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Category: Romance

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Review: Snare by Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae - 5 stars


Vampires! Paperwork! Romance!

This one is easy to love. The worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters are complex, and the pacing is believable. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes low-key paranormal elements/magical realism, meet-cute romances where the protagonists have a lot to work out after the inital attraction, and POV characters who *don't* immediately try to change a world they don't understand.

I loved Eli's emotional journey, and his exploration of the warrens avoided the pitfalls of many paranormal romances. The warren isn't some underground cave where people dress in capes and drink strangely soupy red wine; it's a community where beings of both species live together and care about each other. Eli doesn't become the chosen one who has to save a weird, wild world from eeeevil; he's just a guy who is new at this stuff and makes mistakes because he's not quite sure what the rules are.

The POV was more distant than I usually like, but it seemed appropriate for the presentation and subject matter. After a few pages, I found the distant POV helped to draw my attention to details I would otherwise have missed.

This whole story is so cozy and wonderful, and I look forward to reading more by these authors.

Blurb:

When Elliot Iverson, a municipal employee responsible for paperwork pertaining to New York City's vampire population, knocks on the door of the Gramercy warren, he wants only to resolve a clerical error. But a sudden snowstorm, a new friendship, and an ill-advised threesome force Elliot to make some big choices about his own life and death.

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Published on

Review: Gays of Our Lives by Kris Ripper - 4.5 stars

I was captivated from the moment I opened Gays of Our Lives. It's written in first person, and the author Kris Ripper uses the perspective with a mastery few can boast. From the first line, we are given the flavor of Emerson's personality: a man who wants very badly to be in control, but can't.

His struggles with both MS and his feelings of hopelessness take center stage in the narrative until he meets Obie, a handsome hipster who almost pries his way into Emerson's life.

This leads to some awkwardness. Sometimes the awkward moments were far too cute to handle. Then again, the best love stories are.

 

Spoilers Below.

What struck me the most was how low-key the book was when the relationship got rocky. While there are plenty of tense moments and conflicts in the book, it was absent the normal yanks on your emotions authors use frequently to get you to pay attention.

This lack of an emotional yank back and forth worked well for me as a reader. It also seemed to channel Emerson's own discomfort with his feelings.

The pain Emerson felt over their breakup felt more immediate and somehow even more important because he kept living his life. Even during Emerson's darkest moments he got up, went to work, went home, repeat, almost on autopilot. It felt somehow gently heartbreaking.

I also loved the interactions between the characters. They called each other on their bullshit in a way which felt loving, but still weren't all-knowing.

Blurb.

Emerson Robinette only leaves his apartment to get laid and go to work. Having MS—and trying to pretend he doesn’t—makes everything more complicated, especially his fantasies of coming on strong and holding a guy down. Finding a partner who’ll explore that with him isn’t Emerson’s idea of a realistic goal.

Until a chance meeting with a hipster on a bus makes him reconsider. Obie is happy, open-hearted, and warm; what’s more, he gets his kicks being physically dominated, spanked, and teased until he’s begging. It would be perfect, except for one thing: Emerson isn’t made for happiness, and he doesn’t see how a guy like Obie would settle for a cynic like him.

But as far as Obie’s concerned, the only thing keeping them apart is Emerson. Can Emerson handle a boyfriend who’s more invested in his future than he is? Emerson’s barely convinced he has a future. But when Obie’s smiling at him, anything seems possible.

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Published on Leave a comment on Book Review: Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare

Book Review: Say Yes to the Marquess - 5 Stars

I've decided that when I find a particularly good book, I'll mention it here on the site. After all, what good is having a blog if you can't gush about things you like? I'll add some Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience, but really I just want to talk about the great books I get to read. Let's talk about Say Yes to the Marquess.

Say Yes to the Marquess: Castles Ever After is an example of what happens when a good story meets a wonderfully weird person. It's got a mix of amusing happenstance and deliberate planning, and it's hard not to love. Between an aged bulldog who never budges until the most inconvenient time and a buddy to the MMC who thinks all he needs to break into high society is a monocle, Tessa Dare has wedged a gorgeous love story.

There's nothing to dislike here, which is pretty normal for a book by Tessa Dare. The sex scenes were hot, the characters were well-rounded and I even learned a bit about beer. If you're in the mood for a happy-go-lucky romance with a strong female lead and a lot of clever wordplay, read this book.

Blurb:

Your presence is requested at romantic Twill Castle for the wedding of Miss Clio Whitmore and ... and ...?

After eight years of waiting for Piers Brandon, the wandering Marquess of Granville, to set a wedding date, Clio Whitmore has had enough. She's inherited a castle, scraped together some pride, and made plans to break her engagement.

Not if Rafe Brandon can help it. A ruthless prizefighter and notorious rake, Rafe is determined that Clio will marry his brother--even if he has to plan the dratted wedding himself.

So how does a hardened fighter cure a reluctant bride's cold feet?

  • He starts with flowers. A wedding can't have too many flowers. Or harps. Or cakes.
  • He lets her know she'll make a beautiful, desirable bride--and tries not to picture her as his.
  • He doesn't kiss her.
  • If he kisses her, he definitely doesn't kiss her again.
  • When all else fails, he puts her in a stunning gown. And vows not to be nearby when the gown comes off.
  • And no matter what--he doesn't fall in disastrous, hopeless love with the one woman he can never call his own.