Audiobook Review: Mad About the Hatter by Dakota Chase

This isn’t his sister’s Wonderland….

Henry never believed his older sister, Alice’s, fantastic tales about the world down the rabbit hole. When he’s whisked away to the bizarre land, his best chance for escape is to ally himself with the person called the Mad Hatter. Hatter—an odd but strangely attractive fellow—just wants to avoid execution. If that means delivering “Boy Alice” to the Queen of Hearts at her Red Castle, Hatter will do what he has to do to stay alive. It doesn’t matter if Henry and Hatter find each other intolerable. They’re stuck with each other.

Along their journey, Henry and Hatter must confront what they’ve always accepted as truth. As dislike grows into tolerance and something like friendship, the young men see the chance for a closer relationship. But Wonderland is a dangerous place, and first they have to get away with their lives.

Listening Length: 7 hours and 8 minutes
Narrator: Joel Froomkin

I loved, loved, loved this audio-book! Not only did I love it, but I could only listen to it when my 14 year old daughter was around as she overheard part of it and loved it too. it's a thing to be treasured, I think, a story that crosses generations and enjoyed by different age groups. The Harry Potter books are a great example of this, and whilst this book is very different from Harry Potter it has that same generational appeal.

A sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, Dakota Chase captures the eccentric nature of Carroll's writing whilst retaining a fresh uniqueness that is all her own.

Many familiar characters appear as Henry, Alice's younger brother, falls into Wonderland and starts his own adventure. The voices of the previous characters feel very authentic despite the new aesthetic to this story, the burgeoning romance between Hatter and Henry. Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire cat, Tweedle-Dum and Dee and of course Hatter are all completely recognisable as Carroll's character's but they aren't tired flagging copies, they are just right to bring this story to life.

The adventure was fun, the narration excellent - in fact I have only one point of dislike about the book. When Henry and Hatter come back into our world, it is a modern day world and this felt out of sync to me. I also wished that Henry and Alice had remained English rather than becoming American - but that's the English in me coming out! These two points would have retained a little bit more truth to the story, but neither were enough for me to knock off a heart.

If you like quirky well written stories then please, please read this one. Actually - the narration is so good, don't read it listen to it! One of my top audiobooks for narration and content, definitiley and all time favourite.

A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Building Forever (The Rebuilding Year #2.5) by Kaje Harper

Four years ago, Ryan and John decided they'd wait to get married until it came with full legal equality. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, that historic moment has finally arrived. But three hundred miles separate Ryan's hectic residency from John's busy campus job. With a son in college, a daughter choosing her future, and a rambunctious Irish Setter needing attention, planning a wedding isn't simple.

Of course, even the most perfect ceremony can't solve all their problems. What does it take to build forever?

Fans of this author, especially those of this series, will not be disappointed with this addition.

I think what I like about Kaje Harper's writing is the realness it possesses. Even her stories that veer far from reality (werewolves for example) contain an essence of truth and realism within the characters. Reactions, feelings, actions are all relatable and that is what gives this author's style heart. It's exactly what I can't get enough of when I read her books.

Gay marriage has been a long time coming in many (most) countries, and the fight for the right to wed has been particularly well documented in the USA - a country supposedly at the forefront of modern civilisation. Anyone who sees any news knows that though this is a right won it is constantly under threat. I think this is why this story had such heart for me. I'm lucky enough to be heterosexual; lucky because my rights do not have to be fought for, they are there already, and when I wanted to get married (albeit I'm not in/from the US) there was no question that I could. Ryan and John did not have that luxury - and, while they may be fictional, they represent millions who aren't. Kaje could have made this series overtly political. Overtly a fight. Overtly a drama. But she didn't; she made it a series about two men in love who want to get married. For me this made the underlying difficulty, the unfair wait for others to recognise Ryan and John's right to have the same equality in that love, even more poignant. In this case, I think, less is more. The series showed the reality of the situation and that wait was heartbreaking in its unfairness and inequality.

The issues in this book specifically were those that face many couples, regardless of sexuality. The practicalities of arranging a wedding. The who, what, where and how. The minutiae - and I loved it because the minutiae meant that Ryan and John's rights were recognised by law as the same as everyone else's.

Kaje Harper is a go-to, must read author for me and this book is no exception. If you haven't already, you really need to check out this author's writing.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Snow Angels with Bear (Love Off Leash #4) by Bonnie Dee

Love dogs and smoking hot men? The Love Off Leash series is for you. Unrelated stories. Shared theme of new love and pets.

Can this romance stand a snowball’s chance in hell?

Hitting a dog in a snowstorm is a heck of a way to meet a guy. When August Long rushes an injured stray to the vet, he’s blown away by the gruff yet sexy doctor. August never intended to hook up with a small-town local, but Eric Grover woos him with snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and a passion hot enough to melt the winter snow.

No one seems to know why an ex-military surveyor has moved into Hopewell Springs, and Eric is intrigued by the Southern stranger’s charm. Tall, handsome August lights his fire while filling a need for companionship he hadn’t realized he lacked. Spending time with August and Bear, his recovering German shepherd, makes Eric begin to believe love is possible.

But there’s a shadow threatening their budding romance. August fears telling Eric everything his job entails and keeps the secret until the truth detonates, nearly destroying them. For the two men to reconcile their differences, it may take a Christmas miracle—and the intervention of an adorable dog or two.

Snow Angels with Bear may be set at Christmas but I wouldn't really consider it a story just for Christmas - more a winter story, good for anytime you feel like a cosy read. And that is what this is; a cosy read. The type of book I enjoy, even crave, at times. The storyline and outcome is somewhat expected but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the story because that predictability is almost why I read this kind of story. It's a comforting thing and it fits a certain kind of reading mood perfectly.

That said, a story that is an easy read still has to be written well and have some great characters, and Bonnie Dee has managed both these things. Eric and August are likeable and neither fall into the trap of being write-by-numbers characters - and of course we can't forget Bear; what story isn't made better by a gorgeous dog? Animals are an especially great way to show the softer side of characters!

There's not too much more I can say about this book, and it doesn't need much more said to be honest. Just know this is a great read for those days when you want something comforting rather than an epic tome.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Tag Team Review: Love Happens Anyway by R.J. Scott

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Most everyone loves the fake boyfriend trope and I am right there with them. It can go sideways quickly for me if there is too much angst overshadowing the potential happy, but Love Happens Anyway gave the perfect balance of both characters so there was no overwhelming worry about one of them getting all ridiculous and threatening the HEA I need.

The story is told in dual POV and I honestly don’t think the result would have been nearly as successful without it. Derek is not the most likable character and if I hadn’t had insight into his inner workings and just saw everything from Luke’s view I wouldn’t have been as satisfied with the relationship because I LOVED Luke and would have wanted better for him. I did have a view into Derek though and I appreciated how the author made his dramatics all his. There was no tragic backstory, just a regular loving family (albeit, they were rich as hell) with some dynamics that needed some . . . tweaking (due to the richness) to be able to communicate and really be happy, letting Derek own his confidence for the first time in his life.

So, Derek has some hang-ups that lead him to believe he needs a fake boyfriend for the holidays and Luke is in need of cash and knows a guy, and the two of them come to an agreement to get both of them what they need. Luke is a pretty stoic guy, but Derek’s somewhat fussy personality pushes all his buttons and it’s obvious when he starts to fall for Derek. Luke is everything that Derek fantasized about personified so when they inevitably started getting to know one another by bits and pieces I ate up every little breakthrough.

When the UST is finally resolved Derek opened up pretty quickly and again, without having his POV throughout, it would have been too jarring to be believable, but knowing this was what he wanted all along, it worked. They still had a ways to go to get to an HEA, but the bathtub scene alone is worth the journey.

Family is very important to both MC’s throughout and after all the revelations, the guys wanted to come clean to their families about how they met, etc. I’m glad the author made that a point to cover, it rang true for both Luke and Derek, especially with the epiphany that Derek came to with his family about their own dynamics.

Once you read the story, the cover makes complete sense and it’s really just too sweet for words. I loved how Luke and Derek appreciated each other and Derek really needed that appreciation from someone he loved and the snowman is such the adorable embodiment of that. For all that love Christmas stories and the bonus fake boyfriend theme, this is the perfect holiday story.

This story is as cute as its cover suggests it will be. I agree though, the cover isn't your typical cover from this genre, but I like that and it makes complete sense by the end of the book.

Everyone loves a fake boyfriend trope - don't they? There is something endlessly sweet about knowing they are pretending but that it's going to turn real by the end of the book (I mean what kind of story would it be if it didn't turn real?) . As long as the twists and turns aren't forced angst then you know it's going to be a lovely read, and with an author as talented as RJ Scott there is no worries about cheap-author tactics.

Luke is a great MC, and though Derek is perhaps not so likeable at first glance, Derek suits him; they work well together. There is a dynamic between them that just draws you in.

This is an enjoyable story, one that can be read and loved anytime of the year. This book is not just for Christmas! I recommended it! 

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

Review: Soul Searching by A.J. Rose

Something lurks within the walls of the house Trevor Mathews and his best friend Merrick Taylor share. It watches them and their friends. It needs them. It knows their weaknesses.

Trevor’s in love with Merrick and hasn’t got the nerve to tell him. Merrick’s relationship is already failing, but he doesn’t believe he deserves what he truly desires. And the dark presence enjoys their suffering.

The entity wants to exploit them, push Merrick’s boyfriend into fits of jealousy and possessiveness, encourage Trevor to avoid the man he’s stood by most of his life, and frustrate their friend Tempest who’s tired of knowing Trevor and Merrick are perfectly matched souls, but they’re too scared to try.

The entity needs them to fight, to hurt, to scream at each other in anger and pain. It thrives on their helplessness and targets their insecurities. And it won’t stop until it has devoured their joy, destroyed their hope, and eventually, shattered their souls.

This book was fantastic. Friends-to-lovers, set in Britain and a paranormal story, it ticked lots of boxes for me. Add to that great writing - I need to check out more by this author - and I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Friends-to-lovers, especially if it starts as a one sided longing, is my favourite trope in any genre. In every genre actually. I've mentioned this before, but there is something very special about friendship that speaks to me in romance. The friendship makes the longing, the bond, so much stronger as the foundation is solid. The anticipation of will it happen/won't it happen gets me every time. I just love it. So from the start I was rooting for Trevor. I wanted him and Merrick to move from more than friends... even though Merrick had a boyfriend. If things weren't already not going well in that department then I might have been more unsure, but it was clear from the start that Trevor and Merrick belonged together.

This longing, strength of feeling, gave the wraith something to feed off. As did the animosity that was building between Merrick and Will. Each strong feeling gave strength to the entity complicating the whole situation.

Trevor and Merrick, along with Tempest (Trevor's other best friend) are three great characters. The central storyline was the haunting, with the romantic storyline feeding into this and being secondary to it - and I really appreciated this. I love romance but sometimes less is more - don't you think? As a by-line to the main story, the haunting, it felt more real. More romantic in a strange way.

I have to admit, be a Brit myself, I do love books written with a British tone and set in Britain. This was a pleasant surprise as I was expecting it to American - not that I think it would have changed my liking of the story, but something just resonates more with me in the familiarity of the setting.

And the haunting element felt scarier because of the setting - closer to home? Maybe, I'm not sure. It was scary, if scary is what you like then this is for you. Haunting, grip the edge of your seat stuff.

I really recommend this book. I truly enjoyed it and will be seeking more by this author for sure.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Tag Team Review: Not Just for Christmas by Annabelle Jacobs

Ben has Christmas, cats, and mistletoe on his side…. Jason doesn’t stand a chance

For Ben Slater, moving back to Bristol means being closer to his family, living with his best mate, and volunteering at the local animal shelter. But there’s also Jason, his best mate’s eldest brother. Ben’s had a crush on Jason for as long as he can remember, but the eleven-year age gap has always seemed insurmountable.

Jason Armitage works as a vet at his uncle’s practice. He owns a cute cottage on the outskirts of the city, and a loving dog. The one thing missing is someone to share it all with. His brother’s best friend seems a bad choice, but Jason can’t help taking a second look. Ben’s changed a lot since Jason last saw him; both in appearance and attitude. Gone is the shy young boy, replaced with a confident, twenty-four-year-old man.

In the run up to Christmas, the festive period gives Ben the ideal opportunity to show Jason what he has to offer. But concerns for his brother’s feelings hold Jason back. If they have any chance of making this work, Ben must convince Jason that he’s old enough to know what he wants, and Jason needs to believe that a relationship with his brother’s best friend won’t ruin their friendship.

average!

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 4 Hearts

This is just the kind of holiday fare I love, and it surely didn’t hurt that this featured one of my favorite tropes of falling for your best friend’s brother!

Ben has been crushing on Jacob for almost a decade. After being away for college, he returns home to move in with his bestie. Not surprisingly, Ben’s crush is still just as strong as it was before he left home.

Jason never wanted to think too much on Ben’s infatuation. The situation at best was awkward, but now?? It’s very difficult to ignore Ben seeing as how he’s all grown up. Very grown up.

The UST had quite the nice buildup, and these two can only resist the other for so long. Toss in a mild age gap, men who adore animals, and a lot of low angst, sweet sexy. So enjoyable! More please!

Lorix - 5 Hearts

This is everything I love in a story - especially a Christmas story - and more. It is the perfect combination of sweet and readable and easy. It's my perfect kind of chilly afternoon read. The kind of book that isn't mind-blowing but leaves me with a warm glow and slightly happier than I was before I started reading. It's a chocolate read; pleasurable and comforting and moreish.

Best friends-to-lovers is my favourite trope, closely followed by best-friend's-bro', so this was ticking all the boxes on that level. It's set in England, and I do like a story set here, it always feels more comfortable to me. There are dogs and laughs and UST and...
And, this is just a gorgeous read.

I know Christmas has been and gone (I ended up in hospital hence the lateness of this review) but this book isn't a just for Christmas read. It might be set in the holiday season but it really could be read anytime.


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

Review: Walking on Water by Matthew J. Metzger

When a cloud falls to earth, Calla sets out to find what lies beyond the sky. Father says there’s nothing, but Calla knows better. Something killed that cloud; someone brought it down.

Raised on legends of fabled skymen, Calla never expected them to be real, much less save one from drowning—and lose her heart to him. Who are the men who walk on water? And how can such strange creatures be so beautiful?

Infatuated and intrigued, Calla rises out of her world in pursuit of a skyman who doesn’t even speak her language. Above the waves lies more than princes and politics. Above the sky awaits the discovery of who Calla was always meant to be. But what if it also means never going home again?

Matthew J. Metzger is one of my all time favourite authors, I don't think there is a story he's written I've not loved despite the diversity - or maybe because of the diversity - of his writing. Walking on water is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, and it's AMAZING. Completely and utterly amazing.

The writing drew me in and compelled me to read the story of Calla, the mermaid who never quite fitted in. The mermaid who wanted more than the life she was given; the mermaid who needed to become her - his - true self. And that trueself was Held, a skyman.

Keeping the essence of the original story whilst turning it into an analogy of transgenderism, Metzger used his prose carefully to weave a heart-achingly beautiful story of  being. Being brave and bold; being unafraid to love or explore or care; being honest; being true. 

The worlds created here, first the underwater kingdom in which Calla resides, then the skyworld of Held and Janez are beautiful. We see the skyworld as Held sees it and we learn as he learns in many ways. It was clever using the German language to show the language barrier between Held, and well everyone, but particularly Janez. It was a language I don't speak, yet it was quite easy to work out the general meaning of each phrase, if not the specific one. 

The romance that blossomed between Held and Janez was beautiful but not easy. A prince in one land and a man with no known origin and no language in common was never going to be easy. Yet every hurdle they faced made me want them to beat the odds more and more. They belonged together, pure and simple. 

This is definitely going on my favourite reads list and I recommend it to everyone.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

For more information see Goodreads.

Review: Unexpected Christmas by Nell Iris

All alone, caught in a blizzard—without a coat—on Christmas Day. Would you accept a ride from a huge guy looking like a serial killer?

Daniel Erickson stormed out of his family celebration after choking on his turkey served with a side of bigotry. Utterly miserable, he reluctantly lets himself be charmed by the hulk of a man and gets into his car…hoping he won’t be ax murdered.

Axel Wilson—Ax for short, unfortunately—is a sweetheart. Really. He may be badass-looking but his heart melts into goo at the mere mention of his four-year-old niece. Surely, he’s not dangerous?

Thrown together by family drama, they spend the evening getting to know each other. Axel is nothing like Daniel expected. But it doesn’t matter that he loves poetry, is gentle and patient—and hot!—Daniel is absolutely not falling in love at first sight. There’s no such thing.

Right…?

This story is... nice. It didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. At least, I enjoyed parts of it.

It had snow, which is always a good start for me with a holiday read! It had the badass-looking Axel, who is actually as soft as a marshmallow - and who doesn't like a character that isn't quite as they first appear? I have a soft spot for likeable characters, I think they're highly underrated - bad boys can be so much hard work, sometimes. Axel was lovely, how he cared for his niece was very sweet...

Except...

I couldn't get passed the fact that he did nothing when his sister left a four year old at home alone. I know this is just a short Christmas read but it horrified me. And it wasn't the first time it had happened. Sure, he stayed with her but after it had happened once it shouldn't be an issue again. Sister or not you report that stuff - if only to give the sister support to care for the child properly. I know this is probably just a me thing but I couldn't get passed it, not really, not even for fiction. Not even just to move the plot on. My heart broke for the sweet little honey-bee who'd been left alone.

Daniel was running from the blatant bigotry displayed at his Christmas meal. I felt angry for him. A part of me was angry at his mom for letting her brother spout his vitriol, but part of me felt sorry for her. She wasn't a strong person herself and standing up to a stronger force was extremely hard for her. I think her and Daniel could have acted together and been stronger as a twosome. 

Daniel was nice and the way he and Axel fell together in this short story was very sweet. The writing was great but the story just didn't really work for me as I had misgivings about the storyline all the way through.

A copy of this story was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Snow Falling by Davidson King

After running from a past destined to kill him, Snow has been hiding on the streets.
Tell nobody your name.
Tell nobody your secrets.
Trust nobody!
These are the rules of the streets.
His entire life changes when he saves an eight-year-old boy from a violent end.
Christopher Manos is one of the most powerful crime bosses in the country.
Don’t ask anyone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself.
Secrets can get you killed.
Trust nobody!
These are the rules he lives by.
When his eight-year-old nephew disappears, he never expects the boy’s savior to end up being his own.
A man with a dangerous past and a man with a dangerous future find love amidst murder and mayhem. But with Snow's life being threatened at every turn, will Christopher's best be enough to prevent Snow Falling?

This book could be called mafia-lite or mafia smuffy - it wasn't necessarily what I was expecting, but I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Snow is a fab MC, he really is. Despite his past and his lifestyle he is vibrant and kind and full of life. I adored how he was with Simon, he paid attention and listened to him and it was that friendship that won my heart as it did Christopher's.

Christopher was the big bad crime boss - except he wasn't really, not at his core. He wanted to protect those close to him, those he respects and loves. He wanted to keep Simon safe and happy and he opened up his home to Snow. Initially for altruistic reasons, but he kept him there because he became part of the home. I can say honestly that I enjoyed his character alot.

The dynamics between all the characters in this story worked well. This wasn't gritty crime drama - yeah, there was violence and fighting, but the heart of it wasn't this it was the relationships and friendships and fighting to save what is loved.

This debut novel isn't going to tick the boxes for everyone but I can say it worked for me!

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A Temporary Situation by H.L. Day

Personal assistant Dominic is a consummate professional. Funny then, that he harbors such unprofessional feelings toward Tristan Maxwell, the CEO of the company. No, not in that way. The man may be the walking epitome of gorgeousness dressed up in a designer suit. But, Dominic's immune. Unlike most of the workforce, he can see through the pretty facade to the arrogant, self-entitled asshole below. It's lucky then, that the man's easy enough to avoid.

Disaster strikes when Dominic finds himself having to work in close proximity as Tristan's P.A. The man is infuriatingly unflappable, infuriatingly good-humored, and infuriatingly unorthodox. In short, just infuriating. A late-night rescue leading to a drunken pass only complicates matters further, especially with the discovery that Tristan is both straight and engaged.

Hatred turns to tolerance, tolerance to friendship, and friendship to mutual passion. One thing's for sure, if Tristan sets his sights on Dominic, there's no way Dominic has the necessary armor or willpower to keep a force of nature like Tristan at bay for long, no matter how unprofessional a relationship with the boss might be. He may just have to revise everything he previously thought and believed in a chance at love.

It's easy to make assumptions about people. To have a first impression and not revise it - and that's exactly what Dominic did in this story.

A Temporary Situation is many things I don't normally like in a book; cliched, rich boss/PA, nasty cow of a fiancee, a git of a colleague, a bit of a paint-by-numbers plot, caricature characters, miscommunications...

And yet...

And yet... I did like it. It was all of the above, but it was also sweet and funny and entertaining. Tristan is the boss but he's all heart. A really likeable guy who is witty and kind and clever. Even though he had a fiancee before falling for Dom, the heart of his character was trying to do the right thing.

Dominic was trying very hard not to fall for Tristan because he believed something about the man which he didn't like.  He sees a different side to Tristan (than the one he believes exists) as he works with him, though, and slowly his feelings change. He's reluctant to let this happen and fights it all the way, but it wouldn't be an office romance without a romance, would it?

On paper this book hits a lot of bum  notes for me, but in practise I really enjoyed this author's style and this story. I will not shy away from another read by HL Day.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Goodreads.

Review: Sound of Silence by Mia Kerick and Raine O'Tierney

High school senior Renzy Callen hasn’t uttered a word in years. He likes being invisible to all around him; it keeps life safe and predictable. In his attic bedroom, he experiences a world far from the drama of his family. He doodles, listens to music, and contemplates the troubled souls he observes when attending self-help meetings designed for people with problems he doesn’t have. Renzy lives his life like a spectator, always on the outside of life’s games, looking in at others.
Everything changes when Seven and Morning Moreau-Maddox relocate from their glitzy lives in Paris to boring, picturesque Redcliff Hills, Missouri. Tall, platinum blond, and as put-together as a pair of European high-fashion models, the sophisticated siblings befriend Renzy, drawing him in and then pushing him away. What starts as nothing more than a means to an end for Seven, however, quickly becomes something more. Could icy-hearted Seven be thawing for the silent, quirky charm of Renzy Callen?
Determined to find the cause of Renzy’s selective mutism, the three teens set off on a road trip, during which they discover that flawless physical facades can conceal the most scarred souls, and that sometimes silence is better than golden.

We're 23 days into 2018 and I've found my first contender for favourite read of the year. Not bad huh!

Before I start the review though, I need to get something off my chest...

Beemer

Beemer

BEEMER.

Cheers, folks, thanks for letting me do that. The only thing I didn't like in this book, well, apart from the things I wasn't supposed to like, was the fact the MC called his BMW a Bimmer, - it's a Beemer. B EE M ER. Okay, I know this is merely a pronunciation difference from two different English speaking people, but...

Well, it's the only complaint I have so I can mention it, right?

Other than that shockingly jarring mispronunciation (insert winky face here) I ADORED this story!

I loved Renzy, Seven and Morning. I loved how the authors approached the topic of Renzy's mutism. I loved how they highlighted different types of abuse and neglect without it feeling like a crusade. I loved the writing style - so easy to read and lose myself in. I just loved this story.

There is a mystery element to it; a journey, I guess, as Seven drives the trio into uncovering why Renzy lost his voice. Yes, it's in part a physical journey - road trip, anyone? - but it's also a metaphorical one. One that leaves all three MC's questioning themselves. One that leaves them pushing and pulling and searching within for answers.

At first glance it seems Renzy is the one who has the biggest hurdles to overcome, the one whose life needs the most "fixing". Morning, too, has a very obvious issue to deal with... despite this, in some ways it is brash, no fucks to give Seven who is perhaps the most in need. He refuses to let anyone see his vulnerabilities, including himself. 

"Renzy is trying to take care of me when caretaking is my job."

His journey is internal and calls for self acceptance - something both Renzy and Morning have, despite the difficulties they are both dealing with.

The romance between Renzy and Seven was inevitable - and beautiful. Renzy, in his silence, taught Seven a whole new way to view the world. 

"There are many ways to say the sky is a beautiful shade of blue."

He may have been the inexperienced one, but in many ways he was also the teacher. The spark and dynamics between them was compelling; it drew me in and charmed me. I loved them together, I loved the relationship between all three characters and the romance that burgeoned between these two was the icing on the cake.

This really has been a gorgeously enjoyable book that I found hard to put down.

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Review: NineStar Press 2017 Holiday Series by Various Authors - Pt. 3

Some say a mouse king has seven heads. Hah, trust a human to get our legends wrong.

A mouse prince must perform seven tricks before the twelve days of Christmas are up. It’s how he wins his crown, but the prince has whiskers set on something else. A stiff beauty with a magnificent jaw, waiting for him under the holiday shrub. He caught his scent in a dream, which he's been sniffing after ever since.

Scamper with him through his adventures and misadventures, dodging traps, cats, and giants, while he wins a steadfast nutcracker’s heart.




5 Hearts

This short story is a twist on the legendary Nutcracker Suite. It is an incredibly enjoyable read, Mousetrick a brilliant lead amongst a wonderful array of secondary characters.

Though the plot is driven by Moustrick's attraction to the Nutcracker, as well as his wish to perform the seven tricks, it isn't [primarily a romance. This is a delightful cinnamon-flavoured story that evokes Christmas despite being set from the viewpoint of a mouse in an alternative world. It's a story I can't contain in a review - it needs to be read, to be enjoyed. 

NineStar Press did a wonderful job with these holiday stories and this is one of my favourites.

Landon, father of three, accidentally runs into another shopper while looking at oranges in the supermarket. He thinks little of the incident, but after being tasked to find a church by his mother and testing out a Children’s Advent Celebration with his kids, he discovers that the shopper is actually one of the instructors helping all of the children make spiced orange pomanders. The man gives Landon a pomander with his phone number on it, but since Landon swore off men for 2017 after his partner left him and his dates have all flaked on him, will he take the instructor up on his offer of a date?







3 Hearts

This story was very short, a sweet little refreshment of a holiday read. It had quite a religious feel to it, as Landon is trying to find a church he is happy for him and his children to attend.  He stops in at one to check out an advent event with his children and when he's there he meets Max - the shopper he'd accidentally run into just a short while earlier.

This story was very short and for me, whilst well written, it was too short. I didn't feel I knew the characters sufficiently enough to particularly care about them. I could see the intention behind the story, the small, Christmas offering, but for my reading pleasure it just fell a tad short of the mark. As I have said a million times though, not appealing to me doesn't mean a bad story, it just means me and it weren't a fit. Check out other reviews for this story before making a choice!

As Chief Tactician for the airship DeGrasse, Jacob Scarberry has spent the last six months on a wearying tour of duty. He’s missing home, and his prosthetic leg is conducting the December cold straight to his core. But with the holidays coming up, he’s looking forward to a well-earned leave, sharing some Christmas surprises with his lover, Dr. H. Alphus Troyer, and welcoming in the dawn of the 20th century.
A professor at Ohio University, Al is already on Christmas break, and his unconventional household is in a festive frenzy. Al is a bit less joyous, his anticipation of Jacob’s return warring with uncertainty over the special gift he had commissioned for him. Would Jacob appreciate it, or will it put a strain on their relationship?
Suddenly Al’s worries become trivial when the newspapers report an attack on the DeGrasse. With Jacob fighting for his life miles away, Al is left to wonder whether Jacob will return at all, or whether the planned festivities will become holiday heartbreak instead.

4 Hearts
This story is set not just at the start of a new year, but at the threshold of a new century, and brings with it all the hope and possibilities that the dawn of a new age can.

I have to admit, I was thrown for a start as I didn't immediately place the era of this story, it felt too modern at the start to me. Once I'd got that straight in my head though I enjoyed this tale. It highlighted the long way we have come with regards to equality (though of course there is always from for improvement). The hidden nature of Al and Jacob's relationship, the class system and the societal repression of women were all shown.

Al and Jacob were certainly a case of opposites attract, one a tactician on airship, adventure abound and the other a professor, studious and prudent. This worked well though and made for an enjoyable read of two main characters I cared a lot about.

Malmö, Sweden, 1994

Erika Stolt is a feminist activist, and not one of the slick, lipstick lesbian variety. She’s the kind who trashes beauty contests, who graffitis her own subversive messages over commercial billboards, and who fucks people mainly as a political statement. But then a community service sentence lands her a spot as the unlikely new assistant of one of the candidates for the Malmö Lucia contest, and the world as she knows it is promptly turned on its head.







5 Hearts
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story - I didn't think angsty, feminine activists would make for a good holiday read. I was wrong. This is certainly one of my favourites from NSP's 2017 holiday stories.

Though perhaps not conventional, this story highlighted love and growth. Erika certainly grew up through this story; she didn't drop her ideals, not at all, but she learned to temper her approach and listen to others' opinions. 
I liked this.

Padma was a wonderful opposite to Erika's fire, at least at first glance. As they, and we, got to know each other better it becomes obvious that Padma does hold many of Erika's ideals dear, she just has a different way of facing things.
This really did make me a bit swoony, I loved both these characters and thought this was a great holiday read. Recommended.

Damon is getting over a bad breakup. Ioan is painfully shy. Neither expects to enjoy the New Year’s Eve party to which their mutual friend, Katie, has dragged them. However, their unexpected reunion may make them change their minds by the time midnight strikes.












4 Hearts
This is another story celebrating the new year, new start theme. Short and pretty conventional in a meddling bestie arranges a surprise meeting/boy meets old crush/they've both moved on kinda way, yet it was still an enjoyable read. 

The romance between Ioan and Damon was a bit instalove, but if you can't have that in a holiday book, when can you have it?! Despite this I found it a cute read. A tea break read perhaps, one to enjoy with a cuppa and some biscuits. An enjoyable end to my NSP holiday story reading this year.

All copies provided for an honest review.