• book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Murder Aforethought by Parker St. John

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    Cabrini Law: Murder Aforethought – Parker St. John

    A ticking clock. A deadly enemy. Can they keep their heads in the game when their hearts are already on the line?

    Valentine Rivetti made a horrible mistake when he became a Marine Sniper at the age of twenty. Returning home with PTSD and a guilty conscience, he’s blackmailed into working for the mafia to save his family.

    Maksim Kovalenko has everything he ever dreamed of growing up in a Ukrainian slum. As a notorious corporate attorney, he has the world at his feet. But wealth and power can’t protect him from the emptiness he feels every time he shuts his eyes.

    When Val is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, his redemption is a silver fox in a three-piece suit. But Val’s lucky day becomes Maksim’s nightmare when the mafia begins to cut loose ends… starting with them.

    The passion between them is overwhelming, but can two solitary men learn to trust each other before it’s too late?


    It’s only the second book, but I’m declaring Murder Aforethought as the best book of the Cabrini Law series.

    This is of course a completely biased judgement because I love Maks!

    I first met Maksim Kovalenko in the first book, Risk Assessment. He got on everybody’s nerves and dazzled people with his perfect veneers.

    Maks is a fascinating character. As the best corporate lawyer in town, he is a consummate workaholic. The type who dreads going on vacation. He was frequently described as an asshole and is only too happy to confirm the fact. The only person he cares about is his young friend, Emma, a teenage girl with neglectful parents. The rest of the world he holds at arms length.

    Despite the cold, distant facade, Maksim dedicates a major chunk of his time applying his lawyerly genius doing pro bono work for Cabrini Law‘s underpriviledged clients. One of his cases involved a young ex-military held in question for suspected murder.

    Valentine Rivetti was a troubled young man who has PTSD. He works as a hitman for the mob. He used to be a sniper in the military until he realized the job was not for him. His father was a petty criminal. His mother died of suicide.

    Val believed the only thing he knows how to do is shoot. But he insisted he did not kill the man his father used to work for, both of whom were related to the mob. Still, somebody tried to kill him the minute he got out of the police station.

    Bias or not, this was definitely a much better book than its predecessor. For one, this was a fast-paced running-from-the-mob story. We see a lot of action and flying bullets. The excitement and suspense was palpable as we hightailed it across the city alongside Maks, Val and Emma, who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

    I totally loved how Maks and Val’s romance blossomed over the course of the week of them on the run. It didn’t feel rushed. The progression was paced to perfection and developed organically with the rest of the plot.

    Val was just the right combination of strong and vulnerable that appealed to Maks at some core level. He recognized the young man’s intelligence and potential to do great things. Val saw through Maks’ walls, right to the golden heart that lay beneath. Maks felt it in his guts, he had to give the ex-soldier a home where he could find peace. Then he realized, he had one more person he cared about.

    All the other characters stood out too. I enjoyed how each character played off with the others.

    Emma was spunky and brave. I liked that the author didn’t go overboard with that. Emma acted like a real teenager. She cried. She got scared. But she was quick to help Val when he was hit by a bullet.

    There were welcome appearances from Miguel, another lawyer from Cabrini. He’s an easy going guy who claims to be Maks’ friend whether Maks admits to it or not. There was also Val’s friend and former captain, Reese. This man sure has a lot of baggage. His book is next.

    Murder Aforethought was a book I couldn’t put down. The writing flowed smoothly. The characterization was on point. The plot wasn’t new and I wished we had more of Maks and Val but overall the execution was done well. I was swept away by the adrenaline, the sweet hurt/comfort story and the delicious slow-burn-but- not-really romance.

    Let yourself be swept away too and be charmed by heroic men ready to jump in front of bullets and silver-haired lawyers quoting The Princess Bride.

    P.S.

    Witness Maks being an asshole and meet Elliot Smith a.k.a. Beyonce in Book 1, Risk Assessment, review here.

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Darkness Has A Voice
    Artist: Amber Run
    Album: Philophobia

  • Uncategorized

    MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: A Bit of Drama and Some Hokey Vampires

    I was able to watch more movies last weekend. This time, I didn’t go with my usual rom-com diet. I went with the dramatic stories just for a change.

    But I couldn’t go without the vampires. There always has to be vampires.

    Also, check out: MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers


    Gone, But Not Forgotten

    Questions about the identity of an amnesiac (Matthew Montgomery) threaten his romance with the park ranger (Aaron Orr) who rescued him.

    Fresh faced Matthew Montgomery wins the day for being adorable in this critically acclaimed film that I cannot believe was made in 2003! I mean, it’s so normal! It’s not low budget crap or some controversial artsy number. It’s a solid dramatic movie that everybody could watch. We need more of this.


    Role/Play

    A recently outed actor and a gay-marriage activist meet and begin a relationship, forcing them to confront the fickle nature of celebrity within the community

    More of Matthew Montgomery, this time playing opposite his real-life husband Steve Callahan. This is a talky film where they argued about private and public personas, being true to one self and being a professional gay which I didn’t know until now was an actual thing. This might be a good film to watch if you’re curious as to why many gay actors still prefer to stay in the closet despite the changing times.


    Mulligans

    Chase (Charlie David) never had many friends, but at college, he meets and forms close ties with straight jock Tyler Davidson. A closeted gay man’s (Dan Payne) affair with his son’s best friend (Charlie David) threatens to tear his family apart.

    Young+super cute Charlie David brought his strong eyebrow game and tempts a closeted dad who looked like an older Superman. Big nay on the cheating part but this is also a good teaching-kids-gay-is-okay movie. Mostly because of how the film handled sensitive issues when a child is also involved.

    Vampire Boys 2: The New Brood

    Jasin’s century-old rival, Demetrius, returns to get his revenge and ruin his eternal bliss with Caleb. Demetrius creates an army of vampires – including Jasin’s ex, Tara – by converting unwilling victims from the local boxing gym for his new brood.

    The Vampire Boys are back. This time with a bigger budget and a better looking cast. The acting could still use some work though.


    Vampires: Lucas Rising

    The vampire Lucas returns from the underworld to help stop the evil Lilith from creating a master vampire race.


    Film company Ariztical (also of the Vampire Boys fame) carves a niche for themselves in the gay vampire genre with yet another fangy movie. This one has the acting style and special fx quality of 90s sentai shows and should be watch with the same suspension of disbelief and same level of enjoyment. In short, it so bad it’s good. I want more!


    How’s your Saturday going, everyone? I hope you’re having a peaceful weekend. The world is in chaos so please stay safe!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    AUDIO REVIEW: A Way With You by Lane Hayes

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    A Way With You – Lane Hayes

    Reeve Nelson is determined to make it in Manhattan. He’s hardworking, dedicated and willing to put in the extra hours required to be successful at his new job at a prestigious real estate firm in the city. There’s no way he’s going back to small-town living and an ex-girlfriend who won’t let go. But his boss isn’t making it easy.

    Leo Rodriguez enjoys his reputation as a ruthless businessman. He’s a lone wolf who’s scraped his way from the gutter to rebuild his life and launch a distinguished career on his terms. When an opportunity to expand in the market comes up, Leo wants the eager new agent with a sense of wonder on the project. But nothing goes quite as planned. Reeve expected to be intimidated and overwhelmed by Leo, however, the explosive mutual attraction and fierce desire between them is a big surprise. Neither man is looking for love and yet, something special just might happen if they can find their way…together.


    A Way With You is the sequel to A Way With Words, starring Remy’s big brother, Reeve. This book could be read as a standalone but I recommend reading Remy and Tony’s book first because why miss out on this adorable couple?

    A Way With You started strong. We meet Reeve in his first day of work. He just learned he was to work with real estate celebrity, Leo Rodriguez, a man who has a reputation as a tough as nails boss.

    He was assigned to a challenging assignment which led to butting heads with Leo where he quickly lost his temper. To end his last day at work with a bang, he kissed his boss.

    Then he disappeared.

    Between the Nelson brothers, Reeve had the more mercurial temper whereas Remy was the more easy-going one. The brothers are very supportive of each other, constantly checking in to see how the other is doing. Their relationship was one of the highlights of the book.

    I didn’t warm up to Reeve much. I didn’t hate him but I didn’t like him either. We could all do without the tantrums. What’s admirable about him though was that he’s brave enough to quit a 6-figure job and carve his own path in life. He doesn’t even mind that he had to start from scratch all over again.

    Leo was the stand out here. I wished we had his POV. When we first met him, he appeared cold and aloof. The kind of personality you would expect in a terror boss.

    It was when we meet him again, this time outside the office, we could see he’s a genial, warm-hearted guy who offers sofa cuddles and lends his underwear to the under-dressed.

    I loved the way he doggedly pursued Reeve’s company. Not taking no for an answer but never pushy. He consistently kept a cool head whenever Reeve threw his tantrums. Best of all, he followed his love declarations with actions. Truly a keeper!

    While I liked both books in the A Way With series, I enjoyed this a notched less than the first book. It has the same feel-good charm as its predecessor and I was having a good time with most of it. After the big scene at the office, I was led to believe this was going to be conflict-free but alas childish behavior reared its ugly head.

    Reeve’s infamous temper flared up at the latter part of the story where, although in keeping with character, resulted in a rather ridiculous fight scene. I wasn’t particularly impressed with this moment. I felt it was thrown in just so there would be conflict.

    Nonetheless, Leo’s winning ways saved the day, cartwheel fails and all.

    Narration-wise, Alexander Cendese continued to do a good job giving life to all these colorful characters. While the voices are not that different from each other, he was still able to imbue distinct personalities to each so it’s wasn’t difficult to recognize who’s speaking at the moment. His reading style was appropriately energetic in keeping with the vibe of the book.

    All in all, A Way With You was an enjoyable office romance story that happened mostly outside the office. It’s also about following your dreams and doing it your way. Because trying to making it big in the Big Apple is a hell lot easier if you got friends, family and the right boss to kiss.

    P.S.

    Thank you to Indigo and Audible UK for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

    Book one, A Way With You, review here.

    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Up & Up
    Artist: Coldplay
    Album: A Head Full Of Dreams

  • book,  Uncategorized

    AUDIO REVIEW: A Way With Words by Lane Hayes

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    A Way With Words – Lane Hayes

    Tony De Luca is a simple guy. He works for his uncle’s Brooklyn-based construction firm. And he knows from experience that keeping his head down and doing his job is the best way to deal with the meddlesome family members he sees daily. They think he’s quiet and maybe a little awkward but the truth is more complicated. Tony has a secret he isn’t ready or willing to share. He’s an expert at avoiding familial scrutiny. At least he was until the sexy guitar player showed up.

    Remy Nelson is a small-town, free-spirited guy looking for a new life in the big city. He stays busy playing his instrument on a busy Manhattan street corner during the day and bartending at night. Remy is more interested in finding steady employment than a mate, but he can’t deny his attraction to the dreamy construction worker with soulful eyes, a kind heart, and a unique way with words. Falling for Remy wasn’t what Tony expected, but keeping him will require courage. And an end to keeping secrets.


    A Way With Words is about a man trying to find the courage to come out to his family. I have read many variations of this trope before but Lane Hayes pulled off a very endearing, feel good version that made me smile a lot.

    MCs Tony and Remy were fantastic together! The first time they met, they hit it off immediately. From then on, it was a very sweet development with the two men being 100% honest and supportive of each other. I really loved that there were no conflicts and no judgement between them. They talked things through and listened.

    Tony is an interesting combination of closed-mouth and talkative. He came from a large, loud Italian family who’s always up in each other’s business. This includes matchmaking attempts with women from the neighborhood.

    Tony described himself as being one of the quieter ones who gets tongue-tied every time he tries to open up about his sexuality. But when he’s with Remy, that’s when he shines the brightest. He completely lets loose and says the sweetest, most romantic things in his own inimitable way. He did it so naturally without sounding cheesy.

    Remy was a joy! He had a laidback charm and a contagious smile that I felt right off the audiobook. I loved how patient and understanding he was with Tony, when he knew Tony was not ready to come out. No demands, no hissy fits. Just there when he’s needed.

    This is my first Alexander Cendese narration and he won me over with his style. He voiced Tony with just the right amount of exuberance and captured Remy’s lovable personality to a T. Definitely will listen to more audiobooks by him.

    A Way With Words is a solid contemporary romance short. It’s a low-angst story filled with good food and happy people. Recommended for light reading moods and pick-me-up moments.

    P.S.

    Thank you to Indigo and Audible UK for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

    A Way With Words is the first book of the A Way With series. Review of book 2, A Way With You, soon.

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

    Soundtrack: All This Goodness
    Artist: Kyle Andrews
    Album: All This Goodness

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: A New Empire by Layla Reyne

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    Fog City: A New Empire – Layla Reyne

    Legacies were made to be rewritten.

    Assassin Hawes Madigan wants to do right—by his family, his organization, his city, and the man he’s falling for, ATF agent Christopher Perri. But Hawes’s rules are being challenged by someone willing to kill for the old ways. To save his soul and his empire, Hawes must make an impossible decision: fight from the outside or bend the knee to win back his throne from within.

    Chris is used to being the inside man, the one undercover. Now, he’s on the outside marshaling forces in support of the man and the ring of assassins he was supposed to take down. His mission shifted when he found something that’s been missing for ten long years—a home, with Hawes.

    As Hawes and Chris make a dangerous play for control, the lines between allies and traitors blur. Trusting the wrong person could destroy the legacy Hawes envisions for the Madigans. But not trusting anyone, or each other, could mean lights out on their love and lives forever.

    The King and King Slayer fight together in this thrilling conclusion to the Fog City Trilogy!


    Maybe it was those suspenseful build ups. And those heart-stopping cliffhangers. But my expectations of this final Fog City book was sky high.

    I was, sadly, underwhelmed.

    A New Empire was not a bad book. In fact, we get all the twisty, action-suspense thrills we want. However, none of the surprises shocked me greatly. They were almost to be expected, except for Vivienne Tran’s bombshell.

    I had correctly guessed the mastermind behind Hawe’s downfall in book two, King Slayer. Who else would it be? I also expected this person to have a stronger presence in book 3. They were there, but I didn’t feel the powerful aura of somebody who can take down the king.

    This series is known for being fast and tight. The plot was a somewhat convoluted but with the way it was paced, it certainly kept things from being boring. I enjoyed going from one twist to another with hardly any lull.

    Even the climax was rushed. This part I would have liked to be more impactful given how much time they spent plotting and strategizing. I almost didn’t realize that it was happening because it was over way too soon. Maybe it was respect to the mastermind’s age and status but it wasn’t a comeuppance where the antagonist suffered a slow, painful death,

    As with most Layla Reyne books, the characters are what we are here for. I love that they make me feel like part of their group. Family is the heart of it all. My love for the Madigan siblings and their friends is what kept me coming back to this series despite my mixed feelings about it as a whole. Hawes, Holt and Helena are a solid, unified team even as Hawes played his dangerous game of bending the knee. Aidan, Mel, and Jamie, from the Agents Irish and Whiskey series, dropping by for a visit was a delightful bonus.

    Romance-wise, I wouldn’t say I warmed up to Chris/Dante but he got Hawes’ back so he’s alright, I suppose. The more interesting angle here is Holt and Kane. They’re getting their own book so YAY! Even Hena will get some action because there’s definitely something going on between her and Chris’ sister.

    The best book in the trilogy for me is the second book. However, this finale did a great job finally giving Hawes closure and the rest of the Madigans some peace. More, importantly, it was a really effective set-up for more stories to come. I am definitely here for the spin-offs.

    Time to give Little H some love!

    P.S.

    Review of book 1, Prince of Killer, here
    Review of book 2, King Slayer, here
    Reviews of Agents Irish and Whiskey, here
    Layla Reyne books here

    Rating:
    3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it

    Soundtrack: The Perfect Symmetry
    Artist: Demians
    Album: Building An Empire

  • book,  Uncategorized

    SERIES REVIEW: Criminal Delights Books 6, 11 & 14

    On to my quest to partake everything the Criminal Delights series has to offer.

    This is is a review of three books from the series, By Way of Pain by J.M. Dabney, Beloved Possession by Leona Windwalker and To Have and To Hold by Abigail Kade.

    All three books have a BDSM theme wherein a captive was taken against his will, subjected to training, develops feeling for captor, gets taken again by worse elements and rescued by original captor turned love interest. With several variations on the Stockholm Syndrome, some pulled it off spectacularly, others a paler version of themselves.


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    Criminal Delights: Assassins: By Way of Pain – J.M. Dabney

    Double lives were just the way it was for a man like me. By day I was a man with a reputation above reproach. Even assassins needed backup plans. For fifteen years, life was going without a hitch until I had to take out a witness. When it was time to kill him, beautiful eyes filled with fear urged me to do something else. Yet, in order to do that, I had to break him, and by way of pain, my captive would experience pleasure he’d never dreamed.

    This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
    Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.


    I read somewhere that assassins are really just serial killers for hire. That is basically Cowen.

    By day, he’s a successful defense attorney. At night, he takes jobs. And he doesn’t do it purely for the money. He’s a misanthrope who likes making people suffer. He has been killing people since he was a child. He said it himself that he doesn’t feel things the way normal people do. He doesn’t enjoy sex or even feel aroused . I was getting my hopes up that finally, we are going to get an asexual dom, but no. They had to have sex because that’s the way this series rolls.

    Cowen’s personal assistant is Harrison. Harrison has a bad crush on his enigmatic boss. He’s too shy to do anything about it.

    On day, while in the parking lot, Harrison witness a guy being attacked and then the attacker turned on him. The next thing he knew, he was held captive by a man wearing a mask. And forced to do humiliating and painful things.

    This book stands out for having MCs with diverse body types. Harrison is a plus size bear while Cowen was described as gaunt. Interestingly, it was Harrison who submits to Cowen’s dominance. Cowen could really be dominating. So dominating that you’d forget he’s really a skinny guy who had to wear lifts in his shoes to appear taller.

    By Way of Pain is high on the darkness spectrum. It was kept from becoming pitch black by the tender connection that blossomed between Cowen and Harrison. Harrison is oh so slowly, making Cowen feel things. And given the kind of person Cowen is, “I have no desire to kill you” is probably the only way he will say I love you.

    Cute!

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

    Soundtrack: Pain and Pleasure
    Artist: Divinyls
    Album: What A Life!


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    Criminal Delights: Organized Crime: Beloved Possession – Leona Windwalker

    Ishmael Lux.
    A name synonymous with wealth. The elite come to him- to stay in his hotels and to play in his club, both for business and for pleasure. He has a secret, though. It’s rather an open one, though believed by most to be rumour and speculation.

    Kristoffer Jones.
    A new hire of Triborr Property Management International, one of Lux’s many legitimate fronts. He was thrilled to be in London, straight on the heels of being informed he was being moved onto the management track. Some rumours are best left unconfirmed, as he discovers when he finds himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

    Ishmael saw it as an opportunity..
    As with all opportunities that will pay off handsomely, he takes it. Then, he locks Kris away. Kristoffer is his and he is never going to let him go.

    The kicker?
    Kris is rapidly becoming unsure if he wants to be free.

    *This book is written in UK English.


    Beloved Possession had, unfortunately, the most unconvincing transition from possession to beloved.

    It’s compounded by the fact the the lead characters were forgettable. I appreciated that Ishmael has successfully built a billion-dollar company and has a close circle of men that was very, very loyal to him. But he lacked the charm of other doms.

    Kris was so bland, I don’t see why Ishmael was so enamored with him other than he’s pretty and malleable. The only interesting point about Kris is that he’s half-Filipino. This is rare in MM especially as a lead character.

    I forced myself to slog through this story in the hopes that it would get better. I ended up skimming.

    I say pass on this.

    Rating:
    2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book

    Soundtrack: My Possession
    Artist: Ministry
    Album: Twitch


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    Criminal Delights: Taken: To Have and To Hold – Abigail Kade

    My name is Worthington Winters, and I have a confession before I die. I know he’s a killer. I know one day he’ll even kill me, but I don’t care. Because I feel more free with my captor than I ever did with my husband.

    My husband courted me, seduced me, ensnared me, then subjugated me in my own home. He pushed and I would bend. Until, one day he pushed too far, and I pushed back. I escaped and thought I was free, but I was so wrong.

    Now, my Captor has me in his grasp. He’s supposed to squeeze me until I give him the information I took from my husband. I’ll never do it, so I know I’m destined to die. But, he’s beginning to see beyond my scars, my shriveled heart, and he’s forcing me to look, too.

    As he makes me look into the darkest depths of my soul, I finally find my truth, who I truly am and want to be. As strange as it may be, through the sweetest pain and most exquisite torture he inflicts, I’ll finally feel free.

    The truth may give me a new life I never existed. If I can survive.

    This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
    Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.


    To Have and To Hold is a terrific combination of dark and cute.

    Worthy suffered abuse from his evil husband who frequently humiliated his desires as a masochist while hurting him without his consent. The husband also stole his money and his family’s company. Worthy was able to get his properties back and he ran away. The bastard then set an assassin on his tracks.

    Crow is an ethical assassin. By that, he only kills the guilty. He caught Worthy and had every intent to make him suffer. Until he learned the truth.

    That’s when things turn sweet and fluffy with the way Crow was taking care of Worthy. It’s pretty fucked up that a person who has been abuse likes pain and Worthy’s evil husband used that against him. Crow showed Worthy the way to pleasure and pain without the humiliation.

    I love Worthy! He crawled his way out of a hellish marriage and decided to wear things that only makes him happy. He has the best fashion sense. I would gladly wear one of his kawaii statement shirts with adorable animal prints.

    Crow was a teddy bear. The fierce, morally grey part of him had no qualms about killing or torture. But he was also willing to break a contract if the target was proven innocent. Even feeding and clothing said target when the man looked liked he needed some TLC. He dropped everything and rescued his boy when Worthy was taken the second time. Also bought him more kawaii clothes.

    Crow belongs to a group of ethical assassins, what I liked to call the Bird Boys because they use birds as code names. I’m not sure if there are other books about these boys but I would love to read all about them. Especially Os a.k.a. Osprey a.k.a Obediah who had some very questionable exes.

    This is my favorite out of the three.

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

    Soundtrack: Submission
    Artist: The Irrepressibles
    Album: Superheroes


    Two wins out of three is not so bad. I still have a few ways to go before I finished the entire series. Even with the mixed reviews, I think this series is worth the time.

    Wondering which Criminal Delights books to read and which ones to pass up? Check out the reviews here.

  • book,  Uncategorized

    AUDIO REVIEW: The Edge Of The World

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    The Edge Of The World – Garrett Leigh

    Shay Maloney is living his dream—on tour with his pirate/folk-rock band. But you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re from, and that’s where moody filmmaker and researcher Ollie Pietruska comes in.

    The band’s management persuades Shay to let a television company film a documentary about his roots beyond his adoptive Irish family, and Ollie comes into his life knowing more about Shay than Shay’s ever known about himself.

    But while Ollie holds the key to Shay’s past, he’s also hiding deep scars. Even as the hardships of the tour bring them closer, Ollie’s demons threaten the blossoming romance. They might both reach the breaking point before Ollie realises he’s been standing on the edge of the world for too long, and it’s Shay who holds the key to his future.

    A friends-to-lovers, rock star, road-tripping romance, with a guaranteed happily-ever-after


    Given my obsession with music, I thought I would be all over this. Sadly, The Edge of the World was not engaging my attention as I would like it to. I tried to hang on for as long as I could but there’s no hook to keep me going.

    A book about an indie pirate-folk band should be riveting stuff. And I am curious about life on the road for musicians. Turns out the everyday life on tour was tedium and boredom.

    I suppose MCs Shay and Ollie were your typical troubled but likable Garrett Leigh leads but I wasn’t drawn to them. I didn’t dislike them or anything, it’s just that they’re forgettable. In addition, none of the other personalities stood out.

    I also didn’t feel the connection between Shay and Ollie. They weren’t communicating properly. Both were mostly pining and speculating about the other. Ollie was too closed-mouth for his own good. There were also cryptic hints of his issues being dropped here and there, but I wasn’t intrigued enough to care.

    One reason I stuck for as long as I could was narrator Dan Calley. I really like the way he voiced the conversations. His reading style matched the author’s prose perfectly. I think that’s why he narrates most of her books.

    I feel bad about DNFing a book that’s right up my alley but when it’s becoming a chore, I think it’s time to throw in the towel. This could be very well be a Me problem. Many readers enjoyed this and I think it’s best to find out for yourself. Especially if you’re into angsty tales of genius musicians and ninja filmmakers.

    P.S.

    Thank you to Signal Boost Promotions and Audible UK for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

    Garrett Leigh books here.

    Rating:
    2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book

    Soundtrack: Song From The Edge Of The World
    Artist: Siouxsie & The Banshees
    Album: Tinderbox