Tag Archives: Book Review

Book Review: Junk – Josephine Myles

17798654[Book 1 of the Bristol Collection Series]

I always enjoy reading stuff from Josephine Myles. I love the quirkiness of her characters. This one would’ve been more enjoyable though if not for its lengthy narration. I feel like there’s too much talk in it but less action – less romance, that is. I mean the connection between Lewis (a professional clutter cleaner) and Jasper (a book hoarder) doesn’t seem much at all.  It’s like, that’s the story itself – the Lewis helps Jasper with his hoarding and fell for the guy. Period. I also feel like it was too rushed despite its length and didn’t have a stronger conflict to make it more exciting. Truth be told, I feel like watching an episode of Hoarders minus too much drama. I was even more interested with the story’s secondary characters [Mas] than the couple here. But hey, I’m not saying that it is that bad – not just my thing I guess.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Social Skills – Sara Alva

17798654I may have expected too much from this book after reading “Silent” because that one’s incredibly good rendering me heartbroken and hopeful at the same time. This one, however, was kind of just there. It didn’t resonate at all with me and the characters aren’t that interesting to begin with. The main guy Connor sounds like he’s suffering more than his anxiety attacks. It’s almost stressful whenever he’s having an almost-breakdown just for merely saying “Hello” – I was like is he for real? Don’t get me wrong though, it was clearly stated that he’s having anxiety attacks whenever confronted by social situations but sometimes it was almost unbelievable [don’t mean to be dumb about said disorder but this book is just…] I also noticed how unfocused the story was compared with Silent.  Connor and his football jock boyfriend, though in love didn’t have that much chemistry and aren’t likable at all. This book totally reminded me of Play Me, I’m Yours by Madison Parker – Connor reminds me of Tate for some reason. Anyhoo, I really cannot fault the writing style of this one but the story development and its character – I didn’t get them at all.

Music is the only form of communication Connor Owens controls. No matter how badly he wishes to fit in, friendly banter and casual conversations have never been his thing. College is yet another social universe he has no clue how to navigate—until he meets Jared, a football player with chestnut eyes and a cocky grin that holds the power to shatter his self-imposed prison. 

Jared’s attention opens Connor up to a new realm of emotional and physical intimacy. But as Connor’s self-confidence grows, so does his fear that everything will fall apart. Because in this socially stratified world, how long can a relationship between an introverted violinist and a closeted football player really last? Via Goodreads

 Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Book Review: The Tin Box – Kim Fielding

17364998

The Tin Box may have seemed like a really promising novel but it turns out to be a bit underwhelming. William Lyon is working on his dissertation and took a job as a caretaker of an unused old asylum in the small town of Jelly Valley. With the divorce from his wife being finalized, William is still in the process of coming out of the closet and his very repressive past. While checking out the asylum, he discovered a tin box containing letters from a patient whose plight so clearly reflects his own. Then he meets flamboyant and outgoing Colby Anderson who works at the general store and is very openly gay. Through Colby, William learned to let go and decided to live his life the way he wanted to. With their budding friendship turning into romance, William also needs to prove to Colby that he’s ready to take what they have into the next level and make the owner of those letters from the tin box proud.

There was a really good concept here that somehow failed to materialize. Those letters inside the tin box tore me into pieces and they would have been a great starter for the story to follow a different and more involved romance between William and Colby. It’s just too bad that as the story goes on, it went downhill and became a snoozefest. I feel that there should’ve been more to it in connection with the letters. Sadly, that was not realised at all.

 Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Published September 20th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Buy now:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About The Author

Kim Fielding lives in California and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phonebooth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out homework assistance to her children. Her favorite word to describe herself is “eclectic” and she finally got that third tattoo.

All royalties from her novels Stasis, Flux and Equipoise are donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Book Review: The Island – Lisa Henry

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

This was an all-too depressing book which I find pretty conflicting and complicated. It’s too dark and disturbing for my taste and I somehow find it a bit repetitive. The first half of the book was astonishing to read because of its subtle description that will let the reader imagine the horrific [graphics] stuff that happened with one of the MCs.

When I read “The Darker Side Of Trey Grey by Tara Spears,” I thought it’s way too morbid but it was somehow inspiring at the least. This book though, represents a different kind of sadness, absurdity, and hopelessness that I felt for Lee. It was upsetting and I didn’t like that in this book even if things turned out well in the end.

Shaw is in Fiji to sell a stolen painting to the crime boss, Vornis. It will be the deal of a lifetime, if Shaw can pull it off. But then Vornis has to parade his latest toy around in front of him–a captured DEA agent whose time is running out. It’s none of Shaw’s business, and it doesn’t matter that under any other circumstances Lee would be exactly Shaw’s type: he’s young, he’s hot, and he might even have a personality if they hadn’t beaten it out of him. Too bad there’s no way Lee is getting off the island. Too bad there’s nothing Shaw can do for him. And too bad there are some lines that even Shaw won’t cross.

Keeping his hands off Lee proves harder than he thinks, but Shaw’s not stupid enough to fall for the tortured captive of a dangerous crime boss, is he? If he did, it wouldn’t be just his job he would be risking–it would be his life. via Goodreads

Rating: 2 our of 5 stars

Book Review: Rack & Ruin [THIRDS Book 3] – Charlie Cochet

22714908[Book 3 of the THIRDS series]

Ya’ll know how I loved the first and second book of this series and Rack & Ruin is no exception! In this installment, the gang is trying to draw out the mole inside the THIRDS who has been feeding information to the Ikelos Coalition who took upon themselves to annihilate the members of the Order of Adrasteia with no regards to civilian casualties.

We also see here the development of Sloane Brodie [team leader of Destructive Delta] and Dexter J. Daley’s relationship. Dex is still his doofus-self and still very much adorable whilst Sloane’s – well, surprise! – (I very much liked him in this book) making some effort to deserve Dex’s love. He’s still got some hang-ups though but knowing Dex’s way of getting through this broody Jaguar Therian – he’ll surely relent one way or another.

There’s also a surprising turn of events here regarding two of the couples of DD – the slow buildup of their upcoming stories is very palpable here. I’m not sure which couple I loved more aside from Sloane and Dex. I think I’d go for Hobbs & Calvin. Cale is stubborn like Dex but not as adorable – but still, I’m very much looking forward to reading his and Ash’s story. This is just the gayest series ever yeah? LOL And I just loved it!

Going back to the book, it’s simply the perfect follow up to the first two books. I love the story’s consistency and the secondary characters are just so vibrant. I know that the fourth book in the series is slated for February 2015 release and that is like forever if you ask me but I think those who have not read the series would thoroughly enjoy reading – the first, second and then this third book  – until the next book comes out! Gosh, this wait will be too much for me to be honest. LOL. Go! Start reading the series now!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Love & Loyalty – Tere Michaels

17798654[Book 2 of Faith, Love, & Devotion Series]

Much in the same fashion the first book was written, Love & Loyalty tells the story of Detective James “Jim” Shea with his seemingly mundane existence as a forty-plus year old police detective who stumbled upon the young and sexy Hollywood screenwriter Griffin Drake who is after the story of his latest case. This book basically narrates the lives of these men as they navigate their way through love – something that neither has had much success in the past. I don’t want to compare this with the first and the third series detailing the much complicated love and family life of Matt and Evan but I’m looking for that extra spice in the story. To begin with, I didn’t get so much feel on both Jim and Griffin. I didn’t feel any attachment at all. I was actually more connected with them when they both appeared in the third book. Secondly, the conflict was a bit weak rendering the story anticlimactic. I was thinking that perhaps Jim’s predicament is way simpler (less complicated, that is) since he’s basically a proud gay man, rich and was just waiting for the right guy – the other couple didn’t get it that easy I guess. Despite all of these criticism, I still enjoyed reading it, though, not as much as the other books from the series.

 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Brokedown Hearts – Cameron Dane

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

There was promise in this book when I started reading it. I loved that the “antagonist” from the first book of this series got his well-deserved redemption. David is a beautiful and complex character and it’s so easy to love him despite his past mistakes – mistakes as a result of his upbringing. Ben however was a totally different case. He is too controlling, too abrasive and none too gentle. I didn’t really root for him throughout this story. It was presented as if they actually have a symbiotic relationship but I rather find it too unhealthy- at least for both of them. The story was nice and dandy at the beginning but it dwindle midway with excessive and prolonged sexual chapters (like they’re having sex 50% of the book) and I found myself drifting from the story. It’s also strange how this story totally deviate from its first three books’ style. Perhaps Miss Dane got bored with the series? I surely hope not. It was great with the first three books and I think I’d love to read more from it – maybe Sam and Mikael story for the next book? I wished I could have given this a higher rating but it just didn’t work for me this time.

 Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Take – Ella Frank

[Book 2 of the Temptation Series]

17798654I’ve already expected this to be a good follow up for “Try,” what will all the raves amongst the genre’s fans. Man’ I’m totally joining the bandwagon and was chanting Logan and Tate’s name at the top of my lungs after reading this. LOL. I love that we get to see more of Logan’s sensitive side here and who would have thought that our hotshot attorney used to be a geeky lovesick puppy? Poor Logan.

And poor, poor Tate – I feel so bad for him. It actually surprised me that despite the length of this book, the story never falters anywhere. It shows both MCs inner struggles with themselves and how they could work their relationship out against all odds. Oh yeah, the sex scenes? They’re okay. Like mind-gasmic okay!!! Drool worthy? Yeah – tell me about it.

 I cannot wait for 2015!!! Ella Frank, you’re so killing us!

 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Snowfall – Cameron Dane

via Goodreads

via Goodreads

I enjoyed this novella immensely! It was nice getting a glimpse of how Christian & Jonah’s [Fostered Love] relationship progressed into something almost fairy tale-like and yeah, it was indeed a happily ever after ending for this couple. The intensity of their love for each other is just freaking adorable!!! It’s amazing how they balanced out each other’s personality. It was really sweet. The sex here was loaded (maybe a bit too much but no complaints here) and the whole Valentine’s Day theme was perfect. What a beautiful ending to their story.

 Together for four years now, Christian and Jonah from A Fostered Love are still wildly in love and passionately attracted to each other. Jonah has never seen snow, and Christian thinks he’s set in place the perfect Valentine’s Day weekend away to show his man something new.

Sometimes, though, Mother Nature can be a real bitch, and this year she brings Christian’s and Jonah’s plans to a screeching halt before they can even begin.

If there’s one thing that messes with Jonah’s head and heart, it’s seeing Christian upset. Can Jonah come up with a miracle and show Christian that sometimes the best holidays are the ones spent at home in your own backyard? via Goodreads

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: You Get Full Credit For Being Alive – Cari Z

'had fun doing this. image from the net.

‘had fun doing this. image from the net.

Justin is a retired “professional killer” who stumbled upon a wildly beaten man along his property and decided to get some help for the young man who happened to be a cop and was believed to be a victim of hate crime having the word “fag” sprayed over the uniform of the victim. While recovering from the incident and trying to stay alive,  the young cop named Shawn seemed to touched something from Justin deep within. This leads to Justin making sure that Shawn gets the best care until he’s well and then plot revenge towards his perpetrators. Only this would make Justin come back from his retirement. Is he willing to do this for the man he barely knew but was extremely drawn to?

I really did enjoy reading this one and I love Justin’s character! The no-holds bar killing is just the way to go with this kind of story. I loved that he’s not a heartless killer but is equally brutal when it counts. It’s also nice how both MCs pasts were established well within the development of the story. There was a great connection between them that made them perfect for each other. I would’ve given this a perfect five stars rating if not for the too James Bond-ish characterization of Justin. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful story of love, redemption and second chances.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love Has No Boundaries” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Download the story HERE.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars