Tag Archive | No or Low Angst

Solitude by Anna Martin and Tia Fielding (5 Stars)

Mar1

Captivating writing kept me quickly turning the pages in this sweet and sexy story. The beginning of the story is a mixture of timelines with Liam providing his POV today and Gael sharing what was happening in the past. It made for an interesting way to watch the progression of their relationship. Since they are both porn stars, and Liam is a rent boy, there is quite a bit of hot, steamy sex in this story. They also have sex with other characters on the set and outside of it. I enjoyed the glimpses into their jobs, but I was glad the story was mostly focused on their growing romance. Liam’s insecurities make it hard for him to believe Gael will stick around for the long run, but Gael knows he and Liam work perfectly together. The other characters in the story really added to the plot and made everything that much more emotional. The writing style of these two authors together was flawless, and I hope they turn this story into the beginning of a series. Several other characters definitely had a story to tell.

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Originally reviewed for Swept Away By Romance. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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Hell & Highwater (THIRDS #1) By Charlie Cochet (5 Stars)

Feb22

An excellent action-based paranormal police story with a side of romance. Dex was amusing but also compassionate as the newest member of the THIRDS. Sloane was tough as nails and a good leader. The internal struggle Sloane faced, having lost his previous partner and lover, seemed realistic, and the tension between him and Dex made sense. Sloane truly loved his former partner and wasn’t ready to move on. He also felt something strong for Dex who, fortunately, was very supportive of the grieving process that Sloane was going through.

I liked the light humor throughout the book mixed in with suspenseful action scenes. The side characters were also really interesting including all of the other officers and Dex’s family.

This is the first in the series with an HFN on both the romance and overall arc. However, I wasn’t frustrated with the ending, and it didn’t feel like a major cliff-hanger. I’m looking forward to the next story to see how the relationship between Dex and Sloane moves forward, to see if any of the other characters get a story of their own, and too see how the plot moves forward on the killer.

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Originally reviewed for Swept Away By Romance. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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The Boyfriend Mandate (The Boyfriend Chronicles #2) by River Jaymes (3 Stars)

Feb17

Although I loved the first story, this one didn’t work for me on several levels. I spent the majority of the story disliking Memphis because of how he left Tyler. There were two main reasons why he left, and while the second one made the most sense, it was told too late in the story. The lack of communication between Memphis and Tyler was exhausting. The few times they did open up and talk, it would only last a few sentences before the scene faded to black. I just wasn’t convinced that these two should get back together. The other irritant was the extensive use of the word “dryly” to the point of distraction.  I’m still hopeful about the next story with Noah and Ky.

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The Subs Club (The Subs Club #1) by J.A. Rock (4 Stars)

Feb15

Five friends. One tragic death. Can the four friends find a way forward and begin to heal?

Dave and his three friends try to work through their grief after losing one of their best friends during a scene at a local BDSM club. It’s been over a year, and the pain is still fresh. Dave still hasn’t come to terms with what has happened and is extremely upset that the Dom responsible was found innocent in court. He tries to work through his issues by spending time with his friends and trying to find other outlets for his grief. He turns to another Dave, the “Disciplinarian”, for guidance. He ends up with more than he bargained for in a good way.

The Disciplinarian is trying his best to give Dave what he needs, including spankings, an enema, a caning, and the hardest thing for Dave, learning to be silent. While Dave and the Disciplinarian develop their relationship, Dave is also busy starting a website called The Subs Club. It’s meant to be an outlet for other subs to share reviews on Doms in the hopes that nobody else has to die at the hands of somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing.  I liked the concept of this website, the drama that surrounded it, and the related consequences.

This was only told from Dave’s point of view, and I never felt like I really got to know the Disciplinarian very well. The two seemed to play well together, but it was the relationship side that was a bit too light for my tastes. Romance aside, Dave’s voice was strong and interesting. Without a doubt, this author consistently writes very real and unique characters. We spent quite a bit of time during the story with the other three intriguing characters which set us up for the next several books in the series.

Finding discipline, no matter the source, can sometimes make all of the difference in the world.

Subs Club

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