Audiobook Review: The Gryphon King's Consort by Jenn Burke

Love takes flight.

The sudden death of the Gryphon King throws the kingdom of Mythos into uncertainty, and Crown Prince Luca rushes both his coronation and an arranged marriage to a man he’s never met. Eirian is young and idealistic, and while they both want what’s best for their people, their philosophies couldn’t be more different. While Luca believes in honoring tradition, Eirian is determined to infuse modern values into their kingdom of magical creatures. When given the choice between loyalty to his husband and his own crusade, Eirian makes a decision that might doom their marriage.

Still, Luca is committed to making their union work, and that means forgiving his brash consort. But when Eirian becomes the target of a deadly conspiracy, Luca must act fast—or forever lose the chance to explore their burgeoning love.

Narrated by: Andrew McFerrin
Listening Length: 5 hours and 51 minutes

My rating doesn’t accurately reflect my love for the narrator. This is my first listen by him and I’ve already added more of his narrated stories to my Audible wishlist. He does a great job of emoting sincerity realistically and all his characters were distinctive.

The story itself intrigued me. Gryphons? Kings? Consorts? Yes, please! I liked the premise that humans and mythos coexisted. The world was an interesting one, I just felt that the politics of it all overshadowed the relationship between Luca and Eirian. The two are from two different political factions, Luca is a traditionalist and Eirian is a modernist, so they had a lot of fuel for banter. And banter they did, but it was all contentious and political.

It was obvious the two of them were forming a bond and were attracted to each other. They had a foundation to build from, I just had a little trouble reconciling their horny selves with their public political personas. I really liked when the two of them were letting their guards down, I could see how they’d be good together. I especially loved Eirian’s voice in these moments, his dialog was a treat to listen to.

But, then some kind of political thingy would happen and they’d get dragged away from happy times and end up arguing. The conversation would start rationally but end up going off the rails. Eirian was incredibly passionate about his modernist ideas and Luca’s thoughts were steeped in tradition, clashing was inevitable, but even when they seemed to agree, they didn’t and Eirian would stay his original course regardless of what the agreement he and Luca had come to. Luca would get righteously pissed and they’d take many steps back.

There was obligatory drama at the end that brought them together for keeps and I should have been happier for them than I was. I could just see more arguing in their future. If there had been some additional resolution to their political differences it would have been easier for me to believe. It was paid some lip service with inner dialog in the heat of the moment but I needed some of the resolution to play out in a few situations to believe it long term.

I loved the ending though. The author had a creative way to strengthen bonds that worked well with the crazy villain angle and with the world that had been built. If I would have had more relationship between the MC’s throughout it would have had more impact, but I still appreciated how Luca and Eirian got their HEA.

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

Audiobook Review: Buried Bones (Bones #2) by Kim Fielding

Werewolves don’t have a how-to manual—nor do men embarking on a new life together.

It’s been a few weeks since Dylan Warner wolfed out and killed Andy, the crazed werewolf who originally turned him and later tried to murder Chris Nock. Architect Dylan and handyman Chris are still refurbishing Dylan's old house as they work out the structure of their relationship. They come from very different backgrounds, and neither has had a long-term lover before, so negotiating their connections would be challenge enough even if Dylan didn’t turn into a beast once a month.

To make matters worse, Dylan’s house is haunted, and events from both men’s pasts are catching up with them. Dylan has to cope with the aftermath of killing Andy, and Chris continues to suffer the effects of a difficult childhood.

In his quest to get rid of the ghost, Dylan rekindles old friendships and faces new dangers. At the same time, Chris’s father makes a sudden reappearance, stirring up old emotions. If Dylan and Chris want to build a lasting relationship, they’ll have to meet these challenges head-on.

Listening Length: 8 hours
Narrator: John Solo

I loved Good Bones, it was a lot of story and great setup to the series. It ended on a pretty realistic and optimistic HFN. I mean as realistic as a story about a shifter and his new BF can be, but the relationship read realistically considering everything they’d been going through. Buried Bones gave me everything I wanted at the end of Good Bones.

Buried Bones has all measure of supernatural elements again and it answered some questions from Good Bones, but my favorite thing about Buried Bones is the development of the relationship between Dylan and Chris. They are an established couple by this time, but very newly established and they still had a lot of getting-to-know-you to do. As well, they are working on how they relate to one another as a couple. I appreciate that these guys actually talk and it reads so organically. John Solo does an excellent job of carrying on the conversations so the emotional balance is just right. Dylan and Chris both still have some insecurities and both want to take the next steps so they’ll go from dating to a forever commitment and the narrator gave all the subtle nuances in the conversations that caught all the emotions.

There are enough outside elements to fuel their growth together, between learning more about shifters, the haunting and a visit from Chris’s father, there is plenty to keep them occupied. In amongst all of that, the two of them are still renovating and I was happy the author didn’t skip over that in book 2. The renovation of Dylan’s house made it feel like they were building a house for their future and it just added to their relationship. The additional of Chris’s father gave some focus to Chris as an overall character as well. It could easily be more “Dylan-centric” with the whole werewolf thing and all, but both characters stay fully fleshed out and makes the story stronger.

I can’t wait to dive into Book 3. Ery is a great character and fingers crossed his Grandma will make an appearance as well. I felt like Dylan and Chris have a solid HEA at the end of Buried Bones, the narration does the book justice and this is a series that will be a reread/listen for me.

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

Review: Softpaw (Smilodon Pride #1) by Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus

Connor’s life could have been the dream of any cultured werecat. He is spending his days in Paris’ gay quarter with comfortably little real work, playing the piano, surrounded by art, fine food and good friends. It could have been, if not for a feral vampire preying on the prostitutes of ‘his’ quarter, killing the boys of the Marais one by one. 

When Connor invites a newly arrived hooker to stay on his houseboat, the last thing he expects is Michel to be a member of the Brigade Criminelle - a troubled, hunky rookie cop sent undercover to explore Connor’s connection to the murders, picked mostly because he had been a boy of the Marais himself, not so long ago. 

Hiding their true nature becomes a problem for both when their realize there maybe is more to their inital attraction. But in order to bring down the serial killer and maybe have a chance at making their relationship work out, one of them will have to 
take the first, critical leap...

***

Tags: Romance - Gay - HFN - Paranormal - Paris - France - Shifter - Vampires - Cops - Death - Prostitution - Undercover - Rough Sex - Explicit Sex

I wanted to love this book. I kept trying and trying to grab on and take the ride but just when I thought I had it...

I didn't have it.

It would take off in these weird tangents that lost me; shook me off like a bad habit. Everything I was interested in got scuttled to the back burner in favor of on overwhelming amount of aesthetic minutiae that left me bored and oftentimes confused. 

Softpaw revolves around a serial killer who is targeting male prostitutes in the Marais arrondissement of Paris. Michel is assigned to the case *seemingly* due to his colorful background which includes prostitution. There is an odd meeting between him, his direct supervisor and some nebulous woman whose role is never clearly defined but we're left with the distinct impression that she has some sort of stake in the investigation and maybe she hand picked Michel for it? 

However, Michel is bar none the shittiest cop ever. The prime suspect is Connor who happens to be a sabertoothed werepanther and local piano player. One would think a cop would get close but not too close to the prime suspect and most certainly stay alert. Nope. Michel seems to get a case of narcolepsy every time they're together then once he wakes up proceeds to berate himself extensively for falling asleep and losing track of Connor.

His shoddy investigative skills, and sexual peccadilloes definitely qualify him as peculiar. He's not boring, I'll give him that. He's a danger junkie who enjoys being humiliated and used and not in the kinky way either. He'll take any sort of attention and he's insecure to the point of finding it necessary to get into a verbal fisticuffs with a 15 yr old. So... not exactly likable.

Connor is slightly better but he too is moody and he's got a vicious streak when he's angry that had me all...

How the authors incorporated Paris making it part of the story was what I enjoyed most. They also did a good job constructing these two imperfect characters and I applaud them for the unusual shifter. The overall impression I'm left with is esoteric and unfocused. It's not that I think the narrative is bad it's just clunky. The dialogue never seems natural what with the absence of contractions not to mention the peculiarities. I didn't get the sense of humor. The things that were given precedence were quirky. Everything was just slightly obscure, most especially the bizarre council/government connection that bookends the story.

The sex was eccentric as well. There are probably 3-4 pages of lead up which included buttons being unbuttoned, shoes being taken off and some bossy behavior by one werepanther but the actual sex was glossed over. And it was a marathon with a big guy bottom! I would've liked some focus on that rather than the buttons. Even the hate sex confused me because I didn't understand the level of hate. Then again, I never was convinced of Connor and Michel's connection despite the repetitive internal dialogue each of them have regarding their feels for each other.

One thing I hesitate to even mention mainly because I am super white and 16 different kinds of privileged so my rule of thumb is just to shut my cake hole when it comes to things that may or may not be racist but...in my opinion, if it doesn't push the story forward and serves no purpose with regard to character development then I see no need for things like this and wish they were omitted altogether. It strikes me as unnecessarily inflammatory not to mention divisive.

My late husband always said you negros would be the end of us all, but there's just as many rotten apples among you as there is among normal people.

It probably could've used a final edit to catch the thing with Connor being a neat freak but then suddenly Michel finds black cat hair all over his clothes. I know a neat freak with something like 19 cats and you'd NEVER find a cat hair on you. 

Like I said, I didn't hate it and this has an audience; just check the other reviews. The framework of the story is appealing but the final product left a little to be desired for me.

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

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: The Artifact of Foex by James L. Wolf

When Chet, a graduate student of archaeology, is invited to show a gorgeous woman named Journey around their summer dig site, he has no idea what he’s in for. For one thing Journey isn’t a woman: she’s Flame, one of the reviled, shape shifting, gender-fluctuating people of Uos. Then Journey uncovers a deadly secret in the dust. Chet must run to keep up with spies, murder, long-lost magic, and a romantic dream embodied by a 332 year old man who holds the key to absolute power on the world of Uos.

(Other, M/F, M/M - See publisher's website for content labels.)

This story was really fascinating. Set in an alternate world, with a complete history, cultural, and mythological background, this story starts at an Archeological dig site with unaffiliated student Chet meeting Journey. Journey is Flame, a race of people who can shapeshift gender, and cannot be touched by water, cleaning and healing themselves with fire.

Chet is human, inexperienced, and completely besotted with history. He lives and breathes it. He wants to become a Professor at a university, but doesn’t want to be affiliated to a God. I had difficulty with this part, but broken down, it means that Chet doesn’t want to claim a religious affiliation, which is apparently a big deal. Or something. It is explained in the beginning of the book, but it took me a bit longer to catch onto what it all meant. I’m dense like that.

Moving along. An artifact is discovered at the site, which holds a great deal of power, and it is up to Chet, Journey, Knife, another Flame, who is called in by Journey, and Fenimore, also found at the dig site, to guard it, all the while being hunted down across the country, by the owner of the dig site.

There are two key plot points to this story. The mystery behind the Artifact and Chet’s budding sexuality.

The mystery was good. It was a little complex and took a while to unravel in a way that connected everything. I liked that. It kept me guessing, but the breadcrumbs were there for me to pick up. It actually could have gone in a few directions, and I’m curious how many alternate endings the author has.

The sex was great. Chet was a virgin when the story began, and throughout the story he explores not only his sexuality with both men and women, but also some kink too. A lot of it was hot, even with the dubious consent. I enjoyed most of the scenarios Chet found himself in, sexually. I liked that it took him less time to accept himself and his desires as the story progresses. He embraced his bisexuality and enjoyed the pleasures he got from his experiences.

I enjoyed that this story was rich with cultural history. It was completely fleshed out world, full of different beings, completely different animal types, and a thorough mythology and history to go along with it. The author put a lot of work into ensuring the background was solid, and I appreciated that I had no questions about the world other than the ones I was made to question based on the journey Chet was on. The landscape was easy to imagine, and the political and cultural background of Flame was explained well.

It did start to feel a bit fetishized in some of the sex scenes, but it was about exploring, so I’ll give it a pass. It wasn’t completely over the top, and for the most part it was hot, so I ignored my irritation in some areas, because I mostly enjoyed the erotic content.

The storyline dragged a little bit for me in areas where there wasn’t a lot going on. Some of the story felt like a play by play, and I wanted to move on. It slowed the action-adventure part of the story down, and I could have done without those parts. For something different, and imaginative it was satisfying and thorough.

This is recommended for people who enjoy fantasy, paranormal, & alternate universe, with a complete cultural experience. Also lovers of bisexual erotica, and gender-fluctuating characters who can shapeshift into their preferred gender at will. This is not a love story, this an exploration of sexuality.

Warnings: dub-con, rape, mind-control, violence, and death.

Check out on Goodreads!

Tag Team Review: Kestrel's Talon (The Stonewatchers #1) by Bey Deckard

Following the Prentish/Nemarri war, Kes is rejected by his homeland under the guise of religious purity laws. Though he's spared execution, the proud Nemarri's fate is only marginally more merciful than death when he is sold into sexual slavery at a prosperous pleasure house.

Despite his stoic endurance, Kes knows he’s reaching his breaking point, but there is nothing he can do—there is no path to freedom in the Holy Prentish Empire, only a lifetime of humiliating servitude.

That is, until a beautiful young slave and his formidable master approach Kes in the marketplace and make an astonishing offer to take him home with them. The only problem: “home” is the accursed Horthmont Castle from the scare-stories of Kes’s childhood.

Thrown into a world of living myth, powerful magic, and ancient gods, Kes learns the secrets kept hidden by Horthmont’s thick blackstone walls. There he discovers something he thought he’d never know again: hope for the future.

An average of our reviews. ;)

SheReadsALot - 4 Hearts

Bey Deckard's, Kestrel's Talon (The Stonewatchers, #1), is a fantasy based romance that stars a triad that find themselves themselves and try to heal along a twisted path. In this fictional world, there are slaves, civil unrest among those who are slaves and freemen alike, telepaths, religion/mythology, lost cultures and a QUILTBAG cast of characters.

If I had known what all was going to be introduced *cough*namely psychics*cough*, I'd...probably not read it as soon as I did. But the premise intrigued me and the main characters actually won me over by the end. So if an anti-psychic reader can say it wasn't all that bad and kind of cool, you might want to check this out.

Kestrel is an ex-soldier, now forced into slavery in a pleasure house. He comes from a bigoted country when his sexuality is against their religion. Now in the Holy Empire of Pren, where slaves are the lowest of the low, his fountain of hope is all but run out. Until he locks eyes with a young ginger haired slave by the name of Talon. Talon is infectious and his master, a gentle giant with a reputation, Count Strade, purchase Kes and change what he knew as his life forever.

This story is long, 135K. And I will admit, the first 20% took me days to finish. It was interesting but not what I expected. I went in thinking it was going to be a dark, kinky tale between two slaves. But instead there was an extra partner, an asexual partner that threw my preconceptions out the door. The next 70%? I consumed in less than a day, I couldn't wait to find out what's next. The tale might take some time to get to a point (and when the paranormal part with shifters came to play) I couldn't get enough of it.

This book would work best for fantasy lovers, but it's not for everyone.

Let's get the triggers out front and center - rape (off page) and physical violence (between partners). I wouldn't necessarily call this story dark. I thought the tone was cool, angsty in spots. But not something I'll be afraid to read in the dark alone. Though there was a few spooky bits...oh if they were only longer. I've read darker work from this author, this is a 1.5 out of 5 on the dark scale for me.

The setting was hands down the winner for me. This author is wickedly talented with setting a scene, creating a landscape and describing the smells, colors and environment. It's 5 Hearts for me.

The story is swimming in 3.5-4 Hearts pool. The plots and side plots were good, the execution was mostly solid. I don't mind flashbacks, this story has an abundance. And sometimes the branching out to a flashback and jumping back to present time could be a little jarring in spots. Or the flashback scene here and there would end a mite early. Overall, solid but it's a beginning. I want to read the entire story and then review it on a whole. Kestrel's Talon is supposed to be the base of the triad's relationship.

The characters were 4 Hearts - I don't have a definite favorite of the throuple. Each guy brought something different to the relationship.

-Kes is struggling with his recovery, struggling with his lot in life especially after such horrific conditions. He is so angry, it's justified to me. I think the author did a good job of showing why he reacts the way he does and is so possessive of his spot of happiness. Imagine if you've never had any bit of hope and then a ray of sunshine is forcing themselves into your pocket? Reactions will be bumpy.
-Talon, the nubile, naive ginger slave whose innocence (and he's not innocent the least) brings a sense of newness that is refreshing. I didn't want anything to go wrong in his world. And I hated that he was a slave (not a sexy slave - but slave with no say in the world he lived in) But his perspective on life was a nice touch. There was no ounce of jadedness to be found here.
-Count Strade or Grimma, he was the enigma for me. And definitely not what I'd imagine to go with his looks. His back story, was shared in sections throughout the story. So he's the one the reader gets the most information on. He's sweet and interesting.

The secondary characters were the ones that really helped move this story along. I think my favorite character (including the leads) so far is Hessa. And she doesn't even speak!

The story ends on a sweet, loose end note. A soft cliffhanger, if you will. There isn't as much action, more setting the groundwork of more to come. I have questions and hopes for the future of this series. I want to know about Talon's ancestry, Kes' too. What is up with the telepathy stuff? Too many question marks at the end for me and not enough periods. ;D

This story has potential, it gives more than decent framework. But I had quibbles.

- The villains/bad guys - I want retribution. Badly. Especially for the one who took advantage of the ginger.

- This triad...I'm about 75% sold on them. It might be because not all parties are equals, the hypersexual to asexual ratio or though this is super novel, I don't feel like I got enough of a sense of each character. Or it could be a combination of the three. Something about this throuple just doesn't seem rock solid. They are new partners to relationship: there is infighting, insecurities, jealousies and stupid decisions. But I'm not sure if they're hearts are all in it because they ALL wanted to or there wasn't any other choice.

-The last 10% - it was a lull for me. I understand this is a beginning all 135K of this novel. But the last 10% seemed rushed, a little too sweet and just a little anticlimactic after all that happened in the last 90%.

Though this story is long, other than my slow start, this story was pretty easy to zip through. I definitely would read more of this series. It's more on the cerebral plot heavy than swords dashing and dukes flying. I didn't know how much I liked it until reflecting on the cool twists and turns...and I'm not telling you because it's one for fantasy lovers who don't mind flashbacks and a plot slow burn to discover for themselves.

Optimist King's Wench - 3 Hearts

I hate to do this, I really do especially after having been so vocal with my excite for this book. I’ve ardently gushed and fawned over BeyBey’s writes since reading Caged, but this wasn’t a win for me. I’ll get to what didn’t work for me, but first let’s start with what did.

Kestrel’s Talon is another high fantasy with superb worldbuilding. It’s told from multiple perspectives non-linearly. The skill and creativity required to construct a unique world with this scrupulous attention to detail including a distinct language and customs for multiple countries flabbergasts me. The Prentish Empire is nuanced, exquisitely detailed and inventive from start to finish. These characters are also meticulously crafted, though if you’ve read the Baal’s Heart trilogy you will notice similarities.

Kes was forced into slavery and delegitimized by a ridiculous Nemarri law after having bravely served his country as a foot soldier in the military. After being debased in the most heinous way (only referenced) he is rightfully angry and loathes the whole institution of slavery. Talon, on the other hand, was born a slave and has been with Count Strade since he was a boy. He and Kes have an instantaneous connection in the market where Kes is on offer in his cock cage and diamond belly chain.

*bites fist*

Count Strade negotiates a price for him and off they go to Horthmont Castle. There are a few plot twists that caught me off guard and were clever. Some weighty contemporary topics are addressed in the subtext, one being discrimination. The inclusivity of the castle and acceptance of those who would otherwise be deemed societal outcasts was heartwarming. I always like stories wherein a family is created to replace a dysfunctional or non-existent one. All of the inhabitants of the castle were as well constructed as the main characters. As a matter of fact, I liked them better than the main characters with one notable exception.

And that’s probably my biggest problem-I didn’t really like two of the three MCs. I swear it wasn’t that the chastity skedaddled in a blink and this wasn’t the slave fic I had envisioned, though I was disappointed by those developments I won’t lie. Things started off on the wrong foot for me when Kes hits Talon early on. I’ve made my thoughts on this known repeatedly so I won’t beat the dead horse. Talon forgives him which is his prerogative, but he never redeemed himself in my eyes. There’s no faster way for me to disconnect from a character than to have them treat their paramour thusly. Later in the book when he treats Talon “like a slave” after becoming upset over an event those feelings compounded.

Talon is marginally better but both he and Kes are exceedingly jealous of each other’s time with Grim. I like possessive but there’s a fine line between possessive and obsessive and they tipped over that line. Talon is sweet and playful, has a “gift” which I won’t go into, and he is randy, but there’s nothing exceptional about him aside from his beauty.

Grim is the only one I really liked mainly for his equanimity and I can’t talk about him without spoiling. But the biggest problem with this relationship is I don’t know how you can sustain a triad with these sorts of dynamics happening. Maybe it was the pettiness or the fact that I didn’t care for Kes and Talon, but something integral to forming a lasting relationship just didn’t gel for me. Kes and Talon are hot for each other and they respect Grim; that they all care about each other is clear but forever ‘n ever?

The pacing was too slow. I appreciate worldbuilding and character development, but I needed more adventure. Slice of life + high fantasy doesn’t work for me. I can only take so much sex (I can’t believe I just said that), hunting, chopping wood and piddling around an enormous castle before I start drifting. The last quarter had some developments that helped but left me feeling unfulfilled. It’s clear this is the set up book for a series and while I do think the objective for an egalitarian society is a noble one, I just don’t know if that’s enough for me to continue with the series.

At the end of the day, the worldbuilding alone is worthy of 3 Hearts from me.


A copy provided for an honest review.

Check out on Goodreads or Booklikes!

Review: Until Forever Comes (Mates #2) by Cardeno C.

A sensitive wolf shifter and a vicious vampire challenge history, greed, and the very fabric of their beings in order to stay together until forever comes.

Plagued by pain and weakness all his life, Ethan Abbatt is a wolf shifter who can’t shift. Hoping to find an honorable death by joining his pack mates in a vampire attack, Ethan instead learns two things: draining his blood releases his pain and his wolf, and he has a true mate—a vampire named Miguel.

Over four centuries old, strong, powerful, and vicious, Miguel Rodriguez walks through life as a shadow, without happiness or affection. When a young shifter tells Miguel they're true mates, destined to be together, Miguel sends him away. But Ethan is persistent and being with him comes so naturally that Miguel can't resist for long. Their challenge is staying alive so they can be together until forever comes.

Miguel and Ethan were sweet and loving. I adored them together.

Ethan was a shifter who's unable to shift. When he and his pack go to attack vampires, he's drained of some blood, which miraculously helped him shift.  During this attack, he also meets Miguel, who also happened to be Ethan's mate.

Miguel was intrigued by Ethan, but a Mate? Um, no. But he found the shifter irresistible and gave into his urges.

The blood! There was so much blood. And sexiness, of course.

Vampires and shifters did not mate. They don't even like each other, so two mating was unheard of. I really liked the dynamics of their mating and how their bodies responded naturally to each other. Ethan's body produced all the blood Miguel needed to survive and he didn't have to feed from anyone else. In turn, the feeding helped Ethan to shift, when he never was able to before.

Ethan was the cutest thing and I adored him. I just want to put him in my pocket and keep him forever. He was sweet, but stood his ground with Miguel and his insistence on their mating. Miguel tried to stop it, but he couldn't deny the pull or his possessiveness.

The "bad guy" thing... eehh... made me roll my eyes a bit. Mostly, I didn't really get that Miguel was this big bad vampire. He's supposedly really strong and other vampires are scared of him, but I didn't get that feeling.

Until Forever Comes is an easy, relaxing read, and fans of PNR and Cardeno C will  for sure enjoy this. 

 A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Unicorn Favourites: Love is an Open Road Stories: Weeks 11 & 12

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt. Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read. It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favourite authors. And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a back-list of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love is an Open Road and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favourite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.  The stories are being released slightly slower now - and many are novel length - so we won't be reading them as quickly, but we promise, we're still reading them!. 

As an aside, there are SO many amazing stories being released and while we haven't read all of them yet, we will get there. There will be a few however, that won’t be reviewed here. You see, unicorns are not only badass, they are also mysterious and magically rare. We can't expect their presence to show up in our reviews, the interwebz couldn't handle it. But, just know this, this week, we LOVED The Best Man by Olley White and An Unexpected Acquisition by L. L. Bucknor . That is all.

Sunny: The Last Yeti by Tully Vincent. 

4 stars

Maybe 4.5?

The loneliness, sadness, and pain were almost too much in this bittersweet story. So glad these two found each other, and made room for some happiness.

Will watch for more from this author :)

Optimist King's Wench: Angles by Tripoli

Tripoli did a fantastic job with an ambiguous prompt.

Mikhail and Dima are displaced Russians in Brussels. They meet at a sex club. Initially I was thinking this story would be some mediocre glitterkink filled with BDSM pomp and circumstance that would undoubtedly bore me to tears.

But it took a welcome and surprising turn down Suspense Lane ending up in Espionage Court.

 I love that destination!

Intriguing storyline with well fleshed out characters made for an entertaining read.

It's clear early on that Dima has suffered. His loneliness is palpable, and his self-image is so distorted that he's accepted his solitary existence. Were it not for his pushy and delightful best friend, Izzy, he'd be sitting at home eating TV dinners watching Eurovision. Perish the thought.

Mikhail is very dogged in his pursuit of the dysphoric Dima, arranging picnics, showing interest in many of the things Dima's passionate about and whispering filthy nothings in his ear while molesting him IN PUBLIC!!!!

“One day soon, I’m going to turn you over and fuck you over the table of our cottage. Fill you up with my cum; watch it drip out of you.”

Evocative and fluid writing style that drew me in and the imagery of Brussels and the surrounding area was very vivid. Makes me want to see it for myself.

Thanks to the author and their team for participating in the LOR event.

Lori: A Case of Time by Al Stewart and Noah Homes.

I loved this short story. So full of wit, and a wonderful understanding of relationships. I thought the fact that the MC's were older and the relationship established was a refreshing change (kudos to the prompter), and I adored how the authors made the story fun. It is something I'm appreciating more and more in my reading, the love and excitement in established relationships. 

Thanks for this story.