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Magpie (Avian Shifters #2) by Kim Dare (5 Stars)

Nov7

Kane doesn’t realize how desperately he needs somebody to care for him. Fortunately, Everet is the perfect raven for the job. Kane, a magpie, is addicted to stealing and shooting up with the drug quicksilver. Everet rescues him from a serious beating, and then helps him deal with withdrawal. It broke my heart to watch them go through this together.

Kane is the definition of a brat, and he’s been using his good looks and sex appeal his entire life to get what he wants. None of it works on Everet although it was fun to watch Kane constantly try. Everet is in charge of security, and he also likes to be in charge in his relationship. Everet likes the real Kane, and he’s determined to make sure Kane starts to finally like and respect himself. It was a long road, with several missteps, but Everet had the patience to stand true to his convictions. Watching these two together was beautiful. They truly complemented each other in their needs and capabilities. I enjoyed seeing Ori and Raynard from Duck! and felt that their presence added to the story.

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Celebrate (Avian Shifters #1.5) by Kim Dare (5 Stars)

Nov4

A lovely glimpse into the lives of Ori and Raynard one year later. Every day with Raynard is a day of happiness for Ori. Ori is so sweet and powerful, and yet he still lacks self-confidence. Fortunately, Raynard knows how to remind Ori of just how much he’s loved.

 

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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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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.
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