Review: All I Believe by Alexa Land

Nico Dombruso has learned to keep the world at arm’s length after being badly burned by his last relationship. Even so, he decides to let himself enjoy a summer fling while on vacation in Italy. It’s just sex after all, so what’s the harm?

He gets so much more than he bargained for when he meets gorgeous, mysterious, art dealer Luca Caruso. The connection between them is undeniable, and for the first time in years, Nico starts to consider the possibility of trusting his tattered heart to someone again.

But when a secret is revealed that shakes him to his core and threatens to tear his family apart, Nico runs, so far and so fast that no one, not even the man who was making him believe he could love again, might ever be able to reach him.

This gay romance is approximately 95,000 words in length. It is the tenth book in the Firsts and Forever Series, but each book is written to stand alone, so jump in anywhere.

Please note: Contains adult language and graphic sex. Only intended for adult readers.

I don’t think I’ll ever quit this series.  Even if Alexa writes 47 more books in the series I’m sure I will read each and every one.  This has turned into a comfort read.  I know what I’m getting into when I pick up an Alexa Land book.  I’m going to laugh; I’m going to swoon and sigh and maybe tear up just a little.  They’re feel good stories, even with the angst written all through them.  

This installment of the Firsts and Forever series is Nico’s story.  Nico is cousin to Dante and Vincent and the grandson of the ever-loved Nana.  Nico has gone on vacation to Nana’s hometown in Italy with Nana and Jessie.  Of course, the shenanigans start before they even board the plane (Bacon-Flavored Booty Butter, anyone?) and continue in true Nana Dombruso fashion.  Once they arrive, we meet the gorgeous Luca and the sparks fly.  

If I’m going to be honest I have to say this is not my favorite of the series.  I never really connected with Nico and Luca.  I never really got a good picture of Nico in my head and Luca seemed a bit… cookie cutter to me.  That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this story, cause I did.  Just not as much as a lot of the other ones.  Really, what kept me reading was Jessie.  Even Nana got to be a bit too much for me in this one.  Jessie, though… Jessie will always hold a special place in my heart and I have a pocket reserved just for him.  Jessie, you get in my pocket right now, Mister!  

So, although not my favorite, this is still a good, fun read and I recommend the series to those who like quite a bit of madcap humor in their romances.  And guns.  Can’t forget those.  Nana would probably shoot me if I did.

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Review: Think of England by KJ Charles

Lie back and think of England . . 

England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage.

Curtis’s search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts.

As events unfold, Curtis realizes that Daniel has his own secret intentions. And there’s something else they share—a mounting sexual tension that leaves Curtis reeling.

As the house party’s elegant facade cracks to reveal treachery, blackmail and murder, Curtis finds himself needing clever, dark-eyed Daniel as he has never needed a man before…

Warning: Contains explicit male/male encounters, ghastly historical attitudes, and some extremely stiff upper lips.

 



I have a couple of go-to action items in books that make me sit up, take notice and balance that book right on top of the mountain of TBR beauties that are completely out of control. Think of England has those tags in SPADES!

Let’s run down that list shall we?

Historical?. . . a
Snark? . . . a
Wit? . . . a
Mystery? . . . a
Charming Brits? . . . a
Murder & Mayhem? . . . a
Awesome sidekicks? . . . a
Nipple Piercing? . . . wait, what? . . .Awwwww YEAH! . . . a

Yep, historical nipple piercing FTW!

Archie Curtis is a well-bred and well respected war veteran who has come home after an accident where he lost many friends as well as sustained major trauma of his own. He’s feeling a little lost and when he is visited by the gun manufacturer whose weapons caused the tragedy that ended his military career. The man speaks of sabotage and treason and Curtis cannot let that go uninvestigated. Justice must be served if any of what the man says is true. He gets himself invited to Sir Hubert’s country house for a fortnight (I love saying ‘fortnight’), the man in direct competition with the original manufacturer and the alleged perpetrator of said sabotage.

The country house is 30 miles out in the middle of nowhere, but has any and all modern conveniences that must cost the man dearly to keep running, raising suspicion. Enter a cast of characters that, on the surface, seem like typical English gentry, but underneath, all is not what it seems at the country house. There is one character that stands out more than the rest, Daniel da Silva. He stands out because he doesn’t want to fit in and Curtis takes a disliking to him right away. But again, all is not what it seems and da Silva has reasons for being at the country house as well. His affectations, irreverent dress code and rapier like wit make him a target for both bully’s and fans.

I really can’t say too much about the mystery without giving away too much good stuff, so you’ll have to trust me when I say, the tension and stakes are high and the murder and mayhem tag on the blog here is well deserved. Men will face their greatest fears and there are a couple of kick ass female sidekicks. The bad guys are SO bad, the good guys are deliciously good and Daniel da Silva is one of the most memorable characters of all time.

I highlighted so many of Daniel’s snarky comments but by far my favorites were the ones between he and Archie. Once they settle into their uneasy partnership to thwart the evil doings that are going on, they start to open up to one another and we see the connection between the “real” Archie and the “real” Daniel. One of Daniel’s professions is as an editor and he has written and published some of his own poetry. While his work is not understood by many, the very straightforward and very simple Archie, gets it. When I say simple I definitely do not mean stupid. He’s a military man who has never had the luxury of being able to indulge in imagination.

As Daniel says –

Unfortunately, my dear, you are so straightforward I sometimes have trouble understanding a word you say.

Between Daniel's verbosity and Archie's direct simplicity, you can imagine how fun their exchanges are to read. When the barriers start coming down it just gets better. Archie is so charmingly chivalrous and poor Daniel has NO idea what to do with that, but I could tell part of him wants to eat it up like the most delicious dessert imaginable.

Daniel and Archie are going on my list of most memorable couples and so worth reading about. Highly recommended read (and re-read).

 

*a copy of this book was provided for an honest review*