Review: Prince of Killers by Layla Reyne

Prince of Killers (Fog City, 1)
by Layla Reyne
Self-published
LGBT, contemporary, romance, action, suspense

No indiscriminate killing. No collateral damage. No unvetted targets.

These are the rules Hawes Madigan lives by. Rules that make being Fog City’s Prince of Killers bearable. Soon, he’ll be king—of an organization of assassins—and the crown has never felt heavier. Until the mysterious Dante Perry swaggers into his life.
Dante looks like a rock god and carries himself like one too, all loose-limbed and casually confident. He also carries a concealed weapon, a private investigator’s license, and a message for the prince. Someone inside Hawes’s organization is out to kill the future king.

In the chaos that follows the timely warning, Hawes comes to depend on Dante. On his skills as an investigator, on the steadiness he offers, and on their moments alone when Hawes lets Dante take control. As alliances are tested and traitors exposed, Hawes needs Dante at his back and in his bed. But if the PI ever learns Hawes’s darkest secret, Hawes is sure to get a knife to the heart—and a bullet to the brain—instead.

There’s no shortage of twists and turns in this new romantic suspense trilogy from Layla Reyne. Prince of Killers is book one of three. Fair warning: buckle up, cliffhangers ahead!

Prince of Killers is action packed, full of twists and secrets, and it's fun and sexy. The story follows Hawes Madigan, who leads an organization of assassins and who is threatened by unknown opposition inside his own organization, and Dante Perry, who waltzes into Hawes's life with a warning of a traitor. There's dangerous situations and Dante offers his expertise, but Hawes is not sure if he can trust the private investigator who appeared out of nowhere.

It's a fast paced journey with fascinating characters. I like Hawes, because he's loyal to his siblings, good at what he does, but not afraid to lean on Dante when he needed help. Holt and Helena, Hawes's twin and sister, are likable too: Holt is a hacker extraordinaire and dedicated to his infant daughter, and Helena is a spitfire (you don't want to face her in a fight!). Dante's interesting, because he's laid back, reads a lot, and is very sure of himself. And yes, there's sizzling chemistry between Hawes and Dante.

I recommend Prince of Killers for everyone who enjoys romantic suspense with plenty of action and twists - both the ones you see coming and the ones that surprises you. It's a book that's easy to devour since it's very addicting and fast paced. I love a story like that - especially when there's a lot of action mixed with fascinating characters and budding romance that has all the chemistry it needs.

It'll be interesting to see where Reyne takes this series, particularly after the cliffhanger ending; the next one, King Slayer, will be from Dante's point of view, so it'll be fascinating to see if my opinion of characters and their actions change.

4 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: Undue Influence by Jenny Holiday

Undue Influence
by Jenny Holiday
Self-published
LGBT, contemporary, romance, retelling

Second chances only come around once.

Eight years ago, Adam Elliot made the biggest mistake of his life. Now that mistake is coming back to haunt him. His family’s beloved vineyard has gone into foreclosure, and the new owner is the sister of the only man he’s ever loved—the man he dumped under pressure from family and friends who thought the match was beneath him. 

When Freddy Wentworth, aka the bad boy of Bishop’s Glen, left town with a broken heart, he vowed never to return. But a recently widowed friend needs his help, so here he is. He’s a rich and famous celebrity chef now, though, so everyone can just eff right off.

But some things are easier said than done. Despite their attempts to resist each other, old love rekindles—and old wounds reopen. If they want to make things work the second time around, they’ll have to learn to set aside their pride—and prejudice.

This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is a standalone novel that can be enjoyed by Austen-philes and by those allergic to the nineteenth century.

I must confess that I haven't actually read Persuasion yet. Undue Influence just sounded good and it definitely did a great job at making me want to read Persuasion soon. It's a great second chance romance featuring likable characters. In short, I adored it. Adam is adorable character, he's mild-mannered and quiet while his mother and sister are snobby and loud. Adam's family owns a vineyard which they're about to lose because of poor financial management and Adam's trying to navigate his life when he meets his old boyfriend, Freddy, after eight years. Freddy is just great. It's difficult to say anything else since I just liked him - he's nice, kind and just darn adorable. There's certainly a chemistry between the two of them!

Undue Influence is a brilliant love story, it's both sweet and somewhat heartbreaking, but it'll mend any breaks it causes. Adam and Freddy are brilliant both individually and together, and it's almost impossible to not root for them. I highly recommend it, if you're looking for a great second chance romance, adorable love story or a Jane Austen retelling!

4 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: Long Shadows by Kate Sherwood

Long Shadows (Common Law, #1)
by Kate Sherwood
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, contemporary, mystery, romance

LA cop Jericho Crewe got the hell out of Mosely, Montana, when he was seventeen. Fifteen years later, he’s back, and everything is just as messed up as when he left. He planned a quick visit to deal with his injured father, but of course things are never that simple. Family complications, police complications, social complications—and, as always, Wade Granger complications.

Jericho and Wade had been so close, once upon a time. First friends, then more than friends—and then, after Jericho’s escape, nothing. Wade’s magnetism hasn’t been lessened by a decade and a half apart; even when Jericho learns that Wade is the prime suspect in the death of Jericho’s father, the old connection still sparks.

When Jericho’s newly discovered half siblings are kidnapped, he needs to trust someone to help him find them. Wade’s a terrible choice, but Jericho’s never been known for his good judgment. Anyway, he’d rather make a bad decision with Wade than a good one with anybody else.

Long Shadows is a captivating story with a great atmosphere. Jericho Crewe returns to his hometown Mosely, Montana, after he gets a call that his father’s in the hospital. Jericho left Mosely fifteen years ago and never looked back but now he’s faced with old friends and old flames – and things are not as they seem. His father’s been murdered and his half-siblings, which he didn’t know existed, are kidnapped. He doesn’t know who to trust, certainly not his old friend and lover, Wade, who is one of the town’s career criminals. It’s complicated, especially since Jericho’s a cop now and not a rebellious teenager like he was before.

It’s addicting. There’s a dark loom there, suspicions flying around and trust issues. Jericho and Wade have so much chemistry that it’s sizzling – and nothing happens. It’s charged but oh so slow burn. Jericho’s a great main character who faces difficult decisions. However, Wade’s everything. He’s a bad boy who makes his own rules and everyone in the town knows that his business dealings are not on the right side of the law. He doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not and I loved to question whether the things he told Jericho were true or not. There’s a set up for romance since there’s three more books in the series, but I feel like it’s not going to be easy ride. I’m certainly up for some complicated relationship.

There are some things I felt a little bit uncertain. Jericho’s family relationships are complicated, which is fine, but it’s difficult to understand why Jericho decided to stick around to help a stepmother and half-siblings who he didn’t know existed. It would have been more understandable if the stepmother and half-siblings treated Jericho well, but they aren’t most likable characters.

I chose to give Long Shadows three starts because I liked Jericho, Wade, their complicated past and present, and the mystery. It’s a promising start for a series, but there’s something missing that would have made it a four-star read. I’ll definitely pick up the next book in Common Law series soon.

3 of 5 stars

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Review: Mr Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas

Mr. Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars, #2)
by Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Published by Vintage
Mystery, contemporary

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?

I loved The Thousand Dollar Tan Line but felt like something was missing. Whatever it was, Mr. Kiss and Tell certainly had all the magic that Veronica Mars show and movie had. Veronica’s once again doing a lot of sleuthing and determined to find the truth beneath all the lies. The mystery was interesting and layered, and Veronica had to use a lot of her skills and tricks to keep up with the bad guys. The investigation of Sheriff Lamb’s corrupt department that started in the movie continued here and it was great to see that to develop and Keith do a bit investigation of his own.

There’s also a lot of familiar faces, from Eli Navarro to Leo D’Amato and anyone in between. It was entertaining to see how everyone was doing, from friend to foe. However, the best part was that Logan was back and he was more present and finally he opened up what happened to him between the last episode of third season and the movie. I just love Logan. His and Veronica’s banter has always been epic, and the relationship hasn’t changed that. They’re the ship for me and it better keep sailing.

5 of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2)
by Rachel Reid
Published by Carina Press
LGBT, sports, contemporary, romance

Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game – definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him – except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hook-ups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option.

Heated Rivalry surprised me. I went in expecting a sports romance with rivals to lovers – that’s the story, but it’s also so much more. For one, it spans over years, from Shane and Ilya meeting in the beginning of their respective NHL careers to present day. It’s captivating to follow their careers and relationships and to see them grow from young lads to adults in highly competitive and public platform.

What a chemistry they have! Rivals or lovers, Shane and Ilya are sizzling. Not only that, it’s easy to fall for each of them. Shane’s actually pretty shy and enjoys spending his time away from the spotlight. He’s talented on ice and has dedicated his life for hockey. He’s adorable cinnamon roll, alright, and so easy to root for. Ilya’s almost Shane’s opposite as he’s arrogant, smug and entertaining. He’s also complex and feels deeply and I just loved him. They’re great together and separately, and Reid certainly wields some sort of magic to pull all of that together. My only complain is that there could have been more hockey – or more specifically, more games played on page.

Ilya has an accent and especially after he gets drafted to NHL, he doesn’t speak English fluently. I loved how Reid included that and how it was easy to see Ilya get more fluent but still have that speech pattern that a native wouldn’t have. I haven’t seen a lot of books do this (unless it has been the bad guys who don’t speak English fluently) and it was great. I’m not a native English speaker and I was pretty fluent when I moved abroad, but I could still relate to Ilya’s struggles at times to find the right word. It made it much more realistic than just saying that Ilya had an accent.

Shortly, I truly enjoyed Heated Rivalry. It has all the elements of rivals to lovers I love, there’s hockey which is one of the only sports I somewhat follow. Incredible character chemistry and epic romance; I highly recommend this to everyone who wants a great rivals to lovers and brilliant storyline. Now, I just need a sequel because I need to know what happens next to Shane and Ilya.

5 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)
by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
Published by Vintage
Mystery, contemporary, crime

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

I love Veronica Mars: I have watched the TV show multiple times and the movie, well, I think closer to ten times now. However, I have never read the books and after re-watching the show in May, I decided to finally tackle them, especially since season four is coming out this summer! I’m so happy that I finally read The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, and I enjoyed the book so much.

The book had all the elements that I enjoyed in the show: intriguing mystery with surprising twists, Veronica being snarky and witty, and great cast of secondary characters. And of course, Logan, who’s my favourite! Logan was still on his tour, but he’s present in Veronica’s thoughts, there’s plenty of mentions of him and skype calls and such. I did hope more of Logan, but then again, I could never get enough of him. Veronica was naturally the shining light and it was so nice to see how her life was after she returned to Neptune. The mystery was a solid one, it started out a little bit boring but got interesting fast and I didn’t see some of the bigger twists coming.

For the fans of Veronica Mars, this is a must read, but I’d say others could read it too. Now I’m off to read the next Veronica Mars book.

4 of 5 stars

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DNF Review: Top Shelf by Allison Temple

Top Shelf (Seacroft, #1)
by Allison Temple
Published by Allison Temple Books
LGBT, contemporary, romance

Martin is a ghost. Well, not really, but he might as well be. Job gone, home gone, self-respect gone, and no one even seems to notice. The only person who really sees him is Seb, the artist who lives above the used bookstore.

Seb haunts the edges of Seacroft in search of beauty. He knows how to excavate the hidden value in abandoned things--whether it's in the pages of forgotten books or in Martin's stuttering attempts to rebuild his life--and transform them into works of art.

Two lost souls, Seb and Martin discover the strength they need to face eccentric townies and their dysfunctional families together. But as friendship sparks toward something more, neither man wants to risk what they've only just found. It takes two to fall in love, but it will take the whole community to bring their beauty to life.

DNF at 31%

Top Shelf sounded very exciting - I love books set in bookstores and quaint town can be really atmospheric setting. However, it became clear very soon that this isn't a book for me.

While Martin is sympathetic character who needs a hug, Seb is something entirely different. He's rude and acts like an asshole around Martin - and what's worst, he's aware of his behaviour but does nothing to change it. Just few chapters in and all he does is take out his bad mood on Martin, who doesn't deserve it. Quite simply, I can't stand Seb. Martin deserves so much better after the life he's had and since they barely have any chemistry, I cannot root for them as a pair.

Martin is only character I liked, as others seemed more or less unlikable - not as bad as Seb, but not very likable either. Temple's writing is good and if I'd liked the characters, it would have been much better story, but I don't feel like reading about a hero, who's like Seb, certainly not in a romance novel.

No star rating since I did not finish

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: Star Collector Vol. 2 by Sophie Schönhammer

Star Collector, Vol. 2
by Sophie Schönhammer & Anna Backhausen
Published by TokyoPop
YA, LGBT, manga, contemporary, romance

Fynn's favorite activities are skipping class, smoking, and lying around. So when he's told it's time to shape up and try doing something else for a change, he has no idea where to even start. 

Then, on a nighttime walk around his neighborhood, he sees a stranger with a telescope up on a hill: his name is Niko, and he loves to watch the stars. Intrigued, Flynn decides to find out more about this nerdy boy and what could be so interesting about the night sky that he loves so much.

Star Collector Vol. 2 is just as cute as the previous one and a good end for a duology. It delves into more Fynn and Niko's relationship and the challenges they have to overcome, namely Niko's secretive behaviour and avoidance when it comes to talking about his family. Truthfully, Niko frustrated me a bit even if his behaviour is understandable and has a good explanation. However, Fynn is adorable treasure! He's such a delight, especially since he's so excited about spending time with Niko compared to his apathy in the beginning of the story.

The art is great again, I really like it. My only complain about Star Collector Vol. 2 is that there's one thing that's not resolved in the end and it bugs me. It's a cute ending for a adorable duology, but it felt a tiny bit rushed and thus few things are unresolved. Otherwise, Star Collector is a lovely story with adorable main characters!

4 of 5 stars
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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: Star Collector Vol. 1 by Sophie Schönhammer

Star Collector, Vol. 1
by Sophie Schönhammer & Anna Backhausen
Published by TokyoPop
YA, LGBT, manga, contemporary, romance

Fynn's favorite activities are skipping class, smoking, and lying around. So when he's told it's time to shape up and try doing something else for a change, he has no idea where to even start. 

Then, on a nighttime walk around his neighborhood, he sees a stranger with a telescope up on a hill: his name is Niko, and he loves to watch the stars. Intrigued, Flynn decides to find out more about this nerdy boy and what could be so interesting about the night sky that he loves so much.

Star Collector is a cute story of Fynn, who's kind of a bad boy, and Niko, who's a huge astronomy nerd. Fynn's the type who shrugs the problems away, and prefers to sleep and smoke like a chimney instead of going to school in time. He's on top of a hill late at night, smoking and doing nothing when he meets Niko, who rambles about stars and astronomy. And for once, Fynn actually keeps coming back and finds something interesting, especially how mysterious Niko seems to be. Fynn and Niko are both interesting characters and their interaction is fun to read about; I was certainly charmed by it.

The art is incredible - I loved the style and it captivated me, so I probably spends more time staring at certain panels than actually reading further. I especially loved Fynn's longer hair, so gorgeous! Only slightly negative thing that I have to say is Zoe, who's Fynn's ex-girlfriend and best friend - her motives didn't really come through, which confused me a bit. At times she seemed very supportive, but there was a bitter tone, and it seemed like she switched between supportive and snarky bitterness in a heartbeat.

I'm anticipating the next volume, because I need to know more about Niko and see where the story is going. I can certainly recommend you to check Star Collector out, it's such a cute story.
4 of 5 stars

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: Salute to the Stud by Beth Laycock

Salute to the Stud
by Beth Laycock
Publishes by Rainbow Romance Press
LGBT, contemporary, romance, novella

Jasper is licking his wounds in paradise after being dumped, according to his ex, for someone more adventurous. The romantic Hawaiian getaway for two he booked hadn’t featured his sister as his plus one, but sometimes real life sucks. 

For the two weeks he’s there his plans include hot dates with a sun lounger and working his way through the local craft beers. Nothing more.

Until he receives a sext from a wrong number. A mystery yoga instructor offering a private session to teach him the plow, and maybe even get plowed. Jasper’s never had a hookup with anyone before, but perhaps it’s time to prove his ex wrong. 

One night with Tamal, no matter how hot it is, isn’t enough, yet that doesn’t change the fact this thing between them can’t last. Because time is running out. Jasper has to leave, has to return to London and real life.

Salute to the Stud is cute holiday romance novella. It's set on Hawaii, where Jasper is having a holiday, and London, where he lives. He meets Tamal, a hot yoga teacher, there and they have a fling, but can't seem to get enough of each other. Their romance is sweet with a bit of steam on the side, but there's also some angst involved as Jasper has to get back to real life after the holiday.

Salute to the Stud is a quick and sweet read, but sadly that's all it is. Jasper and Tamal are nice main characters and the descriptions of Hawaii are beautiful. There just isn't any stakes in the story; it turns out that Tamal's from London too, so distance is not a problem, and the one big misunderstanding in the story is quickly resolved - and it is very obvious one, too. Maybe it's because of the length, but everything is a bit too convenient and lacks depth. It's cute and sweet, but Jasper and Tamal never get character development and the story doesn't have any stakes. It's just a sweet, feel good romance - and if that's what you expect, then that's exactly what you get. 

3 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: Pisces Floors Taurus by Anyta Sunday

Pisces Floors Taurus (Signs of Love, #4.5)
by Anyta Sunday
Self-published
LGBT, contemporary, romance, novella

Vacation time – time to try something new…

Spend some more time with Zane and Beckett in this short & steamy follow up to “Pisces Hooks Taurus’” as they deepen their bond.

All proceeds of the first month of sales will go to charity. This story was previously posted in three installments in the “KU in the Korner” Facebook group.

Pisces Floors Taurus promises a cute short epilogue style story and that's exactly what it is. I adored Zane and Beckett's story and this wraps it even more, from their trip to the New Zealand and return to the States. Absolutely adorable, and I only wish there was more of them. Zane's antics are hilarious and Beckett's patience and wit are without competition.

5 of 5 stars

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Review: You by Caroline Kepnes

You
by Caroline Kepnes
Published by Simon & Schuster
Contemporary, thriller

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card. 

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she'll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight - the perfect place for a "chance" meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck's life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck's perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way - even if it means murder.

You is disturbing. That's the best way to describe the story. What makes it more disturbing than other stories in the same category, is the way it's executed: it's written in second person, so the narrator Joe speaks directly to Beck. Joe's looking for true love, and he's obsessed with Beck. The genius of the story is that it feels so disturbing at first, when Joe starts stalking Beck, but the more we find out about Beck it becomes clear that she's not a good person either. What Joe does is still wrong, but Beck's manipulative and well, gold digger. In fact, most characters in You are despicable so it's difficult to feel for them, which only adds to the disturbing feel of the story.

I enjoyed to story, despite disliking most, if not all, of the characters. It's quite a feat for a story to achieve that, because I usually need to be able like the characters to enjoy the story. Overall, a very good book for its genre, and if you're up to some disturbing thriller, then You is for you.

4 of 5 stars

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DNF Review: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

What If It's Us
by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
Published by Simon & Schuster
eARC
LGBT, contemporary, romance

Meet Ben and Arthur. Ben is a battered dreamer who's shipping his ex-boyfriend's things back to him. Arthur is new to New York and struggling to fit in. After an memorable meet-cute in a New York post office, the boys lose touch only to be brought back together via a 'missed connection' advert. Is it fate? It looks like it. But after a series of disastrous first date, Ben and Arthur may have to accept the universe should've minded its business.

DNF at 20%

I'm a bit nervous, because most seem to adore and love What If It's Us. I have enjoyed Albertalli's previous books and read/loved one short story from Silvera. I was so excited for this and went in expecting adorable romance, because that's what all the early reviews were praising the book for. However, I struggled with every page since I started reading this last month, and after battling through twenty percent, I put it down. I haven't been able to pick it up, because I get upset just from thinking about it.

What's my problem with What If It's Us? Everything. Sure, the writing is not bad, but the difference between Ben and Arthur's chapters, especially with the feel of them, is huge. Arthur's chapters feel like silly romantic comedy; there's flashmob proposal, goofing around and stalking a guy he finds attractive. That's actually one of my big problems with the book: Arthur's decision to stalk a person, who might not even be the guy he spoke with. I didn't find it cute, I found it appalling. Not only that, Ben's chapters are as far from romantic comedy feel as one can get. Ben pines after his ex-boyfriend, who Ben dumped, and it's quite extensive pining. I couldn't see how this situation could develop into relationship. When they met, there wasn't really chemistry, and Ben's way too hung up on his ex. It's not something I like to read about, so all of this is a case of it's me, not the book. Sometimes enjoyment doesn't line up with the story and its characters.

After all that, I took a peak how the story ends and it solified my decision to DNF the book. I'm not going to put myself through a story and characters I don't enjoy for such an ambiguous ending. I also really read other reviews, and some indicated that the things I found problematic wouldn't disappear. I don't often DNF books as I like to give them a chance to change my mind, but this time I can't get myself to pick up the book again.

Overall everything just felt so juvenile, which I get, it's contemporary young adult, but the amount of second hand embarrassment I felt every page was something I've never felt before. Simply, this one isn't for me. I guess it's so hard for me to say it and to officially give up, because I had such high expectations and the book is so hyped up.

No star rating as I didn't finish the book.

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ARC Review: Rabi and Matthew by L.A. Witt

Rabi and Matthew
by L.A. Witt
Published by Riptide Publishing
eARC
LGTB, contemporary, romance

A queer retelling of Romeo & Juliet, except no one has to busy their gays.

A decades-old family rivalry is reaching a boiling point as the patriarchs vie for a seat in Congress. Democrat vs Republican, Muslim vs Christian, Hashmi vs Swain - the Midwestern town of Arbor Hills is one spark away from an explosion of violence. So when two men find themselves irresistibly drawn together at a party, only to discover they were born on opposite sides of a bloody battle line, Matthew Swain and Rabi Hashmi know they should leave well enough alone. 

The pull between them is magnetic, though, and it's too strong to ignore. Unable to resist, they meet again in secret. Generations of hatred can't temper the passionate love growing between them, but two men falling for each other in the middle of a war zone can't hold back the inevitable clash.

And when decades of political, religious, and personal strife finally come to a head, there will be blood.

Since I saw the gorgeous cover and got blurbed this as queer retelling of Romeo and Juliet with huge possibility for ending that won't rip my heart out, I was ready for it. Rabi and Matthew surely delivers that; contemporary retelling with decades long conflict between warring families and tragic events, but no burying the gays.

Rabi and Matthew has the same fast paced, addicting, and captivating feel as the movie has. The difference is that this dives into more the families and makes the feud very contemporary and very American; it's Democrat versus Republican, Muslim versus Christian. It's very polarizing, which I didn't mind because it fits the storyline and adds tension and drama. It's easy to get lost in Rabi and Matthew, the whirlwind romance, secrets and hiding, and dreaming of better tomorrow. The main characters are also very likable: Matthew wants to escape his family's racism and hate and he's kind and tender where his family is obnoxious and loud in their hate. Rabi wants to escape the small town that's so full on hate for him just because who he is. They both have the ability to see past their surnames and past decades of feud that started before either one was born. And Jude, Matthew's friend, is absolutely hilarious. I certainly wished there'd been more of him.

Rabi and Matthew is an addicting and captivating story, and it's a fast read. It's interesting to see Witt's take on Romeo and Juliet, although the end notes acknowledge that the original play wasn't romance like the retelling is. There are plenty of differences, but it's only a good thing and worked for the story. I do think that Rabi and Matthew could have been a bit longer, just to flesh out things more and spend more time building Rabi and Matthew's relationship. As it is, it's very much definition for whirlwind and while that's alright, it could have been improved.

In any way, if you're looking for a fast paced romance or a good retelling, I recommend this one.

4 of 5 stars.

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: S.T.A.G.S. by M. A. Bennett

S.T.A.G.S.
by M. A. Bennett
Published by Hot Key Books
YA, contemporary, thriller

Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend.

It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin' shootin' fishin'. When Greer lean that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered.

But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry's parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports - hunting, shooting and fishing - become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school...

I was so excited to read S.T.A.G.S. and I went in knowing nothing but the tag line - that it was nine students participating three bloodsports during one deadly weekend. It's also set in England and posh boarding school, which sounds promising itself. I wanted to love the story and feel for the characters, and to try figure out who the culprit is. However, that's not what happened.

The story is about Greer MacDonald, who wins a scholarship to attend prestigious St. Aidan the Great School. Greer is in for a rude awakening, because no one talks to her and she fails at making any friends. She gets so excited when she receives invitation from the most popular kids at school to attend a weekend full of hunting, shooting and fishing at a manor in the Lake District. Sounds great, right? Well, the problems don't lie with the plot outline. It's the execution: character development is non-existent, there are too many movie references (the author uses them to describe everything, which can be confusing if you haven't seen the movies), and the narrator, Greer, addresses the reader directly multiple times. It's also a confusing mix of modern and "medieval" - the popular kids refuse to use any technology and they are called "medievals" and people who use modern technology are "savage". The lack of character development leaves everyone one dimensional and very arch-typical. 

Main problem that S.T.A.G.S. has is foreshadowing. It's not subtle and there is a lot of it. First chapters tell reader exactly who is the bad guy, foreshadowing it so properly that it ruins any suspense, any mystery. It's all handed in right away, which makes the book a bit pointless. If I already know who the bad guy is, how am I going to feel surprised or betrayed? It just makes Greer feel silly character, because she seems to believe anything that a charming handsome guy says. Personally, I think the story would have been so much better without any foreshadowing - then there would have been suspense, mystery, and possibly surprise. Now it is just a thriller without any suspense or momentum, which makes it a failed thriller and more contemporary YA. It does try to be clean YA as much as it can, while foreshadowing that horrible things will happen soon.

Overall, I am very disappointed. There was plenty of potential and the tag line is intoxicating (Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend.) but the book does not live up to it as the execution is messy. Bones of the story are good, but it needed way more fleshing out and editing - and removing all the foreshadowing.

2 of 5 stars

I aim to keep my reviews spoiler free on my blog, but I had so much to say about the ending. I included a spoiler section on the review on Goodreads, which you can access here, if you want to see what I have to say about the ending. Be warned that the spoiler section reveals two crucial things about the ending, so only read it if you have already read the book or want to know how it ends.

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ARC Review: Pisces Hooks Taurus by Anyta Sunday

Pisces Hooks Taurus (Signs of Love, #4)
by Anyta Sunday
Self-published
LGBT, contemporary, romance

It's a time for searching, and a time for finding, Pisces: keep casting your line and you will hook what you're looking for. 

Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cure, fall in love, and live happily ever after. Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he'd be married to the woman of his dreams. 

It would be perfect.And it would be before his visa ran out. 

But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure's on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can't make sense of anymore? 

Just as well he's met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is everything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all. 

Don't cast your line too wide, Pisces. Your perfect catch may already have bitten.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if I didn't love a book from Signs of Love world. It's guaranteed that when I pick up one of them, the story will whisk me away and keep me captivated until the last page; and I'll yearn for more. Pisces Hooks Taurus certainly did all of that.

Zane's an unapologetic romantic with a bit oblivious side and he has a month left before his visa runs out, but in his usual style, he's not worried: he's convinced that he'll find the love he's looking for so that he can stay and be part of his brother's life. Zane's determined and nothing seems to stop him, not even when he's out of place to stay, and that's what I loved about Zane. He's genuine and looks for the bright side of things - he's a cinnamon roll. Especially when he meets Beckett, who's university professor and a friend of Zane's sister-in-law, and manages to convince Beckett to let him bunk in his house for a few days. Banter and literary buns ensure, and it's such hilarious and enjoyable to read their adventures. More than that, it's absolutely pleasure to see how Zane lightens up Beckett, who's a broken realist, and how Beckett encourages Zane to make a much needed change in his career.

There's slow burn and chemistry, and plenty of books and book discussions. It's adorable and fun, but also serious as Beckett needs to learn how to let go some of his past ghosts and Zane needs to gain confidence that he is smart and intelligent in his own way. They compliment each other and it's just such a beautiful story. I couldn't put the book down!

I continue to highly recommend Signs of Love series, and definitely Pisces Hooks Taurus. You don't need to read them in any particular order as each are standalones, but there are some cameos and connections between characters. Indeed, Theo and Jamie from Leo Loves Aries have a cameo in Pisces Hooks Taurus (funny and cute one, too).

5 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: Love at First Hate by J.L. Merrow

Love at First Hate (Porthkennack, #11)
by J.L. Merrow
Published by Riptide Publishing
eARC
LGBT, contemporary, romance

First impressions can doom second chances.

Bran Roscarrock has been living in the closet all his life. As heir to an expansive family legacy in the town of Porthkennack, old-fashioned ideals of respectability and duty were drummed into him since childhood, and he's never dared to live - or love - openly.

Sam Ferreira, and old friend of Bran's brother, Jory, is a disgraced academic desperate to leave his dead-end job. When Jory asks him to take over as curator of a planned exhibition on Edward of Woodstock, the fourteenth-century Black Prince, Sam leaps at the chance to do what he loves and make a fresh start.

But Bran's funding the exhibition, and though sparks fly between the two men, they're not all happy ones. Bran idolises Prince Edwards as a hero, while Sam's determined to present a balanced picture. With neither of them prepared to give ground, a hundred years of war seems all too possible. And if Bran finds out about Sam's past, his future may not be bright, and their budding romance may be lost to history.

I had mixed feelings about Love at First Hate ever since I read the synopsis for the first time: Bran Roscarrock has been secondary character in Merrow's previous installments in this series, and neither book has painted Bran in a good light. Bran's been described as stuck up traditionalist, who didn't accept his nephew, who came looking for his mother, and judged his brother's choices every chance he got. He wasn't a character I particularly liked. However, I was intrigued by the synopsis and I have enjoyed every book by Merrow I've read, so I decided to give this one a chance. And I'm extremely glad that I did so.

Love at First Hate turns the tables and challenges reader to change mind about Bran; the story has flashbacks, which will explain a lot of Bran's actions and feelings, and it goes in depth with Bran's character and the inner struggle he goes through. In fact, I felt for Bran and I began to like him, even more than any other characters in this series. Bran's not perfect and in a sense he's duty bound to the idea of what is expected from him as a heir to large estate. But he's long way from being heartless; he loves his nephew, Gawen, and has tried from his best to be there for Gawen when Gawen's father Jory lived in Edinburgh for years. Bran wants to do better and be better, which makes him likable character as he doesn't deny his past wrongdoings. Bran's definitely the best part of the story and his redemption arc is beautiful thing to read about. Other characters, mainly the other main character Sam Ferreira, are interesting but just didn't stood a chance with Bran's presence. I did enjoy Sam's chapters, especially to see him interact with Jory and Mal, and to follow him to built his life after a scandal that caused him to loose his academic career.

Easiest way to summarize the significance of proper and deep character and story development that Love at First Hate has, is that the main character's don't meet each other until around third way in the story. And when Sam and Bran meet, sparks fly and chemistry is palpable - their arguments make their blood boil, but they still respect each other even if they don't agree with other's arguments. It's wonderful to read about, especially to see the change and how they manage to win each other over.

I do recommend Love at First Hate. I dare to say it's best of Merrow's Porthkennack stories.

4 of 5 stars

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Thank you, Riptide Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review Love at First Hate!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: The Academy by Quinn Anderson

The Academy
by Quinn Anderson
Published by Riptide Publishing
eARC
LGBT, contemporary, romance

True love stabs you in the front. 

Nick Steele just wants a normal life, cliché or not. He had one once, back in Chigago. Before his father died and he took a year off from college to grieve. Now, he's starting fresh at a prestigious - but tiny - Catholic university. Adjusting to small-town life will be a challenge, along with making friends and keeping his scholarship. All he wants to do is blend in, get his diploma, and go back home.

But Sebastian Prinsen - campus heartthrob and a notorious player - has other plans. He notices Nick right away and makes a bet with his two best friends: Who can kiss the new kid first? Nick seems immune to Sebastian's charms, and yet genuine chemistry sparks between them. Even worse, real feelings do too. Sebastian falls more and more every time Nick blows him off, but if he comes clean about the bet, Nick will hate him forever.

The last thing Nick wants is to fall in love while he's still grieving, but Sebastian feels like home to him. Nick wants that so badly he may ignore the warning signs and risk his fragile heart once more.

Quinn Anderson's last novel, The Long Way Around, left me a little cold as I expected more from it. That's why I was a little hesitant going into The Academy, but I'm happy to say that any hesitance was for nothing as I enjoyed this story and its characters a lot. There was a great cast of characters; funny roommate Deen, insightful Theo, cool Dante, enigmatic Sebastian, and cautious Nick. Better than that, there was complexity to the characters. For example, Nick was very cautious because of the loss he experienced a year earlier, but he also wanted to make new friends. More than that, The Academy was a big on perspective of happiness and privilege; if someone is rich, does that make them happier than the one who's financially struggling? And of course, there was insane chemistry and tension between Nick and Sebastian, which made it a captivating read.

The Academy took place within two weeks; it felt longer and the building up of friendships and relationships was good. Still, two weeks is not a long time and the knowledge how little time had passed made Nick and Sebastian's growing closeness a little bit off, especially since they spend half of the time avoiding each other. That's my only complaint of this story and I feel like it would have been amazing if there had been a little more time between the beginning and end (not counting the epilogue, of course).

The Academy was enjoyable read; there's flirting and chemistry, worries and suspicion, and getting to know a new place and new people. It's all about forming bonds with others - friendships and relationships - and about trust. Trust in other people and risking your heart to find something that may or may not last. It's about that place between childhood and adulthood; when legally you're an adult with all the responsibilities but not necessarily emotionally ready to descent into the adulthood.

So yes, I do recommend The Academy.

4 of 5 stars

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Thank you, Riptide Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review The Academy!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

ARC Review: The Long Way Around by Quinn Anderson

The Long Way Around

by Quinn Anderson
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, contemporary, romance

A wrong turn could lead to Mr. Right. 

Sam Cooper is the definition of an introvert: shy, bookish, and the sort to think a wild Friday involves ordering takeout. He enjoys his quiet life, but after a bad breakup, he's been yearning for a change of scenery. Luckily, his best friend and former college roommate has the solution.

Wesley Reed - a jokester and expert Sam-handler - proposes an epic road trip to a wedding across the country. They're both between jobs and boyfriends. Why not hit the open road and make some memories?

Stuck in close quarters for the first time since their dorm days, they're both surprised at the heat that springs up between them. As best friends, they're shared so much over the years, so why does sharing a hotel room - and occasionally a bed - make them want more? Chemistry this smoldering is hard to ignore, but there are road blocks to their romance. Wesley's keeping a secret, and Sam can't rely on Wesley to drag him out of his comfort zone forever. If they're not careful, their relationship may take the ultimate wrong turn.

The Long Way Around is friends to lovers with an epic road trip to Montana, where Sam's sister is getting married. Sam and Wesley are best friends and out of jobs and boyfriends at the time, which makes it perfect time for road trip to Montana through all the major sites such as NYC, Washington DC, small towns, and New Orleans. At least Wesley is convinced of that, Sam's more unsure if he wants to go - mostly because he doesn't want to face his relatives in the wedding. Cool premise, right? Road trip, close quarters, and best friends sounds really good, especially with contrast between introvert Sam and outgoing Wesley, and oh boy do they have chemistry sizzling between them!

However, there was just a little bit too much telling for my taste, especially when it came to the destinations on the road trip. There was usually just a side note what Sam and Wesley had done, like a list with boxes to tick, but not actually taking the reader there with them. The focus of the story is the relationship and those moments that drove it forward, and everything else was skimmed over; it was disappointing because I was waiting for the road trip and all the destinations. However, Sam and Wesley's friendship and development of deeper feelings was extremely well done. A believable transition, and I never doubted their feelings for each other as they cared for each other very much. It felt natural, especially the pondering if it was worth possibly ruining their friendship that was so important for both of them.

Most problematic for me was Wesley's secret. It was easy enough to guess, but that wasn't the problem for me. It is just something I'm not comfortable with, and if I had known The Long Way Around tried tackling the subject, I most likely would have skipped it. Besides that, Wesley's secret wasn't handled with the care and seriousness it needed.

All in all, I feel like The Long Way Around is an okay read - it didn't wow me, but it wasn't bad either. I think the problem was that it had too much going on: the road trip, emerging relationship, Wesley's secret, and Sam and Wesley's futures (both between jobs, future uncertain). A little less stuff and more focus on few aspects would have done wonders for the story. Anyway, it's not a bad book - it might entirely be about finding the right reader for the story. I wasn't swept off my feet, but it was enjoyable enough, and if you find the blurb irresistible, you should give it a go.

3 of 5 stars

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Thank you, Riptide Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review The Long Way Around!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: Pride and Modern Prejudice by A.J. Michaels

Pride and Modern Prejudice
by A.J. Michaels
Published by Dreamspinner Press
LGBT, contemporary, romance, retelling

What happens when Jane Austen's immortal characters are thrust into 21st century Pennsylvania, with an all-male twist?

Liam Bennet has always been a good judge of character, but when William Darcy is thrown into his social circle, everything spins out of control. Darcy is proud, cold, arrogant - and strangely captivating. When Liam's brother and Darcy's business partner start seeing each other, Liam cannot avoid this enigmatic businessman. But does he want to?

As Liam struggles to find his identity in college and acknowledge his feelings, he must deal with the fortunes of his four brothers, his gossiping mother, and the possibility of a large inheritance that could save his family from financial ruin. Emotions come to a boil when George Wickham, a world-weary musician, stumbles into town and ignites a feud with Darcy. He threatens to expose a long-hidden past, and Liam must decide for himself who William Darcy really is and what he really wants.

I love Pride and Prejudice and it seems I'm a fan of modern M/M retellings of it as I have now read few and liked them. Pride and Modern Prejudice is great retelling that stays true to the original and there isn't a lot that's changed, except the modernization and main setting in the USA (don't worry, there'll still be travelling to England and visiting Pemberley!) There are some twists to the story - and not just the male cast - that just made it surprising enough and captivating. For example, I really enjoyed how Georgiana had bigger and more surprising role in the story. There's also interesting take on Liam's grandfather's inheritance, which is promised to go to his first grandson who marries, and oh boy it's an interesting to see how everyone reacts to that. Still, some things remained same such as Collins being unbearable, which was very comforting.

I do think that part of Pride and Prejudice's charm is the setting and time period, which is absent on these modern retellings. However, I think Michaels managed to create such a strong connection to the characters - mainly to Liam Bennet - that I didn't find the story lacking despite the change of setting and time period. It was fascinating to see William Darcy and Charlie Bingley as business partners of a social media company and Liam and Charlotte as college students whereas Jamie had recently graduated from college and just starting his career. Even more fascinating and captivating was to follow Liam and Darcy's developing relationship. There's chemistry and it kept me turning the page faster and faster.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it kept me captivated until the very end. My only complain about the story is how the sex scene took the fade to black and ignored the very next day route. I don't know whether the author just didn't want to include it or if it was done as a nod to the original, but it felt a little frustrating on a modernized story after a long slow burn romance. I love slow burn and I'm not completely mad of the exclusion of the sex scene, which is why it won't have an effect for my rating. I just want to mention it as the only disappointing aspect of the story.

I highly recommend Pride and Modern Prejudice for all those who love Pride and Prejudice and want to see a M/M twist on it. Or even if you have never read the original, I'd still recommend to pick this one up - who knows, maybe it might spark you to pick up the classic!

5 of 5 stars

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