Annery
Welcome back to our regularly scheduled programThis is a well crafted, smooth as EVOO, hit-all-the-sweet-spots type of book and I'm not complaining one bit. It's what I wanted at this moment, and having it performed by [a:J.F. Harding 8279965 J.F. Harding https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] was the tinsel & sparkle I needed. I'm happy I'm not a blurb reader because IMO the one chosen for this does it no favors.This is the story of Fox and Marshall who were in the same high school graduating class, but weren't friends, both wanted out of their small town, for different reasons, and at the age of 28??? have come back to said small town, also for different reasons. One day their paths fortuitously cross and that's all she wrote.The particulars are ones we've seen before:Marshall is the geek who made it big in Silicone Valley, he's taken a Sabbatical from work, and has come home to make peace with his past as the kid who got bullied in school for being obviously gay.Fox has come home after being discharged from the Air Force with his severe PTSD.Sam (a local emo teen) has ... problems.All of these are dealt with mostly on a surface level, this isn't a heavy book despite the issues it touches on. The only part that gets any real time is Fox dealing with his demons and it's mostly off page. I'm glad they weren't solved by the power of love or magic D. The other things like Fox's family issues, Marshall's business, the HS nemesis, the small town itself, are mentioned then dropped by the wayside. I guess I didn't mind because the development of Fox & Marshall's relationship takes center stage. Save for Sam, it's almost like a two-character play. It wasn't a chore. The story is told in dual POV and Marshall in particular is good company, he's funny, brave, and utterly compassionate. The smex (again in J.H. Harding's voice) is toe curling great.You can ignore the paragraph bellow and just enjoy this for what it is: a sweet pop song that will have you smiling. We all need that right now.* niggles*I did have some cocking-my-head moments mostly having to do with Fox jumping into the 8ft. side of the gay pool without ever acknowledging that he's gay or at very least bi. This “why label it” thing always strikes me too close to erasure. On the other extreme there's a thing with Marshall towards the end which I know is pretty fashionable nowadays in MM but that struck me as tacked-on and inauthentic to what we, as readers, knew about him as a character. It was like whipped cream on cheesecake, some people like it but I find too much, excessive, and distracting from the cheesecake goodness.
If you enjoy a strong narrative voice, writing that's almost poetic without being precious, and a story that despite it's specificity can be pretty universal, read this book. At 43 Ian is suddenly confronted with a part of himself he'd hidden away, not because he was ashamed but because it was easier to follow the path of least resistance. That path has had it's rewards, however Ian is just coasting, not really present in his own life, and he doesn't even know it. He exists in a sort of permanent low-key. All of that changes when he goes to Paris for a work assignment and meets Luca Sparks. Each flips a switch in the other and afterward neither will be the same.I don't want to give much away, though this is no murder mystery, but I dove in pretty blind, just trusting Jan's review and I'm glad I did. I will say that for those looking for the usual MM tropes & beats this isn't that, because this isn't an MM romance, more like gay fiction. It's Ian's inner voyage of discovery, about who he is as a person, and as a man. Being in his head is a treat because of and not despite all his foibles, dithering, and failings. He's a fully realized character who's company I enjoyed immensely, precisely because of his sometimes glaring flaws and at times astounding obliviousness. I really liked how [a:Ralph Josiah Bardsley 14439629 Ralph Josiah Bardsley https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444191301p2/14439629.jpg] used photography and different photographers to illustrate how we see the world and ourselves in it and all you need to know about this story is there in black & white in Robert Mapplethorpe's Couple Dancing. It's like a précis for this story as a whole and each part is suitably encapsulated by the work of another photographer. I'm pretty certain this isn't a perfect book, there were things I wanted more of, and things I could've done without but ultimately this quote captured my mood trying to extend a relatively short read because I wanted to remain as long as possible in that world:“Each step I took that morning felt like a step towards the wrong end of a story I didn't want to finish reading.”
2.75I'm sorry. I can't sugar coat it. The sophomore slump strikes again and I'm pretty disappointed.This is the second book in the adventures of Michael and Jazz and takes place about two months after [b:Murder Most Lovely 43902066 Murder Most Lovely (Lacetown Murder Mysteries, #1) Hank Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551318932l/43902066.SY75.jpg 68312515]. In that book they, and their small town were lovingly portrayed, imperfections notwithstanding, however the new book seems to suffer from multiple personality disorder, never sticking to a tone or theme. I know this is a review for [b:Murder Most Deserving 49887010 Murder Most Deserving (Lacetown Murder Mysteries, #2) Hank Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1577307381l/49887010.SY75.jpg 74968510] but I can't see reading it without reference to the other and it suffers in comparison. The previous book read like a small town murder mystery/cozy albeit with explicit sex. Michael and Jazz were two, older gay men, with imperfect bodies, and life baggage yet full of the hopes, dreams, and fears like anyone their age. They were adorable and I was rooting for them all the way. This book is also nominally a mystery, though I had to think a moment of who got murdered, it was that unmemorable, and there is no real investigation by any party. What we get instead are quaint scene settings of Lacetown denizens and places that add nothing to the story, and longer stretches of either Michael or Jazz thinking about the other, how lucky they are to have each other, missing each other after a few hours of separation (though that's probably accurate of new lovers), but most egregious of all IMO is the out of character portrayal of their sex lives. I don't like doing spoilers so all I'll say is that the last thing I expected in a story that otherwise reads like a cozy, with almost cartoonish villains, was spanking. To me it didn't ring true but maybe I'm wrong. I still like Michael & Jazz very much, and I'll probably read the next one in hopes this volume was a fluke, they deserve better. As usual YMMV.
4.5You know how some things can completely surprise you? That was me and this story. For some reason I've had this in my sights pretty much since I started seriously reading MM (what a phrase! LOL) and I'm not quite sure why. If you're a stickler for tropes or strict about things like monogamy, one-true-loves, or infidelity this might not be for you. I'm super glad I finally read it. Though I've had the ebook for ages I hadn't taken the leap until I needed an AB for my commute and chose this. [a:Paul Morey 6581694 Paul Morey https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] does a pretty decent job, notwithstanding weird musical intros at the beginning of each chapter, but ultimately what really shines is the story. In broad strokes this is the story of Andrew Matthews, a gay man living the suburban dream complete with wife and child. Except that at the age of 26 it's more like a prison sentence for Andrew. One fine day that sentence becomes a dream & a nightmare when tall-drink-of-water, Nathan Peterson, moves into the neighborhood. With his very pregnant wife Alex. There's an immediate attraction on Andrew's part and true spark of friendship for both men. Over the course of seven (7) years that spark catches fire, wanes, and comes back to life through the ups and downs of their lives. As I said this is the story in broad strokes as it's really kind of epic in scope covering the lives of Andrew & Nathan's friends and family.I liked pretty much everything about this, how [a:Sue Brown 540885 Sue Brown https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] gave life to a whole cast of characters who were utterly human. I know, particularly in romance, we want our MC to be heroic, almost perfect in their choices, and adhering to an almost impossible moral/ethic code but these were just people. Flawed. Sometimes afraid. Failing more often than not. Stumbling and stalling on their way to love. I really like how she didn't have her MCs, gay men, adhere to cisgender heteronormative roles. The road to HEA is bumpy and full of heartbreak but nothing rang false.
4.5Jimmy Kilpatrick is 23, waiting tables at a cheap diner, and two years into recovery. Our Jimmy is a meth addict, is being the operative word. Everyday is a new day to choose not to use though the lure is always just around the corner. On a Monday morning, his past and a possible future come knocking in the form of 39 y.o. Marc Kelly. If you're expecting some kind of Daddy story think again. This is so much better. It's real. This is my first dance with [a:Rick R. Reed 5965 Rick R. Reed https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495807514p2/5965.jpg] and I'm pretty sure it won't be my last. If you're in the mood for a low key, sort-of second chance this little gem hits just the right notes. Jimmy and Marc's story, in the space of the book, takes place over the course of a week but they have history, a bit sordid, which Marc at first is slow to pick up on and which Jimmy would love to erase. It turns out that during his time as a tweaker, Jimmy would hook up via dating apps and steal from his tricks. Marc was one of them. (None of this is a spoiler. It's all in the blurb.) It's now two years later and the sores-riddled, dirty, scrawny, dread-locked Jimmy has emerged (thanks to recovery) from his chrysalis into an attractive, healthy, and outgoing young man and Marc is smitten. Meanwhile Jimmy is on tenterhooks wondering when/if Marc will remember or when/if he should tell him because Marc, or more accurately the memory or promise of Marc has been living, quiescently, in his soul since that ill-fated date. This is absolutely a love story, but more importantly and more definitely a story about recovery, the hard earned self-love required to survive in a world that's not always kind, particularly for those who color outside the box, and the people who make this journey possible, even when they're not physically present. Jimmy's day-to-day struggles with his sobriety and the harsh reality of the scorched earth devastation that is meth addiction in the gay community isn't glossed over with rainbows & unicorns, but the author also imbues this story with hope and even a touch of mysticism, which didn't read as treacle. Sweet. It's also nice that Jimmy isn't the only one with issues. Marc is an almost 40 year old gay man who's dealing with aging in the gay community, questioning if his life of hook-ups (sometimes dangerous ones) have led him to a future of being old, alone, and lonely. They're both looking for what we all want: someone we matter to, connection, and acceptance.The more I think about it the more I love this story. I love that it's about ordinary people dealing with real issues. No blindingly beautiful super humans, Masters of the Universe billionaires, or superheroes, just two guys trying to find a safe place to land. Also their larger issues aren't solved by the glory of love or magic D. How refreshing. Whenever you're in the mood for a quiet but moving romance about recognizable humans this will leave you satisfied.
3.5 for the STORY 4.5 for the ABThis is a standard David and Goliath story and if you don't know much about the Criminal Justice System it's a fun ride. For me it was an entertaining few hours which I was able to enjoy by bringing good will and squinting real hard but mostly because of [a:Nick Podehl 2803557 Nick Podehl https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294338060p2/2803557.jpg]'s narration. Excellent. Don't get me wrong. The bones of the story are fairly accurate but, unless things are way different in Utah, I don't know that the state would've handled Amanda Pierce in such a manner, just because of the optics and there's no way that an attorney with nil experience like Brigham Theodore would've been assigned the case nor would a case like this go to trial in such a short period of time. But you can ignore all that and enjoy this like most tv procedurals or airport paperbacks that we forget sooner than the vacation.
The men of Duke's Bail Bonds continue on the highway to love. The road isn't always smooth but it's a certain destination and [a:Aiden Snow 14257884 Aiden Snow https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png], once again, delivers it without a hitch. This turn we have Bradford “Ford” King an ex-Navy Seal, 46 y.o. giant of a man, who's taciturn on his best days, and on the tail end of a losing the battle with an overwhelming attraction to Dana Cadby. Dana is 33 y.o., DBB's resident marksman, and anything but immune to Ford's presence. So what's the problem you ask? I'm happy to say it's not the regular or expected. The blurb kind of gives everything away but I'll try not to be too specific.After saving his brother's life, Ford is back in a civilian life which he only finds tolerable by taking care of his brother and hunting criminals. He has no social life to speak and never did anything that can be confused for a relationship. He finds them too messy. The thorn on his side is how Dana befuddles him by being a consummate professional but having a seemingly chaotic social life. And also that pesky attraction. Meanwhile Dana can't figure out why Ford is so hard on him but desperately wants to impress Ford and not just in the professional arena. Their coming together takes some time, logically so, but once it happens it's a no-nonsense affair. Dana embraces his long dormant bisexuality and Ford, at his age and with his life experience, just can't be bothered by what others might think. The thing I like best about the world that [a:A.E. Via 7354860 A.E. Via https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1392500556p2/7354860.jpg] has created is it's boundless optimism. I say this because these men who work in what we can all agree is a relentlessly macho profession have zero problems with homosexuality. Not a single one. Not about their own same sex attractions or those of their colleagues. I'd love to live in that world. I'm not being sarcastic. Alternatively I'm convinced, have been from Bk.1, that these stories would work perfectly in some kind of shifter universe. These men are consumed by body hair, scent, and the lure of the hunt. Their senses override any kind of logical thought and it never steers them wrong. See! Shifters! Anyway ... this isn't that kind of ‘verse but you can still have a good time with men from DBB particularly in [a:Aiden Snow 14257884 Aiden Snow https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]'s delivery.
You say you want stories with RL MCs? Here they are!
Michael Fleishman is a 41 y.o. mortician & small town coroner, both positions which he comes by honestly, it's the family business. Michael is shy, but no pushover, smart, bookish, brave when it counts, and loves his cat. Jasper “Jazz” Dilworth is a bun sporting hairstylist, closer to 50 than he likes to admit, doesn't have washboard abs or anything close, but has a joie de vivre that's contagious, and sees beyond Michael's outward straitlaced persona. The two meet cute, and though there's a pretty gruesome murder, and some serious sexy times, IMO this read more like a cozy or a comedy in a small town, complete with local characters, bumbling goons, and cartoonish villains. It was a romp.
I had a good time with Michael & Jazz and positively loved the Small Town ensemble cast, many of which were pleasantly surprising (looking at you Sheriff Musgrave). I'm looking forward to the next installment.
This is my second outing with [a:Laura Lascarso 5306920 Laura Lascarso https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1488342626p2/5306920.jpg] and with her character Hiroku. I'm not mad, and I'm sure I'll be up for more from this author, but here's the thing ... Though this book was published first it's sort of sequel to [b:Hiroku 40205647 Hiroku Laura Lascarso https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527192235l/40205647.SY75.jpg 62228513], so at the urging of friends and because I'm absolute slave to chronological order I read in order of events. I'm glad I did. In Hiroku the voice of the character was so all consuming & convincing that I read it in a fugue-like state. I forgot that, given the age of the MC, it's technically a YA, (though it read more NA) which I rarely read. The down side to all that wonderful is that [b:The Bravest Thing 48467769 The Bravest Thing Laura Lascarso https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571091133l/48467769.SY75.jpg 55643895], while still a very good book, suffers in comparison. That's a shame because this story deserves an audience. Hiroku's family has relocated to a small town in an effort to pry him from a toxic relationship but as we all know “small town, big hell”. In this instance that hell is a town steeped in a culture that condones homophobia, the deification of football, and intolerant Christianity. In Lowry the only bright spot for Hiroku is Berlin Webber, a fellow junior who's and All-American boy, star of the football team, and questioning his sexuality. They become each other's safe port but it's rough going. A lot of things happen in this book. Beautiful things. Horrific things. Real. You should read it.Thinking about it the problem for me is that the story is told in dual P.O.V. and though Berlin is a sweet boy, who's sure to grow up into a good man, the kind of person we all want in our future, his voice pales compared to Hiroku's. Maybe that's unfair of me but that was my opinion. It made for a bit of a lopsided reading experience. I'm still glad TBT exists, and by extension Berlin. They're the necessary coda for Hiroku and his story. I also wouldn't be averse to seeing them five years down the road. How does their future pane out? They'r not even 18 when we last see them. I'm worried about them. That's a good thing.
I needed thisI read this over Christmas as it was included in a Xmas anthology (who knows why), but once it came out on it's own I snapped up the paperback, the ebook, and the AB. It's Wesmie! I regret nothing. It was an absolute joy to visit with these two, see Jamie dealing with adult decisions, and Wes be so unconditional in his support just warmed my coal black heart. [a:Jacob Morgan 3145556 Jacob Morgan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1581822052p2/3145556.jpg] and [a:Teddy Hamilton 15007880 Teddy Hamilton https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] once again deliver in spades. Thank you to [a:Sarina Bowen 7737308 Sarina Bowen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402702789p2/7737308.jpg] and [a:Elle Kennedy 1935000 Elle Kennedy https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1403918688p2/1935000.jpg] for this little gem. If you read [b:Us 29475332 Us (Him, #2) Sarina Bowen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457596574l/29475332.SY75.jpg 47775179] & [b:Him 25686927 Him (Him, #1) Sarina Bowen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436433289l/25686927.SY75.jpg 45514970] you need this.
story 2.5 but the AB is acesFirst things first: the AB by [a:Aiden Snow 14257884 Aiden Snow https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] is really good and it's what got me through without skimming. He's excellent.THE STORY:The last quarter of each book in this series introduces the couple for the next one and the pairing of Dr. Cayson Chauncey and Roman “Quick” Webb held lots of promise wink for me. Alas those hopes were dashed in a sophomore slump. Quick is like the Fantasy Island version of Dog The Bounty Hunter: dark haired, tall, and an eighth degree black belt. Dr. Chauncey is a brilliant but lonely surgeon who, in spite of all of his accomplishments, has been unable to meet a single man to satisfy his desires (pretty common desires if you ask me, and I'm pretty sure he could've found someone on any dating app). Luckily Quick has begun to feel a reawakening of his heretofore buried bisexuality and sets his aim on Dr. Chauncey. A great “opposites attract” pairing that went pfft. The main problem is Cayson Chauncey. He's like one of those heroines in bodice rippers who have to, unreasonably, make the hero suffer for the past misdeeds of others. When Quick begins to woo him it seems Dr. C keeps raising the bar while excusing the behavior of Dr. Joe, an ex that treats Cayson like last year's gum on the sole of a shoe, and who puts the whole group in danger. Quick has to continually jump through a series of hoops and ultimately I felt like Dr. C “loved” Quick for purely physical reasons. For that matter I couldn't fathom what Quick's attraction to Dr. C was either. Maybe they're perfectly paired but I couldn't get it and I didn't care for them at all. Hope the next pairing works better for me. All of this yawning led me to noticing how the author doesn't shy away from dropping name brands left and right, there's even a page for ™ acknowledgements at the beginning of each book! Is it meant to lend authenticity to time and place? Dunno.
Are you having a lazy day? One where you want to be entertained but can't/don't want to expend too much mental energy? Do you like tall, brawny, masc alpha-males who enjoy tall, brawny, masc alpha-males? Do you like (and who doesn't?) Bruce Willis movies? Do you like a good ensemble cast? This is the book/series for you!Author [a:A.E. Via 7354860 A.E. Via https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1392500556p2/7354860.jpg] and narrator [a:Aiden Snow 14257884 Aiden Snow https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] are NTM and I can say they're both very good at what they do. Though this isn't my preferred candy, I can appreciate A.E. Via's brand of romance: sex positive, romantic, and absolutely sweet. Her men are utterly masculine, muscled, competent, and all the things associated with alpha-males but they're not knuckle dragging numbskulls. They're in tune with who they are and what they want out of life, which makes sense being that, at least in this series, they're grown-ups who range in age from 30 to 49. No blundering apes in sight. But I digress. This is the first book in a new series which is a spinoff of the Nothing Special Series, however you can read it, like myself, without reference to the previous series and each book as a standalone. Every part is about a different couple, though it seems most of the cast will all appear or at least be mentioned throughout along with mentions or visits by characters from Nothing Special.Promises, Pt.1 is about Duke Morgan and Vaughan Webb, a pairing I overall loved. Duke owns a Bail Bonds and a Private Investigations outfit, he's forty-five (45) but feeling way older. He's only had four relationships in his life, none of which has given him the sense of belonging or being wanted we all crave. His last long term attachment was with Judge from Don't Judge, but it was only a FWB arrangement on Judge's part, while Duke was always left craving for more. Judge has gone off to live his very own HEA and is now nothing more than a good friend and business partner, but the universe is about to give Duke's his reward. At thirty-one (31) Vaughan Webb is a lawyer, who's come home to spend time with his father, work in the Atlanta District Attorney's Office, and woo the man he's been in love with since he was a teenager. That man is Duke. The fact that Duke's best friend is Quick, Vaughan's father isn't an obstacle. Vaughan is one of those ‘older-than-his-years' souls who early on knew what he wanted, what he had to do to achieve it, and was willing to go for the long game. He turned his father into an ally to keep him posted about Duke's life while he set about becoming a man he thought Duke would want and seriously consider.I really liked these two as a couple. I liked how the prescribed age roles were flipped without much fuss. I liked that, though perhaps more a result of wishful thinking, Quick isn't put-off by a relationship between his son and his best friend but rather supports it. I liked how Vaughan truly and demonstrably cares for Duke from moments of tenderness to scorching intimacy. This is a story of big love, high emotion, and sweeping gestures that'll warm your heart. One hiccup was Duke's sudden insta love/lust for Vaughan. Commendably he had never thought of Vaughan as anything other than Quick's son until Vaughan approached him. Perfect. However Duke's turnabout is like flipping a switch. It's kind of understandable given how starved for affection he's always been and Vaughan being young & smoking hot, but I would've liked a few more seconds of introspection or a minute for him to recast Vaughan from bf's son to hottie/love-of-my-life. I enjoyed everything else, from the clearly well researched world of bond-bails and medical procedures to an excellent performance by Aiden Snow. I'll certainly be moving on to the next book.
4.5I came to this through my usual Audible window shopping i.e. listening to samples, adding to my wish list, and coming back to them later. This was a super pleasant surprise on a couple of fronts.[a:John Tristan 2738973 John Tristan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540990054p2/2738973.jpg] is a NTM author and I loved his elegant and smooth writing. In many aspects his fantasy/AU world brought to mind GoT with the fanciful spelling of names, the old & new Gods, and a ruling class that's a little more than human. It's a super slow burn, but utterly fulfilling romance between Etan, a kind of babe in the woods young man who after losing everything, comes to the big city to make his way, and Roberd Tallisk, a tattoo Master who makes Etan his Adorned. The world they inhabit is meticulously, lovingly brought to life by the author, and feels lived in, authentic. The biggest shocker was that this was narrated by [a:Shannon Gunn 6996772 Shannon Gunn https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]! When the credits rolled at the end my jaw almost dropped. I only know SG from the Ella Frank Temptation series in which he kind of grew on me and [b:His Roommate's Pleasure 17913360 His Roommate's Pleasure Lana McGregor https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369921283l/17913360.SY75.jpg 25102455], where I loved the book but hated the narration. Here he comes and wows me with a beautifully nuanced performance, and distinct characterizations. Bravo Mr. Gunn.
The best thing about this? The cover. Very nice. I thought it might be some steampunk kind of thing but sadly it's not. It's a clumsy boy who can barely take care of himself meeting and falling in insta love with a local mechanic. Said mechanic has some sad story of his own. The elements of this could've made a good story, if told in a different, less chatty way. Disappointing.
Edit/Addition belowI finished reading this yesterday and I'm still not quite sure I can coherently express how much I loved it or why. I'm super grateful to good friends aka Moony who nudge me to try things I skirt around like YA. [a:Laura Lascarso 5306920 Laura Lascarso https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1488342626p2/5306920.jpg] has gifted us with the story of Hiroku Hayashi (such a beautiful name) a teenager who at 15 feels more alien than most. He's a first generation Japanese-American living in Austin, Tx., he's an artist, which by nature makes him an outsider, and he's coming to terms with the fact that he's likely gay. I am none of those things yet I felt a kinship with Hiroku's story because to quote [a:Publius Terentius (Afer) 17788187 Publius Terentius (Afer) https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]: “nothing human is alien to me” and Hiroku is one the most human characters I've recently encountered. Same goes for Seth, the catalyst for Hiroku's highs and lows. I could say a whole lot about this story: how Hiroku & Seth's all consuming need for each other felt like walking around with an open wound you don't want to heal because it's what makes you feel alive, how though I could see the pitfalls that awaited them I didn't want to get off the ride because I remember, all too clearly, that type of relationship where you can't see beyond your lover's skin and you don't want to, even when your saner self is sending distress signals, how despite events in the story I didn't feel like there were true villains here, just kids growing up, some in need of some serious comeuppance and correction but ultimately just humans. Other than that I'd say you should just experience this beautiful story, let your heart beat a little faster, and wonder whatever happened to that first person who made your insides liquid mush. It's a good thing. Besides Hiroku and Seth the story is full of people I wouldn't mind knowing in RL. Mai and Mitchell are two of those still waters who run deep and true, to say nothing of Sabrina, a good friend even in extremis. The cherry on top of all this goodness of lyrical and authentic writing is one the most ridiculously beautiful covers I've seen in a while. Just gorgeous.Plus, plus, plus ... : I would have LL DJ any party or compile a road trip playlist. The music selection in this book is dead-on and adds an extra layer to the narrative, so dust off your Violent Femmes and crank up your Neil Young, your soul will thank you.
3.00 because I'm being generous. I like the idea of these characters but somehow the execution fell shortThis is book two in this series, which I didn't actually know was a series when I started, and somehow thought it was a shifter thing. [b:A Casual Weekend Thing 17796292 A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1) A.J. Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1365895931l/17796292.SX50.jpg 24893819] worked pretty well for me, I'm trying to finish series I've started, and I already owned this so it was a no brainer. Sadly it was ... underwhelming.Ray is Hayes's partner from the previous book., where it turned out he was flirting with bisexuality or coming to terms with being gay. He was also, allegedly, in love with Hayes but ended up having a one week hookup with Elliot, an FBI agent, which didn't end well, what with Ray's machismo insecurities. Eight months have gone by, Elliot has relocated to San Diego, and circumstances bring Ray and Elliot into the same orbit.The premise was good, I like Elliot very much, and the writing wasn't bad. I just couldn't warm up to Ray. I know his eccentricities are rooted in his need for separation and he has his reasons but I just ... dunno, was indifferent to him? I didn't hate him but I did find his cousin Alejandro a more interesting character and he's meant to be a villain. Not a good sign. It wasn't clear by the end if Ray has overcome some of his main issues with being gay or bi, to me they seemed pretty important as they weren't just a preference thing. The “mystery” wasn't so much a mystery as a business imbroglio that I didn't really care much about, and Ray's family issues were also left hanging. I know many families never come around to being accepting or understanding, and that's fine, it's a sad fact of life, but this wasn't really addressed one way the another. I guess the best way to read this is as a bridge between [b:A Casual Weekend Thing 17796292 A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1) A.J. Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1365895931l/17796292.SX50.jpg 24893819] and [b:The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise 25065285 The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3) A.J. Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425430843l/25065285.SX50.jpg 44749354], which picks up with Chris & Doug's story. On it's own? Meh
RE-READ/RE-LISTEN 8/25/21 – 8/28/21I can't believe I did it. This is a hard one physically and emotionally for the MC and I confess I skimmed some parts. My heart couldn't take it. Having said that I'm glad I didn't skip this one in my re-red and I think I understand why the author had to take Emery & JH on this harrowing episode. For Hazard it's the logical, if unexpected, conclusion to the journey begun on [b:Pretty Pretty Boys 36623175 Pretty Pretty Boys (Hazard and Somerset, #1) Gregory Ashe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511094676l/36623175.SY75.jpg 58383961]. As for Somers, this sojourn in Hell, very much aligns with a Judeo-Christian sense of crime and punishment, which wouldn't be an alien concept to him and perhaps unconsciously welcome, atoning for the past, wearing the hair shirt, doing the penance. He can now move on. **** FIRST READ/LISTEN 1/23/20 — 1/26/20 **** Whew, what a ride!The long and short of it is that I loved this arc in the Hazard & Somers story. Is it perfect? Not exactly, but this isn't The Paris Review, just what I enjoy, and enjoy it I did. Even when I was shuddering from sympathetic pain.[b:Criminal Past 41103639 Criminal Past (Hazard and Somerset #6) Gregory Ashe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533944202l/41103639.SY75.jpg 64217590] delivers on the promise made at the very beginning of [b:Pretty Pretty Boys 36623175 Pretty Pretty Boys (Hazard and Somerset, #1) Gregory Ashe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511094676l/36623175.SY75.jpg 58383961]. Emery Hazard has returned to his hometown of Wahredua, MO ostensibly to get justice for the first boy he ever loved, who committed suicide after being brutalized and putting the past to rest. It won't go quietly or as [a:William Faulkner 3535 William Faulkner https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1615562983p2/3535.jpg] wrote: “The past is never dead. It's not even past.”. This is an idea that suffuses the whole arc. In every volume [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] has laid out a case that to some degree propels forward not only Hazard & Somers's relationship, but the overarching case of corruption in the upper echelons of Wahredua society. In this book it all comes together. IMO the strongest part of this series has always been the development of the relationship between the MC. Emery and John-Henry are fully formed and distinct individuals, with rich back stories, histories, quirks, and interests. Their behavior, past and present, is logically motivated, and I loved that though they've become a couple, they're still themselves, their histories still mark them. Somers overtly, believes/fears that his past actions are unforgivable and Hazard has tried to use the shield of reason & logic to protect himself to the extent that he's almost frozen in time. Fear not. GA, for all that he seems like a bit of sadist with all that he puts these guys through, is also big hearted enough to allow them to start to heal and love each other in the way they probably always would have if we didn't live in a f**ked-up world. Their interactions with each other, Hazard with Evie, Somers trying to ease the way with honey, Hazard stubbornly refusing to play the game, all of it seeped under my skin. Emery & JH are characters that I think of as existing in the real world, I might run into one of them at the market. I'm happy to know them.*********The imperfect part? There's the "small town / big hell" trope, which I have no direct experience of living in a small town, but so far every resident of Wahredua, other than Cora, Hazard, and Somers, seems to be ... unappealing. If that's the case they should start packing ASAP. The level of violence visited on the MCs in the space of two days almost reaches baroque heights, their resilience is a matter for medical journals. The omniscience, omnipotence, and endurance of the villains, particularly one tweaker, seemed a bit much. Also my vicious heart wanted more of a comeuppance for the villains, but you can't have everything.
If you've read [b:Consorts of the Red King 49392526 Consorts of the Red King Eden Winters https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569352363l/49392526.SX50_SY75.jpg 73513098] you've met Connell & Stone. This is their origin story and I'm sure you'll be happy with it, if not this is a pretty nifty novella introducing part of [a:Eden Winters 3247006 Eden Winters https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1503278462p2/3247006.jpg] post-Earth universe. Enjoy.
Possibly Ranty Review Coming but here's the gist of it if you want to skip reading it:Generous 3.00, because of the authors & the writing, when it could've easily been a 4.5 in spite of a wobbly start, but the last plot development ruined it for meI'd seen mixed reviews for this but it was available both on KU & Audible Escape. I've really liked previous books from both of these authors, same goes for the narrators [a:Iggy Toma 13543759 Iggy Toma https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Kirt Graves 15936299 Kirt Graves https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png], so I decided to give it a try. The audio worked pretty well. I don't mind dual narration, though they can be tricky, and mostly they're unnecessary. Iggy's voice for Amory was the most difficult to get used, though I ended up liking him, probably because I liked the character. The difficulty came from the fact that his southern drawl verges a bit on an old timey raconteur, sometimes sounding older than 42, which is how old Amory is meant to be. Kirt almost made me like William. Almost.The is advertised as some sort of Thomas Crown Affair, enemy to lovers, criminal & outlaw trope, but it's not not exactly true. Amory isn't actually an art thief. Not in the traditional sense. Will on the other hand is exactly as advertised and that's the problem. I won't say I hated him, that would be too strong a word, but I'm not sure we'd be friends. He's a saint or has aspirations to canonization, existing on a higher moral ground, and demanding/expecting that everyone conform to his narrow view of right & wrong. The problem with saints, at least for me, is that I find them insufferable, and hypocritical at best. The first 20% or so had me doubting my choice of read/listen. The attraction is perfectly fine but their behavior on their first encounters seemed out of character for who they're meant to be, and their ages, 34 & 42. I guess it's meant to signal how meeting that person/thing that makes us zap and zing can shake us out of our normal but, I don't know, it just didn't buy it. Thankfully once they settled into a proper relationship I REALLY liked it. How they were more or less easy with each other in spite of their differences, how it didn't take them too long to acknowledge that they had feelings beyond lust for each other, and they didn't freak out when the “L” word surfaced. In other words they behaved like the grownups they are which is why the last 20% and the ending ruined the whole thing for me.William comes off as the most sanctimonious & ungrateful prick. Amory does something to make William's life better, as you try to do for people you love, and all William and do is feel offended and flagellate Amory for daring to use the means at his disposal to ease the way. There's also this thing of making Amory seem like a snob because he knows and likes the good things in life. Sure, many of us can't afford the really good champagne, the truly decadent macaroons, the fits-like-a-glove bespoke suit, but isn't it what we aspire to? If William is so opposed to the good things and life, why is he with Amory? Armory's wealth and upbringing are part of what make him himself. He accepts William with all of his annoying black & white view of the world. William needs to be accepted with all his baggage and Amory does, yet William seems incapable of extending the courtesy. Amory is meant to ‘mend his ways', be sorry for what he's done, and promise to never do it again. Change. Frankly I never saw what William brought to Amory but judgement. Maybe that's Armory's kink? The worst part was that I got the impression that the authors agree with William's POV. I felt properly chastised but not changed. Me and my immoral self, who likes to be taken care of by my SO, and likes the paved road will be on our merry way. Because I'm feeling snippy: I didn't care for the cover, and I could've done without some of the sex.
You know that saying about sophomore slump? This series was the reverse for me. The first book was fine, but ultimately pretty unmemorable for me, while book 2 worked like the best popcorn movie. I was happily and thoroughly entertained.
Shep & Elijah's jagged edges and broken pieces fit together perfectly and I like how there isn't a big production made of their being together by either of the MCs or those around them. While it's true that Shep's character is a bit of a fantasy, the rest, Elijah's experiences as a child actor, his mother, and the world that surrounds him all provide an underpinning of veracity that makes the story pop & hum. Perhaps my favorite thing was how Elijah reacted or didn't to Shep's gift and the new hobby for the men from Elite. I had a good time.
Hmm ... this was interesting, and certainly a bit of a different, I'm just not sure it fits neatly under the MM romance umbrella. Not a bad thing in my book, but for those expecting the usual beats, this doesn't follow that pattern. If anything, aside for the whole merman aspect, this is a pretty nuanced look at a man, who after 10 years in a monogamous relationship, has gone back to his hometown to reevaluate, and see where his life is going. Ultimately it ends in a bit of a fairytale and it's all very PG, but I wasn't mad. I did this as an audio performed by [a:Philip Church 824864 Philip Church https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. While technically correct, as far as pacing, accent, etc. I just couldn't warm to his voice but YMMV.
Me reviewing a [a:Leta Blake 6425833 Leta Blake https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1497015011p2/6425833.jpg] book narrated by [a:Michael Ferraiuolo 13467952 Michael Ferraiuolo https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498214961p2/13467952.jpg] is like asking a chocoholic to work at Jacques Torres: unfair and a foregone conclusion. I'm doing it anyway. Gladly.The technical part, the audio, lives up to what we've come to expect from [a:Michael Ferraiuolo 13467952 Michael Ferraiuolo https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498214961p2/13467952.jpg], which is something close to perfection. As usual he delivers a nuanced performance giving each character a distinct voice imbued with warmth, and emotion. Miracle of miracles, he's also one of the few male narrators who can do women without making them sound like cartoon characters, bad Drag Queens, or Miss Adelaide from Guys & Dolls. He's the guy who'll make you want more after fourteen-hours plus of having your heart in a vice-grip. The only danger will be inappropriate reactions if you're listening in public, goofy smile or eyes welling up, and that's down to a beautifully told story.At 34 y.o., Nicholas ‘Nicky' Blumfeld aka Nico Blue is the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for Vespertine, a band that's been coasting on the success of their early material, and whose members, including Nicky, are drowning in drugs of every stripe. In a last ditch effort to get sober, save his life, and his career Nicky heads home to Little Heights, a coastal town in Maine. Waiting for him are memories of happier times, his adoring parents, and the first and only boy he ever loved, Jasper ‘Jazz' Hendricks. Father Hendricks to the laity. Yup. Nicky was thrown over for God. But it's more complicated than that. Isn't it always? [a:Leta Blake 6425833 Leta Blake https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1497015011p2/6425833.jpg] & [a:Indra Vaughn 7132113 Indra Vaughn https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1371070665p2/7132113.jpg] have accomplished something quite remarkable, at least for me. Firstly, I'm not super keen on rock-star stories, they always have that whiff of poor-little-rich-boy which can go either way, and not many authors get the balance right. Secondly, I'd be an atheist if it weren't too presumptuous to be certain of anything, and the same goes for belief in any God. Either one is too much work. What I'm trying to say is that, on paper, the set-up of this story, rock-star & priest, is a tall order for me but the authors pulled it off without a false note or stridency. In essence, this is a second chance romance between two people who met as children, discovered their sexuality as teenagers, were separated by circumstance, and now getting another opportunity at happiness. It just so happens that their adult selves are on opposite sides of the social spectrum. The beauty is that Nicky and Jazz are real people outside of their archetypes. Given Nicky's history, and his chosen lifestyle it's plausible to see how he ended up an addict and you're pulling for him every step of the way on his road to sobriety. I really like how the authors don't make light of the process and respectfully treat it like the disease it is, never going for the mind-over-matter angle or the higher-power cop out, which one would almost expect when the other MCs is a true believer, a priest no less. Of course, the difference here is that the priest in question is Jazz, a man who truly embodies Christian teachings in his every thought and behavior, which extends to providing a safe harbor to LGBTQ at risk youth, even when that means being at odds with the upper hierarchy of the church or his family. The authors don't play fast and loose with his faith, the choices he makes are the result of thoughtful deliberation.The religious aspect is another part of the story that the authors get right, the fact that religions are, like the governments of countries (Vatican is literally a Principality), who don't always represent their constituents. By this I mean that, for the most part, the people on the ground, of which Jazz is one, are sincerely striving to embody the teachings of their particular religion, which all, and in broad strokes, speak of love & charity to your neighbor, while the higher ups are, in most cases, doing the exact opposite. This is a long winded way of saying that Jazz is an upright man of God in the purest sense. He sincerely cares for his fellows, is willing to fight for them, but isn't pedantic enough to want to impose his worldview on others. I liked the pace at which Nicky & Jazz's reconnecting happens. There have hurt feelings, they were seventeen when their lives went in separate directions, and wildly different life experiences, but their bone deep connection hasn't faltered. And it won't.These two were made for each other and it's palpable on the page. The buildup from Nicky's resentment, to cautious reacquaintance, to Jazz placing his two loves in the balance is wonderfully done, without titillation or prurience. I was wholly convinced and [a:Michael Ferraiuolo 13467952 Michael Ferraiuolo https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498214961p2/13467952.jpg] tipped me into the fanatics camp. By the end, I was praying on my impious knees for Nicky & Jazz's HEA. If you need an extra push the story is peopled with other great characters like Miriam and Adrian, Nicky's parents, Ramona, the kids at Blue Oasis, and Dizzy, the best cat ever.
If you've been alive in America for the past 20 years the scenario of this story is an unhappy reality. A grim one. Still [a:Sara Dobie Bauer 7226363 Sara Dobie Bauer https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1594654164p2/7226363.jpg] has managed to create a little pocket of hope. Make no mistake, she hasn't trotted out some fantastical cure-all for what ails us as a society, or even for the woes of the MCs, but she has written a story that, to me at least, felt vital and important. Is it perfect? No, not by a long stretch, and yet those loose ends, that true-to-life floundering, is what lends this book a real life flavor, with all of its jagged edges, unhappy truths, and uncertainties. Isaac Twain has come to Hambden University in Lothos, Ohio trying to outrun his past. Foolish man. He crashes, head first, into his future. Said future is John Conlon, a fellow creative writing professor at Hambden, a wildly popular author of YA LGBTQ books, and as of the tragic event of the previous summer, much to his displeasure, he's known as The Hambden Hero. John is unabashedly gay, almost faery like in build, with a mass of longish dark hair, soulful eyes, and a gregariousness that belies how broken he feels inside after the incident. He's not the kind of man Isaac ever saw himself attracted to. Isaac is tall, blond, almost hypermasculine, and still negotiating how to comfortably navigate being out. He has valid reasons. None of these differences, nor the school injunction against staff fraternization matter when it comes to their attraction, one that almost verges on the obsessive for Isaac, or maybe it's just the first time he's been able to love someone as his authentic self. The romance between John and Isaac worked like gangbusters for me. Isaac might have been perplexed at first but it made absolute sense. Their parts fit together in more ways than the physical. John's house is full of music, friends, and good food, all things that are almost alien to Isaac's existence. I loved how the gravitational pull between the MCs was undeniable but the author never lost sight of who they were: smart academics. I loved that as their love story progresses throughout the book regular life doesn't just disappear. The events of the summer, and it's repercussions on all who lived through it remain ever present in their everyday existence. Likewise Isaac's past is present as the past always is, and comes calling.I'll say no more about the plot, but I'll mention some of the things I loved: John's students, his friends, and colleagues; the frank, unflinching, and non-judgemental handling of mental illness; the necessary witnessing of a horror that visits our schools and public spaces with an alarming regularity; the joy, life affirming, aspect of good sex without making it a magic bullet to solve all problems. There were things I'd've tweaked, all having to do with Isaac, who's perhaps the weakest character. Some of his past could've remained off-stage, and other parts I would've appreciated seeing and knowing more about. Maybe an accompanying novella? All of these quibbles are negligible. I'd recommend this to everyone. It feels urgent.