Review: Waited So Long by J.M. Dabney

What happens when your best friend’s son comes home and he’s all grown up?

Devon Hoffman has a secret. He’s wanted a Daddy all his own, but when you’re pushing fifty, you’re completely over the hill. Newly divorced and trying to be single again after an almost thirty-year relationship, he’s lost and needs someone to ground him. Except he’s anxious and his depression intensifies until Bern returns after leaving the service and the younger man suddenly takes interest. Can he let his guard down and risk losing his best friend or should he do whatever is needed to keep his secret safe?

It's established that SRAL enjoys reading Daddy kink!

After reading Waited So Long's blurb, I nearly screamed out Skittles into the air because the buzz words from the blurb are all of my kinda buzz words...

• Daddy kink
• Younger Daddy
• Older MC who has baggage and is submissive
• Father's Best Friend
• Unrequited Crush/Love

Plus, the cover features a ginger BEAR main character:

It was like it was written just for me. (Pardon me as I coo.)


Told in dual 1st POV, Waited So Long jumps right into heat of matters, Bern is in his late twenties, a Marine, dominant and lusting after/in love with his father's best friend, architect Devon since he was fifteen years old.Devon's horrible marriage was the only thing keep Bern from admitting his feelings. As the blurb states, the marriage is no longer and the story starts as the divorce papers are signed.

It's my first time reading Dabney and I like that what was pretty much presented in the blurb is offered in the story. For readers who prefer to a quick and fairly easy read, Waited So Long shouldn't disappoint.

And though this is definitely a contemporary fantasy romance, there were some quibbles for me. Nothing major, because I demolished the book in like 2 hours.

For me, I wouldn't have minded if there was a little more delay into the Daddy-ing. I get the unrequited love angle demands payment in the form of the ginger Daddy bear Bern finally getting his man after over a decade of lusting/pining/loving his man. But Devon has only been with the one man prior to Bern. He's newly divorced and the book skips over any sort of healing/rebuilding himself on Devon's part.

Yes, Devon's marriage was shitty--it's told to the reader. But I wouldn't have minded some personal growth from Devon's chapters.Bern takes charge pretty much from the get of the book and I wouldn't have minded more internal struggle from Devon.

Another thing was the parallel to Bern and his mom... eh, it was little iffy on Bern being a 2.0 Dom version of his mother who he really never met. It was too perfect that it took me out of the story. Everything just fell too easily into place for Bern and Devon and was wrapped up in a neat bow.

I'm uncertain if it's just an ARC issue or maybe the way Dabney tells a story but I found myself having to reread certain parts to figure out what was going (like ages). It didn't happen a lot and overall all the main points were answered.

There's decent smut: light age play and domestic discipline, nothing too extreme. So if you're looking for those kinky tags, you won't be disappointed in that scope.

I'll check out Dabney's back list. I liked my first taste of their work-- quick, smutty romance with younger Daddy/older sub...just as promised.

Audiobook Review: Changing Lines (Harrisburg Railers #1) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey

Can Tennant show Jared that age is just a number, and that love is all that matters?

The Rowe Brothers are famous hockey hotshots, but as the youngest of the trio, Tennant has always had to play against his brothers’ reputations. To get out of their shadows, and against their advice, he accepts a trade to the Harrisburg Railers, where he runs into Jared Madsen. Mads is an old family friend and his brother’s one-time teammate. Mads is Tennant’s new coach. And Mads is the sexiest thing he’s ever laid eyes on.

Jared Madsen’s hockey career was cut short by a fault in his heart, but coaching keeps him close to the game. When Ten is traded to the team, his carefully organized world is thrown into chaos. Nine years his junior and his best friend’s brother, he knows Ten is strictly off-limits, but as soon as he sees Ten’s moves, on and off the ice, he knows that his heart could get him into trouble again.

Listening Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
Narrator: Sean Crisden

Reviewer: Annery

*4.00 for the AB* // *4.5 for the story*


Baseball is long gone, football season is almost over, and now is the time for hockey. This book will set you right up.

The audio is by Sean Crisden, who I know has legions of fans, and I can see why. I liked the narration very much. The voices for the MCs are clear and distinctly defined, the women are non-campy or cartoonish (which I always fear), in general everything was very pleasant if a bit rushed, and those were my stumbling blocks.

The story is told in a dual P.O.V. style, in alternating chapters. I don’t know if it was inspired by the character of Ten, who’s young, or the writing, but the narration, particularly in the Ten chapters, has a breezy, chit chatty, almost rushed quality, to the point where, at least in the beginning, the emotions seem to be brushed over or elided. I don’t know. However once Ten & Mads become an item things, narration-wise, settle to a better pace IMO. As I said I liked most of the choices Sean Crisden made except for that initial speed, which to me, seemed to dilute or diminish the real upheaval, conflict, or turmoil the characters are going through. My final point on the audio is that to my ears SCs voice is maybe a bit old for Ten, who’s 22, but then again these are hockey players, “fifteen going on thirty” physique-wise, so take that with a grain of salt.

The Book:

Tennant Rowe is the youngest of three hockey playing Rowe brothers. At 22 he’s looking for a way to get out from under the long shadow of his siblings and the opportunity comes when he gets traded to the Harrisburg Railers, an NHL expansion team, with a still untested roster. What he also gets in Harrisburg is Jared Madsen.

Jared “Mads” Madsen is 32, a former defensive player who due to health issues has transitioned into coaching. He still misses playing but has made the best of his options. He’s also the father of Ryker, a 17 year-old hockey prodigy, product of some youthful experimentation. And yep, he’s bi. I like Jared mucho.

Clearly, from the beginning, the authors meant to write a multivolume series and this first book quite nicely sets up a world of friends, family, coworkers, teammates etc. which I won’t mind revisiting. They’ve also cleverly positioned the story within the margins of quite a few tropes: sports, friend of a sibling, coming out, being bi, family dynamics, size difference (a little bit), and age gap. It’s absolutely not May/December because there’s only 10 (ten) years between our MCs and culturally that isn’t much nowadays, regardless of what Mads thinks.

Overall this is a low-angst and, much to Ten’s chagrin, slow-burn romance. The last time they’d seen each other Ten was 12 and clearly there was nothing, however upon meeting once again there’s a spark of lust which in time morphs into something more.

Save for Mads’ quasi ex father-in-law there are no villains or behind the scenes connivers and I think that fits. Whether they’re more cognizant of acceptable mores or have just grown up in a different world, younger people are less likely to be tripped up by someone’s sexuality. As for owners & management of sports teams they know where the political winds blow. This doesn’t mean that the real downside of coming-out in professional sports is glossed over or candy coated. There are just no hysterics. Just the facts ma’am.

Many of the things I liked about this story are will perhaps put others off. The road from lust to love develops at a believable pace. “I love yous” aren’t bandied about at the drop of a hat or after the first week of lustful eyeing. Those who want a play-by-play of every encounter by the MCs might be disappointed. I wasn’t. There’s quite a bit of sport and it’s very well done. The authors know their hockey, locker room culture, game dynamics, players and their psyche. I liked that the relationship developed over a few months, the pre-season to just over Thanksgiving, and there are other things going on in the MCs lives, besides the romance, that are equally addressed. Mads’ relationship with his son, his son’s grandfather, his conflicting emotions about no longer being able to play, his lust, and eventual love for the younger brother of one of his friends are given pretty much equal time because like in RL things overlap. Ten doesn’t suddenly cease wanting to be first line because he’s also lusting and falling in love with Mads; having the hots for a certain defensive coach doesn’t diminish Ten’s competitive drive or desire to be the best, to win. Ten can love hockey, Mads, having Skype piano-playing sessions with his mom, and evolve his Pokémon beasties at the same time. Real life.

Worry not those who love the smexy times. We have them. True that at first Mads, for valid reasons, limits their interaction to kissing, heavy petting, and some handjobs or frottage, which are plenty hot. Mads is in control but equally gobsmacked by the wonder of Ten, and I was happy that other than getting his son’s opinion, he wasn’t overly hung up on the age difference. Once they’ve reached the end of their respective tethers things get beyond lust to outright romantic, in a non-cloying way:

”Mads kissed me. I blossomed under his mouth and hands. All this time I’d thought I was so experienced and such a top notch lover, but Mads showed me that making love to someone was vastly different from simply fucking someone.”

*Heart eyes*

I can see going on with this series, because though technically it ends in a HEA, there’s lots more to be covered as to where the relationship goes and how things evolve, careerwise, especially for Ten. I know the other books have different MCs but I’m optimistic that in the mix we get more of Mads & Ten. I like them. They complement each other in the best ways.

Review: Old Acquaintance by Annabelle Jacobs

There are two sides to every story, even those buried in the past.

When Sam spots the hot guy moving in next door, he’s all for going round to introduce himself. That soon changes when it turns out his new neighbour is Charles Whitmore, an old school acquaintance. Sam didn’t like him back then, for good reason, and fifteen years haven’t altered that.

Splitting up from his long-term boyfriend means a move across the city for Charlie. As luck would have it, his immediate neighbour is a guy he went to school with, Sam Gellar. While Sam is less than welcoming, his best mate is more than happy to invite Charlie into their social circle. Whatever problem Sam has with him, Charlie resolves to get to the bottom of it because, frosty beginnings aside, Charlie likes him.

With Christmas just around the corner, fate pushes them together, and they get on much better than they ever did at school. Despite his efforts not to, Sam develops feelings for Charlie, and they appear to be reciprocated. If Sam wants to take things further, he needs to either confront Charlie about their past—a past Charlie seems to have forgotten entirely—or let it go and move on. Sam knows deep down that he can’t let it go, but can’t find the right time to bring it up either.

Could it be the season that made me love this? Could it be my hopeless romantic heart that rooted for Sam and Charlie to find their way to each other? Could it be that this was just a simple romance and exactly what I needed? Take your pick because they all worked for me.

I like stories like this; two people who vaguely knew one another when they were young but that somehow they impacted the others life. For Sam, it was what he thought Charlie did to his friend in school and for Charlie, it’s that Sam was a snitch on everything he did back then. The men, now 15 years after that time have become neighbors and while each begins to fancy the other, the both know there is something in the way.

I can’t explain why but while reading this, I had the Beauty and the Beast song stuck in my head. I think it’s the whole “Finding you can change, learning you were wrong” lyric that really hit home. Sam judges Charlie on who he thought we was 15 years ago as the man Charlie is today. But Sam, he doesn’t know the whole story of what happened back then and he will need to put away his grudge and see Charlie for the man he is.

I loved that this was told with both POV’s because I really like to see exactly what each man thinks of the other. Of course, they both think their neighbor is attractive, and when they acknowledge that they knew each other from school it gives the story a layer of angst because we know what Sam thinks. He thinks Charlie was some jerk who beat up his friend so badly he put him in hospital but is that really what happened? As the blurb says, there are two sides to every story.

Watching Sam and Charlie find their way to becoming friends was a pleasure to watch. The coincidence of Sam’s job giving them a chance to hang out was convenient but Charlie making cups and cups of tea for Sam was adorable.

Sam isn’t the only one coming into this story with baggage though as we have Charlie who has just left a long term relationship and is starting over. Charlie isn’t a one night stand/hookup kind of guy, he loves being in a relationship and the way he sees Sam makes me smile so big it hurts. I loved how he found Sam a bit weird when they were in school and now how he sees Sam’s quirks endearing.

The romance in this is a bit of a slow burn that left this reader absolutely satisfied with the payoff. I like that the author didn’t dive head first into the physical and even after the first bit of intimacy had our couple come to terms with the grudge Sam had been holding. It makes sense that they would need to get it all out before they could move forward and thankfully Charlie has a cat that really likes to hang out at Sam’s place.

Everything about this was perfect for me. Sam and Charlie has a realness to them that gave weight to the romance and made me fall in love with them. Dave, Sam’s best friend and Kath Charlie’s sister were lovely characters that gave each man support in their romantic endeavor and I wouldn’t mind more of Dave and his partner Louis as it seems there a story there.

A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: A Dom and His Writer (Club Whisper #1) by Xenia Melzer

Life is perfect for Richard and Dean. Richard is a wealthy and successful businessman who also owns a BDSM club, and Dean is a best-selling author and sub to Richard. They’re young, happy, and in love. The future is bright….

Until tragedy strikes and an accident claims Dean’s beloved sister. Dean finds himself the guardian of a three-month-old infant, and soon he’s trading in his leather fetish gear for diapers and drool bibs. But little Emily is all that remains of his family, so how can he abandon her?

It’s not what Richard signed up for. As much as he tries to be supportive, he never wanted kids and misses having his partner to himself. Suddenly the life he imagined for them is gone, and he’s not sure their relationship can survive the upheaval. But fate isn’t through with Dean, and when misfortune strikes again, will he be able to turn to the man he loves? A final crisis will determine if they can pull together as a family or must face facts and part ways.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 44 minutes
Narrator: Richard L. Walton

Reviewer: Shee Reader

I was pretty excited to listen to this book, as the premise of a surprise baby is one I enjoy. Richard L. Walton is a new-to-me narrator so I was intrigued! At times there was a sense that the author was providing a novices’ guide to BDSM which I didn’t really like, but that hardly matters!

Walton’s voice is so very deep and growly, it was perfect for the book. I really enjoyed his characterisation and have cheerfully added him to my list of narrators I look out for.

The story opens with our couple living their best life and then everything changes. Honestly I didn’t really like Richard for much of the book, and his ‘apologies’ to Dean felt superficial to me. It was a relief to find that supporting characters were happy to call Richard out on his dickishness! Dean, however, I loved from the start! Since he’s a writer, and writers are my heroes, he was always going to be awesome, but it was really lovely to see the inner strength of the man when things got tough, and his willingness to stand up for his niece was just exactly what she needed.

There were a few twists and turns in the story, but it was relatively low-angst (for all that I wanted to give Richard a right slap a few times) and the ending is adorably sweet and charming.

Recommended.

I was given a copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Calculated Magic by S.J.D. Peterson

Never too late for love.

Three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old warlock Tikron must find his true love or forfeit his immortality. But if he hasn’t found his ideal mate in all these centuries, the prospects don’t look too bright.

That is, until he sees mathematician Richard Beaumont. It’s love at first sight and Tikron’s future just go a whole lot brighter.

Except Richard doesn’t believe in love at first sight. He doesn't believe in love at all. He certainly doesn’t believe in magic. His life is ruled by statistics and logic, and they tell him a relationship with Tikron has only a 10 percent chance of success. That’s unacceptable—even if the attraction between them is off the charts.

With his powers waning and the clock ticking down, Tikron’s last hope is showing Richard the true meaning of magic.

What a delightful and yeah, magical story this was. I had so much fun reading this opposites attract story of a centuries old warlock looking to break the curse of an unrequited love placed on him and finding the most extraordinary man of logic to fall for. Soul mates of any kind is a weakness trope for me and this was a pure pleasure to read.

“How is this possible?”
“Magic.”
“Impossible. There is no such thing as magic,”
“Nothing is impossible if you believe.”

Told in the dual POV’s of our fated couple, we meet our Warlock Tikron first as he is looking through old texts and obscure manuscripts to find a way to break the curse Mysdus (the leader of a clan of immortals and an extremely powerful warlock) put on him when Mysdus couldn’t hook up with Tikron’s mother. Tikron has until his 350th birthday which is in 30 days to break the curse or he loses his immortality. When Tikron’s friend with sometime benefits, Ry, decides they need a break from their search and get some food, Tikron’s life gets turned upside down. On their walk to get their grub on, Tikron feels a pull to walk into a bakery and finds himself drawn to a man inside. He can’t explain why he is smitten, yes smitten, by this guy because he is not Tikron’s usual type, but he knows he has to meet him.

Richard Beaumont is Tikron’s exact opposite when we first meet him. He’s steadfast in his routine and being a mathematician, is all about numbers and logic, but Richard is lonely. Richard doesn’t realize that Tikron has been staring at him until Andrea (who works at the bakery) sits down and tells him and Richard goes into what I now call, Richard Mode. The guy is sweet, but so lost in his logic that he dismisses the first attempt Tikron makes at hitting on him. He also blows the second opportunity with Tikron and with this Dreamspun Beyond line, I wasn’t ready for him to be so stubborn and starchy. Yet, when Richard makes a call to his mom to ask about flirting, it all makes sense with the parental responses he gets. Just trust me when I saw Richard’s family are all on the same page.

How could someone not believe in magic? […] One only had to watch a sunset or a baby take its first breath to know that magic happened every second of every day. It was in the wind, the trees, the ground, the very breath taken.

What makes this book fun though is the fact Richard doesn’t believe in magic when magic is exactly what Tikron is. I loved that Tikron didn’t realize who Richard was and what he could represent even though he was searching for the very thing; to find his true love. Watching the slow progress Tikron makes as he begins to basically woo Richard was sweet and when he finally gets to show Richard the magic he can perform, the relationship moves forward. Watching Richard bloom with acceptance of magic was wonderful and seeing him fall for Tikron was beautiful.

Ry, Tikron’s best friend is the ultimate scene stealer and I found myself wanting more and more of him and wouldn’t mind reading his book one day. I wish we could have seen a bit of the dude who placed the curse on Tikron but the end was delightful and wrapped the story up nicely.

An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the Calculated Magic blog visit HERE!

Review: Hiding in Plain Sight (Camp H.O.W.L. #3) by Bru Baker

Happily ever after is right under their noses.

Harris has been keeping a big secret for years—his unrequited mate bond with his best friend, Jackson. He’s convinced himself that having Jackson in his life is enough. That, and his work at Camp H.O.W.L., keeps him going.

Things get complicated when Jackson applies for a high-ranking Tribunal job in New York City—far from Camp H.O.W.L. The position requires he relinquish all Pack bonds… and that’s when his wolf decides to choose a mate. Suddenly Jackson sees his best friend in a sizzling new light.

Their chemistry is through the roof, but they're setting themselves up for broken hearts—and broken bonds—if Jackson can't figure out a way to balance his career and the love that’s just been waiting for him to take notice.

From my review of Under a Blue Moon: “I am really hoping there is another book because there are strong hints throughout with Harris and Jackson that need to be explored long after that flirting at the hospital. I mean, right? There’s more???? Please?”

*fist pump*

I have been waiting for Harris to get his mate and this book did not disappoint. We’ve met both Harris and Jackson from previous books in this series. Harris was Tate’s friend and fellow counselor at Camp Howl in the first book and we meet Jackson in book two as Drew’s stepbrother. What we also learn about Jackson and Harris in book two is there is way more than bro feeling’s between them. Harris acknowledges the crush he has on Jackson and Jackson just doesn’t know Harris is more than his best friend yet. It will take a literally getting some sense knocked into Jackson for him to figure it all out but it’s worth it.

His mate had been hiding in plain sight for all of their adult lives…

I love romances where our couple has known one another and been friends for years. There is a different intimacy of between friends that lends to a romance and Harris and Jackson’s history give this romance a bittersweet feels all while including some angst and serious UST.

As in the previous books, we get dual POV’s with this one and it’s always something I am thankful for. We already know that Harris knows Jackson is his mate and that he will stay in the friend zone forever if it means keeping Jackson around. What was great was to learn this isn’t all one sided and Jackson has been crushing on his best friend for years too, he just hasn’t felt the mating call, or at least he never checked the caller ID for identification. Even in Drew’s book, Harris and Jackson couldn’t stop being affections and flirty with one another…

Besides, someday his stepbrother Jackson was going to get his head out of his ass and realize he had feelings for Harris, […]

Oh, this book. There is a decent amount of angst happening with both Harris and Jackson. I can’t begin to tell you how much I hurt for Harris when we would deny himself everything he wanted as a man and wolf with Jackson. That sort of unrequited love kills me and yet I eat it with a spoon. When Jackson finally gets that Harris is his mate, a whole new level of angst arrives and these two just made me want to lock them in a room until they figure it out. Talk about self-control and denial, these two have it in spades and all that UST they were building was blinding. I was sitting on my hands waiting for them to give in and yet I was scared for both of them being hurt by doing so.

You see, Jackson is on a career path of moving up the ranks from a district enforcer to tribunal enforcer that will lead to him following in his father’s footsteps to be the second of a pack. It’s all he’s ever wanted but the pull of a mate is more than he bargained for and with that mate being Harris, Jackson becomes one hell of a mess. He can’t work, people around him notice his mood swings and it hurt to read how much his wolf was pining and crying for Harris. But, I do get why he hesitated for so long, why he denied what fate had determined with Harris. Following your heart and not your head isn’t always easy but it could leave you to everything you’ve always wanted.

“Everybody knows you two are one smoldering look away from boning. The UST was actually painful while he was here a few weeks ago.”

Harris just about broke my heart at least a dozen times reading this. You can feel how much he wants Jackson as his mate but the self-denial was intense as self-flagellation. When Jackson offers Harris a “deal”…ugh. I know Harris will always take what he can when it comes to Jackson, but I was worried for them both. I am just happy they decided to give it a shot and even though Harris acted hastily before Jackson had a chance to tell him what’s up, it gave us some great scenes with them.

I loved getting bits of Tate and Adrian again and of course being set in Camp H.O.W.L and Jackson being brothers with Drew, we get more of Drew and Nick. While Jordan didn’t sit well with me in Drew’s book, he grew on me here and I hope he will finally settle down. Also, the introduction of new supernatural beings to this world was welcomed and I am curious if the author will continue on with that storyline?

I loved every bit of this book. Of course being a hopeless romantic the romance comes first but I loved how Harris and Jackson are friends and lovers. How they can talk about what they want even if they dance around the issue at first and what their first argument was about. I love that these men understand how important career is to both of them but how they can’t deny the mating bond that is happening.

Looking back, it was kind of an odd thing to love about a friend. Maybe he’d known Harris was his mate all along, but his brain hadn’t been ready to process it.

I’m sad that this is the last in the Camp H.O.W.L series but it’s ending on a positive note. I like where the book left Harris and Jackson; what they are both doing with their mate and their careers. The authors note at the end made me excited and I can’t wait for the new series and more shifters!

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Tag Team Review: Hex and Candy (Strange Bedfellows #1) by Ashlyn Kane

True love’s kiss can break the curse. But then what?

Cole Alpin runs a small-town candy store. He visits his grandmother twice a week. And sometimes he breaks curses.

Leo Ericson’s curse is obvious right away, spiderwebbing across his very nice body. Though something about it worries Cole, he agrees to help—with little idea of what he’s getting into.

Leo is a serial monogamist, but his vampire ex has taken dating off the table with his nasty spell, and Leo needs Cole’s companionship as much as his help. When the hex proves to be only the beginning of his problems, Leo seeks refuge at Cole’s place. Too bad magic prevents him from finding refuge in Cole’s arms.

Cole’s never had a boyfriend, so how can he recognize true love? And there’s still the matter of the one responsible for their troubles in the first place….

Average!

Sara - 5 Hearts

My ginger senses tingled when I saw Ashlyn Kane was going to write in the Dreamspun Beyond line. If you didn’t know tingling ginger senses are a good thing; they’re nice and warm, giving you a pretty euphoric feeling of anticipated pleasure. My ginger sense rarely fail me and they were spot on with this story. Kane nailed exactly what I’ve come to love from the Beyond line with perfection. The balance of paranormal and fluff were exceptionally done and I am still smiling after having finished this book a day later.

It was that good.

I have to say, reading for me has been a struggle this year and I really can’t put my finger on the why of it all. I just know that I am not reading as much and find it hard to even pick up a book and start reading. So the books that I do read, when they hit me in the feels and make me sneak read all day at my desk instead of the pace I’d set to read? They are gold.

Told from the dual POV’s from our adorable couple we meet Cole Alpin, candy maker extraordinaire, first as he is working in his candy store when a stranger walks in needing his help. Cole isn’t just a candy maker, he’s also a witch and a curse breaker and when the tall drink of water that is Leo walks into his store needed to break a curse, Cole is ready to help. Sure, he finds Leo attractive, but it’s the work that comes first as the Alpins are family of witches, who hold their craft to a high level of importance.

Oh Cole. I adored him so damn much. He’s so loyal to his family and to his grandmother first and foremost. She’s the one that raised him when his mother left and she is the one who has always had faith in his abilities, even if that means Cole may always be alone. I won’t go into all of that because it’s layered into the story, but Cole is adorable and steadfast with a dry sense of humor and a love of punny shirts. He’s quite easy to fall in love with.

Now Leo Ericson. How can I not fall in love with a guy who takes home a one-night-stand only to find out the dude’s a vampire? Leo takes it all in stride until him and said vampire, Roman, part ways and Leo can’t get no satisfaction with anyone. He finds out he’s been cursed by his ex-lover with fangs and is pointed in the direction of Cole to break the curse. Leo is so much fun. I love how open he is to the idea of being tossed into a world where vampires and witches exist. He’s fascinated by it all while being slightly afraid and it’s that side of afraid that moves this story along and moves him in with Cole.

True love’s first kiss.

I am kinda getting ahead of myself here. Let me backtrack and sum this up. Cole can break Leo’s curse, but it’s a bit tricky to do once he sees all of it in person and realized what it would take to break it. *cough* (see above quote) *cough* When Leo starts to feel watched and starts getting mixed messages of curse and protection, he runs to Cole for help. Cole opens his home to Leo and his already sugary heart starts to melt. I can write about these two for days and not get tired of reliving their moments. I love how easy they are with each other and how at first, Leo isn’t attracted to Cole because he’s not “his usual type”, but gets that his usual type is pretty crappy. Leo knows he’s magically cockblcoked by the curse, but as Cole loosens the threads of the magic, the two grow closer and start to build some serious UST. Serious UST where I needed to just make my own voodoo dolls of them and force them to make out. Goodness. When the near misses of a kiss happen, I felt it. When they start admiring each other’s body parts, I felt it. When both men wanted the other, but Leo was afraid of the curse and Cole is afraid of getting what he wants could do to the balance of the universe… I. FELT. IT. The payoff of all this UST though, is so freaking fracking worth it.

This reminded me of Practical Magic. With the Alpin family living in a small town and having a strong history of witches with the townsfolk fearing them. I love Practical Magic, so this warmed my heart with the pagan celebrations (Psst… I was born on Beltane) the Alpins have and how Gran is the center of it all. Both this story and the story of the Owens women have lessons in them with meddling with magic and its consequences. And both stories have witches who fall in love with humans that are their destiny. This book was easy to see translated to the big or small screen and would be so much fun to watch.

If you can’t tell, I loved this romance something fierce. I get giddy thinking of apple pie, Monarch Butterflies, Gran’s special tea, Ella’s aura readings, tarot cards foretelling destiny and all the magic involved. From Leo and Cole, to Gran, to Kate, to Amy, to Nate, to Jimmy and even to Roman. I enjoyed being part of this world in every way possible. Seeing as this is listed as the first book in a series, I am hoping I get to be a part of this world for a long time. I wouldn’t mind Nate getting a story or Roman, maybe Jimmy or really anyone, who is adjacent to Leo and Cole.


R *A Reader Obsessed* - 4 Hearts

A promising beginning to a charming series!

This starts off with Leo, newly introduced to the fact that there are things such as vampires that truly exist. Having just recently been in a relationship with one, Leo’s handling this new world view pretty well until what he thought was an amicable breakup is anything but, and he finds himself literally cockblocked by a curse courtesy of his ex. Desperate to find a solution, Leo lands himself in Cole’s candy shop hoping and doubting that a magical miracle can help him.

Cole doesn’t have active magic, but he’s particularly adept at seeing and unraveling curses. Leo’s predicament seems straightforward, but it soon becomes clear that the curse and the entire situation is rife with complications and could very well suck Cole down the proverbial rabbit hole, endangering his tender heart. What’s a nice guy like him to do? Follow it through, of course.

This was quirky and adorable, peppered with some cute funny as well as some heartfelt emotions and feels and little dollops of suspense. This kept me on my toes, and I was smiling and anxious and curious throughout. The premise was great. I loved that this blended magic and paganism plus paranormal and supernatural elements, to feature not only the aforementioned vampire, but witches and seers, talking animal familiars, and werewolves! To top it all off, it’s also wrapped up in a big pretty bow of fate and destiny.

Clearly, I enjoyed this story a lot to give it a 4 heart rating. However, having never read this author before, I’m not sure if it’s a me thing or just the author’s style, but I felt at times that the flow of the dialogue and prose was jarring or confusing, and it kicked me out enough for me to comment on.

Regardless, I obviously liked the torturous slow burn and the UST that is manufactured by Leo’s awful curse and the stipulations needed to break it. Once he and Cole are able to be together (around 65% for those who need to know), it was very nicely sexy and sweetly sigh worthy. Again, this was a great start to a new series despite my reading stumbles and one that I'll definitely be coming back to for more!


Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Imperial Stout (Trouble Brewing #1) by Layla Reyne

Layla Reyne spins off from her pulse-pounding Agents Irish and Whiskey books with Imperial Stout , the first installment in the Trouble Brewing series

It’s a good thing assistant US attorney Dominic Price co-owns a brewery. He could use a cold one. Nic’s star witness has just been kidnapped, his joint operation with the FBI is in jeopardy, his father’s shady past is catching up with him and the hot new special agent in San Francisco is the kind of distraction best handled with a stiff drink.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne has his own ideas about how to handle Nic, but his skills are currently needed elsewhere. The by-the-book FBI agent goes deep undercover as a member of an infamous heist crew in order to save Nic’s witness, break up the crew and close the case before anyone else gets hurt. Nic in particular.

Things heat up when Cam falls for Nic, and the witness falls for Cam. As the crew’s suspicions grow, Cam must decide how far he’s willing to go—and how far into his own dark past he’s willing to dive—to get everyone out alive.

First thing first: I am going to implore any of you that see this book and go into reading it as a standalone to not do it. Yes, I know it’s listed as first in a series and well, I guess you could read the whole universe it’s involved in backwards but I don’t recommend it. This is a spinoff of one of my favorite series: Agents, Irish & Whiskey and in that series is where we first meet Assistant US District Attorney Dominic Price and Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Cameron Byrne. There is history with these two long before you open this book and you really need to witness their sexual tension that leads up to a kiss at a wedding.Then gets ramped up to 11 in this book as they are working a case together. Nic and Cam were so special in the AIW series that I was begging for them to get their own series and when the author teased about it and then confirmed, I was so ready. See, they were so freaking good as supporting characters for Aidan and Jamie that they would have to blow my socks off in their own series and boy did they ever! This is just the first book, a book that amazed me, had me riveted to the page and squirming with all the sexual tension between Nic and Cam that I melted right off my chair when they finally give in. The book is a good one. The series it came from is stunning and I would love for everyone to meet all the players that show up in this to get the full experience.

Okay?
Thanks.
Now to try and review this…

An attraction that had boiled over in that one kiss…

This story is one hell of a ride. We begin straight away with the action as Nic and Cam are running an operation that gets turned upside down and puts both men in danger. Told from Nic’s POV first, we know his thoughts keep straying to keeping Cam safe and that he wants nothing more than to have a second kiss. Gunfire and shit hitting the fan leads the men and their combined team efforts to find out what with wrong with the op when a dignitary’s wife is killed and we get thrust into Cam’s POV. Why am I telling you this? Because it’s important to set up the beginning of this book, to let us know that no matter what the argument is, these two are in over their heads and pretty much head over feet for one another, they just don’t know how to handle it yet. So, back to Cam’s POV and his worry regarding basically everything that comes along with crushing on Ex-Navy SEAL and Assistant US District Attorney Dominic Price when they are thrust into a deeper situation than either man predicted.

Wow.

Okay, I am talking in major circles so let’s just put this simply: Nic and Cam are working together on a case that is actually led by Aidan Talley, who is currently on his honeymoon. The men have to deal with asshole US District Attorney Bowers, who I wanted to punch repeatedly throughout this book. I still don’t know what was up the dude’s ass when it came to the entire team other than he is just an asshole, but anyway. They have to consider what their CI may know about her girlfriend’s plan and how the third party came into play during the operation she was working on with them.

Good lord. I have to say that when I first met Dominic Price as someone involved with Aidan I didn’t like him and my dislike was purely due to the fact that Aidan belonged with Jamie. But through the AIW series and Nic’s actions, he started to grow on me. When Jamie’s best friend and the FBI’s best kidnap and rescue agent Cam is brought in to help and he meets Nic, the spark of attraction was palpable between them and I started to see Nic different. I started to adore Nic more times than not and I really fell hard for him once the series was done and then that small POV in Blended Whiskey tipped the scales. I love Nic and we get so much more of him than I could have expected with his back story. And not just of his SEAL days, but what he has gone through with his family and the father he hasn’t spoken to in 27 years. I also love that we get parts of him with his brewery, his feelings about Jamie, Aidan, Mel, Danny and more important about Cam. Nic is so lost in what he wants from Cam but he doesn’t know how to reach out and grab hold of it.

Now, Cameron is another story. I’ve loved him from the moment I met him on the page and thinking of his Boston accent coming through makes me grin. Once again, Cameron has a heartbreaking backstory that is visited here and only hinted at a deeper story that led him to his passion of being a kidnap and rescue agent. A reminder is always on Cameron of someone lost and while we get the who towards the end of the story, it is in no way a closed case, literally. But Cam, I love being in his head seeing how he works as an agent and seeing how much he wants Nic. How these two see one another, I wish they could put it to film and play it for each other so they would know how deep the feelings between them go before that second kiss every happens.

Oh yeah, that second kiss. This story is so freaking fracking full of UST, it’s insane and I am absolutely crazy for it. The way they dance and circle around the attraction is so good and it hurt so badly, but I would totally ask for more. Knowing that their attraction and being witness to their first kiss helped ramp up the tension between then. I have to say, UST done well is fantastic. Reyne gives it to us again and again in a way you don’t mind, because you know UST this good will have an explosion of emotions when the men let themselves become intimate. And… it’s totally worth it. Trust me on that.

When it comes to stories like that of high level attorneys, FBI agents and the like I am always floored by how the author can pull someone like me into the story. I know nothing about being a SEAL, a JAG officer, a AUS or a ASAC, about running covert operations or thievery of Siberian artifacts, but OMG I was so in this story. Reyne’s words are always cinematic and I was in the thick of it every stop of the way. I was as entrenched in the storm of bullets as they flew and I was feeling the sexual tension that I needed a release just as bad as Cam and Nic! It’s just so good and while reading all of this, I felt like I knew what I was doing because the characters did.

Of course, I love that we get to see Aidan and Jamie again as well as Mel and Danny. I was so happy that Lauren was working with the team because she really does excel as a Mini Jamie and her wit always cracks me up. Getting to see a new side of Cam kinda like we did with Aidan as Ian gave more to the story and the romance between him and Nic and I just ate it up. I read and I read even when I wasn’t supposed to be reading at work. The files on my desk have piled high and I will have to scramble to meet deadline but I don’t care. The book was that good and everything including the secrets were worth it, because I know there is at least one more book after this. More Nic and Cam is not a bad thing at all.

So after all that, I need to add one more thing.

I have fixation with book titles and that moment in the story that it clicks, that the title makes sense. What I loved about the AIW series is how I could relate the whiskey to the romance and guess what? I can relate the beer to this series too.

You see. Imperial Stouts were created to be stronger beer, a more aggressive brew that could survive its temporary and yet difficult stay without spoiling and with that they became a different and new style of beer. With this book, we have the same universe, yet a new style of coupling between Nic and Dom and how they blend their world of the US Attorney’s office and FBI together. What we also get is their temporary, but difficult stay of not breaking rules or crossing line by being intimate with one another without spoiling all the yummy UST. You see where I am going with this? Imperial stouts are brewed to be formidable and have the ability to weather the storm in the cold climates where they were originally favored. Formidable and able to weather the storm are pretty much the same descriptions you could use for Dominic and Cameron’s new found relationship and romance. Both men are formidable in their careers and both men have been through much more than I would have expected, but they can outlast the past and together they can push the envelope of what is the accepted standard and create something new. Something that is just theirs while harboring no disrespect to heritage or tradition, but simply broadening it with who they are. Yup, this title works and I will leave you with this: The combination of roasted barley and other dark characters malts will give an imperial stout a bittersweet personality… barley, which is known to be milder when combined with a dark character.

Hmm…

Review: Soul Bond by J.S. Harker

Stealing his heart.

As a thief and a warlock, Noah survives by using his wit and charm to prey on the privileged. His dangerous criminal boss wants an enchanted dagger belonging to a family of wealthy mages, including their pampered—but handsome—son, Ben. Failing to complete the job will be hazardous to Noah’s survival.

Noah bumps into Ben at a lavish party, and as soon as they meet, the connection’s undeniable, and it goes much further than ordinary attraction. Their bond reaches into their souls, entwining and changing their magic.

Which Noah thinks he can use to get to the dagger. After all, he isn’t sure this soul bond Ben seems so obsessed with is even real.

He also doesn’t count on being caught red-handed…. Or falling in love.

Another winner in the Dreamspun Beyond series and this one really balanced out the paranormal with the fluff so darn well. I was hooked on Noah and Ben immediately and was ready to learn all about Mages, Warlocks and the mythical/unattainable soul bond.

It isn’t possible. It is a story.

Being a hopeless romantic I am head over heels for the possibility that fate has one person out there for you and that usually, it’s the least person you’d expect. Maybe it’s because my husband and I on paper don’t make sense at all and yet we’re going on two decades together or maybe it’s just me being in love with love and watching fools fall… you know? Either way, the idea of fated mates or magical beings that can bond to one another that creates a romance far beyond the normal really turns my crank.

Being told with dual POV’s we get Noah first as he goes from a waiter at a high class Mage party into a bathroom to use magic to change his appearance. The description of the act was perfect down to the smell that happens when magic is used and we begin to know what Noah who is not a mage is doing at this party. It appears he has a job to do and that job is to steal a dagger. We aren’t told right away if being a thief if Noah’s normal MO but we are introduced to one hell of sexy man that turns Noah on at first looks and stirs his magic more than anyone ever has.

Oh but I adored Ben! Sure he is the son of a powerful Magus, but Ben is truly his own man. He is a fellow hopeless romantic and believes in the soul bond and has been searching for the man who would be his everything. When he spots Noah at the party and they touch, the spark is undeniable and even the knowledge that Noah is about to steal from his family doesn’t stop Ben in pursuit of what most believe will never be found.

“A soul bond is a rare occurrence. Some seek it their whole lives. Some believe they achieve it, only to discover someone else.”
“But it’s just a story.”
“Didn’t use to be. Once upon a time, everyone could find their mate if they tried.”

I am not going to ramble per my usual about this, but trust me I could. I loved every bit of this book to the masquerade element of Noah changing his appearance at the party to the Cinderella aspect of leaving his coat behind and Ben coming after him. I loved the opposites attract trope with not only Ben being a mage and Noah being a warlock, but the men being from opposite sides of the magic society and still choosing their bond and love above everything. This was super romantic full of suspense regarding the dagger Noah was to steal and what it will cost him if he doesn’t complete the job. It was amazing with these two as they learn what their magic can do when they are together and how to control it. It was beautiful to witness the intense and intimate moments between them and how I hope in my heart they begin to change the way their worlds react to each other and one day blend together to be stronger.

I simply loved this story of Ben and Noah and wish them nothing more than a bond that even the stills can’t break and many more breathtaking moments of love.

Review: Stranger in a Foreign Land by Michael Murphy

After an accident stole his memory, the only home American businessman Patrick knows is Bangkok. He recovers under the tender ministrations of Jack, an Australian ex-pat who works nights at a pineapple cannery. Together they search for clues to Patrick’s identity, but without success. Soon that forgotten past seems less and less important as Jack and Patrick—now known as Buddy—build a new life together.

But the past comes crashing in when Patrick’s brother travels to Thailand looking for him… and demands Patrick return to Los Angeles, away from Jack and the only world familiar to him. The attention also causes trouble for Jack, and to make their way back to each other, Patrick will need to find not only himself, but Jack as well, before everything is lost…

DNF @ 42%

I love reading and it takes a lot for me to give up on a book but I couldn’t keep reading with this.

I adore a good amnesia story and the chance to rediscover yourself along with becoming someone totally new because you have no memory of who you were. There is a romanticism about amnesia and I am one who loves the trope but sadly it was used here in the weirdest way.

I couldn’t connect with the writing from the first page. It’s very wooden, pedestrian and to be honest, boring. So many details given and so many things told that I was never given a chance to feel anything for Patrick or even as “the man” when he loses his memory after the car accident. I was confused when Jack shows up because there was no indication of a dual POV until we suddenly hop into Jack’s head and see “the man” through his eyes. The head hopping is a constant and it kept taking me out of the story.

Patrick, aka “the man”, aka Buddy goes from being almost childlike with his amnesia to acting like he doesn’t have it at all with his knowledge. I am no amnesia expert but again this boomerang effect of his personality jarred me so much I couldn’t focus on what was going on even when what was going on was odd.

When Jack starts to perv out on this childlike man with no memory I had to take a moment and while I am no prude, it seemed almost predatory the way Jack basically stalked Buddy and then takes him home. I get people being overly kind and wanting to help but Jack could have given Buddy some clothes rather than let him hang out in a towel all afternoon and then naked and have thoughts about going down on the dude as he washed days of filth and dried blood of his body.
I don’t know. I decided to stop when things became physical and Buddy suddenly runs off to get oil from the kitchen to use as lube. Again, I don’t declare myself to be an amnesia expert but Buddy went from not knowing how to slice pineapple to knowing that peanut oil can be used as lube because he wanted to be fucked.

Um… *scratches head*

This ginger loves the Dreamspun line likes it’s my job, but this story doesn’t fit it at all.

No fluff.

Only frustration.

Review: Night of the Living Manny by Julia Talbot

Something besides love is growing….

Manny Brenden Torrance is good at his job. He's dealt with all sorts of children and parents, but he's never met anyone as intriguing as Liam Whitehouse. Liam is a scientist with three kids, whose job is keeping him away from home more and more. That's where Brenden steps in to help.

Liam has secrets, though. He's working on a project for a pharmaceutical lab that could change disease management. Or destroy it. While he and Brenden start a romance they both want to continue, things at Liam's job come to a head, and suddenly the whole family of Dad, manny, three kids, and a big drooly dog is on the run from the one thing that might keep Brenden and Liam apart. And infect the world.

This was not a romance situation, it was a job.

Well this was cute if you find lab created zombie-esque romances on the cute side. Seriously though, this was light and fitting for the line.

When Manny Brenden Torrance takes an urgent job just when he’s planned a month off to himself and his beast of a dog Moose, he gets more than a handful of kids to take care of. Brenden walks straight into a struggling family with a widower whose job is keeping him from quality time with his three children and three kids who really need more time with their dad. It’s a good thing Brenden and Moose have a butt load of experience when they meet the Whitehouse clan. But has all their manny training prepared them for what they really signed up for?

Told from Brenden and Liam’s POV, we get the whole story as Liam finally gives in and gets help in the form of a manny to manage his family. Liam lost his wife a few years ago and while he is keeping his head above water, the weights of his job are dragging him under and he just needs that bit of help to not drown. Susana, Peter and Brittany are good kids, but they are kids who are teetering on the verge of disaster with their dad trying to balance it all. Thankfully, they all know what’s really happening and after a grumble or three, open up to Brenden being around.

The story is told well and I liked that we got to know all of the characters before the pandemic happens and the need to survive kicks in. We don’t know what’s up with Liam’s job and the emergency until we are decently into the book, so we get on page time with everyone setting a relatable foundation. It was nice to know where everyone stood with their feelings and it wasn’t just the “OMG we might die” that made everyone fall in love and everyone okay with the new family situation.

We’ll figure this out. You’re a scientist and I’m a manny. We can do anything.

I liked Brenden and adored Moose. The story is really light even given the virus situation but Brenden was down to earth and loved his job. He falls hard for every member of the Whitehouse family and when given the opportunity to let his feelings fly for Liam, he doesn’t hold back.

Liam is a good guy who has always wanted to do the right thing. His job has its challenges and after losing his wife the stress comes down three fold but Liam is too smart not to ask for help. Liam is also too smart not to be honest with his kids or with the new manny he thinks is hot and also is developing feelings for.

All of the kids were unique and had qualities that gave the story a bit of realism while being just a tad bit of unbelievable to stay straight with a paranormal read. There is insta-love in this but with the outbreak and the possible decline of civilization on the line, I will go with it and let the men fall in love.

I guess for me, this felt reminiscent of another story I read of lab created “zombies” where things weren’t as light and I will admit, the lightness of the Dreamspun series didn’t lend itself to this story as well as some others.
But that’s just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

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