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    REVIEW: Love Is A Stranger by John Wiltshire

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    More Heat Than The Sun: Love Is A Stranger – John Wiltshire

    Ex-SAS soldier Ben Rider falls in love with his enigmatic married boss Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, but Nikolas is living a lie. A lie so profound that when the shadows are lifted, Ben realises he’s in love with a very dangerous stranger. Ben has to choose between Nikolas and safety, but sometimes danger comes in a very seductive package. 


    Note: long post so you can skip to the last paragraph for the TL,DR version if you want

    Love Is A Stranger is built on layers upon layers of secrets, with just enough hints of the dark and dangerous to keep you on the edge, all wrapped up in old world suave and sophistication that charms and seduces. Very Much like Nikolas Mikkelsen.

    The story is told in Ben Rider’s POV. He’s involved with the married Nikolas. The story drops you right smack in the middle of their affair. They worked in what I gather is some government department handling sensitive missions. Basically, they’re secret agents.

    Nikolas is married for 10 years to a high-ranking lady in the royal family. Now, this part initially put me off this series. Cheating is a deal-breaker for me. But I’ve seen some glowing reviews and I was very curious to see how the author would make their relationship work. Quite spectacularly as it turned out.

    At first, it would seem Nikolas has all the power. Older, richer, cold and aloof, yet very charismatic. Also, the boss. It was pretty obvious that Ben was in awe of the man. As the story progressed, we see the gradual shift in dynamics as Ben work his way through the chinks in Nikolas’ armor.

    This could have been a serious, heavy book but the bright spots of dry humor really gave the story the levity it needed to keep the weight off. Usually this is when Ben is calling Nikolas out on his shit. I loved it when Ben is being very irreverent with the older man. Not only is it really funny but it also makes Nikolas less cold figure on a pedestal, more warm-blooded person.

    While this is a very Nikolas book, Ben’s character is just as complex. Blessed with model perfect looks, he had no qualms using it to get the job done. I really liked that he thinks of his looks as just another tool. He’s good at his job and doesn’t hesitate to maim, torture and/or kill to get what he wants. He also has a bratty side that loves to annoy his older lover. And boy, does he like to eat. We get Ben’s backstory but the latter parts teased us with more reveals in the future.

    My favorite part about Ben, apart from his super snarky attitude, is his sheer determination to love Nikolas in any way he can have him.

    “If this is love for you, then you are in love with a ghost, with the illusion of a man. Is that enough for you?”

    “Would you let me have that? If you do, then I will find the man. I’ll breathe life back into the ghost.”

    Ben and Nikolas are two beautiful, dysfunctional people that started their relationship backwards. They now had to figure out how to do it for real. Their chemistry sizzled right from page 1 and continued to set off smoke alarms with the way they played off each other throughout the book. Sometimes ridiculous, frequently fucked up, these two really deserved each other.

    The plot has, initially, a slice of life-ish feel to it. Generally, a book would cover one major mission. This one had Ben tackling a few missions during the course of the story, especially at the first half where the plot had things happening before establishing the set up. It was almost a spy procedural in a way.

    These parts had some very shocking revelations! Without giving too much away, it pave the way for the two men to really begin their relationship. The next portions admittedly meandered just like the two meandered through their days. This could be considered the honeymoon phase. Sadly, this saggy middle made me put the book on hold for a while.

    The story picked up at the third arc. That is when it took a much darker turn when Nikolas’s past caught up to him. The plot already covered some disturbing elements early on but this time it was way worse. That the man has a troubled past has been hinted from the start but I never realized how very troubled it really is. From the unspeakable abuses that began in his childhood to his career in shadow agencies, Nikolas is a man who lives a lie within a lie.

    Love Is Stranger is a riveting spy thriller and the beginnings of an epic love story. It does a good job setting up the succeeding books. The first parts could be struggle to go through. The character and story development doesn’t happened until much later on. But stick around for the twisty turny plot, the witty dialogue, the crazy awesome chemistry, and, most especially, when the layers start peeling off one by one.

    P.S.

    Open-ended conclusion but most of the books are out so you won’t have trouble bingeing.

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

    Soundtrack: Stranger
    Artist: Covey
    Album;


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    REVIEW: Destroyer Of Worlds by Jordan L. Hawk

    SPECTR: Destroyer of Worlds – Jordan L. Hawk

    After becoming possessed by the vampire spirit Gray, telekinetic Caleb Jansen thought his situation couldn’t get any worse. But that was before Graham Forsyth, head of SPECTR’s sinister Research Division, took him into custody.

    Forsyth claims he can exorcise Gray before the forty-day time limit runs out. But once at RD, Caleb and Gray find themselves ensnared in a web of lies. What is the truth behind the tests Forsyth is performing on them? What does the agency really plan to do with Gray? And most worrisome of all, why does Gray sense demons within the walls of RD’s compound?

    Caleb’s boyfriend, SPECTR agent John Starkweather, has suspicions of his own. With the help of his friend Sean and a shadowy organization known only by their symbol of a moth, John intends to save Caleb and Gray at any cost.

    But when divided loyalties threaten his last chance at exorcism, Caleb discovers love may come at a price higher than he’d ever imagined.

    It’s official. The drakul is unleashed, John drops his bomb shell and Caleb approves. Great Sehkmet, this installment is GOOD!

    Caleb and Gray fell into the hands of Forsyth and RD. They were taken to a military fort where they were held prisoners and underwent a battery of tests. The situation, which was already bad, became even worse as they uncover what Forsyth was up to. They planned their escape with the help of mysterious individuals they call Moths.

    This is the most dangerous situation the trio has been in so far. Caleb and Gray worked well together and instinctively knew when the other should take over. There was one heart stopping moment when the person John thought he knew unexpectedly went to the dark side. Other persons also proved they were not what they seemed.

    Gray in full glory is magnificent! We also see a vulnerable side to him and his smug face too. The relationship between him and Caleb was endearing and pure. The relationship between him and John was equally adorable if a bit awkward because John and Gray never really talked outside the exorcisms and Gray doesn’t know what to do and what John expects of him. Bless Caleb for helping Gray navigate through all these mortal nonsense.

    Destroyer of Worlds might be the best book yet! We get a lot of action, some much needed answers and whole new world of possibilities. I am happy I waited until all the books for the first series are out because I don’t know how I would deal with all the cliffhangers. And I also won’t feel too bad if the first series ends because yay! we still have series 2.

    Finally, Caleb, Gray and John are truly a throuple! Now on to Summoner of Storms.

    P.S.

    Reviews of SPECTR here.
    Reviews of Jordan L. Hawk books here.

    Rating:

    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Oh, My Lover
    Artist: PJ Harvey
    Album: Dry

    (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19444864-destroyer-of-worlds)

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Eater Of Lives by Jordan L. Hawk

    SPECTR: Eater of Lives – Jordan L. Hawk

    When a supernatural killer is implicated in a string of cannibalistic murders, federal exorcist John Starkweather must track the demon down with the help of his live-in lover, Caleb Jansen. Caleb is possessed by Gray, a vampire spirit who is a natural demon hunter.

    Caleb’s desire to find the killer is tempered by the knowledge his own time is running out. If John can’t successfully figure out how to exorcise Gray before forty days are up, the possession becomes permanent.

    When John’s ex shows up, looking for a place to stay while visiting the city on business, tensions mount even higher. Lines are drawn and Caleb learns some decisions, once made, can never be changed.

    Despite constant reassurances from Gray that no, he’s not going to harm any humans, no, he’s not going to turn Caleb into a mindless puppet or a bloodthirsty monster, the foolish mortals insist their fears and doubts ad nauseam. Listen to the drakul, people!

    And what the fuck, Sean?! Why would you say that to Caleb? Sean is fast becoming a giant asshole. I know he means well but an asshole nonetheless.

    Gray continues to be precious as both he and Caleb gets possessive and territorial when Will shows up unannounced. John, ever the nice guy, agrees to let his ex stay over. The ex showing up and causing trouble is a bit cliche but did help move some things forward.

    This installment was different from the other books as a third POV was introduced, that of the possessed. The showdown between the demon and Gray was huge and public and had serious consequences for the trio. The ending was a cliffhanger so major I immediately picked up the next book because OMG!!! 

    This is what I really love about Jordan L. Hawk. The books in her series keeps getting better and better as they progress. Whyborne & Griffin, Hexworld, SPECTR, read any of them and guaranteed you will be hooked!

    P.S.

    Whyborne & Griffin review here.
    Hexworld reviews here
    SPECTR reviews here..

    Rating: 


    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away 

    Soundtrack: Hunger
    Artist: Florence + the Machine
    Album: High as Hope

    (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18284871-eater-of-lives)

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    Death and the Devil: Devil in the Details – L.J. Hayward

    If there’s one thing assassin Ethan Blade knows, it’s how to plan a job. How to study a target, find the weak spot, and strike. He keeps his guns clean, his knives sharp, and his heart sealed away behind more locks than his precious cars. Alone but safe. Until Jack Reardon burrowed his way into Ethan’s life, his car, and his heart. This may just be the deadliest mess he can’t plan his way out of.

    Jack wasn’t sure he’d see Ethan again—not after the less-than-stellar ends to their previous hookups. Even finding the assassin skulking about his apartment isn’t as reassuring as it should be, especially when he works out Ethan’s motive for being there might not be personal. That said, Jack will take any chance he can to salvage their relationship, assuming he survives whatever plan Ethan is cooking up.

    Ethan and Jack had a bargain, but the parameters changed and neither are certain how to move forward—together or apart. But before they can start to renegotiate, lives, trust, and hearts are endangered by ghosts from the past. Even if they dodge their enemies’ bullets, there’s a risk of friendly fire, and when you let someone get too close, even small knives can cut deep.

    Today is also the release date of Devil in the Details which is another excuse to celebrate.

    I adore the Death and the Devil series ever since the first novel came out and Devil in the Details, the third novella, certainly gave us some of what we ask for and things to look forward to on the next book.

    Squees reach unprecedented levels as Jack and Ethan go on a holiday in Vietnam. Both Ethan and Jack had their fair share of insecurities and major miscommunications issues but their chemistry remains off the charts. I was right there cheering them on to please, talk for fuck’s sake and was ridiculously happy when Jack finally blurted it out. Ethan, the poor thing, was waiting for it for the longest time.  

    Prior to that, death flags flew high as Jack and his second, Harry, deal with a bomb threat and declare BFF status. Explosive gunfights and cool fight scenes happen as bad guys tried to get our operative and our favorite assassin out of the picture. There were also somber and highly emotional moments when tragedy struck.

    And,oh hell yeah! The thing I’ve been waiting for! That teeny tiny peek inside Ethan’s head!!!

    Devil in the Details is full of edge-of-your-seat thrills, death-defying action scenes, sizzling unconventional romance and adorable characters.

    It’s a high-octane emotional roller coaster and I love every moment of it.

    P.S.

    Make this a movie, please!

    More glowing commentary on Death and the Devil books here.

    Thank you to the author, L.J. Hayward, for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

    Rating: 
    5 Stars – absolutely perfect 

    Soundtrack: Move Together
    Artist: James Bay
    Album: Chaos and the Calm

    (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42289935-devil-in-the-details)