The Blacksmith Queen: The Scarred Earth Saga Book 1, G.A. Aiken

This author is seriously one of my absolute favorites and I've read everything any library I can find that carries them in both their pen names.  The insane world they create under the name G.A. Aiken is fascinating, well-detailed without being overly complicated, includes incredible creatures and their personalities are all distinct as races, and the characters are both nuanced and simple so the overall story carries a wonderful balance.  And with the irreverent, slightly immature, witty humor?  I'm just...gone.  I adore it.  And I've already re-read it four times.

With this story in particular, we're in the same world of the dragons in Dragon Kin, just in another part of the world and we get to focus on a human and the centaurs she meets all because of a quietly power hungry sibling no one ever expected much of.  I really love Keeley, how her thoughts are always of her forge and her family, that her daydreams are of what she can create from her own hands and fire.  Despite her difficult relationship with Gemma, it does get sorted in the end once they both drop their prejudices and expectations and just express their feelings, the banter and "arguments" between every other character fit with the characters themselves as well as with the author's style.  Keeley in particular is positive, loyal, determined, and just scared enough to balance out her desire to do what's best with what's possible.

Well, what's possible in this world is nothing short of fantastic.  She meets amazing creatures, amazing characters, and her adventure is more about forging her own path to becoming the kind of queen the world needs to combat her brilliant yet soulless sister.  The story follows that journey and the romance is kind of a consequence of getting to know one another in all kinds of situations.  That's something I absolutely adore about this author's stories, that lust and getting it on is rarely the first thing that happens when there's a saga to be had.

Characters are well-formed, connections are made, and the relationship is often based on a believable foundation.  When species live as long as they do in this world, it would be a shallow connection and a horrendous future they'd face as mates if it weren't strong and real before adding all the sexy times.  The romance does take a bit of a back seat in this story and I feel that was absolutely appropriate for not only the MC's, but for the whole saga that's to come.  It's a part, not the focus, and I CANNOT WAIT for more!

*$6.99 on Amazon

The Old King Is Dead
 
With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophecy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.
 
Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …

The Serpent's Coil: Tin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 1, Elizabeth Silver

Even though this is listed as first in the series, it doesn't have to be read in order since it's not a chronological series, only related in that the world they all exist in are shared amongst all the books.  That being said, some elements are also the same, not just the setting.  There are certain powers in weapons and relationships with guardians that are common throughout, but the individual powers can vary.  In this case, there are elements involved and this was unique to this story and was something I really, really drawn to simply because it was new to me in this world.

Both men in this story have something incredibly interesting to offer this world of the Tin Star witches.  Their powers aren't something we've seen in other stories and I was fascinated to see where it would take us.  We got a quite general introduction to their powers, that they were related to the elements, but not a ton about how they use them or anything really deep about the possibilities or implications of their powers.

I have to admit the outcome was quite tame and everything was an HFN finish, even that with the family and the source of the earthquakes.  I wish so much that were not the case because the buildup was there, the climax however, wasn't as powerful as we were leading toward.  Even the chemistry between the men was tame and more sweet, but with a lot more feeling coming from William than Marcus.  I didn't feel the depth of love or longevity coming from Marcus to match William's sweet intent and that was another avenue of importance that wasn't given its due.  So overall the story was fine, it just wasn't as strong as others in the series I enjoyed, like Ruby Run.

*$3.99 on Amazon

New Mexico Territory. 1868.

Marcus Rivers knows something is very wrong with the magic around Ruby Gulch. He’s kept his suspicions to himself, but his investigations have gone nowhere. And after months of living rough and fruitless searches, he’s on the verge of giving up. Then the mine owner’s son comes home.

Freshly graduated from the San Francisco University of Magic, William Dolan returns to find the town on edge. Even the land thrums with tension. When he meets Marcus and together they stumble onto the secrets of the mine, Will is going to have decide if he’s able to defy his father. If he’s strong enough to go for what, and who, he knows what’s right.

The differences between the two men are as wide as the desert. Wealth, race, status – despite all this, fate keeps throwing them together again and again. They’re going to have to work together if they’re going to save countless lives. The hard part, however, is going to be figuring out what to do with their hearts if the ruby dust ever settles.

Forged in Magic: Twin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 2, B.A. Tortuga

There was so much feeling and trepidation that filled the prologue that I was emotionally primed for whatever the rest of the story offered.  And then we meet Owen who is gruff, gritty, and grieving.  The tone was really set right from the start with how harrowing their journey might become.  Add in a wonderful guardian, some truly interesting and humorous side characters, and this was a solidly enjoyable story.

But I have to mention the stuttering feel of the writing, the dialogue, and the timeline confusion.  I didn't think the story actually flowed smoothly from one moment, one crisis, one passionate embrace to the next.  The transitions and feelings that connected each of those could have been polished and finessed so it could effectively carry the feels we were set to expect with the beginning of the story.  It wasn't clear how much time passed between the tragedy and the reunion either.  Though if it was and I missed it, that's my bad, but seasons were mentioned, Owen was uncomfortable yet resigned to the idea that his beloved was dead and so he sought physical affection from purchased bodies, and the appetites of the Eaters in relation to how often and how much they fed from Jericho's magic...all of these things pointed to a longer time apart, but it also felt like it was maybe not very long?  I just didn't like constantly wondering whenever some time frame was referenced and I had no actual reference to refer to.

The side characters, the number of animals, the sweet children, the very clear love between the MC's, and the interesting element that was the Eaters were all parts to enjoy in the story.  While not my favorite book in the series, it's a solid addition and hasn't given me any reason to not continue with the next book I can get my eyes on.

*$2.99 on Amazon

When Owen McBride sees his lover Jericho stagger into their homestead outside of Ruby Gulch, New Mexico, he thinks he’s seeing the dead come back to life. Jericho was lost to him when the wagon train he was leading was taken by monsters called Eaters, and Owen expected to be alone the rest of his life.

Blind, poisoned by magic, and near real death, Jericho Nater comes back to Owen, needing the love his man offers, and his help. The doomed wagon train’s children are still alive, and Jericho has promised to go back for them. Owen can’t bear to lose Jericho again, but he would never deny Jericho something so important. Together they must find a way to save those kids, and to make their way home alive.

Little Infinities: Love by Chance Book 1, Kiska Gray

Full warning, there is another partner.  True, Seb and Apollo aren't technically together when it happens, but it is after they have their weekend of sex and true connection.  When I read what Apollo did I felt sick and nearly gave up reading.  I even teared up.  I truly can't stand MC's that do that; it gouges out a scab I have in my heart for denying your soul what it needs, who it needs, and in the case of Apollo and Sebastian, there are no two souls that need one another more.  And seriously, it was only the next day that Apollo went out and slept with someone.  Not even a week later it was Sebastian who made the grand gesture to get them back on track.  I wasn't a fan of that at all.

But...I was glad I stuck with it.  The story was sweet with a whole lot of tenderness and steam to match.  The conflict wasn't in Apollo's actions after their big weekend, it was Apollo's fear and insecurities.  That was handled pretty well, but we didn't really get anywhere with it as it was basically just a constant companion and filled most of his thoughts whenever he reflected on his relationship with Sebastian.  I can't say there was any true healing, but he did come to accept everything Sebastian offered him and that it wasn't a misguided or mistaken desire, Sebastian truly wanted Apollo for everything he was and wasn't.  He just wanted him, in all that that meant.

Sebastian was easy to love right from the start, with his passion, open heart, honesty, and earnest desire for a settled and happy life.  There were times that I skimmed through his inner dialogues because they were a bit repetitive, but other than that he remained the same all the way through the story.  I think that was really what worked for this story even though it made it a little on the simple side.  There were no huge conflicts, the characters basically opened their eyes and hearts to a future with one another, and everything ended with happiness and a puppy.  If you were expecting complexity and angst, this isn't really going to give that to you.  It was simple and effective where we begin with a moment that saved two souls and ended with those two souls forging an intertwined future.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Apollo

On my darkest day, a handsome stranger saved me, but one look into his eyes and I knew he was broken, too.  I promised myself that one day, I'd find him and thank him, but what do you do when your savior turns out to be rock god Sebastian St. Crow?

I'm about to find out.

Sebastian

On my darkest day, I found someone who needed help maybe even more than I did.  Someone whose pain echoed mine, and in that moment, I'd wanted to save him.  I gave him a second chance--bit forgetting the beautiful young man with those haunted eyes was next to impossible.

I can have anyone I want, but I want him...and I think he wants me, too.

Ruby Run: Tin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 3, Sam Burns

From the very beginning the MC's were interesting and complex. They're not remotely similar to one another and yet there's something more that brings them together. Their personalities are endearing in their own ways and for very different reasons. The overall plot moved forward at an acceptable pace that allowed us to focus on the MC's, their pasts, their current difficulties, and what kind of life they would look toward when they finally reached Ruby Gulch.

I think what I liked the most was the honesty. Griff was admittedly a grouch but he never let that stand in the way of how interesting, adorable, and endearing he thought Augie was. Walt was really a reflection of his owner and yet his heart was soft as well. They made a great guardian/range witch pairing. Add in the adorably vulnerable yet eager Augie with his compassionate soul and earnest heart and they were a wonderful match. I enjoyed how their relationship grew and that there weren't any angsty bits with past lovers or misunderstood intentions. Their honesty made their path relatively smooth.

As for the magic and the plot, there was a huge tilt in the balance toward the explanations and romance and not the mystery that followed them. Because we knew who the antagonist was and that they would eventually have their reckoning, the journey was used to build a foundation between Griff and Augie as well as give us a thorough transition from an uncertain future to a solid plan with intention. The confrontation was between exactly who it needed to be between and it hinted at a whole lot of magically awesome things that are to come for Augie in his new life. I wish we had more of their story after that point, but the epilogue was sweet and clear enough that there were no mysteries as to how their life is progressing, I just wish I got to see the settling down at the ranch.

I truly enjoyed this story and am quite excited to see what else this series has in store. The other books are all by different authors and in the same setting, though I'm not sure how much crossover we'll get between the characters. I have certain hopes that we'll see a larger picture of the ranch and the world they all created though, so I'll be back for more for sure. Except I really hope for a little more explicit definitions as to the type of witches because using the basic "range witch" and "book witch" descriptions just weren't enough to understand the scope of what the witches are and are capable of.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Augustus Ambrose never planned to return to the United States after graduation. His mother’s final letter, with its dire threats about what would await if he did, had been more than enough to keep him away. But when his Aunt Grace dies unexpectedly and leaves him her ranch in the New Mexico Territory, he can’t ignore it. Grace gave him everything, and he can’t let her legacy suffer for his childish fear of his mother.

Griffith Taylor doesn’t want much. Quiet nights on the range, a big blue sky, and no rattlesnakes in his boots. He definitely doesn’t want to travel to Boston to take care of his late boss’s heir. When he lays eyes on his charge, everything changes. Not just because Augie is the best looking greenhorn he’s ever clapped eyes on, oh no.

Someone wants Griff’s new boss dead, and they’re not afraid to use forbidden magic to get the job done. Griff can handle himself in a fight, but this job might be more than he’s prepared for.

Baby Daddy Wanted: Masons Book 3, Hazel Kelly

This was a cute story overall with two MC's that had a lot of likeable qualities.  Together you knew they were meant for humor, sweetness, spice, and love too.  While it took quite a bit longer than I felt necessary to get to all the realizations and confessions, I did feel that the ending was exactly what they needed.

The outcome of choosing a donor, a confession of intention, the fantastic snub to the ex...all of that was perfection for the story and the MC's.  I truly enjoyed their awesome moments when their humor, passion, and tenderness took center stage.

Their individual growth was a bit slow, but they did finally get to a point of both emotional healing and inner confidence which paved the way for them to be what the other needed.  They got to where they needed to be on their own and became something more, stronger, sweeter together.

*99¢ on Amazon

Who knew picking a baby daddy could be so much fun?

Maeve's ready to have a baby, but when she's dumped on New Year’s Eve by yet another tire kicker, she decides to stop waiting around for Prince Charming and start looking for a sperm donor. But as Maeve soon learns, picking a baby daddy is no easy task...

Finn
The stunning brunette perched on my favorite barstool has baby fever.
It’s one of the first things she tells me when I sit beside her after playing my set. She’s also just been dumped, but it's her Scotch that tells me that.

Talk about a bundle of baggage a bachelor like me doesn’t need in his life.
Yet there’s something about her that intrigues me, something that makes me believe she’d completely unravel if I could just find the thread that has her so tightly wound.

But she doesn’t give me the chance.
She dashes out before midnight like a fairytale princess with a pumpkin to catch.
She’ll be back, though. Not because I’m a suitable donor, but because I’m going to help her find one.

It’s the perfect arrangement.

We’ll flirt, have some filthy fun, and when she finds a baby daddy that meets her sky-high standards, I’ll bow out gracefully. No mess. No fuss. No feelings.

What could possibly go wrong?

Elias, Amy Aislin

This was precisely what I needed to read with all its awkward sweetness, super low angst, and self acceptance.  The meet-cute was exactly that, a cute moment that led to more and more and more.  There was little conflict and it was resolved quickly so the overall feel of the story was kept light.  And with such a sweet outcome, there wasn't much reason for me not to love this story.  It gave me all the feels I could want and just enough steam to make it spicy.

The conflict revolved around the issue with their jobs, mostly the perceptions of others regarding those jobs and their own satisfaction in them.  Despite seeming like a large issue in their own minds, the situation was resolved quickly with patience, remorse, and the best insight from an awesome father.  Ty's dad really is the best, with the way he handled his wife, loved his kids, and gave the loving, blunt advice they needed to hear.

There's no denying that this is a simple story, one that doesn't take you on a roller coaster of emotion, nor does it have an overly complicated plot.  I think that's the beauty of a story like this though; it lifts you up, gives you all the sweet feels, a sense of passion, and the sense that certain things just don't have to be hard to be right.  Like I said before, this was what I needed when I read it and I'm sure I'll need those same feelings again so this will be going on my re-read list for sure.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Do something new today.
Why he looks at his horoscope every day, Elias Hood doesn’t know. It’s all garbage, and no nickel fortune ever helped him climb all the way up the corporate ladder. He’s about to make Vice President. Rocking the boat with “something new” is the last thing on his mind.

But there’s this guy.

Ty Green can make friends with a tree and Elias can’t help falling for his easy-going vibe and his perfect smile. He’s a fellow Capricorn, like Elias, but that’s as far as their similarities go. Ty works to live—he doesn’t live to work. When Elias takes his horoscope’s advice and asks Ty out, both men are in for a shock. But as Elias’s walls start to come down, they might just realize that they have more in common than they think. In fact, they might even want the exact same thing.
Who knows? Maybe horoscopes aren’t just trash after all.

Secret at Skull House: Secrets and Scrabble Book 2, Josh Lanyon

On its own this was a good cozy mystery.  As part of the series it didn't stray too far from the first book, though there was a little progress in the romance part.  Well, if by progress you mean something relatively concrete being decided, though not the outcome readers are likely hoping for.  Overall though, I think this is likely better as a standalone than part of the series unless you're committed to reading whatever comes next.

I honestly love this author's writing so it's no hardship to read virtually anything they write.  This series is no different, I just think that it's trying to find its legs and hasn't fallen into its stride yet.  Most cozy mysteries feature different cases with the continuing thread being the town itself and the MC finding not only their niche in the town, but what they can offer to the various mysterious events that take place in it.  Ellery is no different, though the first is tough when there are a certain characters in town that seem to have it out for him and will do everything in their power to make him feel unwelcome and unwanted.

There's pretty much no romance in this one, just like in the first book, just hints and some disappointments this time around.  Where they'll go from here, I can guess, but for the most part there's likely going to be a long road for them to travel with a whole bunch of complications I'm not sure I will like since I'm all for romance being a help rather than a hindrance with all the mystery solving.

I'm definitely in for the next book in the series because I'm incredibly curious at how Ellery will fit into the town, if a certain journalist will calm her tits, and how Jack will deal with not claiming Ellery as his earlier.  Also, I seriously want to see more being done to involve Scrabble because up to now, it's been an untapped element in the series.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Unlike everyone else in Pirate's Cove, Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village's only mystery bookstore, is anything but thrilled when famed horror author Brandon Abbott announces he's purchased legendary Skull House and plans to live there permanently.

Ellery and Brandon have history. Their relationship ended badly and the last thing Ellery wants is a chance to patch things up--especially when his relationship with Police Chief Jack Carson is just getting interesting. But then, maybe Brandon isn't all that interested in getting back together either, because he seems a lot more interested in asking questions about the bloodstained past of his new home than discussing a possible future with Ellery. What is Brandon really up to?

Ellery will have to unscramble that particular puzzle post haste. Because after his former flame disappears following their loud and public argument, Ellery seems to be Police Chief Carson's first--and only--suspect.

Honeymoon Sweet: Out & About Book 2, Allison Temple

Doug and Tripp were both on vacation, but neither expected to end up alone.  Tripp's effort to save a relationship that he couldn't accept was no good to keep and Doug's effort to salvage something from his life before it seemingly fell apart came together and gave them both a chance at the kind of happiness they'd always wanted.

I liked Doug's sensitivity and how most of his perspective throughout the story focused on accepting and coming to terms with the reality of his relationship, how it ended, and what he wanted for the future.  Along the way it was easy to fall in love with Tripp and his enthusiasm, understanding, and authenticity.  Tripp's perspective was a bit...not shallow, but not too deep either because he didn't really realize the truth about his own behaviors until his best friend pointed it out to him just before the grand gesture was made, and not by him either.  They eventually did get to the place where they should be, it just took a bit for all the pieces to come together.

There was a definite slow burn in terms of actual physically doing the deed and I liked that.  It would have felt unnatural and unbelievable for them to jump into bed before their heads were in the right place.  When they did get there it was suitably steamy.  Sometimes it got in the way of having the mature discussions about their future that they needed, but that was down to Tripp and his moments of cowardice.  Doug was all in and I loved that about him, but mostly that he didn't let the surprise at the end of the cruise set him on a path away from Tripp.  The writing kind of suggested that it did once they went home, but it was actually pretty obvious that his physical responses were proof of his commitment to Tripp and not his past.  One exception would be the cafe scene, that was a little disjointed for me, but it got Doug moving so it wasn't all bad.

This story had a soft and cute vibe all the way throughout and while not super deep, it was deep enough to be believable, that they'd actually have a real shot at a forever happiness.  It fit with the first story and sets a good tone for the series to continue from here as well.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Doug is a cheese pizza kind of guy. A honeymoon cruise around the Caribbean is the most adventurous thing he’s ever done. Going on that honeymoon alone is unthinkable, but here he is, with a luxury suite and a broken heart.

Tripp is a hopeless romantic. He’s in a sinking relationship that’s been taking on water for months. He’d throw in the towel if he had one, but he’s naked and locked out of his room.

No one should be on a cruise alone, and Tripp has a simple solution: he and Doug will pretend to be husbands and enjoy everything a week of sea and sun has to offer. But as the days and nights heat up, can a cheese pizza kind of guy be brave enough to give love a second chance?

Daddy Ink: Get Ink'd Book 1, Ali Lyda

I honestly wish I could have rounded this up for Javi because even though he was gruff and shut down quite a lot, there just wasn't enough here for me to love and recommend.

The story started off interesting enough with two men I really wanted to get to know.  Unfortunately it was pretty much a non-issue after that because neither man truly inspired me.  Javi had more potential for me because he was misunderstood, had an awesome package and a bit of damage on the inside that could have been worked into some amazing growth and vulnerability.  Except Gordo pretty much walked all over that and Javi let him for far too long.  With so much hot/cold back and forth and very little genuine warmth to build on, there wasn't a whole lot to go from and convince me they belonged together.

Gordo didn't charm me hardly at all.  I know he struggled, I'm a single parent and totally get how tough it is sometimes, but his attitude just wasn't understandable and virtually every problem in the relationship stemmed from his attitude and his treatment of Javi.  I lost interest in him so very quickly.

Javi's complications and vulnerabilities were touching in the beginning, but then they almost became excuses for his own behavior of running away and shutting down.  The Big-Mis was predictable and he proved himself cliche and impulsive in an exaggerated reproduction of his actions all throughout the story up to that point.  And then there was the accident.  It really served no point other than to put him in a physically vulnerable place and to keep him sitting still long enough for Gordo to catch up to him and do the whole explanation/insufficient groveling thing.

I just wished for a different resolution, a different journey to get to an admittedly sweet ending.  They became the family they were meant to be and while the premise promised amazing things and intriguing characters, it wasn't an easy road to get there and I didn't find myself wanting to travel it with them.

*$5.99 on Amazon

He’s raising a baby, not looking for love …

I don’t want a serious relationship, and certainly not with the single dad next door. But one look at Gordo? I’m smitten. Even though I might be a tough looking tattoo artist, I know that the ink does a lot to hide my own insecurities. It doesn’t matter how much Gordo seems to like me - I can’t bring myself to make a move.

Talking has never come easy to me - and I mean that literally. But Gordo doesn’t seem fazed by my speech problems or the mess in my head, and soon we’re forming a deep connection. But I learned a long time ago that nothing lasts forever … and when a blast from Gordo’s past shows up, it proves that everything was too good to be true.

At least, that’s what the old me would say. This time, I know that Gordo and his little baby are worth fighting for. I’m willing to walk through fire to get what I want. But can a tattoo artist with a checkered past really be any guy’s happily ever after?

His Fairy Share: Starfig Investigations Book 3, Meghan Maslow

We began the series following Twig and his tumultuous relationship with his fae father and the unexpected boon of a mate in the form of a mage in slavery to a cruel unicorn.  The evolution of the series has been shifting to focus on Quinn and while I wasn't a fan of that in the second book because it essentially neutered all the good and badassery we found in Twig, it really came into its own here in the third book.  I'm really, really hoping for a fourth book because there are still a few issues not completely dealt with and I'd like to see this move into a true partnership now that we've gotten a pretty good base of the two MC's as individual powers.

This certainly wasn't what I expected or even wanted when I began the series, but on its own, this is a really great read.  There are exciting battles, tons more magic, pirates, alien-ish creatures, familial discoveries, and so much more.  And with a huge dose of learning to accept yourself and the past that led you to where you found what you truly needed.

Quinn has really come into his own here.  While there was little to no mention or dealing with the abusive past that led him to this point, he's taking his own future and his mating into his own power and really growing with it.  Twig has become an important side character and I'm hoping they find their way together as a pair because he truly provides the vulnerability, the heart, and the more interesting nuances to the story that it very much needs.

I think my favorite parts are the pirates and the fighting scenes.  We're introduced to new characters that are compelling on their own and add depth to the new realm we're thrust into.  The big battle over the ocean isn't ridiculously overpowered and skewed to one side, it's balanced in that there was give and take on both sides that was part of a larger whole that was the story and all its moving parts.  I really liked this book and as mentioned before, it wasn't where I thought we'd end up, but I'm glad that it was far more interesting than I'd thought it would be.

*$5.99 on Amazon

“Why does this always happen to us?” –Quinn Broomsparkle, wizard extraordinaire

Six months have passed since wizard Quinn Broomsparkle left behind his indentured servant shackles. He’s in love with his half-dragon/half-fairy familiar, Twig Starfig. He’s got a home. Friends. A job. And a father-in-law he could do without. A pretty close to perfect life. But as Quinn has learned the hard way, things rarely stay peaceful for long. Especially when a Starfig’s involved.

Summoned to his home realm and a past he’d thought left behind, Quinn and Twig find themselves in the middle of evil machinations . . . with no clear enemy. When Quinn’s younger brother, Zak, goes missing, it’s Starfig Investigations on the case.

Being the first wizard in a thousand years isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. On top of a missing brother, a broken-hearted red fury, an archivist with a secret, and a ghost pirate-parrot who’s determined to return to his captain, Quinn and Twig’s relationship is sorely tested when questions—and unhappy answers—about their mating dilemma are pushed to the fore.

All Quinn wants is his fairy share of happiness. Is that so much to ask?

A Bit of Me, Kent Lowe

With a good ending and characters that made me feel conflicted, there were some great aspects to the story that other readers obviously really enjoyed.  My enjoyment was a bit less however, because there was just too much conflict that felt forced, enhanced, and prolonged far beyond what was necessary.  It's like the fighting became the focus instead of the changes in the individuals and their relationship.  I didn't dislike the story, but I can't honestly say I loved it either.

George was so juvenile and whiny and immature and reactionary all. The. Time.  The first few pages were interesting because we could see someone who is young but clearly struggling with where life seemed to be taking him, his girlfriend, his friends, and then there was the slightly baffling interest in the young tattooed man across from him in the train.  There was a great start, but very quickly it was snuffed out by the rest of his pouting, lamenting, pining, and general ornery sullenness.  Combine that with his disrespect, drunken behavior, and the incessant moping and I was so very over him.  Only later in the story, much, much, much later, did he start to turn around and with the new softness that Jack brought out in him I could finally see some potential for him and them together.  Of course it wasn't something that lasted in the face of his all-too-frequent freakouts.

But thank goodness for a great grandmother.  She was pretty much the star of the book and I was incredibly interested in Aimee, but she kept getting shunted to the side with all of George's intentional avoidance of anything positive in his life for so long.  Without them I'd probably have skimmed a lot more of the story than I did.

The real conundrum was Jack.  He had an incredibly interesting and complicated past that bled profusely into his present and his situation was vastly more interesting than George's.  Except we didn't really get much of that.  His character was much more problematic and traumatic and the processing of all of that with the requisite healing that needed to happen for him to embrace some kind of future with George was so slow coming that I wasn't sure it would ever happen.

The course and transformation should have been the focus of both sides of the story, but we got mired in all the awful before the switch came, and when it did it happened too quickly to be truly believable.  The moment itself wasn't a bad one, it's just that it wasn't developed into something really transformative, something real and the mark of something that would build a foundation meant to last.  They were both still so young and getting their actual romance in nearly the end of the story wasn't satisfying enough.  So while their story wasn't bad, it was far too focused on the angst and wasn't given enough time to develop into something positive and loving enough to balance the heartache they both faced.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Off Plan: Whispering Key Book 1, May Archer

Mason was surly, difficult, and completely misreading nearly everything to the point of his own misery.  I was immediately charmed by him and his vulnerable churlishness.  I just knew there would be more to his story and a huge part that he was missing and I was determined to find out just what he wasn't capable of seeing.  

Finn was stuck up, judgey, and stubborn.  I was less charmed by him and his arrogant self-righteousness.  He became interesting however, as he discovered what he truly wanted out of life and where he felt most like his truest, happiest self.

The story was fanciful while also feeling real.  There were so many amusing characters that made their tiny town so interesting.  It seemed like everyone was so starved for more that they were happy to get caught up in Big Rafe's big dreams.  Only Mason seemed to see the dark cloud and blind to the silver lining.  Finn was determined to find the silver lining if only to prove that he's not a failure at yet another thing.  Together they softened their edges, gave them a sense of belonging and acceptance, and pushed one another to see more than what was before them.  Their adventure and even the dramatic discovery was suitably chaotic and fit right into all the shenanigans and personalities that surrounded Finn and Mason.

It took a little while for the story to really gain traction, but once it did I was all in.  I found it difficult to not get sucked into everyone and everything.  I'm really looking forward to more from this series and felt we were left off in a good place with good people that are very worthy of all the excitement that's surely coming their way.

*$5.99 on Amazon

I came to Whispering Key for a job. That was all. To show the world Mason Bloom could be more than a small-town doctor living a medium-sized life.

Private doctor on a swanky island with a posh resort? Check.

But from the moment I set foot on this island, nothing went according to plan.

I didn’t expect to find the resort falling apart.
I didn’t expect the people here to be so charming and crazy and welcoming and real.
I didn’t expect legends about shipwrecks and buried treasure.
And I definitely didn’t expect Fenn Reardon, the island’s incredibly attractive, incredibly infuriating, incredibly male resident tour guide, to become the one person I can’t live without.

Thirty-five’s a bit late for me to realize I'm not straight, though, right? And I have big dreams that won’t fit on Whispering Key, anyway—dreams that do not include tying myself to a tiny island stuck in the past or to a man who refuses to think about the future.

My head’s telling me I have to leave Whispering Key…
My heart’s telling me there might be treasure on this island after all.

Submitting to Fate: A Collection of Strays Book 5, Toby Wise

Rhett and Wyn have both led lives that seem to imply they're either perfect for one another or "never the 'twain shall meet" and I'm so glad that both men found a way to submit to Fate and all the ways they could fill one another's souls.  There were some rocky moments, but just like with each and every story in the series, they pulled it out in the end and gave in to a plan larger and more knowledgeable than their own.

One bit that didn't gel for me was their big moment of "communication" where the lead up to Wyn and Rhett's dynamic was building only to culminate in a moment that felt uncomfortable.  Wyn's thoughts regarding knowing what Rhett needed and yet ignoring the signs didn't feel right and that their moment of sharing all the angst from their hearts came so late in the story didn't exactly fit their flow either.  With such a short story I wasn't expecting it to be all hearts and roses, but two really big things that were specific to them and their story weren't given enough page time to feel resolved.

What I did love were all the sweet moments when you could see Rhett growing from the brat-for-brattiness'-sake into the brat-with-a-cornerstone.  With Wyn to ground him, to give him the peace he needs he could assume his role as the brat with more humor than before because he didn't need the facade to cover his pain.  Wyn softened as well and his journey was more one of bringing his past alongside his present and reveling in love instead of grief.  Rhett's insistence in keeping Wyn's past as an integral part of their hearts and going so far as to pass it on to their future was immensely wonderful.  It showed growth and a true understanding of love multiplying rather than living with a heart divided.  That was my favorite part.  These two men needed one another and I was pleased overall with their story.

$2.99 on Amazon

I hide behind snarky comments and teasing smiles because letting people see the true me is terrifying. The day I find out Wyn is my mate, all the BS falls away. He sees me, the real me, and instead of running for the hills, he stays by my side. My past reminds me of my failings but Wyn says I’m good. As I submit to him, just maybe I'll learn to believe him. -Rhett

Here I am, finding myself mated for the second time, pregnant without even really trying with a mouthy, bratty alpha. What the heck was Lady Fate thinking? As time goes on and with a little trial and error, Rhett and I learn to fit into our new dynamics. Rhett may submit to me, but I submit to Lady Fate, and so far, She's never pushed me past what I could take. -Wyn

Play of His Life, Amy Aislin

Even though I usually struggle with second-chance stories, this one was so full of sweetness, forgiveness, and love that never faded that it was a bit easier to give in to these men and their story. Christian and Riley belong together.

Christian was the man that I was drawn to from start to finish.  His heart was so very obvious in everything he did and it was difficult when I read the moments he recounted that broke his heart, they broke mine too.  Riley was a great man as well, but for him to take so long to realize that his obliviousness and then cowardice broke Christian's heart again and again, it took me longer to warm up to him.  His confessions and admissions about not realizing that his choices meant he couldn't have both of his loves were earnest and real.  In his youth and ambition he truly didn't see that his actions were paving a future that kept him from Christian.

When it came time for the grand gesture I can't say it came from the person I felt it should have, especially because a certain someone hadn't really overcome their history of short-sightedness, but it all worked out in the end.  And the surprise at the end was incredibly sweet.  I loved their passion, their reconciliation, and their love.

*$2.99 on Amazon

The last person Christian wants to run into on a visit home to spend time with his mom over the holidays is his former best friend-turned-lover-turned-ex. But there Riley is, in all his tall, chiseled, blondness. The same guy who walked out on him six years ago, breaking his heart in the process. Who knew he’s still in love with the jerk?

Two years ago, Riley was injured out of the NHL, but he’s got his own bakery now and a quiet life selling quiches and cupcakes to his customers. Then Christian unexpectedly walks back into his life, forcing Riley to question his choices. Especially that one choice he made six years ago that walked him out of Christian’s life. Now if only he had the courage to tell a boy how he really feels about him…

Beautiful Beast: Those Other Books Book 4, Roe Horvat

This is seriously one of the sweetest, sexiest, lightly dirty books I've read in a long time. I adored Joakim, enjoyed Kevin, and thought their relationship was balanced between tenderness, steam, and detail. The setting felt real as did their relationship because there was chemistry in every aspect. With pretty much no angst and no big-mis to get in the way of their romance, this was a light-hearted story with a whole lot of bedroom action to spice it up in all the best ways.

With the way the synopsis was written I was actually expecting a lot more k-ink, or at least a slightly darker kind than what we got. There was a bit of D/s and some fantastically dirty talk, but overall I felt it was pretty tame. Well, except for the fantasy they acted out, that was wonderfully smutty. Yet even in that moment there was an immense amount of care and concern for one another because they modified parts of it for what both men were emotionally comfortable with so it's clear in every interaction between the men that there's just as much heart as there is eroticism.

I really enjoyed the writing and that I was immediately drawn in to Joakim's point of view and his need for Kevin. The way he put himself out there and held nothing back from their relationship except his wealth and the way Kevin appreciated everything Joakim offered, it's clear very early on that both men need one another and are such a wonderful fit. Their messages back and forth were heartfelt and provided something real for both of them before they ever met in person. From start to finish I was invested in the men and their story.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Beautiful Beast is a light tale of lust and love, about a beautiful dancer who keeps a wild beast locked inside him, and the man who sets it free.

Kevin used to hold himself back, trying to keep his less conventional desires to himself. With Joakim, he feels free. It's almost as if Joakim can read Kevin's subconscious, touching the right places at exactly the right time, and whispering the most shameless things...filthy, and oh so satisfying.

Falling for Kevin is easy. Joakim can feel it happening and he's powerless to do anything about it. With every touch, his desire grows. Men have chased him for his money and status before, but Kevin doesn't seem to care about any of that. Maybe this time, Joakim should let himself fall, and hope the landing will be soft.