Review: Why the Devil Stalks Death by L.J. Hayward

Why the Devil Stalks Death (Death and the Devil, #2)
by L. J. Hayward
Self-published
LGBT, action, mystery, romance

Jack Reardon uncovers secrets for a living, and the Meta-State spy is pretty good at it. Or rather he thought so until he met Ethan Blade—assassin, warrior, enigma. The unlikely pair have decided to give living together a shot, but Jack’s not entirely certain what he’s gotten himself into—or exactly who he’s in it with.

Jack’s worries are compounded when he’s assigned to a police strike force hunting a serial killer. With each new puzzle piece, Jack considers the true nature of a serial killer—and how similar it is to an assassin. To one particular assassin who’s having trouble adjusting to retirement. Jack’s unsure how to help Ethan—or if he even can.

When the killer strikes close to home, Jack must race against the clock to stop another murder, despite the price someone has put on his head. Could the matters be connected? Is a certain assassin at the centre of both? Surrounded by killers, the only one Jack wants near disappears, leaving Jack drowning in secrets. He’ll have to do what he does best—unravel the secrets, including Ethan’s—to stop the killer and save the life he and Ethan have only just begun to build.

I'm supposed to write coherent and detailed reviews, but you know what, I LOVE this series. I adore Jack and Ethan (together and separately). All the action and the twists and turns are intense and captivating. Why the Devil Stalks Death has everything the other book and novellas have and naturally I devoured it.

Death and the Devil is one of my favourite series and I highly recommend everyone to pick it up. (For more detailed review of the series, check out my review of the first book in the series.)

5 of 5 stars

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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: Where There's Smoke by Cari Z

Where There’s Smoke (Panopolis, #1)
by Cari Z.
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, fantasy, sci-fi, romance

Panopolis is a rough place to be an average Joe. I came here looking for adventure and excitement, but nobody cares about one more normal guy in a city filled with super-powered heroes. The closest I’ve come to glory is working in a bank that villains often rob.

But then I maybe accidentally-on-purpose helped a villain escape the hero who was trying to save the day. Imagine my shock when, a week later, that villain asked me out for coffee. One date turned into more, and now I’m head over heels in love with Raul.

Falling in love with the guy dubbed the Mad Bombardier isn’t without its downsides, though. I’ve had to deal with near-death encounters with other villains, awkwardly flirtatious heroes who won’t take no for an answer, and a lover I’m not sure I can trust. It’s getting to the point where I know I’ll have to make a choice: side with the heroes, or stand fast by my villain.

Either way, I think my days as a normal guy are over.

I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read Where There’s Smoke, because it’s right up on my alley. Panopolis is a city of heroes and villains – they literally rule there, bank robberies are completely normal, and heroes are expected to sweep in to save the day before the police is alerted. It is heroes versus villains attitude without in between in Panopolis, and I love to read about the moral dilemmas and explorations of who are the heroes and villains. Where There’s Smoke certainly has that as Edward, a bank employee and ordinary guy, falls for Raul, who’s an infamous villain called Mad Bombardier.

Cari Z begins the book with a dedication for those, who have always preferred the villains, and that hit me hard. Most of the time I prefer the villains, particularly in the fairytales, and love the antiheroes. Where There’s Smoke offers a great perspective of the heroes and villains. There’s glimpses of a blog posts where an anonymous critic writes about casualty statistics and conspiracy theories about government and their involvement of the creation of the heroes and villains.

Edward and Raul’s relationship is a focus of the book. I’m a bit baffled how much I liked their story, because there’s only Edward’s point of view, very little build-up in the beginning of their relationship, no sex and it’s a pretty short novella (less than hundred pages). But there’s some kind of magic that Cari Z weaves because I felt for both Edward and Raul. Raul’s painted clearly as one of the bad guys but he’s likable; he has a good and believable backstory, he has a conscience and he doesn’t kill people. There’s plenty of moral ambiguity, especially since Edward knows what he’s getting into and questions whether it makes him guilty by being in a relationship with a villain when he doesn’t participate in Raul’s actions. It’s just so good, I liked their chemistry and both of them together and separate.

My only complain is the length. I wish this had been a full-length novel. There’s a sequel which I’ll dive into shortly but Where There’s Smoke would have been perfect if it had been longer. It’s still a great quick read, which I certainly recommend.

4 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 Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens

The Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic (The Rules, #1)
by F.T. Lukens
Published by Interlude Press
YA, LGBT, fantasy, mythology

Desperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but it’s pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by… mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star who just moved to town.

Fantastic.

When he discovers his eccentric employer Pavel Chudinov is an intermediary between the human world and its myths, Bridger is plunged into a world of pixies, werewolves, and Sasquatch. The realm of myths and magic is growing increasingly unstable, and it is up to Bridger to ascertain the cause of the chaos, eliminate the problem, and help his boss keep the real world from finding the world of myths.

I found The Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic by complete accident while browsing the web and oh my, how didn’t I know it existed before? It is absolutely hilarious, but also deals with serious topics such as accepting oneself and finding their place in the world. I loved the combination of rollicking adventure and serious topics, and yes, occasional teenage angst. Bridger is at the age where he has to decide where to go to university and what he wants to do, and he’s struggling with it and I could easily identify with that situation – I have experienced it myself.

There’s a good mix of adventure and mystery in the story. Bridger starts a new job as an assistant to eccentric Pavel Chudinov and finds out that he’s an intermediary between the human world and its myths. Bridger gets thrown into the world of myths as there’s some mysterious thing happening that Pavel tries to solve. There’s also some romantic elements since Bridger has a crush on his neighbour Leo.

I love mythology and it was interesting to see how Lukens had woven different myths into the story. The plot and the twists were good, but what I loved the most was the characters. Bridger is funny and relatable, Leo’s adorable cinnamon roll, Pavel is eccentric and a good mentor for Bridger and there’s some hilarious pixies. It’s such a great and adorable adventure with wholesome characters that you just have to love.

I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel, which is supposed to come out this year. I need more Bridger, Leo and pixies in my life!

4 of 5 stars

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DNF Review: Matchmaking Beyond the Veil by Mara Townsend

Matchmaking Beyond the Veil (Telltale Ghosts, #1)
by Mara Townsend
Self-published
LGBT, paranormal, romance

Endure the company of his rival…or suffer ghostly retaliation.

Emery Belmont is a snarky, uptight realist who likes his life ordinary. Like any skeptic, he’s content using mundane explanations to write off signs of paranormal activity. That’s no longer an option when the spirit haunting his house wrecks his new kitchen, forcing Emery closer to facing the supernatural truth. Desperate for a new handyman, he unknowingly hires his hot ex-rival from high school to fix it. Paxton Santos, Emery’s former lacrosse team captain, followed in his father’s footsteps to take over the family business. Annoyingly, Emery requires his talented hands more than he needs to keep Paxton out of his life. However, getting Paxton to leave after the repairs may prove difficult with the meddlesome ghost taking a shine to him, which Paxton seems to take in his grating, good-natured stride, remaining irritatingly unruffled by numerous weird occurrences.

Emery is bombarded by mysterious paranormal hijinks, keeping Paxton at arm’s length, and deciphering things that aren't quiet what they seem. There’s nothing Emery hates more than an unfinished puzzle. In his determination to solve this one, Emery reluctantly opens himself up to new possibilities all while trying to remain firmly rooted in life the way he prefers it—orderly, logically explainable, and, above all else, ghost-free.

Join Emery and Paxton as they face off with a spirit that has no limits to how far it will go to push them together, enduring locked doors, faulty plumbing, and sharing a bed. Together they are determined to navigate their way out of this mess using any means necessary to send the ghost packing. Will they make it out of the traps awaiting them before their pesky tormenter gets any other ideas to make things worse and further blur the line between them?

DNF at 35%

I was super excited for Matchmaking Beyond the Veil because the blurb sounded captivating and thrilling. However, the book feels very different from the blurb. Third way in and there's no ghost, minimal amount of anything paranormal and definitely no chemistry between Emery and Paxton.

Emery is unlikable character and he's meant to be unreliable narrator, which I usually like. However, Emery doesn't have any redeemable qualities. He's privileged snob, judgmental, mean and immature, and he belittles everyone. He mentions constantly how he made his own money and didn't use his trust fund, but he's still a snob as he claims to be above menial labour. He obsessively stalks Paxton while he works, going as far as keeping a log of things Paxton does. Then there's the judgment, where he deems a person untrustworthy because they styled their hair "like it was still the unsavory parts of the nineties." And Emery's rivalry with Paxton in high school? Apparently Paxton became the captain of lacrosse team (he aimed to play professionally) when Emery wanted to be the captain (he played just for fun). That's it: that's the reason why Emery resents and hates Paxton. That just goes to show how immature Emery is. I hate the guy, and I certainly believe that he doesn't deserve Paxton, who's kind and hard-working.

For me, the biggest problem is the writing style. It's very slow and incredibly descriptive - everything from weather to clothes to house is described to detail, and it happens in every chapter. Emery also spends most of the time musing and there's not a lot of dialogue or action to balance the descriptions. It became tedious fast and I ended up skimming for pages and not missing anything. Nothing simply caught my attention in the writing style.

I really tried to continue reading this, but I can't make myself to pick up the book again. Third way in and not much have happened, certainly no ghost in sight, tedious descriptions for everything and one of the most unlikable main characters, I'm giving up. This is not a book for me.

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.)

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: All Souls Near & Nigh by Hailey Turner

All Souls Near & Nigh (Soulbound, #2)
by Hailey Turner
Self-published
LGBT, urban fantasy, paranormal, romance

You can't bargain with death if you've already sold your soul.

Special Agent Patrick Collins has been reassigned by the Supernatural Operations Agency to New York City. Navigating his new relationship with Jonothon de Vere, the werewolf he's now soulbound to, is nothing compared to dealing with territorial disputes between the vampires and werecreatures who call the five boroughs home. But the delicate treaties that have kept the preternatural world in check are fraying at the edges, and the fallout is spilling into the mundane world.

Manhattan's club scene is overrun with the vampire drug known as shine and the subways have become a dumping ground for bodies. When the dead are revealed as missing werecreatures, Patrick and Jono find themselves entangled in pack politics twisted by vampire machinations.

Learning to trust each other comes with problems for both of them, and the gods with a stake in Patrick's soul debt aren't finished with him yet. Bound by promises they can't break, Patrick and Jono must find a way to survive a threat that takes no prisoners and is stalking them relentlessly through the city streets.

Old and new betrayals are coming home to roost but the truth - buried in blood - is more poisonous than the lies being spun. Trying to outrun death is a nightmare - one Patrick may never wake up from.

I picked up All Souls Near & Nigh right after finishing A Ferry of Bones & Gold. The sequel certainly upholds any expectations I had after the series starter. There's plenty of action, dangerous situations and explosions. All Souls Near & Nigh is thrilling page turner, and I already need more from this world.

Patrick is such lovable magnet for trouble and he wields magic and weapons like no other. He's stubborn and smart-mouthing everyone, even a century old vampires, and I just love the amount of sass Patrick has. There's also more chapters on Jono's point of view, and it's great to get a better look at his side of things. Turner continues to expand the cast of intriguing characters - there's a lot of new faces introduced. I like how cluttered it is: yes, it might take more to keep track of everyone, but it feels real and it's certainly keeps things entertaining. From new characters, Wade made most impact - he's precious, hilarious with all his snacks and sticky fingers, and just darn adorable.

The world-building expands in All Souls Near & Nigh. It begins to go deeper, to explore the territory problems and internal power struggles, which were only mentioned in A Ferry of Bones & Gold. There's more focus on the god pack and the Nigh Courts, the tension between werewolves and vampires, as well as the tension within the werecreature community. It doesn't help that Patrick gets called in to investigate a death of werecreature. There's also more myths, this time moving from the Greek gods to others. Turner keeps it all pretty seamless and it's enjoyable to read about the intricate world.

All Souls Near & Nigh was not disappointment - it was as strong story as its predecessor. There's the great, driven characters from the before with few new, interesting faces thrown into the mix, plenty of fast paced action, and intricate world that keeps expanding. I loved it, and I definitely recommend the series. I can't wait for the next book!

5 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.)

Review: A Ferry of Bones & Gold by Hailey Turner

A Ferry of Bones & Gold (Soulbound #1)
by Hailey Turner
Self-published
LGBT, urban fantasy, romance

When the gods come calling, you don't get to say no. 

Patrick Collins is three years into a career as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency when the gods come calling to collect a soul debt he owes them. An immortal has gone missing in New York City and bodies are showing up in the wake of demon-led ritual killings that Patrick recognizes all too easily from his nightmares.

Unable to walk away, Patrick finds himself once again facing off against mercenary magic users belonging to the Dominion Sect. Standing his ground alone has never been a winning option in Patrick's experience, but it's been years since he's had a partner he could trust.

Looking for allies in all the wrong places, Patrick discovers the Dominion Sect's next target is the same werewolf the Fates themselves have thrown into his path. Patrick has been inexplicably attracted to the man from their first meeting, but desire has no place in war. That doesn't stop Patrick from wanting what he shouldn't have. Jonothon de Vere is gorgeous, dangerous, and nothing but trouble - to the case, to the fight against every hell, and ultimately, to Patrick's heart and soul.

In the end, all debts must be paid, and Patrick can only do what he does best - cheat death.

I have heard nothing but good things about A Ferry of Bones & Gold, which made me excited to read it. Fortunately, the book delivered and then some. A Ferry of Bones & Gold is an action-packed page turner with twists and explosions - and that's just what I love. Great characters with chemistry, budding romance and plots against the Greek gods? Yes, please.

Let's talk about characters first. Patrick Collins is a stubborn magnet for trouble, who fields weapons and badge, and has dislike for immortals and their meddling. Patrick's almost adorable on how stubborn and grumpy he can be, and I loved it. It's certainly entertaining to see how Patrick interacts with others, especially with flirting werewolf Jono, equally stubborn seer Marek, and Hermes, who just keeps delivering messages Patrick doesn't want to hear. And that's just a few mentions! There's a wide cast of intriguing characters and I could talk about most of them. There's snark and banter, which is always great! Patrick and Jono's chemistry is also incredible.

The world-building was amazing; it was intricate and carefully done. There's a lot of different elements, myths and legends mixed in this urban fantasy world - from ancient gods and goddesses, to vampires, werewolves and magic users, among everything else. Some are just mentioned, a nod to their existence and others have larger role. I have to be honest: I'm not usually a big fan of urban fantasy that mixes different myths and creatures. I like it more simple, separate stories for ancient gods, and werewolves, and vampires, and whatever. However, Turner has created such a seamless world and filled it with interesting characters and dynamics that I didn't mind at all. I also have to mention how much I loved that there wasn't abrupt or rushed ending. There's proper slow down and conversations after the big climax, which was something I really appreciated.

All in all, A Ferry of Bones & Gold seems to have it all, from driven characters to explosive plot and stunning world-building. I definitely loved it! Of course, I could pick the story a bit of how certain Greek gods were portrayed, but I'm aware it's mostly based on my own nerdiness when it comes to certain gods. So I'll let it go, because Turner managed to weave a great story that I enjoyed a lot - and I highly recommend you to try it, too!

5 of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Prince of Air and Darkness by M.A. Grant

Prince of Air and Darkness (The Darkest Court, #1)
by M.A. Grant
Published by Carina Press
LGBT, fantasy, paranormal, romance

Phineas Smith has been cursed with a power no one could control.

Roark Lyne is his worst enemy and his only hope.

The only human student at Mather’s School of Magick, Phineas Smith has a target on his back. Born with the rare ability to tap into unlimited magick, he finds both Faerie Courts want his allegiance—and will do anything to get it.

They don’t realize he can’t levitate a feather, much less defend the Faerie Realm as it slips into civil war.

Unseelie Prince Roark Lyne, Phineas’s roommate—and self-proclaimed arch nemesis—is beautiful and brave and a pain in the ass. Phineas can’t begin to sort through their six years of sexual tension masquerading as mutual dislike. But Roark is also the only one able to help Finn tame his magick.

Trusting Roark’s mysterious motives may be foolish; not accepting his temporary protection would be deadly.

Caught in the middle of the impending war, Phineas and Roark forge a dangerous alliance. And as the walls between them crumble, Phineas realizes that Roark isn’t the monster he’d imagined. But their growing intimacy threatens to expose a secret that could either turn the tide of the war…or destroy them both.

Phineas Smith - Finn - is a human who can tap into ley lines on earth and conjure vast amounts of magic. He's attending a magic school and everything would be fine and dandy, except he can't control the power and he'll more likely to burn the building down than levitate a feather. Finn's roommate is a Fae prince Roark Lyne, who might be the only one who can help to control the magic. There's just one problem - they're arch nemesis and can't stand each other, and it doesn't help that Roark's mother kidnapped and tortured Finn years ago for something Finn can't remember.

The story is intricate and there's monsters on the heels and danger ahead. Captivating page turner that I just couldn't put down! Prince of Air and Darkness is definitely enjoyable and entertaining read, and has a great cast of characters. As for the romance, it was everything; I love a good enemies to lovers story. There was denial, snark and angst, all of which was delicious and kept anticipation high for what's going to happen. There was beautiful change of how Finn felt. There's nothing more gorgeous than change in perspective and realizing that not everything is what it seems. And Roark's the best; suffering idiot, who's basically a cinnamon roll. They have great chemistry together and it's so captivating to read.

If you're up to a urban paranormal magic school and fae story with a side of gorgeous romance, then don't miss Prince of Air and Darkness. I can't wait for the sequel; I want to learn more about the world and hopefully get a peak on Roarke and Finn!

4 of 5 stars

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(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: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles

A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies, #2) by K.J. Charles Published by KJC Books LGBT, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance

Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.
Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen's job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable - especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there's only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he loathes: Stephen.
Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he's turned warlock. With all eyes on him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He's not sure if he can take that risk much longer. Crane isn't sure if he can ask him to.
The rats are closing in, and something has to give...

After The Magpie Lord, I had high hopes for A Case of Possession; I expected it to rise to new levels and have more development that the first book lacked. I wished that Lucien and Stephen's budding relationship would deepen and whisk me away, since I felt the potential was there. However, I found that A Case of Possession took a turn I didn't expect - or really enjoy.
The new mystery and plot still had me intrigued; there's blackmail, blood and murder. There's a plague of giant rats slaughtering people that Stephen has to investigate, while he's under suspicion of becoming a warlock. Pressure is building on Stephen's shoulders like no other, and Lucien is increasingly concerned of Stephen's disappearing acts, while dealing with blackmail. Certainly entertaining and kept me turning the page.
While Lucien and Stephen's relationship deepened and there was some beautiful scenes between them, the steamy scenes left me cold. Oh, it was passionate and dirty, but it was also kinky. It's a personal preference what anyone enjoys; I don't care much for kinky stuff, and while this still was relatively mild, it was something I don't like reading. Thus, I mainly skim read the steamier scenes and focused on everything else. However, it made me feel less invested into the relationship and well, bleakened the overall enjoyment. I have decided not to read the last book of the trilogy, because well, I'd rather dedicate my time for something that I enjoy all the way through and not romance, where I skip half of the scenes together. Still, I'd recommend this trilogy to anyone who finds it interesting. It's well written and entertaining, and this time it's wholly personal why I decided to drop it. Others seem to have enjoyed the aspects I didn't, so this truly is the case of its-me-not-the-book.
3 of 5 stars
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Review: The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles

The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)
by K.J. Charles
Published by KJC Books
LGBT, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He's also inherited his family's enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane's family. Unfortunately, it's his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he's ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That's definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane's dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can't find a way through it - they're both going to die.

I didn't know I was in the mood for historical paranormal romance until I dived into The Magpie Lord. Neither historical or paranormal fiction are my go to genres, but somehow Charles made it work, especially with a heavy dose of mystery. Mysteries with magical kick have recently been something I've stumbled upon and liked a lot. In short, The Magpie Lord is a generous mix of different genres that somehow works well.

The Magpie Lord has all the right ingredients to be intriguing and entertaining: intricate, eerie setting of Piper, the ancestral manor of Crane earls, interesting magic system and hierarchy, mystery, personal stakes, and complicated characters. Lucien Vaudrey, the new but reluctant lord Crane, his loyal servant Merrick, and Stephen Day, magician extraordinary who has deep sense of justice. Lucien refuses to conform the society's expectations and is used to the freedom he had in China, which baffles Stephen, who's used to play it save, because he's poor and cannot afford the same type of protection Lucien has through his privileged position. I liked both Lucien and Stephen, and the contrast between them. The past conflict between Lucien and Stephen's families caused additional complication and hurt, which added depth to both characters and their actions. 

Despite all the right elements, I found something lacking. I'm not sure what it was; possibly the story could have used more length to build up the mystery and its reveal, as well as the aftermath. Or maybe the budding relationship between Lucien and Stephen left something to be desired. It was entertaining, but without burning passion. A solid first book in a series, and I have high hopes for the sequel - maybe it'll be perfect. Anyway, I did enjoy The Magpie Lord a lot. Maybe not a mind blowing five star read, but definitely solid four stars.

4 of 5 stars

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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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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.)