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The Community: Sightlines – Santino Hassell
Chase Payne is a walking contradiction. He’s the most powerful psychic in the Community, but the least respected. He’s the son of the Community’s founder, but with his tattoo sleeves and abrasive attitude, he’s nothing like his charismatic family. No one knows what to make of him, which is how he wound up locked in a cell on the Farm yet again. But this time, the only man he’s ever loved is there too.
Elijah Estrella was used to being the sassy sidekick who fooled around with Chase for fun. But that was before he realized the Community wasn’t the haven he’d believed in and Chase was the only person who’d ever truly tried to protect him. Now they’re surrounded by people who want to turn them against their friends, and the only way out is to pretend the brainwashing works.
With Chase playing the role of a tyrant’s second-in-command, and Elijah acting like Chase’s mindless sex toy, they risk everything by plotting a daring escape. In the end, it’s only their psychic abilities, fueled by their growing love for each other, that will allow them to take the Community down once and for all.
I always pictured Chase as Billy Idol, Generation X era.
Young Adam G. Sevani as Elijah:
Oh no! I wasn’t feeling the Chase-Elijah merger. I like Chase and Elijah’s being his sassy twink self but their combination wasn’t working. Now, I see why some reviewers say the same thing. The “Elijah’s in love with Holden” issue was so stupid and unconvincing that I couldn’t believe it went on for three quarters of the book despite all the declarations from both Elijah and Chase. I could understand the reluctance to express feelings but I draw the line on the willfully stubborn.
This being book three I expected grand things, like major showdowns which I have been expecting since book one but the climactic scenes were a letdown. The rescue scenes lacked action and it seemed like the major villains had the easy way out. Again, total waste of superpowers.
If there was anything that the book succeed in doing it’s that it painted a good picture of the nightmare that is The Farm. Torture, human experimentation, drugging and rape, these are just a few of the horrors inflicted upon helpless psychics. Which is why I would have wanted to see harsher, nastier punishments for Jasper and Richard.
I feel conflicted. I wanted to like this but unfortunately I was bored with the most of the story which again involved a lot of talks about things I could listen to with only half of my brain engaged and the other half playing mahjong and still not miss anything important. It lacked the chemistry of Holden and Six’s book but had, at the very least, the dry wit of Nate and Trent’s conversations. It suffered from the non-issues that could have been resolved sooner had Chase and Elijah just talked properly. It did give a nice vision at the end where everyone came together like a family. So, while I didn’t hate the book, I didn’t quite like it either.
Rating
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a likeSoundtrack: Ill in the Head
Artist: Dead Kennedys
Album: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30364806-sightlines)
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Julian and Youth A – Xi Xi Guo
One day, Julian found himself inside a barred room with a young boy…
Hamsters!!!
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Julian and Youth A – Xi Xi Guo
One day, Julian found himself inside a barred room with a young boy…
Hamsters!!!
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Soldati Hearts: The Soldati Prince – Charlie Cochet
One moment Riley Murrough is living a normal life working in a coffee shop, and the next he’s running for his life from demons, learns he bears the mark of a shape-shifter king from a magical realm, and—worst of all—he’s destined to become the mated prince to the arrogant tiger shifter he would rather strangle.
Khalon, the shifter king, is equally distraught at the idea of being bound to a human prince, and along with his Soldati warriors, he sets out to return Riley to his own world where he belongs. On their journey they might discover why the priestess brought them together—if they can escape the demons and make it to her alive.
An attempt at shifter/human paranormal romance that fell short of the mark. I appreciate the fluff and cute that are liberally sprinkled throughout but I could trade this with any typical shifter romance story be it m/f, m/m or f/f and it wouldn’t make any difference. It’s that generic. It didn’t help that the narration was lackluster and flat. I’d say pass on this one.
Rating
2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn bookSoundtrack: Something About Us
Artist: Daft Punk
Album: Discovery(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31509168-the-soldati-prince)
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Koi Amai ga Shoppai ga – Chiba Ryouko
An optimistic guy and a sullen intelligent man. In order to save the store this mismatched couple comes together!? The love story of two childhood friends.
Got me craving for some senbei
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Koi Amai ga Shoppai ga – Chiba Ryouko
An optimistic guy and a sullen intelligent man. In order to save the store this mismatched couple comes together!? The love story of two childhood friends.
Got me craving for some senbei
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The Turner Series: The Soldier’s Scoundrel – Cat Sebastian
A scoundrel who lives in the shadows
Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London’s slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be.
A soldier untarnished by vice
After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman’s life-one that doesn’t include sparring with a ne’er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack’s pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they’re together.
Two men only meant for each other
I first met Jack Turner as Georgie’s brother from The Lawrence Browne Affair and his sardonic comments to Georgie were really funny. Rewind to The Soldier’s Scoundrel where Jack first met Oliver who was in a state because he thought Jack was an unsavory character swindling his sister, Lady Charlotte.Their chemistry and banter, the way their relationship developed were a pleasure to watch as it unfolds. Tried as he might, the unsmiling, snarky Jack couldn’t help but be charmed by Oliver, gentleman, ex-soldier and expert curricle driver. The two endeavored to solve the mystery of Jack’s client’s missing letters with Oliver tagging along mainly because he was bored and wants to keep seeing Jack. Jack, for most parts, was in some sort of denial about his feelings and it was fun to see Oliver slowly win his heart. Oliver was made out to be kind of naive and inexperienced so it was very satisfying when he gets the upper hand.
This Regency romance has all the right ingredients: well-developed and interesting characters, intrigues, mystery and class conflict. The enemies-to-lovers trope was done convincingly. The writing has that typical breezy CS trademark of humor, fluff and food. I confess, I put off reading this because of the terrible, terrible cover. I’ve always wondered why they usually feel compelled to put bare-chested men on the cover of most MM books when beautiful clothes on beautiful people would do the trick much more effectively, at least to me that is.
Cases in point: these random male models as Oliver and Jack
Still, I regret not reading this sooner because this Cat Sebastian debut is every word as brilliant as the reviews say.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect
Soundtrack: I Will Possess Your Heart
Artist: Death Cab for Cutie
Album: Narrow Stairs(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29875088-the-soldier-s-scoundrel)
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The Turner Series: The Soldier’s Scoundrel – Cat Sebastian
A scoundrel who lives in the shadows
Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London’s slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be.
A soldier untarnished by vice
After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman’s life-one that doesn’t include sparring with a ne’er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack’s pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they’re together.
Two men only meant for each other
I first met Jack Turner as Georgie’s brother from The Lawrence Browne Affair and his sardonic comments to Georgie were really funny. Rewind to The Soldier’s Scoundrel where Jack first met Oliver who was in a state because he thought Jack was an unsavory character swindling his sister, Lady Charlotte.Their chemistry and banter, the way their relationship developed were a pleasure to watch as it unfolds. Tried as he might, the unsmiling, snarky Jack couldn’t help but be charmed by Oliver, gentleman, ex-soldier and expert curricle driver. The two endeavored to solve the mystery of Jack’s client’s missing letters with Oliver tagging along mainly because he was bored and wants to keep seeing Jack. Jack, for most parts, was in some sort of denial about his feelings and it was fun to see Oliver slowly win his heart. Oliver was made out to be kind of naive and inexperienced so it was very satisfying when he gets the upper hand.
This Regency romance has all the right ingredients: well-developed and interesting characters, intrigues, mystery and class conflict. The enemies-to-lovers trope was done convincingly. The writing has that typical breezy CS trademark of humor, fluff and food. I confess, I put off reading this because of the terrible, terrible cover. I’ve always wondered why they usually feel compelled to put bare-chested men on the cover of most MM books when beautiful clothes on beautiful people would do the trick much more effectively, at least to me that is.
Cases in point: these random male models as Oliver and Jack
Still, I regret not reading this sooner because this Cat Sebastian debut is every word as brilliant as the reviews say.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect
Soundtrack: I Will Possess Your Heart
Artist: Death Cab for Cutie
Album: Narrow Stairs(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29875088-the-soldier-s-scoundrel)
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Kosha Ura no Natsu – Sakurabi Hashigo
Heartbroken Manabu-kun keeps meeting up with his senpai in the back of the school, who appears to be keeping a secret.
I’m not crying. I swear T_T
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Kosha Ura no Natsu – Sakurabi Hashigo
Heartbroken Manabu-kun keeps meeting up with his senpai in the back of the school, who appears to be keeping a secret.
I’m not crying. I swear T_T
