This book was so fantastic. Kate Meader really never fails to bring the heat, the humor and the emotions. Jude and Hudson were *chef's kiss*.
Hudson'sThis book was so fantastic. Kate Meader really never fails to bring the heat, the humor and the emotions. Jude and Hudson were *chef's kiss*.
Hudson's vulnerability and eagerness to be his authentic self was so sweet to watch and Jude's clear desire to get his life together but insecurity about his past and everything being too much to put on Hudson and his career/reputation was heartbreaking. The two of them together were just everything. They had a great banter!!
I just really loved this crossover book from two great Kate Meader series and can't wait for more from both!
Favorite Quotes: "This is why I can't have nice dicks." "Someone will create a podcast about this very night. "The Manhole Murderer: They Do it with Dildos.""
*I received an ARC from the author for voluntary review...more
I always get nervous to start a m/m story because, while I have always really liked them, I worry thSomehow sweet and intimately raw at the same time
I always get nervous to start a m/m story because, while I have always really liked them, I worry that my love of them puts me in a weird category of ogler. I never want to read a story that makes me feel like I’m just trying to fulfill some sort of fetish. I read romance for the romantic side of it, not exclusively for the sexiness of it.
Which leads me to why I truly loved this book. I would normally call this a sexy story but it felt WAY more than JUST sexy. There was a raw intimacy between Cade and Dante that I could actually FEEL when they were together. Were the sex scenes scorching, absolutely, but they were so much more than that. It honestly felt like I was witnessing the most sensual moments that two people could possibly share and I felt Dante and Cade’s connection...everywhere.
It’s quite obvious that I have a great affection for everything that Kate Meader writes so it seems redundant to repeat myself here but, for those of you who haven’t picked up a story from her, please do. I swear you won’t regret it....more
Honestly, when I got the email asking me to review it, all I saw was the name Christina Lauren and I was signingI was NOT expecting this book at all.
Honestly, when I got the email asking me to review it, all I saw was the name Christina Lauren and I was signing up. I went in mostly blind, expecting a light-hearted but fantastic book that I would definitely love. I didn't understand the depth at which the words would reach my very soul.
Tanner and Sebastian's story was like nothing I've ever read before. This book explored so many new-to-me worlds that I couldn't help but to cling to every page and soak up every word in hopes of fully grasping on to all the information.
I know that YA isn't everyone's cuppa, but this book is exactly why I choose to pick one up every once in a while, even at the ripe old age of 41. There is just something to be said about a good coming of age romance. An exploration of complicated, messy first love. Of falling for someone who is the exact opposite of who you should be falling in love with but it being completely and utterly worth it. To be taken back to a time where things are supposed to be uncomplicated but prove to be anything but.
There was so much of this book that just sucked me in and gave me a whole new perspective on living an authentic life. I adore how confident and sure of himself Tanner is. It's kind amazing and even makes me a little jealous that he has no doubt in his mind who he is and how we wants to live his best life at such a young age. This is where his parents absolutely blew me away. The way that they were able to parent so perfectly with a blend of understanding, patience and freedom but by also instilling the need to be nurturing of all of the different aspects of his life was inspiring. We need more families that communicate the way that this family does, openly and honestly.
I'm trying to keep my thoughts tidy in this review, but honestly, there is so much about this story that keeps replaying in my head that I'm finding it hard to bundle them up into a nice little package. I actually don't want to say too much about the story itself because I think this is just one of those books you have to experience for yourself. Expect tears and gut-wrenching heartache for everyone involved but also expect to walk away with a full understanding that love is love is love and a hope that one day soon, everyone else will see it too.
*This will absolutely be a book that I will read again and that I'm passing on to my 17 year-old daughter to read ASAP....more
I'm coming at this as a person who hasn't read a whole lot of menage/poly books and doesn't really know that much about the lifestyle. I'm no4.5 Stars
I'm coming at this as a person who hasn't read a whole lot of menage/poly books and doesn't really know that much about the lifestyle. I'm not even sure if calling it a menage is proper?
Right off the bat I have to say that this type of relationship has always caused a problem for me, not because I'm judging the people who can pull it off, but because I know that my jealous heart couldn't ever be successful in it. I always feel like one person isn't receiving the same attention as the other and it does things to me. Admittedly I haven't read a whole lot of these types of books for that reason.
That being said, when I do get the urge for this type of book, Roni Loren will always be my go to author for it. Again, not knowing much about the lifestyle, I can only assume that she writes these scenarios more realistically than most. At least when I think of this lifestyle and the people who live it, I hope that these are the rules that are followed.
I easily fell in love with both Ren and Hayes, though I felt more of a connection to Hayes and a pull to his character. I really enjoyed Cora and her guarded feistiness. She's insecure in a lot of ways but confident in strong in others. It was inspiring to see her accept who she was and not be ashamed of it. The three of them together really were "meant to be".
This story wasn't just lifestyle and sex though, the mystery and suspense aspect was intriguing, yet believable and I couldn't stop reading. And if ever there was a better way to end a book, I haven't read it yet.
If you enjoy a good poly/menage story then I know you'll love this one. If you're unsure about wading into this territory, I highly suggest reading Roni Loren to dip your feet in and test the water.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...more
I NEED more stars!!! How am I going to possibly write a review that will do this books justice? It's everything I wanted in a follow up plus so much mI NEED more stars!!! How am I going to possibly write a review that will do this books justice? It's everything I wanted in a follow up plus so much more!!! ----------------------------------------------- I cannot lie. When I found out that there was going to be another book for Wes and Jamie I was both excited and scared. Excited because, seriously, I don't think I could get enough of them. Scared because what if the new book didn't live up to my expectations? What if this became one of those stories that should have just ended with one book?
If you are having these same doubts and fears before diving in, STOP. This book is EVERYTHING you could hope for and so much more. I was basically hooked from the very first pages and once I started reading, I couldn't stop.
First of all, this book is extremely hot. Like, hands in your pants hot. But it was about so much more than sex. Much like the first book this one was just an honest to goodness love story. This time around though Jamie and Wes have settled into their relationship but are now having to deal with keeping it a secret until the end of the season. When one of Wes' teammates moves in upstairs it might not be that easy. Blake, the new neighbor, is certainly an interesting, and hilarious addition to the situation and I'm really hoping to get his story. I believe we get clues that this is going to happen. *fingers crossed*
Some familiar faces show up to round out the whole mess that has become their lives. Jamie's family plays an important role in their story and Wes' dad makes an appearance and there is sort of a resolution for that whole situation so that was a bonus.
I found myself getting really emotional while reading about the struggles that Wes and Jamie were dealing with, even if it was due to their decision to keep their sexuality under wraps temporarily. Imagine having to hide the love of your life or possibly risk everything you've been working for your whole life. Yes, choosing love seems like the easy answer but things aren't always so cut and dry. I just kept waiting for the shoe to drop or for Jamie to walk away. Things definitely didn't go down in a way that I could've ever imagined but somehow instead they happened exactly the way they were meant to.
This story was sexy, sweet, sad and hilarious all wrapped into one of the sweetest romances I've ever read. I hope that Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy continue to collaborate because together their writing is flawless.
*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review
I LOVED this book!! Like absolutely loved every second of it. I fell in love with Wes and Jamie instantly.
Wes is the crazy outgoing guy who seems likI LOVED this book!! Like absolutely loved every second of it. I fell in love with Wes and Jamie instantly.
Wes is the crazy outgoing guy who seems like the life of every party, the star hockey forward who all the guys want to be and the girls want to have. Jamie is the fun, sweet guy who is very open to trying new things. Seriously, I was in awe of how easily he allowed himself to experience things out of his norm with basically no hesitation or regret.
Lately I find myself skipping sex scenes because it just seems like they are the same old, same old but this book had me rushing to read, and reread each new experience between Jamie and Wes. This book was extremely hot and has only helped further my latest obsession with m/m story lines.
Beyond the hot sex and fun new experiences, this story was an honest to God love story and it gave me all of the feels. I have no doubt that this will be a book I reread time and time again.
*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review...more
The m/m genre is a fairly new undertaking for me. I've read only two of them. One I really loved and the other not so much. I think it comes down to tThe m/m genre is a fairly new undertaking for me. I've read only two of them. One I really loved and the other not so much. I think it comes down to the storyline. The element of love and romance always plays a factor in the books I fall in love with but with m/m it becomes an even bigger factor for me because I'm not looking to read pure smut. I crave a connection between the main characters, even more so than usual.
The love story between Dev and Hunter was a perfect example of what I'm looking for. Please don't get me wrong, the sex scenes were a highlight for me, it's just that they were that much better because they were based on emotions other than lust.
I love the way that Joni Loren told their story, past and present. The way she used a flashback to show how they formed a friendship and it turned to more and how it formed their present to finish their story was the absolute best way to tell it. I didn't just read this story, I felt it. I see myself coming back to read this story often.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...more
3.5 Stars This book was good but I just couldn't get into it. It's funny because I was afraid that maybe I wouldn't be able to really get into it becau3.5 Stars This book was good but I just couldn't get into it. It's funny because I was afraid that maybe I wouldn't be able to really get into it because it was a m/m romance, I'm just starting to explore this subset, but I actually really enjoyed that aspect of it. I just felt like this story was being told to me instead of just FEELING it as I was reading. So far I've really enjoyed this author and this series but this book was just okay for me.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more
This book was so powerful for me. I learned alot about myself that I never expected. I've always considered myself an open-minded person and I've alwaThis book was so powerful for me. I learned alot about myself that I never expected. I've always considered myself an open-minded person and I've always been on the side of gay marriage/gay rights. Here is where I make an admission that I'm not really proud of. Until Nyrae announced last summer that she would be writing Brandon and Alec's story, I was never interested in reading a m/m book. I honestly can’t even tell you if a m/m romance came across my radar. Go ahead and judge me, I deserve it.
However, this is where I step in and say that thanks to Nyrae's incredible writing I fell deep. There was nothing, absolutely nothing about this book that I didn't completely fall in love with. I fell in love with Brandon and the fact that he has never quite felt like he was good at anything, like he never really fit in anywhere. I fell in love with Alec and the contemptible relationship he has with his father and the fact that he never gives up on his feelings for Brandon. I fell in love with the fact that Charlie and Nate appeared in this book. I fell in love with Brandon's parents and some of his teammates. Hell as worried as I was about him and Alec, I fell in love with Logan. Mostly I fell in love with the fact that Nyrae showed me once and for all that LOVE IS LOVE and everyone should be able to flaunt it, to share it, to shout it from the mountain tops.
Back to my shameful fears going in to the book, we need to discuss the sex. Again, I wasn't sure how I would feel about these, but not because I was worried about the actual act but because I didn't want it represented in a, how should I say this, overtly sexual/smutty way. I didn’t want to fetishize these characters. I should've known that I had nothing to worry about. Sure the scenes were descriptive, but each and every one of them were written with an intimacy and sensuality that Brandon and Alec deserved. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I needed and looked forward to the sex scenes as a way to progress their story.
Nyrae Dawn has written a beautiful and poignant story that highlights the struggles of the LGBT community and strength of true love in any form. I recommend this book to EVERYONE and suggest you have a box of tissue handy while reading.
*Rush is book #4 in the Games series but I recommend reading the standalone, Four Summers in order to get the full experience of these characters
*I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review...more