Annery
2.5
I'm assuredly not the audience for this and I'll emphasize right now that YMMV. My rating is for a well formatted, edited, and polished book, a narrative that means well and that others will likely enjoy and want to read.
This is the story of two nice people (two men) on their journey to love. The book covers about two years in their lives and everything happens: they meet, significant others are lost, heartbreak visits etc., in other words the usual pattern of most romances. I didn't have a problem with it but I was underwhelmed?
The book is 800+ pages and IMO it could've been whittled down to 300, which would've brought some much needed dramatic tension. As it is very single encounter and conversation is rendered blow by blow, step by step, word for word, songs they like, shows they watch, books they read ad infinitum. I was exhausted.
My other problem is that I was bored, which partly relates to the detailed, limitless minutiae, but also because everybody, every single character including the one sort of villain, was cookie-cutter good. They all speak in correct ways, they hold the right opinions, and no one has doubts or questions. I guess it's a feel-good story, and as I said, I'm not the audience for it.
As to the plot itself there were a couple of things that didn't work for me at all but I'll hide them here: ***Aaron and Lucas, two 30 something, partnered/married guys meet/become neighbors in June and by July they already consider themselves best friends. Really? ***Lucas becomes a widower in early November and by Thanksgiving he and Aaron are living together (as friends) and coparenting Lucas's newborn daughter. ***Despite Lucas & Aaron having been partnered in long standing heterosexual relationships no one even raises an eyebrow when they become involved. It's true that Aaron states early on that he's bisexual but still ... it read odd to me that not a single soul in their circle of family, friends, or acquaintances was wholly approving, nay even applauding of the relationship.
In any case if you want a polished, well written, feel good story where everyone and everything is pretty ideal you may enjoy this.
3.5 the story 4.5 for the audio // the rating is mostly for the ABThis came from an Audible sale shopping spree and though I didn't LOVE the story I really enjoyed the audio by [a:Jack Dupont 8018278 Jack Dupont https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:J. F. Harding 21790011 J. F. Harding https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. They were perfect.Don't get me wrong, I liked the story. It's the standard guy who never felt a connection with any woman he dated but at the ripe old age of forty-four meets the yin to his yang. Tyler Jamison (44) is Chicago police detective and when he's called to the scene of a murder he comes in contact with Ian Alexander (28) a witness and a possible future victim. Ian is openly gay while Tyler has no vocabulary to say what he is or isn't. In other words romance heaven.I guess my lack of enthusiasm for the story goes like this: * It reads like a Nora Ephron movie, which I enjoy as much as the next person, but they are smooth, slick things. * Everyone in Tyler & Ian's life is accepting and affirming, which ... maybe? * Tyler goes from never even saying the word gay in relation to himself to giving head like a pornstar on the strength of watching some gay porn. * Ian & Tyler are tireless doubting Thomases in their heads and that can be exhausting. * Ian's mourning or lack of mourning after a friend is murdered is bit ... off putting? Maybe the insta lust is a way to deal with grief? * Clearly Tyler was background character in other book(s) by the author and the protagonists of those stories are introduced here. It's not confusing, but there's quite an ensemble. In any case I'd read/listen to more books in the series.
Re-read March 2023
I reread this because I always meant to continue the series, waited too long, and felt like I needed I refresher. Took longer as I just dipped in when I had time between other reads. Not an ideal way for me to read I'm done now.
My thoughts are fairly much the same as on my first read but on that occasion ignorance was bliss. I didn't know that the main characters are all named and/or based on actual members of Panic! At The Disco. And I've been to a Panic! concert
UNPOPULAR OPINION COMING UP // YMMV
I wen't into this because apparently I must finish series and this is part of the Camassia Cove universe which I've mostly enjoyed. I'm also drawn to age-gap = ✅ and gorgeous covers = ✅, so what happened? I'll try to keep it brief.
There wasn't much visiting with the people we've come to know from Camassia Cove, except for Lincoln & Ade, and they're now basically just parents.
ONE WHOLE STAR FOR THE NARRATION
If you're a fan (I am) of the Winston Brothers you'll enjoy these. They're shorts and outakes at different stages in the series. I think many (most?) of them had been available in newsletters from the author and such.
Having the audio available in the Plus catalog was a sweet bonus. The inclusion of a story about a satellite couple to this series, Diane & Jason, Jennifer Sylvester's mom & Repo, from the local hated motorcycle club, was very welcome. I'd read a whole story about these two.
My, my, my! This is the perfect ending to this series. All the Winstons, including their significant others, gathered in Italy to nudge, shove, and sometimes right out push their de facto “patriarch” Billy into the arms of love. Luckily said love interest Scarlett/Claire isn't opposed to the idea. This book is very much about Billy, him learning to let go of the tight self control he's always held himself under, accepting help from others, letting go of the past etc. I very much enjoyed that. Where he is emotionally and physically at the beginning of the story is a logical consequence of what's been Billy's trajectory throughout the series. Seeing him come back to life, while shedding parts of his life, was a beautiful thing. I also loved how Scarlett/Claire, once she's made up her mind is fully on board with operation Bring Billy Back to Life. These two deserve each other and all the happiness in the world which [a:Penny Reid 5997227 Penny Reid https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548811001p2/5997227.jpg] generously lets us peek in on in a sweet epilogue.My black heart was happy to see certain saints get knocked down a peg or two. As with the rest of this series I enjoyed it via the audio by [a:Joy Nash 327057 Joy Nash https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1447960281p2/327057.jpg] & [a:Chris Brinkley 8531381 Chris Brinkley https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (who's narrated the rest of the series) and it was excellent. Highly recommended series.
Can I love a romance even though I know it will end in heartbreak? Going by this book the answer is yes, yes, and heck yes! I was gobsmacked by how much I was invested and destroyed by a brief teenage love affair which I knew was going to go nowhere, not even a HFN.
Billy & Claire/Scarlett have featured prominently in the Winston Brothers series and this first installment of their story doesn't disappoint. Sure, you might ball your eyes out, but you'll also feel love in different iterations: young love, familial love, love for friends. The events in this book take place prior to those in the first book in the series (strictly speaking the MC are YA) but in spite of being a big fan of chronology I think telling/reading Billy & Claire's story last works better. The previous books serve like layers of this goodness cake.
I did the audio and I'd urge you to do the same. It's brilliant.
complaints/niggles:
1) Though throughout the series the author has tried to show Bethany(?) Winston as a good woman who found herself trapped in bad circumstances I can't find it in myself to completely absolve her. The things she allowed/allows to happen to her children are just monstrous. I know where she's coming from, I know she was a victim too but ... just no. I would've been wearing orange.
2) I had to revise my crush on Jethro, his armor was a bit tarnished
This a sweet little novella or extended epilogue about Dominic & Adrian from [b:Home 43583390 Home (Camassia Cove, #1) Cara Dee https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547591762l/43583390.SY75.jpg 50609949] and how things are going for them down the road. As I've come to expect from this author her books are as much about family as they are about romance and this short fits that bill to a tee. Also expect appearances from other couples in the Camassia Cove Universe, these (mostly) lads are all friends, but not having read the stories of some of the twosomes mentioned isn't a barrier to enjoying this addition. Be prepared for sweet on sweet.
4.00 AVERAGED FOR THE WHOLE COLLECTION
Out - 4.5 Hearts
Zach grew up fast, became a parent to his brother and a caretaker to his mother. At 25 he got an inkling that perhaps he wasn't as straight as he thought. Two years later, he came from his small town of Camassia, WA. to Los Angeles to confirm his suspicions, and to do something about it. Fortuitously he meets Henry Bennington, almost 20 years his senior, everything Zach is not and his life comes into clear focus. Zach just needs to convince Henry of the rightness of them as a couple and that Zach isn't just sampling at the gay buffet.
This story is a breath of fresh air & sunshine. Yes, there's age-gap, coming out, some familial strife, and yet the prevailing sentiment while reading it and once you're done is a smile. The author astutely keeps the villains, such as they are, off stage and the bad things have already happened. The story is centered on Zach & Henry's relationship & told from Zach's P.O.V. which is genius as Zach is great company. He's open and honest, particularly about himself, what turns him on or what he wants, and he's funny too.
Things move fast. Pretty much from the moment Zach lays eyes on Henry his suspicions of gayhood are confirmed completely, skipping bi as a possibility. I liked it, no half measures for our Zach. Henry takes some convincing, even after he succumbs to Zach's charms. He doesn't see them as a lasting thing, lacking confidence in himself, he can't fathom that Zach, his junior and a complete virgin to gay life, will want him, a guy who albeit handsome, educated, and of economic means, has shut himself in an obscure bookstore and a hamsterwheel life. Luckily, Zach is charming and persistent.
Fear not. Henry's doubts about a lasting relationship don't translate to the bedroom, their sexual chemistry is akin to Habanero Orange or Red on the Scoville scale. However for me the bigger draw was their quotidian interactions, how friends & family are at the heart of this story. I really enjoyed this slice of goodness and it lightened up the winter doldrums.
Recommend :D
Out for the Holidays - 4 Hearts
Henry and Zach are back. It's their second Christmas together and plans go a bit haywire but not in any kind of tragic or drastic way. We just get to visit with a beloved couple, see how their imperfect, bumps, warts and all, fairytale plays out. As a plus when these two get together fun and smoldering sex are on the agenda. Sweet.
Zach has a successful modeling career but an unexpected work trip is threatening to derail his Christmas plans which entail nothing but being a homebody pampered by Henry. Fortunately the guys are resourceful, they turn lemons into lemonade, and get a chance to deal resolutely with a persistent pest. If that means smoking hot sex with Zach in the driver's seat and certain people seeing them, what can you do?
I will note that though done organically, the story is populated by characters from other books in the author's catalog, but they don't in any way hinder or take over the story. They're just part of the world Henry & Zach inhabit. I do think the reading experience would be richer if you know these stories too, and I've enjoyed the ones I've read.
Out Cruising - 3.5 Hearts
The guys, Zach in particular, need a distraction. A gay cruise with seven of their closest friends is just what the doctor ordered. Zach continues to have firsts as an out gay boy, and a fun time is had by all. You too, reader!
This short really just pushes Henry & Zach's story, where they are in terms of friends & family, and defining what the borders of that life will look like. Fret not, certainly there are some creative sexy times, but the heart of the story really has to do with the couple's desire to become parents and making that wish a reality.
Two things kept this under a four:
1) knowing the stories of the three other couples that feature, somewhat prominently, is highly recommended. If you've enjoyed reading this series, these others wouldn't be a hardship.
2) in the bedroom Zachary & Henry have had since the beginning this Daddy/boy dynamic. To my eyes it was just a playful, erotic thing they did for play, but now it seems to be more front & center and the prevalence of it didn't seem organic, more like everyone has a kink which ... not necessarily true? Sometimes vanilla is just fantastic without any sprinkles. Obviously just my 2 cents and YMMV.
Out and About Briefly - 3 Hearts
This is an epilogue included in this collection of the OUT stories. It takes place eighteen months after Out Cruising and we're on another cruise in December but this one is absolutely PG. Zach & Henry are fully immersed in parenthood and loving it. When they get home we get a Christmas & family love bomb. Enjoy xoxo
FINAL NOTES:
a) these should definitely be read in order
b) if you already own the first three books I'm not sure that buying the box set for the final story is absolutely necessary, though I understand completists' impulses. It's probably 15 pages of Henry & Zach being happy.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out the blog for more reviews and fun stuff
This is a double story, two couples whose stories kind of sort of overlap with others in the CC universe and with each other, in more ways than one. The first part concerns Jack, one of the Grady brothers who have been mentioned in previous books. Jack is an editor and Isla Roe, the daughter of successful novelist Aidan Roe, Jack's college friend, comes asking for help with her writing. As you may guess, or if you, like myself, are reading in [a:Cara Dee 6936449 Cara Dee https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1618239463p2/6936449.jpg]'s suggested order you know that Jack & Isla become entangled, fall in love, and Aidan, Isla's father is none too happy about it.Part two is Aidan coming to Camassia to get an explanation from Jack about what's going on between his daughter and his erstwhile good friend. The secrecy and age difference are part of his complaints and I can't say I blame him. His plans for exacting and explanation from the lovebirds is derailed because upon his arrival in Camassia Aidan meets Chloe and all bets are off. Chloe is the mother of four boys and runs a local inn. She's also charming, full of life, and open to life, exactly what Aidan needs after having shut himself off from life after his wife's death. As a plus she's also the girl of his childhood dreams. Literally.These are two lighthearted tales that help populate the Camassia world and are fun sexual romps. ❤️
3.5Casey and Ellis are part of the ‘family' that Lincoln & Ade have gathered around themselves once they relocated to Camassia Cove after the events in [b:Path of Destruction 34613842 Path of Destruction Cara Dee https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489765471l/34613842.SY75.jpg 55254686]. Casey a.k.a. was Lincoln's cellmate in PoD. Ellis is the cousin who provided Lincoln with a job to secure his parole. It's ten years later and now we get their story. Reading in the author's suggested order is paying off
If you read [b:Life Lessons 59074519 Life Lessons (Life Lessons, #1) Kaje Harper https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632592568l/59074519.SY75.jpg 16204726] you'll definitely want to read this. It's Christmas and Mac and Tony are feeling their way through their new relationship, it's not always easy, but they're trying. Well, Tony is trying and Mac is realizing he wants more and that maybe that's not a bad thing.This volume also includes [b:Getting It Right 13479349 Getting It Right (Life Lessons, #1.8) Kaje Harper https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png 19011019] which is billed as Life Lessons 1.8 and is more of Mac & Tony navigating what their life can be, this time around Valentine's Day. I think what I like most about these is that the characters and their issues, okay Mac's issues, haven't evaporated because they'r boning on the regular. [a:Kaje Harper 4769304 Kaje Harper https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1307630439p2/4769304.jpg] remains true to who they were/are and doesn't rush any worldview transformations or make the characters strangers we don't recognize. I'll definitely be continuing with this series.
4.5If you're looking for a bit of fantasy where true love & good sex are a magic potion that solves all of life's problems this isn't that book. If however you want a realistic portrayal of two people falling in lust, love and forging a relationship despite life's woes you've come to the right place. A beautiful audio rendition by [a:J.F. Harding 8279965 J.F. Harding https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is just icing on the cake.Tony Hart is a high school teacher, an easy going guy comfortable in his skin as a gay man. One day he has the misfortune of kind-of-sort-of witnessing the murder of a work colleague wich brings him into the orbit of Det. Jared “Mac” MacLean. Mac is Tony's polar opposite in every way. Mac is a gay man who due to life, society, family, reality or take your pick, has never been out, in some aspects even to himself. You know what they say about opposites. Tony is attracted to Mac from the beginning but mostly in the “hot guy alert” sense, while attraction is not something Mac allows himself to enjoy, not at home in Minnesota, but the investigation brings them into frequent contact, Tony gets hurt and ... the real stuff begins. As I said before, for the romance purists or those wanting candy cane and rainbows this will disappoint. For one a good portion of the book is dedicated to the investigation, a fairly accurate portrayal of police procedure, which can seem irrelevant and menial but to my mind enriches and informs where Mac is coming from, his worldview. Part two of the possible let down is that, realistically, this ends in a HFN, and it leaves Tony in an unenviable position, but one he chooses. To me it was painfully realistic. Also while Mac's story does flirt a little bit with the dramatic I'm taking into account that, though the audio is new, the book itself is from 2011, eons ago. Obergefell v. Hodges had not yet been heard making marriage equality a reality, so things we now take for granted were very much not a thing. On the plus side Mac & Tony's relationship is beautiful and scorching. They just get each other on a physical and mental level. A beautiful thing. I'd definitely recommend this and follow it with two shorts: And to All a Goodnight and Getting it Right. Ps. I already owned the original books and thus followed along a bit. It seems that inconsequential parts have been altered but nothing major. I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Dominic escapes the East Coast to Camassia Cove in Washington state to be with his daughter and leave behind a life of homelessness & loneliness. He's had to do everything to survive on the streets and that has included prostitution (male) but he doesn't know who he actually is in terms of attraction. He's never had the emotional space or security to experience intimacy of any sort. Luckily his first day in Camassia he runs into the Dalton brothers and more particularly Adrian Dalton.
Adrian is a teacher and an all around good guy who's always looking to help out those he can, particularly youth. Dominic fits the bill, and though he's a reluctant recipient of help, over the course of months Adrian is able to coax him to accept a leg up for him and more importantly for his little girl Thea.
Does everything play out a bit like wishful thinking? Maybe, but I didn't care. The warmth that exudes from Adrian & Dominic's time together is my Christmas reading and I don't regret it
LOVED THISI've had most of the Camassia Cove books for a while but had somehow procrastinated on reading them. I finally got a push so I'm going with the author's suggested reading order. First up we have Lincoln & Ade, and what an epic story it is! Lincoln & Ade's journey from guitar god & groupie to two people trying to find a life and perhaps reconnect after addiction, prison, and completely trashed lives reads true. I love how [a:Cara Dee 6936449 Cara Dee https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1618239463p2/6936449.jpg] doesn't sanitize or moralize the life of rock stars or their entourage. From the moment they meet Ade & Lincoln share an undeniable attraction and bond which neither, addiction, heinous pasts, separation nor the passage of time can erase.
3.75Due to time issues (not having any) I waited too long to write a proper review, but the short story is that I liked this. It's a lighthearted romp that doesn't take itself too seriously and was what I needed as a palate cleanser. Also anyone who enjoyed Cold & Jimmy from [b:Cold Hard Cash|51977245|Cold Hard Cash (Cold Hard Cash #1)|K.L. Hiers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565965489l/51977245.SX50_SY75.jpg|72942438] will definitely want to see how their relationship is progressing.My one comment/complaint would be that Jimmy's character seems to have leaned a bit harder towards the stereotypical annoying female in m/f romance: a bit hysterical, putting himself unnecessarily in danger, expecting Cold to be someone or act as someone other than who he is, wanting to change grown a$$ gangster into some moral man. No. Stop it. Otherwise you can check your brain out and enjoy this for the sexy times between Cold & Mr. Poe and the general optimistic streak that runs through the story. We all need that right now. Cheers
Every time I read a [a:Sarah Black 625876 Sarah Black https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] I bemoan not reading more of her output. Hopefully I'm sufficiently chastised and will remedy that in future. This is short story that feels epic. Dog & Hutch are two ace pilots in the hell that was Vietnam in 1968, one gets captured and the other, naturally follows. Everything about how they interact with each other, how they speak, and act feels & sounds authentic, not written to flatter our modern ears. I loved them and so happy that they got their HEA ❤️❤️
I've had no time to read this week and haven't been in the mood for any of my usual fare so “free” audio has been my friend. This is another perfectly pleasant story from this author and [a:Andi Arndt 6746963 Andi Arndt https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1381410479p2/6746963.jpg] makes it go down smoothly. As usual the H in [a:Kylie Scott 6476625 Kylie Scott https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1579055379p2/6476625.jpg]'s stories are props or accessories, who speak all the right words and think the right thoughts while physically satisfying the fantasy of the Good Bad Boy™ (tall, handsome, tattooed etc). I'm not mad about it. I generally enjoyed the story even though IMO Anna sometimes veers into NA behavior/thought etc despite being 27 or more likely I'm not the intended age group for this? In any case I was entertained while cleaning my kitchen and you might be too
the story is a comfortable 3.5 but the audio easily makes this a 4.00A sweet and minimally contrived amnesia/second chance story by [a:Kylie Scott 6476625 Kylie Scott https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1579055379p2/6476625.jpg] expertly delivered by [a:Andi Arndt 6746963 Andi Arndt https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1381410479p2/6746963.jpg].
2.5
I thought this would be a nice uncomplicated 3.00 or 3.5 but it somehow devolved into purely fantastical, nonsensical, all tell & no show sex scenes between two über male specimens.
Baby and Pierce are gorgeous, have perfect ripped bodies that take a beating and keep on ticking, are rich as in Masters of the Universe rich, Ivy League college smart, tattooed, endowed with 9 inches, one of them has the standard issue horrible parents, etc. and attraction pops up out of ... nowhere?
The writing is clean but, to my ears/eyes, uninspired. The author finds it necessary to name drop brands of everything and songs, probably meant to enhance the scene or speak to the emotions of the characters? It didn't work for me.
Overall this feels like a polished first draft for a story that definitely needs more.