Reckless Roulette: The Elite Book 1, Alice Winters

There really isn't much I enjoy more than a book by this author.  And when they make it amazing, full of silly shenanigans, endearing characters, badassery, snark, charm, spice, and a hint or flashing neon sign of danger, well, then you've got magic.  But here we also get a redemption of the soul too and that, my friends, made it one of my absolute favorite reads of the year so far.

Kade was suitable annoying with all his arrogance, attitude, and entitlement.  His rage was humorous and the only reason this isn't a full 5 stars is because a lot of his rage went on just a liiiittle too long.  It almost got to the point that I was going to have to settle for Len's love of Kade just being excused as his own tragic backstory altering his preferences.

So while I loved Len and his utter ridiculousness, his sense of justice, his skill with weaponry, his ability to keep Kade off balance and put in his place without public humiliation, my heart was Kade's to lose.  See, my attention and heart was charmed by Len but was ultimately stolen by Kade.

Now, I know it's hard to get through the difficult bits that are Kade in his nurtured awfulness, but there are glimpses of the awkwardness not bred of disdain or contempt, but of the "hurry and look away so you're not affected" kind, the kind that tell you he was taught to look away by others and himself.  That truth is revealed when Len gets rightfully upset by it and puts him on his back in the parking lot.  There's something in him that only Len seems to make him face, and ultimately accept.  Those glimpses are small but so weighty that it made his turnaround absolutely believable to me in this short story.

This book was so damn good.  Kade's turnaround was beautifully written, his honesty and dumbness were beyond endearing, once he pulled his head out, and he was the rock our Len needed to find his own freedom.  I want to read it again right now, actually.  A solidly amazing book at 4.8 stars.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Adverse Conditions: Reclaimed Hearts Book 1, Elle Keaton

While remaining the average length, or at least it feels average to all the other books from this author I've read, we're introduced to a whole lot of people, a lot of elements, a whole new town, and a couple that definitely has some high school angsty love to work out.

As the first book of the series we got something that had a lot of things to cover, as usual, but I think it might have been a little much to toss out all in the same book. Maybe some hints would have been better than how much intro we got into each of those elements because we ended up with a lot less of the natural evolution of Xavier and Vincent.

We got a little of everything here and I have to say, the half a star deduction is really only because we jumped from antagonistic bickering to spicy times to sweet and vulnerable to tentative dating to running scared and standing up to that fear, to their promise of an HEA all while learning about the danger stalking the town, a ridiculous ex, all the townspeople we're going to get to know, and a pup adoption. It was just too much to take us through the relationship evolution at a pace that left us feeling settled before we move on to, my sincere hope, is the property owner and our resident bat-wielding security guard.

I definitely loved the MC's and felt they were relatively well balanced. Vincent's run to "safety" without actually thinking clearly or logically was slightly predictable but annoyingly understandable. As a single mom I find myself wishing I could do the same thing when a potential romantic partner shows up and then I get dealt a blow from my ex or life in general. But it was Xavier's reaction to that, his determination to bring him back around, even if he needed a little push on the timing, was awesome. I was impressed and I have to say that I didn't actually think that's how that would play out because of the Xavier we met right in the beginning.

I'm invested and am really looking forward to diving back into the town and its impending peril and addictive love stories.

$5.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

East End: Hear No Evil Trilogy Book 1, Nana Malone

Nyla and the London Lords...there's animosity, cattiness, and a little too much zeal for getting dirt and it turned me off of Nyla here with East's book.  I know things will get better, they always do with this author, so I'm absolutely invested for the series knowing there will be two cliffhangers before we get to the truly happy resolution for everyone.

East and Nyla's relationship doesn't make sense to me yet, but again, I know it will by the end.  At the moment it's a lot of using one another and withholding potential going around that is likely meant to intrigue and tantalize, except it's not as successful as I was hoping.

That being said, there's beaucoup chemistry, holy geez is there chemistry.  Both in the between-the-sheets kind as well as in the feistiness between the two.  Nana Malone is master at getting two characters to practically singe the pages and then melt our hearts when all the feels get to the surface.  We've yet to get to the heart of the matter, both in the story plot as well as the relationship, so I'm looking forward to the roller coaster these two MC's will take me on.

*$5.99 on Amazon

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Catch me if you think you can...

There is no rest for the wicked.

And I have to confess, I have indeed been wicked.

I have one job.  Protect the team by keeping Interpol Agent, Nyla Kincaid, off our backs and out of our hair by any means necessary.  In the chess game of revenge, the queen reigns supreme.  And unfortunately for me, she's ready to topple the king.

She knows what we did.  What we stole.  Who we burned.  And she won't stop until she unearths all of our secrets.

I might be a member of the Elite, but I'm done being a gentleman.  If Nyla won't stop, she'll force me to play my hand.

I'm just as ruthless as she is, but unlike her, I don't believe in rules.

My name is East Hale, and these are my confessions.

AMAZON

APPLE

NOOK

KOBO

GOOGLE PLAY

Meet Nana

USA Today bestseller, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she "borrowed" from her cousin.

It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen.  She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since.  With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter of time before she started creating her own characters.

While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion, and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

Follow Nana...

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

TWITTER

APPLE BOOKS

INSTAGRAM

AMAZON

BOOKBUB

The Prince and the Pencil Pusher: Royal Powers Book 7, Kenzie Blades

Series: Royal Powers #7
Author: Kenzie Blades
Length: 30,000

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Bad things happen when supos go unchecked. That's why Abarra needs The Ministry: to keep tabs on royals with powers run amok. Queen Maialen has entrusted the safety of her subjects to her nephew, Prince Xabier, placing the agency in his capable hands.

Only, the Prince would rather spend his days putting his own power to good use in the vineyards than to wither away on the bureaucratic vine. Tired of policing perpetrators and babysitting bean-counters, he schemes to groom his first lieutenant (and second cousin) the Duke of Shrubs. After months spent moving chess pieces, he is poised to convince the Queen to assign his cousin to his post.

But an unlikely pawn still stands in his way: the sexy Zain Otxoa is the pushiest pencil-pusher in all of The Ministry and head of internal affairs. Prince Xabier has plotted to have him fired at least thrice. Zain's influence over the Queen—his only saving grace—is baffling.

When a master maneuver to have Zain reassigned exposes a shocking imbroglio, Prince Xabier learns The Ministry isn't what it seems. And Zain isn't a pawn at all.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Review

This was a cute story that held the right note of seriousness and boasted a slower burn romance.  Most short stories focus on the relationship at the peril of the surrounding plot, but this was a bit opposite in that it focused on the reality of the situation as well as its gravity, the growth of the prince, and the necessity for the roles carried out by both men.  Adding in the training element and I was doubly impressed.  It took a while to find its footing and its traction, but once things got moving the story really grew on me.  Similarly with the Prince and his Pencil Pusher, their chemistry was subtle and less visceral, a more timid animal that took time to warm up before becoming comfortable.  Overall this was a good story for the series and a nice introduction to the author.

Excerpt

Not so fast.

My heels clicked in rapid succession as I walked down the centerline of the grand executive hall. It was far afield of the offices on lower floors. It took minutes to get all the way up there, which was why I’d needed to make haste. Left unattended on nights when he would rather have been any place but at his post, the Prince had a tendency to disappear.

The floors were made of marble and their design was quite ornate—a wide white border off to each side, with an elaborate design forming a runway down the middle. It wasn’t a pattern, but a work of art, its geometric pieces reminiscent of stained glass. It gave the sense of walking on a rug made of stone.

Hues from garnet, to ruby, to tawny, to rose made up elements of a palette that swirled and faded to ambers and golds. They complemented magnificent oil paintings of Abarran countryside that lined the grand corridor’s high walls. Spaced-out sitting benches rendered the space worthy of entertaining. Yet, he kept it to himself, and spent most of his time alone.

The downstairs offices were another story. They were filled with six-by-six-foot cubicles configured en masse for the Ministry’s rank and file. Enclosed offices here and there were reserved for mid-level managers: MLMs, as we liked to call them. I inhabited one of the better of these offices—a space in the corner on a higher floor with a not-bad view—though an MLM I was not.

Ostensibly, I was the Head of Internal Affairs, which was exactly her intention—a gross understatement considering my deep involvement with the covert side. Not making that last fact public was by design. My list of responsibilities was too long to name—too long for me to remember most days. Yet, the highest of my duties was to babysit him.

He was Prince Xabier Garrastazu, third in line to the South Abarran throne, son of Prince Frantzisco, nephew to the Queen, and Duke of Brix. He was also the Minister of Powers—the highest-ranking official at this agency and—despite my charge to keep him from making too big a mess out of things, he was—technically—my boss.

“Is he in?” I asked Eusebio, more for his benefit than mine. I knew the Prince’s comings and goings. I had eyes on him at all times. I tried not to roll my eyes as Eusebio made a production of picking up the phone to announce my arrival. The Prince enjoyed forcing me to wait to be let in.

Good.

The more ridiculously childish and infuriatingly vain Prince Xabier, Duke of Brix, chose to be wherever I was concerned, the easier it was to ignore his ridiculous appeal.

“Your Grace.” As usual, I greeted his back, the part of him that always seemed to face me when I walked into his suite. Even from behind, the man was magnificent. Broad shoulders filled out a perfectly tailored button-down made of fine fabric and subtle herringbone design. Today’s shirt—white if you weren’t paying attention—was the faintest of lilac. He was the epitome of a dashing prince.

To be clear, I was paying attention, not only to the way its snug fit showed the definition in his shoulders—to the place where the fabric stopped and his rolled-up sleeves gave way to skin. For all the hard work he didn’t do, there needn’t have been any rolling up of sleeves. In my most outlandish of theories, he did it to torment me.

“Mr. Otxoa,” the Prince greeted blithely, not turning toward me just yet. He stood on a rug in the sitting area with his gaze remained fixed on the fire. His office was a projection of the man himself—pleasantly fragrant, clean to a fault and dripping with style. Tufted wingback chairs with ottomans flanked a matching Chesterfield, all three in a dark teal. Fire glow warmed his features, casting appeal on the planes of his face, flattering the smooth line of his nose and cutting shadows from his diamond jaw.

I stopped at the edge of the rug next to the drink trolley that carried only wine. Its twin at the other end of the Chesterfield was all crystal decanters and spirits. When he turned, I was meant to bow out of deference. This was always the most difficult moment—the one when he first cast his gaze upon me. I faltered at the devastating beauty of his eyes.

“And what have you for me tonight? More documents to sign, no doubt. More supos with powers run rampage?”

He made no secret of the fact that my presence vexed him. Unencumbered by the burden of common birth, the Prince was under no obligation to feign politesse. Logic dictated that his resentment stemmed from me holding him to task. Instinct told me that the sport he made of pushing my buttons was something more.

The Prince finally cast his sapphire gaze upon me and I did bow then, thankful that the deep hue of my skin made it easy to hide my flush. Blood that he could not see rushed to my cheeks and prickled my nose and burned the tops of my ears. If he resented me, I, too, resented him. Training the Prince was not supposed to be so difficult as this.

About Kenzie

Kenzie Blades is a queer author of romantic LGBTQ+ fiction and is the alter ego of a multi-award winning author who writes other fiction under a different name. Kenzie lives in San Francisco and enjoys lots of things that start with the letter B, like bacon, bourbon and books.

Follow Kenzie...
EMAIL

INSTAGRAM

GOODREADS

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

AMAZON

BOOKBUB

And don't forget the giveaway!
10 lucky winners will get an e-book copy of The Prince and the Pencil Pusher !

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Magpie Lord: A Charm of Magpies Book 1, KJ Charles

I adore this story.  I've read it probably five times and feel the series fits the genre, the period, and the two men are given adequate justice in the romance, the sexual, and the intrigue department.  This book is worth devouring as the magic is fascinating as is the whole structure surrounding the use of magic.  Stephen is wonderfully insecure and yet self-assured and Lucien is his match in fierceness and determination.  They make a wonderful pair and I find myself coming back to this series again and again when I want a detailed yet fast-paced story filled with magic, frustration, and sexy MM love.

Lord Crane is arrogant, lofty, frustratingly dominant, and yet fantastic.  There's something in him that drew me in right away and his "eff you, London" attitude was refreshing as he wasn't a repressed aristocratic "gentleman".  Stephen is equally frustrating except in a very different way.  Their relationship will absolutely be difficult because where Lucien has all the "freedom" afforded him by money, options, and societal respect due to his title, Stephen has nothing but his spit and pride.  They're an awesome match in far more than the bedroom, but it'll take quite a while and a journey to get them onto the same page and to get Stephen willing to be all in with Lucien.

Being a practitioner is no easy thing because there's a whole hierarchy and in-fighting and justice issue piling up and Stephen is bearing an incredible weight under it all.  And to top it all off with a request to help a man with the name and face of his family's tormentor and you've got a virtually unbearable load on his incredibly slight shoulders.  But when they find themselves in the country and at the mercy of some very evil warlocks, we get a ton of excitement, utterly intriguing magic use, and a powerful alliance.  The action, once it gets to the big confrontation, is both disturbing and awesome.  It moves so quickly that you almost fight to slow down to catch every word, every nuance, every bit so you're not lost.  Much of it comes back in the third story of the series, so my caution is to get caught up in the pacing, but be careful in its reading.

I can't find anything I don't love in the story.  While not something I expected to love because sometimes historical MM romances can be a bit dodgy, this fit nearly every bill and left me both reeling and swooning.  Such an awesome read.

*Currently FREE on Amazon!
~All prices are valid at time of posting~

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.

Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Spell of the Werewolf, J.R. Loveless

The overall feel of the story was pain and heartache.  Justin aches so much over what he did during the three nights a month he shifts into a monster and he's finally finding his breaking point.  With the support of his friend he's able to keep the monster caged, but his constant search for freedom from the curse puts him in the path of a hunter.  When they strike a deal it's what Justin feels is best for him and the world, but there's a lot about his world he doesn't know even after two centuries.

His volatile meeting with Vincent is interesting in that there's obviously a story behind the hunter and though we don't get his background until well into the story, his mystery is one that keeps me wanting to know more.  I did find his utter hatred strange because his beginning wasn't nearly as horrific as I expected, painful and bad and unfortunate, but not horrific enough to warrant such blind, all-encompassing hatred.  Quite a lot of the story leaned heavily on the animosity between him and Justin before any change occurred.

I can't say I felt a lot of connection between the MC's nor between me and them and the ending isn't even really an HFN either.  There are major things that need a sequel, but despite laying a foundation for one, I have no clue whether we'll get one or not.  So with no real resolution, quite a few questions and connections left unanswered, and a flash-in-the-pan climax that was a bit anticlimactic, I'm on the fence whether I'd want to continue if this did become a series.  Overall it was an interesting story with a really captivating premise and the bones for the story were pretty good, I just wasn't wowed as much as I hoped I would be.

*$4.99 on Amazon

A werewolf with a death wish bargains with a hunter for salvation.

Justin has spent several lifetimes atoning for the violent nature of his curse. A mindless angry beast several nights a month, he carries a burden of blood for past sins. Tired and lonely, he’s seeking an end to his torment.

Vincent bears the curse, though only by half. A hybrid, he hunts those of his brethren who let their monsters take over. And he’s hell bent on destroying them all, until he's forced to deal with one who’s begging for peace. Except deliverance wears many guises.

Their desire for redemption erupts in a fiery passion drawing them closer together.

Follow J.R. Loveless...

WEBSITE

BLOG

BOOKBUB

AMAZON

GOODREADS

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

Duking it Out: Royal Powers Book 1, E.J. Russell

So not a meet*cute kind of story, more like a meet*antagonize/judge story, which actually works in making you feel something for both men.  There's so much to start the story with, a huge chip on the shoulder, an isolated man with a good heart, a confrontation to sort out, instant attraction, a power no one understands, political intrigue...just so much to jump into and while it seems like a huge assortment of things to tackle by the end of the story, it all works out satisfactorily.  A bit simply, but with a shorter story that focuses on the bonding of two men in a forced proximity situation and misunderstandings that really center on them more than anything else, it was well balanced and needed that external simplicity.

I really, really enjoyed the time they spent on the island and when the prickly handsome Tarik is the first one to look closer into Sander, it's that turnaround, patience, and care that truly clinched the story for me.  Sander was gentle and so sweet that he was my favorite at first so watching Tarik become what Sander needed through being open and kind I was all about being in love with them.

Where things went from the island was a little regrettable, but it did give them a chance to sort out their hearts to really decide if it was just a proximity/loneliness/survival thing enhancing their feelings or if it was based on something deep, something real.  When they came back together it was all kinds of awkwardly adorable and I thought the conclusion was just right for Tarik, Sander, and the countries' situation.  This was a wonderfully sweet story that I'll likely add to my re-read shelf for when I need a superpowered pick-me-up.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Royal dukes from rival countries, shipwrecked on a deserted island. The grudge match of the century—or a love story of super-heroic proportions?

Sander Fiala, Duke of Roses, is fourth in line to the South Abarran throne, even though his rogue power earned him the nickname “The Monster of Roses” and got him banished from the Castle. But right before he’s about to set off on his annual birthday sailing trip, the Queen asks him to meet with the notoriously volatile North Abarran Duke of Arles.

Tarik Jaso, Duke of Arles, expects the worst from people because—let’s face it—people are the worst. His superpower bombards him with any and all electronic transmissions, which…yeah, people suck. So when he’s attacked and wakes up in the cabin of a stranded boat, he knows he’s royally screwed. Because the man looming over him—the man he’d gone toe-to-toe with right before the attack—is the infamous Monster of Roses.

Tarik is positive the Monster is behind his kidnapping. Sander is sure the whole thing is Tarik’s fault. As they work toward rescue, Tarik realizes that the disturbingly hot Sander is no monster, and Sander discovers that Tarik’s temper masks a caring soul wrapped in a cantankerous (though undeniably sexy) body.

For their burgeoning connection to endure, they’ll have to duke it out with political factions, dark conspiracies, and centuries of traditions that keep them on opposite sides of the border.

But first? They have to get off this damn island.

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 49

  

• The D- in 403B, Jess Bryant
• Blood Ruby: Tin Star Witches - Witches of Ruby Gulch Book 4, Kiernan Kelly
• Dragon Consultant: Supernatural Consultant Book 1, Mell Eight

This was an overall cute story with characters that I wanted to get to know and at the outset it was setting us up for a meet-hate-cute situation that I was all over.  But very quickly it devolved to something a bit more juvenile than endearing.  Once they finally got to the dating portion it was quick and definitely steamy so I was back on board.  But very quickly it became repetitive both in action and being stuck in their head.  The separation was necessary, though I feel the situation was forced by an incredibly unthinking Brett.  As a vet there was a whole lot that I didn't understand with his behavior.  The beginning was amusing and the ending was really, really good, I just got a bit lost in the middle.  3 stars.

Ishago and Finn had a rather auspicious meeting and while it made things interesting and drew me in, there wasn't a whole lot to maintain that interest.  Their interactions felt like words on a page rather than organic and fluid and even Finn's personality couldn't really make up for the dialogue that felt slightly contrived.  The action was reserved for near the end of the book rather than something that built based on multiple events that carried them to that point.  Things would probably have worked better if the confrontation and resolution weren't reserved for the very end.  There could have been quite a lot more build up and anticipation for the end as well as more care given to crafting Ishago.  Finn stole the show as did his familiar and I wish that Ishago would have been as compelling as Finn.  3 stars.

The different types of dragons, the elements of danger and mystery, and the hint of romance combine to make this a very interesting series to dive into.  It didn't all work together and some personality things were a little questionable, but that's only because this story is so short that we don't get a whole lot about any of them.  We have basics and for a start to a series with shorter-length stories I didn't mind too much.  There was enough to draw me in and pique my curiosity.  3.5 stars.

Just My Luck, Alice Winters

I knew I'd enjoy the story overall, mostly because I adore this author's writing, but this story had a much different feel than others because it was darker and had quite a few elements that needed time and care to get to the answers and the healing.  For the issues to be tackled adequately as well as maintaining the comedic flair that makes Alice's stories all their own wasn't easy, but I think it was done well.  I fell in love with both characters, was charmed by the dog, and was definitely happy with the ending.

Killian came across as both immature and intelligent at the same time while also being oblivious and giving us a sense that he was hiding something too.  He was kind of complicated in a way I didn't expect.  And his atrocious upbringing that we got in the flashbacks made me ache for him over and over again.  He didn't grow up easy.  I think it made him an even more understanding and perfect partner for Shepherd.

The humorous moments that came from Shepherd were a bit unexpected, but surprisingly perfect for who we learn he is.  He's damaged, definitely, but I didn't predict how he reacted to the choices he was forced to make when he was young.  Part of me is torn that he found a way to be intimate with Killian because trauma doesn't always have such an easy transition.  It wasn't really easy, but the lighter moment where he realized what he felt for Killian and what he felt previously was miles apart felt easy.  So while I'm a little conflicted about that, there's an overwhelming part of me that thought that moment was necessary for both men and that it was logical yet full of feeling.

Even though there is a bit of a loose end with the father and the consequences he faced, the end bit with Killian and Shepherd was all kinds of lovely.  It was tender, funny, and exactly what I'd needed to read about their tumultuous journey.  Their happiness was hard-won in the face of all the danger that sought them and when Shepherd's playfulness met with Killian's sass and amusing excuses it all came together.  It was my kind of story, the kind that I could willingly re-read and recommend, which I do, whole-heartedly.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Killian
When I’m tossed into the trunk of a car, I realize that what little luck I have has finally run out—especially when I find that Tony, the man who’d abducted me, is planning on using me to get back at my father. My chances for escape look pretty bleak when I’m handcuffed to Tony’s bodyguard, an intimidating man named Shepherd who apparently loves tight shirts and seems to be amused by making my life miserable. Soon, though, I learn that Shepherd has a heart and a brain. And sometimes, those two things can be a bigger weapon than anything in a time like this. I just have to learn how to wield them.

After Shepherd gets me away from Tony’s men, I discover that he’s a survivor, a fighter, and the only person who seems willing to help me when it feels like the whole world is against me. At first, I’m not sure if I can trust the man, but the more we get to know each other, the more I realize that he’s funny and kind of sweet. He’s determined to protect me, but he doesn’t know all of my secrets. He doesn’t know that Tony isn’t the only one looking for me. But together, as we face betrayal and taking down the worst monster of all, we’re determined that we will be the lucky ones after all.

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