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
    • FAVORITE BOOK COVERS
    • 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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featured, Uncategorized

COVER REVEAL: Deviate Me by Daphne Thorne

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April 8, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

COVER REVEAL: Stealing Forever by Lizzie C. Koz (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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April 9, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

RELEASE TOUR: The Ultimate Save by Felice Stevens (Excerpt)

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April 8, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

BOOK TOUR: The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray

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April 6, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

PROMO BLITZ: Never Announce You’re Dating the Massage Therapist by Portia Blake

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April 10, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

RELEASE BLITZ: Meetings With The Minotaur by M.A. Wardell

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April 7, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

NEW RELEASE: Hunter’s Hidden Camera by Anthony Auswat (Excerpt)

read more
April 10, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

COVER REVEAL: Hat Trick by E.M. Lindsey

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April 6, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

FLICKer: Toothbrush

Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it. A closeted man on the cusp of getting married realises he’s running…

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April 9, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

RELEASE BLITZ: Mister Van Doren by Crea Reitan

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April 7, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

MUSIC MONDAY: You And Forever by Bleachers

Pick a song that you really like and share it on Monday.

read more
April 6, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

PROMO BLITZ: Wake by Anyta Sunday

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April 8, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

SERIES TOUR: Death’s Embrace by H.L. Moore (Excerpt + Character Interview)

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April 7, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

BLOG TOUR: Children of Anzulla: Draxton & Kellan by Kashel Char (Excerpt)

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April 12, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

COVER REVEAL: Forbidden Little Game by Raleigh Ruebins

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April 9, 2026
featured, Uncategorized

FAVORITE COVERS: March 2026

Let’s give those beautiful book covers some love! Every first Tuesday of the month, I post some of my favorite covers and then pick the cover of the month. This…

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April 7, 2026
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FAVORITE COVERS: February
Link 1
MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
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GIVEAWAYS
Link 1
REVIEW INDEX
Link 1
BOOK REVIEWS
Link 1
MANGA REVIEWS
  • manga,  Uncategorized
    September 3, 2018 / No Comments

    Otona-chan. – Umiyuki Lily

    High school student, “Otona-chan” is popular among both guys and girls with his cute looks. But instead of being treated like a child, he wants to be treated like an adult and really admires cool adults. And then comes a student teacher to his class, who is very much adult-like and he falls hard…

    Pure innocent idiots and mature world weary jerks: a hit or miss combo.

    Otona-chan: With a bit of attempted sekuhara from angelic sensei, idiot realizes his feelings for his friend. Meh on this

    Dreamy Love: Book designer was saddled with a useless assistant who gets under his skin. Said assistant also succeeded on worming his way into his heart despite book designer’s valiant efforts to keep his walls up. The struggle was fun to watch. Definitely the better story.

    (source: https://mangarock.com)

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Power Play by K.R. Collins (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    July 11, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Dear Presti: The Prince’s Pen Pal by Karrie Roman (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 31, 2024

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Peril In Provence by Winnie Frolik (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    September 8, 2024
  • book,  Uncategorized
    September 3, 2018 / No Comments

    A Charm of Magpies: Rag and Bone – K.J. Charles

    It’s amazing what people throw away…

    Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall.

    Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer.

    But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.

    Fluffiest KJC book so far!

    Awesome magic system based on frequencies and resonance.

    “Freckles” !!! 

    (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ

    Crispin + Ned = adorbs!!! 

    ✺(^▽^✺) ✺(^O^)✺ (✺^▽^)✺

     Appearances by Stephen Day (please don’t leave the Justiciary, please), Mrs. Gold, Janossi, and Ben Spencer.

    Jonah Pastern pops out of nowhere:

    Ned looked round, startled. He hadn’t noticed anyone joining him, but there
    he was, a young chap with a jagged streak of white running through his black
    hair, like a lightning strike. He was good-looking, blue-eyed, smartly dressed
    with a flash blue waistcoat, and if ever Ned had seen untrustworthy, it was
    sitting on the bench next to him. 

    Oh Jonah! 

    (-‸ლ) 

    The villain was kind of obvious but it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story.

    Cornell Collins’ voice for the ghost thing is creeeepy. Do not listen to it in the dark at 3 a.m.

    Fighting resurrected witches with music hall sensations is a thing now?

    Magic police are cool!

    P.S.

    I recommend reading the fantastic A Charm of Magpies series before reading Rag and Bone.

    Rating:

    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Butterfly Caught
    Artist: Massive Attack
    Album: 100th Window

    (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34870160-rag-and-bone)

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(July 14, 2021)

    July 14, 2021

    RELEASE BLITZ: Once Upon A Sexy Scrooge by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

    November 29, 2022

    RELEASE BLITZ: Whiskey Business by Becca Jackson (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 9, 2023
  • song,  Uncategorized
    September 3, 2018 / No Comments


    [spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A22yxR09cYIuD8aeT3TfJlu&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]

    Soundtrack to A Charm of Magpies: Rag and Bone by K.J. Charles

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    AUDIO TOUR: Natural Twenty by Charlie Novak (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    March 1, 2021

    COVER REVEAL: To Trust and To Touch by Vivi Anne Hunt (Giveaway)

    November 10, 2022

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Shy by Ashish Rastogi (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 20, 2022
  • Uncategorized
    September 3, 2018 / No Comments

    A fine glass vase goes from treasure to trash, the moment it is broken. Fortunately, something else happens to you and me. Pick up your pieces. Then, help me gather mine.

    Vera Nazarian
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    NEW RELEASE: Rivaled by Nicole Dykes

    August 29, 2023

    NEW RELEASE: Sting in the Tail by T.A. Moore (Excerpt & Giveaway + Q&A with Author)

    October 4, 2023

    NEW RELEASE: The Hotshot vs. The Reporter by Nicole Dykes

    October 30, 2023
  • Uncategorized
    September 3, 2018 / No Comments

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBVxDgK0_KI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    2022 Pride Month Playlist

    June 21, 2022

    RELEASE TOUR: Home Hearts Hoove by Becca Jackson (Excerpt)

    May 27, 2025

    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Goodbye, Charley

    March 8, 2020
  • manga,  Uncategorized
    September 1, 2018 / No Comments

    Tokoya no Musuko – Maaya

    A barber’s son and his number one customer.

    Ohohoho…looks like the boy is the seme

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

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE BLITZ: Delusions & Desires by Kate Messick

    October 30, 2025

    RELEASE BLITZ: Defensive Zone by Jodi Oliver

    November 14, 2024

    RELEASE BLITZ: The Liar’s Reckoning by August Jones

    March 14, 2025
  • book,  Uncategorized
    September 1, 2018 / No Comments

    Candy Man: Lollipop – Amy Lane

    Ezra Kellerman flew across country to see if he had another chance with the man he let slip through his fingers. He didn’t. Rico has moved on, but he doesn’t just leave his ex high and dry. Instead, Rico entrusts his family and friends with Ezra’s care. Ezra, confused, hurt, and lost, clings to Rico’s cousin and his boyfriend as the lifelines they are—but their friend Miguel is another story.

    Miguel Rodriguez had great plans and ambition—but a hearty dose of real life crushed those flat. When Miguel finds himself partially in charge of the befuddled, dreamy, healing Ezra, he’s pretty resentful at first. But Ezra’s placid nature and sincere wonder at the simple life Miguel has taken for granted begin to soften Miguel’s hardened shell. Miguel starts to notice that Ezra isn’t just amazingly sweet—he’s achingly beautiful as well. Suddenly Miguel is fending off every single man on the planet to give Ezra room to get over Rico—while fighting a burning suspicion that the best thing to help Ezra get over his broken heart is Miguel.

    Welcome back to sunny Sacramento, where shiny, happy people help sad, broken queers put the pieces back together.

    Last we know of Ezra, he was wilting in the summer sun and crying his eyes out at seeing Rico again. Now, Rico is with Derek and Ezra is still a weepy softy but tries to keep a brave face and start a new life. Lucky for him, Miguel is there to help him every step of the way. Unfortunately for me, it’s too similar to Derek and Rico’s story so it didn’t feel fresh. I ended up reading it for the people.

    The Candy Man characters are the kind of people I want to be surrounded with. There’s Adam who came in with all his walls up but is now confident and taking charge, Finn who fell out of a basket of chocolate bunnies, Rico and Derek, yuppies who want to make a difference; Darrin who might be bitchy but just had to help everyone with his clairvoyance because how could he not, and the amazing Stewart family who adopts and feeds everyone in sight.

    Ezra is the youngest Kellerman whose childhood was a sorry affair. He was in the closet for a long time until his father discovered his relationship with Rico. One day he broke down and decided enough was enough. I didn’t really warm up to Ezra immediately. He cries all the time and it took a long time for him to find what he was looking for even if it was already right in his face. Also, he kept putting off his visit to his shrink. You need professional help, Ezra. Please see your doctor.

    Kristof Pituk as Ezra Kellerman

    image

    Miguel, I liked better. He comes from a big happy family and like in Rico and Derek’s case, he wants Ezra to experience the happy things he missed as a child. Their trip to Disneyland was the best. 

    Miles Frank as Miguel Rodriguez

    image

    Lollipop is the longest book so far, clocking in at 9+ hours. I enjoyed most of it though there were parts that I found repetitive especially the moments where Miguel, his mom or somebody was comforting Ezra and then after a while, the same thing would be said again only in a different way. There were a lot of these phrasing and rephrasing scattered throughout the story. I guess Ezra needed a lot of reassurances.

    On a happier note, Darrin found his protege. And he was certainly not the one Darrin expected. Still, the candy fairy knew his new mentee will go a long way. I am excited to see what the new candy fairy will do for Robbie and Cy. Their book is next.

    Rating:

    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Finding Home
    Artist: Mindy Gledhill
    Album: Pocketful of Poetry

    (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28322700-lollipop)

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE TOUR: Stupid Dirty by Erin Russell (Giveaway)

    January 26, 2024

    MUSIC MONDAY: I Don’t Belong by Fontaines DC

    August 10, 2020

    AUDIOBOOK REVIEW TOUR: What Works For Us by Colette Davison

    December 11, 2020
  • song,  Uncategorized
    September 1, 2018 / No Comments


    [spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A3I5PrQ60Y3MXBQ5EX59NLU&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]

    Soundtrack to Candy Man: Lollipop by Amy Lane

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE BLITZ: A Deliberation of Dragons by Hanna Dare (Giveaway)

    September 9, 2021

    PROMO BLITZ: Bump Start by Eve Holmes

    November 5, 2025

    BLOG TOUR: Something Borrowed by Lily Morton (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 5, 2024
  • Uncategorized
    September 1, 2018 / No Comments

    every mouth you’ve ever kissed
    was just practice
    all the bodies you’ve ever undressed
    and ploughed in to
    were preparing you for me.
    i don’t mind tasting them in the
    memory of your mouth
    they were a long hall way
    a door half open
    a single suit case still on the conveyor belt
    was it a long journey?
    did it take you long to find me?
    you’re here now,
    welcome home.

    Warsan Shire
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BOOK TOUR: Broken Triangle by Elle W. Silver (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    January 16, 2020

    RELEASE TOUR: Better Than Sex by Kit Erikson (Excerpt)

    January 13, 2025

    NEW RELEASE: Deja Vu by S. Barker

    September 3, 2021
  • Uncategorized
    September 1, 2018 / No Comments

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxY3tu9mDg?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    MUSIC MONDAY: New Leaf by Soft Bait

    June 30, 2025

    COVER REVEAL: If Only In Our Dreams by Fae Quin (Giveaway)

    October 8, 2024

    FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56: And Please, Say To Me, You’ll Let Me Hold Your Hand

    June 4, 2020
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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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