashite
Galge no Sekai de Shinyuu ga Ore o Sukida to Iidashite – Fujitobi
Aoi, a hard-headed young man secretly yearning for love. When playing the harem game he secretly bought in his best friend Ritsuki’s house, he somehow gets sucked into the game’s world with Ritsuki! While understanding that if they don’t clear the game they can’t leave, Aoi decides to try his best in romancing one of the girls, but suddenly Ritsuki confesses to him…? The story between a whole hearted ikemen childhood friend x a hard headed young man who secretly yearns for love virtually unfolds!
In the World of a Gal Game, My Best Friend ♂ Says He Likes Me!? is a gay for you, best friends to lovers story that took place inside a gal game.
Gal games are dating games where the player tries to win the affection of girls. Aoi was playing one at his best friend Ritsuki’s house when they were both sucked inside the game. Aoi, who had boldly declared he had no interest in girls, had in fact been wanting a girlfriend and decided to play the game as practice.
Meanwhile, Ritsuki had been pining for his oblivious friend for years. He took comfort in the fact that his friend said he doesn’t want to date girls. Now that they were both in the game and Aoi was actively pursuing girls, he took matters in his own hands by trying to control Aoi’s interactions with them.
Normally, I’d be all over a friends to lovers story especially one that’s also gay for you. But, I seriously think Ritsuki was barking up the wrong tree. Aoi was so very obviously straight. He was really into girls and only later developed feelings because Ritsuki was always there. I felt his change of feeling towards his bestfriend was forced. Even the flow of the manga didn’t feel smooth.
I did feel sorry for Ritsuki. Aoi is a doofus. Still, he loves Aoi so much that when the game showed Aoi the affection levels of a person towards him, Ritsuki’s level was so high, Aoi was overwhelmed and fled. Ritsuki’s strong feelings were the only reason I rooted for them.
I love most of Fujitobi‘s manga but sadly this one didn’t work for me. Which was too bad because it had an interesting set up.
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REVIEW: The Murder Between Us by Tal Bauer
Noah & Cole Thriller: The Murder Between Us – Tal Bauer
It was just one night.
It was just one mistake.FBI Agent Noah Downing had questions about his sexuality that a single night in Vegas should have answered. But dawn finds him on a plane back to Iowa, back on the trail of a vicious serial killer who disappeared six years ago and has suddenly resurfaced. There’s nothing like a murder investigation to escape an existential crisis.
FBI profiler Cole Kennedy is still reeling after finding a heart-stopping connection with a seemingly perfect man, only for him to vanish. When he’s sent to Iowa to profile the killer terrorizing America’s heartland, he finds more questions than answers – both about the murderer and about Noah, the last man he ever expected to see again.
A twisted secret stretches between Cole and Noah, tangled with questions they both have about each other. But now, thrown together, they’ll have to unravel the killer’s profile and follow his trail… back to the very beginning, to where everyone’s questions are answered once and for all.
***This is an M|M romantic suspense standalone novel, featuring a second chance romance, the hunt for a twisted serial killer, and one man’s journey to acceptance. 80k words.
Wow. Just wow!
I’ve heard so many good things about Tal Bauer’s books. This is my first and it’s already a 5-star read!
The Murder Between Us is about closeted FBI agent Noah Downing letting himself, for once and just this once because heck, it’s Vegas, hook up with a guy to answer that burning question about his sexuality. He let himself be swept away on a date by a very charming man named Cole Kennedy. His very first date with a man was so perfect, it felt like a dream. I was swept away by this part too.
They had a magical night together and promised to meet the next day. But Noah was suddenly called away on a murder case back in his hometown, Des Moines. This turned out to be the work of a serial killer who supposedly vanished 6 years ago. They needed a profiler. So guess who showed up as their new profiler?
“Damn midwestern men!”
Noah and Cole are compelling characters that immediately drew me in. They are both brilliant, competent and highly respected in their field. From the get go, the two men had AMAZING chemistry.
That chemistry remained strong even as they go through the lows of their relationship. And boy, these parts really hurt! Meanwhile, the highs were heart-meltingly adorable. It was a one step forward, two steps back with them. It can be argh! but so worth it in the end.
Noah is sweet and vulnerable. He’s a doting father to his teenage daughter, Katie. He’s afraid to come out because he might lose custody. My heart went out to him. He wanted so much to be himself but he was so scared. Katie was his whole world. The poor man deserves to be happy, if only he let himself.
His reunion with Cole was all sorts of awkward but even as Noah frequently doubts himself to the point of self-sabotage, Cole is always there. Cole is beyond wonderful! So patient and loving. I loved how his strength held them together through the worst moments.
Katie deserves a mention because she is awesome. Her heart to heart talk with her dad after she found out about him and Cole made me teary eyed.
The procedural part is as equally riveting as the romance. The crimes were quite gruesome. The case was difficult to solve. I loved all the twist and turns, especially the one at the climax that really took me by surprise. That was pretty clever!
The Murder Between Us is a beautifully written story, with a intricate plot and prose that kept me hooked. I finished it in one sitting. From that super sweet beginning to the painful struggle for self-acceptance to the hard-fought HEA that run alongside the high stress investigation and heart-stopping confrontations with the killer, this was truly a rollercoaster from beginning to end. The feels just hits you hard, right in the kokoro. This book totally slayed me!
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: The Space Between
Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Album: Everyday
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The Murder Between Us: US | UK
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SOUNDTRACK: The Space Between by Dave Matthews Band
Soundtrack to Noah & Cole Thriller: The Murder Between Us by Tal Bauer
According to songmeaningsandfacts.com, this Dave Matthews Band classic is a song about “a complex relationship between two people who are most likely incompatible yet long to be with each other“. After reading The Murder Between Us, I couldn’t help but relate this to Noah and Cole.
“You cannot quit me so quickly / There’s no hope in you for me / No corner you could squeeze me / But I got all the time for you, love” is Cole patiently waiting for Noah to come to terms with himself.
“The Space Between/The wicked lies we tell/And hope to keep safe from the pain” is Noah hiding a part of himself because of his many fears.
“Take my hand / ‘Cause we’re walking out of here…The Space Between /Your heart and mine/Is the space we’ll fill with time” ｡ﾟ.(*♡´◡` 人´◡` ♡*)ﾟ °・
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You cannot quit me so quickly
There’s no hope in you for me
No corner you could squeeze me
But I got all the time for you, loveThe Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the painBut will I hold you again?
These fickle, fuddled words confuse me
Like ‘Will it rain today?’
Waste the hours with talking, talking
These twisted games we’re playingWe’re strange allies
With warring hearts
What wild-eyed beast you be
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the painWill I hold you again?
Will I hold…Look at us spinning out in
The madness of a roller coaster
You know you went off like a devil
In a church in the middle of a crowded room
All we can do, my love
Is hope we don’t take this ship downThe Space Between
Where you’re smiling high
Is where you’ll find me if I get to go
The Space Between
The bullets in our firefight
Is where I’ll be hiding, waiting for you
The rain that falls
Splash in your heart
Ran like sadness down the window into…
The Space Between
Our wicked lies
Is where we hope to keep safe from painTake my hand
‘Cause we’re walking out of here
Oh, right out of here
Love is all we need hereThe Space Between
What’s wrong and right
Is where you’ll find me hiding, waiting for you
The Space Between
Your heart and mine
Is the space we’ll fill with time
The Space Between…
