Tag Archives: Book Review

Book Review: Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion #1) – Tere Michaels

Posted on September 16, 2014 | Leave a comment

21454390New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli has lost his wife, the only person he ever loved and slept with. He’s trying to get on with his life, build a life for his children. Former Homicide Detective Matt Haight is a ladies’ man, all sex/no commitment. He’s depressed, having a midlife crisis, and not sure where his life is headed.

The two find friendship in the bottom of a shared bottle. When the friendship turns to love, it shakes two straight men to the core and flips their lives inside out. Kids, families, careers that are not gay-friendly — can all the love in the world overcome the obstacles to faith and fidelity? via Goodreads

I totally enjoyed reading this book for a lot of reason. The writing was exemplary and the characters are very, very interesting – unexpected but interesting. I’m not really buying the “suddenly gay” stuff between Evan and Matt but I’m a firm believer that you cannot choose who you love. Really. Harhar.

I loved how realistic the sex scenes were written as well as the issue with Evan’s in-laws. I’m glad that Tere Michaels didn’t go that way trying to make a fairy tale ending. I thought the ending was just perfect as it is.

This was a rather relaxing and feel good book that will make you smile wistfully and believe in love and second chances.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Shattered Glass – Dani Alexander

Posted on September 15, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

First, can I just say that the title for each chapter were a bit anti-climactic. I thought the writing was really good and the dialogues are spot on. On the downside, Austin’s interesting character does not seem to fit in at all in the story. His lines were genius and were very funny but somehow it felt forced because of the book’s premise.

The “I found out I was gay at 26” didn’t really sit well with me. The Jessie connection with Iss was a bit forced If I may say so. The overprotective nature of Peter was almost a disorder. I’ve also noticed how there’s too many things happening in the story that were rather unnecessary. Overall, it was an a-ok read. A bit slow-paced with uninteresting characters aside from Austin but like what I’ve said, it’s still pretty decent for a book with a very ambitious plot.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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Review: St. Nacho’s (St. Nacho’s #1) – Z.A. Maxfield

Posted on September 14, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

Reading this book was like watching The Hurt Locker, it was told through Cooper’s perspective – an ex-Juilliard student who’s trying to escape his past that led him to St.Nacho’s – a popular gay bar in California. There, he met Shawn, the beautiful deaf bus boy who showed him something that renewed his belief in love and forgiveness. But his past came gnawing at him that took him back to where all the dark demons of his life started.

The book was painfully slow-paced and the tone of the narration was too depressing – as in all throughout the book! This is my third book by Maxfield and the writing was totally different from the first two books I’ve read from her. This first book from the St.Nacho’s series felt a bit too detached in comparison.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Drawn Together – Z.A. Maxfield

Posted on September 14, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

This one has the characters pattern comparable to “Crossing Borders” and the sudden realization of one’s sexuality. I thought the MC’s here are interesting enough that made me go on with the story. I also believe that Ms.Maxfield have this fetish on long-haired, frail beautiful boys and they’s actually pretty hot so bonus points for the author! LOL

The latter part was a bit slow-paced that it almost tested my patience but I went through it just to see how Yamane and Rory will end up (I keep wondering what Rory’s real name is)

Overall, the book has got some loopholes but the author was able to maintain the smooth sequencing of the story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Crossing Borders – Z.A. Maxfield

Posted on September 13, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

Crossing Borders is a pleasantly written story that centers on Tristan coming to terms with his sexuality and his unexpected journey to love with Police officer Michael Truax. Like what I’ve mentioned, this was a very pleasant book with a very fluid story and realistic dialogues. Although the ending was a bit weak, the simplicity of the story was rather nice that made the book a very good read altogether.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3) – S.E. Jakes

Posted on September 13, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

In Daylight Again, more ghosts from Prophet’s past are presenting themselves to be dealt with. This time, it is with the help of his lover Tom Bodreaux. Together, along with Prophet’s old NAVY SEAL team and another mercenary who’s been following him for years, they are to face more adversaries to finally heal some wounds and discover more secrets that will either make or break Tom and Prophet’s relationship and the people around them.

Written in similar fashion as the second book, this one has considerably increased the thrill factor of the series. Each character were introduced well and it’s not as slow-paced as the first book. One thing I disliked about it though is the confusing sequencing every now and then.  The editing kinda throws you off at some point. Overall though, I thought the series is getting better. I’m actually excited to read the follow up fourth book and yes, I’ll stop comparing it to the Cut and Run series J

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Take Me Home – Sloan Parker

Posted on September 10, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

The concept of the book was relatively old – best friends who have feelings for each other but were afraid to admit because they don’t want to ruin the friendship. It’s actually a fairly good foundation for Kyle and Evan’s story to develop throughout the book only if it didn’t feel a bit of a drag midway. The “journal” angle was very much welcomed because it gave the story a very melancholic feel about it. So in perspective, the book provided a rather solid ending despite the unnecessary and prolonged scenes in the lot.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Dreaming In Color – Cameron Dane

Posted on September 10, 2014 | Leave a comment
via Goodreads

via Goodreads

I’ve had this book on my to-read-list for like the longest time and I can’t believe that I’ve waited so long to have a go in it. The book was wonderfully written and I’m rather pleased that my preconceived idea about it was proven wrong.

The sight of the red door saves Colin Baxter in his dream, but very quickly a man appears and the dream becomes a thing of raw sexual need with a person Colin can’t identify. He just knows the man needs him, and Colin aches to find and heal his lover…even if the man doesn’t really exist.

Marek Donovan just wants to be left alone to lick his wounds and recover from a terrible loss. The rundown house in Fiji suits his minimal needs just fine. He doesn’t want to face the world again, and on a small, secluded island figures he’s safe from everyone and everything. Particularly guilt from his past.

Dreams of this nameless man and his house plague Colin for two years, but he’s come to care about his phantom lover so deeply he doesn’t want them to end. Then Colin visits Fiji and comes face-to-face with the house from his visions, prompting him to believe these dreams just might be his destiny.

Colin knocks on the door, determined to find answers. What he finds is a man he already knows. via Goodreads

The setting in Fiji was beautifully imagined and it’s such a great but ironic backdrop for the rather painful pasts of Colin and Marek. It’s a novel that feels like it came out of a movie first. The history behind the house, Colin’s dream, Payton’s death and all – it’s such  a perfect script for a movie which somehow rendered the novel a bit cliche but the good kind of cliche.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3) – James Dashner

Posted on September 8, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

In this final book of The Maze Runner Trilogy, a lot of things have been revealed including the horrors of the Flare, the “Underworld /The Walking Dead” vibe is back and the fate of the characters we’ve come to love from the first book. Those who survived the scorch trials were given a choice to get their memory back (now that apparently all the tests have been completed) and discover the truth about themselves and the world as it is now. That includes Thomas who vehemently refused the offer. Eventually learning that he’s really got no choice in the matter, Thomas devices a plan to escape the WICKED facility and travel to the walled city where the virus was “rumored” to be contained. In the hopes of discovering the cure, Thomas and his remaining ally blended in the city which was eventually overrun by the infected ones. This led to a decision where Thomas has to sacrifice for a cure or sacrifice the lives of people he care about or the world entire that is.

With a conclusion as emotionally charged as this, I can’t help but cry after Thomas had to keep his promise with one of his ally. That was beyond heartbreaking and I think is one of the highlights of the book. The survivors of both mazes came full circle when they returned back to the maze (glade). That particular scene was so riveting that it’s almost depressing. I didn’t quite expect the ending to be like that but I find it pleasant and somehow almost too ideal. There was just too many loves loss and if they (WICKED) could actually create / isolate a safe haven to begin with, such casualties should’ve been avoided. I was thinking all throughout the ending, whatever happened to that bitch who keep sending those e-mails? Oh hell, this one’s a pretty good ending, is all I’m saying. One of the best series I’ve read in a while in this genre.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) – James Dashner

Posted on September 7, 2014 | Leave a comment
via goodreads

via goodreads

After escaping from the maze, the test continues for the boys chosen by WICKED in the hopes of finding the “cure.” Thomas along with the rest of the Gladers who survived the escape has no choice but to survive yet another test. Transported in a desert-like hell, the boys had to endure the scorching heat of their new environment and meet another group – this time, they are group of girls who escaped from their own similar maze and were apparently also put to the test and were promised a cure upon completion. Lies, betrayal and some truth were also revealed to Thomas here as his search for Theresa became a catalyst for slowly discovering himself.

I find the whole premise of the book almost too predictable this time. From the accomplices and the betrayals and all, it all feels like playing RPG where the reader becomes the tactician and the outcome is almost resolute because you already have an idea about it.

I also thought that the narrative went too long when the goal was as simple as crossing the desert-like Nowhere Land. The controlled environment reminded me of the “arena” in The Hunger Games. Like seriously, If I were part of WICKED, I will never agree for those kids to undergo such trials because it kinda seem stupid to kill some of them just to see who actually has the survival skills and all regardless if they have the Flare or not.

The book is still a great teaser though for the trilogy’s final book and it actually got me a bit pumped up to know who actually have the cure in the end or if they’ll ever find one to begin with.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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