I loved loved loved this! Why was it so good?! I was just looking for a bit of fluff tThis review can also be found on my blog: A Match Made in Heaven
I loved loved loved this! Why was it so good?! I was just looking for a bit of fluff to hold me over till I decided what I really wanted to read. But instead, I ended up wanting this to last forever! I think it deserves more of a 4.5/5.
This was my first 'Gay For You' story, and I think that is really what did it for me. I loved all of Tyler's insecurities, and the fact that he loved Johnnie so much he had to be with him regardless of his gender. It just takes things to a whole new level and I love that. They were both great, but I think I preferred Tyler. Its really hard to say though.
I loved how the only obstacle to their relationship was Tyler coming to terms with his feelings. There were no real fights except regarding Tyler's feelings, no homophobic father, no issues about Johnnie's lifestyle. Johnnie was even the first to say "I love you", which I hadn't been expecting from a rock star, but Johnnie is no stereotype. I loved hearing it and knowing that someone loved Tyler so easily.
Although, I was a little surprised since Johnnie had previously said, "F***ing a guy doesn't mean you're gay. It means you're open to so many more types of pleasure, not just the ones that are widely accepted." It led me to believe that he just loved sex so much, he didn't care where he got it from, but he wasn't actually into men. I thought their relationship may surprise them both. But it ended up coming to Johnnie so easily that it left Tyler reeling and confused. I really felt for him and it was really touching. I just wish there had been more. It felt way too short, and I would have loved to see him tell his sister and to witness her support. I know that she would not have judged him at all. I cant wait to read Purgatory!
I loved loved loved this! Why was it so good?! I was just looking for a bit of fluff to hold me over till I decided what I really wanted to read. But instead, I ended up wanting this to last forever! I think it deserves more of a 4.5/5.
This was my first 'Gay For You' story, and I think that is really what did it for me. I loved all of Tyler's insecurities, and the fact that he loved Johnnie so much he had to be with him regardless of his gender. It just takes things to a whole new level and I love that. They were both great, but I think I preferred Tyler. Its really hard to say though.
I loved how the only obstacle to their relationship was Tyler coming to terms with his feelings. There were no real fights except regarding Tyler's feelings, no homophobic father, no issues about Johnnie's lifestyle. Johnnie was even the first to say "I love you", which I hadn't been expecting from a rock star, but Johnnie is no stereotype. I loved hearing it and knowing that someone loved Tyler so easily.
Although, I was a little surprised since Johnnie had previously said, "F***ing a guy doesn't mean you're gay. It means you're open to so many more types of pleasure, not just the ones that are widely accepted." It led me to believe that he just loved sex so much, he didn't care where he got it from, but he wasn't actually into men. I thought their relationship may surprise them both. But it ended up coming to Johnnie so easily that it left Tyler reeling and confused. I really felt for him and it was really touching. I just wish there had been more. It felt way too short, and I would have loved to see him tell his sister and to witness her support. I know that she would not have judged him at all. I cant wait to read Purgatory!...more
This book is insane! Like everyone is crazy and totally toxic and dramatic and terrible! I was just over half way through when I realized what this waThis book is insane! Like everyone is crazy and totally toxic and dramatic and terrible! I was just over half way through when I realized what this was reminding me of. It reminds me of daytime soaps. Another series that gave me similar vibes was The Luxe series when I read it way back in 2011.
And they’re also vicious! (view spoiler)[Like it’s ok to burn down a competitors bar just because theyre racist. Christina almost kills her ex when she finds out he used a love spell on her. And when Yves mentions that his sister used a spell to blow off the head of a women who was causing trouble for her girls, Clem actually seems impressed?! I’m not sure what “causing trouble” meant, but blowing off her head was probably overkill. And in the end, when they have their final showdown with the villain they don’t just take her out. She’s torn apart by zombies! And it was all planned. And they killed her husband too for going along with her, even though she was definitely emotionally abusive. (hide spoiler)]
It didn’t really feel like a YA book with all that violence. And I don’t have sympathy for any of them....more
This book was so great! It covers a wide range of sex topics and does a pretty thorough job with each considering it is just one book. It give so muchThis book was so great! It covers a wide range of sex topics and does a pretty thorough job with each considering it is just one book. It give so much good information for young people just starting out, but also goes into a lot of detail about more practical sex topics. ...more
There is a great deal to love about this book. It is the first book that I have read that treated polyamory with respect instead of just as a kink. AnThere is a great deal to love about this book. It is the first book that I have read that treated polyamory with respect instead of just as a kink. And I think that is due to the fact that the author is polyamorous herself, if I am not mistaken. This was very informative and I appreciated that it gave us real terms and definitions. It explained a lot about polyamory.
This reminded me of the experience I had the first time I read a BDSM book. It was Power Exchange, and it was like my eyes were opened. I never really understand what BDSM meant before I read that book. It explained it so clearly and with so much honesty and respect. Four Letter Word did the same thing with polyamory. I also love the fact that all the couples were couples, and thruples were thruples, and whatever a four-way is called. Whatever combination they happened to find themselves in was still complete and enough. In some ménage smut I have read, the people involved agree to never have sex unless all are present. I suppose its meant to be romantic that they are only complete when they are all together. But I feel like that is dividing love, while the method in Four Letter Word is multiplying love!
What I didn't love about this book is that there was too much packed into one book. There was so much sex! I know this is a K.M. Neuhold book and she writes great sex, but with four lead men I feel like she tried to give them all their fair share of sex scenes which at least doubled the amount of sex in this book as in her average book. ...more
As an asexual person, this book really didn't work for me despite coming highly recommended by other asexuals. It had some really great aspects and soAs an asexual person, this book really didn't work for me despite coming highly recommended by other asexuals. It had some really great aspects and some really bad aspects. At first it started out really cute and I was enjoying Jordan's little crush on the guy on the bus. And then the guy on the bus turned out to be the leader of the local ace/aro support group. Convenient, but ok. This is a romance novel after all. I will allow it. But it was just non-stop perfection after that. Everything about Jordan and Hennessy lined up perfectly and it was just ridiculous and sickeningly sweet. They liked the same books, and food and dates and artists. Once they got around to talking about what their limits were for their physical relationship that lined up perfectly too. There was absolutely no drama or conflict or even the slightest struggle until the third act, and it was so brief and ridiculous because it was just an overreaction.
There was a scene at the ace/aro meeting, when Jordan and Hennessy first met, and I loved that. I loved the way the members talked about sex and society and the weight of expectations. I thought it was another sign I would love this book. But Jordan and Hennessy lined up perfectly so the book didn’t discuss how differently ace/aro people can feel again after that short scenes in the meetings. Most of the book was just Jordan and Hennessy mooning over each other and their flawlessness. There was a second support group scene near the end and it briefly touched on the fact that people can experience asexuality differently. But never once in the whole book did they ever mention the fact that a large amount of ace/aro people don't like to hear or talk about sex this much.
This book needlessly talked about sex a lot, which really didn’t work for me as someone who is sex-repulsed. Jordan and Hennessy would sometimes mention sex as a joke and then giggle behind their hands like school girls. And Jordan's roommate is part of a throuple and he would hint at the things they do together and its all funny and they laugh at him for the fun he has in bed. And here is a quote from Hennessy:
“I’m asexual, not dead. We’re allowed to joke about these things. And we’re allowed to talk about sex. And we’re allowed to get hard-ons, as inconvenient as they sometimes are.”
Yes, we are allowed to, but a lot don't! I don't know, maybe it’s not as many as I had assumed. But it was way too much for me and made me really uncomfortable. I am totally fine with people doing whatever they want but I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT! I find it odd that this book never once mentions the fact that a lot of ace/aro people don't like to hear about sex. When we briefly saw the thruple together in the end I felt my gorge rise and I was shaking as I tried to quickly finish the book. Since I was almost done I just went for it! They were just dancing, not doing anything sexy. But all the jokes and convos they had had before came back to me then and it was too much!
Luckily the epilogue was amazing and romantic! I enjoyed it a great deal. ...more
I didn't realize this had Ace-rep going into it. I just knew it was a companion to George and I had to read it! It was such a nice surprise! I wish thI didn't realize this had Ace-rep going into it. I just knew it was a companion to George and I had to read it! It was such a nice surprise! I wish they had groups like the Rainbow Spectrum when I was in school. Although there is no way I would have even suspected I was ace at Rick's age even if I knew what ace was back then. I didn't even know people that young thought about who they liked (Rick is 11). ...more
This book was amazing! It will be hard to do it justice in this review. I heard about this book from T.J. Klune when he wrote an article about it for This book was amazing! It will be hard to do it justice in this review. I heard about this book from T.J. Klune when he wrote an article about it for Tor.com. Unfortunately it is $40 +shipping on Amazon, and the author hasn't written much else. But if you are interested you can get the ebook on lulu.com or read it for free on LiveJournal.
The world of The God Eaters reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Its a dusty, gritty cross between the Old West and fantasy, with a lot of magic. It also reminds me of TJ's own Withered + Sere. Its painful and rough and sometimes tragic with extremely damaged characters. In some ways, Lucas is like Keiran, and I would not be surprised if TJ was inspired by this book to some extent when he wrote Withered + Sere.
This is mostly a story of survival for Keiran and Ash. And although its view doesnt move beyond them, that doesnt mean the scope of the story is not large. Their actions will decide the fate of the world. Both Keiran and Ash are incredible and do incredible things. The romance is so well balanced with the fantasy elements that I cant say which is the primary genre. They are each other's main motive for everything. They are each others reason for breathing. But they do so many incredible things. Despite how damaged they are, especially Keiran, their love is so beautiful and eternal!
This is really a must read for fantasy and romance fans alike! I would like a hard copy but $40 +shipping on Amazon! No thanks.
Trigger warnings for violence, imprisonment, and mental torture, mentions of rape, child abuse, and prostitution. There is one mild consensual sex scene. I would say this book would be ok for mature teens....more
I just found this copy at the thrift store and bought it, and I automatically add all books I own to my goodreads shelves. I originally read the serieI just found this copy at the thrift store and bought it, and I automatically add all books I own to my goodreads shelves. I originally read the series on audio from my library and reviewed them separately.
I really really loved this series. It is so imaginative and unique and adventurous. And Lyra is such an incredible character! She is 12 years old and so brave and clever and resourceful. It is choke-full of fascinating and wonderful supporting characters! I love absolutely everyone! Aside from the villains of course. The villains in this series are utterly sinister.
These books are so intense. It is also quite disturbing and I would not recommend it for the younger end of YA or MG readers. I'm so confused about the target audience. They are listed as YA, but are so heavy they almost feel adult. I don't think I would let my kids read these as teenagers. But the whole series is still absolutely amazing! Mind-blowing!...more
This book was not exactly what I expected but I still loved it. The focus was more on the romance than anything. That might seem obvious, but in histoThis book was not exactly what I expected but I still loved it. The focus was more on the romance than anything. That might seem obvious, but in historical romances that I usually read by authors like Maya Banks, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Anne Stuart, there are usually side stories, side characters and POVs, a mystery subplot, and the romance, as well as a certain level of eroticism, depending on the book. This book was almost entirely romance plus the small mystery of learning Gervase's past. And the few love-making scenes were not graphic at all. This focuses so much on the characters and there relationship. It has been a long time since I read a romance this in depth. It still had HR tropes but I really enjoyed it. The writing reminded me somewhat of Loretta Chase, but her books are usually somewhat more erotic. I received this book as a Christmas present so I started in the middle of the series, but I really enjoyed it so I will continue the series. ...more
This book was weird. Its one of TJ's older books so that would probably be why I didnt enjoy it much, since most of his books that I have read receiveThis book was weird. Its one of TJ's older books so that would probably be why I didnt enjoy it much, since most of his books that I have read received 5 stars from me.
There were a lot of issues in this, like 'vagina' was used as an insult way too often, there was some racial stereotyping that I think was supposed to be a joke but didn't come across right, and some slut-shaming. This seems to all go against the heart of TJ's later books, so I think he learned to be more sensitive with his humour over time. Also there was a serious case of insta-love which drove me nuts. If Vince decided he loved Paul when they spoke for the first time I could almost overlook it, but it was love at first sight. He saw him across the room and that was it.
I did like that Paul was a plus-sized man. And I loved how it was handled and how Vince treated him. They were wonderful together and I really wish their relationship had started in a more natural way. I loved the characters even if Paul is a massive diva who sabotages himself a lot of the time, and he reminded me a lot of Gustavo Tiberius at times. I will definitely continue this series because it probably gets better over time, and each book is about a different couple, and I know that the last book in this series just came out and I really want to read it....more
I really loved this series. Magnus is just so great and so sweet! I love how he wasn't a good fighter for once and that he was the hero of the story eI really loved this series. Magnus is just so great and so sweet! I love how he wasn't a good fighter for once and that he was the hero of the story even though he was the healer. It was such a refreshing change. I also loved all the supporting characters, especially Sam and Alex. I kind of wish they had gotten more focus. PJO was all from Percy's POV, but HoO and TKC had alternating POVs and I usually prefer those types of narrations. Getting some Sam and Alex POV would have been amazing! Maybe even Blitzen and Hearthstone. I love Hearthstone. He is too precious for this world! The whole situation with the dragon? He is just so good inside, no one deserves him. Except for Magnus and Blitzen of course. Bros for life!
But I think my second favourite character after Magnus has got to be Sam. She's just so badass. I love how she is so devout despite learning of Norse gods, and so strong despite Ramadan. Just such a strong person all around, and great friend and sister. Dont get me wrong, I love Alex too. I ship it! And I can see where Rick is coming from, the ending seems true to the character. But I still wanted more, you know? Like, can we just smother that sweet muffin with love please?! ...more
1. Wrong Way Home ★★★★ 2. Devil Next Door ★ 3. Only The Devil Knows ★★★★
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a murder mystery more than anything, a w1. Wrong Way Home ★★★★ 2. Devil Next Door ★ 3. Only The Devil Knows ★★★★
I really enjoyed this book. It was like a murder mystery more than anything, a who-done-it from the POV of the the 'who', among others. I totally saw the twist coming from a mile away though. It was so obvious that I was starting to think it was a red herring. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book though. I was really invested in the story and anxious to find out how it would end.
This was still really quite dark, like Devil Next Door, but luckily, in just such a way that I could still enjoy it. The main reason for that is there was less violence on the page, lots of people still died and it was fairly violent, but the worst of it was left to our imagination. Also, any violence towards Wyatt was consensual, and the characters were interesting enough to compensate. Not that this book's baddie was not as bad as Devil Next Door's baddie. They are both equally evil, but I just think that this book and its characters were better written.
I do have a couple of complaints though. There wasn’t actually that much romance, and I wasn't really a big fan of the ending or of Max. It can still be considered an HEA, but I would have preferred if (view spoiler)[Nathaniel somehow expelled Max and got complete control of his body back, and then helped cure Wyatt of Stockholm and then they were together forever. They were my favourite characters (hide spoiler)].
So on my made up Dark Romance scale this is how dark I would rate the Criminal Delights books so far:
This book was an incredible experience and I loved everything about it except one small thing. The actual rating is 4.5/5.
I didn't really know a lot aThis book was an incredible experience and I loved everything about it except one small thing. The actual rating is 4.5/5.
I didn't really know a lot about this going in, except that it was some form of fantasy and that it was humourous. It follows Elliot, who lives in our world until due to having a form of The Sight, he is recruited to train in the Border Guard in a magical land. The Border Guard protects the borders between human lands and those of elves, trolls, dwarves, harpies, and mermaids. But there is not actually any magic involved. There are two groups in the Border Guard, the council and the soldiers. Elliot is bookish and a pacifist so he chooses to join council training. He is prickly and abrasive but manages to make two best friends in Serene and Luke, who are both basically warrior prodigies.
Elliot is the type of person who is always getting into trouble and always in the middle of every new catastrophe. It reminds me of "Why is it always you three?" There are actually a few parallels with Harry Potter. If that is the case, then Elliot would be Hermoine in the first book, when she was still extremely rude and high and mighty, but Elliot doesn't really stop being rude and high and mighty. ...more
I really loved this book, with one caveat, but I will get to that later.
I loved that this book was so intelligent, that Alex and Henry were so educateI really loved this book, with one caveat, but I will get to that later.
I loved that this book was so intelligent, that Alex and Henry were so educated and actually wrote each other e-mails instead of misspelled text messages, and talked about history and literature. I loved the excerpts from historical letters that they used to express their feelings for each. I loved that this book was about two high profile men whose relationship had such a large impact on the world, how it inspired so many people in the book. I love how it forced both their countries to face themselves and what kind of future they wanted to create. This book was huge, and it was political. I think that fact should be obvious, but in case you didn't know, this book is making a huge statement. And I agree with it wholeheartedly.
My one caveat is that this book felt really over-sexualized. I'm not just talking about the number of sex scenes, or how graphic they got. But the role it played in their romance just felt way too central. I read a lot of romance books, of all kinds. Including books that are way, way more graphic than this one. The NA label happens to be about right for this book. But I will explain what I mean, with some minor spoilers about the progression of their relationship.
This is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story. Henry is closeted and Alex does not yet realize that he is bisexual. After they are forced together they become friends, and eventually Henry kisses Alex. This is an epiphany for Alex. He almost immediately wants Henry, badly. He must have sex with him! The next time they are alone they just go at it without talking about feelings or anything. And this keeps up, they hardly even address the issue, or say "lets keep it casual". Alex thinks it a few times, that he has to keep it casual because a relationship with a prince would be too complicated. But its a friends-with-benefits relationship for awhile without it ever being said aloud, as if that's totally expected and they don't have to talk about what they want from each other! Once their relationship is finally taken to the next level with the admission of feelings, sex is still a major part of it. There are not as many sex scenes by this point, but when they e-mail each other the focus seems to be how much they miss each other's body.
They talk about feelings in between, but the first and last thing they mention, and the lasting impression of their e-mails is that they miss the sex. Alex writes: ''I want you back here with me. I want your body and I want the rest of you too." As if he can't be bothered to tell Henry what he misses about him besides his body, so just adds "the rest of you too" onto the end. There is also a whole e-mail that Alex writes to Henry about the corner of his mouth. It is supposed to be about how Alex knows him well enough to know when he's worried, but then he goes on about how he’s kissed that mouth before, and about how he wants to spread him out on a desk so he can map the rest of him like the corner of his mouth. Like, what? I thought this was supposed to be romantic but I just feel uncomfortable now. And then there is the scene when Alex confronts Luna and tells him that he is just like him, because Alex is bisexual and Luna is gay. As if the fact that they both sleep with men is the only thing that defines them! There is so much more to a person than their sex lives! Case and point, Jeffrey Richards! Is Alex going to say to Richards, "I'm just like you"? What is this book even getting at?!
Considering how much I loved everything else about this book, I feel very disappointed that there had to be such a big thing that bothers me. But everything else is perfect so it still gets 4 stars. And if someone could make some fan art of Alex and Henry as Han and Leia with the quote "Never tell me the odds" on it, I will buy it so fast! Please and thank you....more
I loved this! Why am I the only one who loved this? 😂 I just found it so interesting and intense and addictive. Kit and Will are both such interestingI loved this! Why am I the only one who loved this? 😂 I just found it so interesting and intense and addictive. Kit and Will are both such interesting characters and I loved them and their intense connection. It was very quick, as I have seen some people say, but lust usually is. What they had was a bit more than lust, not quite insta-love, but maybe infatuation. Regardless, I didnt have any trouble accepting their relationship and enjoying where it went from there. I also really enjoyed the spy aspect of the story, but it wasnt too much and didnt take attention away from the romance. My only complain is that it was too short. I did not want this to end and I would really love if there was a sequel!...more
This book was not what I wanted at all when I decided to read it and that took away from my enjoyment of it a great deal. I almost DNFed it halfway thThis book was not what I wanted at all when I decided to read it and that took away from my enjoyment of it a great deal. I almost DNFed it halfway through. I will try to rate it as if I had read it at a different time, but the truth is that I rarely enjoy highly emotional reads like this anyway.
I decided to read this because it was marked as BDSM and I was in the mood to read something sexy. Well, this was not it. This book was so far from sexy. The sex scenes in it were highly emotional and even painful. The BDSM was actually a very small part of it. This book was more about dealing with Taylor's emotional damage and self-destruction than anything else.
There was one scene about halfway through the book that was so painful to read, that is when I almost DNFed. I ended up skimming it and it felt like when you're watching a scary movie through your fingers. I have read scenes like that before and enjoyed them, but this one was just not right. Even Warren said afterwords that something about it felt wrong.
Warren was a bit dull but I loved Taylor and I wanted to see his happiness so that is what kept me going. And if this book was focused more fully on the romance between the two, even with Taylor's past but without his dark days, and without the side stories of Warren's work or Taylor's friendship with Riley, I would have loved it. And with the other Heretics. I loved Gray. 😊
Everything was just so grim that it was really hard to enjoy. By the end I found that I was just relieved for it to be done. And the ending was good but I don't feel 100% confident in their future. I suspect we will see a fair amount of them in future books but I don't think I will continue reading it. The blurb for book 2 does not sound appealing to me at all and I did not particularly enjoy Phil in this one. If the blurbs for Gray or Charlie's books sound interesting I might skip ahead....more
This was so amazing! One of my favourites in the series so far, along with The Son of Neptune. Frank! Leo! Nico! I loved that these guys got so much fThis was so amazing! One of my favourites in the series so far, along with The Son of Neptune. Frank! Leo! Nico! I loved that these guys got so much focus in this book when previously it was mostly Jason and Percy who got all the glory. And Percy and Annabeth's story in this one was really important to me, and helped me to understand them as a couple more. I have never been a big fan of Annabeth, but its hard to deny how much they belong together now. I love the cover of this book too. It is so epic, and the image of Percy and Annabeth shows such a sense of desperation, but dedication to each other. They are never separating again!...more
I've never been a big fan of Annabeth so this was my least favourite book in the series so far. She was my least favourite character in PJO but this bI've never been a big fan of Annabeth so this was my least favourite book in the series so far. She was my least favourite character in PJO but this book helped me appreciate her a bit more. But I was also disappointed that this book didn't have a lot of Frank. He was my favourite of all the new characters introduced in this series, but he was underused in this one. But the story in this was still amazing and it really picked up and had a lot of great conflicts in the end, and a great cliffhanger....more
♥ Rebecca ♥
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