Annery

What a bummer! Many people who don't read MM will miss out on this genre defying, tightly wound roller coaster ride and what a the pity. Yes there is an M/M/M relationship in this book and even though there's only one actual sex scene between the partners, we believe in the logic and rightness of the trio and are rooting for them at every turn. Each compliments and adds to the group and one doesn't question that Nelson, Javier & Tim are going for the long haul. But add to the mix, and not in a sexual way, Randy and Marianne and you've got a “Guardians of the Galaxy” group.Here's the beauty: the “romance” in this book is but the tip of a dystopian/parallel near present where Big Agra has finally cornered the market on food to the point where many people have never eaten actual food but rather its many flavored replacement “manna”. [a:Jordan Castillo Price 268722 Jordan Castillo Price https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1325364144p2/268722.jpg] creates a scary and utterly believable world were our rag tag team of anti-heroes must expose corporate greed, brave riots, rescue loved ones and fall in love in the space of like two days. I was so happy that our heroes are so utterly unheroic. Save for Javier, who is a journalist, and Tim who runs a blog exposing corporate misdeeds the rest of the the “heroes” Nelson, Randy and Marianne are just people caught in the vortex of history and making a choice to jump in the water or stay by the shore. So glad they swam and even giddy about all the wrong turns this could've taken and didn't because Jordan rocks!It was scary/creepy to read about this adventure which takes place in Manhattan in or around streets and buildings I frequent almost daily and see this alternate present happening without having to take too much of an imaginative leap.Bonus: [a:Gomez Pugh 8435087 Gomez Pugh https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s narration!!!! Gold.

Re-Read/Listen 2/29/20 - 3/4/20To be honest this probably like a 4th go around with Matty & Rob and I did stretch it out for maximum enjoyment. I think I also got to pick up on small things, in no particular order:Martha & George: I'd read a story about how they got together.Bill & Angus: I'd pay $$$ to get their story from the moment they first laid eyes on each other.What's in store for crazy Kevin?How Matty's whole trip to Montana is life-changing experience for him in every aspect: his relationship with Rob, how he begins the long journey of reassessing his life as an athlete, and how he has to constantly check his preconceived ideas. Shouldn't we all do this from time to time?How life on a ranch wasn't sugarcoated as a fairyland of cotton candy & rainbows but rather the realities of hard work, grueling hours, and uncertain outcome. Life.Finally the fact that Matty, and Rob to some extent, use BDSM to address Matty's issues didn't bother me as much as this same thing does in other books. I think it's people trying to do the best they can with what they have at hand, and Rob in particular knows that at best his providing a stop gap for Matty's, sometimes, self harming behavior. I can honestly say that this is a story that I love more with each re-read, probably because LB doesn't sugar coat anything, particularly not Matty, who can at times be a pill. But we love him anyway. All smiles through the tears.********Dork AlertI've had this book for a while, bought it for the cover, and then jumped on the audio as soon as it became available. However I held off on reading until the Olympics because as I said: DORK. All things considered I think it was a good choice. I loved it.Besides the yummy cover and knowing this was a skating themed book I knew little else about the story, and damn was I happy and happily surprised. [a:Leta Blake 6425833 Leta Blake https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1497015011p2/6425833.jpg] gifts us with the adorable and maddening Matty Marcus, Olympic figure skater, who has yet to medal. When the book starts Matty is recuperating from an injury, plotting & planning a return to the ice, and living in his childhood bedroom because he doesn't have a pot to piss in. Rescue comes in the form of a six-month house & horse sitting gig courtesy of a fan. The catch? It's in Montana. Our Matty is a New York City princess through and through or at least wants to be. Alas Matty NEEDS the money and off to Whitefish, Montana he goes. Luckily the romance gods have a reward for him and for us: Rob Lovely. So lovely.I'm guessing by now everyone knows that Matty is based pretty closely on Johnny Weir, or what we know of his public image of course. Leta Blake even thanks Johnny in the acknowledgements at the end of the book. I took it a step further and blended Johnny & Adam Rippon in my romance blender. Delicious. Matty is never without his lip gloss, favorite bag or shoes, and can't be accused of trying to fit in, nor should he. He's his own glorious creation even when it hurts him. It's a good thing that Rob more than likes him exactly the way he is. Speaking of Rob, was ever a character more aptly named? Rob is that dream guy who's effortlessly HOT, can take any and all of your crazy, tie you up & spank you while loving you senseless, and later he'll cook for you. Yep. Surprise! This was BDSM and my favorite kind, meaning non-dungeon, sort of organic in it's inception, and overall sweet. All about the loving in spite of the pain. Despite his city polish Matty is a bit of a hot mess in his head and Rob stepping in and taking charge in the bedroom, and trying to do a bit outside too, is exactly what he needs. I loved Rob's brand of Dom. He hurts Matty because he loves him enough to do so. But only in the bedroom. Outside of the bedroom he understands and respects that Matty is a grown man with an autonomous life. I loved how Rob took care of Matty as much as he was allowed or dared. I love his son, Ben, such a fantastic kid who is sure to grow into a wonderful man. Rob's relationship with his ex, Anja, is heartening in the sometimes misogynistic world of M/M. I liked that Rob had no doubt or confusion as to his sexual identity or preference. And he likes Matty, the glitter bomb, just the way he is. I also loved that Rob had an actual life, with issues of his own that were there pre-Matty and that he functioned and existed in a recognizable world. What to say about Matty? He's annoying, sometimes self-centered, and too much in his head, yet also capable of great kindness, open-heartedness, and sometimes scary vulnerability. The way he gives himself into Rob's care? Beautiful. Everyone mentions their first encounter in the kitchen and yes, yowza! but for me the turning point, where I was convinced that this was love: the bathroom scene. It could have been weird, creepy, gross etc. and yet it was loving, intimate, and profound. I enjoyed or loved every side character in this book. They were all fully rounded individuals and brought depth to the story. I was delighted that the author didn't take the easy route of making everyone in Small Town, USA an a**hole, that would be disingenuous at best or flat out false. In fact the town was a great vibrant character in the book. Matty's family, all wonderful in their own way, Bill and Angus, Elliot, and everyone else. Brilliant. It's clear that Leta Blake immersed herself in skating culture and it shows in every aspect of the book: the politics of the Federation, Matty's eating disorder, the sacrifices families make for elusive skating dreams. Very illuminating, and it never felt like “telling”. I enjoyed how the story progressed and was paced, even the necessary separation in the last third, but perhaps my favorite thing is encapsulated in this quote, where Rob is pushing Matty to eat:“Matty put his arm around him. ‘Yes, well, if that's my punishment ...' Rob rolled his eyes. ‘Yes, whatever. That's your punishment. Jesus, sometimes I'm sure that a shit-load of counseling is in your future. ‘Or you could just keep fucking me sane.'‘Is that what you think I'm doing? I thought I was making love to you.'”Though Rob and Matty are engaged in a BDSM brand of love, Rob at least, never loses sight of the fact that it's not a cure for Matty's issues. They do it for pleasure, because it's their kink, because it makes them happy. Matty has problems that won't and don't go away with magic cock or a good flogger. Amen. I can't fail to mention the amazeballs job done by [a:Michael Ferraiuolo 13467952 Michael Ferraiuolo https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498214961p2/13467952.jpg] in the audio. He was fantastic.

3.75 I read this last year and then again this past summer and for some reason failed on both occasions to rate it. However that is no reflection on my enjoyment of the book. I did enjoy it. As a matter of fact the second read came about because I saw there was an audio available and remembered the book fondly enough to give the audio a go. I'm happy I did. [a:Douglas Dale 9878197 Douglas Dale https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] can read anything.This is the story of Ryan, a heretofore straight college student who unexpectedly discovers that he has feelings for a guy. Yes. A GFY story. Though I have a shelf for this trope I don't actually believe in it. I believe in people having late blooming bisexuality and that's a beautiful thing.Ryan goes drinking with a friend and ends up crashing on the sofa of a girl he met at the bar. There is no spark with her but the same can't be said about the attraction that develops with Zach, her cousin who also happens to be an out and proud grad student, TA and gamer. I liked that Ryan and Zach first go out as friends. Zach is a gregarious guy and Ryan is making an effort to expand his social circle and though he doesn't consciously admit it, also trying to find what's lacking in his life.Being that this is a novella things progress rather quickly though not unsatisfactorily. Zach is patient and caring and Ryan's internal struggle doesn't drag out forever and furthermore is believable. The book ends in a very sweet, slightly rushed HFN which is fine because there's a sequel to the story. clap, clap, clap

Once again I went in blind and I liked the first 50% very much. I was pleasantly surprised, very surprised by one plot element there's some taboo love between Danny and his father, first time gay for both. The book takes place in NYC and the author, [a:Alejandro Marquez 8064074 Alejandro Marquez https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], clearly knows his geography well. He also populates the story with a diverse cast of characters, just like RL. Imagine that! Danny Vazquez, 18, is starting his senior year of high school. The child of divorced parents, he splits his time between his mom's apartment in Brooklyn and weekends at his father's house on the Jersey shore. He's always been shy, maybe even prudish, about his body, always admiring his father's physique and feeling like he doesn't measure up. To his surprise senior year brings about unexpected admiration from all quarters. My disappointment or rather diminished enjoyment came from the fact that, though the story is otherwise firmly cemented in reality, the relationship between Danny and his father is treated a bit too cavalierly to be taken seriously. I could be wrong but it seems to me that the author is going for the ancient Greek ideal of love between father/son, older/younger man, not a romantic love. I can accept that but IMO he needed to elaborate that theme more clearly. There's also a lack of tension throughout, everyone is super accepting of everything. A whole cast of progressive angels. I'd love to live in that world. It probably could use with some editing, we don't need to know every street, train or bus Danny takes to go to The City, but I'd still recommend this and I'd read more from this author. Also it's in KU.

I decided to give this a try because of [a:Derrick McClain 13845656 Derrick McClain https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1431050448p2/13845656.jpg] but OMG!!! This is the book that wouldn't end. It says 564pg. but I kind of doubt it. It went on forever and then some. There's so much going on here that I don't even know where to start or what to say. It was like six different stories and each on its own would've been enough for a full length book. I know many would've given up however I was raised on a steady diet of telenovelas and have a high tolerance for the drama. Quite frankly it became a challenge to see what else the author would throw in the pot. Struggling for air in the midst of all of the drama is a pretty good portrait of a young man, Kit/Christopher, who has lived through unspeakable horror and is battling to come out on the other side. His inner monologue is probably what I liked best in the whole book. It felt authentic and well reasoned. I liked that [a:Mercy Celeste 4615197 Mercy Celeste https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442532314p2/4615197.jpg] didn't have Kit magically cured/freed of his troubles after one good sexual experience. She followed through on his evolving recovery even through the end.I won't say much about the plot but be prepared for the bat shit crazy. Secret twins, unexpected siblings, surprise parents etc. and that's just on Kit's side. Micah has enough issues for a 4 book series. The MCs are characters out of Gothic faery tales or in the case of Kit firmly in Yaoi land. To emphasize the point most of the book takes part in an isolated estate which is referred to as a castle. There's insta-lust/insta-love. All of the main action in the book takes place in about two weeks. And yet despite the sometimes purple prose and conversations that no one has, much less young men, I wasn't deterred until the last 100 pages which felt like overkill or an attempt by the author to kill the reader via diabetic shock. You can check my reading updates for samples of the crazy.Still 3.75 because the author stuck to her vision and the writing is solid and sometimes sagas are needed. But enter at your own peril.

I didn't even realize that this is a kind of Christmas story and accordingly it's sweet and insta-everything but I didn't mind. On the contrary I think this was exactly what I needed on a chilly spring day. I'll confess I came to this because of the fabulous [a:Derrick McClain 13845656 Derrick McClain https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1431050448p2/13845656.jpg], that man can read me the phone book, and he doesn't disappoint. Gael is a paramedic who has been living an emotionally closed off life life after harrowing experience in Iraq. On a run after a Black Friday shooter Gael encounters a wounded young man in an alley. He immediately starts calling him angel and that's what they become to each other. Gael physically saves Silas from harm and Silas cracking open the wall surrounding his heart and emotions.Like all short novellas and Christmas ones at that things happen quick, the baddies are cookie cutter and everything resolves itself with bows and bells. Regardless of the story sticking to script I liked it and didn't care that all the boxes were checked: older MC in need of love, younger virginal MC in need of being rescued, meanie with unlimited resources etc. These guys had actual heat on the page and I wished there was a sequel to see what they get up to in the future and I'd love to see Gael's friend Jim too.

**REREAD/RELISTEN 9/2/21 – 9/4/21 **Nothing to add to my original review but that I once again went in deeper with the relationship & characters. The story was, as usual, ingenious and cleverly sets up the overarching theme & case for this arc in the H&S universe. I double loved it. Again. FIRST READ 8/3/20 – 8/4/20There are things, places, people, food etc that, without having tried you know will be for you. When I started seeing the Hazard & Somers series pop up on my feed I got that feeling, without having read anything but a cursory glance at the blurb(s), that it was my brand of good. I was right. The first arc was all about (besides the individual mysteries and the overarching one) two very different people coming together despite the odds: a shared fraught history, individual experiences, self-doubt, and a town (representative of society at large) laced with abhorrent & venal people. Their connection is undeniable. The ride was like the best rollercoasters, scary & exhilarating. So what does [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] do for a follow up? Going by this first installment of A Union of Swords, a gloves off examination of the real work of relationship building once the ‘I Love You's' have been exchanged, after the curtain drops, and HEA is all but certain. Brilliant.As in the previous arc we get one case and the groundwork for the overarching one. They're both fine but being honest I'm not here for that. I'm here for Hazard's brilliant mind, which somehow makes him blind to his own appeal, his thoughts & opinions, not always flattering, and oft times expressed out loud, about people, humanity, and situations. I'm here for John-Henry, so sure of everything, of his place in the world but flailing like a fish out of water when it comes to Emery. I love everything about them. I could read scenes of them just lounging at home reading the paper (Emery) and having ice cream for breakfast (John-Henry) and I'd be happy. They've crossed over onto my shortlist of fictional characters I'm sure I may encounter on any given day, maybe at the market or just walking down the street, Emery would of course be aloof and John-Henry would gift me with a smile. One can dream. Be glad GA doesn't ask me for writing advice. Instead he continues the deepening characterization of the town of Wahredua, Wroxall's academic community, their counterparts, The Ozark Volunteers, and more importantly the relationship between Hazard & Somers. Emery struggling to redefine himself after the events in [b:Criminal Past 44646156 Criminal Past Gregory Ashe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553743587l/44646156.SY75.jpg 64217590], and Somers trying to be supportive without really knowing how. My favorite parts where the small, domestic, intimate scenes: Hazard holding Somer's hand in the park, almost in wonder, because he has to, the banter over what books Emery has on his nightstand, and his ‘disdain' over the fact that John reads novels, or Hazard explaining what it feels like to love someone so completely: “Like I'm not jus me anymore. Like I'm all tied up with him, and sometimes, being tied up with him is the only thing holding me together, holding me in place.”or John's more practical reaction:HAZARD: “John, did you hear what I said? I need you. I am totally, inconceivably fucking dependent on you. Sometimes I need you so much that it feels like I'm being ripped apart inside.”SOMERSET: “Yeah, dummy. It's called being in love.” He rolled a finger, the come on motion. “I love you too. Now, let's go.”The new additions to the cast, like Dulac (holding judgement) and seeing more of Rebeca, Noah, a their brood is all very welcome. Color me thrilled. ps. I paired the paperback with the AB by [a:Tristan James 14756687 Tristan James https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] because I had it and he's grown on me. Women still elude him, his voice just isn't fit for that. Can't win them all.

Okay ... so here's the thing ... I read and can enjoy almost anything: Mpreg, Tentacle Porn, Insta-Love, Brocest etc., even badly written stories can charm me if I can see the good bones underneath. This is a convoluted way of saying that this didn't work for me. At all. Full disclosure, I got this purely because of the cover, so I've got no reason to complain.

The constituent parts of this story are all tropes that I've enjoyed in the past but somehow put together or the way this was written was a HUGE turn-off for me: the cheesiness of Evan calling Jamie Angel all the time; the fact that we are constantly in both MCs heads and their thoughts are transcribed in italics; Jamie's million-and-one iterations of “Dr-blah-blah-blah”, which are surely meant to be funny but are not (more like ignorant and phobic everything). There's a whole bunch of other stuff which made zero sense, and had even less plausibility, such as Jamie's fairly sudden GFY, without ever saying he's gay or having any sort of self-reflection, save “this feels good”. That wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for the fact that the author wants to portray him as a smart cookie who's overcoming a hardscrabble life. In fact there are so so so many story points that are posited and then just dropped by the wayside and never heard from again. Some of this might be slightly spoilerish but I can't bring myself to care
***Evan's headaches disappear and no explanation is given. Jamie's magical presence? Who knows? Maybe???
***Jamie's search for his father? Gone like 70's bellbottoms and no retro fashion can bring it back.
***Jamie's relationship with his mother and her husband Derek? Who knows?
***Will Evan get back to practicing medicine? how?
***Does Jamie get any kind of counseling, other than BJs, to help him deal with assault? Nope.
***Out of left field we're told that Evan is something of a Dom. He & Jamie enter into a somewhat BDSM relationship in the bedroom, but with ZERO conversation on the subject. Excellent. Also, he's the worst Dom ever.

I could go on, but I'm boring myself. I've read worse, more outlandish, badly written, and firmly rooted in Bad-Wrong that I've enjoyed more. Aside from all the regular nonsense which I routinely overlook, this book lost me by hanging the story on something very real and very painful for many people, Gay or Straight: sexual assault. Jamie is assaulted, sexually and otherwise, which leads to Evan taking him home and taking care of him. While the healing is going on there is forced proximity, Evan's already inappropriate attraction grows, and Jamie gets curious. That's fine. It could happen. But the execution is absolutely WRONG.
When Jamie is finally healing, after having been assaulted and penetrated with a bottle by homophobic assholes, he starts eating solid foods and, understandably, becomes constipated. The solution, of course, is an enema, because his rectal area is still healing. At this point he is still firmly asserting that he's straight and isn't even bicurious. So of course this is Evan telling him all about it and later actually doing it: "And I'm going to enjoy giving you that enema. Just imagine the feel of me lubing you up and sliding that big nozzle right up your ass. You have a cute ass. I'm gonna love it. Then I'm going to enjoy watching Dr. Sharpe fondle your balls while he bends you over and ever-so-politely asks you to turn your head and cough."

Doctor Play as a Kink is fine but this isn't that. Survivors of sexual assault can go on to lead healthy sexual lives, but it's generally a hard fought battle, and this doesn't even flirt with the notion of healing, unless you count Magic-D as a cure. etc. etc. etc.

You might enjoy this. I didn't.

This was non lethal way to pass the commute. However it took good will as a reader to believe the whole D/s relationship mostly because I didn't buy Asher as a Dom. Bad enough that Xander was the perfect sub just from reading and research and he was a sweet virgin to boot but then we have Asher vacillating in the will he or won't he seesaw. I was frankly annoyed. If you've already crossed the taboo line of student teacher just go for it like in [b:Just a Bit Twisted 33289905 Just a Bit Twisted (Straight Guys #1) Alessandra Hazard https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481198609s/33289905.jpg 43138453]. The whole Byron as a theme woven into the story felt forced, like the author likes Byron and wanted a chance to insert some of his poetry in a book. And while the abs on the cover guy are awesome what's up with his jeans. Okay, I'll stop.Anyway ... you won't be hurt by this and maybe the series gets better but this installment is just okay and quickly forgettable.

2.5
I've thought long and hard about this review. What to say, that doesn't come off as harsh or petty, because really there isn't anything objectionable about the story. It's constituent parts are like a list of some of my favorite things, including a flipping of expectations when it comes to D/s relationships. Maybe I'll start there, with what I liked and what worked for me. Small mercies.

Lars and Jonah are what Lars himself calls “lifers”. Their moms are best friends who were pregnant at the same time leading to the guys being BFFs since infancy, though their romantic involvement didn't come until they were twenty-five. When the book starts they've been together for 10 years and are everything but married. Lars is a veterinarian and Jonah is an emergency room doctor, they share a home, a life, and a deep love rooted in friendship and familiarity of the best kind. Jonah is a big strapping ginger, a head taller than Lars, but he's also bit of a playful goof who likes to dance around the house and ruffle his partner's more serious personality. Perhaps it's a way of letting off steam from a stressful job, but it's also an aspect of their, heretofore, unacknowledged D/s relationship, as Jonah says:
“I'm nearly twice Lars' weight and more than a head taller than he is. Granted, I do top more often than not, but that doesn't mean I'm in control.”
Lars is fairly regimented. He likes order and everything in its place, but he also loves Jonah fiercely and makes sure of his well being. The love of between these two is another check in the plus column but it's also is a good starting point for the this wasn't for me column.

If you like your characters to have pretty much zero conflict between themselves and the world at large, this book is for you. If you like your MCs to say “I love you” and “anything you feel or want is good, valid, and I'm on-board with it” every five seconds, this book is for you. If you believe that the introduction of a major life change should present zero ambivalence in an established couple, this book is for you. I'll have to demur.

One sunny day Lars & Jonah go to a Pride Parade and they come across some Puppies and their Masters. Jonah is more than a little intrigued by the group:
“One of the men is dressed in a dog mask with black leather harness on his chest, and a pair of underwear with a bone on the ass and the word woof printed inside the bone. He's naked aside from that, but honestly, that's not the part that shocks or draws my attention, he's hardly the least dressed person in the crowd. It's the joy shining in his eye as he wiggles and starts to wrestle with another man dressed similarly. It's the absolute inhibition as he lets out a happy bark like he doesn't have a care in the world, and it's the way the man holding his leash smiles at him with warmth and love. (btw, I'm pretty sure it should be lack of inhibition)

So that's fine, right? Sometimes we suddenly find something that just clicks with us, but Jonah takes this to a whole new level. It's suddenly the thing he always needed but never knew about. There's reference to him having dabbled briefly in BDSM during college, before he and Lars became an item, but apparently he never pursued it further and puppies had never been on his radar. Really? Odd, I know all about them, but okay, I'll buy it. That's not what made me have to read this with a squinty eye, it's the fact of his immediate quasi obsession with the kink and then his reluctance to talk to Lars about it. After the almost diabetic coma inducing protestations of love and acceptance between these two it was a tough pill to swallow. Sure, Lars makes an off the cuff remark about puppies being weird, when they first spot them at the parade, but wouldn't anyone who isn't into that lifestyle? They are weird. I think that is, and should be, a point of pride for folks in the kink community. And this is the heart of my dislike of this story, it's so eager to tell us it's okay to like what you like and be who you are (not a point I disagree with) that it treats kink like apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and vanilla ice cream. It's that thing where you take something you love and try to tame and polish it to the point where you can't recognize in it the reasons you loved it in the first place. The weirdness, uniqueness, and non-conformity are domesticated to unobtrusively fit in with square or proper society. It's taking a cat, a creature that's two meals away from being feral, having lost none of its shared traits with larger felines, you make it a housecat, neuter and declaw it for good measure. Utterly sad, senseless, and kind of infuriating. I'm fairly sure the folks who participate in the Folsom Street Fair are happy to be active participants of what society deems the margins and aren't dreaming of that spot on the PTA or the white picket fence house in the suburbs. Perhaps they do belong to those two groups, but their love of kink isn't something they're going to try to mold like a square peg into a round hole.

On with the book. There might be a few spoilerish comments, although there is no mystery or conflict to spoil. Sorry.

There isn't much more to tell, but fairytale fantasies. Before telling Lars about this new obsession, Jonah writes to an online advice columnist voicing his fears of Lars' reaction and HE USES Lars real name! Umm ... wow. In the end Lars finds out and .... crickets. Nothing happens. Acceptance without a single doubt. Sure. Granted Lars had always been somewhat dominant, but I'd think jumping to wanting a puppy sub would merit a teensy bit of self reflection. But that's just me. These two go full swing into the lifestyle, taking classes, because they're just super dot the i's cross the t's kind of guys, and go off into the sunset in bliss.

There's a dangle for the next book but I'm not sure I'll go along for the ride. This was like reading the diary of your most boring cousin. You still love them but you don't need to know about that day they reorganized their sock drawer. Also I didn't care for this sort of present tense continuous? thing the author had going. shrug On the plus side this is one more book to add to my growing Vanilla Kink shelf. I'm not sure that's a good thing.

This didn't work for me, and I'm probably in the minority, but it might for someone who wants zero angst, conflict, and a super cautious, and perhaps inaccurate, peek into kink. It has likable characters, it's well formatted, and has a cute cover.

This was a sweet surprise. In a very good way. Going by the title and the cover, which apparently is how I choose books, you'd expect some smexy times with a guy recently discovering his love of bottoming and that he has skillz in said area too and [a:Rowan McAllister 4231749 Rowan McAllister https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1302713485p2/4231749.jpg], new to me author, delivers in spades but she goes the extra mile and throws in some welcome twists and turns to boot. Before I go any further I'll say I did most of this as an audio courtesy of the brilliant [a:Nick J. Russo 8141120 Nick J. Russo https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and he can officially take all my money. Always.Adrian is sweet and ordinary guy who after being dumped on by life one too many times screws up his courage to try and get back a bit of his own. And does he ever! He meets Wyatt, a wet dream in the form of a mysterious, sex god, biker dude who is smitten by Adrian. I won't spoil the fun for others by telling much more but I'll say HURRAY FOR ACCOUNTANTS and a big shout out to Beverley, a friend everyone should have.It wasn't a five star for me because Wyatt is a tad dramatic, but I guess I can't blame him.

sigh I decided to reread this as rumor has it that Bk.3 may be coming out soon and I'm so glad I did. I grew up on a steady staple of Mexican & Venezuelan telenovelas and I loved them but I vividly remember when I finally laid eyes & ears on the Brazilian soaps. They were just ten steps ahead in terms of acting, tackling RL issues, and story telling. You got more than ‘Cinderella and Prince Charming meet, face obstacles from the meanies, and live HEA. This story by [a:Taylor V. Donovan 4959678 Taylor V. Donovan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480953309p2/4959678.jpg] reminded me of those Sonia Braga days in the best of ways, and that's my convoluted way of saying I loved this even when wanting to repeatedly smack some sense into Sam.If you don't know this is a big, sprawling ensemble piece about a group of queer men, their friends, and acquaintances, how we're all interconnected, hence the Six Degrees angle. The main couple are Sam & Mac who superficially couldn't be more different but who in reality are not. They both share a deep sense of loyalty and devotion to their loved ones, they're looking for connection, though Sam is in the ‘lying-to-himself' phase because of reasons, and they're apparently sex monkeys. I'm not complaining. I also love, love, love that the L word hasn't yet uttered. I'm ornery like that. Sam is a busy, busy, busy bee as head of an FBI Task Force dedicated to crimes against the LGBT community and dealing with complicated personal & family issues. When the book opens he's in the midst of tracking a serial killer. It's the most inconvenient time to fall in lust but one look in a crowded airport at the smile of the tall drink of Texan water that is Mac O'Bannon and Sam is toast. He denies this. sets up rules and boundaries, often in a terse bordering on rude fashion, and Mac abides by them, but it's hopeless. One encounter leads to another, intimacies seep into a ONLY SEX relationship, and even when Sam lobs hurtful comments to try and stave off the crumbling of his walls it's a moot cause. He undermines himself because he can't help but want to be Mac's guide as an out and proud gay man. Mac's known forever that he's gay but to please his family and holding on to a scummy lover who treated lower than dirt Mac has remained a bit of a sexual novice and socially even worse. That's all about to end and Sam wants, nay needs to be the one to open doors for Mac. I love how naive these two are (mostly Sam) about keeping their relationship as friends with bennies, not even friends going by Sam's original plans. You know what they say about plans? I also love how giving they are to each other without turning to mush. Mac particularly knows how to coax Sam without seeming like he's doing anything which is the best approach for the prickly bear that is Sam. While Mac & Sam are the main draw in this book the whole cast shines and I'm eagerly awaiting to see their stories develop as they are all charming and interesting in their very own way. Yes, I am talking about Logan, but after reading [b:Southern Winterland 13082148 Southern Winterland (By Degrees, #0.5) Taylor V. Donovan https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321733857l/13082148.SY75.jpg 18251682] I'm super curios about Chris & Remy too. As for the mystery I'm fairly confident that I know the who and the why, though I'm ready to be surprised, but I'm mostly eager to see the how the team trails him and how his actions affect everyone. Keeping all limbs crossed for future installments.

3.00

This was an okay super short read. Given the va-va-voom cover I expected more. Totally on me. Somehow I thought it was BDSM and though there a few “good boy”, “yes daddy”, “yes sir” it's not really D/s, more like a more dominant partner. Period.

The why's and wherefores of how Jordan and Oliver get together are ... the less said the better.
I'd still recommend this as a harmless way to spend and hour with a couple of steamy “sessions” thrown in and that cover is still YOWZA!

Is this the worst book I ever read? Absolutely not. The book is well formatted, has a beautiful cover, and is well written as far as grammar, spelling, sentence structure etc. These are things that can detract from the enjoyment of a good story but won't enhance a ridiculous one.

I'm not a hard ass when it comes to categorizing things in life or in fiction, however this gave me whiplash. To save some other poor soul I'll explain as much as possible without “ruining” the book. The story starts with 23 year old Alexander Jonas Austin IV a.k.a Alex Sage, a pampered boy from the Chicago suburbs who upon completing college and some unhappy time in law school has decided to drop out and pursue the life of a rock star in a fledgling band with a precious name and equally precious members. His mother is displeased with Alex dropping out of law school and is financially disowning him as a way to steer him back to the fold. Alex's response to this is spending all his money on a “freedom party”. At this point, and in spite of his age and fellow college graduate friends, I was getting a distinct NA vibe and not the good Sarina Bowen kind, but the annoying almost verging on insufferable YA kind, that I avoid like the plague, with the clique of friends carrying on conversations too cute by half and way too enamored of their brand of humor. I soldiered on because I can't seem to DNF and I'm engaged to read book 2 so ... I kept reading because what's the worst that could happen? How about absurdity and ridiculousness on every page?

During a bathroom break at the “freedom party” Alex is the victim of an attempted mugging and is rescued by the “mysterious” Liam. The rest is history or as I like to call it torture. My poison may be your nectar so I'll include the rest of my comments as a spoiler.

Here's the first exchange after Liam, with his big brawny presence, he's a veteran marine of 4 tours in Afghanistan, has scared away Alex's would be mugger: "You okay?" the man asked, laying a steadying hand on Alex's right arm. ..... His voice was deep and smooth, ...... Alex found it charming. He smiled. "This is so weird. I swear, I didn't even know I was gay." ... Alex's revelation didn't seem to bother him. ... "Did you know you were straight?" ... "I dunno. Girls are pretty." From here our dear Alex proceeds with some clumsy drunk flirting, the kind that bad sitcoms with canned laugh tracks think is funny. It's not. But none of this is so egregious as to be a deal breaker. It's the sum of everything. It turns out that Liam is a hired thug for a local crime lord, except that said crime lord doesn't seem so bad and Liam isn't really a thug. He's an undercover CPD detective and by all accounts one of the worst I've ever seen. The whole story takes place in two weeks and half the the book is setting up for book two, which is almost a relief. Alex and Liam fall into INSTA INSTA LOVE. They court like two teenage girls with dinners, movies, and flowers. It turns out that Alex is not only a virgin but a 23 year old who had never had a relationship or even thought about his sexuality! Is it because he's socially inadequate? Is he maybe on the Asperger's Spectrum? Nope. He's fabulous, financially well off, and a social butterfly with a tight clique of friends and an ability to make people like him. So where did that come from? Too much study and no time to think of such things. Yep. That's what were told.

I can't go on anymore because my head may explode. The rating isn't lower because nothing malicious happens, just nonsensical stuff. This should really be tagged as NA or YA despite the age of the MCs.

This was a painless couple of hours that filled out some time. The audio is by [a:Robert Black 10993700 Robert Black https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and it was fine. I'm being mean. It's a nice, low drama, friends to lovers story. Ty and Landon have been friends for a while, are both successful in their chosen careers (Ty is a political journalist, and Landon is a cancer researcher), who unbeknownst to each other are bi and have been pining for one another. That part gets cleared up pretty early in this novella. The bulk of the story concerns each coming out to their family, friends, and coworkers. Landon has it pretty easy, but Ty struggles, knowing his religiously conservative family won't accept his sexual orientation. This wasn't the reinvention of the wheel, but it did deal, non-stridently, with a reality many people have to face re: family, and how to navigate from a friendship to more while not losing sight of professional aspirations. I did think that the author, via Ty & Landon, gives way too much slack to others having to “get used to” seeing a gay couple, going so far as to asking them to have no PDA in their presence, and Ty & Landon, agreeing and promising not to. Efff that! I'm not a fan of PDA for myself, but I wouldn't ask someone not to do so solely based on their sexual orientation. Maybe this is my ragey day, but I've just about had it with a**holes that need others to ‘conform' so as to not bruise their fragile psyches. Anyway .... I liked the resolution, how there was happy with a helping of sad, like RL. Shockingly this is part of a series (which I didn't know), I listened to it as a standalone with no problem, and I have no intention of listening to the others. Yikes! Who am I?

3.5I'm sad to say that this has been a series of diminishing returns. In hind sight I'd venture to say that [b:Deep Desire 25412838 Deep Desire Z.A. Maxfield https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429794588l/25412838.SY75.jpg 6757064] a.k.a. [b:Notturno 6564154 Notturno (Deep #1) Z.A. Maxfield https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1245983162l/6564154.SY75.jpg 6757064] works perfectly well as a standalone. Don't get me wrong, BK.2 & 3 are interesting and well written but ... I could've done without them. Luckily [a:Caleb Dickinson 14015410 Caleb Dickinson https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] pulled me through. So what's may issue with this 3rd book? Well it wasn't so much a continuation or development of the romance between Adin & Donte but rather Adin out in the world, going through some logical growing pains in his new state of being. That's fine. I guess. It just got long and a tad tedious with Adin & Donte separated for long stretches, conversations that needed to be had, and things that needed to be done shelved and procrastinated on until problems inevitably ensued. We also get swept into the existence of a whole host of other paranormal beings, which it makes sense they exist in this world but whose relevance, IMO, brought nothing to the table as far as the development of relationship between the MC. Adin, whose evolution and journey this concentrates on, I know he's dealing with big, unsolicited changes but he could sometimes act like a petulant child placing himself and others in danger. As for the type of vampires in this story? I think I prefer the Lestat variety: unrepentant predators & true to their kind. RANDOM THOUGHTS: The vampires here try to gussy up feeding by doing so from human thralls. They don't kill them but rather transact an exchange where the vampire provides the human with a fantasy and sexual pleasure and the human offers life giving blood. The vampire marks his thralls when he feeds from them and supposedly has a deep emotional connection with them. When no thrall is at hand they practice the same glamour on random strangers. The idea being that by giving the human sexual pleasure the transaction is an even exchange. I didn't see it that way. The vamps got sustenance from strangers by providing them with Os & planting thoughts in their mind. It uncomfortably made me think of a date rape situation where you hadn't even agreed to go on a date. Like the only thing a human can fantasize and yearn for is sexual gratification. The thralls in turn are nothing more than blood udders that are kept alive for expediency sake and to keep up the illusion that the vamps are oh so civilized. I would prefer straight up killers who make no bones about not being human and live by their own code. If you're a completist go ahead. I did and I'm glad I did but it won't be revisited unlike BK.1As alway YMMV.

Re-read 9/20/21 – 9/23/21
I said everything I wanted the first time around and the love has only redoubled. This reread has just been a chance to really savor the details, like how the Orpheus & Eurydice tale parallels with H&S. I also highlighted whole pages. As a New Yorker I'm bemused by Hazard's ‘frugalness', complaining about pants that cost more than $30 and coffee more than $2.

On to the next ...

******
First Read 8/5/20 – 8/6/20**

What to say? Come off like a broken record? (dating myself), a besotted fan girl? some kind of [a:Gregory Ashe|1179529|Gregory Ashe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] sycophant? I'll try not to. Try being the operative word.

[b:Police Brutality|48999647|Police Brutality (Hazard and Somerset A Union of Swords, #2)|Gregory Ashe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574894757l/48999647.SY75.jpg|74415994] continues the growing pains of an adult relationship. The adult part is probably the most important aspect. Emery and John-Henry are only ten (10) months into a relationship, living together, being homeowners, and sharing a daughter. Yes, they have a shared history, but they also have independent histories of past loves, successes, and failures. Did they really know each other in high school? They didn't. They had ideas, misconceived assumptions, preconceptions, and fantasies (more Emery than JH) about one another based on fragmentary and faulty information. Now they're adults. Actual adults. But also guys.

Emery, despite his controlled, put-together exterior, his championing of logic, is oft times tone deaf to the right thing to say and absolutely flummoxed by his love for John. He doesn't know how to act or react. What's too much? How to remain himself while utterly subsumed by reciprocated love? As a bonus he's still dealing with PTSD from the Haverford and a life-altering career change. It's not easy. John is on this journey with him, perhaps in the harder position of seeing his love struggle and having to let them figure it out on his own. How do our two lovebirds deal? Let Rebeca tell you:
“When you love someone, you know all the secret ways to hurt them. Sometimes you know without knowing you know, and then they come out in the heat of the moment and it's ... it's even more awful that way, I think.”
Emery and John get down, dirty, and almost nasty with each other. The growing pains are harsh but the making up is sooo good and I feel like they actually learn and try to do better with each step. Sometimes they fail, but that's human, and these two are utterly human. Hazard contending with his feelings of no longer being police, the events of [b:Criminal Past|41103639|Criminal Past (Hazard and Somerset #6)|Gregory Ashe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533944202l/41103639.SY75.jpg|64217590], feelings of having failed Mitchell, wanting, needing to keep Somers with him, in his life, happy but also safe ... all that tore me up inside. Luckily GA gave us some comic relief (I'm sure he'll have further purpose) in the form of Gray Dulac. I alternately wanted to smack him and had tears from laughing at his comments. He brought some much needed levity and I'm glad he got a prize/comeuppance Darnell Kirby in the end. Let's see how that plays out.
Yes, there was a case(s) which weren't particularly mysterious but serve to further develop characters in the town of Wahredua, ones I'm pretty sure will continue to play a significant part in the overarching case.

Perhaps what I like best about GA is that he doesn't do stock characters: I love Emery but he can be downright obtuse & hurtful, John has a drinking problem, some days I'd rather hang out with some of the less extreme members of the Ozark Volunteers than some of the ‘left wing' academics from Wroxall, and then he gives us Wesley. If ever there was a character who could be fitted with a holy nimbus it would be Wesley and yet ... utterly human down to being an adulterous pastor & ungrateful liar. I love it.

Lastly a BIG CHEER for Cora for saving Emery from himself and confiscating that list, being an awesome human, and the best ex ever.

RE-READ 8/2/21 – 8/4/21Well that was ... intense. Thoughts? I changed my rating to 5 because who am I trying to impress with 4.5? I freakin' love this series and trying to parse out ratings for individual books is a fruitless endeavor for me. Others may be able to do it can't. THE STORY: I think in Bk.3 is where the author has really committed to fleshing out these characters and their story and the luggage comes in trunks. This book is just a peek, takes place in a few scant days which leave the reader and the MC wrung inside out. As I said in my original read/review Somers is the character who goes through the most, at least emotionally. His relationship with his parents, with Cora, with his daughter Evie, his past that's inexorably tangled to Hazard, his feelings towards Hazard, the impossibility of them, their unrequitedness. It's a lot. And it's done brilliantly. In the meantime Hazard continues to stumble along, trying to forge a life, one where John-Henry Somerset is only his work partner. He chooses that over no Somers at all. The first read is always the rush to what's next, who did it, but know I was able linger on details and luxuriate in them. I loved it. Even when the blows connected, and they did, I was ready for more.If you do audio [a:Tristan James 14756687 Tristan James https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] will treat you right. ****FIRTST READ 11/19/19 – 11/21/19****Another couple of intense days for Wahredua's most dysfunctional buddy cops. An ill-advised Holiday dinner with their SOs is mercifully cut short by a summons to Somers's childhood home. Once there things go predictably south culminating with Somers' father being shot, which is the least of what happens, externally or internally. And that's the beauty of this series and why I'm continuing full steam ahead.It was evident from the first sentence of the first book in this series that [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] had a clear vision of where he was going, both in the overarching ‘mystery' of the series, and in the evolving, lifetime in the making, relationship between Hazard & Somers. Brilliant.Like in the previous books the ‘action', if you will, takes place in compressed time, from Friday, December 22nd @ 6:47 to December 25th @ 11:58 with a sort of coda on December 31st. In that time Somers, who to my mind is the character that's most grown & evolved, has yet more rugs pulled out from under him, he's forced to confront past fears, and misdeeds yet he manages to remain standing or at least get back on his feet. Sure, we wobbles but it's better to bend than break. In the meantime Hazard continues to confront Wahredua's elite. They're an ugly bunch and, sadly, not unfamiliar. The relationship between Hazard & Somers continues in the push & pull but to my mind it has progressed as much as it realistically can, considering their history, the short time that has elapsed since Hazard's return, and the fact that they're both in relationships or something close to that. I'm deeply satisfied. Those looking for a quick fix, insta anything, cookie cutter HEA, or even just regular romance, this is probably not the series for you. Also you should definitely start at the beginning. For my fellow travelers in this saga can we pool our money together to buy Nico a clue? Seriously. The boy has issues. Lots of them.

I liked this so much that I tried to extend my listening time. sigh Thank you [a:Lane Hayes 7125719 Lane Hayes https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1559106511p2/7125719.jpg] and [a:Michael Ferraiuolo 13467952 Michael Ferraiuolo https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1498214961p2/13467952.jpg].Nate and Alex are to all appearances polar opposites, and maybe they are, but they also complement each other like that pinch of salt or kiss of maple syrup. They're better together. Nate is Jake's friend from [b:The Wrong Man 24394833 The Wrong Man (Right and Wrong, #2) Lane Hayes https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420817781s/24394833.jpg 43979167], in which he came off as slightly cold or regimented, and he is a bit. Life, his parents, and maybe a bit of his genetic makeup have made him cautious and over analytical. Luckily life has also put Alex in his path. Alex is Michael's friend from [b:The Right Words 23547087 The Right Words (Right and Wrong, #1) Lane Hayes https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415773611s/23547087.jpg 43146536]; a retired fútbol player, WeHo gym owner, and all around nice guy, with an infectious joie de vivre. Nate finds himself saying yes to things he never imagined and enjoying them: surfing with someone else, speaking Spanish, unconcerned about his accent, revisiting his attraction to men (I was so glad this wasn't a GFY story). But it isn't a one way street, and Alex isn't someone without a care in the world. He needs and wants and anchor, a place to call home and Nate can be that for him. Alex carries the weight of his father's judgement and expectations, but, proving he's a better person than me, he chooses to see good in him too. Tonio Reyes, I didn't miss you. In this book, like the rest of the series, though the MC get together early and often, the road to love is slow and deliberate built on shared experiences outside of the bedroom, though those were scorching and revealing too. It makes the love sweeter and utterly believable. I liked that though Alex had the, ostensibly, bigger drama of coming out publicly (he was out to his family & circle of friends) being he was a retired athlete, Nate's story was equally, if not more moving, for it's specificity and (I'm looking at you last 20%) utterly heart wrenching. This was a love story between true adults who have had life experiences and learned from them. When their HEA comes we believe it completely.

3.5

Sean Cambell moves from Atlanta to Harmony Creek, a small town in the mountains of Tennessee, hoping that a change in geography will shake him out of the overwhelming grief he's drowning in. The death of his child and the consequent demise of his marriage at twenty seven is a heavy load to bear.

Trying to engage in a normal life Sean begins to frequent a local diner where he meets and befriends the owner Jonah Wright.

At one time Jonah escaped his hometown to go to college in NYC but his father's illness and premature death forced him to come home. At thirty seven he has settled in his own skin and feels comfortable among a group of friends who are family. All he needs is someone to love.

Jonah is a natural caretaker and Sean is someone who desperately needs taking care of. Jonah is unequivocally gay and Sean, though shy at first, is not averse to exploring that side of his sexuality. But can it be more? Can Sean open himself up to the love Jonah has to give while still drowning in grief?

I really liked the first half of this book. The story deals compassionately and honestly with a subject matter that doesn't always get much attention, particularly not from the perspective of the grieving father: the emotional toll of a stillborn child. The writing is beautiful and evocative.

My problem was that things, including the imagery & writing, started to get repetitive. Sean is continually storming out of rooms, shutting down, and refusing to speak to Jonah or anyone about anything while Jonah bends over backwards trying to be what Sean needs. Maybe this should've been more about Sean finding his way back to a new life instead of a romance? Don't get me wrong, Sean & Jonah have some sweet moments and the sex, Sean's firsts are hot and IMO read true. Very good.

My other problem was how Katie, Sean's ex wife, was dealt with. I know this is Sean's tale but I felt (perhaps mistakenly) that her sorrow gets a short shrift or is deemed less than Sean's which I can't imagine being further from the truth. Furthermore she's presented as being dismissive of Sean's confession of bisexuality. I didn't feel that was true or fair either, given when this happened. She's not a villainess.

I'd still recommend this. Read with patience and enjoy the lovely cover art. Maybe have some tissues handy.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the blog for more reviews

RE-READ/LISTEN 7/31/21 - 8/1/21 FULL 5.00 ... WHY PRETEND OTHERWISE

Okay ... I inhaled this and though I meant to skim I didn't. I was caught up in the mystery, some of which I'd forgotten but primarily I was invested in the tug of emotions between H&S.

I also feel like I should apologize to Emery. I was seemingly on a high horse when I did my first read or I've become wiser. The emotional tumult Hazard has been assailed with since returning to his hometown is overwhelming to say the least and he's now living with the man he's lusted after & hated for fifteen years, can you imagine? When they find themselves stranded, in a forced proximity type of situation, and Somers is being more than flirty it's totally logical for Hazard to lose his cool.

Somers's internal battle ain't pretty either. I feel for him.

I can see more rereads in the future but I won't bore you with it. I'm a teensy bit obsessed with these two. ❤️❤️

**FIRST READ/LISTEN 10/28/19 –10/30/194.5“Somers didn't do anything but walk away with that goddamn smirk burning like a very long fuse on a very big bomb.”

Okay [a:Gregory Ashe|1179529|Gregory Ashe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg], I see you and raise you comfy lounge pants, bunny slippers, oversized sleeping T, salt & vinegar chips, and Cheerwine soda. I'll wait you out.

[b:Pretty Pretty Boys|36623175|Pretty Pretty Boys (Hazard and Somerset, #1)|Gregory Ashe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511094676l/36623175.SY75.jpg|58383961] covered from October 24th [date of Hazard's first day at work for the Wahredua P.D., after having been gone from his hometown for fifteen (15) years] to November 2nd. Book two, [b:Transposition|37569723|Transposition (Hazard and Somerset, #2)|Gregory Ashe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513649770l/37569723.SY75.jpg|59181080], hurtles us all the way to November 21st, on the eve of Thanksgiving. Hazard and Somers have settled into being roommates and partners at work. On the surface everything is spiffy, mostly because they're men and avoid speaking about anything of substance. Not surprising. I know quite a few guys in RL like this. Super annoying, but true to life.

Almost at the end of the day they get a call which causes them to be sequestered in a mansion with a killer(s), and no escape due to a paralyzing storm. It's a sort of a ‘locked-room' mystery, with interesting twists and turns, some of which may be obvious to the avid mystery reader or not, but overall fairly well executed. However the purpose of this tale is to move along the Somers & Hazard uphill relationship, one weighed down by their individual and shared histories.

Can I say right now how much I love John-Henry Somerset, and that your enjoyment of this will hinge on your tolerance of grade A aholes, dicks, and general douches, by which of course I mean Emery Hazard? I understand where he's coming from, I do. As a matter of survival he's had to create a hard emotional shell to go along with his physical toughness, that who and what Somers was during their adolescence isn't something easily forgotten, sloughed off or set aside, but still ... let's just say that I wasn't entirely sorry for what happened in the basement. shrug

As a recap for those who may be tuning in now, these can't/shouldn't be read as standalones. They're a separate case per book, but there's an overarching mystery/case and Somers & Hazard's relationship running throughout.

I'm not going for 5 stars because I wanted to smack Hazard one too many times, and his attitudes sometimes belied his vaunted reputation as an excellent detective. In fact, sometimes, his pigheadedness ruined perfect investigative avenues.

I did the audio too and [a:Tristan James|14756687|Tristan James|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] will make you happy.

Some unexpected M/F fun, a really good AB, and now I'm invested. I blame Cletus and I'm not mad about it. Good southern boys, gentlemen in the real sense of the word, beards, smart women who, though young, don't suffer fools gladly. Add to that pies and what's not to like?

For a most excellent review, one I agree with wholeheartedly see my friend's Optimist's review. It's perfect.

I did have some queries or wow moments which highlighted how Southern or removed from my life experience this story was Duane's momma has died at 47. Duane is 24. He's far from the oldest Winston brother. Turns out she shacked up with Mr. Winston at 16!!!but I like that. It's my main reason for reading. A window into other ways of life. It's a good thing.

The question of Jessica's father is left hanging, though I don't think it's a mysteryI guess this and other things will be addressed in subsequent books.

3.5 Review soon. ;-)

What an absolute surprise!

Maybe 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for a super short story is over top? Me being extra?

Well nothing much to say but that this is how you do smut. aplause

This is part 2 of Pete & Damon's story. After Damon had his way him in Summer Heat Pete has found a way of turning the tables and having Damon as his play thing. And play they do!
This is a short one-handed read and also a load of fun.

The ending establishes what the dynamic of this relationship will be and I'm eager to for the next installment. More please