Friday 11 November 2016

Review Roundup July - October 2016

I have just fallen so far behind in my reviewing that I feel it impossible to catch up unless I sort of paraphrase. Couple of pertinent sentences per book will have to suffice.

Please, these are my opinions only and reflect my personal feelings about these stories, and whether I would read further offerings from these authors. I recommend to any potential reader, if the blurb catches your fancy, give it a shot and make your mind up from there. What I like you may not, what I don’t you may love – we are all different and there is room for all of us.

Well, here goes: —



Clipped by Devon McCormack (MM Paranormal – Fallen Angels, the lot)
Some topsy-turvy shit going on here. Religion all back to front and roundabout. The Fallen are the hero’s, the sex is rough and violent, and there is an inordinate fascination with the size of one’s appendage, but still betrayal is betrayal – so worried for you Kid. Read more? Hell, yes! Just waiting for an appropriate moment in my life.







Awakened by a Demoness by Felicity Heaton (FM Paranormal Romance)
Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood when I read this one, because it just didn’t engage. For a PR there was nothing particularly wrong with it but nothing really stood out either other than the fact the author stuck to English as opposed to American-English. Read more? Not sure, maybe – and the hesitation has nothing to do with English versus American either – I’m not American so the spelling was familiar.






Protecting his own by Cherise Sinclair (FM BDSM Romance)
A visit from old friends is always welcome and I love Beth and Nolan. Not so sexy, this one deals with loss and the desire for family. Read more?  Definitely! And am waiting with bated-breath for Uzuri’s story coming out later this month








Loving Joshua by Grein Murray (MM Contemporary Romance)
To me the topic is too sensitive to be treated so unbelievably sweetly. A book dealing with abusive home lives, teen runaways, homelessness and ultimately, an exploitative industry, I was expecting something raw and gritty and far more embedded in reality. Read more? This series? No. If I want sweet I would probably head for a different offering.







Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas (Blended Paranormal Romance)
Nice to see an author incorporating a bit of FM, FF, MM and ménage. Books of such nature are few and far between and am really loving it even if it is being explained away as just part of the protagonists wolfie nature and not a reflection of the diversity of society. Read more? If I’m looking for a paranormal romance, then yes, I will defs look this author up.







Recoil/Owned/Temper by R Phoenix (MM Dark Fantasy)
I hate Elias Ivers!  I would shout this from the rooftops, that’s how good this author’s writing is because I have never felt so strongly about a character before. If you want to know what I think of the Ripples in the Status Quo series see my review on the last episode, Reflection. Read more? Damn right.  I’ve gotta see that jerk get his comeuppance, and to make sure those I love are alright. It’s Dark Fantasy, you just never know *eats nails*



Captive - Beautiful Monsters by Jex Lane (MM with some FM – Dark Fantasy)
A debut author who has taken the Incupire (Vampubus? Vamupus? ewww) world by storm. Love Matthew, hate Tarrick… Sex, violence, betrayal; and the adventure continues…OMG where is the next book?! Read more? What? Are you kidding, of course! PS, Sire, the next in the series is out now so go get it.







Stripped Expectations by James Lee Hard (MM Contemporary Romance)
Desperate financial situation, only job in the offering – male stripping– what more could you ask? This book had all the ingredients to make a cool story, but– and there’s that word that just negates everything I’ve just said– as far as it went it was a satisfactory narrative, however I just have one question? Having not read at all in the story that Jason and Oliver ever saw or were introduced to Mathew, and the same definitely goes for that bully Thomas, how did any of them actually know who he even was so Thomas could so spectacularly mess things up for Mark? Read more? Hmmm - undecided.




Jared by Nicole Edwards (FM Contemporary Romance)
Go those cowboys and cowgirls – gotta love them, aye? Well sometimes but not always. Not to say these folks were unloveable just didn’t grab me by the short and curlies. The first in this Alluring Indulgence spin-off series was amazing.  Sometimes being second in line sucks because it’s just not possible to live up to.  Read more? I don’t read everything of Ms Edwards but Coyote Ridge series still has a place in my heart so, yeah






Nut Case Love Anthology by Andrea Smith; Aim Nicole Walker; Susan Ward & Nicholas Bella (LGBT Anthology)
I have four words to describe this anthology— Weird, Wonderful, Woeful, Wicked— Read more? While I found this offering weird, I like Andrea Smith’s style and have read previous books of hers and loved them so, thumbs up on that one; This was my first intro to Aim Nicole Walker and I’m hooked; Susan Ward, not so much. As I’ve never yet met a ‘love’–and I use that term loosely–interest I liked, not into emotional manipulators and that’s how I see them, I probably won’t read more; Nicholas Bella, no need to ask, I am a raving fangirl. Of course I’ll be reading more.



The Hard Boys: Alien Abduction and The Hard Boys Meet Dr. Frankenseed by Ian Cadena (MM… ummm, not really sure what the label is for this one – Unique, maybe?)
Sex, sex and more sex – you can’t stop them, they’re all at it like rabbits (even if it brings down the house or sets it on fire, or shorts the power grid!).  Creepy alien encounters and mad scientists notwithstanding, and the age-old adage, walk a mile in my shoes before you pass judgement, still leaves plenty of time for some pretty raunchy shenanigans in this series (almost on every page!). The tone of writing is breezy and even borderline adolescent but it’s also hot as fuck. Read more? You betcha, just waiting on the next episode.



Noble episode two in Cobra, the Gay Vigilante Series by Nicholas Bella (MM Dark & Sexy Urban Fantasy)
Something happened to Eric in the military a few years back. A fierce patriot, he volunteered for a special op and got more than he bargained for - Betrayal! With impenetrable skin, amazing strength and an ability to morph his body to look like anyone he wants, he now has taken up the mantle of vigilante for the downtrodden and disenfranchised. He's still got a lot to learn and I fear for him because one of those things in dishing out his just desserts to a scumbag predator is what makes him in the end any different to them? Read more? Oh, definitely. I'm worried. I have to make sure he and Jordan come out of these experiences emotionally unscathed - well as much as is possible considering what they have to deal with, that is.



Havoc episode eight in the Demon’s Gate Series by Nicholas Bella (MM Dark & Sexy Paranormal or is that Urban Fantasy too?)
This is a tasty, titillating and tempestuous serial. The conversion of Andre to an Agoto mate for Brian, begets discord in the house of our two sexy demon protagonists. With a deadly Xora out on the streets murdering innocent families, and postulating and jealousies abounding at home, Brian has his work cut out for him. Read more? Bring it on!!!!






Tricked: A Dark Protector Novella by Rebecca Zanetti (FM Paranormal Romance)
Ah, this one I liked better than the last. A feisty but dying woman, saved by a vamp out of the goodness of his heart (and nothing more) by mating her and endowering her with eternal life. You can always count on the Vamp being a possessive, pompous, overbearing Alpha when it comes to his new mate, but Ronnie I loved as much as Jared ended up doing. She had guts and humour, there was just something more appealing about her. Read more? Yes, but I might go for a change in series and try Ms Zanetti’s Scorpius Syndrome…



Wow, my goodness, look at all those amazing covers- High five to Dark Wolf, Stripped Expectations and Noble- officially my favourites



Sydney Whyte