The Roommate Proposal: Perfect Opposites Book 2, Jace Hadley

Aleksei and Logan seemed very much on the opposite of everything and maybe that's why they fit together so well. I was drawn to both men, but for very different reasons. With Aleksei it was his struggle. His struggle to accept himself openly, while not always necessary for everyone, it was vastly important for him. Mainly because he had all his true acceptance buried beneath the weight of blackmail, control, close-mindedness, fear, and familial piety. Through his determination to be with Logan he found his strength to live his truth.

But it wasn't as simple as just wanting to be with Logan, it was a taste of freedom, love, passion, and happiness that opened to door to his own transformation. And without their brief separation he wouldn't have been able to see what he wanted for himself for the long term and not just until he could graduate.

Logan's charm was in his earnestness and his lack of guile. I can't say that his initial "invitation" to change their dynamic made me feel really comfortable, but with Aleksei's eager acceptance and initiation later on it got a little better. But Logan's general demeanor, honesty, and encouragement felt sweet and not manipulative and predatory. When we get to see Logan's heart, his way with family, and his understanding of Aleksei's personality quirks I really fell for him and new he was right for Aleksei.

Sometimes when the hurtful break comes each MC spend their time unequally feeling the hurt, realizing where they went wrong, and then planning or hinting at the grand gesture...nothing wrong with that, but it's predictable. What I really enjoy is when they use the time away to see, really and truly see, what they are and what they want to become and then go about making the changes necessary to enact their own transformation. When Logan and Aleksei came back together they had each found the thing inside them that would compel them to find and move toward their best selves so that when they reconciled they could really make the best foundation for a happy future together.

So it's pretty clear that I enjoyed the book. There were definitely a couple things, a few moments that had me nervous or frustrated about what might happen next, but I found that there were quite a few moments that overrode them and won me over. I want to read more in the series right away, especially our lovely misunderstood jock's story...

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

What We May Be, Layla Reyne

This author has a way of writing relationships that I adore when I was initially incredibly hesitant of the dynamic. While I'd love to say this story became one of the same, it turned out that I only enjoyed the relationship and didn't come to adore them as I'd hoped. I'm pretty sure this came down to the amount of pages devoted to them versus the pages to the mystery. There's a feeling in me that would have loved for this to be a duet. The dynamic of the three worked so well and their path to reconciliation wasn't without pitfalls, but there were some things I would have appreciated to see take a little slower to delve into. There was an incredible amount of spice and I'm certainly not ashamed to say I wanted more of it. There were also some incredibly tender moments of love and forgiveness that could have really blossomed if the preceding and the following moments were given a little more time to unfold. Similarly with the serial killer mystery. I think it was a little bit rushed and could have really been given an extra element of suspense and fear if it had more time to develop. This author has an amazing way with words that I wanted more of for nearly every situation. And really I think that's what this comes down to. Layla Reyne is an incredible author with fantastic characters and wonderful plots and I always want more for each story.

*Download today for $4.99 or read for FREE on KU

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/WWMB

What We May Be by Layla Reyne is now live! 

What we were...

Sean found love once, with his college roommate, Trevor, and Trevor's best friend, Charlotte.
The missing piece, Sean made it possible for Trevor and Charlotte to find love too.
But then Sean left and took the love with him.

What we are...

Now an FBI agent, Sean is back in town, ten years later, to investigate a murder.
A case that pits him against his ex-lovers--Charlotte, a local detective, and Trevor, a literature professor sucked into the Shakespearean mystery.
Everyone guards their hearts, but before long, desire sparks anew the feelings that burned hot a decade ago.
That still burn true.

What we may be...

Love is within their grasp again, but as the killer escalates, it's more than just their hearts and futures on the line.
Sean, Charlotte, and Trevor will need to work together to solve the case.
If they can't, lives will be lost and pieces of their love gone for good.

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

 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.

Follow Layla...

WEBSITE

GOODREADS

AMAZON

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

BOOKBUB

Call of the Night Singers, Rachel Langella

For being such a short story, it sure packed a punch. It was very slow going at the start and the voice was quite boring, to be honest, but once all the supernatural stuff started going down it became vastly more appealing and captivating. Told only from Geoffrey's POV, it lacked the balance I was hoping for, but it did have quite a lot of story depth even though it was very light on character depth.

I wasn't wowed by the romance at all, and definitely not the MC's themselves, but the overall story was sufficiently creepy and suitable for the setting described in the book. The villains were very obvious as were the basics regarding so many deaths that came before, but the actual why, the motivations, the paranormal element, and the violent confrontations, those were all mysteries that were woven quite well and kept me reading.

This was a new-to-me author that I very well might give another go. Once the plot picked up so did the actual story telling and perhaps that speaks to a talent that needed a little warming up before hitting their stride. If that stride is anything to go by, this is an author I'd definitely revisit.

*$2.99 on Amazon

When Garland Heatherford is named heir to his uncle’s vast fortune, he isn’t pleased by the honor, and with good reason. The last five heirs all met with most untimely deaths – four of them from drowning. Although loathe to accept his inheritance, Garland nevertheless travels to the “cursed” town of Bath, North Carolina, to meet his aged uncle, hoping to avoid the fate of his predecessors. But Garland has something in his favor the other heirs didn’t: his lover, Geoffrey Wainwright.

The sight of the decaying hulk of Heatherford House dismays both men, yet they have little choice but to enter a world where a miasma of horror lies beneath a veneer of breeding, and madness and death seem to lurk in every corner. Ruling over all is the presence of sinister Roderick Heatherford, who has managed to outlive five young, healthy heirs despite his allegedly poor health. When an unexpected illness strikes Garland and he begins to sleepwalk, lured from bed by singing only he can hear, Geoffrey resolves to protect Garland from every danger – even if it costs him his own life.

Bound to Happen: AirB&D Book 4, Olivia Joy

I know these stories are short in this series, but a couple of them have still managed to win me over with their honesty, connection, and chemistry.  This story didn't manage to do that.  While there was chemistry, a really decent amount, that played well to their mutual desires, it didn't translate to a relationship in a real way for me.  Overall it was a nice story, a fairly okay addition to the series, but it wasn't my favorite.

Will was a little easier to know as we begin with his POV and his internal commentary on his life, relationship status, job, and feelings about the situation as well as about Mitch.  Mitch on the other hand, was bland to me.  There wasn't a good enough explanation of his motivations, his redemption for the bet, or a real connecting moment between him and me as a reader.  I just didn't care about him and wasn't convinced that he deserved Will.

The outcome was a tale of two men who got a second chance at a college attraction turned sour and all the spice you'd expect from this series.  It wasn't fully successful for me by the end, but it wasn't an entirely unenjoyable reading experience either.  It was just...meh...and a bit disappointing.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Will Simpson figures he’s the epitome of boring. He works in a cubicle, goes to the beach for vacation every year, and even the ex who only wanted sex once a week left him. So when he gets an invitation to spend a weekend at a B&B in Maine with a bunch of his old frat buddies, Will figures why not do something totally out of his comfort zone. He knows he might see Mitch again, but with enough guys around, it wouldn’t have to be awkward.

Mitch Archer thinks a weekend with his old buddies might be fun, too, but when he gets to Maine, he surprised to find Will is the only one who made it. He’s also surprised to discover that the house itself is more than just a fun place to vacation in small-town New England. He’s always wondered what he and Will could have had together, so he grabs at the chance to test things out between them. He’s ready to explore, and he’s bound and determined to show Will how adventurous he can be.

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)

Words and Music, JD Sampson

I was drawn in by the premise and had high hopes for found family, personal growth, discovery, and healing.  The reality was a little of all of that, but none in quantities that were truly moving or captivating.  I ended up being more interested in the surrounding situation rather than the MC's and was left underwhelmed by them and their journey.

While there were some tender moments, there were a lot of transitions between them that didn't sit right, didn't flow, and just plain didn't wow.  With a lot of potential for an angsty ride to a powerful love, the reality fell short for me.

The story overall wasn't bad, I think I just didn't enjoy the flow, the MC's, or the "necessary" dramatics to get Kieran to pull his head out.  Assault and kidnapping near the end of the story seemed like overkill at this point.  There was something incredibly traumatic in his past and the reveal felt awkward and while Miles said he'd be patient, there were a lot of times where he was short-sighted and selfish.  Those two terms could describe so much of Kieran's actions as well, unfortunately.

So while I wasn't enthralled by the story, it wasn't a bad one, I'm sure a lot of people will love the music and poetry elements as well as the surface story between Kieran and Miles, but for me there was just too much and yet not enough.

*$2.99 on Amazon

A rock band tour bus is an unconventional place to raise a child, but indie artist Miles Mason is doing his best to be a stand-in father for two-year-old Bowie. But when Bowie’s real father turns up looking for the boy he hasn’t seen in years, it’s up to Miles to help this skittish Irishman bury the secrets of his past in order to become the father and partner he’s dreamed of all his life.

With less than two weeks left in the tour, the clock is ticking not just on fatherhood but on love. Can these two learn to make beautiful music together or will a secret from the past keep them from becoming a family.

Adler's Hart: Briggs Ferry Bay Book 2.5, Misty Walker

Really short and a little too simplistic, but gruff older men who hide a soft, vulnerable, gooey middle seem to bypass any reservations I had regarding the story's basic plot.

Adler is gruff and surly and all the best kinds of hotness when we first meet him.  His fragile heart is there for us to see despite all the bearish behavior that's trying to hide it.  His reaction to Hart is just as described in the synopsis, but Hart sinks deeper than I expected and while the timeline is super short to seem to feel so much for the younger man, there's a long reflection that makes Adler's change of heart believable.  It's still tentative though, so what follows makes me feel better about how his offer is presented.

Hart is vivacious, caring, insightful, and just right for Adler.  His youth is quite apparent in some of his reactions and I'm mostly glad that we got to see him acting his age most times.  Having fantastic parents and a stellar friend helped him to see beyond what his unseasoned life experience didn't allow him to see about Adler and led him to reciprocating Adler's grand gesture with one of his own.

The confessions were sweet and straightforward as well as simple with very little to complicate an already complicated situation between them.  Their reactions to hurt were expected and their reunion was still simple but managed to pack some really good feels in there as well.  This story really covered a lot of ground despite being so short and I was happily surprised with how it played out.  Made me wish I discovered the series sooner, actually, so you can bet I'm adding the others to my TBR list.

*$2.00 on Amazon

I'm a loner.
Never getting too comfortable or allowing anyone to get too close.
So when I log onto the hook-up app on my last night in Ketchikan, Alaska,
I assume it'll be a quick lay before I go south for the winter.
Until I see the man who shows up at my door.
He's young, wide-eyed, and perfect.

All I want is a one-night stand with no attachment,
I should have known things would be different with a man named Hart.
After the best night of my life, I'm desperate to run.
Except we're snowed in.

I try to keep him at a distance.
But there's something about him that has me opening up,
letting him in against my better judgment.

Suddenly I don't want to be alone anymore.
I want to be with him.
My Hart.

The King and Jai: Royal and Reckless Book 1, Isla Olsen

This is so very my style of book for when I want to feel happy, bubbly, and to recover from anything more angsty or dramatic.  Keep in mind though, that you'll need to hold back your need for reality when it comes to royalty, royal protocols, and various elements of the mundane daily life of a royal while reading this one.  The point of this story isn't royal life, it's the seemingly impossible romance, a couple of conflicts that need quick resolutions, and enough steam and getting-to-know you stuff to believe in the romance itself.

Lukas was gruff and frustrated because of years of denial, but his heart was so very present in the way he interacted with his children and revered and loved his deceased wife.  Complications coming from either his children or his wife weren't an issue.  What was an issue was the homophobia his father harbored and wielded as a weapon.  Once he overcame the internal struggle with his upbringing he was all in with Jai in every single way.  I adored that there was no angst there because I just didn't really want any in this short, very sweet story.

Jai was adorably flustered at times because of his attraction and the rather ridiculous scene where he caught the king in a rather compromising position.  With the children he was dedicated and loving and his studies were present in a way that added to his validity for not just being there, but for who he was.  It fed his motivations and gave something truly interesting to his character.  Seeing that that passion and those duties didn't fall by the wayside because of feelings or sexy times was a concern I had and was happy to find unfounded.

The romance was sweet, steamy, and really worked for me.  And when the grand gesture came, it was big, rather believable and yet very fairy-tale like, and so very sweet.  I'm a sucker for a feel-good romance with no angst and a lot of spice and this is exactly what I got with The King and Jai.

*$3.99 on Amazon

One young American tutor + one dangerously sexy widowed king = conflict, chaos, misadventure and lots and lots of sexytimes

Jai

For the record, sleeping with my boss was not part of the plan when I started this new job. A job I desperately need to get my parents off my back about my chosen career path.

But the second I catch sight of Lukas Romansky in the flesh, I know I’m in trouble. The guy is pure sex wrapped in a three-piece suit, and not even his stuffy attitude or the way he seems to despise me on sight is enough to stifle my attraction.

But I’m here to work, not to hook up. It doesn’t matter how sexy Lukas is, or how sweet he is with his children—sleeping with the boss is never a good idea.

Oh, and did I mention my boss also happens to be the king?

Yes, King Lukas III of Korova, the man voted World’s Sexiest Head of State three years in a row. Hooking up with him wouldn’t just be a bad idea, it would be an international scandal.

So believe me when I say I didn’t come to Korova with the intention of seducing the king. But sometimes things just happen. And is it my fault I’m impossible to resist?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 47

  

• Becoming Sienna: Tide Series Book 0, T.M. Bashford
• Rebound: Latent Series Book 0, Alana Timms
• Whispers of the Heart: Hartwood Valley Book 1, Anita Therry

There were a few things that held promise, but I'm not sure that everything worked together to actually draw me into the larger series.  The two MC's can be great for one another if they can only figure out what the specter in Sienna's world and what they want.  With a mystery within a mystery there are a lot of tangled threads to unravel and it left me with a more confused and dissatisfied feeling than intrigued and invested.  Quite a lot of the emotional aspects felt forced and I had a hard time with Sienna's end choice.  Yes, healing is necessary, but I don't think her choice is actually the right one for both her and for the situation.  Overall I'm just not exactly a fan of the story and it didn't make me want to read more from this world, especially because the first story in the series isn't about the MC's from here.  2 stars.

I find that this story lacked balance for me.  We spent far too long pining for a friend who though virtually nothing of Trent, not even enough friendship to care about their dynamic and the situation Trent would face without him.  Chasing after his own urges put Trent into a situation that was more than unfortunate.  I did like Noah, though I thought there were so many threads and desires he had regarding his views on their inner wolf that would have beefed up the story and made it so very intriguing.  If we hadn't spent so long on Trent's yearning and the discordant feelings for both alphas we could have had an amazing story.  As it stands, Trent was alright though a bit one-note with a bit of a backbone, Noah was intriguing though in a basic way, and the story was merely alright when so much potential was set aside.  Honestly though, the vampire lounge thing really should have happened, I was really interested in that, but it too was set aside in favor of other unimpressive details.  3 stars.

I liked both characters and thought they matched together as a couple.  Their attraction in the past was there and while I didn't like that it took so long for them together, once they gave in to what they really wanted, it worked out in a sweet way.  That both men didn't expect monumental changes or for the "lowly omega" to give up his dreams and hard work now that he had an alpha in his life was wonderful.  Not everything was easy, especially with someone attempting to undermine and lie their way into taking everything away from them.  As they discover who it is and why it gives both men a chance to support one another.  And in the face of everything, they not only come together as a partnership, but they created a family and an environment where they could all truly thrive.  3.5 stars.

A Different Kind of Chemistry: Nerds and Tattoos Book 1, Ashlynn Mills

A bit more telling than showing than I like and the flow of the writing felt a bit stilted and sometimes repetitive.  I felt like I was reading something a bit more New Adult rather than Contemporary because both men felt so much younger than they are.  It was mostly because of how they expressed themselves, the immaturity and petulance, the quick-to-forgive when the hurts were pretty huge, and the simplistic way everything played out.

Maverick has a complicated and difficult dating history and while I understand the harsh way he treats Casey comes from his fear, he really does say and do some horrible things.  Casey's reaction to them is understandable and justified, but what isn't understandable to me is how quickly things are reconciled.  There's a severe lack of groveling for my tastes and when they get down to the big emotional reveal, it's simplified, truncated, and emotionless.

We read that Casey can see Maverick's pain in his eyes and demeanor, but it feels more like something Casey is reading into and that we believe because we've heard Maverick's side in his POV and yet objectively it doesn't connect.  And I'm not sure what the tattoo client addition was after his big conversation with Casey.  Perhaps to show his change?  To me it doesn't really matter, it just felt awkward, forced, and unnecessary.

Casey's acknowledgment of how long they've known one another and the assurance that issues like Maverick's history isn't owed to him is wise and I appreciated that.  There was a big build up and quite a lot of dickish reactions from Maverick so the truncated romantic evolution through the majority of the book felt immature, rushed, and simplistic, but Maverick's confession of both knowing where his fear came from and his clarity with which he sees the future he wants with Casey was wonderful.  It was both hopeful and realistic.

The progress that follows is slow because there's so much detail, especially regarding a lot of steam to make up for all their lost time, but it's sweet and shows us sides of both men that I wasn't sure I expected.  And with an epilogue that was full of as much feeling as theirs, it was worth the wait.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Casey's social life is much like his love life, non existant. He is constantly playing it safe and it is no longer working for him. After another date gone wrong, he finds himself stepping in a world completely foreign to him when walking into a small bar trying to drink his rejection away. Never did he think he would find something in that bar that would change his world forever, but his mind never stops thinking about that sexy tattooed stranger with the mesmerizing eyes. He tries to forget his heated moment with the stranger he will never see again, but Maverick keeps appearing in more places than just his dreams.

Maverick has rules for a reason and has been doing so well sticking with them until a nerdy science geek has him questioning everything. Maverick won't be the reason for destroying another person and everytime he looks at Casey, he is reminded more and more of his haunting past. This can only end in disaster because people like Maverick were never meant to fall in love with people like Casey, but like a moth to a flame, the adorable red head has him always coming back for more.

When two worlds collide , will they be able to let go of their past insecurities and fall into the unknown, or will Maverick continue to let his past hold him back from the one thing he wants the most.

The Earl and the Executive: Imperial Space Regency Book 1, Kai Butler

While the setting promised some incredibly vast and fantastical uniqueness, the story focused on the regency era of England and the jaded wealthy man and the possibility of a love match if he swallows his hurt and accepts the earl's heart.  The research and application of that knowledge was near impeccable to my proletarian sensibilities.  What I was less impressed with was the tedium that dominated the majority of the book.  With a wonderfully sweet ending and a lovely confession from Zev there was something to enjoy by the end, it was just quite a slog to get there.

To be fair, this wasn't a poorly written story at all.  The subject matter was interesting, the characters had potential, and Tiral was both compelling on his own and heartbreaking in all the emotional abuse he received.  There were quite a few things to enjoy if you're willing to read slow yet witty banter that occurs and reoccurs and reoccurs again with no goal or intention beyond showing he and Zev share a sense of humor.  Nothing of interest occurs until at least two-thirds of the way through the book.

I was moved by Tiral but unimpressed with everything about Zev.  There are a few side characters that are interesting and amusing, but if their stories are anything as dry as this one I'll likely pass on reading them.  Even with the little mystery thrown in at the end this story could have been cut in half and would likely have benefitted from the subtraction.  Getting to the point sooner rather than later would have allowed for due attention to be given to the little danger plot which ultimately fizzled in the end as well because it wasn't exciting, dramatic, or even germane to the story itself.

So honestly I was bored by the story more than I was intrigued and if it weren't for Tiral I would probably have stopped reading.  It wasn't a bad story, just a piece of pre-packaged lunch meat when I was expecting a slab of prime rib.  Weird metaphor?  Yeah, I know, but being left unsatisfied when I was expecting all kinds of amazing feels like that.  Overall this had an interesting premise followed by a less than riveting follow-through, but a very sweet ending.

*$3.99 on Amazon

An impoverished earl...

Tiral Oican has inherited his brother’s title, estate, and the tremendous debt his brother took out before his unexpected death. There is only one option to save the estate and all the people who are now depending on him: marry a rich heir who is willing to pay off the debt in exchange for Tiral’s title. 

Now, scholarly Tiral must transform himself into a seductive fortune hunter. The only way he can see through the mess is by hiring a tutor in love. It’s too bad that Zev is so good at his job that Tiral is falling for him.

And a rich entrepreneur...

To protect his heart, Zev Laft has spent years fooling the ton into believing he’s no more than an entertaining flirtation. He just didn’t expect the ruse to work so well that the newest penniless earl to arrive on Lus for the season would assume him a demimonde and try to hire him to be his instructor in courtship. 

Now one of richest men in the empire finds himself struggling to keep up the façade, when his own heart is being taken by a man he has no intention of marrying.

Be Fairy Game: Starfig Investigations Book 2, Meghan Maslow

Being right isn't always a great thing.  That goes for what I was anxious about for this book as well as Twig and Quinn.  The ability to say "I told you so," doesn't feel great when you were hoping for so much more.  There were some incredibly sweet sentiments expressed, a few humorous scenes, and an incredible amount of potential for the series as a whole so the story isn't a total miss, there were just also some immensely disturbing scenes that left me feeling icky and not altogether comfortable.

What I was right about in my fears expressed in my review for book one is the relationship dynamic between Twig and Quinn.  In the name of "empowering" Quinn and not following a more stereotypical dominance dynamic Quinn continually undermines Twig's decisions, makes him doubt his intentions, belittles his instincts, hurts his feelings, and dismisses his fears.  Quinn has lowered in my estimations as a good partner for Twig.

Their whole relationship is a struggle for me, actually.  I'm still in love with their potential and I'm having a difficult time reconciling that with the reality.  There are so many, too many, times that their whole dynamic is brought up to dissect only to be dismissed or interrupted and it leads to too many moments of doubt, hurt, and unresolved frustrations.  There's a power thing going on that's taking a back seat to Quinn's consistent need for secrecy and putting his struggles, his feelings, and his issues above Twig's.  I'm not a fan.

One scene that gave me all kinds of icky feels was where Twig's first time with catching was under the influence of an incubus' magic crazy dust and Quinn's inability to care for Twig.  He's lucid enough to get acknowledge the effect of the powder and to get them to a relatively private space, but once again, his desires, his situation, is far more important than all the fear and hesitation that Twig has expressed over months of being together before this moment.  Just no.  So many times, no.  And then for Twig to reassure and comfort and seek out Quinn's well-being...this can only be a bad thing in the long run.

I don't want to make this a ranty review where it seems I don't like the story because I actually do in a general way and in the view of a series as a whole with fascinating characters and shenanigans that were quite entertaining (Bill's fear of garden gnomes, anyone?).  So in the interest of keeping the ranty bits short, I'll briefly mention the other things that bothered.  Twig's father, the too-quick-to-forgive moment with his mother, the surprising lack of empathy from Twig as we, once again, defer to Quinn's sense of right and wrong when it comes to feeling for and helping misunderstood beings (Twig should be the ring-leader in seeking to help and liberate instead of being uber judgy and needing Quinn to remind him of his own perception parallels), the lack of Twig's backbone with his father's discrimination and machinations, the lack of connections made between really obvious stuff...  I think there are a couple more, but that's quite enough, I feel.

While I don't know how I feel about focusing on Quinn in the next story, I am excited to see where this series is going.  And Bill, his yearning is palpable and when he's not acting like a preachy queen I'm absolutely in love with him and hope to see him get the being who will love him.  Bill's mention of Twig's scent is incredibly intriguing and I'll absolutely stick with this until we get that answer...there are a whole lot of little foretelling bits in relation to Twig and his eventual growth and power that I'm absolutely champing at the bit for and can only hope don't come through Quinn's power or control, but from him on his own and within himself.  I want to see Twig's brain truly engage and to find out what his fae gift is.

The list of things I'm looking forward to is arguably longer than the things that bothered me in this book so it's safe to say that I'm definitely in for more and am committed to sticking with the series and I'll be holding out hope that Twig and Quinn get it together in a way that makes me feel warm and fuzzy instead of apprehensive.

*$4.99 on Amazon

They’re baaacckk!

When a simple ‘find & fetch’ case throws private investigator Twig Starfig and newly-minted wizard, Quinn Broomsparkle, into the middle of an EBI murder investigation, it’s just another day in the Elder Realm.

If murder were Twig’s only problem, he’d be the luckiest half-dragon in the land. Murder he can handle. Fulfilling his promise to his scheming, power-hungry father to run for a seat on Lighthelm’s city council? Meh, he’d rather face a demon with a toothache.

On top of their case going sideways, and Twig running for a council seat he really doesn’t want, Twig and Quinn are forced to face some unpleasant realities about their budding romance, while still learning how to handle the wizard-familiar bond they now share. Throw in a red fury with abysmal taste in boyfriends, a ghost pirate-parrot who drinks too much, a murderer who will stop at nothing to get what they want, a host of new friends and enemies, and you’ve got a situation where no one is safe and everyone is Fairy Game.

Austin: Single Dads Club Book 4, Candice Blake

Where the previous book felt like there was disconcerting pressure to get a straight boy into the sack, this one features pressure with an age and power imbalance.  I wish this could be called a vast improvement on the previous story, but I was so very disappointed.  I could have liked Brayden if not for Austin being who he was in the story.  It has nothing to do with the father's-best-friend trope, or even the age gap, it has everything to do with Austin's lack of respect, boundaries, and good sense.

Brayden is a promising young athlete that's being a typical young college freshman.  While I can turn a blind eye to underage drinking on a college campus, I'm far less forgiving of Austin encouraging it as a father figure, teacher, coach, and supposedly responsible adult.  Brayden's lack of time management, his quick temper, his enthusiasm, his budding talent -- all of it spoke to a young man on the cusp of learning what it's like to truly adult for the first time and I think he should have been given the chance to do that.

Austin is supposed to be Clayton's best friend, but the lack of respect, the judgment, the confrontations, none of it spoke to friend-like behavior.  Yes, we see the truth of our friends, but to gossip, judge, and berate them behind their backs to anyone, let alone their children, is dispicable.  Getting to know Brayden's hangups is fine, but featuring Clayton's parental foibles in such a negative light was bad form and demeaning.

The sexual situations made me mildly uncomfortable because of Austin's insistence on their roles, his dishonesty, and his utter disrespect for boundaries in Clayton's home.  All of it culminated in a rather unsavory feeling that coated each of their more passionate moments.  What could have been a really beautiful relationship felt tainted by the behaviors, attitudes, and sordid manner in which Austin comported himself.

There were some really sweet moments in the story that made this better than Clayton's story, so lest you think I detested everything, I didn't.  Brayden standing up for himself with both his father and Austin were great moments of independent thought and passionate feelings.  Clayton's love for his son was there as well and his care for his son was evident in his desire to connect with him and how much he missed him.  Westley was soft, sweet, and a good partner in this story.  There were things to like here, but my enjoyment was eclipsed by many disappointments.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Austin: Hockey is life.

As a forty-five-year-old divorced single dad, being the varsity hockey coach is the only thing that still brings me joy. When I’m on the ice, I feel so alive and for those precious moments, I can forget about all my shortcomings.

Because of my dedication to my players, we are the league’s reigning champions.

When my best friend's son, Brayden, tries out, I don't know if there's room for his ego and cockiness on my all-star line-up. But Brayden ignites something inside me that I haven't felt since my divorce.

The attraction doesn’t—and shouldn’t—make any sense. I'd previously been married to a woman and Brayden is half my age.

I'm supposed to push my players' boundaries to their absolute limit, but this boundary I'm pushing with Brayden is definitely out-of-bounds.

It’s only a matter of time until Brayden's dad finds out…

Brayden: Austin's my coach…and my dad’s best friend.

There's something about Austin's boldness as a coach that makes me feel some kind of way.

After many 6:00 a.m. practices with Austin, our coach-player relationship grows into something much more.

This attraction to my coach is sudden. It feels like I'm getting body-checked hard out of nowhere.

There's no doubt we shouldn't be together at all. But even though I want to stop, it feels like we’re colliding on the rink at sixty miles an hour.

If anyone finds out, my dream of playing in the varsity league will be over faster than it began…

Fight for This: For This Book 1, Suki Fleet

Wow.  There are so many things going on in this story that I don't exactly know where to begin.  Two men really want each other's love but can't seem to feel deserving enough to be honest about their feelings and desires.  If they can figure out how to get what they truly want, and manage to save the school and country at the same time, they'll have their forever made.  But nothing ever comes that easily when power and arrogance stand in the way.

I can definitely get behind the premise of their supernatural identities being reasons as to their supposed undeserving-ness, mostly because we all know they're going to be perfect for one another once they lay it all out there, but what got a bit too much for me were the number of uncorrrected misunderstandings until it was almost too much for them to move beyond.  There was a bit lacking when it came to something concrete to bind them together because even when they begin to make progress, the roadblocks kept them from moving forward and also distracted them from completing what their souls most craved.

There were quite a few interesting characters introduced and while a couple of them played a major role near the end, they were minor up to that point and when they came on page with a big ol' bang it pulled focus and distracted from the MC's getting done what needed to get done.  It was all a bit too chaotic for me at this point to really follow along clearly.  The chaos began before that point actually, and I kept wondering why we were going along with one thing only to jump to doing something else...there wasn't much of a linear or logical flow when the crazy started.  I think my issue there was that it wasn't just plot craziness, it was a lack of flow and crazy for crazy's sake and it wasn't effective to telling the story or getting us to the romantic conclusion either.

Overall I felt like I was missing something so much of the time that I had a difficult time following the story and relationship.  There was so much potential here and while it wasn't always clear, I was still drawn to what will happen next and how we'll get the next couple's journey.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Grey and Si have been dancing around one another for months.

Grey’s helpless attraction to fairies (and one fairy in particular) is a source of endless frustration—but as his energy can damage a fairy’s glamour, he can’t let himself get close.

Si is different to other fairies and he’s wearing down Grey’s defences. When Si discovers the Veil is thinning around the school where they both work—putting the students and teachers there at risk from detection—he needs Grey’s help to fix it.

Problem is, Si isn’t a true fairy, he’s just a magical mistake. For as long as he can remember all his glamour has done is messed up and broken stuff. Though Grey may be older and wiser about a lot of things in the human world, he’s pretty clueless about all things magical. He doesn’t even know the Veil exists until Si knocks himself unconscious trying to save Grey’s reputation after a night out.

But it’s funny how mistakes work out. Even funnier how trusting one another can help even the most impossible events turn out all right.

ARC opportunity provided by Gay Book Promotions