- Interesting MCs (I especially liked that Jack was so vulnerable and his PTSD wasn't brushed aside, and that Edward was not a First, the good stuff:
- Interesting MCs (I especially liked that Jack was so vulnerable and his PTSD wasn't brushed aside, and that Edward was not a typical self-absorbed nobleman; he was charming and genuinely interested in people.)
- Flirting (The chemistry between Jack and Edward was palpable from the beginning.)
- Great secondary characters, particularly Matilda
- Decent amount of steam
- HEA (I loved the last chapter!)
And that brings me to the not-so-good stuff:
- Lots and lots of angst and drama (Jack's PTSD; the assault charges; the paparazzi . . . There was A LOT going on in this story that wasn't romance. As soon as Jack and Edward got together, the universe conspired against them. I felt overwhelmed at times.)
- We only get Jack's POV, which was really disappointing. I wanted to get in Edward's head something fierce.
- Certain parts of the book just really dragged; it took me a while to get into the story, and, truth be told, Private Truths never fully kept my attention.
- This book is well edited, and Lewis is not an amateur by any means, but the writing seemed dry and formal, stiff even.
I still recommend this story. I suspect most readers will connect with it better than I did. ...more
I've no idea how Tal Bauer knows about the secret passages in the White House, the exact layout of Camp David, or where the presidential nuclear bunkeI've no idea how Tal Bauer knows about the secret passages in the White House, the exact layout of Camp David, or where the presidential nuclear bunkers are. Maybe this is public knowledge? I don't know, and I'm not going to google to find out (who needs that kind of search history during an election year?).
What I do know is that this book is a kick-ass political thriller that left me breathless. All the details add up to a wild ride of HOW, WHY, and most importantly, WHO.
I didn't even mind the singular POV.
Agent Sean Avery and President Jonathan Sharp are two connecting puzzle pieces. One doesn't belong without the other.
The ending is a bit abrupt, but Bauer writes his characters in such a way that I never doubt the intensity of their love.
ETA: Upon some reflection, I dropped my rating to 4 stars because reasons:
- The "misunderstanding" between the MCs was way dramatic. Two intelligent, mature men ghost each other for a year because they're not willing to have a conversation around one encounter. If Sean believes he hurt Jonathan, why doesn’t he apologize? And why would Jonathan walk away the next morning and leave Sean on the beach without waking him?
- Some logistics following President Baker's death just didn't add up, mainly how quickly everyone accepted that the President committed suicide and how lax security was around the White House.
Still a great story but requires an extensive suspension of disbelief....more
- the courtroom dramaYou know what I loved about this book?
EVERYTHING
- the swoony romance (so many kisses!)
- the dual POV (complex MCs, unique voices)
- the courtroom drama
- the political intrigue (who hired a sniper to shoot at the Russian president - and kill three American Secret Service agents - on the steps of the White House?)
- the suspense (I was so into this story, my stomach was legit cramping toward the end. Those snakes OMG)
- the HEA (I wanted an epilogue for Tom and Mike so damn bad, not because I doubted their love but because I'm greedy for more)
- Etta Mae the Bassett Hound! (I always worry about dogs in books, like where is the dog, did the dog get walked, is the dog all alone?? I didn't have to do that here, because Etta Mae was important and always accounted for. Tom took such good care of her.)
You know what I hated about this book?
It ended.
And now I have a book hangover for the ages. ...more
- Caleb struggling with raising his 17-year-old brother
- High school football
- TonNO RATING
I made it to 40% then skimmed the rest.
This book is about:
- Caleb struggling with raising his 17-year-old brother
- High school football
- Tony adjusting to civilian life after 20 years in the military
I have teenagers, and they don't occupy 100% of my time and energy the way the teens in this book do. It's wild to me how everyone catered to them.
The MCs felt pretty generic. I wasn't all that interested in their romance, which mostly consisted of fumbling sexual attempts in odd places (in keeping with the teen theme apparently) and a hell of a lot we should/we shouldn't back and forth.
I have five starred a dozen or more books by Annabeth Albert, but sadly the Mount Hope series isn't working for me....more
This was a bumpy ride ... humorous, touching, sexy at times but inconsistent in pacing, with some serious WTF moments.
Marshall forgave Fox far too easThis was a bumpy ride ... humorous, touching, sexy at times but inconsistent in pacing, with some serious WTF moments.
Marshall forgave Fox far too easily. After standing by while Marshall was brutally bullied for over three years, Fox kind of (sort of, barely) helped him three months before the end of their senior year.
Good job, you. *slow clap*
The whole thing with Fox falling for Marshall so quickly but denying that he was bi wasn't cool. That's some early MM romance bi-erasure bullshit, and I'm decidedly not here for it.
Sam was a great secondary character, but everything that happened with his asshole of a dad was crash and burn. Time sped up, and it was all resolved far too easily.
Same with Fox's PTSD. Was he going to be Marshall's "groundskeeper" forever?
This is a new-to-me author, and I wasn't terribly impressed. Closer to 2.5, rounding down because this story really dragged for me. ...more
I think reading these books back to back isn't doing them any favors. The sameness is draining. There's always the dominant partner and the submissiveI think reading these books back to back isn't doing them any favors. The sameness is draining. There's always the dominant partner and the submissive one.
At least in this one, the dominant partner, Robson, is human.
Marcus, a wolf shifter and one of the pack enforcers, is rigid and shy, but his wolf calls out for Robson.
Their relationship is sweet and sexy, although I'm still scratching my head about why they moved in with Robson's family instead of living in Marcus's house, especially since they both work for the pack.
There is not a whole lot of plot in this installment, and what little there is doesn't jive.
Marcus receives the mysterious letter from the dead council member (still no word on how he died). Apparently he's the only one who can decipher the code, as no one else even tries.
The letter is underwhelming, and Wendy, the woman who risked her life to deliver it, is whisked off to the hospital, like she's disposable. She's Marcus's friend, but he doesn't mention her again.
I was confused as to why the witch who took over delivery arrived at the same time as half-dead Wendy, even when she insisted he leave her and just take the letter. Did he carry her after all? ...more
This series is messing with my emotions in the best way. Interweaving the joy of finding love when you least expect it with the chilling details ~4.5~
This series is messing with my emotions in the best way. Interweaving the joy of finding love when you least expect it with the chilling details of a murder case gone cold is a fascinating juxtaposition of light and darkness.
The cold case plot line connects the three books, so I strongly recommend reading the series in order.
In the first book, we saw Holden as his friends see him: outgoing, gregarious, always cheerful. But Holden wears a mask. That's not to say he's never happy and he's very much an extrovert, but Holden is lonely. His body hurts. He has bad days. But he smiles because it's easier than crying.
Speeding toward a dive site that could prove to hold clues in the ongoing murder investigation, Holden passes an ancient RV that's crawling down the road. The RV belongs to Cal, a retired SEAL diver who's as taciturn and abrupt as Holden is talkative and gentle.
When his RV breaks down just outside of Safe Harbor, Cal, barely patched up and broke as hell, has no choice but to rely on Holden's willing hospitality.
The two become roommates, kink partners, lovers, and friends. Neither man finds it easy to trust, and Cal has one foot out the door. What can Holden do to make Cal stay?
This is a sexy story, with the kink in question being Cal's need to be tied down and controlled. Holden, who's always had a bossy streak, is more than happy to oblige. He loves taking care of Cal, making him lunches, dropping him off at work, cooking for him.
But Cal, who thinks he's a bad bet, sees Holden's concern as a kind of jail. Struggling with PTSD and survivor's guilt, Cal doesn't want to be needed, doesn't want anyone to count on him.
One of my favorite things about this story is the disability rep. People assume that unless someone is paralyzed, they don't need (or deserve) a wheelchair. But wheelchairs aren't just for para/quadriplegics. Holden isn't paralyzed, but he suffered debilitating injuries when he was younger that make it difficult and painful for him to walk.
This isn't the first wheelchair user to serve as MC in Annabeth Albert's stories (I loved Ryan in Connection Error), and I am all for it.
The ending is a HEA for Holden and Cal, but Sam is still waiting to be "worthy" of love.
The epilogue is from Sam's POV and sets up book 3. I'm decidedly not a fan of the faux epilogue, but I couldn't be too mad since there's a dog involved....more
- Age gap (Monroe is 41 to Knox's 23) without a power imbalance.
- A bit of angst, but no drama (both MCs are at a cBring Me Home is a satisfying read:
- Age gap (Monroe is 41 to Knox's 23) without a power imbalance.
- A bit of angst, but no drama (both MCs are at a crossroads and need to make difficult decisions about their future careers/plans and their relationship).
- Two men who actually communicate like adults about said difficult decisions.
- Well-paced relationship development (the way Knox and Monroe go from nearly lovers to roommates to something tender and lasting really worked for me).
- Sweet and spicy in equal measure; I'd even throw umami in there because this book has so much depth.
- Coming home & found family (two of my favorite tropes).
- Strong sense of place and community without OTT descriptions of gossipmongering busybodies sticking their noses in everyone's business and playing too big a role in the story.
- Complex secondary characters, including Monroe's group of friends and Knox's family.
- A secondary plotline involving a cold case that is integral to but doesn't take over the story.
- Excellent writing, with believable dialogue (something I've come to expect from this author).
- So many feels: nostalgia, yearning, frustration, fear, and love - definitely love.
But, and this is a big BUT:
The epilogue is from a secondary character's (one of the future MCs) POV.
Nooo! Et tu, Annabeth Albert? This terrible trend has to stop! I don't want the beginning of the next book; I want the end of this one.
And, yes, we still see Monroe and Knox's HEA from Holden's perspective, but, damn it, it's not nearly as satisfying.
Authors, please STOP with this bullshit and write a proper epilogue....more
This is my second favorite book in the A-List Security series. Ambrose and Harley (book 3) remain number one.
But I loved Malik and tolerated Avery whThis is my second favorite book in the A-List Security series. Ambrose and Harley (book 3) remain number one.
But I loved Malik and tolerated Avery who honestly drove me batshit until the end.
Malik is a dream: open and accepting, loves his mama (damn straight), and super chill when he discovers his bi side.
Avery, on the other hand, is not chill or open ... or close to his mother (not that I blame him).
Avery wants to date beautiful women so his dad and older brother, bro dudes through and through, give him a wink and a slap on the back. But Avery is most definitely not straight nor masculine. He loves soft, silky things, thrives when he gives up control, and would shimmer all day long if he just stopped with the internalized homophobia.
Malik is incredibly patient with Avery, perhaps more than Avery deserves. But they fit together like puzzle pieces, so I was rooting for them as a couple.
The MCs and secondary characters are fully fleshed out, but I expect nothing less from Annabeth Albert.
Sexy, complex, with a bit of angst (relationship and otherwise), Rocky Start is an awesome addition to this series....more
This is most likely a case of it's not you; it's me, but I can't say I enjoyed this one.
First of all, the story spans several years during which the This is most likely a case of it's not you; it's me, but I can't say I enjoyed this one.
First of all, the story spans several years during which the three MCs meet every few months to fuck. The men live separate lives in three different states until the very end.
That's two things I dislike right there: long distance and years of being just friends with benefits.
Kit and Prescott's voices sounded the same, and Brady sounded like a brat (not at all how he came across in other books as a secondary character).
I didn't feel any real emotional connection between the men, and - yes, I'm gonna say it - there was too much sex, to the point I started skimming the sexy scenes because they were so repetitive.
This book felt long, and I was so bored, I started skimming around the 40% mark. Too bad because I'd been looking forward to Brady's story....more
I love Alaska and stories set in Alaska (see my recommendations below), and have enjoyed Avon Gale's past work, especially the charming Scoring ChanceI love Alaska and stories set in Alaska (see my recommendations below), and have enjoyed Avon Gale's past work, especially the charming Scoring Chances series.
Unfortunately, this book was a total dud. Maybe it's the collaboration with co-author Emily Rossman, but the intensity, humor, and strong relationship development I've come to associate with Avon Gale's books were MIA.
I kept hoping the pace would pick up, but I was bored and tempted to DNF the entire time. I skimmed some chapters, including the sex scenes. I mean, the MCs had zero chemistry, so why bother?
Even the ending, a weak HFN, didn't deliver.
Extra star for Moose, the cute Newfie.
I'm in the minority with my rating, so make of it what you will.
~ Opposites attract (Duncan is serious and intense, while Ezra is an eternal optimist.)
~ Almost no angst~ Bodyguard/client trope (a favorite of mine)
~ Opposites attract (Duncan is serious and intense, while Ezra is an eternal optimist.)
~ Almost no angst (This is not a tortured rockstar story. Ezra thrives on attention, loves performing, and is grateful for his loyal fans.)
~ No dramatic plot twist (Sit back and relax because except for a couple small mishaps, there is no danger, crazy fans, or daring rescue in this story.)
~ Moderate heat index, with Ezra taking the lead and being the more dominant partner, even though Duncan is bigger (I like this dynamic!)
~ Supportive family (Ezra's parents are the best, and such a contrast to Duncan's absent bully of a father.)
The Tough Luck storyline focuses on Danny, a child television star, having a stalker. Cash, Danny's older brother's close friend, is assigned to ~3.5~
The Tough Luck storyline focuses on Danny, a child television star, having a stalker. Cash, Danny's older brother's close friend, is assigned to protect Danny and upgrade the security system in Danny's house.
When the stalker strikes again, Danny and Cash hole up in a cabin in the woods where they go on a picnic, do nighttime yoga, and discover a fiery passion burning between them.
Cash has never had a male lover but can't deny his attraction to Danny. By his own admittance, Cash doesn't have a wild imagination, so he never envisioned sex could be this good. I read Cash as gay-demi because it was specifically Danny who cranked him up.
The story toddles along, with various common themes explored: forced proximity, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, client/bodyguard, sexual discovery/awakening.
Danny and Cash are interesting MCs, and the connection between them felt real.
The ending is a tentative HEA and features dogs, which is always a good thing.
However, I was expecting more to happen with the stalking plot. The resolution was, for lack of a better word, lame.
I also wanted to read more about Danny's addiction; there was no tension around this at all. We all knows addicts are never "cured," but Danny didn't seem to struggle at all with his sobriety.
I liked this book well enough, but I was expecting more ooomph from Annabeth Albert, who's one of my favorite authors in this genre....more
I really liked the premise of the story. We have a wounded vet struggling with PTSD following the death of a close friend in Afghanistan and a su~2.5~
I really liked the premise of the story. We have a wounded vet struggling with PTSD following the death of a close friend in Afghanistan and a surfer boy/architect from Hawaii who's shut out his family following a tragic accident (although thankfully not as tragic as I anticipated).
What didn't work for me was the execution. The writing, especially the dialogue, didn't flow naturally and felt simplistic. Entire conversations were summarized (e.g., so I sat down and told them everything that went down) vs. happening on page.
Some of the phrases the characters used made me cringe because they were so formulaic (e.g., this ends today), and the editing was less than stellar.
Kai suffered at the hands of a physically abusive boyfriend, yet when he starts dating Wyatt, he's completely trusting. His trauma seemed to magically go away and wasn't addressed at all.
Also, toward the end, Wyatt follows Kai to Hawaii and surprises him on the beach. Out of all the beaches on any given island, he magically finds the one where Kai's surfing. I thought maybe he'd called Kai's family, but he didn't have their contact information and when he met them, it was obvious they'd never spoken. So how the hell did he know where Kai was?
This book does have potential. I liked the island setting and the way the MCs met. The chemistry between them was there, although the declarations of love came much too soon.
I hate writing negative reviews for new authors, especially when I can tell that the author put forth effort vs. just cranking out the story as quickly as possible, but I also refuse to inflate my ratings so here we are....more
Iris is a cocky bastard, but during basic training he meets his match in Saint. Fast forward a decade or so later, and Iris finds Saint near death in Iris is a cocky bastard, but during basic training he meets his match in Saint. Fast forward a decade or so later, and Iris finds Saint near death in a cave. Initially, Iris doesn't recognize Saint. The man is bloody and broken, and Iris just wants to get him to safety.
Once Saint recovers and joins Mike Brave Ops, he's not the same man Iris knew. Saint can't remember what happened during the ambush that took the life of his teammates. He's lost strength, and training exercises leave him exhausted.
But what hasn't changed is the chemistry between the men. This is one sexually charged story.
No romance novel featuring "black ops" is going to be realistic, and I'm okay with that.
My issue with the story was that the pacing was really slow. The first half of the book dragged for me to the point I considered DNF.
I'm glad I stuck around though because the second half was more interesting. Toward the end, the Mike Bravo operatives return to the (fictional) African country where Saint almost died to capture the head of a terrorist organization (think Bin Laden but worse).
Another issue was the OTT banter between the MCs. No one talks like that ALL. THE. DAMN. TIME. The rest of the Mike Bravo team was the same, even the sole woman, Angel. The secondary characters, in general, were cookie-cutter. To be honest, even the MCs, especially Iris, didn't strike me as particularly complex characters.
Trav is the boss man, and his story is next. That was really, really obvious from the multiple clues the author dropped. Subtlety is dead....more
ETA: The author wrote a Christmas short story featuring Edin, Hunter, and Charlie (poor, lonely Charlie who needs to get his HEA soon!). If you liked ETA: The author wrote a Christmas short story featuring Edin, Hunter, and Charlie (poor, lonely Charlie who needs to get his HEA soon!). If you liked this pairing (and even if you haven't read books 3 and 4), don't miss this feel-good story (a hot AF steamy scene is included too!): https://lily-mayne.com/short-a-monstr...
~4.5~
I fell in love with Edin in book 1, and his story did not disappoint. I liked Hunter less, but I also understood his anger and frustration, as well as his unwillingness to trust strangers. Hunter is a tough cookie, but he has to be.
I can't fathom surviving in a place as barren and desolate as the Wastes, with danger lurking at every corner, much less doing so with a prosthetic leg when walking hours each day is a necessary burden.
The plot of Edin focuses on Edin and Hunter (who very reluctantly, and after much convincing, accepts Edin's help) tracking down and rescuing Hunter's best friend, Charlie, who is taken by monsters that live underground.
As human and monster conspire to save Charlie (with help from Wyn and Danny!), the MCs uncover a sinister, barbaric scheme involving both humans and monsters. This plot point is not fully resolved, but I'm hoping the storyline will continue in a future book.
This book still contains violence and steam aplenty, but it's not as sensual as the first book and the violence is not as graphic.
Edin and Hunter's relationship didn't feel as solid to me as Wyn and Danny's, but I was satisfied with the ending (except for Charlie's indecision: Is he going to stay or leave?). There were a few loose ends that, again, I'm hoping will be addressed in upcoming books.
Just reading the blurb, I didn't think this book would be my cuppa. Post-apocalyptic world? Monsters? Violence? No, no, and more no.
But I'm a curiousJust reading the blurb, I didn't think this book would be my cuppa. Post-apocalyptic world? Monsters? Violence? No, no, and more no.
But I'm a curious bitch and wanted to see what all the excitement was about.
And, holy hell, y'all, I loved the fuck out of this book.
The story has it all:
- Tension and angst aplenty. When the shit hit the fan around the 75 percent mark, I started screaming at my Kindle. Knowing something was going to happen, but not how and when, about killed me.
- Unlikely romance. Danny is a poor kid from the South who never wanted to join the military. Wyn is a monster. He doesn't have a human form, and he doesn't need one. My anticipation over Wyn finally allowing Danny to see his face was intense!
- Hurt/comfort (not for those with weak stomachs, but the book is set in a cruel dystopia after all).
- Amazing secondary characters, even the evil ones and especially the monsters. How cute is Edin, seriously?
- Hot (and I mean hot!) sex. Wait until Wyn's genitalia is described. Mmm ....
I longed for Wyn's POV, but that's a small complaint. I'm reading Wyn next, so I'll get his perspective there....more
- age gap (Stuart has almost two decades on Prince Jordan)
- opposites attract (Stuart is a former military, tough-~4.5~
This book ticked all my boxes:
- age gap (Stuart has almost two decades on Prince Jordan)
- opposites attract (Stuart is a former military, tough-as-nails bodyguard; Jordan is the sheltered, spoiled son of the king and queen of a fictional Eastern European country who is oh so ready to become a man)
- bodyguard & client (that push/pull of growly, protective instincts and bratty resistance just does it for me)
- BDSM lite (Sir/boy, bondage, spanking)
- Dom/femme power dynamic (Jordan will one day be king, but he's always going to be Stuart's boy)
- debauching the virgin (so bloody hot, I can't even XXX)
- relationship-focused story (there's no crazy rescue, no danger, no politics, no drama, just two men thrown together by calculated chance who explore a few adventures ... and each other)
- fairytale element (Royal families exist. Jordan's parents are just extra chill and understanding, and the country of Elloria is the most idyllic place on earth. Totally realistic? No. Feel good? YES. There's enough evil and hatred in the world. I'll take utopia any day.)
- sigh-worthy epilogue
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. My only disappointment is that it ended....more
~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~
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