Monday, July 31, 2017

Just Desserts by Mary Calmes

Though this was quite short it almost felt like a full length novel. I enjoyed the romantic build up, in a way it was slow and fast all at the same time. Boone and Scott have been best friends for two years now, but though they share their lives almost like a couple they both keep it totally platonic.  Boone, as our sole POV, is just realizing he wants to give them a shot as a couple, but he is terrified to lose Scott if they either don't want the same thing or they don't work out, not to mention, Scott has JUST started dating a doctor, so does he even have a chance to express his feelings? That's all up for the special dessert Scott has in mind..


Control by Mary Calmes & Cardeno C.

I'm sorry but this book isn't working for me and I don't wish to continue on. I usually give books a greater chance (than 15%..) before I decide to DNF them, but I don't like one of the MC, his whole behavior makes his interaction with everyone quite tedious. 

Vytautas "Vy" Alenknos is an alpha male and a pack leader, (of Hawk shifters) doesn't matter that he isn't a huge guy.. that's who he is. When finally meeting his mate (and being thrown by the fact it's a guy - he thought that would be impossible..) he is no other than a BEAR shifter.



Saturday, July 29, 2017

Black & Blue (Lord and Lady Hetheridge #4) by Emma Jameson

I LOVED this one, it's my favorite of the 4 installments! As usual we got our three POVs - Tony, Kate and Paul, but what made this one even better is getting to see more of two hilarious women - Sharada Bhar (Paul's mother) and Mrs. Snell (Tony's secretary). I do hope we'll get more of them in the next installment(s ?). Maybe because this one is shorter than the previous ones, it felt more fast paced and yet we got enough of twists and turns on who our killer is. There's a big change in this one, I was worried about how it would be and how it will influence the whole dynamics of the series, but I have a feeling it would only make it better in the next ones.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Nothing Ventured by Jay Northcote

LOVED this one! What a sweet endearing story! I had this one on my list for WAY too long, but as I had to reschedule so many books, this one got postponed as well, but I"m telling you now, I"m going to visit Jay's page on GR and add MORE! 

Matt and Aiden meet through Matt's cousin Liv, she arranged a group to participate in "Mad Mucker" (lets call it a "crazy race", shall we?). Aiden isn't enthusiastic about it, until he gets assigned to train with the gorgeous Matt. Though he didn't anticipate it, he enjoys his time with Matt, he might be a "drill Sargent", yet Aiden is getting better, and his body is looking far better as well. But that's not the only reason...



Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Something Blue (Lord and Lady Hetheridge #3) by Emma Jameson

Another great installment in the series. Loved how well it flows, how witty it is, and in general easy to read. Though it's not THAT easy for me, because some of the British nuances are lost on me.. Though it doesn't discourage me anymore :) I just take it as it is. 

Like the previous one, we got 3 POVs, Tony, Kate and Paul (Bahr). Paul's POV adds another layer to the crime solving, and since Tony and Kate's romance takes a very small part, it really doesn't interfere with anything really, it's just perfectly balanced. I really hope Paul will get his own HEA - he SO deserves it!



Sunday, July 23, 2017

You Never Know by Mary Calmes

This one started out GREAT, but somewhere along the way Mary lost me. There was a strange mix between "Telling" and "Showing". I could FEEL the small town through Hagen's eyes, I could understand all the issues he dealt with and yet something was missing. I didn't like Mitch, he didn't redeem himself IMO, he was just very persistent on the fact he wanted Hagen back but it wasn't enough for me. 

Hagen Wylie went through a lot in life. After his boyfriend Mitch Thayer dumps him to play Pro Football, he decided to join the army. After years in the service he returns back to his small town with PTSD and Panic attacks due to him being captured and tortured. With his supportive parents he joins a neighbor and a friend in a construction business and soon after they become partners. Sadly, he loses his parents shortly after that. Yeah he had a lot of sad in his life.. But now, a few years later he is ready to make the next big step which is to find his life partner. Ash, his "friend with benefits", can't truly offer him more so what's the point in continuing that? and now that Mitch Thayer, the one and only, is back in town with his two small kids, he is getting confused. Mitch wants him back and is willing to convince Hagen that their future was written in the stars, but the big question is - Can Hagen TRUST Mitch enough to make a future with him and his kids?



Friday, July 21, 2017

House of Cards (Porthkennack #4) [Brix & Calum] by Garrett Leigh

Beautiful heart breaking story. Exactly what I expected from Garrett, and as usual she never fails me with a soul crushing yet endearing love story. Calum and Birx deserved better in life, but at least now, they are able to be there for one another and build a future together, one they can look forward to. They both been betrayed in the most devastating way, Brix had a few years to try and mend his pieces, but there are still parts of him that are broken. Calum is at his worst, can't believe his good luck when Brix offers him a home and a job when everything else in his life is in ruins. 


Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Judgment by Mary Calmes

I'm not a big fan of Science Fiction, it's not the genre's fault - it's mine. I somehow lack the necessary imagination to understand what THE HELL is going on. Funny enough it works WONDERFULLY for me in any Fantasy world (NOT set in the future). Yet I've read one adorable story from "Time in Eternity" Anthology (Do Over by Amy Lane) and so when I saw the same cover on this one, I had to give it a go. 

First off, I'll say that I DID understand what the hell was going on, I thought that in this aspect the setting was well explained, surely for a 50 page novella. We got a little glimpse into Jeritt and Frost's relationship, how it started and how involved they are now, years later, also as working partners. The beginning of their relationship was a bit rushed, I didn't get why it has to be this way.. It was a little too OTT for me. 



Sunday, July 9, 2017

Manny Get Your Guy (The Mannies #2) [Taylor & Brandon] by Amy Lane

I don't really know what to say, somehow though I rooted for these two I had a hard time with the way the relationship progressed. Taylor and Brandon started hating each other on sight, though both felt the desire under the surface, in a day flat, when Brandon realizes he's being a douche he more than apologizes, he grabs Taylor for the taking and he won't take no for an answer.

We've met most of the characters in this one in the previous installment. Taylor was Nica's best friend, the one she wanted so much more with but realized too late that though they ARE best friends, they could never be more because Taylor is absolutely and totally gay. Heart broken she falls into Jacob's arms and now, 10 years later they are about to have their 5th kid. That's A LOT - even they realize it so they ask for Taylor's help in being the Manny - like Tino, Nica's brother was to Channing. Don't worry we meet these two as well as Sammy.



Saturday, July 8, 2017

Hello Forever (Hello Goodbye, #2) [Axel & Cax] by Sarina Bowen

WOW, what an emotional ride! This book held me at the edge of my emotional capacity. I was in tears or near tear SO MANY TIMES. My heart ached for Cax and his horrible life situation but it also aches for Axel who would do right about anything for Cax, including breaking their very precious renewed relationship when it's the last thing he wanted to do. I was at awe with both of them. They care for one another SO MUCH and they deserved, god how much they deserved to be happy. Truly happy. At the end they did. But I was heart broken most of the book, not knowing HOW it could work out. Sarina nailed it (as usual). It was crushing but it turned for the best at the end. 


Sunday, July 2, 2017

Ice Around the Edges by Mary Calmes

While the idea behind this short novella was nice, the banter between the two characters made me feel a bit disconnected. It's a sort of a (HUGE) misunderstanding that let these two break up 10 years ago. Now Dixon is back in Evan life after he heard he got shot. He hurries back to his side not accepting ANY no for an answer for them getting back, first of, spending the holidays together. 


Saturday, July 1, 2017

Blue Murder (Lord and Lady Hetheridge #2) by Emma Jameson

Though this is not my go-to genre, it's so fun and witty, the interaction between the characters and the pace of the crime solving I find that I don't mind that the romance if any is moved WAY back stage. I simply enjoyed this one as it is and can't wait to continue on with the series. I loved that this one we didn't get just Tony and Kate's POV but also Bhar's - I liked him in the previous one, so seeing inside his head was great! I had a better time with the crime in this one, though I was FAR from the mark on who actually did it (and why). If you're into British witty mystery novels you gotta give this series a go! Though beware you need to be a little informed on the slang.. the first one was a bit difficult for me to read because of that (but you don't see me complaining now ;)).