Saturday, June 22, 2013

Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt

4 STARS

Tucker Springs - Book 4

What a fun, heartfelt read! 

Let me start by saying that I'm in love with Seth the tattoo artist. And quite honestly, I expected him to be the 'aggressor' in this story of two men falling in love. But you know what? He wasn't! It was the minister, Darren who was really pursuing Seth. And I really liked him too! We need more men of God like him. Seriously. 

The story is told in the first person, and told well. Some writers don't handle first person POV very well, but L.A. certainly does. I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything only seeing the story through Seth's eyes (which isn't always the case.) There was also, given the Main Characters, a good deal of talk about religion and beliefs, the difference between the two, the place that gay holds especially in Big C Christianity. I was worried that it would feel like preaching to me, or even scolding, but it all flowed quite naturally. 

The only agenda that was being served was the love story between the minister and the atheist.So, yes, this 4th volume in the Tucker Springs universe is great! Read it! :)

Monday, June 17, 2013

Finding Master Right by L.A. Witt

4 STARS

This was a hugely fun read, even though I wanted to smack both Chase and Derek upside their clued-out heads through most of it. *LOL* Talk about being at cross-purposes! Boys, all this angst and heartache could have been avoided if only you'd have TALKED ABOUT THINGS! And talked honestly! But then we wouldn't have had a story. 

I think what makes this book work is the two main characters and the colourful secondary group. They're just fun guys. We don't get to know much about them beyond their love lifes... love lives... whatever. :) But I don't feel short-changed over that, it really wasn't important to the tale. 

I really enjoyed the look into a kinky, leather convention, but I was left with one question, and that being, were there really that few female attendees? It seemed like a glaring absence to me, but I guess I'm being unfairly picky because it doesn't really matter to Chase and Derek's story. 

Lastly, I find myself thinking that since the author has indicated that maybe Master Raul might be getting his own story (of course) it wouldn't surprise me if he gets hooked up with Ian. *sigh* I hope not. Too predictable for my blood. So, in the end, a great, fun, kinky read! Highly recommended! :)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

If It Flies by L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov

5 STARS

Market Garden - Book 3

I loved this volume in the Market Garden series! I'm not totally sure I can tell you exactly why, but it just left me with a wonderful feeling of Fistpump! "Way to go, guys!" and a big smile on my face. 

I loved both characters, Spencer and Nick. I loved how their relationship started, progressed and grew. I loved how Spencer just trusted and I loved how Nick just realised. Yes, the sex was hot, steamy and plentiful, but it was also fascinating to watch Spencer finally be able to explore his inner self. 

Another thing that struck me about 3/4s of the way through the book, it was all written from Spencer's POV, which allowed us to really see and understand his growth. Yeah, I loved this one. :)

Friday, June 14, 2013

Take It Off by L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov

4 STARS

Market Garden - Book 2

Hot and steamy second installment of the Market Garden tales. Pure heat from beginning to end. I love the characters of Tristan and Jared and hope we'll be seeing more of them. :)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

If It Ain't Love by Tamara Allen

3.5 STARS

3.5 stars because Goodreads has a Stupid Rating System.

This was a good little love story, set in the early days of the Depression. I loved the two main characters, Whit and Peter. Up until we actually find out about Peter's 'situation', I was totally on the wrong track about who he was. :) 

The writing is really lovely, something many m/m romances are lacking. It's almost as if authors are afraid to use a beautiful turn of phrase for something masculine. The love scenes are exactly that, love scenes as opposed to sex scenes; nothing graphic but still sexy and sweet as perfectly fits the atmosphere of the story. And I loved the bit about the chair. :)

Monday, June 10, 2013

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

3.5 STARS

All Souls Trilogy - Book 2

I'd really give this 3.5 stars, but we all know Goodreads doesn't deal in half stars. (Stupid Ratings system). 

I found the first half of the book draggy and lacking the excitement of the first volume of the trilogy. We were introduced to a myriad of new characters, seemingly all at once and they all sort of got mixed up together to the point that I had no idea who was who in history and whether they were considered creatures or not. I also missed a bit of a refresher about what happened in the first book, A Discovery of Witches. It's been a while, after all, a year or so, I think, between publications. 

The best part of the first half were the chapters dealing with Diana and Matthew's stay with Phillipe. 

The second half of the book picked up. Diana and Matthew were actually DOING something instead of basically keeping secrets from each other. We also met Anne and Jack - two of my favourite characters in the book - and got to see Diana make considerable progress in her search for her witchy powers. :)

The last twist - or twists - were interesting. I won't give them away here, but one kind of fell out of nowhere and had no context - almost as if we were missing a chapter or two of what was going on in present time. And the second was a pleasant twist that I quite enjoyed but might seem as pandering to some. 

So now starts the wait for the last of the trilogy - and please, all the little gods and goddesses - let it be the last one. I am SO tired of all these "so and so need their own story" off-shoots of books. So and so doesn't always need their own story, really.