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So who says you can't read a Xmas book in May?! Super cute holiday book about couple of guys who meet through the Turkey Hotline! Nice pacing, good wrSo who says you can't read a Xmas book in May?! Super cute holiday book about couple of guys who meet through the Turkey Hotline! Nice pacing, good writing and uber sweet. Absolute no heat but that's fine. Tom and Carson are lovely MCs and mesh well together....more
Powerful and utterly tragic. Short but packs a wallop that will land you on your butt thinking hard. This is a new to me author (although I seem to haPowerful and utterly tragic. Short but packs a wallop that will land you on your butt thinking hard. This is a new to me author (although I seem to have purchased many of his books) and will now eagerly move them to the top of my tbr....more
Hmmm. Did not enjoy this one as much as book #1. Seth and Bryce return from the cruise in love and moving in together. They find out that all is not wHmmm. Did not enjoy this one as much as book #1. Seth and Bryce return from the cruise in love and moving in together. They find out that all is not what it seems regarding Mark's death. Seth's world is rocked again but he is better able to handle things now that he has Bryce. Which is the problem - lots of lovey-dovey bits that grew tiresome. They wander into manties land but rather than it being sexy and titillating, it's embarrassing. There is also lots of drama related to an unwelcome visit from Bryce's past who makes Bryce's and Seth's lives miserable. Fair amount of on page violence, too. There was a bit more telling than showing in this book. Shame because it could have been a great book. So the drama doesn't end in this book. Not entirely sure if I will take my chances on book 3......more
Oh this was good, good, goody, good, good!! The second book in the Calluvia's Royalty series but can easily be read as a standalone. Harry, the characOh this was good, good, goody, good, good!! The second book in the Calluvia's Royalty series but can easily be read as a standalone. Harry, the character from book, 1 does feature prominently in this second book, but the main event, so to speak, is focused on Ksar and Seyn. Calluvia is a planet miles away from Terran or Earth. Seyn is Harry's friend. Ksar is Harry's brother. Talk about hate sex! These guys are textbook examples - "It was fast, dirty, and desperate." Ksar, who is insufferable and arrogant, is the bondmate to Seyn, a sort of free spirit who lives to get under Ksar's skin - there's a lengthy description about bondmates, what the term means, how they're formed, etc. I got a little confused about the intricacies of the term but understood the basics. Ksar and Seyn hate each other for reasons known only to them. Because of those reasons, Seyn wants to dissolve the bond but... that isn't easy. And do they really want to dissolve the bond??? What we have is a spectacular tale that weaves politics (Ksar and Seyn's parents are royalty), dysfunctional family dynamics, love and acceptance and the author throws in lessons about acceptance of the other and a fable that highlights how one becomes addicted to something or someone that is bad for you. I've read pretty much all of Ms. Hazard's books and must say that she has grown as a storyteller. In Calluvia, she has built a complex world with values and customs, scandals amid a life that sounds vaguely like Regency England with the Your Highnesses and such. The tech was subtly featured that enhanced rather than overwhelmed the reader. Terrific character driven story with oodles of suspense, wit, 3-dimensional secondary characters and Ms. Hazard's trademark sexiness. Um, shall we say that I read and re-read several of the more incendiary sections! But there are also very heartfelt warm sections that focus on family and who and what constitutes a family. So I was hoping for a book 3 AND THERE IS!!! It's about Jamil, Seyn's brother. Yayyyy! Can't wait.
Re-read on 12/13/2023 - 5 stars - Oh my how I love this author's books. Still a mesmerizing read. Seyn and Ksar are the pinnacle of enemies to lovers with such brutal, crushing hate sex! "He was a prince - they both were - and yet he was whining and thrusting into the hand of a man he hated more than anything, like some animal in heat." "....Seyn stormed out of the room, confused, horrified, and disgusted to his core." Lol! Loved it. I still had difficulty keeping track of all that detail related to bonding and who is a telepath and who isn't but it doesn't take away from the book. I am still impressed by the world-building of this series. One of my favorites....more
This was written by another author who released one book and then disappeared into the ether. Sadly, the pacing dragged in several areas. There was alThis was written by another author who released one book and then disappeared into the ether. Sadly, the pacing dragged in several areas. There was also a fair amount of telling versus showing me what was happening. Though I tagged it BDSM, there is no active scening in the book. Kevin was horribly abused by a Dom who left him for dead some years ago. Kevin is still dealing with the aftereffects of that abuse and is wary of getting involved again. Prior to that, he was very active in the BDSM scene and underneath the pain and hurt he's experienced, he's quite a charming man. He meets Connor in a book store but then runs away. We are then introduced to Kevin's appallingly annoying friend, Nicki. Unfortunately, for me, she falls into that category of women who is an aggravating friend who butts into every aspect of Kevin's life and takes liberties with private information that I found shocking. Kevin is protected by an assortment of friends which is admirable, but at times I found it intrusive. Anyway, Kevin does eventually date Connor but spends most of the book saying "you don't want me. I am damaged goods," and so on. There is an element of suspense that is introduced early in the book as Kevin is being stalked. But then like every stupid horror movie when a stupid person who goes into a dark basement where the killer is hanging out, we have some really dumb moves by Kevin and Connor. The book does end in an HEA but be warned - there's some on page violence that is quite graphic. This could have been a great book with some tightening up but alas, it dragged on and on to the point I was obsessively checking my percent complete until at last I was at the end....more
Truly superb!! I'd been saving this little gem because I'd read all of R. Horvat's other books and didn't want to be left with nothing from this authoTruly superb!! I'd been saving this little gem because I'd read all of R. Horvat's other books and didn't want to be left with nothing from this author. He is releasing a new book on May 30th with characters from The Other Book so won't have to wait too long for an R. Horvat fix! An awesome writer who combines the dirtiest, filthiest smutty bits with prose so eloquent, so effortlessly written that it just makes me stop and re-read almost ever page. The story, told from Alex' POV, starts when Alex is 30 meets Christian, then 18, in a bar in Spain where both are vacationing. Christian has wandered in with his friends who then desert him and some rather unsavory gents start hitting on Christian. Alex describes Christian "The sun-bleached mop of golden strands surrounded his head like a halo as if he’d descended directly from Heaven to save our lost, dirty souls. But angels probably wouldn’t come down to Earth dressed in faded cut-off jeans and purple flip-flops." Alex rescues Christian and thus begins a friendship that continues in Germany, where both are from. Three years go by and since this is romancelandia, you know what happens but Alex has his head in his ass and screws up the friendship. He tells himself he is too old, he's not good enough for Christian, he has nothing to offer, etc. I don't have the words to describe just how good this author is at capturing dialogue that is funny, heavy with meaning and just flows off of the page. "I would gratefully roll in his come like a mindless beast in spring grass." The secondary characters are as fully drawn as our MCs - do we get a book about Dieter or Mattias? PLEASE! Alex is a university professor but writes porn on the side under a pseudonym. He is desperate that Christian not find out “Give me a break.” Christian snorted, and my eyes widened even more. He was…mean? No. Just the hero worship was suddenly subdued. I felt gutted, and he continued kicking me as I lay there on the floor, bleeding out my illusions by the gallon. “You’re afraid, aren’t you? You chose the most marginalized genre so you wouldn’t have to face real criticism. Is that it?” There are terrific authors out there but Roe Horvat is different. Each word is selected with precision but the smooth flow of the sentences, the paragraphs, the pages belie that precision. As if the words flowed from his brain to his fingers and just spread out over the page with no need to move them around. A rather gruesome description but that's what it seems like. Patiently awaiting more books from Roe. Well, maybe not so patiently....more
So this was definitely not happy, happy, joy, joy at all! At times rather bleak, this book is about Rhys,who is Caleb's friend from book 1 Riven, and So this was definitely not happy, happy, joy, joy at all! At times rather bleak, this book is about Rhys,who is Caleb's friend from book 1 Riven, and Matt. The prologue describes how they met - big, blond and Viking-like, always happy Rhys whose background is uncomplicated and drama-free and Matt, whose backstory is an absolute nightmare. The book opens and they've been married for quite some time. I did like that I got a story about a married couple rather than one about the lead-up to marriage. But my goodness, these two guys struggle mightily. Matt, still suffering from his traumatic childhood, is convinced that he's not worthy of Rhys' love and spirals particularly when Rhys goes on tour. And Rhys, who wants to fix everything, can't figure out how to fix Matt and save his marriage. Matt says at one point, “If you’re worried about offending me because you came from a perfect family and, like, know how to love, and I’m basically a Dickensian waif, don’t bother,” I said. Nice cameos from Theo and Caleb. Their appearance provided some of the lighter touches in the book. Ultimately things turn out well but not before things get rather dark. Great portrayal of a marriage in trouble and how people fight to come out of the other side stronger and wiser. Life is not always puppies and rainbows and the author has done a masterful job of conveying that. As always from Ms. Parrish, stellar writing. :Then Rhys looked in my eyes and told me that he wanted me. Why he wanted me. His words found their home inside me, like gems nestled expertly into the settings of my bones, where they could twinkle unexpectedly for as long as they were undisturbed." "He stripped me to the rhythm of his thrusts, the pleasure swelling like a bubble just on the edge of popping. I was groaning into his mouth and he was sucking my tongue and jerking me and fucking me and then the bubble burst and I was screaming my orgasm, pleasure wracking me." Ah such beautiful prose! A sad but uplifting book. Not at all like Riven. I think I need to hug a unicorn or a teddy bear now! ...more
I had to read this book as part of a buddy read and sadly had to finish it. I definitely would have DNFed it. Rather than showing what was happening I had to read this book as part of a buddy read and sadly had to finish it. I definitely would have DNFed it. Rather than showing what was happening with Farrow and Maximoff, we're told what their feeling, why they're feeling that way and what they'll do about those feelings. SHOW ME don't TELL ME. Additionally, the authors have a a few odd, in my opinion, writing tics - "his daggered green eyes lift to my brown." "My neck arches back against the window, my eyes almost rolling but they fasten into a daggered look." "His daggered amber eyes rarely lose that edge." What the heck does daggered eyes mean?? Then we have "I stiffen, my face padlocked of emotion." He had one hundred percent padlocked his feelings." "... with an intense but padlocked look." Padlocked??!! There are some other odd word choices "immortal entertainment." I think the authors mean entertainment that goes on for a while. The final nail in the coffin for me was the breaking of the 4th wall. That drives me nuts. I don't want the character to talk to me! Did not enjoy the writing style. Too many characters with pretentious names - Ryke, Maximoff, Farrow, Sullivan. What happened to Mike, John or even Ian?! Also didn't understand the whole paparazzi thing. Why is Maximoff such a draw - he's the head of a charity, for goodness sake's, not a rock star. As I always say, I applaud people who can write books and get them published. I could never do it. So brava to these authors but their books are clearly not my cuppa....more
I think I spent most of the first 10% to 15% saying "wait, what?" Had to re-read the beginning a few times then cheated a bit and read a review and THI think I spent most of the first 10% to 15% saying "wait, what?" Had to re-read the beginning a few times then cheated a bit and read a review and THEN the light bulb went on! Now I get it. There was so much going on - dissatisfaction with a relationship, unmet needs, fright, conflict and quite the moral dilemma. The whole crime/law enforcement bit was slightly messy. There were holes in the story that even a casual reader of mysteries would have said "hey wait, that doesn't make sense!" But that was fine because our two protagonists steal the show for me! Dirty, kinky and incredibly sexy. Made you squirm but in a good way. One gets off on rough sex, the rougher the better to the point where he becomes quite the pain slut. The other, gruff, used to one night stands, eager to provide that rough sex and more. And then guess what - they develop feelings! So I am not revealing the names in my review. Many other Goodreaders have and that's fine but for me, that would give away the beginning and I think the authors deliberately throw the reader off kilter at the beginning. Had a bit of trouble toward the middle which is when we run up against our moral dilemma. How to resolve that!? But it was done well and just highlights how relationships are confusing, chaotic and may or may not work out. I enjoy this writing duo and in fact prefer Jane Davitt when she writes alongside Alexa Snow. Almost as if Ms. Snow softens Ms. Davitt's brittle edges. So the messy crime business aside, I loved the writing, particularly when our two MCs are covered in spunk. Ultimate in dirty talk along with a solid romance. Just need to tighten up on that whole crime/thriller thing. If you are a Jane Davitt/Alexa Snow fan, many of their books are now available for free on AO3 and yes, this is a legitimate site, not pirated. Ms. Davitt even references the site on her Goodreads page. Needless to say, I downloaded all those I didn't have!!...more
The moral conflict that plagues these two very likeable MCs was enough to fill the pages of this book. The addition of a stalker who is threatening LiThe moral conflict that plagues these two very likeable MCs was enough to fill the pages of this book. The addition of a stalker who is threatening Lincoln, while believable, moved the book to being filled with somewhat over-the-top drama, particularly at the end. I was really engaged with these two guys who should not even be in the same room but who are drawn to each other. That was fascinating watching this moral dilemma play out. There were some parts that strained credulity. It was fairly easy to figure out who was sending the messages but I wondered at how easy it appeared to be for that person to access the places the messages were left. I'll spoiler tag this since it may give away some of the story (view spoiler)[Why was it so easy to get in the house? Why wasn't it locked? (hide spoiler)] And the introduction of a person the reader doesn't actually meet seemed odd. Like wait, what??? There were also some odd time jumps. One minute the MCs are dealing with an injury and the next minute they are back home, physical therapy done and back to work. Huh! Gave the book a sort of disjointed feel. Found myself having to page back to see if I'd missed something. Good writing but felt it needed tightening up. I felt like there was something between Jay and his wife that foretold the relationship Jay developed with Lincoln but then I felt like I was left hanging. This is a new to me author and did enjoy the book. She tells a compelling story and hope her other books are a little more focused....more
Absolutely gutted! This book is one of those seminal MM books that so many of my fellow Goodreaders have read. Funnily enough I bought this book in 20Absolutely gutted! This book is one of those seminal MM books that so many of my fellow Goodreaders have read. Funnily enough I bought this book in 2014 and then it fell to the bottom of my tbr. Silly me! Emotional and compelling read. There were parts that just devastated me, so much so, I had to put it aside. for an hour or two. Just tells you that when you meet the one - the one with whom you can't live without - the person who when you see them, just lights up your life - it doesn't matter what gender. That person is the one. The author handled the confusion felt by Matt and Evan well. Questions about their sexuality, their identity and what that means. Questions about labels. Brilliantly written. You could feel the struggle and against the backdrop of Evan's unimaginable loss, I was mesmerized by the story. Excellent portrayal of how Evan's kids dealt with the changes and their struggle. Loved that they weren't too precocious but normal kids trying to hold onto a life they once had but it's now changed irrevocably and they are confused about why. I reread so many passages. This one just laid me flat "He’d left a lover behind this morning, shy but committed, and now this cool stranger with the wild eyes was giving him a speech that spelled the end of everything." I know that there are others in the series and glad to see one about Jim - yayyy! But have to wait until I've recovered. Yes, definitely a book hangover kind of book....more
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