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Ruin Porn (Resonator #1) by S.J.D. Peterson and S.A. McAuley (4 Stars)

Nov1

Interesting take on the life of a rock band.

There are four members of Resonator, and all four shared their story. It was easy to keep track of whose head you were in, and each character had a unique voice. The story focused on how the four guys got along, or more often than not, didn’t get along, while they were on tour for their band. Part of the problem was due to the obnoxious, homophobic personality of Miah, the lead singer. Finn and Evin are trying to develop a relationship, but they have a few obstacles. They struggle with how to share their feelings for each other. They didn’t spend enough time talking to each other to convince me that they belonged together. They didn’t convince each other very well either. It felt like Finn and Evin spent too much time arguing or ignoring each other. They also have Ritchie mixed in the sexual side of their relationship which created even more misunderstandings. We eventually get our HEA for  Finn and Evin, but there were a lot of loose ends for Miah and Ritchie which I’m sure we’ll see played out in the next story.

The writing, characters, and interesting backdrop made this an engaging story, but I would have liked a heavier romantic element.

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Book Blurb

The Price (Las Vegas Escorts#1) by Andrew Grey (5 Stars)

Oct27

A beautiful and engaging romance built on love and respect.

Grant is a school teacher, and he’s working over the summer to pay off his sister’s debt. Between working and helping to take care of his Dad, he doesn’t have much of a personal life. When a blind date goes bad, Hunter comes to his rescue. Hunter Wolfe is a highly paid escort who provides a variety of personal services, including sex. Hunter and Grant have a few things in common including having a rough childhood and helping each other out at the high school they attended together. Hunter takes Grant out to dinner to thank him for his past help, but both of them are surprised at the connection they feel for one another. The biggest question is if the two of them can make it work with Hunter’s career.

Hunter is extremely handsome and sexy, and he knows it. While this arrogance might normally be annoying, in this case it was adorable because he uses his good looks and charm to help other people. He takes his role as an escort very seriously, and when he’s with a client, he gives them his undivided focus. Anybody who has ever been on the receiving end of that kind of attention knows what a wonderful feeling it can be. He always works hard to give his clients an experience they won’t forget, which has made him extremely popular and wealthy. Grant is a sweet person who does a wonderful job teaching students. He tries hard to find the best way to make each student excited about learning, and he’s successful at it.

I really enjoyed watching these two get to know each other. I loved Hunter and Grant, and I really wanted them to find the happiness that they deserved. I adored how Grant was so determined to take care of Hunter knowing that Hunter always took care of everybody else. I also enjoyed the time they spent in the bedroom. Their feelings for each other came through in every action, making it even sexier. Doses of realism kept me wondering how they would resolve the biggest issue they needed to deal with – convincing Hunter he deserved love and happiness. Interactions with friends and family helped us understand the characters better. It also created some excitement for what I can only hope will be the next book in the series. I read this book in one sitting and loved every minute of it.

This touching romance was such an enjoyable reading experience with unique and richly developed characters.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb

Looking for Adventure by Valentina Heart (4 Stars)

Oct19

If you found out you only had a few months to live, what changes would you make in your life?

Jonathan Morgan has just been handed a death sentence in the form of a tumor. As he reflects on his life, he realizes that he’s been extremely lonely for way too long. Fate has him meeting Nino Herc, and an impulsive decision has Jonathan hiring Nico to cook for him as he takes an extended vacation.

Jonathan was regimented in his life as a lawyer and in his every movement. This was the complete opposite of the free-spirited Nino who treasures every moment and embraces life. I enjoyed watching these two spend time together while becoming friends and then lovers. Nino did a wonderful job helping Jonathan learn how to enjoy life once again and appreciate the little things. It was nice to see how they took care of each other in their own way.

There was plenty of dialogue and the relationship was realistic. The only thing that bothered me about this story was the lack of contractions which made the dialogue seem stilted. The biggest threat to their relationship was Jonathan’s decision not to share his current health condition.

Jonathan was given a second chance with his life, and it was delightful to see him make the most of it.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb

Under His Boss by Doris O’Connor (3 Stars)

Sep14

Cute office romance mixing new love with business.

James Dyllon has been lusting after his boss but doesn’t think he stands a chance with him. George MacKenzie has been lusting after his employee, but doesn’t believe he should cross that line. Until one day he does, and they are both pleasantly surprised by the results.

This was a nice story with a mixture of romance, sex, family, and business issues. Unfortunately, there was a little too much going on outside of the relationship which made it really hard for me to understand why these two guys were so in love with each other. I would have liked to have seen more conversations and time together outside of the bedroom with George and James. There was definitely quite a bit of time spent in the bedroom among other places.

George’s father made a mess of the business he owned, and it was up to George to fix the mess. The easiest way to fix it was to marry the daughter of his competitor and bring the two companies together. The daughter was not a very nice person, and her appearances in the story made that perfectly clear. Fortunately, once George and James connected with each other, they were able to leave her behind. There was also a visit to James’ family for a party where we got to see George reflect on his life. The sad epilogue revolving around George’s dying father was touching.

If you enjoy plenty of activities with your romance, this was a nice story.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb