I'm always so worried when a series I love so very much gets a sequel. My god did I really enjoy this one. It was a worthy hea for Luca with his partnI'm always so worried when a series I love so very much gets a sequel. My god did I really enjoy this one. It was a worthy hea for Luca with his partner Noe. Yes, it was low angst, yes, it Luca was very low anxiety and angst about his changing feelings toward a sex he was never previously attracted to, yes, nearly everyone was quite accepting without much fuss. BUT, ... I didn't care. I just loved and appreciated it for the sweet love story that it was and the lovely cameos....more
Everett and Peter were both very lovable characters and there were quite some "awe" moments in their story. Their connection felt genuine and how EverEverett and Peter were both very lovable characters and there were quite some "awe" moments in their story. Their connection felt genuine and how Everett approached their growing feelings and budding relationship was appropriate given the circumstances. There also is just something about small town romance that pulls on your heart strings. Everyone knows anyone and their dog.
The only niggle I had with the story really was the ending. The "epilogue" so to speak. I think I might have missed something while reading or should have read Never Darling first or something. The last chapter was all about Mattias and Connor. Who are they you ask? Well, they are the protagonists in the before mentioned book Never Darling. So the heart warming scene in this one with them proposing to one another - completely missed the mark... because... who are you? Would have been so much better hinting at their book by them being invited to the BBQ or cookout in Summer and them falling to their knees crying when seeing the little child they lost to the forest or something. This would have made me want to pick up their book immediately. But a random scene in a random house between random characters I do not know left me rather unaffected. ...more
love the mixture of fantasy, historical setting and comedy ➡ Audiobook
D and Tan are just amazing together. Loved the books and really enjoyed the audilove the mixture of fantasy, historical setting and comedy ➡ Audiobook
D and Tan are just amazing together. Loved the books and really enjoyed the audio experience. Yes, it wasn't perfect, sometimes voices were overlapping, one or two times I heard the same paragraph twice and some female voices sounded like old men, but it is a really long book all stacked together so... The book doesn't take itself to seriously and the setting and telling allows for absurd and gory events to happen. So while being chipper while burning enemies until they are dead might be gruesome and questionable under other circumstances, here it makes total sense and you don't bat an eye. The author tries the same tactic in another book and it didn't go down the same way it did here (The Insanity of Reincarnated Mages and Amorous Vampires). So it pays to pay attention not to just copy and paste what worked in one instance. But who am I. I am just one consumer and the author has certainly published more romance books than me (as in I published none at this point in time), so this is just my opinion. And my opinion is, go and read/listen to this series, it really is a lot of fun!...more
I love this whole series that all started with Danny and Tris. But oh my God, Death and Chan take the cake every time. I don't know what it is with thI love this whole series that all started with Danny and Tris. But oh my God, Death and Chan take the cake every time. I don't know what it is with the two of them but their short stories always warm my heart. I love their stories and their adventures and Death exploring his humanity and them growing together and experiencing life and the others reality together. Just beautiful!
The only sad thing about this whole series and off-shoots is the narrator Joel Leslie. He is just not my cup of tea. His voice, to me, sounds as if he is constantly on the verge of crying/whining. I will just have to "make due" with the books ...more
I liked it. You really got a sense of the MCs and what they were all about.
While I could understand Grady's motivations and him holding on with an irI liked it. You really got a sense of the MCs and what they were all about.
While I could understand Grady's motivations and him holding on with an iron fist to his duties I also was so frustrated with him and even resented Lacy at one point.
They grew up with Grady, they all lost their parents, they all had to do their part and pitch in, one had to take on the responsibilities and who better than the oldest. Still, while Grady knows his siblings, what they are capable of, who they are and their idiosyncrasies the same should also be true for his siblings. Most of them are grown and over the age of 20. I just don't get how they do not see how Grady is practically wasting away and how he is practically a question or problem away from total bodily shutdown... Only one sibling, who is the one with the healing affinity, seems to be able to stand up to him and question him... Ordelia.
Lacy, as I mentioned, I could have truly slapped on the back of her head. Grady is so bad of, that he can hardly sleep, hardly eats and works around the clock and she truly thinks it is fine and even funny to say: Grady had forgotten to pick up Michael, his nephew, to take to the market. Lacy wanders into the back and spouts this gem: "You're getting so forgetful, Grady. It's so unlike you. I wonder why? Is it because of the handsome Uzoth?" Lacy laughed. ... and then... "And you forgot to come over and put a protection charm mon my new apartment like you said you would." ... "You know someone wandered straight into our apartment in the middle of the night," she said, mouth full. "It was just a drunk neighbour who'd gotten the doors mixed up. But I thought that would never have happened with Grady's protection charm. That would have kept our drunk neighbour out on their arse." She shook her head, smiling. "You're so distracted with your handsome gargoyle."
Of course Grady is distraught. Of course he is near panicking. Instead of reinforcing him being with Uzoth and taking much needed time off, she thinks it ok mocking him and pointing out that he, the one with the affinity for protection and life goal to protect his siblings and all he deems family is slacking his duties and endangering their life. What did she think this would go down? Did she think at all? This chapter frustrated me to no end. In my opinion at least 5 of his 9 siblings should have sat him down a long time ago and split their duties.
Somehow instead of basking in all their love I am now questioning if all of them are so self centered to not even realize what they do to Grady every day. Everyone knows that "asking" if you can help a workaholic or someone stuck so far in a pattern is like dropping water into the ocean. You really have to sit them down and make a plan together, point out options they might have actively overlooked before or simply didn't have the capacity to see anymore.
I was somehow also missing a grand finale after all that drama. Something more magic somehow, (view spoiler)[ not just them being intimate and preparing for Christmas. It somehow ended how it began, with Uzoth looking over the family, just with a different vantage point, now inside the home instead of watching from without. Yes, they are now family, but what is his purpose now? He was looking for it in the beginning, while doing the same thing he was doing in the end. So only watching over the family wasn't enough. And if it were loving Grady he would not have nearly turned to stone would he? (hide spoiler)] I was looking for something more like what we got with Avery and Jack. Something in the realm of (view spoiler)[ Uzoth officially taking some of Gradys responsibilities. Really contributing to the family. Uzoth and him creating a bond. Uzoth feeling a spark within him, really feeling that this was the life purpose he had been looking for the entire time, not "just" the warmth of connection. (hide spoiler)]
This sounds bad but I really enjoyed their story otherwise. I liked their connection, their struggles within, Grady's obvious love and especially devotion for his family. Don't know if I should rate it 3 or 4*. I will probably change it in the future, as Uzoth did make me tear up a bit.
All in all a sweet Christmas series I might pick up again next season....more
Their story was sweet and heartwarming. I really liked the "revelations" that we all are the product of our experiences and thus everyone takes away dTheir story was sweet and heartwarming. I really liked the "revelations" that we all are the product of our experiences and thus everyone takes away different lessons from situations. What might reinforce and strengthen one person might hurt and depress someone else. In the same breath, there is a 100 % chance that how you see the world is not how the person next to you sees it. Not the colors, not the people, not the reality of your surroundings. Everyone focusses on different things and it was extraordinary when Jack realized that his preconceived notions of how the world is and how everyone sees him is not how Avery perceives it. Avery is quite innocent in that respect. A once in a lifetime personality. One could say an optimist. When abandoned and cast aside he chose love not resentment.
It captured me even more than the last books. I felt as though their relationship truly was the focus from beginning to end. ...more
A very sweet, short insta-love interlude in the Forestville series. Loved the couple, they pulled on my heart strings for sure. I think I have a greatA very sweet, short insta-love interlude in the Forestville series. Loved the couple, they pulled on my heart strings for sure. I think I have a greater understanding for such intense feelings happening in that short of a timeframe because I know of at least two couples that met, got together and got engaged within a month. ... still together by the way, more than 10 years later.
That is why the connection between Howell and Onno and them falling in love actually felt natural. The author did a great job making me feel the connection growing between them. It is the little things I think. The MC showing they care (how is your foot), even if the person might not even be aware (slowing the group down to make sure Onno can enjoy his first hike without being embarrassed that he is not that fit or skilled yet; searching out people you know to ask how you are doing). These interactions are so much more impactful than ten talk dirty to me romps in the sheets. The ones we got were so much better that way too, they felt more important and as part of the development of their relationship....more
So, this story in theory had everything I love - aliens, strange new worlds, lovely friends, pets, an omega who is not weak, an alpha that is not hungSo, this story in theory had everything I love - aliens, strange new worlds, lovely friends, pets, an omega who is not weak, an alpha that is not hung up on positions and domination (that is what I feel a lot of people get wrong, being an alpha or a leader has little to do with domination and force but rather with care and strength of character). So why not a 4 or 5 star read? Not solely because of the miscommunication - as I read there might be some beforehand and prepared for some frustration - but the extent of it was incredible. Is there even one single being in this whole universe who can communicate fully? I had the feeling as though not even the dogs would have told what was in their hearts if they had the ability to tell their master to not leave them behind that they would not care about alien creatures and the possibility of getting eaten, just to stay with him. How is that even possible? How can every single situation and communication lack what it was created to do, its sole purpose for existing if you will, to convey information. Why didn't you tell me you were afraid of water? Why didn't you tell me you couldn't swim? Why didn't you tell him about the consequences of your former attacker before you bonded in a life long commitment? 》This was actually one I struggled with the most. This is informed consent even though his friend told you he would not care. But also in turn. Why didn’t they talk about anything remotely important, like, what the changes might mean for Geo, was there something he might have to look out for, are there going to be some triggers that might cause him to be embarrassed, humiliated etc. later? Why didn't Geo talk to Makir about his trip to the doctors and what he learned not only about himself but Omegas? They never spoke about pregnancy before, Geo didn't know anything and if he might have already impregnated him unwittingly. What if Makirs body had healed enough in the meantime? What if the change in Geo had allowed for a miracle? Not being able to and not wanting are different conversations to have too. They could not even formulate their desire for the other person to move in for gods sakes. And this whole affair also for sure played a role in the author not letting up on Geos gruffness and grunting. Sure, something changed in him, sure one can be awkward in front of a crush, but the rude single word vomits were something else. Especially in the beginning I had the feeling that they masked the authors lack of understanding of the MCs chosen profession, so all meaningful conversation was just cancelled out. Also Geos past and future were also never really talked about or worked out. Some things seemed to "just work themselves out, but nor really because there are still possible roads open" like (view spoiler)[ - What is happening with his house on Earth? - What about Makir hearing that Geo plans on going back in a years time? They never talked about it. Makir does in fact not know that Geo does not have to fight to stay but that leaving was a planned choice Geo was going to take. - What about Geos massive problem with body image after his ex not only shamed him for it, but cited it as a cause for him to having cheated and not being interested in investing in them. This must have left scars and fears that just will not mend with some comments of I don't mind and are all humans shy about their body and some pets to the stomach - which might even make it worse, make the person even more body conscious. - And yes, the kids convo. I can't have them and I never wanted any are different things. (hide spoiler)]
And these were just from the top of my head.
So yeah, I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe it would have been better to focus on abduction, the jealous neighbor being a villain wanting to secure a position in nobility, or being an assassin in disguise, maybe in tandem with coming to terms with never having bio kids or some miracle happening there after an attack and being injected with some venom. If the story ends quicker than expected then just leave it like that, shorter. Artificially prolonging a plot more likely and often than not weakens the impact, lessons, reading experience and ultimately - enjoyment.
So while I actually liked and felt for the characters and am excited for a new alien story I just don't know......more
My favorite of this series so far. There has been a week or two between reading this book and the two prequels A Werewolf Mate for Christmas and Me anMy favorite of this series so far. There has been a week or two between reading this book and the two prequels A Werewolf Mate for Christmas and Me and My Christmas Familiar and I'm not sure about the timeline. I thought I remembered Wulfric being introduced to the family in his book and Briar telling them all about the strange spell he cast at the beginning of December of them finding true love. I also kind of remember Cas being there or at least them telling him about it? So why is there no real mention in this one about that and why would Cas not put 2 and 2 together? In this one Cas introduces Graal to the rest of the family ... Wulfric sitting there already, so the spell talk has already happened and Cas and Graal have been doing the mambo at this point for some time too. soo...
What I really liked in this one was them getting to know each other, them on their first "unofficial" date, them opening up to one another, them being vulnerable with one another. I don't need that much intercourse between them to be honest, a couple or three poignant ones are enough. The small gestures, like Graal giving Cas his jacket, even though they both don't feel the cold all too much, just to provide comfort, or Cas noticing Graal specifically asking for cookies he made, are much more potent in my opinion. I always want to see the main couple happily together but also dread it at the same time as I often feel as though them starting to date oftentimes is the turning point of the story and suddenly half or more of the time is dedicated to the bedroom. Even their convos and thoughts are suddenly mostly revolving about them sleeping together, how horny they are etc.. I get it ok, fresh relationship, rose colored lenses and all that, but I often feel like the characters morph from a 3dimensional person with jobs, interests, passions, friends, family to sex objects with sporadic sparks of lucidity.
So this is why I enjoyed this book more than I did the previous ones, because they felt much more fleshed out than Wulfric, Briar and Lachlan ... with the exception of Kit (loved the kitty).
Think I will binge-read the last two after this.
EDIT: In the last book of the series it was mentioned that Briar only told them about the spell at around Christmas, so I was wrong, I thought it was around the time he introduced Wolfric. ...more