Review: Stay

Stay by Piper Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is so full of angst. There are so many emotions you feel while reading this book. You are standing on the outside of the story, looking in and you want to so badly reach into the story and help both Adrian and his brother Gabriel.

Adrian show up in the previous story, Obey. And frankly, he was an ass. He treated Lucian so abominably. He was bitter and cruel and I hated him. So, I was intrigued to see how the author was going to remake him into a lovable character. Who would be strong enough to take on all of Adrian’s emotional baggage. As you read, you start to understand who Adrian really is. You see the reasons behind the external persona that he shows to the world. And at times it breaks your heart.


Sterling is the owner of The Shepherd and a Dom of a different stroke. Many other masters use pain, humiliation and other mean of control. But Sterling is a ‘kill them with kindness’ type of Dom. That is the kind of domination that he feels Adrian needs. And if he must give up his control and submit, so be it. In the long run it will give him what he wants, Adrian.


As with the first two books, this one is well written. The characters and the emotional impact of the story keeps you reading. I’m hoping that Gabriel gets the next story. And I’m hoping that more characters are added to this world. Because I’m selfish and want more stories set in this world.

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Review: Stay

Stay by Piper Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is so full of angst. There is so may emotions you feel while reading this book. You are standing on the outside of the story, looking in and you want to so badly reach into the story and help both Adrian and his brother Gabriel.

Adrian show up in the previous story, Obey. And frankly, he was an ass. He treated Lucian so abominably. He was bitter and cruel and I hated him. So, I was intrigued to see how the author was going to remake him into a lovable character. Who would be strong enough to take on all of Adrian’s emotional baggage. As you read, you start to understand who Adrian really is. You see the reasons behind the external persona that he shows to the world. And at times it breaks your heart.


Sterling is the owner of The Shepherd and a Dom of a different stroke. Many other masters use pain, humiliation and other mean of control. But Sterling is a ‘kill them with kindness’ type of Dom. That is the kind of domination that he feels Adrian needs. And if he must give up his control and submit, so be it. In the long run it will give him what he wants, Adrian.


As with the first two books, this one is well written. The characters and the emotional impact of the story keeps you reading. I’m hoping that Gabriel gets the next story. And I’m hoping that more characters are added to this world. Because I’m selfish and want more stories set in this world.


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Review: Cataclysmic Shift

Cataclysmic Shift by Tara Lain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to read the third book in this series and happy that Aloysius is getting his story. This is not a standalone book. You must read the first two for this one and the characters, their relationships to each other and other happenings to make sense. And all the main characters are back in this one.

As with the other stories, here again the gang is battling evil, this time in the form of witches from Europe. They want the source of Killian’s power and believe that Aloysius is that source. Hit by a blast of power trying to protect his witch, Aloysius is knocked unconscious. Scared, Killian and Blaine decide to take him to a vet Blaine knows. As he shows Killian and Blaine out, he reassures them that he will do what he can, but he can’t figure out or find anything that is physically wrong with Aloysius. In the back where Luke left him, Aloysius wakes up and he’s human. With little memory of his past. He’s also naked and surrounded by animals. His name though he remembers, it’s Alain Bellarose.

Luke is drawn to Alain. While he has spent a very long time hiding and not involving himself with people, he can’t seem to help it with Alain. Alain seems to be everything he didn’t know he was looking for. They both fall hard and fast for each other.

There are many twist and turns in this book. Luke has a hidden past that gets exposed on accident by Alain. Alain is torn by his need to protect Killian and the others. With no memory of his relationship with them, he doesn’t understand why. Then there is his need to protect Luke as well. Add in evil witches and magic fights, it’s an exciting ride through the pages.

What a wonderful way the author weaved this tale. You are both wanting and hoping for Alain and Luke to get their happy ever after. Yet at the same time you understand that for them to get it, there is a great sacrifice on the part of others. You do and don’t want the sacrifice to be made. The ending is as it should be and will make you very happy.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review


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Review: Loving Noah

Loving Noah by Kenna Knight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderfully written and engaging story of best friends separated and of lost love and finding it again. Liam and Noah were always best friends. And both knew they were ‘different’. They thought the other was ‘different’ as well. But schoolmate cruelty and cold-hearted parents separated them before they got a chance to explore who they were, both as individuals and maybe as a couple.

Not a day went by that Liam wondered what had happened to Noah. Though a quirk of fate or a really luck chance, they’ve found each other online. For a year now, they’ve been talking to each other and building the relationship they did get to nine years ago. But Noah is a changed man. Anxiety and panic attacks keep him inside his bedroom. And he’s scared of telling Liam the truth of how much he’s changed. Both physically and mentally. His fears lead him to hide behind his middle name of Ben, that’s who Liam knows him as.

They start making plans for Liam to come to Noah’s home. As I read, I kept wondering what was going to happen when they finally met. It was part of what kept me reading. From there the story keeps developing Noah’s healing and the growing relationship between them.

I loved this story. Noah and Liam are beautifully written characters. And the author did a realistic job of describing panic attack reactions. The small steps that you take to overcome your fears. A week was maybe a little fast, but this is fiction, where time-lines are condensed. And I was okay with it being that fast.

I received an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: First Season

First Season by R.J. Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hired to help with the media circus that is going to ensue after a player and coach for the Harrisburg Railers coming out as gay, Layton has his work cut out for him. Added to the mix is one of the players, Adler, who has shown an interest in him. And while he returns Adler’s interest, there are things in his past that keep him cringing and shying away. Adler’s gentle pursuit slowly works on Layton.

Adler is a fun character. He has an open mouth and words fall out problem. What he says doesn’t always come out the way he means. At heart he’s a fun, loving and caring guy. It just doesn’t come across that way all the time. With cold and uncaring parents, all he’s looking for is someone to love him. He thinks that someone is Layton. Now he needs to take things slowly enough for Layton to realize it too. And then there is the fact that if he wants Layton, he’ll need to come out of the closet too.

Loved both Layton and Adler. Their different personalities contrast nicely, and yet balances well between them. They have starts and stops, pushes and pulls in the building of their relationship. Also, the secondary cast of characters from the first book, Changing Lines, show up here. Tennant and Jared, Stan and the rest of the group add great depth to this story. I think Stan may need his own book. And I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

On a serious note, I love the way the authors dealt with the issue of a player coming out. Of being gay in a professional sport. It will happen at some point, I hope soon. I also have hope that in real life the player is allowed to live and love as he chooses. He will be a brave, brave person. And this world needs brave people.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: Adrian's Bodyguard

Adrian's Bodyguard by Shelby Rhodes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Adrian is King. He’s also a little quirky, a little odd and sometimes childlike. At least that is how the world at large sees him. Being king is a good thing, but it does come with challenges. Mostly in the form of assassins and their attempts to kill Adrian. After the last attempt he’s giving a body guard. Except he doesn’t want a body guard.

Xavier gets the assignment of guarding the king. He expects to be dealing with an adult. He gets the quirky Adrian instead. But can he see beyond the surface of what Adrian shows the world? And if he does, can he keep from wanting the real Adrian? Getting involved wasn’t in the plans for either of them. He needs to keep things professional and ignore Adrian and his advances. Only if he can stay strong enough.

This story was a joy to read. Adrian and Xavier have a real person feel to them. And it was fun to watch them work their way past lust and into love. You can feel the chemistry between them. The push and pull as they work their way to love. This was a one sitting read for me. I got sucked into their world and didn’t want to leave till the last page. Well written, with a great storyline. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: The Silver Dragon's Mate

The Silver Dragon's Mate by Genna Donaghy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is part two of the Silver Dragon books. You need to have read part one to understand this story.

Part one started with a lot of promise for this book. For me it fell short of what the title promised. The story is well written enough. They can’t have a relationship if they aren’t in the same worlds. And for most of the book, it’s Kia dealing with being back in the ‘real world’ and helping Esther. It is told from Kia’s POV, but maybe some of Sebastian’s POV would have given the story more depth. We don’t know if Sebastian is happy, sad, looking for Kia or what. This wasn’t really about the building of a relationship between Kia and Sebastian.

So, this story was enjoyable enough. And I’m glad I got to read part two and get the conclusions to what was started in part one, the storyline with Catherine and Bruce.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: Country Boy

Country Boy by A.E. Wasp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading City Boy and meeting Robbie, I was glad to see that this book was his story. And what a story it is. It is an emotional roller coaster. You will laugh, you will cry and feel everything in between those emotions.

In book one, Robbie is dealing with his boyfriend leaving him because while Robbie doesn’t hide his sexuality, he doesn’t advertise it either. And being in the NHL, he doesn’t want to deal with all the repercussion of being an ‘out’ player.

Enter the new guy on the team, one that Robbie is all too familiar with, a nemesis from their college day. A very closeted Paul. A Paul who has been listening to his father and church about the sins of being gay. Paul is still feeling guilt about their first encounter back in college. The one that was the best night of his life, that quickly turned into the worst morning of his life. There was something about Robbie that wouldn’t leave him.

As you read, you feel the emotional conflict Paul is going through. Trying to find out who he is and balancing that against what he’s been taught all his life. You feel his panic and fear. You also understand Robbie’s point of view. How could a God that is supposed to be about love, hate him because of who he loves? Watching the two of them work their way to their HEA is a satisfying read.

I loved this story. Other than minor editing errors, it was well written. The plot and pacing carry you along to the end. You don’t want to put the book down till you’re done. I can’t wait to read the next story in this series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: City Boy

City Boy by A.E. Wasp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bryce is at a crossroads in his life. An injury has left him on the sidelines as his team plays on. But he has plenty to think about and do. There’s his ex-wife, who keeps questioning his sexuality. He’s not gay. Period. Then there’s a new multi-million-dollar contract waiting to be signed. And some long-lost relative has left him an apple orchard and farm, complete with farm house in his will. So, while he’s recovering, he’ll deal with all that.

Dakota can’t believe the will, his sort of, Grandfather told him about that left everything to him, can’t be found. And his embezzling ex-boyfriend keeps coming around too. He’s already lost so much. His parent, the man he thought he loved, Tommy and now maybe his home.

An accidental meeting between Dakota and Bryce leads to a one-night stand. Bryce realizes that he might be gay, or at least bi. Is this instalove, yes. Stretch believability, some. But it worked in this story. The journey to love between these two has all kinds of ups and down. And then there is the blending of their worlds and families.

Now a couple of reviews has questioned about what Bryce did in outing Dakota. That Dakota was being a hypocrite. It is an un-written rule that you never out anyone without their permission and even then, most wouldn’t do it. It’s a personal decision left to that person. That makes Dakota’s reaction is one I would have expected.

The characters are wonderfully written. Bryce is big and buff, yet comes across with just the right amount of vulnerability. Once he’s figured out he’s gay, he jumps in with both feet. But there is that small part of him that is worried what the hockey world with think. Dakota is at times both fragile and strong. He is fiercely protective of what he considers his. And yet he is still worried about being left behind. He won’t be a secret either.

My only downside to this story is there not enough hockey for me. Otherwise, I loved this and am looking forward to the next story in this series.

I received an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.


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