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REVIEW: Better Than People by Roan Parrish
Garnet Run: Better Than People – Roan Parrish
It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…
Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.
Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.
Being with Jack—talking, waking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.
Peopling is something Jack Matheson has no patience for. Social gatherings and small talks were things he particularly avoided. Betrayed by a friend and recently injured by a bad fall, he spent his days moping while his brother, Charlie tried to coax him out of it.
One day, Jack got on Petshare, an app that matches a pet owner to a person interested in helping out with pets. It matched him with one very intriguing person named Simon Burke.
Peopling comes hard to Simon Burke. Having crippling anxiety where words stuck in his throat whenever he tries to talk to new people pretty much guarantees a solitary life with his grandmother as his only friend in the world. It took all his courage to knock on Jack’s door so that he could walk the dogs. Little did he know, their grumpy human would change his life.
As somebody who’s as socially awkward as they come, Jack and Simon are my people so I was immediately drawn to them. Having preference for furry, four-legged creatures over walking, talking two-legged ones is another point in their favor.
Simon’s condition was difficult. The author really did a good job making you feel his struggle to say something as simple as thank you. While I was reading it, I wondered, how does one even handle that level of anxiety? The amount of courage to push through the fear is extraordinary. Simon Burke is one of the strongest book person I know. I also loved that this shy man who struggles with words has a delightful streak of snark.
Jack might have anger and trust issues but he is kind. He noticed right away that Simon has words roiling inside that he couldn’t get out. He found ways for them to communicate. He was patient and gentle. He knew how to listen to the unspoken.
The story has the right amount of slow burn to allow the attraction to blossom into a sweet romance amidst challenging circumstances. They were both fiercely independent individuals who’s trying to make it through life alone. I loved the way they gradually became part of each other’s lives.
Drawing is a key element in the story. Jack is a children’s book illustrator and Simon is a graphic artist. His friend’s betrayal affected Jack so much he has not drawn for 8 months. It was Simon who helped him get his mojo back.
One of the heroes of this book is Charlie. He and Jack were orphaned when he was 17. He sacrificed so much to provide for his younger brother. Even as adults, he still selflessly cares for Jack despite Jack’s surly attitude. He was patient with Simon. He understood what it’s like to wake up fearing the day ahead. He is a sweetheart and he deserves his own happy ending.
I am thrilled that my soft, magical boy, Corbin Wale gets a much deserved homage. Jack is a huge fan of him. The way Jack described his drawings takes me back to his amazing book.
Better Than People is set in the same world as The Remaking of Corbin Wale. It charms you with the same whimsical writing though less dreamlike. While The Remaking of Corbin Wale has a surreal, magical realism vibe, this book is more realistic and angsty. It is also did not have quite the same intensity. I love this book but I wasn’t as swept away as I was with its predecessor.
Nonetheless, I highly recommend reading this after reading Corbin Wale’s story. The two can be read as standalones but Roan Parrish creates wonderful stories of soft boys made of sighs, spice, and steel, it’s always a pleasure to meet them all.
P.S.
Read my love for Corbin here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Impossible
Artist: Nothing But Thieves
Album: Moral Panic
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REVIEW: Breaking News by Ella Frank
Prime Time: Breaking New – Ella Frank
Breaking News is the continuation of Xander and Sean’s story and should only be read after book one, Inside Affair.
Xander
Sean Bailey, the older brother of my lifelong best friend, has always been a surly, temperamental pain in my ass. But sometime during the last few weeks, I’ve gone and fallen head over heels for him.
Gruff and charming, charismatic in his own way, I’ve found myself looking past my preconceptions and discovered a whole new side to Detective Dick—a side I could fall in love with.
But life isn’t always easy—it can change course in the blink of an eye. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. I know this because last night I experienced both sides.
I went to Sean for help in guarding my body; what I didn’t expect was for him to steal my heart.
Like many readers, I was excited to delve into this Prime Time sequel as we were left with one heck of a cliffhanger in Inside Affair. Like some of them, I expected more. This review echos their reactions.
Breaking News picks up right after that momentous awards ceremony where the stalker finally decided to make his move.
While I am ecstatic that Xander and Sean lost none of their magical chemistry, there was really nothing earth-shaking happening in the story. Not that that I was bored, more like the story was ‘just there’ and wasn’t really grabbing me.
I felt it would have done the overall presentation a whole lot of good if the entire series was one book instead of chopping it to 3 volumes. Cliffhangers are Ella Frank‘s thing and which, I believe does work wonders if executed properly. However, Breaking News felt like we were dropped smack in the middle of a story that was just there to set up the next big event.
On the upside, Xander and Sean took their relationship to a higher level. Sean really stepped up his game here! And boy did he ace it. Not only risking his life to save Xander but also making sure he was emotionally okay too after the trauma.
Xander was okay for the most part, but had panic attacks triggered by unexpected noises. Sean takes him to his secret getaway to recuperate and woos him with an outdoor spa and a sky full of stars. It was all very romantic until sophisticated, city boy Xander was jumped on by a teeny tiny frog. All hell broke loose…
So yeah, romance-wise, things are pretty spectacular. Xander and Sean still has one of my favorite gay-for-you stories out there. The way they sync together was almost flawless. I loved the way they continue to discover new things about each other. It’s amazing how a person they knew their whole life could surprise them in so many ways. The book really did a great job highlighting that.
Overall, I got that middle book feels mixed in with a wonderful relationship development. This ends with another cliffhanger but one I already expected so it wasn’t that shocking.
I love this series, most especially the characters so I am looking forward to the third book. Xander and Sean went from fake to real to intense and now they just need to let the rest of the world know. The rest of the world a.k.a. Bailey a.k.a. Sean’s lil bro a.k.a. Xander’s bestfriend a.k.a. ex. If only it’s that easy…
“Thank you for showing me the real you. I had no idea what I was missing.”
“And what was that?”
“Someone truly magnificent.”
P.S.
The books end in cliffhangers so Prime Time is best experienced as a binge read. Find out where it all started and check out my review of Inside Affair, book one of Prime Time, here.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: I’ll Maybe Let You
Artist: The Irrepressibles
Album: Mirror Mirror
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REVIEW: Married To The Mobster by Leighton Greene
Morelli Family: Married To The Mobster – Leighton Greene
The Mob sent him to kill me, but he owed me a debt…
Years ago I saved his life, and we spent one hot night together before he disappeared. Now this bad boy’s all grown up, and living a dangerous life. But when his Family decides to send a message to my father, it’s my life on the line.
Only he can’t bring himself to do it when he realizes who I am.
He bargains for my life.
He argues to keep me as a hostage instead of killing me.
He even agrees to marry me, but not for love.
Marrying me is the only way he can repay the debt he owes me.
He tells me he’ll keep me alive only as long as his Boss allows it.
What he doesn’t know is that I’ve loved him since the first moment I laid eyes on him. I’ll take him any way I can get him. Sleeping with the enemy never felt so good…
But is there someone else who wants me dead?
New-to-me author Leighton Greene delivers a highly enjoyable mafia-themed story about a sassy Irish mobster’s son who knew his shit and a flawed but ambitious Italian mobster who tried his hardest not to feel.
Married to the Mobster opens with a meet cute that soon turned bloody. Finch spots Luca at the dance floor. The attraction was instant and mutual. Luca was later attacked outside the club. Finch found him, patched him up, spent the night with him then (reluctantly) went their separate ways.
Fast forward 5 years later and their second meet cute also involved violence. Finch has a hit on him. He was abducted by the Morelli and Luca pleads for his life. Mob boss Tino grants pardon on the condition Luca marries Finch.
These first parts is where the story really shines. The meetings played out wonderfully and I loved how the connection between Finch and Luca took root and grew into something inevitable.
I love Finch! He’s a fascinating combination of a spoiled billionare’s son and a streetsmart survivor. He has quite a mouth on him but he’s got a good heart and sees a person’s true worth .
Luca might be more difficult to like. In some ways, he’s your typical confident alpha male / tough bastard. As the story progressed, it becomes apparent that he lacks knowledge when it comes to the finer things in life because he grew up poor. He also lacks a certain kind of sophistication needed to move in higher circles. But all he ever wants is to keep Finch safe and give him everything he needs. So clearly, he knows his priorities.
Married to the Mobster is, first and foremost, a romance so the mafia politics side of the story wasn’t as strongly delivered as I would have liked. Most of it was the looming threat on Finch’s life. It did provide some unexpected twists later on.
My favorite part was Finch’s unwavering efforts to bring out the best in Luca. He truly believed in his man. Also, even if he is selfless, he knew when to put his foot down when he had enough of his husband’s hot and cold treatment.
There was also a potentially intriguing part at the beginning when Finch had a death wish. It would have been nice if this was explored but it just fizzled out when he got involved with Luca.
Sadly, the second part of the story lost some of its luster. Luca was being bullheaded in keeping his distance. All to stay in business and keep his husband alive. Finch was doing all he could to convince Luca that working together is going to do them both a world of good. The back and forth did dragged bit but it was something they had to go through while Luca struggled with his feelings and responsibilities.
Well, Luca tried his damnedest to deny there are real feelings between them but Finch knew his man well. Knew that the husband who keeps him at arms length is a snuggle slut. Knew that the man who wears cheap polyester suits he claims are Armanis deserves the real thing. Knew the mobster who doesn’t know the proper silverware to use is going to rule New York City one day. Finch even told him so their first night together. And he is going to make it happened.
P.S.
I can’t wait when he does!
The story ends in HFN and continues in Beloved by the Boss.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Toi Et Moi
Artist: Paradis
Album: Recto Verso
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REVIEW: Burn Zone by Annabeth Albert
Hotshots: Burn Zone – Annabeth Albert
Introducing Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild.
Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts…
Smoke jumper Lincoln Reid is speechless to see Jacob Hartman among his squad’s new recruits. Linc had promised his late best friend he’d stay away from his little brother. And yet here Jacob is…and almost instantly, the same temptation Linc has always felt around him is causing way too many problems.
Jacob gets everyone’s concerns, but he’s waited years for his shot at joining the elite smoke jumping team, hoping to honor his brother’s memory. He’s ready to tackle any challenge Linc throws his way, and senses the chemistry between them—chemistry Linc insists on ignoring—is still alive and kicking. This time, Jacob’s determined to get what he wants.
Close quarters and high stakes make it difficult for Linc to keep his resolve, never mind do so while also making sure the rookie’s safe. But the closer they get, the more Linc’s plan to leave at the end of the season risks him breaking another promise: the one his heart wants to make to Jacob.
The Hotshots series is one of my most anticipated reads this year. Partly due to the fact that I already found the song for book 1, Burn Zone, way before the books were released. This always revs up the excitement for me.
Burn Zone didn’t exactly blow me away the way I wanted it to. Still, it was good, falling somewhere between like and love. It was different. At the same time, not.
The series introduced me to smoke jumpers. They are elite firefighters who jump out of planes to put out wildfires. They are hardcore survivalist trained to work under the most extreme conditions.
This is my first time reading this kind of set up. It’s easy to see the author did her research well and use it to excellent results. I also liked how she incorporated this to the story, immersing me in a new experience. She was able to establish the setting, the action and the atmosphere without boring me with unnecessary details.
Take away all these exciting trappings, the core of the story is your usual bestfriend’s brother trope with some I’m-not-good-enough-for-you angstyings. It’s a story you could read in dozen other books in dozen different permutations.
While this is the case, Annabeth Albert’s considerable skills lent the story a certain charm that kept me turning page after page. Majority of this charm came from Jacob, younger brother of Wyatt who was Linc’s bestfriend.
Jacob dreams of becoming a smoke jumper. He knows he has much to prove especially because his late brother was one of the best smoke jumpers out there. He also has to deal with Linc and his teammates, mother-henning him because of what happened to his brother. Despite discouragements and expectations to fail from friends and family, he pushed through and became a valuable member of the team.
Jacob was 19 when he started crushing on Linc. Linc, who was 10 years older, was warned by the homophobic Wyatt to stay away from his little brother. Linc was a man of his word and a promise is a promise. Plus, he’s blaming himself for Wyatt’s death despite it being not his fault.
That does not stop Jacob from doggedly pursuing the man for 6 years. Linc refused again and again. I love how Jacob doesn’t take no for an answer. And he does it without being annoying. He can show his needy side without sounding weak. And he can sass Linc and make him laugh.
Linc? I don’t know with this guy. It was pretty obvious he was insanely attracted to Jacob. The man sure has a stubborn streak and what is this with his I’m 10 years older than you bullshit? I’m not a fan of age gaps but I’ve seen bigger age gaps than that and they made it work. But no. He had to make Jacob fight for everything. All because of Wyatt.
Unconvincing reasons aside, the tension smoldered between the two then went nuclear once they were together. The title was very apt. I’m the type of reader who lives on USTs but finds the resolution itself boring so I liked that the book had USTs galore without going over board with the smexy scenes.
It took a while to convince Linc to let himself be happy. To stop letting a ghost come between him and Jacob. I enjoyed the way their friendship and relationship evolved. It wasn’t the smoothest of paths but the journey was a satisfying one.
Burn Zone is a story of not being afraid to go after what you want, of cutting dead weights loose and taking risks when they’re risks worth taking. If you like men going from fighting wildfires to stoking a different kind of heat, this series opener is an invitation to burn.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Burn With Me
Artist: Whilk & Misky
Album:
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REVIEW: Caulky by K.M. Neuhold
Four Bears Construction: Caulky – K.M. Neuhold
Ren is in desperate need of a rebound fling. Lucky for him, the smoking hot contractor he hired has just the tool for the job.
The last thing I want is another relationship or another broken heart.
All I need are my bees and the occasional hookup to scratch the itch.
Okay, maybe meeting up with my hot contractor weekly is a little more than occasional. And maybe the way I’m starting to feel about the guy I’ve been anonymously chatting with online should concern me.
But CaulkyAF doesn’t want to meet, and Cole doesn’t want anything serious, so what’s the worst that could happen?
****Caulky is book 1 in the Four Bears Construction series and can be read as a stand-alone. This is a funny, steamy MM story guaranteed to make you laugh and swoon. Absolutely NO cheating and NO love triangle. This series does NOT contain shifters, it’s the OTHER kind of bears.
My first K.M. Neuhold book was a flop so I went into this merely out of curiosity. I have no interest in bears or construction workers but I was wondering why this series has such rave reviews.
First, it takes serious skills to make me like contemporary romance. Caulky drew me in from the start and kept me engaged until the end. I don’t even have a favorite character yet but I’m already rooting for all the guys and I’m looking forward to their stories
Ren just had an awful breakup in which his ex dumped him by leaving an invoice of the moving company in his kitchen table. After which, he decided to have the bathroom remodeled to his liking. The gay equivalent of getting bangs, according to his mother.
In an effort to get his ex out of his system, Ren’s bestfriend, Daniel took him to a bar to find a hook-up. The same hook-up who later turned out to be the contractor he hired for his remodeling.
Cole is one of the owners of Four Bears Construction. The other owners are his brother, Ollie, and their friends, Everett and Stone. Cole is confident and bossy. Always the player. Never been in a relationship, never will be. But there’s something about Ren that he couldn’t get enough off.
And so the two moved from one-time hookup to regular fuck buddies. They couldn’t believe how explosive the chemistry between them. Along the way they each met an online friend that truly gets them like nobody else. They connected so well, soon they were sharing everything with their respective chatmates. Inevitably, inconvenient feelings started to develop…for both hookup and that online friend they never met.
So who would it be: your awesome fuck buddy who blows your mind or your online friend whom you bare your heart? But then again, didn’t they just swear off relationships for good?
I see some GR readers shelving the book as erotica. This was what made me hesitant to read this at first. While Caulky is steamy, it has a solid plot. It has the typical amount of MM sex scenes that are well-placed and totally skippable without losing any important information. I also appreciate that the humor did not devolve into unnecessary raunchiness.
The story is low-angst and seriously fun. It took well-loved tropes and added some nice twist. Even if I know what to expect, I enjoyed the build up until the big reveal. It had a nice, easy pace and succeeded in keeping anticipation and excitement going.
Caulky certainly showcased the author’s talents in this highly entertaining tale of rebound flings, online dating and bees. It opens a new series I could binge on. It introduced a group of friends I’d love to get to know more. At it’s core, it’s a story of two people falling in love despite themselves. Sometimes, it’s not even a choice.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Come Get Me
Artist: Jenny O.
Album: Automechanic
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REVIEW: Lost In The Mind by Alice Winters
In The Mind: Lost In The Mind – Alice Winters
After the last incident—which involved a serial killer—Chevy and Seneca are considering puppy wrangling as a new, safer profession than psychic detective work. Honestly, Seneca would prefer to focus on his new relationship with Chevy, even if he’s worried about the menacing countdown calendar leading to Chevy’s birthday. But when homicide requests some assistance from them, they have no idea what they’re getting into. And if they’d known what would happen, they definitely would have gone with the puppy wrangling.
When an elderly couple is found dead in their own home, Chevy and Seneca are pulled into the case. But what’s unusual is that it appears neither of them were killed; instead, they simply stopped existing. Even with Chevy’s ability to go into the memories of the victims, he’s unable to tell what happened to the seemingly normal couple.
That is, until it happens again. This time, the victims are found alive, all of them kneeling and staring at a blank wall as if hypnotized by it. It’s up to Chevy and Seneca to figure out what is drawing these people and who might be manipulating them.
But when Seneca begins to act strangely, Chevy becomes concerned that he might also be affected by what is controlling the others. Chevy will do anything to keep the man he loves safe and as far from “The Light” as he can. But is it too late?
Lost in the Mind is 94k words of banter, the strangest salad ever, and the strengthening of a bond (especially after Chevy’s birthday). This book follows the events of Within the Mind but focuses on a new case.
Chevy and Seneca’s second adventure still delivers the same hilarious WTFuckery but tones down the creepy mindfuckery.
The two men are gifted law enforcement officers. Chevy can access people’s memories, Seneca can copy any gift. They were partnered together because Seneca keeps Chevy grounded.
Both men are in their late 20s going on 5 because they are the epitome of mature, civilized adults. Mature, civilized adults whose very juvenile sense of humor includes ridiculous bets about having sex on tree branches, eating a head of lettuce while on a stakeout and inappropriate jokes about their boss to their boss’s face. It should have long gotten them fired long ago.
But hey, everybody loves the uber charismatic Seneca. Who can talk everybody into doing anything, including murder it turns out. So they let him get away with everything.
Meanwhile, Chevy, introverted and usually overlooked, finally got his own admirer. Seneca got jealous for one hot minute then recruited said admirer into his Chevy fan club. You gotta love his devotion to his man.
I am happy that these two are settling together quite nicely. The book is written from Chevy’s point of view. He’s still as enamored with Seneca as he was in the first book. And still makes it his mission to aggravate the man. Seneca is still proudly demonstrating his love for Chevy in his inimitable Seneca way. The only change is that now, Chevy is no longer shy about showing his love back.
After the events in Within The Mind, these two dorks have became inseparable. As in living together, working together, holding hands while going after bad guys inseparable.
The new case is a very baffling mystery where individuals were found kneeling in front of a blank wall seemingly mesmerized. Investigation revealed these individuals were called by a light, enticing them to surrender to it. It turns them into fearless freaks with no regard to danger or consequences.
While I wasn’t as creeped out as the first case, this still has it’s fare share of scare amped up by scenes where pairs of eyes all move simultaneously to stare at Chevy and by narrator Joel Leslie’s bad guy voices. The villain behind the light wasn’t as malevolent as their first serial killer. His ‘good intentions’ were pretty twisted though.
This is a solid paranormal series although the world-building is nebulous at best. There is not much details about people, places and gifts. We don’t know where gifts come from. It’s only mentioned that it’s already there before. It’s also hinted that Chevy’s gift is more powerful than he thinks. Seneca’s gift also had a surprising twist and him getting his dark lord mojo on was one heck of a turnabout. I hope we get more explanations in future books.
Lost In The Mind was quite the head trip. The story felt both slow and fast. The case was difficult and took a while to solve. The plot cycles through humor to horror to fluff at breakneck speed.
One moment Chevy and Seneca are faced with the Pillow Case Cult (<- best cult name ever) ready to sacrifice them to The Light, the next we got an over the top birthday celebration complete with room full of balloons, a chastity belt and tunnel exploration. In between, we get quiet, tender moments of finger cuddles and warm fuzzies. It’s enough to give one whiplash.
But I’m already ready for more outrageous Chevy and Seneca shenanigans. Bring on the next psycho!
P.S.
In The Mind series is best experienced in order. Witness Chevy hopelessly pining after Seneca, Seneca futilely chasing after Chevy because that’s how these two idiots roll in the first book, Within The Mind. Review here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Light’s On
Artist: Secret Machines
Album: Now Here Is Nowhere
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REVIEW: Devil’s Hour by Aimee Nicole Walker
Zero Hour: Devil’s Hour – Aimee Nicole Walker
Devil’s hour, noun: the hour when the demon or devil who leads hell is at its strongest.
Born on the wrong side of the tracks, Royce Locke is no stranger to scrapping and fighting for the things he wants. What he desires most is Sawyer Key—his partner on the force and the man he’s falling in love with. After asking Sawyer to take a chance on him, Royce will need to back up his pretty words with fearless action instead of being his own worst enemy.
Someone is harassing the mayor of Savannah, and Locke and Key are tasked with finding out who. The investigation quickly takes a twisted turn, leading them to an enemy who thinks purification by fire is the only way to save the city. Scarier than The Purists’ elusiveness is their ability to turn public opinion in their favor, creating unrest and threatening anarchy by fanning flames and fear. When you play with fire, someone is bound to get burned.
When menace becomes murder, the two detectives will race the clock against the devil to save their beloved city from becoming a raging inferno. Royce will need to draw on his grit now more than ever if he hopes to realize the dreams that are finally within reach. The rag is lit, the Molotov cocktail is tossed, and the zero hour is upon them. Challenge received and accepted.
Devil’s Hour is the second book in the Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. This is a series that must be read in order. Devil’s Hour has a happy-for-now ending with no cliffhanger. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.
Trigger warning: Part of the storyline involves coming to terms with a friend’s suicide, which may be difficult for some people to read.
The clock is ticking. Savannah is poised to ignite as purists threatened to set the city on fire. The mayor is involved in a scandal along with other people in high places. It’s up to Locke and Key to uncover the mysterious entity hellbent on purifying the sinners.
This case came months after the events in Ground Zero. Royce and Sawyer are gradually settling down, work-wise and relationship-wise.
Devil’s Hour follows the same style as the first book. The detectives followed several angles, dead ends, a few minor cases, sometimes apprehending suspects that had nothing to do with the case. Like with the previous installment, I really liked this because it felt realistic that they’re working on several things at once. However, this time around, the mishmash of things that were happening felt a bit all over the place.
I was happy that we got Royce’s POV. This is something I was hoping for. In the first book, Royce came off a bit dickish. Hence, the name Detective Dickhead. Although, he did slowly open up to Sawyer as the story progressed.
Here, I had a better understanding of his hurts, doubts and insecurities. Royce came from a fucked up environment and feared that he might fuck up whatever good things he had in life. Most especially what he had with Sawyer.
Royce is grieving the loss of his bestfriend and former partner, Marcus, who died of suicide. He is desperately seeking closure. This is one of the overarching threads of the series that I’m also eagerly following. It talks about how somebody you thought you knew your whole life could keep so many secrets. Secrets that could turn Royce’s already upside down world inside out.
Royce might like to think he’s no good but I really admired his dedication to his late partner’s wife, Candy, and her kids. No matter how overworked he is, he always managed to squeeze time to help her out whenever she needs him.
Sawyer is my favorite character here. He had his own share of grief but I love his optimism, his level-headedness, his willingness to reach out first and communicate openly no matter how difficult the subject and his overall goodness. Like the time he had food delivered to Candy because she needed a break and some sustenance. He really put much thought in what kind of food he thinks her family would like. And he hasn’t even met her and the kids yet.
Eventually, they wrapped up the mayor’s case. It was complicated due to the people involved. I was in the dark most of the time. I had my suspicions once a certain character was introduced. I’m happy I guessed right.
I liked how this revealed bigger, more insidious crimes. Not everything came together neatly. The ending left some threads open for Marcus’s upcoming revelations in book 3, as well as another case awaiting trial.
Devil’s Hour started with heat and ended with somebody burned. There were many unpleasant things that happened. There were sex scandals, religious nutcases, IA business, hackers, arson and more. In the middle of all this, Royce realized how much Sawyer mean to him.
Royce and Sawyer’s partnership went from strength to strength. Their relationship evolved rather nicely and it was wonderful to see Royce, finally, 100% in.
About time, Dickhead!
P.S.
The Zero Hour books are not standalones. Best to start with Ground Zero and see how Detective Dickhead met Detective Asshole. <- yes seriously that’s how they call each other when they’re feeling especially affectionate. Review here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Fire That Burns
Artist: Circa Waves
Album: Different Creatures
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REVIEW: Blaze by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Unbreakable Bonds: Blaze – Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
The rings have been selected.
The champagne placed on ice.
The cake decorated.
And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts…
Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. There’s just one small problem.
A ghost from Lucas’s past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help. Against his better judgement, Lucas and his best friend, Ashton Frost, plan a fast trip back to the one place they swore they’d never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.
Now, they’re in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, “I do.”
Unbreakable Bonds is centered around four men who have deep connections with each other. Lucas Vallois, the alpha and the center who holds everything together. Ashton ‘Snow’ Frost, dark and brooding, is a trauma surgeon and the one Lucas considers his brother. Rowan ‘Rowe’ Ward, laid back and goofy, they met him during basic military training. He is their warrior. Their heart is Ian Pierce, a talented chef. He’s adorable, the type you want to put in your pocket to keep safe. Well, I want to put them all in my pocket really. I love these guys! ♡
Blaze is Lucas and Andrei keeping the passion burning bright.
Book 5 found the couple neck-deep in wedding preparations when Lucas’s estranged sister walked into his life again asking for help. Her daughter was missing. Despite not wanting to do anything with the hometown and the family who spit him out, Lucas had to help. His bestfriend Snow, had to go with him because Snow will not let Lucas face his dark past alone. This even if, Snow himself had an even shittier, more traumatic memories of their town.
One of the best parts of this series is Snow and Lucas’s relationship. The authors could have easily turned it into a friends-to-lovers story and a super intense one at that. Instead, they did something better.
They gave Snow and Lucas something unique and infinitely more precious. An unconditional love that has nothing to do with romance, sex or blood ties. It simply existed between them since they were seven.
The two were practically joined at hip and nothing could go between them. Not even that one time Snow was in a really bad state and Lucas was forced to have sex with him (Snow was wracked with guilt afterwards and the two never did it again). They were frequently mistaken as a couple. They don’t care and had remained steadfast always. I haven’t really encountered such kind of bond in other MM books before, and a platonic, non-shifter one at that. That’s why their friendship is important to me.
Lucas and Andrei’s relationship is different but equally important. Lucas’s whole world were his friends, Snow, Rowe and Ian. Andrei is his center. Everyone loved Andrei because, aside from being a genuinely lovable person overall, he was the best thing to happened to Lucas. He made the billionaire a much happier man.
We also get to see the boys play with duct tape and weird codenames because Rowe and his boyfriend Noah had to be in on the action or else it’s a not a party. And by that, they staked out the bad guys, recorded their evil deeds and things went boom! This is why Rowe and Noah are the best.
Meanwhile, Ian was going crazy organizing the wedding because Lucas and Andrei kept making changes. The biggest hitch of all was that none of the wedding party were in the right city, or even the right state, couple of days before the wedding.
Thing is I sat on this book for months because I was struggling to finish it. I was more into the characters than the plot. My love for the Unbreakable boys was the main driving force in helping me finish this because in all honesty, I really didn’t care much about what happened to Lucas’s niece. Once I got past this point, the story picked up.
The book gave Snow and Lucas some much needed closure. Their families were horrid homophobic people who don’t have redeeming values. Only Lucas’ sister and niece were okay people who had accepted Lucas for who he is.
Normally, I finish a book first before choosing a song for it. When I first heard Lukas Batteau’s catchy ballad on the Dutch internet radio station, Indiexl.nl last year, I knew it would be perfect for the Unbreakable Bonds series. I’ve been dying to use it specifically for this book.
Blaze gave us all the things we have come to love about the series and more: the hilarious banters, the OTT action, the squee-tastic romances, the enduring connections between a memorable group of friends who were always there for each other no matter what. And we have now the official union of two important characters.
The Unbreakable family just got bigger and stronger. A mighty alliance indeed.
P.S
Unbreakable Bonds is best experience in sequence. Meet the boys and fall in love. Review of Unbreakable Bonds books here
Review of Jocelynn Drake books here.Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: A Mighty Alliance
Artist: Lukas Batteau
Album: Slow Traveler
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SERIES REVIEW: Marital Bliss Books 2-2.5 by D.J. Jamison
Marital Bliss is a contemporary romance series by D.J. Jamison centering around a group of friends and how they found their other halfs. It started with the squee-tastic Surprise Groom, a fake boyfriends story full of authentic feels and delicious USTs up the wazoo. This was set in Bliss Island, a wedding resort venue owned by Caleb and his husband Julien.
The next two stories take us to the Triple J Ranch owned by Wyatt Jones who inherited it from his grandfather. The ranch is struggling and Wyatt is doing his best to keep it afloat by turning part of it into a wedding venue.
Marital Bliss: Wrangling A Groom – D.J. Jamison
Can two men keep a childhood promise for marital bliss?
Wyatt is overwhelmed after his grandfather dies, leaving him to take over the cattle ranch. The Triple J is floundering, vandals are targeting him, and his first and only love is finally within reach–and still holding a grudge. Wyatt has wanted to marry Diego since they made a childhood pact, but Diego isn’t back for their second chance.
When a funeral calls Diego back to Texas, he comes face-to-face with the cowboy who broke his heart. Resentment has burned inside him for years, but his anger wavers as he realizes just how much Wyatt is struggling to keep his head above water. The man he once loved is lonely and burdened, and Diego feels compelled to help him rediscover the strong, capable rancher he knows him to be.
Hostility gives way to passion, then friendship as they fall into a rhythm of work and sex. Wyatt has renewed hope he might wrangle the man he wants to be his groom. But Diego has a life waiting for him one thousand miles away, and love may not be enough to prevent history from repeating itself.
Wrangling a Groom is Book 2 of the Marital Bliss series, but can be read as a standalone.
Wrangling a Groom starts with the death of Wyatt’s grandfather. Wyatt’s childhood friend and son of his ranch foreman, Diego arrived for the funeral. The two had a pretty tumultuous history.
At the age of 6, they made a pact to marry each other when they turned 25. Wyatt and Diego were very close and even became boyfriends. They were unfortunately caught kissing by Wyatt’s grandpa who didn’t approve of homosexuals.
Wyatt was made to choose between the ranch and Diego. He chose his heritage and Diego promptly took off without saying goodbye. He ended up in Miami as a bartender.
After 6 years of radio silence, the sparks between the two men were still there. But Diego was still angry and Wyatt was still sorry.
A bulk of the story focused on the men working to get the ranch going as well as Wyatt’s determined efforts to renovate some buildings for the wedding venue. These parts were slow for me. I wasn’t particularly interested in ranch chores so I actually put the book on hold for a while.
But then I’m glad I decided to go at it once in a while because the story did pick up the pace a after bit. What eventually won me over was Wyatt’s endearing earnestness and willingness to put his whole heart on the line. I loved how he never held anything back.
On Diego’s first day at the ranch, he reminded him of their pact. He was eager to fulfill his promise. Diego outright said no. Then he offered his heart on a platter again despite Diego rejecting him once again. Diego was clearly still not over his anger.
But spending time together in the ranch as Diego helped out because of the lack of manpower did plenty to bridge the gap between them. They rediscovered their friendship and some good memories. They even made new ones. It was easy to see what the two men could have been had they never separated.
As far as friends-to-lovers went, this went on a circuitous route. It may take patience but the journey was worth taking. Once you get past the middle part, the charm of the story becomes more apparent.
I liked how everything connected back to Bliss Island. Wyatt met Diego’s friends, Caleb and Julien. They helped him with his new business venture. And then they helped Diego and him in their other new venture as Diego finally realized where he belonged all along.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: A Pact of Blood
Artist: Rome
Album: Die Æsthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit: Aufruhr / A Cross of Fire
Marital Bliss: Nobody’s Groom – D.J. Jamison
Can two enemies find love after a rocky start?
TJ hoped the Triple J Ranch would be a fresh start under a new name, with his tarnished family reputation behind him. He didn’t count on the young, spirited Colby provoking him at every turn. But when tempers boil over, TJ discovers that Colby’s disgust with him is more like lust, and that he’d do just about anything to tangle with the confused kitten.
Colby likes everyone, but something about the new, unfriendly cowboy on the crew gets under his skin. He doesn’t understand just how worked up TJ has him until his body reacts, shocking them both. Colby’s never been with a man, but he can’t fight the desire TJ’s rough hands have awakened in him.
It’s just physical, an opportunity to indulge Colby’s secret desires. But the young ranch hand’s innocence softens something inside TJ, and he can’t deny he wants more. He’s nobody’s groom, but could he be Colby’s love — or will his lies come between them?
Nobody’s Groom is a Marital Bliss novella. It can stand alone, but is best read after Wrangling a Groom due to overlapping events that may contain spoilers.
I was excited for this series’ take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. TJ and Colby were introduced as the ranch hands at the Triple J.
For some reason, TJ rubbed the normally affable Colby the wrong way. Colby blamed TJ when something goes wrong in the ranch. TJ being the new guy, he was the easy target.
The two were also opposites. TJ was big, gruff and silent while Colby was slender and talkative. TJ was out but quietly gay while Colby was straight but curious. It didn’t take long for things to ignite between the two because Colby was drawn to TJ like moth to a flame.
This story has good bones in it. There were some family drama in the mix but whatever plot it had was overwhelmed by too much sex scenes. Meh.
This novella’s timeline takes place alongside Wyatt and Diego’s. Many events were referenced so this is not a standalone.
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a likeSoundtrack: Habits of My Heart
Artist: Jaymes Young
Album: Habits of My Heart
A lot of contemporary romance fall flat for me but despite some complaints, Marital Bliss was able to draw me in and keep me engaged. It helps that that it is full of characters you can root for, well-loved tropes that feel fresh, writing that’s easy to go through, some angst, some drama, some laughs and definitely a lot of heart.
I’m looking forward to the next groom!
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AUDIO REVIEW: Out On The Serve by Lane Hayes
Out in College: Out On The Serve – Lane Hayes
Roommates to friends to lovers…
Elliot-
I need a roommate fast. Even a temporary one. Beggars can’t be choosers. Going pro after graduation has been intense, and time is precious. Thankfully, Braden seems cool. He’s a little quirky…and very sexy. Of course, I would never get involved with a roommate. That’s a bad idea. Isn’t it?
Braden-
Moving to Long Beach seems like a no brainer. It’ll be a perfect chance to wind down before grad school and a nice respite from my folks. Plus, my new roommate is a great guy. A little messy, but sweet. Gotta admit, I like him more than I should. And we’re off to a strange start when a mutual friend hooks me up with his ex. Elliot’s the one I want, but going from friends to lovers is a risk. We could end up out on the serve…or we could win it all.
Out on the Serve is a low-angst MM, bisexual romance starring two roommates, one neat, one messy, beach volleyball, a lot of sand, and a little summer fun. This story is part of the Out in College series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Lane Hayes spun the well-loved roommates-to-lovers trope into a fun and sweet story with two MCs that were opposites but synced so well with each other.
New roommates Elliot and Braden get to know each other’s quirks as they deal with their mutual attraction, difficult teammates, theater dreams, meddling friends and last hurrahs before September comes and put an end to everything.
Elliot is the goofy, messy one who leaves sand all over their floor while Braden is a neat freak who alphabetizes their pasta. Both men were out as bi and while Elliot’s hippie mom was more than okay with that, Braden’s conservative Catholic mom was in denial.
The evolution from roommates to friends to lovers was fantastic! I really liked how the two men worked around their differences and just came together naturally even if at first, they had to fight their insane attraction to each other. For the sake of being roommates and friends. But even they couldn’t deny their sizzling chemistry!
Conflict came in the form of a misguided attempt to boost popularity, a fiasco brought about by Elliot’s volleyball partner, Gus and their annoying friend Sophie. Braden also had things to say to his mom.
Thankfully, the book avoided the usual pitfalls. There were no unnecessary dramas and the pacing was smooth and fast. It also it resolved things in a sensible manner, something many of us highly appreciated. It might not have the grandest grand gesture moment but it definitely hits you right in the kokoro!
From start to finish, the story had me rooting for Elliot and Braden. And though it began as a summer hook-up, there were no doubts that theirs was a forever thing.
This is my first book from the Out in College series. Many characters from the other books make appearances and my interest was piqued. I loved meeting Elliot’s friend, Colby and his boyfriend Sky, and Braden’s ex, Phoenix. Max, Phoenix’s boyfriend gets a mention. Many of the characters were likable except Sophie and Gus.
The audiobook was narrated by Michael Dean. I’ve always liked his narration. Although here, I felt his voices for younger 20-somethings were a bit too mature for their age. Dean makes great voices for the age range of 30s and older. Other than this niggle, I think he made the book even more enjoyable with his energetic reading style and well-acted dialogues.
Overall, Lane Hayes served up another win in this delightful story of sports, sand and summer romance. If the beach is your happy place, this book will definitely take you there.
P.S.
Thank you to IndiGo and Audible for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of Lane Hayes books here.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Wait For Me
Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Mechanical Bull
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to get your copy of Out On The Serve. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
Kindle Audiobook
