Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 38

  

• A Blaze in the Dark: Bearer of Truth Book 1, Miranda Turner
• Snowed In: Nen and Anani, Nell Iris
• Salute to the Stud, Beth Laycock

Found in an incredibly despairing situation, Bain is rescued by someone who should be his sworn enemy.  But instead of more continual torture, he's given care, concern, shelter, and protection.  And when he's well enough to know just how severe his savior's situation is, he realizes he's been rescued by his mate.  Antonio never expected to find his mate in a torture chamber, but he'd never turn his back on someone who needs his aid, especially not the other half of his soul.  Danger is never far, though, and they'll have to fight a vicious enemy and choose to trust someone whose reputation is worse than the man they're running from.  Will their choice destroy their future or gift them one?

This was a really intense story with a ton of damaged souls, healing, violence, and a perfectly appropriate slow-burn romance based on all that is good about love and patience.  Antonio's strength comes not only from his fighting prowess and ability to protect, it's from the strength of his soul.  The honest yearning in both men is truly touching.  I will admit to being incredibly lost, though, when it came to world-building and factions and characters.  For being the first, more like a prologue, for the series, there are big gaps in knowledge and a whole lot of things that never really get explained in this story.  I'm actually quite interested in the full series, though most of that is curiosity and wondering just how everyone and everything fits together and what is really going on in this world.  3.5 stars.

A law kept them apart, a mother's love gives them a second chance.  With supernatural elements and a world of magic, Nen and Anani's story was surprising and had beautiful undertones of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.  Second chances are sometimes sweeter than first encounters and theirs is no exception.  I didn't actually connect with the characters as much as I wanted to, mainly because it felt like while trying to keep the fantastical elements, we were kept separate from their world rather than sucked into it.  The angst and frustration and hurt, however, that did grab attention and was difficult to find resolution from.  There were a few magical elements that were brought up as being more than what they were so when we get to the conclusion, it was a bit of a let-down in that regard, but freeing in the more romantic aspects of the story.  Overall, this was a sadder sweet story that was a nice read.  3 stars.

An anniversary present gone wrong gives Jasper a second chance at love and a new outlook on life when he finds himself on a tropical vacation with his sister rather than his boyfriend.  Smarting from his ex's cruel words, Jasper is determined to remain in his shell while only dipping his toes into paradise, but when he receives a sexy text from a wrong number, he just might gather enough courage to jump in feet first instead.  Tamal might be just what he needs to to find who he really wants to be and who he might want in his life.  Distance might not be the only problem they'll need to overcome, however, because secrets and surprise visits may derail whatever they were beginning to build.

Jasper was endearingly awkward and so very honest.  I liked him quite a lot, insecurities and all; especially when he found his backbone regarding his ex and what he wants his future to look like and who he wants in it.  Tamal was a bit less of a draw for me.  He had kindness and patience and a whole lot of sex appeal, but it was his eagerness to believe conniving words rather than the yearning and openness he saw in Jasper that disappointed me.  I didn't feel drawn into his character.  It was Jasper that kept the story moving and his personal evolution that made the story stronger.  Despite the lack of depth surrounding Jasper, this was a cute story that had plenty of steam and a sweet ending.  3 stars.