Gah! It’s always the books I love the most that leave me flailing and tongue tied.
I enjoyed the first book in Society of Gentleman series, A Fashionable Intelligence, ( & the Charles stand alone M/M Historical Romance, Think of England) but A Seditious Affair is my absolute favorite by this author so far.
She always does a great job combining historical details with sexual tension, excellent supporting characters and a touch of humor. In A Seditious Affair she’s cranked all that up x’s 100 and this book was an absolute page turner.
Silas, a cranky bookseller and political radical has been meeting with Dominic, a high born, who works at the Home Office, hunting down those who seek to overturn the government, for a secret, passionate affair for a year. They suspect that they have different politics and have high spirited discussions but never exchange names or personal information, until the outside world invades and forces them to make tough choices and decide if theirs is just an illicit affair to work out a kink or more.
Ok – so first – the kink. Dominic likes D/s, rough sex and to be shamed. This is not my thing and I rarely enjoy that dynamic. I feel like whatever two consenting adults do is fine – but I don’t often enjoy reading about it because it always feels one sided, we don’t learn about the dom as much as the sub & the relationship doesn’t seem to exist outside the bedroom.
However, K.J. Charles wrote this SO beautifully. The opening chapter was a bit explicit and harsh but there are these little details that show caring and affection between the two men. While Silas gives into Dominic’s needs, pushes him even – he always gives him a way out and looks for cues so he pushed too far.
And Silas’s boundaries are respected as well. There are certain things he won’t do and Dominic respects and is sensitive to that. Silas, at times, wants to be gentle with Dominic and show affection and kindness – something NOT part of Dominic’s kink but Silas finds a way that gives both men what they need and it’s one of my favorite scenes from the book.
I guess what I’m saying is the sex is actually important to the plot in this case but their relationship goes well beyond the bedroom. They have long talks, work through problems verbally and not just sexually. I believe in these two - as friends and more.
Oh the angst! Once they discover they are on other sides of the law they need to make a choice and it’s not an easy one to turn your back on everything you believe in and they might not even want to. Again, the politics are written just as brilliantly. I found myself thinking how relevant Dominic and Silas’s arguments were to today’s politics and the way we discuss differences in policy. I think we could all learn something from the way Silas and Dominic resolve their issues.
A Seditious Affair is not a fluffy read but it is a story you can really sink your teeth into. It’s complex, sensual, raw and gosh darn it – SUPER romantic. It’s one of my favorite reads of 2015.
If you like this type of read then I also highly recommend a contemporary M/M with similar gritty themes of romance and politics & also another top 2015 read of mine - Playing to Win (Glascow Lads, #2) by Avery Cockburn ...more
I adore Albert's Portland Heat series and I highly recommend her books to readers who might be new to the M/M genre. They're always sweet, romantic and tug at your heartstrings. Status Update is no exception and is my new favorite book by this author.
Adrian and Noah are fantastic and real. They come together during odd, and sometimes awkwardly adorable circumstances but have major obstacles to overcome and I liked how Albert didn't rush the solutions. Although the road trip atmosphere speeds up the initial romance, the book actually takes place over a longer span of time, allowing the relationship to develop into something more substantial.
Status Update was full of swoony romantic moments but it also tackled more serious issues and took a more nuanced approach. For example, Adrian was already out and had a great support system so his view on it being more difficult for Noah to do the same often seemed pushy. But knowing more about Adrian’s background, I could see how he needed to protect himself and demand love and respect for himself in the relationship. For his part, Noah had to reconcile his faith – which was also tied to his career – and his sexuality. I felt like both sides were valid and Albert let both characters work through their issues on their own time frame.
Geeky gamers, road trips, dogs, family - this book has it all. I really loved this one!...more
I was looking for a romance that was fun, a little off beat and not super explicit. I stumbled on to Emma Barry’s twitter feed and her description of her new release, Star Dust, (co authored by Barry and Genevieve Turner) and it seemed to fit the bill.
What a pleasant surprise this book was!
I had known it was about a divorcee and a playboy astronaut, but I didn’t realize that it took place in Houston, 1962. The authors did an incredible job plunging me into that era with subtle details such as home décor, food and drink choices and societal attitudes (which were pretty awful towards women – especially divorced women like our heroine, Ann Marie).
Ann Marie has made the bold choice to divorce her cheating husband and move with her children to a new community in Houston. People are not kind to her, even though she has it better than most. Her family has money and is able to buy her the house and get her a job but that can’t stop the judgment she feels from everyone around her. Most people have the attitude that Hey – men cheat, or what did SHE do to make him cheat, or Stay away! I might catch divorce cooties!
"Can you even imagine what she must be like?" Carruthers said. "A woman who'd actually leave a man? Or who was so shrewish that he left her?"
Because of the constant judgment and her desire to make it completely on her own, without the help of a man, she isn’t the nicest after meeting her new neighbor – famous astronaut - Commander Kit Campbell. Not that that deters him much. *wink* He may be a playboy but he falls hard for Ann Marie and her kids.
Listen…I love my sexy times (& this book does have them!) but it was so nice to read about a couple where the sexual tension is ratcheted up to a point that the actual sex wasn’t as important. Smoking cigarettes together while staring at the stars, sharing their deepest hopes and fears, being turned on by freckles or a bare chest…it just had this awesome, sexy vibe and build up that I feel is missing from a lot of romances these days.
There isn’t a whole lot of conflict or drama between the two – other than deciding to take the plunge in the first place. But I enjoyed reading about the everyday issues they need to work through, rather than manufactured conflict. Kit is an astronaut – going into space has been his dream since he was a child but it brings hero worship, gossip and prying eyes into his life on a daily basis. Not something the newly divorced Ann Marie or her children need right now. And it’s a dangerous job. Does Ann Marie even want to be part of that?
There are several really cool space mission training and flying scenes and that made me happy. It wasn’t just about the romance and Kit didn’t just all of a sudden forget everything he worked so hard for because he fell for Ann Marie. But I think my favorite thing about Star Dust was the friendships between Ann Marie and the astronauts wives. It helped soften her heart and realize that she can make friends and accept help without it meaning she failed.
Pour yourself a cocktail – maybe break out the 60’s Jell-O mold and give this little gem of a book a try! I feel like it would make a great romance book club selection as well. Lots of things to discuss! ...more
I actually teared up a few times reading this one.
I don't think the "chosen one" theme worked well or was necessary to tell this story but t4.5 stars
I actually teared up a few times reading this one.
I don't think the "chosen one" theme worked well or was necessary to tell this story but the themes of feeling out of control, big changes with family, friends and life were so well written that I didn't really care.
Ness was able to hit every bittersweet note of becoming adult while still keeping the story light and not preachy.
I'll try to write something longer later (it's always hardest to write reviews for books I love) but my favorite things about The Rest of Us Just Live Here were the diversity and relationships between the siblings and their best friends. Beautifully written!
Playing to Win is my favorite of the Glasgow Lad series to date.
It was gritty, smart and had one of my favorite couples of all time.
I love how the auPlaying to Win is my favorite of the Glasgow Lad series to date.
It was gritty, smart and had one of my favorite couples of all time.
I love how the author put these two obstinate, passionate, opinionated men together but in a way where they never lost who they were or compromised their values. Really good stuff!...more
Challenger Deep is not an easy book to read and while there’s a fantasy element (I’ll get to that in a second), this isn’t a romanticized depiction of mental illness. Shusterman unflinchingly explores Caden’s mindset as he goes from mild obsession and paranoia to full blown hallucinations and schizophrenia.
The chapters alternate between Caden’s real life – interactions with family, friends etc and his fantasy world on a pirate ship filled with a crew that Caden can’t differentiate between friend or foe, as they try to reach Challenger Deep – the deepest place on earth.
At first this doesn’t make a lot of sense, as you jump around between the two, but then you start spotting connections. This is one of those rare cases that I recommend reading spoilers for the book first, especially if you are struggling and trying to decide whether to continue. It won't ruin the story in any way and not understanding how the two worlds are connected could deter you from finishing and that would be a shame. (In fact, my mother in law read this one before me and didn’t really like it until the second half but wants to read it again now that she knows what it all means.)
(view spoiler)[ Highlight below if you would like to read –> Caden’s reality overlaps with his adventures on the ship as a metaphor for his descent into mental illness, his fight for control of his thoughts, and his treatment at Seaview Hospital’s psychiatric unit. The crewmen of the ship resemble fellow patients, Dr’s and even the voices in his head and ultimately schizophrenia itself. (hide spoiler)]
Challenger Deep was one of most riveting books I’ve read this year and offered a glimpse into a world that’s not often depicted so honestly or worse, with a - isn't being manic fun!!! - vibe.
Shusterman has personal experience with the subject, as his son, Brendan, (who also contributed artwork to the novel) has been affected by the disease.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything so powerful on the subject, that educated me, yet left me entertained. There wasn’t anything fun about Caden’s journey, but it’s a surprisingly hopeful book and a must read for any family dealing with mental illness or for anyone seeking to understand and have compassion for people who are so often on the fringe of our society....more
This book was all kinds of sweet, touching, realistic and wonderful!
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda was a rare blend of sweet and tender while still being raw, honest and unflinching.
There is a cute, slow building romance between Simon and a mystery pen pal, but it was Simon’s struggle and fear about coming out to his friends and family that really tugged at my heart. This was one of the few YA books that I’ve read that really captured the changing dynamics between friends as you grow and change.
Despite my coming of age experiences being totally different than Simon’s, I could really relate to him. Simon is adorable but not in that pretentious, hip way that YA characters often are. He feels real.
This is the kind of book that leaves you happy and on a book reading high. ...more
I adore Bennett’s Arcadia Bell, Urban Fantasy series. In no small part due to her portrayal of Jupe, the teenage son of Cady Bell’s boyfriend. I don’t like kids in my adult books but Jupe totally won me over. So the idea that Bennett wrote a full length novel with teens, for teens – welp – I’m all over that!
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart was a delightful story that felt like a throwback to old school YA, where coming of age themes like lust and independence are explored without all of the over the top angst but with much needed updates like sex positivity and diversity.
Both Bex and Jack are smart and kind of odd ducks. Bex looks like Wednesday Addams and draws anatomically correct body parts - for fun - and hopes to do it professionally & Jack is a not very good Buddhist/vegetarian that dresses like a rockabilly. But they aren't YA cutesy or pretentious and I loved how they both knew what they wanted out of life. I could be friends with them. They definitely weren’t perfect and made mistakes but they were truly good kids, trying to do the right thing even if it wasn’t always in the right way.
25327818It was a quieter story than I was expecting but the characters were so sweet and original and the inclusion of actual, responsible parents and family life made it stand out from the rest.
I really hope Bennett decides to write more YA or even NA. She has a wonderful, unique voice.
I don’t usually spotlight alternate UK covers but this one is gorgeous and even has a different title so I wanted my UK readers to know it’s the same book. Both covers and titles are perfect for this story – just in different ways....more
I know I’m not going to be able to put everything I feel about Heather Demetrios’s writing into words. Just know that I LOVED I'll Meet You There and rated it 5 stars on Goodreads – which I RARELY do.
I was kind of hesitant to read this I’ll Meet You There. Although I’m always looking for a book that tackles tough issues, I’m often disappointed. I love a good romance but I don’t think when you are going to write about things like PTSD, the romance should overtake or solve that. I’ve read many books where trauma seems to = pages and pages of our hero being an asshole, wallowing in self pity and that is somehow supposed to enough to address how serious or hard something is. Of course that’s real and does happen but it also misses the heart of a character or the depth of the topic the author is exploring.
My copy included a letter from the author explaining why she wrote about PTSD and poverty and her personal experiences with both. Her real life experience and compassion for both shows. This is really one of the best books I’ve read on those subjects. In any genre - YA, NA, or Adult.
Onto the babbling praise portion of the review.
There is a romance between Skylar and Josh but it felt like so much more to me. It was slow and easy – yet complicated for so many reasons. This is a warts and all kind of love and more believable for it.
Josh has the obvious issues you would expect after a tour in Afghanistan and losing his leg. His chapters are few but have an incredible impact. His pain is palpable yet you don’t ever pity him and neither does Skylar.
I loved how this was just as much Skylar’s story as it was Josh’s. Skylar can’t wait to get out of Creek View. She has a scholarship and a one way ticket out until her mother starts to spiral out of control. Reading about her conflict between her loyalty to her mom and attaining her dreams was heartbreaking.
There’s an ebb and flow to these characters. It gets pretty dark at times yet there’s a realistic balance. Not everyday is awful. Sometimes they just make it through by putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes they stumbled – then took a leap of faith and make progress.
The secondary characters were just as complex and interesting as Skylar and Josh. The changing dynamics between friends and family as things shift add yet another layer to this already wonderful story.
There are a lot of potential clichés here – the alcoholic mom, losing your virginity, the teenage mother, the returning bad boy, but not a one of them is written that way. Just because they all come from the same town, doesn't mean they have a universal experience or even want the same things.
I’ll Meet You There shows the despair of poverty, addiction and trauma yet also shows how there is always hope in that despair. Not everything is tied up in a neat little bow. Demetrious doesn't cop out at the end – she shows the hard work that still needs to be done, but you also see that both Skylar and Josh and their friends are headed in the right direction.
I tried to keep this review spoiler free but I suggest following the I'll Meet You There Book Tour (http://www.macteenbooks.com/ya/blog-t...). Tours can be kind of boring sometimes but Heather has been writing really great posts regarding the book and some of the issues she explored. They are a tad spoliery though. ...more
You know that question where you have to name what books you would take with you if you were stuck on an island? I can never seem to answer that. I love a lot of books for different reasons but probably not enough to be stuck reading them over and over.
But now I think I have my answer. Anything and everything by Laura Florand. If I had her books I could travel to Paris and the valley's of France, meet world class chefs, savor the best chocolates, run through a field of roses, fall in love.
There is just no other author whose writing captivates the senses and sweeps me away as Laura Florand does.
Once Upon a Rose takes us away from the Amour et Chocolat series and our beloved bossy pastry chefs with their decadent chocolates and whisks us away to the fields in the South of France. While I adore chocolate, I wasn’t sure I would be as invested in the perfume industry – but of course I was.
The La Vie en Rose series has the authors trademark grumpy heroes but I think this series has more of a sense of family to it. Whereas the chefs from the other series are adrift and alone, Matt and the upcoming heroes of this book, are anchored in tradition and family. Even if they don’t realize it yet.
Matt. *sigh* I loved him so so much. We meet him when he’s and tipsy, relaxed and happy at his 30th birthday party. Layla’s car has broken down and she stumbles into the party looking for assistance. He sweeps Layla up in a whirlwind of energy – open and kind. But then the next day he’s embarrassed by his behavior and stumbles trying to apologize and reestablish a connection with her until he finds out she’s an enemy to all that he’s tried to protect.
Layla is another lost soul, at a crossroads with her singing career. The pressure to crank out music and have another hit record has left her feeling empty and unsure of her place in the industry. She inherits a house in the French valley – more specifically - smack dab in Matt’s valley.
Matt and Layla are so different from each other and just shouldn't work. There were a few times I wasn’t sure how Florand could write her way out if it. Matt’s connection to his land and family is so deep – yet Layla needs to wander. It’s in her blood. How they could ever stay together and work out was a mystery to me but it works.
I loved how Matt is all growly and grumpy but also sweet and awkward. He gets mad at Layla – views her as the enemy - yet fixes the pipes and electricity in her (his) house. He tries to show off his buff body – yet gets tangled in his t-shirt and blushes frequently. Oh those blushes….
And I loved how Layla needs that house to restore herself yet realizes Matt might need it more. While most of this author’s heroes are all alpha (in a good way) I felt like it was Layla who was the alpha here. She may not have known Matt long and his family is quite intimidating but she has no problem calling them out when they might do or say things that hurt him. Matt needs that kind of person in his life.
This is just a really sweet, loving exploration of self, duty and family.
OK, I’m rambling now so let me just say SA-WOON. I loved it all! I’m as completely captivated by this series as I was with the the Amour et Chocolat series. ...more
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