Annery

Re-read 9/26/21 – 9/26/21

The Great Ashe Re-Read of 2021 continues

Re-Read 9/29/21 – 9/30/21

Finding extra layers of goodness in an already memorable series has been one of the pleasures of this epic reread.

As before, I think I pretty much covered my feels about this in my original review, so just some extra thoughts:

* I'm still scratching my head as to why Rebeca insists on ‘making' Hazard socialize with people he'd prefer no to see. Seems a bit pushy.

* This episode is very much about the relationship between fathers and sons and I couldn't help but think that, no matter what our age, we all revert to teenagers in the presence of our parents.

* Somers getting relationship advice from Norman & Gross is both scary and hysterical.

* Hazard's mom calling him ‘Bunny' and ‘Muffin' is beyond cute

This is book 3 in the Leaning Into, and the though it could be read as a standalone, the intro of this group of friends in [b:Leaning Into Love / Leaning Into Always 47148739 Leaning Into Love / Leaning Into Always (Leaning Into #1-2) Lane Hayes https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563581930l/47148739.SY75.jpg 72203271] is pretty sweet, low angst, and pain free. Nick Jorgensen is 30, and the brains behind EN Tech, a cyber security company. He has the smarts to outcode anyone but isn't so good at interpersonal relationships or filtering his thoughts or his impulses. One of those uncontrolled impulses led to an impromptu engagement and it's quick, predictably disastrous end. Convinced the whole enterprise was cursed he's been trying to return cases of bespoke wine he'd ordered for the wedding. So far he's been unsuccessful but he's willing to try again. Nick is nothing if not persistent. To this end he goes in person to the winery and meets Wes Conrad. Lights out, even if they don't know it right away. Wes is forty-five, back from where Nick's going, and exactly what Nick needs. He's the calm to Nick's usual mental storm, but he also loves Nick for his quirks & unique mind, not in spite of them. I loved how he's so much himself without being a pompous ass or a rigid know it all. He's interested in how Nick thinks and what makes him tic. Nick for his part finds someone who wants nothing from him but himself and also has the patience to wait him out when he can't figure out his own thoughts.I loved everything about this. I liked that Wes doesn't hand Nick solutions to his problems, he can't. But he's a sound port and an anchor. I like that, though he certainly screws up, sometimes spectacularly so, Nick is always willing to try again, whether at work or life. I liked that though there's a pretty immediate attraction, and scorching sex early on (I'm not complaining) the love develops organically and over time. Nick and Wes continue to deal with their professional lives as adults do. Perfect. Do yourself a favor and get the AB by [a:Nick J. Russo 8141120 Nick J. Russo https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]. It's perfection.

Beautiful, poignant, and evocative. Love in a variety of its manifestations.

... also how am I still accidentally reading Christmas or Christmas adjacent stories? No. I didn't look at the cover and it's not really a Xmas story just like it's not really a romance, though it is a love story. I was happy.

RE-READ 10/1/21 – 10/3/21

I've been reading nothing but H&S for a good long while and I'm not mad about it. I'm actually happy that the next arc is coming out this week. I'm here for it. Obsessed? Just a smidge.

I rally have nothing to add but to say that these two really complement each other ❤️❤️ Happy sighs.

************FIRST READ 12/29/20 – 12/30/20

... and this is how you do it

I came to this because I love getting short ABs to fill a couple of hours and though I do like Derrick McClain sometimes he doesn't work for me. I'm thrilled that on this occasion he was excellent because the story deserves it. L.B. Gregg is a “new-to-me” author and I'll definitely try more.

This is the story of Luke and Winter, a case of opposites attract who turned out to be a perfect couple until they weren't. Winter is one of those company fixers, think Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, who travels for his work. Luke, his younger partner, is fine with staying back and keeping the homefires burning until Winter makes a unilateral decision to move to Germany, which Luke isn't having and they separate. The book opens with Winter trying to reconnect after some months of separation and suitably progresses, as befits a Holiday romance, to their reconciliation by Christmas. This summary may sound clinical but I felt that it was beautifully done, but more importantly, believable.

What I loved about this story is a long list, but primarily I liked that it's a story about adults in an established relationship and that neither the author nor the characters shy away from what that might mean. The author doesn't pretty-up a CEO like Winter. He is ruthless, pragmatic, and used to getting his way. Though he comes around and apologizes, beautifully, to Luke for how he's behaved as pertains to their relationship and we, as readers, are confident that Luke will be well loved and taken care of, we're also sure that Winter will continue to be the successful businessman with all that entails. For his part Luke is honest enough to recognize his powerlessness in the presence of a Winter who wants him back, to see where he himself has been at fault, wether by commission or omission, and more importantly to forgive and hold tight to the good thing they have and not dwell on his hurts, perceived or real.

Those are the other BIG themes in this story: forgiveness, true love, and, more importantly, the willingness to alter or modify our dreams and plans because sometimes, that other life is just as good, just as rewarding. It's just different. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in what we thought our life would be or look like that we can't see anything else, any other options, but they ARE there. And they're not bad.

As for the romance between Luke and Winter, to me, it felt real, lived in, and genuine. And still sizzling.

Well ... if you're prepared to go into the more serious corners of BAD-WRONG [a:R.J. Moray 14368949 R.J. Moray https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1597393033p2/14368949.jpg] isn't afraid to take you there. If you can put on blinders to what's going on and enjoy a well written piece of smut (I mean it as a sincere compliment) this will serve you well. I won't go further in my comments as I get the impression that this is the beginning of a story that will be fleshed out and continued. I hope so.

I've been thinking about what I want to say about this book since I finished it yesterday and damn this is going to be difficult.On the one hand the language is gorgeous if at times overwrought but I'm game for that. The author is adept at using lush imagery to evoke emotions and memories sometimes at a sensory level sometimes those that only live in our dreams. It would be presumptuous of me to say but I felt that perhaps the author was inspired by the kind of writing you find in [b:Ingenious Pain 382468 Ingenious Pain A Novel (Harvest Book) Andrew Miller https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1392070324s/382468.jpg 2346752], [b:Kalimantaan 759174 Kalimantaan C.S. Godshalk https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312063669s/759174.jpg 745283], [b:As Meat Loves Salt 271487 As Meat Loves Salt Maria McCann https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1398025759s/271487.jpg 1435622] or even [b:Call Me by Your Name 98687 Call Me by Your Name André Aciman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1283737003s/98687.jpg 1363157]. These are novels in which language is king and you're enveloped in the almost poetic heights of the writing to the point where you have reread to get the “story” but you don't mind because you're in a mesmerizing and delicious spell. It pains me to say that this fell short of the mark.When I started reading this, up to maybe the 30% mark, I was giddy with elation. I love poetic books and I was so thrilled to find one within the MM genre. This is the part of how Henry, a thirtysomething history professor, and Ruben, one of his senior high school internship students, come together. Have no fear. They meet and though Ruben starts showing interest in Henry by October Henry is a moral and ethical man and resists, that is until the school year is over and Ruben returns from his summer in the country. They meet at Henry's apartment for a tryst which is interrupted by an untimely visitor but then meet again and and spend a weekend together before Ruben leaves for college. All this is fine and dandy and told quite beautifully. The problem is that after the wonderful weekend all we have is pining and beautiful suffering. By the time the MCs finally got together I was exhausted by so much beauty, trembling, and perfection. Once the weekend is over almost two years elapse in which Ruben does some needed growing up and also decides that he's more gay than bi which is a big change because when he was first in Henry's class he was “straight”. He goes to college, sleeps around and just generally has experiences and new friendships and I was totally on board with that. He is doing exactly what someone his age would/should be doing. What I had a bit of a hard time believing was his growing fixation bordering on obsession with Henry. Oh Henry! He is the MC on which the whole story hinges and to my taste the author oversold him. THIS MIGHT GET SPOILERISHHenry is a man of quasi Messianic perfection. Even his origin story and subsequent life are there to amplify his goodness. Everyone who meets him loves him even his married agent falls under his unwitting spell while he goes about like the absent minded professor who can't even be bothered to answer email because “oh God the modern world!”. Such BS. Henry breaks and suffers beautifully and everyone loves him particularly Ruben who over the course of two years of separation has to prove his TRUE love by falling apart, reinventing himself and offering Henry a family to call his own. Quite frankly if I where Ruben's parents I'd be a little freaked welcoming a 36 yr. old to be my 21 yr. old son's husband. That's how old they are by the end of the book but before the epilogue.I understand and like the choice of having Henry be a Historian and his love of older things and their significance in our everyday lives: he was never wanted, never had a family but his insistence on not doing email or cell phones got annoying quick. Hey you can shut off your phone or just don't answer it! Problem solved. This all seemed like a contrivance to keep him isolated from Ruben and thus the two years of woe. But these are quibbles. My bigger problem is that I simply didn't believe in the all consuming love between these two and not because of the short span of time they actually spent together before they decided they were in love. I just didn't feel it. Sure bald and nerdy Henry would be blown away by an 18 yr. old former student finding him hot and letting him screw him but obsessing for two years over said guy without ever being in touch with him again in any way that's just sad or creepy. If it was a case of sexual obsession I could get on board with that but NO this was all sublimated true love. Then we have Ruben who meets at least two good guys while in college but can only love Henry. Perfect Henry. Aside from offering his own family as a surrogate for Henry he also gets him his own “mom & dad” because Henry is just that deserving of love but somehow has been deprived until now. The ending is cotton candy and marshmallow sweet to the point where my teeth hurt. Prince Henry got everything he never dreamed he wanted. Ugh! I could go on but ultimately I just didn't believe in the love story. What does Henry bring to Ruben? How endearing will fussy Henry be to Ruben once he's a fully mature man? The rating is because I liked everything else: the themes explored, the language and narrative style and I also very much loved Ruben. The cover is gorgeous. I would even go so far as to say that I might give it another go on some future date. Maybe my mood toward Henry will improve. Henry annoyed me.

Utterly charmed ❤️❤️ against my will and while I wasn't looking.It you've seen Sleepless in Seattle this is that but nicely updated to now and transplanted to NYC and Long Island. The adaptation is smartly done, not a slavish beat for beat retread, and [a:Sydney Smyth 18606199 Sydney Smyth https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has a keen ear for current social mores. The story is as much about family and familial relationships as it is about Matt and Hugo but rest assured that it's very much a love story between these two. An almost preordained magical one. Like the movie the principals don't meet 'til the end but I was invested all the way. I loved both of them. My draw of course was [a:Teddy Hamilton 15007880 Teddy Hamilton https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] who just has my number. It was good to discover that apparently he can't pronounce Oregon and his British accent is meh. It makes him human. [a:Robbie Martino 21267043 Robbie Martino https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is a NTM narrator and I enjoyed the warmth with which he infuses Hugo. His American voices are a bit wobbly, he tends to make them all sound a bit southern which doesn't match any of these characters. Thankfully Teddy does the majority of the narrating and Robbie is not tasked with doing too many Americans.

Soooo ... this didn't work for me. The MC are two prototypes of current people I try to avoid like the plague. People who are adults but pretend like they're not, because of Peter Pan syndrome or because it's fashionable? I dunno

So this is part 2 (?) of this series and I'm guessing that it will/should continue in order to finish the story. I'm not sure that I'll go on.On the one hand this was a bit different from our daily fare which is good. On the other hand I can't quite see the logic, motivations of certain characters, or where this is going. Normally that would be a good thing but I'm apprehensive about ... where is the meta story going.Perry is all that is good in the world plus extra sprinkles. Life did him wrong three years ago and now he's putting his life back together via a job in Maverick Insurance where some of the staff seem unaccountably fond and concerned with the new janitor. Nathaniel/Nate was the first responding officer in Perry's hour of distress and since then he's been fixated on him. Now as a homicide detective when a case takes him to Maverick Insurance he sees/meets Perry again and all bets are off. I figured out pretty early in [b:No Good Deed 114821648 No Good Deed (Maverick Insurance Mysteries #1) M.J. May https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676323530l/114821648.SY75.jpg 137146289] what was going on however we are now on BK.2 and the original “villains” are background fodder while Nate & Nat (don't ask) have moved on to different cases. The current one is only tangentially connected to Perry which makes me wonder how or when the original story will evolve. On the romance department the story is idealistic & gentle. Not a bad thing. Just an observation. Those who like their MC to have all the correct views and say the right things will likely enjoy this more than I did.As usual YMMV.

This is a double story, two couples whose stories kind of sort of overlap with others in the CC universe and with each other, in more ways than one. The first part concerns Jack, one of the Grady brothers who have been mentioned in previous books. Jack is an editor and Isla Roe, the daughter of successful novelist Aidan Roe, Jack's college friend, comes asking for help with her writing. As you may guess, or if you, like myself, are reading in [a:Cara Dee 6936449 Cara Dee https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1618239463p2/6936449.jpg]'s suggested order you know that Jack & Isla become entangled, fall in love, and Aidan, Isla's father is none too happy about it.Part two is Aidan coming to Camassia to get an explanation from Jack about what's going on between his daughter and his erstwhile good friend. The secrecy and age difference are part of his complaints and I can't say I blame him. His plans for exacting and explanation from the lovebirds is derailed because upon his arrival in Camassia Aidan meets Chloe and all bets are off. Chloe is the mother of four boys and runs a local inn. She's also charming, full of life, and open to life, exactly what Aidan needs after having shut himself off from life after his wife's death. As a plus she's also the girl of his childhood dreams. Literally.These are two lighthearted tales that help populate the Camassia world and are fun sexual romps. ❤️

Every time I read a [a:Sarah Black 625876 Sarah Black https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] I bemoan not reading more of her output. Hopefully I'm sufficiently chastised and will remedy that in future. This is short story that feels epic. Dog & Hutch are two ace pilots in the hell that was Vietnam in 1968, one gets captured and the other, naturally follows. Everything about how they interact with each other, how they speak, and act feels & sounds authentic, not written to flatter our modern ears. I loved them and so happy that they got their HEA ❤️❤️

*3.75Review for all 3 booksI decided to review this as a whole because, though split into three (3) parts or five (5), counting the prequel [b:Family by Fate 42989897 Family by Fate (The Accidental Master #0.5) M.A. Innes https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543529102l/42989897.SY75.jpg 66823990] and Orlando, a sort of extended epilogue included in the AB of the complete series, it's one story. This another of [a:M.A. Innes 15179896 M.A. Innes https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1612039247p2/15179896.jpg]'s vanilla-kink stories that hits the spot when you want sweet with a nod & wink towards kink, like right now. [a:Kenneth Obi 17596815 Kenneth Obi https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s delivery is the necessary cream on top. Cooper and Sawyer are two boys who, after graduating from high school, found themselves discarded by their families. Four years down the road they've made themselves into their own family of two and along the way have embraced their preferred kink: puppyhood. The only hitch is that they're both subs and need/want a Master. After a screw-up with an ad they come into contact with Jackson a forty-something who owns an actual dog training business. One things leads to another and they find they're each what the other needs, even what they didn't know they wanted As usual with this author, she gives us a story with a kink or composition that can quite frankly be weird or taboo and render it like a mainstream contemporary MM romance complete with HEA and more loving than angst. Not an easy feat. She gives us believable romance and credible insight into the why of a preferred lifestyle all wrapped up with good intentions & humor. In the Innes world there are more good than bad people in the world, even when they express themselves inartful ways. I agree. Cooper, Sawyer, and Jackson complement each other's empty spaces and I was okay with that. Probably my favorite of them was Sawer, who thinks and deliberates his actions, Cooper is more of an eternal optimist who always sees the glass as half full, which is nice, but he's also hopped up on boundless energy which I'd find exhausting in RL and I felt he's sometimes portrayed as a bit infantile. I get a D/s relationship but IMO subs need to be able to function like rational, grown-up adults without having a constant minder. Jackson was this perfect Dom, all patience, caring, without a sadistic bone in his body, and the perfect family to boot. I liked him very much but had to add some goodwill to accept how quickly he fell into Dom mode. We're told he's always been a bit domineering in his past relationships, and he does do his research into the lifestyle, but it still felt too easy to me. Not the falling in love, which is fast, but Jackson's ALL IN to Dom mode in the wink of an eye. It felt only romanclandia true. I also would've liked to see Sawyer & Cooper deal or resolve the issues with their blood relatives. Cooper's are swept into the “all will be well in time” folder and Sawyer seems to have no family. It happens but ... odd. I'd still recommend this, particularly when you just want to be distracted or wrapped up in an eiderdown comforter, however it's probably better to parcel out the parts and not do it in one go as I did. It's 20.5 hours and many of those are dedicated to sex which YIKES can get repetitive? Yup.

I always like to sample male writers within the genre, I think they lend a different flavor to romance, and [a:Timothy Warren 3448127 Timothy Warren https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1605738261p2/3448127.jpg] doesn't disappoint. The way Alec and Demarco (his BFF) communicate and Alec's dealings with Mac, his soon to be ex have all the hallmarks of how actual gay men relate to each other. I was tempted to add it to my gay-fiction shelf but the story remains in romance territory.THE STORY: Alec lives in D.C. and writes a lighthearted column about the adventures of a certain strata of the gay community in and around the Dupont Circle. His own love life hits a snag and he heads to a rural cabin in Montana to ponder other avenues for his writing and get out of a stifling rut. City boy needs to be rescued and in comes Tyler, a local renaissance man who basically does everything, does it well, and is smoking hot to boot. Sparks spark and what's expected happens.I liked Alec and Tyler as a couple, things as far as the big L move a little fast IMO but you could see how they would've gotten there regardless of the constraints of a romance novel. It worked. Alec is a bit annoying, a bit of a cliched city boy, but he gets to the right place in due time. Tyler besides his state as a widower remains a bit opaque, kind of just there to be an ideal we can all root for but I wasn't too clear on who he was. The town of Melody (where the story takes place) and its denizens was a bit too whimsical for my tastes but might be the main attraction for others. Enjoyable.

3.5 for the story / 5.00 for the narrationI've procrastinated writing a review for this because I loved so much about it but then things happened, narrative choices were made that flipped the story that was being told and I wasn't best pleased. But let's start with the good which was very good.When the book opens (post prologue) Tex is still reeling from the sudden death of his boyfriend, Memphis. It's been a year but Tex is doing the bare minimum to be counted as among the living. His grief runs deep and though both his and Memphis' family try to keep him going it seems to be a losing battle. He's resentful of anyone who even hints at the idea that it may be time to start moving on and frankly I can't blame him. Though they were only together three (3) years when Tex and Memphis met they discovered the yin to each other's yang. It was a beautiful and special thing.The author and the narrator are both NTM and though ultimately I had issues with how the story was resolved I wouldn't be averse to trying something else by [a:Maria Vickers 14174894 Maria Vickers https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1505401802p2/14174894.jpg]. The narrator, [a:Andrew Joseph Perez 21278682 Andrew Joseph Perez https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], was a definite success and I'd unequivocally listen to him again. the rest of my thoughts on the blog & later here

Possibly Ranty Review Coming but here's the gist of it if you want to skip reading it:Generous 3.00, because of the authors & the writing, when it could've easily been a 4.5 in spite of a wobbly start, but the last plot development ruined it for meI'd seen mixed reviews for this but it was available both on KU & Audible Escape. I've really liked previous books from both of these authors, same goes for the narrators [a:Iggy Toma 13543759 Iggy Toma https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Kirt Graves 15936299 Kirt Graves https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png], so I decided to give it a try. The audio worked pretty well. I don't mind dual narration, though they can be tricky, and mostly they're unnecessary. Iggy's voice for Amory was the most difficult to get used, though I ended up liking him, probably because I liked the character. The difficulty came from the fact that his southern drawl verges a bit on an old timey raconteur, sometimes sounding older than 42, which is how old Amory is meant to be. Kirt almost made me like William. Almost.The is advertised as some sort of Thomas Crown Affair, enemy to lovers, criminal & outlaw trope, but it's not not exactly true. Amory isn't actually an art thief. Not in the traditional sense. Will on the other hand is exactly as advertised and that's the problem. I won't say I hated him, that would be too strong a word, but I'm not sure we'd be friends. He's a saint or has aspirations to canonization, existing on a higher moral ground, and demanding/expecting that everyone conform to his narrow view of right & wrong. The problem with saints, at least for me, is that I find them insufferable, and hypocritical at best. The first 20% or so had me doubting my choice of read/listen. The attraction is perfectly fine but their behavior on their first encounters seemed out of character for who they're meant to be, and their ages, 34 & 42. I guess it's meant to signal how meeting that person/thing that makes us zap and zing can shake us out of our normal but, I don't know, it just didn't buy it. Thankfully once they settled into a proper relationship I REALLY liked it. How they were more or less easy with each other in spite of their differences, how it didn't take them too long to acknowledge that they had feelings beyond lust for each other, and they didn't freak out when the “L” word surfaced. In other words they behaved like the grownups they are which is why the last 20% and the ending ruined the whole thing for me.William comes off as the most sanctimonious & ungrateful prick. Amory does something to make William's life better, as you try to do for people you love, and all William and do is feel offended and flagellate Amory for daring to use the means at his disposal to ease the way. There's also this thing of making Amory seem like a snob because he knows and likes the good things in life. Sure, many of us can't afford the really good champagne, the truly decadent macaroons, the fits-like-a-glove bespoke suit, but isn't it what we aspire to? If William is so opposed to the good things and life, why is he with Amory? Armory's wealth and upbringing are part of what make him himself. He accepts William with all of his annoying black & white view of the world. William needs to be accepted with all his baggage and Amory does, yet William seems incapable of extending the courtesy. Amory is meant to ‘mend his ways', be sorry for what he's done, and promise to never do it again. Change. Frankly I never saw what William brought to Amory but judgement. Maybe that's Armory's kink? The worst part was that I got the impression that the authors agree with William's POV. I felt properly chastised but not changed. Me and my immoral self, who likes to be taken care of by my SO, and likes the paved road will be on our merry way. Because I'm feeling snippy: I didn't care for the cover, and I could've done without some of the sex.

3.5So this happened.Heed the blurb. These are not love stories and the erotic part is stretching the boundaries of that word too. There is sex. Lots of it. None of it save a random kiss here or there having to do with love or tenderness. Not a criticism just a fact.The stories themselves [b:Cheating Bastard 28108424 Cheating Bastard (Bastards, #1) Devon McCormack https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1449382699s/28108424.jpg 48116031] and [b:Lying Bastard 28665784 Lying Bastard (Bastards, #2) Devon McCormack https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454163673s/28665784.jpg 48854612] are peopled by one evil guy and his satellites who are kind of dumb or naive i.e. “Cheating Bastard” or obsessed and blind to everything around them i.e. “Lying Bastard”.Over all if you're feeling “not nice” these two tales can fill out an hour or two and you'll be secure in the fact that there will be no Happy Ending much less HEA in spite of the dozens of orgasms on display. Pain will be meted out but not always the enjoyable kind and if you're a stickler for safety or even consent look elsewhere.One peeve though is that towards the end the villains do explain too much what they did when it was pretty obvious and needed little clarification.

4.5If you're looking for a bit of fantasy where true love & good sex are a magic potion that solves all of life's problems this isn't that book. If however you want a realistic portrayal of two people falling in lust, love and forging a relationship despite life's woes you've come to the right place. A beautiful audio rendition by [a:J.F. Harding 8279965 J.F. Harding https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is just icing on the cake.Tony Hart is a high school teacher, an easy going guy comfortable in his skin as a gay man. One day he has the misfortune of kind-of-sort-of witnessing the murder of a work colleague wich brings him into the orbit of Det. Jared “Mac” MacLean. Mac is Tony's polar opposite in every way. Mac is a gay man who due to life, society, family, reality or take your pick, has never been out, in some aspects even to himself. You know what they say about opposites. Tony is attracted to Mac from the beginning but mostly in the “hot guy alert” sense, while attraction is not something Mac allows himself to enjoy, not at home in Minnesota, but the investigation brings them into frequent contact, Tony gets hurt and ... the real stuff begins. As I said before, for the romance purists or those wanting candy cane and rainbows this will disappoint. For one a good portion of the book is dedicated to the investigation, a fairly accurate portrayal of police procedure, which can seem irrelevant and menial but to my mind enriches and informs where Mac is coming from, his worldview. Part two of the possible let down is that, realistically, this ends in a HFN, and it leaves Tony in an unenviable position, but one he chooses. To me it was painfully realistic. Also while Mac's story does flirt a little bit with the dramatic I'm taking into account that, though the audio is new, the book itself is from 2011, eons ago. Obergefell v. Hodges had not yet been heard making marriage equality a reality, so things we now take for granted were very much not a thing. On the plus side Mac & Tony's relationship is beautiful and scorching. They just get each other on a physical and mental level. A beautiful thing. I'd definitely recommend this and follow it with two shorts: And to All a Goodnight and Getting it Right. Ps. I already owned the original books and thus followed along a bit. It seems that inconsequential parts have been altered but nothing major. I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

First time listen 9/27/22 - 9/29/22

So I went on an Audible splurge and I got this. Best. Purchase. Ever.

Second read/listen 12/13/19-12/14/19Same thoughts as before. I enjoyed revisiting with these folks, it's a bit on the heavy with ‘issues', but none fake or contrived. My only ‘take-back' would be that how soon Jordan moves on or not from his loss is none of my business. Presumptuous of me to judge how a human heart can heal from loss. Who am I to say?First read/listen 8/3/17 -8/6/17This is book 2 in the “Through Hell and Back” series narrated by the excellent [a:Kale Williams 15569309 Kale Williams https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png]. I'd say that one star is for his performance. The choice of narrative speed and voices is exactly on point and lends poignancy and grit to the story while also grounding it. The book works fairly well as a stand-alone but I'd say having book one in your pocket enhances the experience as far as character development and emotions.This is a story about mourning, second chances, and forgiveness. Forgiving others and perhaps the hardest thing, forgiving ourselves. So ... a little on the heavy but not overwhelmingly so.The story picks up nine months or so after tragic events at the end of book one and Dr. Jordan Peterson is still a walking shell. Existing but not living. Enter Lucas Conover, one of the financial advisors left in place to help steer the foundation Jordan is meant to be to be heading. Lucas threatens to wrest control of said foundation due to Jordan's lack of interest. It turns out that calling the good Doctor out on his failings is exactly what he needs to kick him back into gear. Lucas and Jordan meet and though it's not lust or much less love at first sight there certainly is a spark. I liked that Jordan and Lucas, even though they had a growing attraction, got to know each other over the course of some months working together on matters for the foundation and that the relationship evolved from that base. I liked that Lucas and Jordan had to revise or adjust attitudes and beliefs and that they were open to change. I liked that both had to overcome more than the usual “will they/won't they” scenario but rather some pretty authentic problems, particularly Jordan. I felt like the author presented a solution to his problems that was evidently well researched and narratively well executed. I liked the participation of friends and family introduced in Book 1, particularly Drew and of course Ash, though the Lucas and Ash “conversation” was left for far too late in the book for my liking but that's a minor niggle.My major niggles are more personal. There were perhaps one too many “issues” in this book and at times these seemed to tip the scales: mourning, grief, addiction, childhood abuse, the failures of the foster system, homelessness, drug dealers, illegal guns etc. One or two of these would have been sufficient for one book.The other thing is really personal and perhaps irrelevant. I'm giving nothing away by saying that Jordan is grieving the abrupt violent loss of his long term partner and fiance and yet about a year out he's IN LOVE with another guy? I dunno ... seems sudden or that the Doc's affections may be fickle. We know he's not. So maybe, for moi, a little more time might have eased the way? Unless we're going with Keith, the dead fiance, left this man, Lucas, to keep Jordan sane, loved, and safe? Would Patrick Swayze do that for Demi Moore at the end of Ghost? Maybe. Let's be generous and go with that.If you're in the mood for an issues book with some serious sexy times on the side this will fit the bill nicely, but I'd go with the audio because it will surely enhance your enjoyment of the story.

Well this settles it. [a:Claire Davis 18532 Claire Davis https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and I are not meant to be. I read [b:Billie Jean 23198869 Billie Jean Claire Davis https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1410364520l/23198869.SX50.jpg 42675791] and thought meh ... but I figured I'd give this author another go. I was really digging the first 40% but the rest turned into the same complaint I had about the first book: it was a pretty detailed outline or rough draft of a good book to come. But this wasn't it.

Oh my ❤️❤️ this was absolutely lovely.

Johnny and Sean have appeared in some form or other throughout the previous books and they're the couple whose story you didn't you'd been waiting for. Totally worth the wait.

Sean is 45 and only came out as bi five years ago. He wen't through a difficult divorce and is desperately trying not to rock the boat with his ex-wife, be a perfect father to his two kids, and run his various business concerns. It's a tall order for anyone but more so for Sean and his pretty hard and fast rules on how to live. Johnny is the unexpected spanner in his world order.

Johnny is 30 and never had anything, not even a proper family, so he doesn't expect anything. So sad. Zero's inexorable rise, the fame and financial security it represents is nice but jarring at the same time. He'll deal. What he never expected was that a one off with Sean would turn into more: shared meals, spending time with Sean's kids, being taken care of and caring in return. That's love for you. It sneaks up on tiny cat feet or slobbery dog tongue when you least expect it.

Rest assured that if you're here for the burn-the-sheets smex you won't be disappointed. Fiercely independent Johnny melts (in the bedroom) to Sean's bossy and Sean loves to have Johnny in his care. However my favorite thing was witnessing the organic growth of the relationship, I could smell and taste it. The movie night, game night, or dinner with the family that slowly starts knitting their lives together without them even noticing. How Johnny, just by being himself, helps Sean access his children in a different way and makes him realize that you can't hold water in your hands, just enjoy watching it flow like a river. It's still beautiful.

Sean and Johnny are outwardly opposites who fit perfectly together and I loved them.

I've had this forever but hadn't read it. Perhaps that was a mistake. I can see how the story would've seemed revelatory or daring 10 or 15 years ago.

Essentially it's one man's story of obsession with his girlfriend's brother. He tutors him, takes him on a camping trip, things happen. When they return home our narrator ends up hospitalized, losing tons of weight, and indulging in unhealthy behavior because he can't cope with the rejection of his paramour.

For me it got a bit long and/repetitive but again I'm sure this read differently when it was published.

Part two in the continuing story of Maximilian & Ethan and a satisfying one it is. If I'm gauging this correctly each installment will be a case or story for the Elite Poole agency and further evolvement in the relationship of our MCs and so far so good.The blurb tells you pretty much the plot so I'll go with what I liked. Number one on my likes is always Ethan. He's a sweet, honorable, kind and loving man who may be a little bit of a babe in the woods in the New World of Las Vegas that Max has thrust him into but he is not dumb, naive or incapable. I like that this book makes clear that being a sub in your emotional or sexual relationship with someone doesn't diminish you as a person or make you weak. I liked that even if only briefly we get to hear from Bob & Larry. I really don't want to lose those guys as the story progresses because they're really good guys!I liked that some air was let into the relationship by the the introduction of some new characters and letting Ethan out in the world at large and not be all the time with Max.I perversely liked Peter Monaghan who though ostensibly the heavy, brought a much needed dose of reality to Max in various aspects one being trying to make him see clearly what his true feelings are for Ethan. Now I come to Maximilian (as he prefers to be called). I vacillate between kind or sort of hating him and feeling bad for him. I'll explain. This is an ongoing struggle I have with Doms. Yes, the good ones are giving their subs what they want and taking care of of them, however I can't help but hate them a bit for deriving pleasure from their partners “suffering”. I know I'm a mess because the Dom is giving the Sub what they want thus making them happy but it still niggles at me. As I said I'm a mess.Max being sometimes an über Dom pisses me off but then it gives Ethan bliss so I'll shut it. On the other hand I kind of feel bad for him because he's so emotionally controlled/closed off that he doesn't recognize the good thing that's fallen in his lap. But hey this is romance so I'm optimistic we are going down the Yellow Brick Road to HEA. We are not there yet, not by a long shot but things go down in this book which give Maximilian a jolt and a scare and I think he's cracked the door open to start examining his feelings for Ethan in a more honest way, even if only to himself. I'm ready and eager to continue this ride but I really hope I can do it via [a:Nick J. Russo 8141120 Nick J. Russo https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s narration. The man is an artist!!! I'll have to be patient and drum my fingers because the other books are not on audio yet. sigh