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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When Doves Cry

And cry you will. You will ride an emotional rollercoaster. You will wonder what the author was thinking when she wrote this story. Because if you’ve read this series, then you know the couple that started it, Alex and Shane. They also finish it, since this is the last story. I do think you need to read this series in order.

I was so upset at the start of this book, and yet I kept reading. I know this author and I knew there had to be a reason for what happened. And there was. Simon needed Shane as much as Shane needed him. It was a heart wrenching and emotional to follow where this story took you. And yet at the end you sigh and say okay. Yes, I feel good about this ending.

As with all of Aria’s books, this was well written. The story pulls you through the pages. You see old friends show up here and realize you missed them.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fairytales do come true

This story was a lovely and sweet take on our childhood fairytales. Average guy, Dallas meets the Prince of his dreams, Simon. They fall in love and live happily ever after.
I loved Simon from the start. He was running the Butterfly Inn as a tribute to his late father. It wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life, but what he has settled down to do. When a gorgeous mysterious stranger shows up, offering a lot of cash for a room Dallas doesn’t know if he should trust the stranger or not. But there’s something about the stranger has Dallas intrigued. And he needs to find out who Simon really is. They start with an ice cream date and from there a relationship blooms between them.

Simon was a little harder to understand as a character. Mostly because the story is told from Dallas’ point of view. And I did have minor issues with how rough he handles Dallas during their intimate encounters without there ever having been a conversation about it. They talk about having that conversation, but it doesn’t really happen. Simon does grow on you as a character the further along you read.

The story is well written, the pace moves it along nicely. Minor editing errors, but they are easy to overlook. I recommend this story for a fun, light, enjoyable read.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Butterflies-Lina-Langley-ebook/dp/B074XL7KTX/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The Lion Kings (A Complete Novel) by Renee George

4 out of 5 stars

A very different paranormal story, Renee George has done a masterful job of mixing elements of the paranormal world. She has blended the world of shifters with that of a psychic. Her use of flash-back dreams was beautifully done.

The story is about Madeline, a very different girl, tormented and teased by her home town. She thinks her psychic dreams are just that, dreams. But for the last 6 months she’s been having dreams about two men, very hot sweaty dreams. And wanderlust has hit her so off on a road trip she goes. Not stopping till she runs into a circus show. And there she finds the two men of her dreams, Adam and Cage. She is instantly drawn to them as they are to her. But they’ve just lost the love of their lives, is there room for Madeline?

I loved the secondary cast of characters. How much fun can you have writing the bearded lady and the strong man? And when they are shifters as well, lots! The cast of characters were wary yet welcoming of Madeline and caring of Adam and Cage.

I’m glad I read this as a complete novel rather than in the serial installments. I would have never been able to wait for the next part. Now while I enjoyed this story immensely I do feel that there could have been more depth to the story. Incidences from all of the character’s pasts were mentioned but not in great detail. This was a fast read for me, done in one read. I did wish that there had been a bit more to the story. Even so, I did enjoy the story and was glad I got the chance to read it.

I would like to thank the author for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lion-Kings-Complete-Novel-ebook/dp/B00T5H6QOI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Sight and Sinners (Men of London, book 2) by Susan Mac Nicol

This is the next amazing read from Susan Mac Nicol, who is one of my automatic buys. She can take you on an amazing emotional rollercoaster ride along side the guys in this story. This story is at times, sad, angst-y, volatile, funny and happy with a bit of snark thrown in. And there’s lots of hot sex. But the sex isn’t what drives the story. And caution, keep a hankie or tissue close by.  

I loved watching the relationship build between the two main characters. Taylor, who we meet in Love You Senseless (Men of London, book one) and Draven Samuels, a work driven man with a load of sadness in his past. Their journey to love isn’t always easy, not when there is tragedy all along the path. But tragedy can make a relationship strong and it does in this case. I wasn’t sure that Draven and Taylor would get there but they did. And I wasn’t sure I really liked Taylor at the start; he seemed a bit of a man whore, nothing but causal hookups. Then when you learn of his special ability, you can understand the why. And you can feel for him and what he has to cope with. Draven has his own issues; the tragedy from his past takes his focus. So between that and work, there’s no time for a relationship.

The beauty of this book was watching the emotional growth between the two of them. I loved that Draven was there for Taylor when his special ability leaves him weak and vulnerable and scared that it would be too much for Draven. Also seeing Taylor help Draven with emotional support, being there for him, while Draven makes one of the hardest decisions you can ever make in life. And Draven finally letting him.  

This is book 2 in the series, but could be read as a stand alone. But I think that reading book 1 would give you a better understanding of the secondary characters. The secondary characters add a depth to this book, from Leslie’s swish to Eddie’s fierceness. Leslie, Eddie and Gideon are all introduced there. And after reading this book, I want Leslie’s story as well as Clay’s. So I’m crossing my fingers for both.

5 out of 5 stars

Some Like It Hopeless (A Temporary Engagement #4) 

By Megan Bryce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Different, quirky, sweet and bittersweet, not always happy and yet it was so much more. There was just something about this book that I wanted to hate and to love all at the same time. The cast of characters were all over the place, not completely fleshed out but still real enough to make you see them as people who surround you in real life.

And while there were times I wanted to smack Cassandra and her selfishness, yet I found her attitude was just right at other times in the story. I'm still not sure even now that I finished the book that I like her. Brady is a sad but forceful character. He is thought provoking, making you wonder how you would deal with what fate threw at him. Shane is lovable. Christian is the character I loved the most.

This is a story that not everyone is going to like or be able to read to the end. For me, I did finish and I'm glad I did read it.