Hard on You: Wingstead Book 4, Caleb Marks

Evan and Finn, what a pairing. This was the first book I've read not just from this series, but from this author as well and I have to say, I was impressed in a lot of ways.

Evan, the big, gruff cop with a bit of trauma to make accepting an open love with Finn difficult. Finn, the sassy, devil-may-care young man with a lot of loneliness to make accepting that he's worty of love difficult. Together they have a tough road that's filled with a deep need to accept themselves first.

I was on board for every bit that they were progressing. There were quite a few secrets that bit them in the bums and I can't say I was totally convinced that they were necessary. I can definitely see why they may have kept certain secrets, but some just felt like they belonged to someone else.

For instance, Evan. His arrangement before Finn wasn't untoward, that it was out of guilt was a little bit of a surprise but also not altogether untoward. But why Evan skirted around it, didn't say what needed to be said, and ended up doing what he did made no real sense for the person we were introduced to and got to know up to the point where that blew up in his face.

And Finn, I can see where a breach of privacy was absolutely out of order, but his reaction, his determination to stay mad and punish Evan the way he did felt so wrong. It didn't do anything to push their romance into a place it needed to be, nor did it really enlighten Evan because he already could tell how much he was in the wrong. It felt so uncomfortable for me to read that scene because it was vindictive, humiliating, hurtful, and a betrayal that was so unnecessary. I nearly put the book down to finish it later because I had such a hard time stomaching that part.

Evan's hints about a previous love was a bit confusing...was it love? Was it heartbreak? Was it pivotal? Was it blended up in the PTSD, homecoming, loss, and grief that followed with his military brothers? Those things felt unanswered. And adding in Evan's struggle with PTSD and his shocking confession to Finn after a big scene in his patrol car kind of came out of the blue and wasn't really something we were leading up to nor was it really revisited either. These things really brought me out of the story.

The reconciliation and ending were quite nice though and I appreciated how they came back together, the things they said to one another fit them both and went a long way to soothe my own ruffled feathers over some previous bits in the story.

Overall I liked it but I'm really not sure if I'll keep going with this series. I'll definitely be back for more from this author, but the other characters we've gotten to know through this book aren't ones that I find myself interested in at all. That being said, when this book got it right, it was really awesome. From the feels to the spice, this book really shone in those moments and they were what kept me reading.

99¢ on Amazon or FREE on KU!

A Veiled & Hallowed Eve: Soulboud Book 7, Hailey Turner

 Everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it's finally time for Patrick to pay his.

This.  Just so much this.  I'm in love, I'm in agony, I'm grieving, I'm elated, I'm soaring, I'm astounded, I'm just...overwhelmed.  I hate that the series is over and I feel that way each time I end a series by this author because they've sucked me in, chewed me up, spat me out, and enjoyed every moment of my torture, it seems, because they do it over and over again.  But honestly, I must love that too because I just keep coming back for more.

Patrick is everything.  He's come a long way and his heart has been maturing and growing and deepening up to this point of reckoning and I can't see any other way this should have gone.  I ache for him and for everything he's gone through and to come out triumphant in some ways and desolate in others is beyond my comprehension or ability to empathize.

And then there's Jono.  He is also everything.  Everything to Patrick, everything Patrick needed, and stunning in a way that was unique to this world and made him unlike any other.  No one else would do, no one else could get into Patrick's heart they way he has and no one else could support him or get him through everything that needed to be done.

There's nothing I didn't love about this story and am profoundly in awe of the world that has been saved and decimated and put through the wringer, for this masterpiece of a series to be written, and for me to be so moved.  I'm not sure anything I can say that would do it justice.  This author has abused and saved this world and the vehicles they chose to break it apart and remake it through their journey toward redemption.

A Veiled & Hallowed Eve by Hailey Turner is now live! 

*Download today for $6.99 or read for FREE with KU

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/Soulbound7

Death is the last lover you will ever know.

SOA Special Agent Patrick Collins has lived a life full of lies, and it has finally caught up with him. There's no denying his past any longer, not after giving up the truth to save himself from a murder charge. But truth alone can't set Patrick free, and time is running out to stop the Dominion Sect from turning his father into a god.

Jonothon de Vere knows survival isn't a guarantee, but he's desperate to keep Patrick safe, even as hope slips through his fingers. With the future unknown, Jono will follow Patrick wherever he goes, even to Salem, where a family reunion reveals a bitter secret that was never going to stay buried.

With New York City under control of their god pack, Patrick and Jono must fall back on every alliance they've brokered to fill the front lines of a war coming directly to the city streets. The veil is always thinnest on Samhain, and what awaits them on the other side is the stuff of nightmares. For when it tears, all hell will break loose, and the gods will be summoned to face a reckoning the world isn't ready for.

The stakes have never been higher, failure has never been so deadly, and the Fates have never been kind to heroes. Patrick knows that better than anyone--because everything has a price, every debt always comes due, and it's finally time for Patrick to pay his. 

Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads TBR list!

About Hailey...

Hailey Turner is a big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing.  She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.  Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.

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Silent Knight: Fog City Book 5, Layla Reyne

 

Friends-to-Lovers is way too simple a trope for the men here.  I've already come to love these men so much throughout the previous stories in this series and I needed to know their story.  There is complication after complication, a wife and kid, deep affection, shared history, separation and reunion...what Brax and Holt have is so vast that they needed to tell their story, I needed to read it.

But something to keep in mind before reading...  This is the conclusion of the drama and danger surrounding the family and the villain is one that is important enough that you have to have context behind why it's such a huge deal and you won't get that by starting here with Silent Knight.  For that you have to dive in from the beginning with Prince of Killers.  It's also in the rest of the series that you see all the complicated mess and longing and affection that's apparent between Holt and Brax.  So my suggestion is to go back to where it all started.

Holt and Brax didn't get a trilogy like Chris and Hawes got, but the angst building up throughout all of that up to this moment was enough to make me yearn for Brax and Holt's story.  FINALLY!!  They get their HEA.  And while it took a long time to get there, including most of this book too, it happened.  We started with the past, the one hinted at but never shared before now.  In Brax's words, his feelings, we see just how deep his feelings went and how they built from their first fated meeting where he fell head over combat boots in love with the scared giant of a young soldier.  It answered all the secret questions of how a bond so strong could have existed.

Both men were fierce, caring, and committed to saving the other, almost to their own detriment.  Holt had been the quiet force, the tortured gentle soul in the other books in the series, but here we got to see him take charge, running in to save, to protect, and threatening their worst enemy for the sake of those he loves.  The ultimate villain was expected, but the way it played out, seeing everyone put the pieces together while also battling Brax's savior complex and his pride and stubbornness, it all worked out to a sufficiently dramatic confrontation that was resolved without the flash-bang of the drama and distractions that preceded it.

I do wish we had spent more time with them on the happier, more settled side of the conclusion.  It was a little too abrupt and off-page for all the angsting we'd done up to this point.  The choices made at the end were exactly right for everyone and I couldn't be happier with finally seeing Holt and Brax be together as they were meant to be.  There was a mention of a certain company, Redemption Inc., and I'm pretty much salivating over that becoming a new spin off series.  The world the author has created in San Francisco is addictive and compelling; I'd be ecstatic for another reason to rejoin it.

*5.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

I won't let anything happen to you.

Fourteen years ago Braxton Kane's feelings were forbidden.  As an officer, he couldn't fall for an enlisted...no matter how much he longed for Holt Madigan.

Now―as a police chief in love with a digital assassin―his promise to always protect Holt is becoming harder to keep.

I'll protect you.

Holt doesn't understand why his best friend has been pushing him away for months.  But when Brax's life and career are threatened, Holt refuses to allow the distance any longer.

The Madigans protect their own, and Brax is family, whether he believes it or not.

I won't let anything happen to you either.

Forced together, Holt realizes his feelings for his best friend have changed.

His desire to explore the promise their single night together held is undeniable.

His resolve to protect the man who has always protected him is unshakable.

But if Holt wants a future with Brax, he'll have to search and destroy the person who attacked him―before Brax activates the kill switch and sacrifices himself.

*Silent Knight is the fifth book in the Fog City romantic suspense series. It can be read as a stand-alone but is best enjoyed after reading books one through three of the series, in fact, it's definitely my opinion that you should really start with Prince of Killers.

About Layla

Layla Reyne is the author of the Fog City, Agents Irish and Whiskey, Trouble Brewing, and Changing Lanes series.  A Carolina Tar Heel who now calls the San Francisco Bay Area home, Layla enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance.

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A Reluctant Boy Toy: Men of St. Nacho's Book 3, Z.A. Maxfield

Virtually no conclusions about anything, but I still really, really liked it.

So this wasn't actually set in St. Nacho's despite being "marketed" that way by being included in the series.  There's a connection, but a vague one at best, so I don't know how well it fits in terms of setting or cast, but in feel and theme it really does so whatever you choose to make of that, there it is.

Stone really got to me.  Maybe because I relate to the demi discovery after a failed marriage, but there's something in his tremendous heart and infinite care of those he cares for that hits me right in the feels.  His shame and guilt are a bit painful to watch because the way he describes his fears and his vulnerabilities feel real and not something made up to give him complexity in a story that eventually gets an HEA.  That's not what happens at all.

And then there's Bast who has a truckload of unresolved trauma that comes back with a vengeance.  All the good he's done and the healing he thought he achieved before that happened falters in the face of a very real and disturbing situation.  I liked him and that no one let him continue running from the consequences of PTSD from whatever really happened in his past. His honesty with Stone and his expressions of mortification were endearing as well.

So then there's the whole plot and character progression and the romantic arc to consider...

Plot: not much of one, to be honest.  It basically centers on the personal evolution of each MC and how that brings them together.  Throwing around little to no detail of Bast's past except that one video and a lot of intimation from one uncomfortable conversation with a pervy dude because of the NDA was annoying, actually.  I get that we didn't really need a whole rehashing of some sick stuff that older dudes in the industry perpetrated on young, naive kids new to the scene, but it felt way too swept aside with the mention of the NDA even in Bast's personal thoughts.

Character progression: Stone does most of the growing because he's got a lot to discover about himself and come to terms with at the same time as making peace with his past.  It's not complete by the end, but there is huge progress on the past front and a full acceptance of who he is in relation to Bast and what he wants out of that relationship.  Bast doesn't actually deal with much of anything by the end and his character is left hanging despite being under the care and encouragement of Stone.

Romance: definitely on a good footing by the end, though the HEA is implied and not explicit because of where the author chose to end the story.  Very slow burn and very low steam as well.

By the end I felt it was a really wonderful story and I was actually glad the author didn't try to cram in full resolutions on Bast's legal issues, Bast's emotional issues, Stone's relationship with his ex, Stone's relationship with his kids, Bast's career, Stone and Bast's living arrangements, therapy, etc.  To do that the story would really have to be lengthened quite a bit.

Perhaps some of it could have been left out completely from the outset to keep the story simpler.   Maybe we could have gotten a lot less of Stone's job and the repetitions of wolf-dog issue explanations.  The balance could have been improved, yes, but judging the story for what we got, I was actually not displeased by the end and really felt for Stone and enjoyed the read.  I'm still all in for the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon

A physically scarred veteran. An emotionally scarred young actor. Can they let go of the past and find a future together?Stone Wilder is happiest with his emotional support dog and the hybrid wolfdogs he rescues. They don't react to his scars or call him queer because sex doesn't interest him all that much. Maybe that's why he doesn't believe the rumors that paint gorgeous Sebastian Keye as an unprofessional "it boy." To Stone, Sebastian is simply a nice kid who shares his interest in dogs.

Sebastian is drawn to Stone's warmth and caring nature. With the help of his stalwart PA Molly, Sebastian and Stone begin a quiet friendship. But a video from Sebastian's past suddenly goes viral, causing old hurts and humiliations to destroy his emotional stability and nearly cost him his life.

After Sebastian's world falls apart, Stone wants to support him. But Stone has his own tortured past, and they can't move forward unless he makes things right.

Will growing close to Sebastian lead Stone to a new understanding of who he is and what he wants?

Bear Essentials: Bear Lake Chronicles Book 1, Rain Carrington

Self-discovery is something very moving, very powerful, and when written well it can allow us to search within ourselves to discover something new on our own.  For Ked it's a journey to seeing who and what he needed to find his center.  For Sean it's finding the one person who could understand and yearn for everything he is and could be.  They both needed exactly what each could be and I loved that they found their ultimate happiness with one another.

But I had serious issues with a lot that happened.  My first and largest frustration is the issue of trust.  I totally get that in outlining rules between the two there were certain expectations Sean had for Ked, but demanding trust from the sub while giving no such assurances as the Dom, having double standards are what led to the huge blow up and separation.  And then for the apologies and the guilt and the restitution to come from the one person who was left questioning, vulnerable, and hurt by the omissions...I felt I truly didn't want to finish the book, except a good portion of the book was left and I can't stand to leave a book unfinished.

While the ending kind of made up for the biggest missteps, I still felt quite sour about a few things and don't think it fully redeemed itself.  The book was fair overall, but really didn't work for me in enough ways to engender a recommendation.  There were some gems, the potential as with the town and some side characters that could persuade me to revisit the series.  The excerpt from book two featured one person who intrigued me and one who needs a bit of redemption; both need to find courage.  I hope the series progresses and improves.

*$4.99 on Amazon

A sleepy little town doesn’t know what, or whom, is about to hit it when Ked, Kaden Edmond Donegal, comes there to live.

Hyper and determined, Ked longs to be a great forest ranger, taking care of the land, watching over it like its protector. What he didn’t count on is falling in love with the people there nearly as much as the land, and one in particular that doesn’t give him the time of day.

Sean Ashby moved to Bear Lake to hide away from the world after he nearly died while serving in the army. A local artist, he makes his living bringing pieces of wood to life with stories of their own. When he sees Ked, he sees someone who needs tamed, but he doesn’t feel as if he’s up to the job.

Not giving up on the bearded ginger bear, Ked does everything he can to get in the way of the man, and he finally gets what he wants. Or, at least, what he thought he wanted. Sean is a dominant who needs a submissive, and Ked never thought of himself that way. With Ked’s rambling voice hushed and his hyper movements slowed, Sean leads him into a new life he didn’t realize he needs so badly.

The townspeople take him in as family, a man loves him unconditionally, and poachers are in need of catching. Is Ked up for his new life? Can he be a part of a community that is quirky and quiet, or will his own quirks and rarely silent voice make him permanently an outsider?

About Rain

 

I love writing, it's been my dream for many years, and in October of 2013, when my first book went live on Amazon, that dream came true.

Writing love stories that are centered on flawed but lovable characters is my passion. Finding love between people is't easy, nor should it be. Even in a book, there have to be obstacles for the story to feel real.

I am a mother of three amazing people, and three adorable fur babies. I live in Colorado but love many other places besides my home. One state in particular is New Mexico, the state where I was born has always held a place in my heart.

People and places make my stories what they are. Each character I've written is a part of me in some way. Each place I write is as well. Adventures come in many ways, and each of my stories has taken me on an adventure that I treasure.

Come with me on my adventures and fall in love with my characters, as I have. I promise, you will love the ride.

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Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and an unsigned print copy of Bear Essentials!

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The Hitman's Guide to Tying the Knot While Not Getting Shot: The Hitman's Guide Book 3, Alice Winters

It wouldn't be a Leland classic if there weren't over-the-top declarations and pew pew shenanigans and Hitman 3 does not disappoint.  I have to say it's Sarge and the dobermans that take the cake as my favorite bits in this book though.  While I continue to love Leland and adore Jackson, the puppers steal the show this time around.

There's a bit of maturity that happens here that was only hinted at before now and I'm incredibly glad to see it; Leland is finally settling into his skin and his place with Jackson's family.  Until it's threatened.  Surprisingly, and also a bit predictably, the danger comes from Jackson's past and not Leland's so there are a whole bunch of things we can't predict or assume that's going to come at them.  Making the focus shift onto Jackson and their need to protect one another while also learning to truly involve one another in the solution it brought that maturity I mentioned and it allows both men to both flounder and bloom.

Getting these men to the altar was a bit of a trial with all the crazy bombarding them as well as Ava, the resident monster-in-law.  I can't say I ever truly warmed up to her, but she did soften enough that I didn't mind her as much by the end.  There were quite a few bits in this story that I actually found myself skimming, unfortunately, and that was nearly every Ava scene as well as the Mila ones.  I love that she attached herself to Leland, but I felt a bit off that she did so while acting the way she did toward Jackson  It's probably because Jackson is my favorite character out of everyone though.  Also...she read way older than 7 so I had a hard time wrapping my head around her at all.

Ultimately it was bringing in Jackson's military past that was definitely the right approach for the third and "final" book.  Their story won't ever truly be finished, what with all the short stories and supporting/infiltrating roles they'll take when Cassel and Jeremy get their chance at the spotlight, but for now their "end" is full of all kinds of growth, hope, and silliness.  I'm not ready to leave their lives, but for now I'm left in a good place and can't wait for more in whatever form I can get them.

$4.99 on Amazon

Leland
Is a nice little wedding with Blow-up Randy and Jackson My Love too much to ask for? Clearly, because someone’s trying to kill one of us… again. Generally, this would be my thing and I would jump right in singing my murder song, but they want Jackson dead and I will do anything (and I mean anything) to keep him alive—including and not limited to: ten Dobermans, bulletproof glass, and dragging Cassel in with the promise of more Jerebear. These people have no idea what they’ve done targeting the man I love because I’m coming after them. But when it feels like everything might be lost, I start to understand that I have a family now who will stand by my side and do everything they can to make sure we end this on our terms.

Jackson
When someone attacks me, it’s clear they want something from me. The issue is that I have no idea who they are or what they’re after. And if I don’t figure it out soon, I’m afraid Leland is going to smother me with his overprotectiveness (or put me in a bubble at the top of a tower). The issue is that time is ticking and with the price tag on my head, there’s no telling who is coming for me or when. Together, Leland and I have to decipher who is telling the truth in this game of life or death because I have plans to marry the man of my dreams and no one is going to stop me—especially with Leland by my side.

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.

A Darkness Pierced Heart: Beyond the Pale Book 3, Kit Fortier

Cable and Taylor had a lot to bring and keep them together and their journey wasn't easy, but it allowed them to base their future on something both concrete and magical.  The family that surrounded them gave them support and love and a chance to look at the hard questions so they could truly measure their growing attraction.  I liked the community they were building for themselves and the intricate histories that were woven.  There was a lot of potential with the angsty synopsis that drew me to the story in the first place.

Turns out though, I have mixed feelings about this story.  There were immensely interesting things in this story that made me want to read to the end and there were also pages and pages and pages of repetition and virtually zero progress that made me desperately want to skip ahead to get to the point.  I struggled so hard with the pacing of the story and where this length of story usually takes me a few hours to finish took me three days.  It's a rare book I can't finish, but this one gave me pause on several occasions.

So much grief.  I mean, wow, yeah, there's a lot to unpack with Taylor's history with his wife and I believed every moment of it being hard.  The part I have an issue with is not necessarily how long it takes to come out from under the dark cloud, but that dark cloud lasts days...that's it.  With how long they draw out every dark moment it felt like weeks.  I also think a lot of the grieving was placed under the umbrella of dark magical enhancement rather than something that needed a more consistent and believable path toward healing.  The scene reflected on the cover was actually a wonderful moment that was touching and really great for Taylor and even though I was left a bit empty with what followed.

While this story could be seen as a standalone within the universe created, there are so many connections, relationships, magical elements, and interactions that left me confused until nearly the end and even then I'm still not 100% clear on everything.  I'd highly suggest beginning with book 1, which I did not, and that's my bad.  I'm a bit more on the fence about everyone on an individual basis as well as the plot itself because the story was absolutely filled with sexual encounters, innuendo, overshares, and inside jokes regarding those situations.  I usually enjoy those kinds of things, but I wasn't convinced of the solidity of the relationship without all that stuff.  As for the ending, I'm not completely sold on that either, but I'll say one thing for this author, they can absolutely bait the hook.

*$4.99 on Amazon

The death of a dearly beloved friend brings the Foster-Hughes family back to Mountain Home, Idaho, to support the man she left behind. Taylor Samuels, the aggrieved, must find a way to survive without her. His memories of his injuries cloud his judgment of love in the past, and the love that may come.

Cable Archer, an EMT, finds himself on-site when Mrs. Samuels' body must be collected. He comes across Taylor, and sees what no one else can: he reads the man's aura, and how it tells of despair unlike any other. The consequences of his grief going unaddressed could be deadly.

Surrender: Wrecked Book 2, Kelly Fox

Jake and Jean-Pierre have a memorable meet-cute only to find that there's a whole lot that could keep them from grasping every happiness together.  When Jake's past and their individual mental and emotional health combine it could spell disaster for their budding relationship, but with determination, patience, a fantastic community, and a bit of bedroom spice, they just might find the key to everything they've ever hoped for.

This dealt with a few heavy topics and quite a bit of attention was focused on it.  I definitely thought it was important to be thorough in discussing exactly what was going on mentally for Jake so we could understand just what stood between him and the world he could have with Jean-Pierre.  That intention meant well, but the execution became long and drawn out and quite repetitive after a while.  It dominated the entire story and rather than letting Jake become who he was supposed to be, there was a whole lot of telling and no evolution until nearly the end of the story.

There was a bit of a subplot dealing with Jake's past and how he became the way he was and it was a big surprise confrontation at the end that wrapped that up.  The villain was a surprise, but the whole scene was kind of a jumble that didn't work for me.  A lot of build-up within the scene for both Jake and the situation itself and the actual action felt disjointed and unsatisfying for all the anticipation.

In terms of the more intimate encounters, there wasn't a whole lot of that and what we got was a very loose application of their shared interests that wasn't given enough attention to feel right and grounded.  This could likely have been solved by more objective streamlining.  Having their needs mentioned in the synopsis and then to have so little attention given to it in the story itself was a bit of a miss for me.  I think it just needed a better overall balance.  A better balance between PTSD, romantic progress, and character evolution was definitely needed.

The positives were the overall attitude of Jean-Pierre.  His insistence that Jake is his heart's home was so incredibly sweet and I loved his determination to give Jake everything he needed.  And combining that with his honesty about his own struggles gave him a genuineness that was a bright spot in the story.  The other huge bonus of this story was the community of Wrecked.  I'm crazy about all these men and the safe environment they've created for everyone.

I liked the story as a whole, it just needs a bit more work to be great in my opinion.  There are quite a few characters that I'm incredibly interested in and will likely be back for more, and I may even jump back to Sanctuary to dive in from the beginning.  As a series I find this quite enjoyable, as an individual story, it likely isn't the best representation of either the author's work or the overall series' intentions.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Dark cloud, meet seven-foot wall of sunshine.

We’ve been friends for almost a year, we both volunteer at my brother-in-law’s gym for combat vets, and the chemistry between us is undeniable. So, getting together should be a no brainer, right?

Yeah, not so much.

Pairing up the joyful refugee NBA hero with me—the grumpy wanna-be artist who cracks jokes about being waterboarded—has got to be the mother of all bad ideas.

An even worse idea? Let’s add a splash of kink to the mix.

We’re all going to need a little therapy after this.

Damaged Hearts: The Boys of Venice Beach Book 1, Jan St. Marcus

Life doesn't always end up how we plan.  For Michelangelo and Brandon it seems that life is the complete opposite of how we'd hoped to live, but in their moments of grief and fatalism they find someone to lift them up and give them something new to hope for.

They didn't have a meet-cute, that's for sure, but what brought them together was something that both men needed.  For Mike it was doing something for someone else that opened a door to more.  For Brandon, it was a chance for someone to care that he was alive and worth that care.  The romantic portion of their story was a bit of a slow-burn with a lot of confusing feelings that kept them on edge until they admitted what they were feeling and grasped it tightly with both hands.

I can't say I'm a fan of their voices.  Their young age was incredibly apparent both in expectations and expressions.  And it was their inner voice that kind of irritated because I felt like I was reading the rambling, slightly vapid thoughts of a teenager.  Well, in Brandon's case that's an accurate age, but it felt younger, like early high school and I felt that was inappropriate to the life Brandon led.  It was immaturity that came across rather than simply youth.  Sometimes, especially in Brandon's case, they would seem to break the fourth wall so it was confusing in its narrative because it would jump from describing thoughts, feelings, sights, impressions, etc. to inviting the reader in as if they were talking to us specifically.  The flow wasn't exactly smooth.

If we took out the drama, the government involvement, the Grant bits of the story, I don't believe there was enough development of the characters or their relationship to support the story's intent.  We get distracted by all the stuff going on around and behind the scenes and lose sight of the actual relationship building stuff that will make me believe they're solid, healing, and good for the long-haul.

Overall though, the story was nice with surprisingly little angst and a lot of honesty.  The language and voice were less-than awesome, but I didn't not like the story and while I thought there could have been more balance and depth, it was a pleasant read.

*$3.99 on Amazon

When 19-year-old military veteran Brandon Hawkins is attacked on Venice Beach by a gang of frat boys, he is saved by Michelangelo Curtis, a passerby.

Michelangelo was roaming the boardwalk grieving the death of his twin brother six months earlier. The two men’s unexpected encounter forges a strong bond between the damaged and lonely men.

Inviting the homeless Bran to his place for some food and a shower, 25-year-old Michelangelo finds himself drawn to the younger man. Neither of the men is gay. But before long, their friendship morphs into something like love and takes them both by surprise.

And they have something else in common: The frat boys are out for revenge.

Murder Aforethought: Cabrini Law Book 2, Parker St. John

Sometimes you wake up one day and have no idea that this is the day that will change your life forever.  Maksim definitely wasn't expecting the young man that would grow step by step to be his heart, nor was he expecting a whole heap of danger to nip at their heels the entire way.  But Maksim didn't get where he is today by giving up and his tenacity and determination will be what carries him into the life he never knew he wanted despite any and all obstacles, even if one of those obstacles is the very man he wants to share that life with.

Val caught my attention right from the very beginning.  You could so clearly see everything Maksim saw right away, that damaged and vulnerable inside covered under a hard shell.  In their attraction it was very much a case of like calls to like where they both know something of hardship and facades.  To protect the ones they love most they're willing to do and say what's necessary even if no one sees it as valor or anything other than despicable.  What I loved most about both of them is that we got right to their hearts and could see just how much they could provide a safe-haven for one another.

"I've been waiting 42 years for this kind of special." -Maksim

The drama was kinda big, but it actually fit quite well.  It worked well with the mob mentality and while there were a few threads that didn't find a conclusion, I'm almost sure we'll get those with Miguel's story...super excited for that one, by the way.  I can see who his partner will be and I'm really stoked to see how they overcome their pasts to find their future together.  What was included in this story for the drama didn't feel too outlandish or too big to "solve" by the end.

The one big issue I had was something that bothered me in Risk Assessment.  The person that sought out the other for reunion wasn't the one I felt should be the one to make the move.  Both men needed to find their place now that their eyes and hearts have been opened and Val really needed to see how valuable he is as a person, but if the person who did the chasing didn't actually make that move I feel they wouldn't have had another chance to be together.  Self-sacrificing is one thing, but stubborn and a martyr complex is another.  While it all turned out for the best in the end, I just wished the lead up to that moment had gone a little differently.  Overall though, the story was engaging as were the characters and I'm even more invested in the outcomes of everyone at Cabrini Law.

*$3.99 on Amazon

A ticking clock. A deadly enemy. Can they keep their heads in the game when their hearts are already on the line?

Valentine Rivetti made a horrible mistake when he became a Marine Sniper at the age of twenty. Returning home with PTSD and a guilty conscience, he’s blackmailed into working for the mafia to save his family.

Maksim Kovalenko has everything he ever dreamed of growing up in a Ukrainian slum. As a notorious corporate attorney, he has the world at his feet. But wealth and power can’t protect him from the emptiness he feels every time he shuts his eyes.

When Val is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, his redemption is a silver fox in a three-piece suit. But Val’s lucky day becomes Maksim’s nightmare when the mafia begins to cut loose ends… starting with them.

The passion between them is overwhelming, but can two solitary men learn to trust each other before it’s too late?

After the Crash: Small Town Hearts Book 1, Emma Alcott

Gah!  I'm not blind to some of the issues in the story, but I just don't really care in the end.  Marshall is quirky and nerdy and so strong.  Fox is vulnerable, suffering, and yet so determined.  Together they are definitely hot, incredibly sweet, and so perfect for one another.  Their journey wasn't easy, they had incredibly difficult moments, but what struck me was how truly together they were.  From the decision to be together until the end, they were one another's support, strength, and friend.  They fought and overcame all that was thrown at them.

The opening of the story set the scene for the kind of lives both Marshall and Fox were forced to live through and where they might go from there.  It wasn't an easy scene to "watch", but it gave insight into both boys, mostly Fox, and background to the men we are re-introduced to later.  When we dive into their adult stories it's clear that while one thrived, the other suffered, predictably the opposite of what we first saw in the prologue.  What was fantastic to me was the role reversal of savior.  It was absolutely fitting for who both men had become in their decade of separation.

Struggling with PTSD is exactly that, a struggle, and there is no cure.  What I liked about how it was included here was that the road to any kind of recovery isn't linear and Fox's wasn't any exception.  I would have liked some resolution to his relationship with his mother because the genesis of his and Marshall's meeting as adults was directly related to that.  It was left hanging while everything else was wrapped up nicely in a big rainbow colored ribbon.

The GFY trope can sometimes be unbelievable because many can argue that that doesn't really exist, to all-of-a-sudden be attracted to one and only one person of the same sex when there was no intimation of attraction at any other moment in life.  I just don't care.  Sexuality isn't ever truly clear for anyone because there are so many nuances.  In this case, I think there was a hint before about a feature that Fox appreciated and even another mention in his thoughts of recognition so it didn't bother me that he hadn't had any other "hands on" experience before Marshall.  I loved that he did all the thinking first and kept it all in perspective of his respect for life and in direct relation to his own happiness since that had been all but non-existent beforehand.  So once he was in he was all-in...metaphorically and literally =].

His chemistry with Marshall was definitely hot.  It served as a fantastic counterpoint to their nerdiness, the drama brewing with Sam, and their stability together to deal with all that mess.  Everything regarding that was wrapped up very nicely in a way that wasn't completely predictable, but not so out of the blue that it gave pause to the story's flow.  With an incredibly sweet and tender ending I was extremely pleased in the overall evolution of the story.  I'm absolutely a fan of the author's other works and under this new pen name you can guarantee I'll be in for a whole lot more, especially of this series in particular.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Rule #1 Straight military men will always be straight, no matter how much you wish otherwiseRule #2 Being a billionaire won’t change that (probably)

Rule #3 The whole thing between you when you were in high school? It was only fantasy

Rule #4 One-sided fantasy

Rule #5 God, how great would it be if it was a two-sided fantasy?

Rule #6 Okay, getting off track

Rule #7 Hiring your hot high school crush is totally okay

Rule #8 If you don’t let your feelings get in the way, everything will be fine

Marshall Lloyd is about to be very not fine. Not only is his high school crush back in his life, but he’s matured into a gruff, brooding, drop-dead-gorgeous specimen of a man that makes Marshall’s wet dreams seem about as exciting as drying paint. The only problem: Fox Fraser, the individual in question, is straight.

Super straight.

The kind of straight that would make a ruler jealous.

But if what Marshall sees when he looks in Fox’s eyes is to be believed, he’s broken, too. There are scars inside of him that no one notices. No one but Marshall. It’s not wrong to want to help him, is it? To hire him to take care of things around the house so he can get back on his feet? It’s just work. Work that leads to lingering looks. To prolonged touches. To… mmph. It’s better not to think about it. Marshall’s fantasies aren’t real. A guy like Fox would never pin him to a wall and do things to him like that.

Maybe.

Probably.

Right?