Royal Line: Tattered Royals Book 1, Carrie Ann Ryan and Nana Malone

From the start it was easy to tell that London wasn't truly a pampered royal and it was easy to like her right away.  I grew to love her when it was clear that even under duress, while stressed, feeling vulnerable, and nearly blindsided by an unexpected lust for her savior, she didn't run in fear and was absolutely in control of her reasoning.  She knew not to be an idiot about her safety.  While not wanting to give up everything about her life, she could also admit when it was far too dangerous for her to continue and again, not be an idiot about her safety.

Of course, she chafed at the restrictions, but that was completely understandable under the circumstances.  And not just because of the threat nipping at her heels.  I applauded her for chafing at the high handedness of all the men in her life and especially calling Kannon out numerous times about his astonishingly awful behavior.

In fact, I am so, so sad to say that I didn't like Kannon and he never grew on me.  Not even a little.  His attitude was more than just growly lion with a thorn in his paw, a tortured hero with a traumatic past, or even just a plain ol' jerk in unnecessarily large quantities.  He was disrespectful and patronizing and hurtful on so many occasions that not even his groveling near the end nor his confession enough to redeem him for me.

So the romance didn't just fall flat for me, it tanked and I'm incredibly sad about that.  And honestly, everyone except for London, Sparrow, and Rian were Judgy McJudgersons in virtually every aspect and at every opportunity.  I got really tired of that.  Adding in the very, very obvious villain (way, way too many references to how good and obligated they were smacked of trying too hard to direct attention elsewhere) with a lackluster confrontation (insanity and monologuing and a far too descriptive fight scene?) and you've got a 2.5 star story for me.  I rounded it up because London was a woman worth knowing.

The epilogue was incredibly predictable, I mean, the only surprise was the hair color(s).  I can't say I'll be reading the brothers' stories because they really didn't wow me in any way, it was London that was memorable.  Though I will admit that the chemistry was definitely there, it needed a balance of tenderness and affection, not a wishy washy, fickle, woe-is-me martyr of a dude who suddenly decides London is worth a forced plane trip and no counseling to get his issues taken care of before attempting to win her back.

I love Nana Malone and her writing, her characters are usually compelling, the action well-written and complex enough to draw interest, and the love just as palpable as the physical chemistry.  This story did not live up to what I know I'll get from her books.

*$4.99 on Amazon

I never asked for my tiara.

My dreams were always bigger than a palace. They're as big as the world.

Being fourth in line for the throne should have guaranteed me freedom.

I thought I was one step from walking away forever, but a long-forgotten rule forces me to run instead.

I refuse to marry a Duke and bear an heir to save our titles.

I trust my brothers to find a way to save my future, but first I need to save myself.

Only I never expected to meet danger...and Kannon Adams along the way.

I never asked for her.

My security business has secured all the clueless princess types I can handle.

Princess London Waterford of Alden is a whole other level of trouble.

Not to mention gorgeous and tempting as royal sin. Too bad she's also in danger.

When the bullets fly, I trust no one else to protect her, even if she pushes me away.

Together, we must find who's behind the threat to her life and try not to get caught in the crossfire.

One night together might never be enough, but if those who want her dead have a say, it'll be our last.

Fables Retold, Morgan Brice and Various Authors

I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling, especially when there are a few twists or modernizations thrown in wisely. Four of the included stories really caught my interest and two were written by a couple of my must-read authors so I was pretty excited for this anthology.

Below are reviews for only four of the stories: The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns; The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes; Gruff, Morgan Brice; and The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow.

The Cat Returns to Adderly, Sam Burns
This was a really unique take on Puss in Boots, that the boots were the tool used to bring back the element of humanity in a supernaturally altered cat.  The romance itself took a back seat to Luke's making a home in the mansion of a missing witch while making sense of the life he's trying to gain.  In and amongst all the little discoveries there's something going on between him and the Alastair of his dreams, but none of that really comes together until the very end and by then we're supposed to believe there's a romantic connection, though it's a bit of curiosity, lust, and desperation all mixed up in a way that's okay for a start, but not a good way to end the story.  While the epilogue bit was cute and shows a far more settled couple, it doesn't really deepen the believability of the romance.  I wished there were more magic, more romance, and more of a build, but overall the unique take and interesting premise was passable.  3 stars.

Gruff, Morgan Brice
I love Fox Hollow!  Each story in this world fits the setting and adds interest to a town I wish I could visit in real life.  Adiel and Joe are new additions to the town and their meet-cute was a good intro to Adiel, getting to know Joe came a bit later.  My favorite bit was probably the first shift where they meet one another's goats...adorable!  Their hesitance was endearing until Adiel let his fear and insecurity get the better of him.

The romantic conflict was super predictable and the way they both flew off the handle and stomped off full of self-righteousness and hurt feelings was definitely not appreciated, but what made it excusable was that during their separation both truly reflected on their overreactions and made really astute observations that led to believable resolutions.

And the introduction of the Three Billy Goats Gruff aspect was far more dramatic than I expected, they were powerfully different, violent, and challenging.  Very little resembled the Norwegian fairy tale beyond the desire to consume the challenger and I liked the intent behind the changes.  They were a little repetitive, but still quite effective.  The whole experience helped Adiel to prove, not only to Joe, but to himself that he was stronger than he thought, that he was deserving of more than he's been given or had accepted up to now.  And the assists from Joe were just right; a partnership and a non-verbal show of just where his own heart and hopes lay.  Definitely unique and great addition to the Fox Hollow stories.  4 stars.

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell, W.M. Fawkes

Quite grim nearly from the start with a whole lot of loss and apprehension about huge life changes for everyone, Elio had a lot to come to terms with over the course of the story.  The creepy nature of Bertram, the house setup, the mystery...all of it was fitting to the original tale.  While I was glad things worked out as they did, I didn't connect with any of the characters much at all even though I really wanted to.  I was more interested in Grim, the random dog who was a mystery on their own and left unexplained to the very end.

There was a lot that was unresolved by the end, most the minutiae of consequences from the climax, and I would have really appreciated seeing some of the transition because Elio had two more huge changes coming at him; the hopeful expectation regarding those changes just wasn't enough to satisfy me.  Between the magic that I wanted more of and the friends-to-lovers setup with Dutch that I also didn't get enough of, the story was fine, I just didn't feel there was enough.  3 stars.

The Demon's in the Details, Meghan Maslow

By far the best book I have ever read from this author.  Poe and Tommy are fascinating and memorable on their own and together they are incendiary and fickle and salty and sweet too.  I enjoyed their roller coaster, though I wish it had been an alternating POV and not just Poe's.  From the very beginning I was intrigued and engaged and interested in the MC's and rooted for their HEA, which they most definitely got.

The plot was clear and focused, it progressed well without too many complications thrown in just to make things more interesting.  There was drama, of course, but it was resolved in a way that fit the characters and the family they surrounded themselves by.  There weren't any true surprises along the way, but neither was it exactly predictable; it was just right, in my opinion.  There was a strength in the subtleties, the bad guys were clear, and the good guys were a lot of fun while also being clever and deadly.

There was compassion, heart, passion, and family in all the right ways.  I really want more from this world.  If you sign up for the author's newsletter you could gain access to a short story from Tommy's POV from when he met Poe and while it was kinda nice, it was incredibly short and I thought it was underwhelming.  I'd recommend not reading it after the story, read it as part of the story where it belongs chronologically if you really want to read it, I just think it was unnecessary.  4.5 stars.

*$8.99 on Amazon

Tales as old as time…reimagined.

What if your favorite fairy tales…kicked some serious, urban fantasy ass?

Fueled by magic, steam, and scorching men, this MM romance anthology has just the thrill you’re looking for.

Stories included:

Blake & the Beast by Rhys Lawless (Beauty & the Beast)

The Cat Returns to Adderly by Sam Burns (Puss in Boots)

The Seventh Ring of Bertram Bell by W.M. Fawkes (Bluebeard)

Gruff by Morgan Brice (Three Billy Goats Gruff)

The Demon's in the Details by Meghan Maslow (Rumpelstiltskin)

Spirit of Snow by Richard Amos (Snow White)

Advance & Retreat: The Midwest Series Book 4, Brigham Vaughn

Ian finds maturity and what it really means to love.
Sometimes dreams change, sometimes they grow.

Finding someone to love you, all of you, is tough enough when you don't have another persona, another facet of yourself that's just as valid as the one that performs your day job.  Ricky and Rosie are sides of one person and Ricky is about to give up on finding his person.  Ian isn't sure if what turns him on is something he can publicly acknowledge because a history of love and loss has left him painted into a corner, one where the invisible chains are strangling him but he can't see how to break them.  Both men need something more, someone to celebrate every part of what makes them unique and special.

I think this was my favorite story in the series.  While Touch & Go gave me the redemption story that makes me believe, Advance & Retreat gives me the story of acceptance that gives me peace.  Ian is mature in some ways, but tragically young in others.  He's not had an easy life with so many losses and emotional obligations that bind him to people who don't always see the man he should become.  His loyalty is based on a child's need for family and stability and that loyalty almost costs him the one person that supports his soul.  He definitely makes a quite a few big mistakes and while I'm not a fan of the begging, I am a huge fan of his willingness and determination to fix his mistakes even if it doesn't get him what he hopes for.

Ricky is really great when he explains his feelings, his perspective, and his own part in the huge blow up of their relationship.  I thought he was a subtle, soothing presence throughout the whole story even when he was hurting because of Ian's naivety and hurtful reactions.  He was interesting on his own, as was Ian, but it was them together that really sold the story for me.

The cameos from Micah were my favorite of the past characters involved in Advance & Retreat because they came from someone who knew exactly what it was like to truly hurt the person they loved the most.  His story added depth to his advice to Ian and while it's not necessary to have read Touch & Go, I was glad that I did.  The entire cast of The Midwest Series showed up here and there and added a well-rounded feel to the support and breadth of experience in their little family.  A few other side characters drew enough interest to make me hope for a spin-off series because after finishing this story I'm still not ready to let them all go.  I've become attached.

*$5.99 on Amazon

Olympic-size dreams come at a price.

Openly gay college swimmer Ian Harrington feels like he's fighting against a current of tragedy. He's grieving the loss of his parents and best friend, and now he's dealing with a toxic coach and judgmental brother. But he won't let that stop him from chasing his dream: Olympic gold. 

Ricky Chavez has just about everything he wants in life: a great career, a supportive family, and a side gig as drag queen Rosie Riveting. The only thing he's missing is a partner to share it all with. 

When the two men connect after Rosie’s performance, they're immediately drawn to one another. But it's never that simple. Ricky isn't the type of man to hide, and with Ian's coach breathing down his neck, he can't openly love a drag queen without making waves. 

They'll have to brave deep waters to make it to the finish line.

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Gay Romance Holiday Collection, Keira Andrews

Eight Nights in December: 4 stars

Both MC's were soft and sweet as was their passion.  It was immature because of their age, but not in the way it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Both characters had a lot of growing to do and it's clear that they're given the best possible start with foundations of love, good family, and a faith system that provided tradition and community.  I do wish there had been an alternating POV, but Nate's issues and feelings were relatively obvious so I could forgive that.  Theirs was free of any external angst and the internal issues were rectified really quickly by well-meaning family so the overall feel of the story was light and fluffy.  The epilogue was absolutely perfect for them and showed an immense amount of family love, connection, and happiness that would be anything anyone could hope for.

In Case of Emergency: 3.5 stars

With a slow start and an unnecessary amount of meddling and ridiculousness from the would-be boyfriend, this wasn't my favorite of the bunch.  But then things started deepening and progressing between the MC's and then a whole load of sweetness came rushing in and really brought the story to a better place.  I think the demi bit was slightly contrived and simplistically explained, but other than that, the rest of the story flowed well and gave a great sense of connection between the men.  The ending was very sweet and just right for the MC's.

Santa Daddy: 4 stars

This was a cute story that had a lot of steam and I liked it all.  Getting to know both men and seeing how they changed and grew to become better men by the end as well as more settled was an absolute pleasure.  I even liked the interjected thoughts from Eric's perspective that helped Nick to come to terms with all that stretched him beyond his comfort zone.  It was snarky, tempting, and quite amusing at times.  With a couple of solid side characters to add depth and breadth to the story I was completely sold.

Where the Lovelight Gleams: 3 stars

Another family for the win.  These two MC's really need the support of family being stuck in the Hollywood spotlight.  The sexual chemistry between them really works, but the emotional one felt lacking.  I would have liked an alternating POV because there was quite a bit of internal conflict, withheld feelings, aborted sentiments, and rash reactions on both of their parts.  While the ending was very sweet and brought us full-circle, the lead-up was a bit rough and didn't give me the same lovely feelings I got with all the rest of the stories in this collection.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Natural Disaster: Storm Chasers Book 1, Erin McLellan

Snark, banter, flirting, and a whole lot of vulnerability make Luke and Guthrie incredibly engaging and lovable.  They fit together in ways they each felt were unexpected but soon after learned to crave.  With the drama of the storms and a persistently bad father, they have their road cut out for them with quite a few bumps before they get their HEA.

Guthrie was a little annoying in his insistence about not liking Luke and putting all kinds of judgments and preconceived notions onto a man he knows nothing about.  His prickly attitude soon softened and I really enjoyed the small ways he opened up to Luke before finally letting the man all the way in.  His panic over storms was understandable and I liked that he had his moments of feeling safe with Luke, but that the story kept true to what extreme fear can really be like.  That it doesn't have a magic cure-all in the form of another person or being shocked out of that fear, sometimes it will never go away; lessen perhaps, but nothing that intense just disappears.

Luke's vulnerability came from his sense of abandonment as a child.  Understandable when we find out the cause of those feelings.  I admired his honesty, his willingness to put his feelings out for Guthrie to see and feel while they were slogging through adapting all the facets of their relationship to the reality in which they lived.  Luke's lightness was the perfect foil to Guthrie's darker mood swings.

Together the men were sexy and sweet.  One bit that was my favorite in their conversations was the way Guthrie responded to the taunting, that he took the comments and made them his own or just owned up to them and followed that up with quick wit or snark.  Their conversations felt believable and organic.  I liked how their romantic evolution progressed, that it wasn't all hot and heavy followed by adding depth, but rather a whole lot of trust-building, sharing and bonding, and then adding in the steam for a well-rounded romance.

The epilogue was far too simplistic for me with scant details and very little in the way of steam or sharing all the feels.  With a communicative high point being all the honesty at the water sports fair thing, they won me over and even though I would have liked more, something a bit deeper at the end, it left me feeling light and happy.  Having side characters that felt more like names on the page rather than interesting humans I must read about wasn't the best way to go there, but with the smooth writing and the MC's taking the main stage in a good way I'll very likely be in for whatever comes next.

*$3.99 on Amazon

When two tornado chasers form a reluctant team, the pressure between them builds...
Human-interest reporter--and son of a famous storm chaser--Guthrie Gale wants nothing to do with severe weather. But his station's director insists he join the storm chasing team, or else, and worse yet, she pairs him with hotshot rookie chaser Luke Masters.

All Luke wants is to be a part of the KTTY family, and he won't let prickly Guthrie Gale spoil his chance. Little does he realize Guthrie's anxiety around storms is more than justified.

As Oklahoma's unpredictable tornado season picks up, Guthrie and Luke strike up a turbulent working relationship that shifts between lust and bickering. But when they are forced to outrun a dangerous twister, their trust is tested and the desire between them flashes quick as lightning, threatening to burn more than just their careers.

Arctic Sun: Frozen Hearts Book 1, Annabeth Albert

 

With incredibly difficult pasts individually it's no wonder that together they had trouble.  River and Griff had chemistry, that's for sure, and when they finally acted on it there was all kinds of steam and promise.  It didn't stay promising, however, when insecurities and frustrations were tested by pressure and weakness.

I struggled with this story, but was also very moved.  The topics were so difficult to tackle and I appreciated the way Annabeth wrote about them.  Eating disorders and sobriety are tricky because the responses, triggers, and causes vary from person to person and can even vary throughout the day for some.  What I appreciated most was that the necessary recovery and plans for dealing with it in the future were up to each individual and they didn't end up in a codependent mess trying to save one another from bad decisions.  It took a very hurtful day together to see that things couldn't continue as they were.  Only after they got themselves, mostly River, back on track with healthy habits and support did they make their way back to one another.

This story was tough to get through as it wasn't what I expected, it was better, but it had to hurt for it to be truly appreciated.  Griff and River worked it out after hard work, painful adjustments, and a whole lot of honesty.  A rocky beginning, a devastating middle, and a triumphant ending marked this story and I am so on board for it and the rest of the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon

He’s built a quiet life for himself in Alaska. But it doesn’t stand a chance against the unrelenting pull of a man who’s everything he shouldn’t want.

Ex-military mountain man Griffin Barrett likes his solitude. It keeps him from falling back into old habits. Bad habits. He’s fought too hard for his sobriety to lose control now. However, his gig as a wildlife guide presents a new kind of temptation in superhot supermodel River Vale. Nothing the Alaskan wilderness has to offer has ever called to Griffin so badly. And that can only lead to trouble…

River has his own methods for coping. Chasing adventure means always moving forward. Nobody’s ever made him want to stand still—until Griffin. The rugged bush pilot is the very best kind of distraction, but the emotions he stirs up in River feel anything but casual, and he’s in no position to stay put.

With temptation lurking in close quarters, keeping even a shred of distance is a challenge neither’s willing to meet. And the closer Griffin gets to River, the easier it is to ignore every last reason he should run.

Black: MM Kitty Play Romance, Quin & Perin

The premise seemed simple with an undercurrent of emotional conflict.  What we got was far more complicated, more angst, more depth than I thought we'd get.  I'm so glad.  Initially thinking the story would be kinky sexy with a side of emotional struggle, I went into it with a lighter heart than I ended with.  Trials came both at the individual as well as the pair and the feels were heavier than anticipated and I was struck by the vulnerability and difficulties of both men.  Their love was hard-won and well worth the emotional journey to watch them achieve it.

Having the synopsis focus on the kitty play, it seems like that would be the focus of the story.  It's actually one part of it, but it really comes through well with how it's integrated.  Rather than being a necessary sexual act or lifestyle to feel complete on an every-day basis, it becomes a shared kink that's more for sexual and certain personality trait expression that fits in with the life they already live.  I like that it started off as a joke, then a surprise, and then grew into something fun, sexy, and excitingly comfortable.  It was an interesting take that I enjoyed reading about, especially since it was super hot.

Dima and Tony's relationship was a bit of a roller coaster and there was a good mix between Tony's tenderness and persistence and Dima's prickly, offensiveness.  There were huge reasons as to why Dima was the way he was.  There was one surprise reason and it altered their dynamic in a huge way that ultimately made their connection, their struggle to find their way together, and their ending much deeper.  Dima needed him so badly in so many ways that I loved watching Tony's heart slowly break down Dima's defenses until they could make everything they had together work.

There were a few confrontations that I felt were unnecessary because it just made things more complicated, but there wasn't anything so huge that it derailed the story or the relationship.  It was Tony's mellow yet determined nature that saved them over and over again.  Tony's situation with his family was supposed to be an individual focal point but didn't get a lot of attention or resolution.  His grief wasn't really addressed, nor was his relationship with his sister and her boyfriend, Jan.  Jan was inserted as an important side character and yet he seemed so milquetoast during most of his moments.  Everything with Dima and Tony had varied depths, but what surrounded them didn't really enhance that.  Instead it seemed as if the world around them was merely a prop instead of something well-balanced to support them.  Overall, though, I was so caught up in Tony and Dima that I could forgive all that and ultimately enjoyed their story quite a lot.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

“Meow!”

There it was.

The sound that made my knees buckle.

He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded.

With those cat ears, in his hair.

And the tail, that he flicked.

A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything. But would I ever become his?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 39

  

• Farrell and the Fake Boyfriend: Book 1, Lisa Clemente
• Running Off: Rainier Family Book 5, Ashton Cade
• Stealing His Heart: Nox Bay Pack Book 1, Connor Crowe

I really love the fake-situation-real-romance trope, especially when the honest feelings become obvious earlier rather than later.  This had an interesting start in that the MC's were virtual strangers prior to the agreement.  What was less appealing was Scott's situation.  It felt like it tainted all the tenderness they were sharing because he was never forthright in his feelings for Farrell once they started changing.  Instead, we got more of him declaring that he was working for the attentions of someone else.  Disappointing.  Farrell felt a bit pitiful, actually.  I thought he was less soft and shy and more weak and self-sacrificing.  The bright spots were really the tender moments of touching, connecting, and the end.  Farrell was right to make Scott think about what he truly wanted and I really liked the humorous and more playful honesty that brought them back together for their promise of a happy future.  3.5 stars.

The prodigal son meets the stalwart son; both needing what the other man offers yet so afraid of what they might lose that they almost give up the best possible future for both of them.  Parris actually rubbed me the wrong way right from the start.  He's so up his own...well, so self-involved that he's choosing to be blind to everything good about his hometown and refuses to take responsibility for just about everything negative in his life.  By the end of the story I did like how he softened and learned to love himself and appreciate his home, but I don't think enough attention and page time was given to his "ah ha!" moment.  We spent so long reading about how much he dislikes everything about Umberland that his turnaround isn't truly believable.

It's no wonder Caleb keeps pushing him away despite how much his heart wants to grab on and never let go.  Caleb was a bit too much of a martyr for me, though I did prefer him over Parris.  He was so faithful, so loving, so giving and to watch Parris do things he did and then turn around as if his negative actions should be overlooked was disappointing.  Caleb's emotional distance after a while was warranted and I did believe and like his personal turnaround which led to a really wonderful reconciliation.  The epilogue was sweet and perfect for the couple and very necessary for the story to end on a great note.  3 stars.

I'm all for insta-love between fated mates and virtual insta-pregnancy in mpreg stories.  None of that bothers me in the least.  What I do hope for, though, is that there's some kind of connection, some kind of personal education between the characters to build on that shifter-mating-fate thing that gets them together in the first place.  Felix is pretty fantastic, I will say.  He's honorable, vulnerable, immensely strong inside, crafty, loyal, caring...he's just all kinds of great.  As for his mate?  Well, I honestly know almost nothing about him.  We get a lot of superficial information as to who he is and what his responsibilities are, but any more than that and how much he admires and yearns for Felix and we've got pretty much nothing.  I'm really hoping that as the series continues we'll get more about him, even on the periphery of the other characters' stories.  3.5 stars.

For You I Fall, Colette Davison and T.N. Nova

Love is forbidden for angels; they have an important work that cannot coincide with romantic relationships.  For Dante, falling for Seth is inevitable.  Guarding him for a decade fills Dante's soul and when Seth's past comes back to exact revenge they'll have to find a way to help Seth without giving in to their heart's desires.  But what if they give in?  Can they keep their love despite the laws that govern them?

Each time we switch POV's we get almost a recap of the alternate POV.  While that can sometimes be helpful, there's nothing really pivotal or important that would make the reader need to get the same situation from the other person's perspective.  This then makes the story drag and become much longer than necessary.  Some feelings and details are nice but it gets to be where I want to, and often do, skim until I get to the wholly new information.

Lots and lots of time was spent thinking about the inevitability of their end and not much to help Seth find a solution.  It makes things feel sappy in a melancholy way more often than not.  Then there's the conflict between Killian and Dante that was kind of over the top.  It made both sides of the interaction disingenuous, making Killian seem much more annoying than pitiable in his jealousy.

Dante and Seth's love was based on good, believable, reliable solid things.  Short on the actual romantic progression, but long on building affection on Dante's part because of the ten years of guardianship.  You definitely have to suspend belief/reality in regards to physical manifestation/corporeality in regards to sex though.

In regards to helping people at the end...I was hoping for something bigger, maybe running a shelter or soup kitchen or even having a plan to do either of those things with a mention of working to save money for that goal.  Not to demean or belittle their efforts to feed the homeless the same way Seth was doing it in New York, not at all, just with eternity spreading out before them I'd have thought they'd dream bigger and endeavor to do more for a larger number of people.  San Francisco is temperate, never really hot or cold enough for weather to affect a decrease in the homeless population so something a little bigger and more sustainable seems like it would be a better fit for them and the place they ended up.

Overall I found this story unique by making angels pretty much just like humans, except with wings and special jobs.  Dante and Seth were also good characters.  Their voices weren't always consistent, but they were good as a couple by the end when they sorted things out.  I liked the story quite a lot, actually, despite some misgivings I developed along the way.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Breaking In: Rainier Family Book 2, Ashton Cade

When word of his best friend from high school's divorce reaches his ears Christian takes a chance to chase after who he's always wanted and heads home to a town he was sure he'd never see again.  For Ryan it's a welcome surprise that has unintended consequences.  Their past is one of friendship and a bit more, but that extra bit is something Ryan would like to forget.  Except forgetting it is the last thing on his mind when seeing Christian all grown up does things to him that make him think there could be a real chance at a forever happiness if he relents and goes all in this time.

Christian and Ryan both started out interesting with a life beyond the one they had together as teens.  There was depth and experience hinted in their inner monologues, but as the story progressed that depth didn't exactly deepen or broaden.  The men we got in the beginning are the same ones we got in the end.  It's not like they were inadequate, boring, or insufficient as they were, they just didn't grow to be more.

And by describing them as best friends and recalling that "fact" repeatedly throughout the story I got the very obvious impression that that was just something they said.  They didn't feel like best friends at all.  As if we were to believe that they knew so much about one another and had such great times but none of that was something I actually saw or believed in the course of the story.  I saw angst over their current attraction, angst over what their teenage summer meant for them now, and a whole lot of manufactured drama that didn't really enhance their interactions or deepen their relationship.  The closeness of best friends and something in the way of being comfortable with one another was missing.

Overall it felt like they were trying too hard.  Too hard to be vacillating, dramatic, passionate...just too hard.  Though the best part was how we saw Ryan discover that peace could replace panic with perspective.  I do think they were a good match for one another, it just didn't come together in a way I was hoping for.

Level Up: #Gaymers Book 4, Annabeth Albert

Sweet, awkward, difficult, endearing.  Both Bailey and Landon are made for one another but their future will only happen if they can find it in themselves to take a risk, face their fear, and just be together.

Sometimes is as simple as that.  Other times it's not.  Landon has a heap of baggage keeping him from moving forward with Bailey.  Well, with anyone really.  When his assumptions about who Bailey is are proven false he's immediately on the defensive.  But it's not really because he's disappointed or upset, it's more because his body and head are now at war.  His baggage is what he has to battle to give in to the promise of love with a good man.

Bailey is eager to meet Landon.  In getting to know one another through emails he's more than just attracted to him.  Their first meeting is a bit of a struggle.  Posing nude for a calendar and realizing that the man you're crushing on was expecting a woman...not exactly a recipe for a successful relationship.  But if he's patient, he just might find the love of a lifetime.

They both have what the other person needs.  I loved Landon's bumbling apology and explanation of why he did what he did as well as why they could and should be together.  He used both geek-speak and heartfelt explanations to describe all the why's.  Seeing his heart laid bare after seeing just how amazing their chemistry is you can't not root for them.

The evolution of the relationship played out well in the length of the story with most of the exposition being adequately covered and were well-placed and concisely described.  Both men were likable and together they were both sweetly-awkward and passionate.  I loved that there wasn't a "magically cured" moment, it was a much more real, accessible, and believable story because of the lack of one.  This was a short story so there isn't a lot of drawn out angsting or reconciliation but it's no less moving than if it had had another 20,000 words or more.  Absolutely enjoyable.

$2.99 on Amazon!