1. Up until 30% or so it was very good. I liked the characters, liked the story, I liPhew, that was excausting....
Let's split the book in three parts:
1. Up until 30% or so it was very good. I liked the characters, liked the story, I liked everything about the book. It was a second chance romance about two men in their late fourties starting over together. I liked that they had kids and I liked how their romance started.
2. Until 60% or so I thought I was reading a different book. Everything changed, the book became a mystery/drama, the dialogues became corny and the focus shifted from the main characters' romance. I kept reading and hoping it would get better again but nothing happened.
3. After that point and until the end of the book I gave up hope and started skimming. There were way too many things happening a once. There were coming out stories, crazy teenagers, murders, hospitals, investigations, shootings, gay rights issues, evil people, meetings, bonfires.. It was too much.
I was dissapointed by this story but the thing that I found weirdest of all and unacceptable was Aaron's behavior towards his oldest daughter. It was as if he didn't like her, like he didn't care about her at all, like he didn't want to be part of her life and for her to be part of his. I can't believe I was supposed to like this character and he was written that way.
This clearly wasn't a book for me and the only reason I finished it was because I don't like leaving them in the middle.
Merged review:
Phew, that was excausting....
Let's split the book in three parts:
1. Up until 30% or so it was very good. I liked the characters, liked the story, I liked everything about the book. It was a second chance romance about two men in their late fourties starting over together. I liked that they had kids and I liked how their romance started.
2. Until 60% or so I thought I was reading a different book. Everything changed, the book became a mystery/drama, the dialogues became corny and the focus shifted from the main characters' romance. I kept reading and hoping it would get better again but nothing happened.
3. After that point and until the end of the book I gave up hope and started skimming. There were way too many things happening a once. There were coming out stories, crazy teenagers, murders, hospitals, investigations, shootings, gay rights issues, evil people, meetings, bonfires.. It was too much.
I was dissapointed by this story but the thing that I found weirdest of all and unacceptable was Aaron's behavior towards his oldest daughter. It was as if he didn't like her, like he didn't care about her at all, like he didn't want to be part of her life and for her to be part of his. I can't believe I was supposed to like this character and he was written that way.
This clearly wasn't a book for me and the only reason I finished it was because I don't like leaving them in the middle....more
A holiday story to go with the season. Ok, it's more of a Christmas story but that's only a month away so it still fits! Leaning Into A Wish is a shorA holiday story to go with the season. Ok, it's more of a Christmas story but that's only a month away so it still fits! Leaning Into A Wish is a short story taking place in a winery in Napa Valley. If you haven't read the previous books in the series and are meaning to you might want to do it in order. It can be read as a standalone but other characters make apparances and there are some mild spoilers about them.
This is Ryan and Danny's story. They are co-workers but I wouldn't call them friends, at least not in the beginning of this story. At first, Ryan was trying to keep his distance from Danny, telling himself that he didn't like him, when the truth was that he liked him a little too much. Danny was flirty and sociable with everyone. He was also very persistent in his chase of Ryan. His behavior bordered on frustrating because he was so sure about himself that he was almost cocky. He didn't take no for an answer and no matter what Ryan told him he didn't back down. He kept smiling and doing his own thing taking for granted that Ryan wanted him too. Of course, Ryan did and he eventually gave up his pretence of annoyance, but up until then it was weird seeing someone being so persistent. I think the fact that we get this story from Ryan's point of view, instead of Danny's, is what made this behavior more acceptable. We knew how Ryan felt about him so it was easy to like Danny too no matter how over-the-top confident he was.
When they finally got together it was great. They were sweet and perfect together. In my opinion they talked about them being together to their friends a little too soon but it was a short story so time was limited. I liked the beginning of their relationship where they moved slowly, getting to know each other and connecting. I liked that they became friends, once Ryan stopped trying to act like he couldn't stand Danny, as well as lovers.
Danny had a very interesting back story and whenever he talked about his relationship with tennis I held my breath. The way he explained what he felt about the sport was amazing. I gladly would have read more about his past and how he got to where he is now.
The bell wishes were a nice idea. I haven't heard about it before so I don't know if it's a common thing. The last bell-wish was a very sweet gesture by Danny and it could have been silly and corny but the author managed to make it work. I'm confident that those two are going to make it together and have a happy life.
The first two or three chapters were a bit difficult because there are a lot oI loved it!! 5 wonky nautical stars!
Second chance romance and slow burn!
The first two or three chapters were a bit difficult because there are a lot of characters being introduced, also, they were kind of setting the stage for the story. Don't get me wrong, they were very interesting and I consumed them like I did the rest of the book. It's just that they were a bit confusing because I didn't know the characters or their past and they kept talking in half sentences.
Of course, as the book progressed it became apparent that this was in order to build some angst and curiosity to the reader and keep him engaged and interested. How perfectly that worked! I read and read and read and didn't want to stop until I reached the end and even then I wouldn't say no to some more pages..
So, it's a good thing that this is the first in a series. It means we're going to see Rey and Gus again! And of course Chris too!
About Chris, a weird thing happened here: he was an important part of the story, I could probably say that he was the reason there even was a story, and he was mentioned a lot, but his physical presence in scenes was very limited. At first I was disappointed by the lack of page time for him but after finishing the book I have to say that in the end I wasn't bothered by that at all. The story was mostly Gus's effort and struggle to move forward with his life, come to terms with his past and believe in himself and his worth.
The title of the book reflects to the reminders Gus has set for himself and his take of the tattoo he has on his arm with the word Rebel.
[...] he'd hadn't chosen the word to represent himself. Instead it was his reminder to not follow blindly, to fight against being led to his own slaughter, especially when it was someone he loved doing the leading. - Gus
Gus was broken from some of the people closest to him but he managed to reach adulthood and navigate it as good as he could. He had self-esteem problems and trust issues but all of those things were completely and totally understandable, given the rough start his life had.
Rey had also experienced abuse but he at least had one good parent so he also knew love. He made many mistakes with Gus but it was obvious how much he cared about him and, once he realised how wrong his behavior was during their relationship, he went all in, determined to be there for Gus in whatever capacity he needed him. Of course, we are glad it was the boyfriend one!
Chris was a very happy and energetic child, I think the author did a great job with him, actually giving him the voice of a three year old and not a miniature-professor who speaks with way too much maturity for his age.
There was a lot of pain in all of the characters' pasts but they were all able to pick themselves up and make something of their lives. The five brothers formed a "stitched-together family" as they called it and Gus saw Luke as his "adopted twin". All those charecterizations show the love that existed between them but also their desperate need to not be alone in the world. It shows Gus's need to see his own face on someone else again, even though he knows that's never going to happen. They didn't care if there were blood ties between them, they had been burned by way too many people who had them. Now they chose their family and stuck together no matter what.
I'm not going to go into detail about the other four brothers as they are getting stories of their own, or at least I hope that all of them will do. Next in line is likely Mason, since there's a little tease in the epilogue with him. I think it's going to be a love-hate relationship with the couple going from kind-of-enemies to lovers. Bring it on!
Anna Martin manages to tell a complete story of two people meeting, falling in love and having a future in just a few pages.
At times the narration wasAnna Martin manages to tell a complete story of two people meeting, falling in love and having a future in just a few pages.
At times the narration was a bit poetic and at times it was prose. In both cases the telling of this story was great and the characters where even more so. They were fully developed and even though the mystery that surrounded Aiden at the beginning wasn't something big in the end, I wasn't dissapointed about the reveal. Ultimately, the whole thing came out of Jim's reluctance to ask intimate questions about Aiden's past and not Aiden's reluctance to share.
I liked how the author painted the passing of time in this small village and how Aiden and Jim fell into the rhythm of living together so effortlessly.
The ending was a bit abrupt but after reading the three last paragraphs a second time, while expecting them to be end of this story, I was very satisfied by how we left the two characters.
"Gemini Keeps Capricorn" is the latest release of author Anyta Sunday and it's a slow burn all the way! It's a sweet story about an RA and one of his "Gemini Keeps Capricorn" is the latest release of author Anyta Sunday and it's a slow burn all the way! It's a sweet story about an RA and one of his residents. There is banter, there is attraction, there is a fake-relationship and the most oblivious best friend ever.
Lloyd may have played his role in that obliviousness since he just assumed things and was never straightforward until the very end. There was a hilarious missunderstanding but thankfully it wasn't the source of unnecessary drama or angst. It got resolved fairly quickly and easily.
Wesley was a flirt, an outgoing character that didn't like to follow rules and once he put his mind to something he didn't back down. He was very protective of his brother and supported him in everything. They had an amazing relationship and were very close. I didn't like that Lloyd was more flexible with the rules with Wesley than with everyone else. It didn't fit with his personality as a responsible and rule-following person. He treated Wesley differently and showed favoritism which I guess can be excused up to some point but here I thought that Wesley really took advantage of Lloyd's affection for him and his reluctance to treat him like any other resident. At least Lloyd wrote him up at some point, so that's something.
Lloyd and Wesley had known each other for years and were friends already when we met them. Wesley flirted all the time with Lloyd but nothing had ever happened between them. It's against the rules and Lloyd doesn't want to risk his job. I liked the banter between those two and it's a bit hard to imagine how they could have gone on for so long as only friends when they obviously have so much chemistry. Lloyd was the mature one of the duo, responsible and clear-thinking. He was very sweet with Wesley and he was very rarely able to say no to him. Wesley was the oblivious one here. He couldn't understand what he felt for Lloyd so he concluded that he was just his best friend and that's why he felt the way he did. He was also kind of obsessed with horoscopes, refusing to even entertain the thought of a relationship between them based on the lack of compatibility of their star signs alone.
The friendship between the two of them was easy and seemed natural. They gravitated toward one another and didn't want it any other way. A big part of the book and their relationship was coffee. It was Wesley's job, Lloyd's obsession, his friends' and brother's common ground. There are nicknames based on coffee preferences and there is coffee as a reward for doing something. I don't like coffee so I can't relate to the need to drink a cup in the morning before the day starts but I liked the funny quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
The secondary characters were a bit frustrating to me. There were very present in the story and often the plot moved depending on their lives and not the MCs'. I was glad that they all ended up happy but a lot of the time it seemed like they were stealing the spotlight. Also, what's the deal with Me Gusta Robusta? I love that name by the way, but who was the owner and why did Wesley and two of his friends that worked there along with him could come and go as they pleased, open and close the shop, host events there? Were there no other employees there? No boss? It was a bit confusing.
My favorite couple by far remain Jamie and Theo from Leo Loves Aries and I was so happy to see that they make a guest appearance here! There is also a nice surprise about what their plans for the future are like. It made me so happy to see them again and know that they are as perfect together as I remembered them to be. I think their story is due a re-read!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review.*...more
Let's start with a little tip. If you start reading this book and the story can't hold your attention please don't give up. It took a while for me to Let's start with a little tip. If you start reading this book and the story can't hold your attention please don't give up. It took a while for me to get into the story and to care about what happened to the characters but after the 40% mark I couldn't put the book down.
The world building is a bit slow and it takes a while to fully understand what's happening. The story takes place in a world like ours but with supernatural elements in it that most humans aren't aware of. The explanation of how this world worked took a while to develop fully and there were a lot of things that happened and at the time didn't make any sense. It was confusing at first trying to understand how this society worked but with time eveything fell into place. If you have the patience to give this story a chance you're going to be swept away in a world of magic. In a reality where there are angels, demons, vampires, shifters and gargoyles. There are portals that can transport you from one place to another. There are different realms and there are faeries. There is evil and there is good.
The characters traveled between realms though the majority of the book was spent on Earth and specifically in London. Magic plays an important part in this story and everything has something to do with it. There is a fair amount of mystery as Tao didn't know anything about himself for a big part of the book. We got clues about who or what he is and in part it was easy to guess at least some of the truth. Still, the surprises kept coming and I kept turning the pages to see what new thing would be revealed next.
The first half or so of the book is pretty slow but the rest is packed with fast-paced action that will keep your attention. The last chapter absolutely broke me and since this is a paranormal book I really couldn't guess what the author would come up with next to make everything all right again.
Tao was sweet and nice from the start. He was a likeable character and he stayed like that till the end. He had a big heart and saw the good in everyone. West transformed through the story. He started as a cold-hearted loner, he was harsh and distant from everyone. After he met Tao this facade started to crumble and he showed his true self. The banter between those two was amusing and they both had a unique sense of humor. It didn't always fit with the situations they found themselves in but they always managed to make the other laugh and lighten the mood.
After I finished the book my overall thought was that I liked the story a lot but at the same time the plot was a bit over the top at times. There were enemies everywhere and evil was surrounding our protagonists. They didn't know who was a friend and who was an enemy, what was real and what was a lie. Nothing was as it seemed and, even though that made for an interesting read with a lot of suspence, at the same time it was a bit tiring. I'm not making much sense, I know. What I mean is that while the story kept me glued to my screen, after I finished the book and thought about it the plot was kind of overwhelming.
Because of all that and because I liked the story and the author's imagination I'm rating with 3.5 stars.
My advice when you start this book is to have patience and keep reading even when not everything that happens makes sense right from the start.
Normally I stay away from holiday romance stories because of the fast pace and how quickly the relationship progresses. This time though I decided to Normally I stay away from holiday romance stories because of the fast pace and how quickly the relationship progresses. This time though I decided to make an exception and try "Secret Santa" and I'm so glad that I did!
The relationship between Luke and Theo was believable and there was no insta-love, which is one of my biggest niggles along with ista-relationship when I'm reading a romance story. In this short,Christmas story the two characters meet online and decide to try a date and see if it will lead to a relationship or even just a friendship. Through most of the story neither is sure about what he wants from the other but their uncertainty is understandable since the story spans just about three weeks and they have only gone to a few dates. It's normal for them to feel the situation out and try to make up their minds as they learn more things about the other.
There are a lot of secrets between them in this story which isn't an ideal start for a relationship but their reasons for omitting the thruth or even flat out lying are clear and justifiable. It's still early stages in their relationship so each of them is keeping some cards close to his chest for fear of what the other would think. Of course, both of them know that at some point they are going to have to come clean and neither of them is trying to decieve the other. They are trying to give a chance to a new connection and in the process they hide the things that they feel would make their start more difficult. I don't agree with Theo's decision to hide the fact that he has a son but I can understand why he did it.
Archie, Theo's four year old son, is a big part of the story and the reason for many of their lies. He is present in the story -as he should be- and not just a name in the periphery. Some times I thought he spoke and behaved as if he was older but I don't have any experience with kids so what do I know? In general I liked him and I was glad to read a story with a family trope.
I liked the relationship that Theo had with Archie's mom and the way they had managed to co-parent him so smoothly. They had great communication and both put Archie first in their lives.
The end is a solid HEA which is delivered to us in a sweet epilogue about a year after Luke and Theo met. It was nice to see them settled and secure in their family. Also, I liked that Mr Purple is mentioned again here, he was Santa's first present to Archie and he became his favorite stuffed animal. Surprisingly, he was in quite a few scenes in the story, helping in the development of Archie's character. It's details like that that make me like a story even more.
All in all, "Secret Santa" is a happy and light read. It's quick, with no angst and perfect for the holidays. 4 stars
"Two Man Advantage" is this author's first M/M story. It was actually a very good effort and an enjoyable read but it was way too romantic and corny f"Two Man Advantage" is this author's first M/M story. It was actually a very good effort and an enjoyable read but it was way too romantic and corny for me. The drama was often too much and some of the characters' reactions were unbelievable.
I liked the blurb and don't even let me get started on this cover! It won me over from the start. The idea of the plot was very interesting but something in the execution wasn't what I had hoped for. I wasn't able to connect with the MCs for the majority of the book and at times I didn't even like them all that much. Some of their notions frustrated me and I completely disagreed with a lot of their actions.
I like sport romances and if the sport is hockey then even better so I was sold on the story from the moment I saw it was about hockey players. In the end though I don't think this story falls under that category. There is talk about Wells and Matty being professional athletes but the events took place during the off season and there wasn't even one scene on the ice. The result of that was them being hockey players to be like saying they had short hair, just a detail about them but not important enough to have a big part in the story. I was disappointed because I was expecting something else but it wasn't that big of an issue.
The way Wells behaved toward his ex-fiance after he got back together with Matty was just awful. He obviously didn't love him but at least he could have treated him with some respect. He could have shown just for a second that he cared a bit for him or at least liked him, I would even settle for tolerated him.
There are a lot of characters from other books, which I haven't read, making appearances here and even more of them are just being mentioned but I didn't have a problem following the story. It can stand by itself just fine.
There are a lot of "I love yous" in this book, between the MCs and between them and their family or friends. I lost count. They said it so many times that it lost its meaning. Another thing I didn't like was the MCs constantly thinking of the other as "the guy" or "the dude" - "constantly" being the operative word. It created distance between them, that's not how you think of the person you want to be with. That's the way you think about someone who frustrates you or who you don't know all that well. I don't know if I'm explaining it right, if you've read the story you probably know what I'm talking about.
The book is basically Matty's coming out story. There are a lot of books with this trope and I like it most of the time. Here though Wells gave Matty an ultimatum. He kept pushing him to come out to his family and friends and got angry or frustrated with him when he backed out for whatever reason. For me it wasn't a case of Matty being unable to make up his mind and going back and forth. It was a case of Wells pushing him and having a one-track mind. He wanted to live openly with his boyfriend and wanted it to happen yesterday. That's understandable of course, that's not the point, my issue was with the way he went about making this a reality. I disliked Wells a great deal for this behavior. He was supposed to be supportive and patient, be there for Matty and give him courage.
The biggest issue for me in this story was exactly that: Wells's behavior towards Matty's coming out. I couldn't get past that.
Obviously, this wasn't a match for me but don't let my review discourage you from reading this book. There are a lot of raving reviews about it out there so it looks like I'm in the minority.
I'll rate with 3 stars, even though it turned out that it wasn't for me, because it's a story from an author new to the M/M genre and I always like it when I see someone taking a chance at something different.
I was expecting something different when I started reading this book but I'm definitely not disappointed by what I got. I though it would be a story oI was expecting something different when I started reading this book but I'm definitely not disappointed by what I got. I though it would be a story of two people finding their way back to each other by spending time together and evolving. Making compromises and learning new things about each other. Things that somehow escaped them the first time around.
Even though a lot of those did happen in this story, it wasn't just a second chance romance. It was mainy the story of Benson reexamining his life, changing the things that made him unhappy and taking a chance at making his dreams come true. It was more of a journey in order for him to find who he is and in the process he also found his husband again.
I liked the story and the characters but I would have liked more scenes with Ben and Hugh together trying to fix what was broken. I would have liked to see Hugh changing and understanding what Ben was asking of him, making an effort to be more open and give him with what he needed. Maybe the problem was that we only got Ben's point of view here so I didn't feel like I understood Hugh bery much.
A lot of times during the story I wasn't sure if they were going to make it or if Ben would end up with his new friend and persistent admirer. The uncertainty didn't bother me. On the contrary, it made me want to keep reading and find out.
The secondary characters were good and they all added something to the story. Ben's family was full of well intentioned meddlers but in the end all that help him and Hugh a lot.
I enjoyed this story a lot and I think it's great for those who like relationship angst and second chances. 4 stars
I read Junkyard Heart a few days after I finished House of Cards and even though I was very, very glad that I didn't have to wait months in order to gI read Junkyard Heart a few days after I finished House of Cards and even though I was very, very glad that I didn't have to wait months in order to get Kim's story, who intigued me from the start, this back to back unavoidably led me to make comparisons between the two stories.
First, let me talk about the good things.
Kim: I liked him from the start and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him.
Blackbeard's Junkyard: I so want to see pictures of that place!
Jas and his photos: I liked the descriptions of the subjects Jas photographed, the things that intruiged him and captured his interest. I liked how he almost never left home without his camera and how a part of his mind was always looking for a picture worth taking.
Jas's Porthkennack family: They were loving and open people. They had a happy life, made their choices and stuck by them no matter what anyone thought about it.
Brix and Calum: We see them again! Even though they don't have a very big part in this story, it was still nice to see that they are happy and going strong.
The things that I wasn't thrilled about:
First of all, as we had met Kim in the previous book, I assumed that this one was going to be from his point of view. Nope! We get this story from Jas and, even though I liked him, I missed Kim's perspective and I never felt like I understood him completely. Up until the end I had the feeling that he had more things to say, more pieces to add to his past.
Also, were the first book is a slow-burn with the MCs becoming friends first and only getting together near the end of the story, here happens the exact opposite (which isn't something that bothers me in most stories but here it didn't work). Kim and Jas go from a hook-up, to friends-with-benefits, to friends, to lovers in an effort to find which relationship works best for them. There was a lot of indecision at the beginning and, to be honest, it was a little tiring. For a big part of the story I didn't see a connection between the characters. Fortunetely, that changed after the 60% mark. Their relationship seemed to progress and started to mean something. They where finally getting to know each other and talking about the important things in depth instead of just mentioning them.
The timeline confused me a bit at times, maybe becuse I had made some assumptions while reading the previous book and they turned out to be wrong. I'm talking about Kim and Lena's relationship. If you haven't read House of Cards yet you may want to skip this paragraph but the rest of the review won't spoil anything for you. In House of Cards Lena said at some point that Kim had met someone else and he seemed excited about it, so her leaving wasn't going to be a problem. When I learned that Kim would be an MC in a future book, I assumed that that person was the other half of the main couple and that some parts of the two books were taking place at the same time. Again, nope! If I'm not mistaken, this story takes place about a year after House of Cards. So, I was dissapointed because I had been all excited about seeing Kim navigate that period in his life and trying to balance the end of a relationship at the same time he was starting a new one, especially with the way his relationship with Lena worked. Of course that's all on me, totally subjective and has nothing to do with the story itself.
Another thing that confused me was Lena's part in this story. I really didn't get her involvement in the degree it happened and I don't think her presence here was so necessary. The context in which she appeared frustrated me and I didn't like it at all. Jas's feelings for her were all over the place and him and Kim never really talked about it. It was a side plot that never went anywhere or at least wasn't as explored as it could be. As it was it only managed to confuse and frustrate me.
The last chapter works like a sort of epilogue where we see them 6 months in the future and everything points towards a HEA but some things were kind of left up in the air. In general I think that the story had some holes and needed to cover a few more issues before it ended.
Maybe it's the fact that I loved House of Cards so much, but this one fell a bit short for me. 3 stars
Zach and Henry are back and they are having a crazy month!
Even from the title it's obvious that this is not a standalone, you have to read Out first fZach and Henry are back and they are having a crazy month!
Even from the title it's obvious that this is not a standalone, you have to read Out first for this to make sense. In this novella we see Zach and Henry during their second Christmas holidays - or better yet, their second December - as a couple. What was supposed to be a relaxing and uneventful month with just the two of them in Camassia turned out to be the two of them criss-crossing North America.
There are some fun times and a whole month's worth of craziness here. There is a conclusion to the Joseph issue that had started in "Out" and, even though Zach wasn't particularly nice about it or mature, I got a weird sense of satisfaction in how he handled the issue once and for all. No, it wasn't the best way but it was effective. It was also highly possessive. What can I say? I liked it!
Zach has a nice sense of humor where he uses self-sarcasm a lot. I also liked the affectionate way he used to poke some fun at Henry when he got uptight about little things. I think that those two are perfect together and complete each other. Zach helps Henry to loose up while Henry provides Zach with security and structure. When they are together they are a force to be reckoned. I have so many quotes and scenes I liked and want to share but I'm pretty sure I can't quote half the book, so I'll do just a couple of them:
We were safe and protected by one sharp Chihuahua and one goofy Rottweiler. It was supposed to have been the other way around... - Zach
"Don't listen to the skinny man-child," Henry said mildly. "Hey." I stared at him. "I've worked hard on my abs. Both of them." - Zach and Henry
"Camassia Cove" is steadily becoming one of my favorite series and no small part of that is due to the family feeling these stories have. Other characters from this small, fictional town make appearances here and I either want to learn their story or if I know it already I want to read it all over again!
"Out for the Holidays" is short and stress-free. It's not just a holiday read in my opinion, it just happens to be that time of year in the characters' lives. It's great for fans of the series, especially since we see so many of the other couples. I really hope we'll see Zach and Henry again, either in another book or at least as side characters, and since both Mattie and Ty are getting stories at some point, maybe I'll get my wish. The way the book ended was a solid HEA and a perfect new chapter for them. I'd love a peek at it. *subtle hint*
I would have liked this book so much more if it was called Four Dares...
Up until that last part everything was great:
We have two childhood friends whoI would have liked this book so much more if it was called Four Dares...
Up until that last part everything was great:
We have two childhood friends who have just graduated from college and are experiencing a bit of a separation anxiety as they are about to start living different lives far away from each other for the first time.
The book is split in five parts and each of them contains a dare in present time and a dare that happened while they were growing up.
Most of their old dares were dangerous but Andy had planned most of them beforehand in order to make them as safe as possible. They were mostly stunts, designed to wow and scare a crowd. I guess you can say they were showmen.
While they were young I could understand them doing stupid and dangerous things but as they grew up it seemed that they should have matured and moved on from all that (with that I'm refering to the pool scene in the last chapter of the book).
Normaly, I'm not a big fan of flashbacks but here I enjoyed reading about their past adventures. Those chapters gave us a better understanding of the relationship those two friends had. They were a team and always the most important person in each other's life. No other friends or past girlfriends could compete with the connection they had.
In present time we saw Andy and Jake becoming closer and witnessed their relationship change from friends to lovers. It was handled really well by the author and she managed to convey their feelings about this change in a great way. It happened over the summer and not over a night and we saw the little things that made this change emotional as well as physical.
The fifth part of the book was so different than what came before it. It was corny, silly and constantly made me want to roll my eyes while reading it. It's the last few chapters of the book so I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil anything but I wasn't a fan of most of the events that took place there.
I would have rated higher but because of that last part I'm going to give this 3.5 stars.
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. * ...more
The thing I like most about Cara Dee's books is that her characters excist in a society and don't live alone in a bubble. They are fathers, friends, sThe thing I like most about Cara Dee's books is that her characters excist in a society and don't live alone in a bubble. They are fathers, friends, sons, co-workers, casual aquantances, brothers, cousins. There is the element of the family in many of her books and there are strong bonds between the members.
"Out" is no exception. The MCs have a lot of people to think about when making decisions. There are brothers and nephews and friends and a grandmother who likes to google curse words.
Zach, in particular, has been practically a parent for his brother from a very young age due to their family situation. He was forced to grow up and be responsible when he was just a kid himself. As a result he had to skip out on a lot of dreams and aspirations about his future. Now that his brother is just one year away from finishing high school, he feels it's time to do things about himself for a change.
While Zach was in LA, mainly to talk to Henry about his nephew, he decided it was his time. His time to experience new things, his time to explore, his time to live. And, in his quest to find himself, he fell in love with both the city and Henry.
"It wasn't just LA that was the drug. It was Henry too."
The pace of the story was pretty fast with everything in LA happening in three short weeks, but the events of the last part of the book made the two of them having a future believable. There was a big fight that had to be there so they could face insecurities and seriously talk about what each wanted out of their relationship. During that fight Zach acted immaturely, not answering his phone and practically ghosting Henry. He also did something while he was furious that I found pretty funny mainly because it was pretty surreal, he didn't mean any harm by it and he regretted it immediately.
Since Zach and Herny have a social circle it is natural that this book has a lot of secondary characters. Most of them have their own books and even though I haven't read all of them, I didn't have a problem following the story. Aside from previous characters making guest appearances here, there are quite a few that we meet for the first time.
Martin, Henry's best friend, is one f them. He had a loud presence whenever he was in a scene, he was a sweetheart and hugely valued his friends. He took Zach under his wing from the moment he met him and was determined to give him the best LA experience he could; taking him places, giving him a makeover, buying him stuff, introducing him to people.
Another friend of Henry's, Joseph, was not so easy to like. He had a huge history with Henry but his behavior kind of frustrated me. It didn't seem like he was a very good friend to him. There was no real conclusion to this side plot but there is a short holiday story coming later in the year where we get Zach and Henry again so maybe we'll get a closure there.
Eagle on the other hand was a good friend. He liked to keep his distance and usually hung out in the office but he was Henry's. Did I say he was a cat? An overweight, grumpy furrball that hissed at everyone. Zach had some problems with him at first but they were able to overcome them.
Mattie and Ty were good additions to the story. Very different from each other but the best of friends. Mattie was Zach's kid brother and his character showed how much the lack of parents and money had affected him too. Despite Zach's efforts to provide the best he could for his brother and let him live his childhood, Mattie had grown up too before it was time. He was mature and aware of his place in the world. He had an excellent relationship with his brother where Zach was both a parent and a friend.
Ty was a complex and very wounded character. When he finally cracked and opened up to Henry my heart went to him. He had a messed up way of thinking but he had been through so much at such a young age that I can't jundge him for it. He needed Henry in his life even more than any of them had thought at the beginning.
I'm counting the days for the holiday short so I can see Zach and Henry again along with all their friends and family! For now though, the next thing I'm reading by Cara Dee will probably be "Noah". He and Julian were intriguing characters and I can't wait to find out their story.
We Met In Death is a dark romance with fast-paced action and a message about always being able to turn your life around.
The main characters did thingsWe Met In Death is a dark romance with fast-paced action and a message about always being able to turn your life around.
The main characters did things that can't be forgiven or undone, but since this is fiction I'm not going to focus on that. Instead, I'm going to emphasize on the fact that they were able to change the course of their lives and make a new start. Robert, more than Nathan, had a lot on his conscience and for many years did awful things but he was able to put all that behind him and make something better of himself.
On the night he had planned to end his life, because that was the only way out of his current situation that he could think of, he came across Nathan in a cemetary. It was the night Nathan was supposed to die too.
What was their last night turned out to be the beginning. They went through way too much together. They ran and they went into hiding, they broke many laws, they faced betrayal and prejudice. They also witnessed kindness and support from people who seemed the least likely to help them.
Family ties don't break easily and that became very apparent here. Even after years of estrangement, Robert's family came together in order to help him and Nathan. They provided them with a place to lay low and they lied in order to save them.
At the beginning of the story I though I was in for a road trip story and two guys crossing a continent while on the run from a loan shark. After an unexpected plot-twist, what I got in the end was an amazing story about family, loyalty and love.
I have to say that I wasn't a big fan of Nathan at the beginning of the story. He kept making mistakes and getting them in more trouble. Fortunately, that changed soon and he became a very likeable character.
My favorite of the two though was Robert. He was such a complex character. He did bad things, he felt remorse for them but he still kept doing them. He made many mistakes in his past, which was a dark one, but once he found that one person he connected with he was prepared to endure everything in order to save him. The same went for his family. Even though he hadn't seen or talked to them in years, even though he didn't have any real connection with them or really knew most of them, he cared for them, he defended them with vengeance and he was ready to sacrifice himself in order to save them. Granted, they were in danger because of him but still...
At the beginning and for more than half the book, Robert kept going back and forth in whether he liked Nathan. He had an erratic behavior and changed his mind from one breath to the next. He didn't want to accept his feelings and treated Nathan very poorly. That brought some relationship angst to the story which was necessary in order for Robert to accept himself and open up to a future with Nathan.
The last few chapters of the book packed so much action and suspence that I was on the edge of my seat while reading. That shows to me how well-written it was since it's very rare that a book is able to get that reaction from me for an action scene.
After all that nail chewing, the vibe of the story changed completely and a sweet epilogue gave our characters their hard-won happily ever after.
I enjoyed reading We Met In Death very much and I think it's a must-read story for the lovers of dark romance.
Finally, I want to mention that amazing cover from Natasha Snow. It's so perfect and fitting for the story.
Leaning Into Always is the second part of Eric and Zane's relationship. They are getting married in about four months and in the midst of all the weddLeaning Into Always is the second part of Eric and Zane's relationship. They are getting married in about four months and in the midst of all the wedding preparations and the work load of their jobs, they have to navigate around an ex.
In this second installment, Eric deals with inferior feelings, left over from when he was in school, with insecurities and with jealousy. Zane is his usual laid-back self, except from when Eric does risky things. Then he becomes snappy, brooding and really, really cold. I actually liked seeing their first real fight. And of course the make up that followed...
This book is a bit longer than the first one but I still think of it as a short story. It was quick and easy to read. There was not a lot of angst even though it was dealing with jealousy over an ex who unexpectedly re-entered their lives. I was sure Eric and Zane would be ok at the end and I never doubted Zane. I couldn't wait to see when Dean would reveal his true colours, though. I'll just say that he eventually did and it wasn't pretty.
Even though this is part of a series and has the same main couple as the first book, I think it could be read as a standalone. In the beginning we are given all the information we need about the characters and a lot of the things that happened in the first book are mentioned here as well. I didn't think it was nesseccary to read through all that again, but I guess this way the author made certain that the reader wouldn't miss anything in the story.
However, even though you wouldn't be lost if you start from this one, I advise you to read the beginning of their story first so you get to know the characters better and be able to enjoy seeing them again in this one.
Zane and Eric have been friends for over a decade and have known each other for even more than that. SoQuick and easy read. And so enjoyable!
4.5 stars
Zane and Eric have been friends for over a decade and have known each other for even more than that. So, this is obviously a friends-to-lovers romance and it's handled perfectly. They don't just wake up one day and think "oh my god my best friend is hot! Ok, let's start a relationship". No. There is a process and as the time passes they become a couple. It was so beautiful to see them starting something new together. They knew each other but there were still nerves and uncertainty at the beginning. And of course there was excitement and laughter.
Their group of friends is not so present here except from Nick who was Eric's ex. There were some confrontations and a bit of drama near the end. I can't say that I understod what all that was about, it seemed unnesseccary and it didn't make any sense to me. That drama near the end is the reason I'm knocking down a star in my rating. I couldn't follow Nick's logic and the fact that Eric was not only able to do so, but he was agreeing with him completely threw me. He actually went along with Nick's weird plan and I still don't get what the logic behind all that was.
This is the first book in the series and I can't wait to read the rest. And I won't! I'm starting the second book of Eric and Zane's story after I finish writting this review.
Oh, and there is a bonus chapter at the end here that includes a part in Zane's POV!...more
This is the third book in the Skin Deep Inc series. I liked the first one well enough and I really loved the second one. This one though comes in at aThis is the third book in the Skin Deep Inc series. I liked the first one well enough and I really loved the second one. This one though comes in at a lower position than the first.
It was good but I didn't feel like there was a story to be told. Nothing really happened here that couldn't be summed up in one third of the length. Also, like with the first book, there were a lot of sex scenes. They were so many that about half of them could have been edited out and nothing would have been missed from the story.
The main characters, Lucas and Nate, were likeable and interesting but my issue remains that nothing happened in this book. They met, started a casual hook-up thing, realised that they fell in love. Everything was smooth sailing and then out of nowhere everything came crashing down. I seemed to be coming out of nowhere as nothing really happened before that except from Nate breaking down about his divorce and realising he should put that behind him once and for all. That shouldn't have caused a split between them but it did. It seemed like unneccessery drama and completely manufactured.
None of the things that Lucas said were his cause for splitting up were mentioned before, they just appeared as if from nowhere. They were understandable, but there was no follow up from the rest of the story.
The majority of the book was taken up by internal thoughts, Nate trying to make sense of his life and Lucas juggling three jobs. The guys from the previous books make appearances here and Colin and Daniel have a big scene and a lot of page time. I would have liked to see more of Jon and Matt, of course, as they are my favorite, but that's just me.
I don't know if there's another book coming in this series as there was no introduction of any new potential main characters and the last person working at the tattoo shop is Pete who is straight and married. If there turns out to be a fourth book I'll be sure to check it out. I may have loved just one out of the three books in this series but there is something about all of them that makes me want to follow this till the end.
Just 3 stars from me but I'm staying with this series till the last book so I'll get to know all the stories of the tattoo artists falling in love with military guys.
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. * ...more