Tag Archive | No or Low Angst

A Simple Romance by J.H. Knight (5 Stars)

Aug11

Skip and Paul seem like they should have a simple romance. They have a lot in common, really enjoy each other’s company, and have amazing sex. However, Skip can’t let go of his past hurt. He’s trying, but he’s struggling, and I could understand where he was coming from. I enjoyed how this story was completely focused on the development of the relationship between these two. The entire story was told from Skip’s point of view, and he was a well-developed and interesting character.

I loved their family and friends. They made their small contributions throughout the story very meaningful. This was a very easy and enjoyable read.

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Book Blurb

Mark Cooper Versus America (Prescott College #1) by Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock (5 Stars)

Aug10

Opening up your heart and mind can lead to clarity and acceptance in your relationships and life.

Mark Cooper was forced to leave his home in Australia to follow his Mom and her new husband to Pennsylvania. He now has to rush a local fraternity, and he’s not happy about it. Deacon Holt happens to belong to the fraternity next door, but he isn’t going to let a little rivalry keep him from hanging out with Mark. Now these two need to see if they have enough of a connection to build a real relationship.

Mark Cooper is such an angry person at the beginning of the story, as he’s trying so hard to please so many other people. He does it in a way that certainly doesn’t make him appear spineless, but I did feel sorry for him. He has no idea what he really wants out of life yet.

Deacon is the level-headed guy that always seems to know exactly what to say and what to do. He knows what he wants out of life, and he’s determined to get it. He has to deal with his Mom who has some serious OCD issues, including constantly imagining the worst case scenario. He did a great job trying to help her deal with her issues, while at the same time realizing that he could never solve her problems for her.

It was really interesting watching these two characters learn about themselves and make a conscious effort to accept certain traits while trying to bring about change in other aspects. Watching Mark realize that his attitude was triggering some of the problems with other people was really eye-opening. He slowly realized it wasn’t really him against the world. He was simply getting his own attitude reflected back at him. Seeing Deacon accept that he likes being the guy that provides support to others was also interesting.

These two together were smoking hot. The sex scenes were off the charts, although the fisting scene was a bit too realistically painful to read. I really liked both Mark and Deacon at the beginning of the story, but I loved them by the end. This was a decent length novel, and yet I still wanted more. The ending was wonderful, but I would also love at least another glimpse into their lives.

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

Like and Subscribe by Jay Bell (5 Stars)

Aug10

Very sweet story about the beginning of a romance. I liked the imagination the author showed with the plot. Two engaging characters who discover that they fell in love with an image instead of a person.

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Dead Man and the Restless Spirits (Dead Man #1) by Lou Harper (5 Stars)

Aug7

Spirits and romance mix in this fast-paced, enjoyable story.

Denton Mills can see the spirits of those who have died. It has made his life a bit challenging, but it’s about to get a lot better after he meets Bran Maurell. Bran is a witch who cleanses homes and has a very prickly personality. Denton and Bran start to work together and also begin to have feelings for each other. But Bran has a secret, and he’s afraid Denton will leave once he finds out.

Denton was a great guy with a lighthearted personality. I liked his partner, Joy, and enjoyed watching them interact on their web design business. Bran was a challenge at some points with his grouchy personality. At the same time, I liked that he never really changed outside of smiling a bit more and starting to warm up a little. It made the story much more realistic.

As we learn his secrets, his issues make perfect sense which just made him more lovable. Most of the sex in this story takes place off page. However, there is a bit of kink involved once you learn Bran’s secret. This definitely made the little bit of sex extremely steamy in a unique way.

I loved the paranormal elements and how they played perfectly with the romance angle. There were a few different cases they took on which kept the story moving quickly without ever getting overwhelming or confusing. The most emotional moment in the story, which had me in tears, actually took place between two of the spirits.

There were some minor open ends in the story which make me hope I’ll see these characters in future stories of the Sanquine series. Denton plays a role in the first story in the series, but it wasn’t necessary to read it before this one.

I highly recommend this sweet paranormal romance with quirky characters and some really touching moments which made for a delightful read.

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