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Mute (Dragon Runners #1)
Mute (Dragon Runners #1)
ML Nystrom | 2018 | Contemporary, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good, but not great
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Katrina lands a job in the local biker bar while she finishes up her final semester at nursing school. Club enforcer Mute props himself up at the end of the bar for most of the night and watches. Kat's life is threatened, along with that of the club. Mute digs deep to overcome his fear of falling in love again, and pulls out all the stops to save both Kat and his beloved club.

Ok! SO!

I liked this, mostly. I think.

Not a particularly original story line, but it is told in a slightly different way. Kat has her say for the bigger part of the book in the first person. Then Mute has a say, for a little bit, in the third person. Until Mute has his say, I wasn't sure I was enjoying it, and maybe I wasn't even going to finish it. But Mute having his say made the book a little more enjoyable and I did finish it.

I liked that there was a slow build between Kat and Mute. I did not like that the love word was bandied about very early on.

From what I can see, this is a first time author and in places, it does show. It's a little . . . clunky . . . . .at points and some things don't flow too well.

A good start, not a great one.

3 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Lies & Deception(Soldiers of Fury MC #1)
Lies & Deception(Soldiers of Fury MC #1)
Nic Starr | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not really one for me :-(
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

*insert sigh*

Gonna jump straight in here, and this review may well be on the short side!

For the most part, I DID enjoy this. Mostly.

And for the life of me, I cannot, I simply CAN'T figure out what didn't work, or why! And you KNOW how much that frustrates me!!

It's well told, from both Fin and Mitch's POV, in the third person. Perfect for me. It's a very well delivered tale.

I did see who was feeding the police their insider information very early on, I did NOT see who was helping him. I would have love to have been told how Mitch and Finn dealt with finding out each other's secrets, because we don't get that here and I wanted to know how that went down!

It's not overly explicit for a male/male book, but it does come with a contemporary tag. Just the right amount for this book. It does get rather detailed in the description of the violence dished out by Finn's older brother, Rocky. But then again, Rocky isn't the best example of big brother material!

It is, as far as I can see, the first I've read of this author. I'd like to read more. Maybe I just picked the wrong book to jump into Nic Starr's world!

A GOOD 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for the blog.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Snow One Like You (Snowed In - Valentine's Inc #9)
Snow One Like You (Snowed In - Valentine's Inc #9)
Ashe Winters | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
LOVED this book!
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted a copy of this book.

Oh yeah, I LOVED this book! So much!

Angelo and Spencer have a great deal of . . .not hatred cos that is too strong a word, but they really dislike each other, with a passion. And it's that passion that spills things over into something much more, something neither of them dreamed of.

So much passion, from these two, it burned the page! While what they say to themselves is hatred of the other, deep down, they both know that there is something more between them and getting stuck in a snow storm together is the time to let it all out, and just FEEL, you know?? So much the feels!

I loved the speed at which these guys fell, once they admitted to themselves at least what they were actually feeling. Usually I don't but the whole book (bar the epilogue) takes place over a few days, some 125 pages, so for it to work, it has to be fast. I loved that they were all in.

Both guys have a say, in the first person, so we get it all from them both. How much Spencer riles Angelo up. How much Spencer gets a kick out of calling him Angel. How much what they both want from the other means to them. LOVED these guys, I really did!

Can't see that I've read anything else by this author, and now I want more!

5 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
felt it was a littel unfinished in places.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I liked this book, but I struggled a bit with it.

I liked that both Henry and Francis had a say, in the third person. I did not like that when Henry spoke, he spoke with a broad Yorkshire accent! I live one county down from Yorkshire, in the UK and it took me a bit of time to figure out what he was saying, so that took some enjoyment out it.

Henry and Francis are from very differing backgrounds, different classes and before WWII this was a major issue. It shows in places. Makes you think, about how things have changed. I didn't much like Francis' mother, but I think that's a generational thing. She came across extremely heavy on Francis and not so much on her brother, but then again, wanting to run away to Hollywood, in that time frame, was probably no more far fetched than it is today!

It felt a little clunky at times, and that made it a bit hard work. Some threads are left....unfinished.....I thought. Bit of tightening up, and I think this might have eeked that 4th star out of me.

BUT

It is well written, and I saw no editing or spelling mistakes, and I did finish it. Whether I will read another by this author remains to be seen.

a GOOD 3 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Reluctant Rockstar (Reluctant Rockstar #1)
Reluctant Rockstar (Reluctant Rockstar #1)
Frances Fox | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
the biggest warm and fuzzies!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Usually I write a little blurby bit, but I'm not going to here, I'm gonna jump straight in!

Cos, this book right?? It's so freaking good!

It's not ever so smexy, but it has passion and emotion. It's not explicit but it has steam! There isn't much drama, save for the idiot ex-manager and Martin making his decision. It's not very long, some 95 pages, but I'll come back to that bit shortly.

And all that is why I loved this book! Finding yourself after such a long time is what this is all about and Martin, once he makes the decision he does, he and Simon are a couple, after such a short space of time, and Martin leaving to finish what he needs to do gives them time to miss each other, even though they are in constant contact.

Back to the length of this book. I would probably have said, as I've done before, that this book is too short. However, I don't think this particular book would work as a longer piece, I really don't. It's the perfect page length for this story, for Simon and Martin to fall in love.

It's full of emotion and love, and gave me the biggest warm and fuzzies feeling I've had in a long time!

First I can see of this author, I want more if they are all this cute!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Edge Jump
Edge Jump
Elizabeth Noble | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
kinda creeps up on ya!
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book direct from the author, that I write a review was not required.

Brett retired from professional ice hokey and now runs the centre his parents set up, to teach. His sister, Celia and her partner, Rylan, has moved onto ice dancing. But a senseless crime takes Celia away from both Brett and Rylan, and brings them both together at their darkest time. Then Rylan is hit with a far worse tragedy. Can they get through this, together?

You know, sometimes, you read a blurb, and your brain plots away, and that's what you expect from the book?? Then the book actually goes off in a way you did not see coming?? And you loved it for it??

This book, right here!

I have NO idea what I thought would happen here, but I was very surprised with it! It really did kinda-creep-up-on-me!!

Brett and Rylan have chemistry, right from the start. But Brett keeps himself back a bit, and it pulls at you, the way Rylan reacts to that. There is a lot of pulling on the heart strings here! I loved the way Brett gradually introduced Rylan to BDSM, and that Rylan took to it, like a duck to water. I didn't think it overly explicit though and I LIKED that here, but that might just be me!

I did not get how Celia and her fiance's deaths would play out. Did NOT see that one coming at me, not at all!

Rylan's recovery from what happened is long and painful, but you feel it **taps chest* right here. Every time his brain threw self doubt at him. Every time Brett pulled him out of it, and you cheer, when he finally is able to get back on the ice. And when Rylan listens to Brett when he says "I'm not going anywhere!"

I've read a couple of other books by Ms Noble, and I do like how she can switch from paranormal, to contemporary, to more sexy books. High skill of an author, I think!

It crept up on, this book, it really did!

4.5 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Seducing the Sorcerer
Seducing the Sorcerer
Lee Welch | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I kept missing bits that were just thrown in, and I really loved that.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Jumping straight in with this one, cos I really REALLY enjoyed this book bar one teeny weeny thing, but I'll come back to that! This is the second book by this author I read, and that book was a 3 star, it-was-ok kinda read and this one is so NOT that!

I loved that many times in the book I had to back up a bit, and reread what I just read cos I was like "say what, now?" MANY times. And a book that makes me slow down my reading is never a bad thing, I had to here, cos I kept missing bits that were just thrown in, and I really loved that.

I loved that Fenn had no idea about magic and the sorcerer and what was going on in the tower. Loved that Fenn was quite laid back about it all, really.

I loved the way things crept up on Fenn, much like his worple horse and what it can do, (not sure if thats the correct spelling though!) and that so much was not as it appeared to be. I loved what the horse does with the pink eiderdown 🙂

It's not especially explicit but is steamy enough. Violence level is low but fitting for this book. I was surprised at the level of emotions that Fenn threw at me though, and I've no idea why!

What let it down, for ME was only Fenn has a say, and I so wanted to hear from Morgrim, I really did! I wanted to know what he was thinking when Fenn first landed in the tower grounds; what he felt about Fenn and his horse.

But what I wanted MOST to know about, was how Morgrim felt about what had happened to him 2 years ago, and how he was dealing with all that. I'm greedy, I know, but had Morgrim been given a voice, I have no doubt at all that this would have been a five-star review, it really would!

I can see the author skill has grown a great deal since I read the other book (2017) and I WILL read more now!

4 really REALLY good stars

same worded review will appear elsewhere​
  
His Lordship's Secret (His Lordship’s Mysteries #1)
His Lordship's Secret (His Lordship’s Mysteries #1)
Samantha SoRelle | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
didn't get the whodunnit!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Someone is trying to kill Alfred, so who would make a better bodyguard than a ruffain from a boxing match? Dominick, thats who, but finding the boy who saved him in the man before him makes Alfred want things, things that could get them both locked up, or worse. Makes a blackmailer a walk in the park. Dominick, finding Alfie before him, in need of a body guard, has feelings that he wasn't sure ever went away: protecting little Alfie was now his life's work. Those pesky feelings aren't reciprocated, are they?

Alfie is lovely! He wants to keep his family wealth but his cousin is happy to pee it up the wall, Alfie cares, but Reginald does not. Dominick cares, but really only about Alfie. The little boy who stole his heart has grown into a beautiful man, one who needs to stay alive, and Dominick will keep him so, even if it costs Dominick a good deal more than his heart.

It's quite emotional, in places. Dealing with growing up in a poorhouse, and then thrown into High Society would mess with anyone's head and Alfie mostly does seem to have taken it all in his stride. Mostly. Dominck is a street man, doing what he needs to do to stay alive, even if he doesn't want to do those things. A bit violent, but dealing with life on London's streets in the 1800s was never gonna be a picnic. Poor Dominick bears the brunt of that!

There is love here, but very little actual smexy time. It concentrates more on who is trying to kill Alfie, and the feelings that grow over time, between these two.

I loved that the whodunnit was so NOT who I was expecting, nor was it WHY! I love being kept on my toes!

I liked this, I liked it a lot. It doesn't quite have the punch that the other book I read by this author does, but I think its a close call! I have book 2 to read shortly, look forward to see where the author is going with these two, besides Scotland!

4 solid stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
40x40

Gail (4 KP) rated Incapable in Books

Jun 4, 2018  
I
Incapable
Marie Skye | 2016
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ok I know it has to be 5 stars but holy gravy train this book was AMAZING! The character build, the drama, the romance and holy macaroons the SEX! This was panty dripping good. This follows Grayson and Emmalin as they battle past demons and try to find their way to love. Emmalin is working hard to just scrape by. She doesn’t go looking for anything but a break from the hard life. What she finds is a man willing to lay down roads paved in gold for her. She can’t let him take over her life she has worked to hard to be independent and free to allow him in. Grayson slowly breaks down her walls but situations keep happening and she just builds them back up.
Grayson has to been the most amazing man in fiction right now. The guy oozes sex-appeal and dominance. The way he commanded her with that deep voice(in my head) just had me wishing I was her. He had his flaws but they just made him perfect. He gave more to others than any billionaire in any book I have read to date. The guy was possessive in all the right areas.
I want to spoil this for you so bad but I wont because this book if worth the read. I should be in bed getting rest for work but man I couldn’t put this book down. Marie Skye you just got yourself put on my all time favorite author list. To others it’s not much but to me that’s an achievement because I am high maintenance when it comes to books. THANK YOU!
  
A Hamiton Christmas (HIS #9)
A Hamiton Christmas (HIS #9)
Sheila Kell | 2018 | Contemporary
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
a very fitting end!!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book direct from the author, and I thank Ms Kell for that.

This book takes place a year after His Fantasy, Brad's story, and is like a catch up on what all the brothers and their wives have been up to. And they are been doing a LOT of baby making! So it was great to catch up with everyone, all in one place.

It's a bit different that the other HIS books, in that the story is told from Jesse's ten year old daughter, Reagan and her Poppy, Blake Hamilton's points of view. Reading such polar opposites was amusing at times: Reagan is determined to follow in her father's footsteps, even if she has to go against him to do it, and Blake is still a little in the dog house as far as I'm concerned! Oh, he redeemed himself in His Family, but maybe not as much as I thought he had!

There is a lot of love here, with every member of the Hamilton clan, their partners and babies all here along with a new member of the family that is introduced here. Reagan and her new cousin are a well matched pair and they pull their sleuthing off extremely well!

It was so lovely to catch up with everyone, it's always sad to say goodbye and this was a great little catch up, a little time after the main books ended.

Very well done, Ms Kell, I'm just not a great fan of holiday stories!

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**