Archives

Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt (4 Stars)

Sep7

A romance develops between Lee and Cole on a cruise ship under interesting circumstances. Once the cruise is over, they need to decide if the relationship can survive.

I enjoyed this story and really liked both of the characters. The mystery of Cole’s friend on the cruise was just a minor part of the plot, but served as a backdrop for some of Cole’s behavior. Since Lee just went through a break-up, he’s sensitive and tends to take Cole’s actions personally. Their dialogue and interactions were presented in a realistic light. It wasn’t all sweet talk and roses. There was also some very minor kink in the steamy hot sex scenes.  I liked how the author continued the story after they left the cruise and entered the real world. You usually see somebody at their best on a vacation, and it was nice to see their relationship strengthen in a more realistic setting.

It felt like the author had a longer story to tell, but wanted to keep it short. Many of the chapters ended in the middle of a scene. We were always updated on the results through the next chapter, and I never felt lost. It was just an interesting writing style that took a bit of time to get used to reading. I liked it since it kept the story focused and kept it from feeling repetitive.

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A Restored Man (The Men of Halfway House #3) by Jaime Reese (5 Stars)

Sep2

Another wonderful story in The Men of Halfway House series. The author deserves a victory lap for writing this perfectly blended tale of friendship, love, fun, and family.

Tyler was such a sweet, but damaged, young man. Although he was physically injured from the accident that killed his parents, the real damage was on the inside from the guilt he continues to push on himself. He runs a very successful business, but has been hiding as much as possible from any kind of real life until he meets Cole.

Cole was a burst of sunshine in Ty’s life. Cole comes with his own baggage, but his determination to make the best of his life shines through in all of his actions. Cole thrives on honesty and believes to the bottom of his heart that you should never tell a lie. This causes him to be extremely blunt, which made for some entertaining and awkward conversations. I really enjoyed the interactions between Cole and Tyler. They had fun with each other, and it gave the story a lighter feel.

I loved visiting with characters from the first two stories, especially Julian. The majority of the story takes place at Ty’s shop where he restores and customizes exotic cars. I enjoyed learning a bit about this world. The sex was steamy and sweet since these two clearly adored each other. I liked how they didn’t play games, and the few doubts that existed were realistic.

This is the third story in the series, and I highly recommend reading them in order. All of the stories are wonderful, and the early ones add depth and understanding to Cole’s situation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely romance filled with the perfect mix of well-developed characters and interesting activities. I can’t wait for the next one!

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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Blue Mountain (Pack #1) by Cardeno C. (5 Stars)

Aug15

True love is always worth the wait.

I absolutely loved Mitch and Simon. Simon was such a sweet guy, but he had such a heart-breaking existence before Mitch found him. The author did a great job keeping this relatively angst-free while still giving you a good understanding of Simon’s sad and lonely life. Mitch was an extremely gruff alpha, to the point that most of the pack was wary of him. However, when it came to the mate he thought he would never find, he’s as tender and patient as they get. It was unbelievably romantic watching Mitch court Simon. Of course, once they finally make the full connection with each other, there is plenty of steamy sex.

I loved the pack setting, and really enjoyed Mitch’s brother, Freddy, who added some interesting dynamics to the story.

One of my favorite authors writing one of my favorite genres!

Originally reviewed for Swept Away By Romance. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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Seeking Something (Sun, Sea, and Submission #6) by Kim Dare (5 Stars)

Aug8

Billy thinks he might be gay and a submissive. Gareth saves Billy from making a really bad mistake in his quest to find out. This leads to a fun weekend and the beginning of something more serious.

I really enjoyed both of the characters. Gareth knew how to push Billy a bit without causing any duress, but at the same time giving Billy a safe chance to discover what he did or didn’t like. Gareth was very protective of Billy which made the scenes that much sexier. I enjoyed their conversations, and I also enjoyed how perfectly the author captured their emotions. The descriptions she used to describe their feelings and sensations made me feel like I was there. The story was the perfect mix of dialogue, internal thoughts, and sex to find a permanent place on my “read again” shelf.

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Book Blurb