Review: Neon White: Episode 3 by Wulf Francu Godgluck

This is going to be a bloody shit day.
The Alpha is missing, for one thing. Raven's partner Jessy is still struggling to deal with his death. Finding out that his body is missing from the morgue is a big enough shock, so what happens next is going to be unbelievable...
Especially for Raven.

So, book 3 (or episode 3) picks up after the 2nd book.
Installments like this are hard for me because I like to read something in one sitting and get the entire story. That being said, it's definitely a gripping series.
I'm going to try to review this without giving away spoilers for this book. No promises about book 2 spoilers.

So after the death of Raven in book 2 I was like, "Well, he ain't dead" because that wouldn't really make this a very good romance, just killing off people. Haha.
Anyway, I think the character development in this short is really good.
Not everything is as it seems and there are definitely twists and turns around every corner that will keep you guessing, and sometimes confused. That being said, I think I took away one of the stars because, if you haven't read all the books IMMEDIATELY prior this this one, you forget who's who, who's with who, all the bazaar names, and what's happening. So, in order to read this episode, I had to re-read the first two. Which isn't a bad thing, but I had to do that for book 2 as well, and it's just kind of annoying having to re-read things just to remember what's going on. But then again, it IS a serial, so if your attention span is better than mine (likely), it's probably not an issue.

I still don't like Jessy. I think she's a jerk. But I see what purpose she has in the story. Doesn't mean I like her. And where the hell is Seth now? Seriously, a lot of drama in these stories and it keeps you so hooked. The last seen in the book... *shivers*

I must admit, this story is great in the way of tension. Lots of excitement and tension between, well, almost all the characters. Some of it is uber sexy, too. The sexy parts are definitely worth reading this series for.

The writing is even better in this episode than the other two. Still some grammar issues. I think that the series, once complete, should get a full re-edit.

All in all, great series! I would definitely recommend reading all three of the first books at once, though. It would really help with characterization and plot. But still, I get why the cliffhangers are so exciting!

ps. This totally ended with a big cliffhanger.

For more information on Goodreads!

Review: Crying in the Rain by Debbie McGowan and Giveaway

For many years, Ade Simmons has been an outsider, trapped in an abusive relationship, seeking sanctuary in his job as a radio producer, and in the checklists he makes in an attempt to regain control of his sorry excuse of a life.

Actor Kris Johansson is patient, gentle and passionate—everything that Ade’s ex-boyfriend is not. When Kris takes a role in one of Ade’s plays, the attraction is mutual and instant. It is the turning point for Ade. He can either stay on the same path, with Fergus—the bully who has repressed, used and isolated him from his friends and family—or he can look in the other direction, towards Kris—the handsome actor with family and friends who readily accept him.

But Fergus will not give up his punchbag so easily—can Ade finally find the strength to fight back?
 

Some books just resonate with certain people, and this book was definitely one of them for me.

This review won't contain any spoilers because I don't want to give anything away.

Let's discuss domestic abuse. Actually, let's not, because this book seems to speak worlds of it for itself. Fuck, this was saddening. Domestic abuse isn't something that you can take easily. It's a silent killer in many people's lives, and sometimes people don't take it seriously enough. I've read a few reviews on this book that mentioned the cheating angle, and I can completely respect and understand why that's a no-fly-zone for some people, but to put your head in the mind of a character like Ade who's been so abused, and trying to rationalize each one of their decisions, would be impossible, for me, at least.


The romance in this book was very slow. I haven't read anything else by this author, but I thought the writing style was beautiful, and very easy to follow, which I needed for this kind of story. I liked both Kris and Ade, but Ade quite a bit more. I felt his pain. While I don't have any personal experience with domestic abuse, I do have people in my life who just can't seem to make the right, "rational" decisions that I want them to make. While Ade didn't do everything I hoped he would, I felt like that was needed because him and I obviously don't have the same kind of mentality. I learned to like Kris, in his own way, but it was a slower like for me. I have a type, and Ade definitely fit more neatly into that category for me.

The secondary characters in this book were very charming. Who wouldn't like Shaunna? She's smart, strong, and felt like a rock to me. Not every relationship is like mine. Not every situation is like one I've been in. If a couple says together they're going to peel two hundred bananas every Tuesday, mash them together, and wrestle in a kiddy pool filled with their innards, who am I to judge what works?

This book wasn't easy to read. I'm not as good with angst as I used to be. I tend to avoid angst lately, but I just read the blurb and knew I had to read this one. It tore me apart so many times. I went a little grey reading this, but I think it was well worth it. This story will break your heart, and keep in mind, that nothing good comes easily. You'll fight to love these characters, and you'll fight for them to do the right things and make the right choices.

It's really difficult to write this review and not give away spoilers or specific scenarios when I wanted to strangle people/kiss them/laugh at them, but this is my best attempt.

This was a great read, and I would highly suggest bringing along the tissues for this one. Yes, it was definitely hot in many parts, but the emotional strain it took on me resonated much longer. This story was beautiful, deep, and uniquely unlike anything else I've ever read. I can't wait for more people to love and enjoy it the way I have so that we can talk about it (and in all the ways we want to toss Ferg off a f'ing cliff).

GIVEAWAY

Debbie McGowan has been kind enough to donate one copy of Crying in the Rain to one lucky reader!

To enter please comment below with:

1. Your name

2. Your email address

The giveaway will be on until December 15th, 10PM PST.

The winner of the contest will be contacted shortly after the draw has been made.

Review: Neon White Book 2 by Wulf Francu Godgluck

Belail felt the tension in Bla'Gar's mansion the moment he appeared in the demon's bedroom.

Such a shame, Bla'Gar had royally fucked up with his pet.

He played the Komboskini back and forth in his hand for a second time. The souls forced into amber beads heated and smoked, a wailing scream rang from them before two of the beads burst.

Glowering at the shattered souls on the carpet, white smoke dancing towards him. Belails’s stomach cramped at that very moment.

What was foretold would soon unfold. The little one perceived it.

Breathing in the white smoke Belail could not pinpoint it but he could smell…shortbread cookies, hollies, spruce and snow? Christmas? No…with a sly chuckle he silently whispered. "The Winter Ball."
But the smells were tainted with blood—human blood. The ball would not end in all white glory, this time in blood and death.

Well, this was all very exciting. And I was pleasantly surprised (I know, you'll all hate me for this) but the cliffhanger at the end. As it just so happens, I like cliffhangers. I have a hard time reading series' that end with the characters in their happily-ever-after already.

Firstly, I'd like to say that I think the writing improved a great deal since the last book. There are still some editing issues that need to be dealt with, but the overall writing is much better. Bravo.

The drama is this story is, well, dramatic. Maybe a little melodramatic, but that just so happens to be a favorite of mine. There's jealousy, some snarky comments, some fun secondary characters. I was hopeful for a while there might've even been a love triangle, but alas, I can't have everything I want.

I kind of want to smack Raven sometimes because of his whiny attitude, but that doesn't deter me from liking him as a character. The romance between Raven and Bla'Gar is quite... teen drama, and I love it. Some "L" bombs were dropped pretty hastily, but the characters themselves admitted it, and this is, after all, paranormal romance, so there's always that 'mate' feeling you can attribute these things to.

I liked this book more than the first, perhaps because I'm more invested. Oh, and I quite enjoy Niko. Can't help it. I love them whiny and full of lemon juice.
Oh, but I don't like Jessy. She seems like a royal pain in the ass. Don't invite your date out and call him a prick, girlfriend, that's just plain rude.

The lackage of some serious sexytimes didn't bother me at all. I can read romance with no sex and still enjoy it just as much. That being said, I wouldn't, exactly, have said no to some raunchiness like in the first book. But that's okay. There will always be the third.

Overall, very enjoyable read. In the first review I said that the first book should be bought with the second, but now knowing the third has a cliffhanger, I might recommend waiting for the third as well, if you don't like cliffhangers. :)

But yes. Interesting new author who, I believe (although this isn't exactly my area of expertise *cough* JL*) will make a name for himself in the m/m rom paranormal category.

Review: Slasherazzi by Daniel A. Kaine

Recently promoted to Detective, Alex is out to prove himself and the Slasherazzi case is the perfect opportunity. Mutilated corpses are showing up across Tampa, and when the team discovers the newest victim was tortured alive, Alex becomes more determined than ever to stop the crazed serial killer before the horrific stabbings escalate further.

With the return of Alex’s ex-boyfriend and journalist, Vince, the investigation takes a dangerous twist: the killer starts showing a personal interest in Alex. Can he stop the murders and salvage his relationship with Vince, or does he risk letting both men get away?

 

This is some gory shit, right here. I think I want to rate it, like, 3.75, but I don't know if we have a heart thingy for that (despite me myself making the heart thingys), so I'll stick with this. Oh, and spoiler-free.

This was actually so sick. I loved it. I love horror/thriller, and this definitely delivered that. The mystery was good--really good--and I felt like the writing was extremely engaging. Needless to say, I don't exactly consider this a romance, which is great, because I'm totally into the M/M genre with very little actual romancing. 

Have you guys watched Dexter? This is like a gay Dexter book. Did you see the season where the cop dude, Quinn (maybe one 'n') dates that reporter and tells her shit he isn't supposed to, or she snoops around his apartment? That's like this for me. So, uh, near the beginning of the book, as we were learning all about Alex and Vince, I liked Alex, even though I think he's kind of a moron, and I wanted to punch Vince straight in the dick. I can't handle reporters. I feel like every show I watch *cough* House of Cards *cough* or book I read with reports, I just want them to nose-dive off a bridge. I can't help it. It's just my initial reaction. 

The scenes from the killer's POV were great, AND needed. Except I'm a total wuss and some parts literally made me want to hurl.

Did I know who the killer was? In one word: yes. The entire time? Pretty much. "But Natasha, don't be so self-involved. It's a very unique plot!" The reason I knew who the killer was was because this book was written for someone exactly like me, and this is exactly how I'd like for the book to go. It's rich and devious and great.

So why am I rating it 3.5 stars? Well, I wanted to rate it higher, but hear me out. The characters were so muddled, for me. I didn't love them. I disliked Vince, and I didn't much care for Alex. I think if they'd have been stronger characters, this book might've worked a tad better for me.

Needless to say, though, I'll definitely be reading more fucked up stories from Kaine in the future. I think, deep deep down, we might be soul mates.

Find more information on Goodreads and Booklikes!

Review: Holding on to Hope by Sid Love

Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.

So, this book is pretty unique. The cover isn't the only part of this story that's very green--that author's writing could also be labelled as such. It's hard to describe because I feel like it was written by a very new author, and I can see potential. I mean, everyone starts somewhere. I look back on the things I've designed in college and cringe. Terrible. That being said, I think the ideas and the bones of this book were quite unique and interesting, but the execution needs some work. Still, I'm giving this book 2.5 stars, which really ain't bad, because I can see a lot of potential.

The POV is odd in this story. It's from Leslie, the annoying, terrible best friend's POV. I didn't like her. I found her to be self involved to a disturbing manner, and the things she did were annoying, but just because I didn't like her, didn't mean I reflected that in my rating. 

Our MC, Brad, is forced to forget about his sexy encounter(s) with the man of his dreams. Without spoiling the plot, it basically reads like the story is going to be contemporary, then you get a hint of mystery/thriller, perhaps, then straight onto paranormal. This didn't bother me. In fact, I thought it was pretty unique. I'd still read more from this author in the future, because I feel like if he worked on some of the foundations of engaging writing (which comes with practice), the unique concepts he could come up with may be very cool.

The romance was a little wavy, for me, and the characters were all kind of bland. Everyone just fit too much into a stereotype. That being said, I had to keep reading it because it was so bizarre. I literally had no idea what was going to happen. I knew how each character would act given each situation, but I didn't know the situations.

*sigh* Dreamspinner editors. Sometimes I read things from Dreamspinner and wonder if an editor was involved at all in the process. I mean, for content editing. I feel like this story could've become much better with some content editing, perhaps. Maybe a beta-read or two more than this book had, prior to submission.

Regardless. I think this book was pretty okay, and I think this author has some potential, especially in the M/M Paranormal genre. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I think the bones of this story were quite refreshing.

Find more book information on Goodreads!

Review: Diversion by Eden Winters

Drug dealers aren't always on the streets; sometimes they sit in offices and board rooms, selling merchandise in official looking bottles instead of little cellophane bags.

When given a choice between eight more years in prison or using his "expertise" to assist the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau's Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, convicted drug trafficker Richmond "Lucky" Lucklighter takes the sentence with the illusion of freedom. Cynical and unwilling to admit he's begun to care about his job, he counts the days until his debt is paid. His sole obstacle to getting his life back is the rookie he's assigned to train before he leaves; a rookie who quotes pharmacy texts, hasn't paid his dues, and has the obnoxious tendency of seeing the good in everyone – including the target of their investigation.

Former Marine Bo Schollenberger dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and watched the dream turn into a nightmare of PTSD-fueled prescription drug abuse. Battling his demons daily, he wakes up every morning, wondering, "Will this be the day I give in?" To keep his license, he must now put his skills to use for a diversion control task force, deal with a crude partner with too much attitude and no brain-to-mouth filter, and take down a drug lord who reminds him of his favorite cooking show hostess.

The bad guys don't stand a chance -- if Lucky and Bo don't strangle each other first...

I was lost but now I am found! One million stars to you, Eden Winters! But seriously. I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately and haven’t been able to sit down and read one full book in a while. Well, I’m back to my old self and read this puppy in one day. Fantastic. I’ve had this guy sitting in my library for, like, a year, and just now I decided to give it a shot. Lucky and Bo might be one of my favorite couples of all time, now. They’re getting up there with the likes of Gordon Frost and Adam Blake, or Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity. So the plot was amazing. I’m going to have to badger Eden Winters about how she came up with it because that is some White Collar shit right there. Well, the sluttier, gayer (Matt Bomer not included) version of White Collar.

Anyway, anyway, anyway, I’m getting off topic. The plot was awesome. I had no idea what was going on for the first, like, three chapters and kept saying, “Hehehe, omgomgomgomg, you’re in so much trouuuubbble!” Oh boy and was Lucky ever trouble. He epitomizes trouble. Actually, not that I think about it, why am I sitting here writing this review and not reading Collusion? :\ Okay, the plot was original, fun, action-packed, never boring, I NEVER skimmed through anything (this is a big deal), the sex was sexy, the funny parts had me in stitches, and boy, was the romance refreshing. Quotes. I highlighted a million things, but I’ll put in a few gems.

Was Bo straight? Spaghetti’s straight until things heat up.

Lucky’s inner monologue, especially when he first meets Bo, it kills me. Slays meeeeeeee, it’s so damn funny.

I bet you got an ass like an onion. Make me wanna cry.

The beginning of Chapter 5 consisted of Lucky’s inner professions of love for Bo’s bum and I seriously was almost killed. I almost choked to death on my water and started wheezing like a dying animal.

Walter, fumbling with his vibrating cell phone, missed the exchange. Lucky mouthed, “When and where?” Bo mouthed back, “In your dreams.”

Okokok. So, amazingly awesome and unique plot, some of my favorite characters evvaaarrr. So fun, fresh, different, and can’t wait to read the second one. Actually, I’m off to the races with that right now.

I was considering posting like 25 stars on this (because it was that good), but feared I'd be slaughtered by fellow unicorns.

Review: Antidote by Jack L. Pyke

Video footage of Jack Harrison sleeping with Cutter, a man who has mutilated teenagers, should have stayed dead and buried with the man who had filmed it. Yet when footage to Jack’s past starts appearing on Internet porn sites, Jack’s whole world is again turned on its head. At first the porn links are done to unsettle, to disrupt Jack’s fire and ice world: all the sexed-up adrenaline of being caught between the pleasure to Gray Raoul's BDSM kink, and the gentleness of Jan Richards’ vanilla touch. But when the content of the porn sites force even Gray to turn his back on Jack, leaving Jack isolated and away from the full protection of the Master’s Circle, Jack is left at the mercy of a group of men who are out to alter Jack’s whole perception on his BDSM lifestyle. As brutally as possible, Jack’s sex life is now live webcam feed for a whole new audience.

Words cannot describe what I've just read. I just read words, technically, yes, but… to put into words what this book has done to me is next to impossible.
There will be spoilers in this review.

I think about this book and I want to cry, or puke, or cry and puke at the same time. I can't unread this. Okay. Let's be honest here. I like to draw pictures of unicorns, and pet cakes, and everything I like fairly fluffy. This book is practically like sitting a nun down in a room and making her watch some snuff films.

This book, friends, is not for the faint of heart. People warned me. Fuck, Jack L. Pyke warned me, and I was all, "Yeah, bitchin', totally tubular, sounds radical." Little did I know this book may possibly require me some therapy sessions in my future.

Basically, this book is fucked up.

Jack is a fantastic character. God, writing this kind of makes me want to cry like a little baby. I grew really attached to Jack in Don't… He's such a little shit, you can't help but love him. But the things that have happened to him are written and explained so vividly, I feel so drained for him. I feel like I was there, in Jan's place, watching him. I don't know how he can ever recover from this. It's not like he wasn't fucked up in the first place, then throw in this long, drawn-out abduction in Antidote, and you've got yourself a real shit-storm.

I actually learned to love Gray in this book and surprisingly enough, Jan too. It's hard to say. In all menage books I read, I usually lean towards a character or two. Pyke has done such a superb thing for the genre, creating an actual relationship between three men that feels so attached. I can't pick one without the other. I love Jack and Gray together, but I feel like Gray needs someone softer sometimes, someone to balance out Jack's irrational nature. So now my coupling is with Gray and Jan, who, god, broke my heart at the love admission. But I can't leave Jack out. He needs to be somewhere, he means too much to me. So, all in all, I love these three men together.

“Somewhere along the line you fell in love with him, didn’t you?” he said quietly, barely glancing at Gray. Then back at me, he shouted, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Martin. Martin confused the fuck outta me in classic Pyke fashion. Love it. I loved Martin being in the story. Oh, he's so sassy and such a little shit. My heart raced reading about him the first time with Gray. I'd secretly love to see a scene with Gray and Martin. I understand why Gray won't, but that doesn't mean a girl can't dream.

The beginning of the book was fantastic. Cute, fun, sweet, watching all of these boys having a gay old time, goofing around and living their fun lives of bickering.
The middle. Well, I had to pause on this book at least four times. It was so hard for me. I get it though. I read the warnings, I looked at the genres, I should've known what I was getting myself into. But not like this. The descriptive nature of Pyke's writing is kind of like a jackhammer (haw haw); it's completely relentless and it draws you in, even if the subject matter is horrifying. And trust me, it's horrifying.

In the end, I didn't think Gray would be the one to opt out, but a huge part of me is glad he did. He was becoming too much like Jack's dad (not Jack's actual dad, but as place-filler), and less like his lover.

This book.. is… so much. It's so much of everything to the point where I was wondering if it was too much. But the thing is, I get it. I get why there was that much intensity and brutality and pain. The story needed it, it's just hard for me to read.
There were parts of the story which literally left me pausing, almost gasping for breath because I forgot to breathe. I wanted to cry or kick something, or mostly just run away. Run away from a book? Sounds ridiculous, right? But try reading this and tell me it doesn't make sense.

Pyke has tortured my beloved boys so much in this book. Her writing is wonderful. I adore it. I admittedly am not even the hugest BDSM fan on the planet, but when Pyke writes it, it feels like it's right up my alley. She's so clever and tricky, making little babies like me read and love books like this one. Her writing is fantastic and if nothing else in this book, her intensity she brings to each of her characters should be noted.

I suppose if I had to think of something, the book felt a little long. Some of the talking, I feel, could've been cut and we could've lost a few pages in the process. But other than the fierce desire to now somehow Men In Black Flashy Pen Thingy the middle part of the book from my brain, I'm very glad I read it and will absolutely be looking for the third instalment when it comes out.

Review: House Warm'd by K. A. Merikan

--- How to make a house a home ---

Dan and Kyle have just moved in together, but to make their new place cozy, Dan wants to make friends in the neighborhood. And what better way than to invite the guy next door over? Dan’s dirty minded boyfriend has been mentioning his interest in a threesome and Dan is ready to take the plunge. He’s willing to invite someone new into their bedroom, but it will only be happening on his own terms.
Terms that involve handcuffs, duct tape and a fake gun.

*

‘House Warm’d’ is a standalone story in the XXX’d series, a prequel to ‘Clown’d’.

  
CLASSIC K. A. MERIKAN.

Fuck yeah!
When I was asked to review this short book, that was my actual response: Fuck yeah!
This sounds right up my alley. I love the short stories by K. A. Merikan, especially in the XXX'd series. They just sing to me, you know? I see them like these little birds, sitting in trees on sunny days, cheering me on, and I'm like, "Thanks, you awesome little birds, for the salutations!"

So I read this entire thing in one sitting, I think, the same night that it was sent to me. I stayed up late and finished it because it was THAT good.

Uughhhhhh, okay okay. This book is about a role-play home invasion with their next door neighbour. I've never read a story about a role-play home invasion, but by god did I ever want to. It's the same characters as from Clown'd (LOVE THAT SHIT), Dan and Kyle. Kyle is a dirty-minded little cum-dumpster brat. He's so posh and cute with his little clothes but he loves it nice and messed up. My kinda boy. And we have Dan, the loving, much bigger, much more dominant and caring boyfriend who takes an interest in his cute little boyfriend's fantasies. This is their first experience together.

This involves a threesome, fake forced sex, GUN PLAY *foams at mouth* and lots of dirty talk that's even been equipped with some humiliation.

 

So the writing is A+ like usual. I was completely enticed the entire time, never bored, always found it easy to follow along. I felt like I was in the room with them.

"He knew all too well that his spunk-hungry boyfriend was all up for roughing up, and the role-play turned him on as much as sex. Sometimes, Kyle would get hard from getting a slap and being talked down to."

By the way, the 'fits two' writing? Hilarious. I can't think of many other times (except for a hilariously placed balloon during Clown'd) when I can bark out a laugh in the middle of reading something so sexy.

Again, as with my other XXX'd story I've read, their relationship is actually very caring, nurturing, and seems very loving, which makes stories like these all the more enjoyable. It's hard to convince the reader that two people are very in love during a short story like this, but they do it perfectly.

I give this an honestly earned 5/5 well hearts. 5 gigantic, raging boners. 5 little birds singing to me. 5 finger discount. Wait, that's not right.
Anyway, if you have a naughty streak like me (or you'd like to try something a little kinky), this is the way to go. It's so fun, actually funny, cute, and god, so hot.
Don't look at me like that. I know what you think about me.

 

This story was fucking great. I've read it twice now since it was delivered to my inbox by the smut-faeries who love Natasha. I will likely buy it and gift it to my equally slutty unicorn friends.

From Your Cum-Dumpster Loving Friend,

Review: Dying Wish by Lor Rose

It was an inevitable thing, death.

For some it was closer than others. Some never knew it was coming. If it were up to Logan he'd choose to not know. Unfortunately for him he did know.

Death was close and it was coming for him and he accepted his fate.

He was set to die. Logan even embraced it, finally happy to leave this painful world behind. That is until he met Gyre.

Gyre gave him a sense of life once again. He wanted to stay with Gyre as long as possible but as far as Logan was concerned, his time left wasn't enough.

Or was it?

Alrighty.
This review will contain spoilers.

So I enjoyed this book. Mostly, I wanted to figure out what this book was all about and what the hell was going on. I definitely didn't see the last half of the book coming, that's for sure.
I think the reason I rated this book 3.5/5 is because of the unique plot of the story. There were parts I liked and parts I didn't, but I thought I had to give it a pretty good mark for trying and almost hitting all the marks.

Logan is depressed, has no family, has stomach cancer and just lost pretty much the only person and he loved a year prior to this story taking place.
It's sad, almost too sad. Maybe too much angst? When you load that much angst and depression into a short story like this, it's hard to have a HEA that feels resolved because of the story length. I did like Logan, I felt really sad for his loss. His partner died a year prior and his heartache is actually conveyed quite well. Maybe a little more 'telling' than 'showing' happening in this story, but that's okay with me.

So this story is a kind of paranormal romance between Logan and Gyre. Gyre is this weirdo stalker who follows poor Logan around in the jungle, basically. Then when Logan is sick he takes care of him and shows him his village. Alright, this is weird, but if there's one thing I pride myself on, it's hard I absolutely do weird. So basically... Gyre turns Logan into a wildcat thing and heals his tummy cancer. It's pretty cute but also very weird. Weird good. The whole 'wildcat' part of the story kind of comes out of no where.. maybe I wish there would've been SOME kind of supernatural reference earlier in the story? I don't know. Just thinking out load.
Anyway, their romance was fairly believable. I get the raw chemistry thing and the weirdness of Gyre and his allure.

Few things bothered me in this story but nothing that a few good edits couldn't fix!

EXCEPT... this one thing. If I got this wrong, which I don't think I have, my bad and please ignore this. So Logan's boyfriend, Daniel, died and I quote: "It was a day past the one year anniversary of Daniel's death." 
Okay so he's been dead 366 days. Got it. Then Logan references his dog that he loved that also died and I quote, "Lilly died two years ago of liver failure. She was the last thing keep him going; now he had nothing..."
So... If Daniel died a year ago, basically, and his dog died two years ago... why was Lilly the only thing keeping him going? Because wouldn't Daniel have been the one keeping him going for the year since the dog's death..? Because Daniel's death was sudden so it's not like they expected it for a long time and the dog was holding Logan together.
I think what Lor Rose was trying to say was that the dog lived longer and was with Logan through Daniel's death but then the dog died... I think that's the message? But it's unclear.
I think this is a timeline problem that should definitely be fixed.

Few other small things that bugged me but I feel the need to mention because 3.5/5 is still a good review from me, believe you me.
"...from severe Separation Anxiety from his own home." I don't think separation anxiety needed to be capitalized.

'"He said nothing, only waited for Logan to take his hand. "We are here."
Logan exhaled and only barely managed to retain his ever unholy thank-you-fucking-Jesus. He eyed Gyre's out-stretched hand with a quirked eyebrow."
 The sentence states that he (Gyre) says nothing but then in the next sentence he says, "We are here." That should be changed me thinks.

And then there was the mention of Wal-Mart twice, one spelled 'Walmart' and one 'WalMart'. I'm not trying to be an asshole about a hyphen but it should at least be consistent in boths ways of capitalization! :)

I hope this review didn't sound too bitchy because it wasn't meant to be. I honestly think with a good, thorough edit or two this story would be real great and definitely do it's unique plot a little more justice. Again, 3.5/5 for me is actually a good review but there are some things I just can't overlook!

I would recommend this book to someone else. In fact, if the author ever does decide to go through the story again with a thorough edit, I'd probably even reread it.

Review: Special Needs 2 by K.A. Merikan

--- Caretaking. Like a boss. ---

So, Ryan isn’t disabled. Okay, he is, but he’s only got a foot missing, that’s hardly a reason to pretend he’s paraplegic and ride around in a wheelchair! Now Liam has to deal with being lied to since the moment they met, and he is not a happy camper. He doesn’t understand why sweet, innocent Ryan would do such a thing. What if there are other things his boyfriend lied about? Or ex-boyfriend for that matter.

Ryan is in a state of complete panic at the sole thought of losing Liam, his first proper boyfriend ever. But the show must go on and after the fire in his hotel, Ryan can’t only focus on his love life. He’s a serious businessman after all. Marketing, networking and promoting will be his new love life. Who needs a boyfriend anyway, when in the end, every guy is either a devotee, or freaks out about his transability? Yet... maybe if Liam stayed around the hotel, they could at least make up and become friends.

There is one more option to consider - walking. If Ryan started walking, would Liam want to be with him again? But how far can he bend to Liam’s wishes before he breaks?

One thing that I feel K.A. Merikan always has down pact is sex scenes.They never disappoint, they’re never dry, and they definitely take you on one hell of a ride. 3.5 Stars

SPOILERS.

SN2 was great. It tied up a lot of loose ends from SN1 and left me feeling full of gourmet burgers and completely satisfied.

To see my review on GR for SN1, please go here.
For the first bit, I thought Liam was being a baby. Then as the story progressed, I thought Ryan was being a bit of a bitch. I think that’s part of his character though. Liam was pissed about finding out that Ryan could actually kind of walk and they he didn’t tell Liam. I think lying about that and lying about not being gay, your sexuality, is probably just as bad. Maybe not entirely, but if Ryan can forgive Liam so easily, maybe Liam shouldn’t be such a prima donna.
Eventually they did kiss and make up and life was happy, but not before Ryan got to throw a few shitfits first. I kind of like this about him. I think he’s such a little diva. Like, I remember actually like that when I was 16 and young and pissed off and I had tons of piercings and pink hair and I’d throw temper tantrums and whine all the time, just like Ryan. Sometimes I just think, “Smarten the fuck up, Ryan! Stop bitching!” because man, sometimes he’d be so snarky for petty reasons, and I’d mostly just laugh because it became this hilarious game of what PMSy move Ryan would make next. I understand this probably isn’t hilarious to everyone, but to me, it was. I’ve accepted now that it’s part of his character. Maybe he’s immature, but that’s okay because it’s just who he is and Liam loves him for it.

 (Can we please pause for a moment to laugh at the fucking funniest gif on the internet? I’m so happy I found it. It’s perfect right here in this review.)

Rufio was my favorite. He was funny and sweet and vanilla and I loved him. He’s like the cute little puppy that barks at you till you pet it. The supporting characters, as in the previous book, definitely enjoyable. More from Cole this time which I liked. I always thought his arguments with Liam were funny. Again, maybe not supposed to be funny but I laughed, so sue me.

Roger thing was pretty obvious, but I liked that. I’m pretty sure it was on purpose. Nah, I’m sure since I read the afterthought thingy part of the book. I liked that everyone seen it coming. This wasn’t a mystery novel. Fucking Roger.

There was a lot of talking in this book. Chatty Cathy’s, we have here. The dialogue was good and enjoyable, but there was definitely a lot of it.

The overall creativity of this book was fantastic, like the first one. They try to tackle so much in one book, which is why I suppose it’s a bit of a longish read. The issues they covered were interesting and had me Googling shit that I didn’t know existed, and I appreciate that. Appreciate sexy books that make me smarter. I’m not going to touch too much on the issues in this book because if you’ve read the first SN, you can maybe guess on a few of them, but I guess I’ll leave it up to you, the reader, to figure them out. Let’s just say they are probably not something you hear about every day, which is definitely refreshing.

Again, must stress, very hot sex.

ARc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Kick Start by Josh Lanyon

Will is finally braced to bring Taylor home to meet the folks. Unfortunately, not every member of the Brandt clan loves Taylor the way Will does. Then again, not everyone loves the Brandts. In fact, someone has a score to settle -- and too bad for any former DS agents who get in the way when the bullets start to fly.

Homecoming. It was never sweeter.

The fifth installment in the Dangerous Ground series.
This review will contain spoilers.

I recently finished reading up on the first four books in this series, and let me tell you, they get better the further into the series you get. Maybe it’s because I develop an emotional attachment to Lanyon characters so easily. I don’t know what it is, but I was not disappointed. To see the review of the previous four books in this series, have a looksy over here: Reviews.

Writing
If you know me or have ever read any of my reviews then you’ll know that I essentially eat, sleep, breathe, practice-the-religion-of Lanyon books. The intrigue, the easy flow, the subtle sexiness. I’m not the only one who feels this way, obviously, but again and again I feel the need to reiterate that even if the book isn’t for you, you can hopefully appreciate the beautiful writing.

Characters
Taylor. Perhaps one of my new book crushes. It’s a tall pedestal, but I think he reserves the rights to it for a while. The characters were well established earlier in the series, and this book helps to see a little bit more of each of our favorite MCs. Taylor impressed me a lot in this book, as he has throughout the series, but this book in particular he seems to have let go of a few of his insecurities. He seems more accepting of Will’s reluctance to play Show and Tell with his feelings, and that displays a certain level of comfort and understanding in their relationship.
I was also very impressed by Taylor’s ability to be so understanding about Will’s relationship with his younger brother Grant. There were a few scenarios where Taylor showed a lot of restraint from lashing out at Grant for the sake of Will, and I thought that was extremely mature. He also seemed more aware of their relationship and more secure in general.

“No. You don’t want me. Will does. And how come his feelings don’t matter?”

William. Well, well, someone has grown up since the last time I heard from him. In Kick Start, Will seems, like Taylor, more self-aware not only of his feelings, but of his mistakes. Maybe most importantly, as the book progresses, he seems more aware and respectful of his partner’s wants and needs. He makes a lot of great decisions on how to handle things with Taylor and it made my heart feel warm and happy. But when he did make mistakes (Paris), at least he was able to admit he was wrong. I like Will a lot more in this book than I have in previous books.

Story
Finally, a story I can follow! *streamers and confetti everywhere*
Now, I’m not saying I didn’t follow some of the previous Dangerous Ground books, I’m just saying it was a lot harder for me. Not harder as in I have the IQ of a goat, I just didn’t have to Google anything to understand where/what it was. I had to do this a good amount of times during Dead Run, and I suppose that’s a good thing because I learned a few new things, but for this read, I wanted it to go a look smoother for me. I followed everything in this book from even minor characters to major characters. Bill, Grant, the Dooleys, cousin Dennis, the PI, Madonna, and for me, this was a major breakthrough because I usually don’t care about the minor characters quite so much. I loved how the drama was easy drama. Loved it. The boys were on vacation visiting pop and bro, just out to do some fishing, and for a change, they didn’t exactly go looking for trouble or decide to do something stupid. *cough*Hedwig*cough* They never picked fights, in fact they tried to avoid them, and they didn’t wander around town looking to hunt down Jem, which I totally thought they were going to do and it was going to give me anxiety. They just carried on with their days like normal folk, and I appreciated that.

I loved the story! I loved how Jem wasn’t even in town, the Dooley’s were just a gaggle of redneck idiots, loved how Grant came to sort-of terms with William being with Taylor, loved the fumbling and relatively useless PI, but most of all I think I loved cousin Dennis. He doesn’t really even have a place in the story besides creating hilarious mischief! He might in the future turn out to be a dirty little liar and actually be connected with the Russian mob, but until then, I’m taking him as he is: a hilariously erratic minor character that I really enjoyed. He does silly things and shows up at inopportune times, and seems quite useless, but has a few reserved skills that I’d like to know more about.

Why Kick Start is my favorite of the series:
- Only one mention of David Bradley
- Taylor punched cousin Dennis
- Cousin Dennis in general
- William growing up and acknowledging some of his feelings and mistakes
- Bill
- A buck watching them fuck
- Super hot sex
- General easiness of plot
- the Dooleys

There will be another book. Of course there will be another book! But it can’t come soon enough to make me happy. I loved this book and I’d so happy I got to read it for the blog tour! I personally think that this book alone made the other four in the series worth reading. If you aren’t read this series yet (Jo!) but are sitting on the fence, keep in mind that the books just keep getting better.

A copy of this work was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
 

Review: The Douglas Fir by Anyta Sunday

Somehow, someway, Jason Kress will find Noah the most unique and clever gift ever. A gift that will surprise him, and win his heart.

A gift that just might be magic . . .

Indie Author Review, ARC supplied by author for an honest review.

I was so pleased when I was asked to review The Douglas Fir as it is just my type of book. A sweet, romantic Christmas story with great characters. I wasn't disappointed for the most part - there was just one thing I...., hmm, how do I put this, I would have liked a little different.

Firstly, I love Anyta Sunday's style of writing, it's relaxed and easy to read and I 'felt' the characters straight away. I was instantly out of the real world and in the kitchen with Jason and Noah and this is really important to me when I read. That feeling when you are disorientated after reading, it takes a second or two for reality to flood back, that's what I look for in my books and Anyta Sunday delivers.

As the other unicorns all know, I love me some romance in my reading. Hot, sexy scenes are an added bonus as far as I'm concerned, it's a good old fashioned romance I'm looking for and Jason's pursuit of Noah most definitely falls into this category. (Don't worry if it's hot and sexy you're looking for - it delivers in the end!). He wanted to give Noah the most original, surprising birthday gift ever - now I don't want to give away what he did but it took a lot of time, effort and dedication. It was sneaky and I thought really romantic. I loved it.

I loved the relationship between the characters - Jase, Noah, Jase's younger brother Scott and Noah's friend Dave. They interacted well, I liked how Jase was jealous when he thought that there was something going on between Dave - the perfect, and really nice - Dave and Noah. When he realised that Dave was as interested in Noah as he was Jase was jealous, he thought he didn't stand a chance, yet he still carried on with his surprise birthday gift - and, although the gift Noah knew about, what Jase was doing with it, the hard work he was putting in, was anonymous.

Okay, sooooo - so far I'm loving it yet I gave it 4 stars not 5. Why. Well I can't write this bit without spoilers so if you don't want to know a major plot twist stop reading now.

I SAID SPOILER, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW STOP READING NOW

Okay so all of you left are okay with the spoiler. The disappointing bit of the story for me was that it wasn't Noah Jase ended up with. After all that hard work, all that sweet romantic pursuit and he gets together with Dave. Let me explain...as I said Dave was also interested in Noah, Jase is there when Dave makes his move on Noah and when Noah turns him down and then he's the one Noah asks if he comes across as gay, because he isn't, he's straight. Now Jase hasn't mentioned his own sexuality to Noah, they are neighbours and friends and, though he has the hugest crush, it is a secret crush.

So then, when it is revealed that Jase too has feelings for Noah and their whole relationship breaks down - Jase's fault, he's too in love to just be friends - they have several months apart but Jase starts spending time with Dave. It was obvious what was going to happen and it was sweet and romantic, but for me  a disappointment because so much of the book was focussed on Jase's pursuit of Noah. I'd invested myself in their relationship and then it never happened. It was a beautiful friendship and I didn't dislike Jase and Dave as a couple - I just wish the focus had come away from Jase and Noah sooner and the main focus had then been put on Jase and Dave.

END OF SPOILER

All that said, I would totally re-read this book because it is sweet (yet not syrupy) and romantic and sometimes that is just what the (book) doctor ordered. I will also most definitely be checking out other works by this author.

Interested in an additional perspective on The Douglas Fir? Check out these minireviews from fellow BMBR unicorns:

Sweet, festive, and unexpected holiday romance.  I enjoyed this story and its slower pace. The Douglas Fir kept me guessing and surprised me, which is definitely unusual for a romance.  The love that blossoms is gentle and kind of sneaks up on the characters and the reader. It works, though, and the titular Douglas Fir plays a central role in the warm holiday feeling that this story engenders.  A few editing items distracted from certain points, and extreme time jumps were a little bumpy. That said, a pleasant read overall with characters I liked.

This book is cute. Not really my kind of book because it's a little sweet for me, but overall enjoyable. I liked the unique elements like the Douglas Fir, the MC being a gardener, the cute neighbours aspect. I seen the twist of fate coming a mile away, which kind of worked for this book. Everyone was cute, everything was cute. Cuteness and fur everywhere.
I'd like to leave you with a quote I never thought I'd read in a M/M Romance novel. :)

"Reaching over, I yanked open the compost and poured some into the hole."

Review: Dangerous Ground Series by Josh Lanyon

Special Agents for the Department of Diplomatic Security, Taylor MacAllister and Will Brandt have been partners and best friends for three years, but everything changed the night Taylor admitted the truth about his feelings for Will. And when Taylor was shot a few hours later, Will felt his reluctance to get involved was vindicated. For Will, the team and the friendship have to come first--despite the fact that he hasn't failed to notice just how...hot Taylor is.
---
Happy Birthday, Taylor! Taylor has pretty well recovered from his shooting, but not everyone is happy to see him reach his next birthday. Does a cobra pickled in a bottle of wine means someone cares enough to send the very death -- best?
---

Special Agents for the Department of Diplomatic Security Taylor MacAllister and Will Brandt have been partners forever and lovers for three months, but their new relationship is threatened when Will is offered a plum two-year assignment in Paris.
---
For Special Agents of the Department of Diplomatic Security, Taylor MacAllister and Will Brandt, the strain of a long distance relationship is beginning to tell after eleven months of separation. A romantic holiday could be just the thing to bridge the ever-growing distance, but when Taylor spots a terrorist from the 70s, long believed dead but very much alive, it's c'est la vie.

 

  
  This review will be one giant review based on all 4 books in the Dangerous Ground series that are published thus far. I’ll touch a bit on each book and then the series as a whole. A bit about me first. Lanyon is my all-time favorite author. His books and his style of writing are made exactly the way I like ‘em. I like mystery novels (my favorite is when Lanyon does horror) and I like the slow burning, imperfect romance. Just sayin’, you might want to keep that in mind when reading my review.

Spoilers in this review.

Book 1 - Dangerous Grounds
Meet Taylor MacAllister and DDS partner William Brandt. These two are partners at work, both gay, and best friends. They’ve known each other around three years and know pretty much everything about one another. Taylor is written as the playboy commitment-phobe, and William is the down-to-earth traditional family man. Somehow, this isn’t exactly how it seems to play out in the series though.
IMO, this book had a bit of a slow start. I had a hard time getting into it and started it once a few weeks ago and set it down to read something else. Once you get past the initial slow start, it’s pretty much a while party and Taylor is the punching bag. So, there was this situation that happened pre-book where Taylor was shot and William was sad because basically Taylor spilled his little heart out to Will, and Will was all “no way jose”. It’s sad and it sucks but whatever. I felt the chemistry between the two MCs in this first book and had happy feeling about them.
This book is worth reading even just for the hot tub sex scene. Holy crap. I read that scene and thought to myself it was possibly the steamiest sex I’ve read of Lanyon’s.
Lie-kit.  
Lesson of this book: Taylor is a sexy, purry cat.

Book 2 - Old Poison
Happy Birthday to Taylor! In this book it’s Taylor’s birthday and it starts with seemingly a very sweet, loving gesture by his boyfriend, William. Awwwww. Turns out, William is actually quite the wiener. He says things to Taylor like how he wishes they didn’t start off a relationship. Like, c’mon. That’s a little mean, isn’t it? Taylor has seemingly dropped his playboy ways and is nothing is not completely committed and willing to create a life with William, mostly to suit William’s selfish needs.
David Bradley. He was mentioned in the first book as Will’s boyfriend at the time, but they broke up once Taylor was shot. It was getting serious between them. So, in this book they’re separated and assigned other partners in other cities. Wouldn’t you know it? Somehow Will is partnered up with David Bradley. Don’t get me wrong, I love this kind of drama. I eat that shit for breakfast. But man, Will was already walking on thin ice for me. So basically in their relationship, it consists basically of Taylor being a perfect boyfriend and waiting around for Will and being caring and understanding, and Will being a selfish jerk. He goes out to dinner with DB and you can tell that it makes Taylor uncomfortable. But who cares, right? Not Will. Maybe he’s not cheating, but if it makes your boyfriend uncomfortable, maybe you shouldn’t do it.
Oh, but wait. At one point in the story, David Bradley asks if he can kiss Will goodbye… Will sheepishly laughs and then agrees and they suck face.
Lesson of this book: William is a god damn jerk.

Book 3 - Blood Heat
So in this book they’re protecting Harry Potter’s pregnant owl from some bro’s that wanna shoot her. They decide to capture her, while basically out of their jurisdiction, and then take her back to the bossman themselves. Foolproof right? Wrong. Because everyone wants this little chica dead. Through this book they’re struggling because Will wants to take a promotion with a minimum of two years working in Paris, oh-lala. Classic William. It’s tearing Taylor up inside but he tries to be a good sport about it, but it’s hard.. you know. Because of the two year across-the-world thing.
Carrying on. Basically, a bunch of crap happens, some EXTREMELY hot sex included. Actually, quite a bit of hot sex included, and they get the pregnant girl, who turns out to be innocent, to a doctor where she can name her baby after them. Also, Taylor shoots William and William has a bit of a hissy fit. One of the best part’s of the series. **Highlight**
So, in the end, William, the selfish bugger he is, accepts the promotion in Paris.  
Lesson of this book: Harry Potter wants his owl back.

Book 4 - Dead Run
Eleven months have passed and Taylor is going to go visit William in Paris! Awww. Except Taylor thinks he spots a terrorist in the airport. Booo! Turns out, they label him wrong. So he calls Will to let him know that he’s going to be on a later flight and guess who answers Will’s phone.

No, go on. If you’ve read this much I’m going to give you a moment to guess who answers the phone.

… *waits* …

Had some thinking time? That’s right, boys and girls. David Fucking Bradley. Of course he answers the phone! Who else? I’m almost not shocked at this point by anything shitty that Will does. Will is allowed to have friends. Even ex-lovers, sure. But in a relationship that’s as insecure as this, where you live on opposite sides of the world and haven’t seen each other in eleven months, maybe, just maybe you’d have the decency to mention to your boyfriend across the world that your ex-lover, who makes your current lover very uncomfortable, is going to be popping over for dinner and some drinks.
What a buffoon. The incredible part is that Taylor doesn’t even lose his shit. Best boyfriend ever. He’s very unhappy and uncomfortable but doesn’t even lose his mind. If he can be a grown-up about things like that, you’d think Will could too. Huh. Moving on. Some shit happens and Taylor and Will have to work together in Paris to search out some bomb threats. Oh no! An explosion and then William is hurt!! Taylor is sad. :(
William goes into the hospital with scrapes as bruises but wakes up with _____________!!

No, guess. I dare you. Imagine what he could possibly wake up with that would make me flip my fucking lid. I’ll wait.

…

Did you guess amnesia?
If you did, I’m making you a cake, because there’s no fucking way I seen that bomb being dropped.
Guess what? It gets better… okay. So, William remembers everything BUT his relationship for the past year and a bit with Taylor, ALSO he thinks he’s still in a relationship with David Bradley, who Taylor sees when he walks into Will’s hospital room! *slaps knee and makes gun hand-gesture* Classic!
The anxiety this caused me, I cannot begin to describe. It was around this time that Taylor’s heart was breaking. After DB told Taylor the situation, DB kissed William in front of him. And Taylor doesn’t go on a Godzilla rampage, how? I was so depressed and upset at this point in the story, I wanted to cry. I went to my BMBR friends and asked them for hugs because I was so sad. Not even mad. Just sad about this situation. I really felt like Taylor was perpetually dragged through the mud this entire series, and this was definitely the icing on the cake. His lover doesn’t remember him, only him though, and when Taylor mentions the idea to him, Will basically says that it’s impossible because he’d never be with Taylor.

I’ll give you a moment while your heart breaks.

In the end, they catch the bad dude (as if I’m paying any attention by this point), and Will get’s his memory back and they go live under a fucking rainbow in the sky.
But really, if I were William, I’d stop thinking DB was a good person all together, because kissing someone with amnesia because their head isn’t on straight, seems like… oh, say, taking advantage of someone. The fucker.
Lesson of this book: William is a fucking wiener.

Series review:
Now, while it seems like I was pissy most of the time while reading this, it wasn’t true. I had a lot of hope for the boys in the first book, and then it slowly went downhill. I wasn’t that mad. Okay, kind of mad. Not like, Jake Riordan level of mad, but kind of annoyed that William sucks as a boyfriend. Taylor didn’t deserve any of the shitty things that happened to him, and that honestly made me sad. The best part is that even if you hate the MCs (or one of them) you still care about them, and they're human. They make human mistakes and that really draws you in.
But the action parts were VERY exciting! Guns, shooting, killing, hunting down murders, surviving shots to the chest, falling down cliffs, rescuing your boyfriend, getaway chases. Love this shit.
The books, as usual, very well written and sometimes above my head. Especially the last book that was based in Paris. I tried hard to follow the storyline of everything besides the romance, but that just didn’t happen. I liked this series, I’d recommend it to read, but definitely not if it’s your first Lanyon book, or first Lanyon series. Books that leave me with little hope for the MCs makes me sad.

Things this series has taught me so far:
- Classic Will = Asshole Will
- Don’t sleep with married Japanese business men
- One’s ex is never really out of the picture
- Power bottoms might just be sexier than tops
- Taylor reminds me of Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles)
- Looking after your jerk bf’s dog is not a good excuse not to go to Iraq
- Pregnant munchkins are trouble

I’ll be reviewing the fifth installment of this series on December 10th, so come back and check it out.