The Weight of It All by NR Walker - Review

Rudely awoken from that most human of states – contented complacency – by the harsh words of his ex-lover Graham, our beloved hero, Henry rashly closes one door by joining a gym and opens another on his road to rediscovering himself.  The fact that his trainer, Reed, is veritable eye-candy is just a bonus. Right? But a bonus that might turn in to something much more fulfilling.  The fact the man is gay, and that they share an interest - besides that of making Henry’s pudgy figure svelte and fit - in food, a particular obsession that got Henry into trouble in the first place, becomes the starting point for their connection. And it doesn’t hurt that Henry’s non-filter makes the man laugh with his unintended wit and self-deprecation. Henry just opens his mouth and hilarity pops out and has Reed smiling all the way to the treadmill.

NR Walker has an amazing talent, to write wit is far more difficult than to deliver it in person, but the book is full of it and it just flows with such ease and naturalness.  As everybody who has already reviewed it can no doubt attest, the laughs came thick and fast during the reading. This book was a veritable feast of hilarity.

There is but one warning I must give while indulging in this simple but lovely story of our unlikely protagonists, and that is it must not be read while you are on a diet! There are far too many references to lemon tart.  Each time I came across it I actually salivated. Something lemony and sweet, yum. But not knowing what lemon tart actually consisted of it always somehow morphed into a craving for lemon-meringue pie and in the end, I just had to go out and buy it. That, my friends, is not guilt free food.

Despite this little problem the book is a fantastic read peopled with characters that are completely relatable right down to the supporting roles played by Melinda and Anika and her boyfriend Sean.  They all came to feel like friends which in the end made the obligatory sex scene between the new lovers seem slightly intrusive, like walking into the lounge and unexpectedly coming across a family member in a compromising situation on the couch.  You know they indulge but you don’t necessarily need to be confronted with it.

Will I read it again? You betcha. When I’m in need of some sweet mirth and an endearing HEA I will be revisiting Henry and Reed all over again.  I just must finish my diet first.

««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Refraction: A Ripples in the Status Quo (Episode Six) by R Phoenix

What can I say? The skill R Phoenix wields as she leads us through the story of humanity’s struggle with the injustices and cruelties of the ‘new’ Status Quo is superb to say the least.

To take the very creatures who now run riot through this world and instil in the reader a loyalty for those of them who regret ever lending a helping hand in its instigation shows a talent that offers us all an insight into the thoughts and longings not only of the Supes but those they have come to need and love. They are not all cruel, they do not all revel in the degradation of others. We can understand what they hoped for then; we can understand what they hope for now.

This series is a dark read, there is no denying that, peopled with beings that it would seem have sold their souls long ago for control and greed and a sense of superiority over not only humans but even their own kind.  Take one Elias Ivers, the coldest, most calculating, hated and feared beings in this new regime.  Never have I met a character that I loathed so much, and there have been many of them that have drawn a strong negative reaction from me before.  His ability to read people, find their weakness and cruelly twist every good - or not so good - intention or feeling to his own ends without one jot of sensitivity paints him as the most hideous of men.  There is no chink possible in this armour of loathing he has for the world… or is there?

Refraction offers us insight as never before, allowing us a glimpse into the Ivers’ world, one tiny indicator that the witch does indeed suffer emotions of a nature other than disdain even if the manifestation of these is a perverted attraction and a selfish sense of regret. It is Elias Ivers, and it is dark fantasy, what is to be expected? But it makes him that little bit less godlike, and little more fellable.

This episode is one of the most just and satisfactory episodes to date.  Amidst the darkness there can be hope, there can be purpose and action; and there can be forgiveness and acceptance.

It was a fantastic read, and I am very much looking forward to the next instalment.  All fingers and toes crossed that it takes me further along the path to the Status Quo’s downfall – there are hints the cracks are forming; but knowing R Phoenix’ twisted plots and her villainous Elder, I will not hold my breath that it will be accomplished quickly nor with ease. I can only hope those I am rooting for can stay the course and survive.

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Origins by Nicholas Bella, Book one of Cobra: The Gay Vigilante Series - Review

Looks like I have a penchant for slightly egocentric, snarky and sassy character’s because this is what I got in the first of Nicholas Bella’s Gay Vigilante series, Origins, and I’m hooked.

Apparently all ‘super heroes’ have to have a beginning story – the how or the why of it.  Not too much back-story in this episode but this is only the starting of Cobra’s (aka Eric’s) story.  Eric and his faithful side-kick, Jordan.  What a couple.

Of all the characters in all the series Nicholas has created to date, these guys are by far the most ‘normal’, even if one is a nerdy computer genius and the other is sporting the ability to transform his appearance, it would seem to anything he wants.  We get to meet him in the opening scenes as a woman!  Of all things.

Loved his self-assured demeanour, his sass, his spunk and his super strength.  Super quick healing and impenetrable skin too.  Makes for one successful vigilante hero.

Eric and Jordan’s loveable banter really caught my fancy, their rude camaraderie even when calling each other out on their diverse sense of fashion.  There was enough vanity and insecurity on Eric’s part to tone down his arrogance, making him wholly likeable.  And the glasses – for all that he had come into some amazing powers – we as yet know not how – Eric is not perfect.  Defective eyesight helps him retain his humanity if not his humility.  Anyway he mostly brags to Jordan, so what’s the harm.  Jordan for all that they are not a proper couple – Really? Come on guys, you have joint bank accounts.  Who’s in denial? – while worshipping the ground Eric walks on, can still hold his own.  Sexual exclusivity comes secondary to emotional attachment and conscientiousness over sexual safety in this relationship.  And a loving relationship it ‘really’ appears to be.

Carless, jobless, borderline itinerant, they need money.  One of the relatable draws in this ‘Origins’ story.  In steps their ‘employer’, a big corporation who has undoubtedly had information stolen from them.  They hire Eric to take get it back from the evil Mr Henley while stipulating minimum torture and no murder.  Hmmm, I’m suspicious.  A corporation that is do-gooding?  Am waiting with bated-breath for them to make a further appearance in future episodes.  Maybe?  For my part, I construed their parting shot to Eric, a little menacing.

Definitely this book reflected that superhero comic book feel.  Fast paced, vengeance wreaking, heroic, intriguing, humorous, and super-sexy.  Well maybe that last is not quite so comic book, but this is a Nicholas Bella episodic and promises to be epic.  Waiting impatiently for further revelations; Cobra meting out well deserved punishments to dastardly, villainous people…  And the introduction of a quintessential and necessary ‘master of evil’?  We shall see.

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Speechless (Book three in Pier 70) by Nicole Edwards – Review

After not enjoying so much Nicole Edwards Fearless, the second book in her Pier 70 series, I’m glad to say Speechless I imbibed as though I couldn’t get enough.  It was true.  There was just something so different about this concept - a mute man, and a raging, vulnerable youth.

I just loved Teague Carter.  Hot and sexy.  Hurt and misguided.  Always running away from everything.  Running away from the hurt of his childhood, his mother’s death and the abandonment he experienced.  Uncontrollable anger and rebellion, the consequence of his inability to fight his overwhelming feelings of worthlessness.  But in all that he was, in his way, so very endearing.

Ever since they had first met, there had been a pull between him and the enigmatic Hudson Ballard.  They worked side by side at the marina and Teague found it impossible to deal with his burgeoning feelings, except to live in denial.

The fact Hudson couldn’t speak just made their communication even more poignant.  It made it just that much harder and yet in a lot of ways far more effective.  Oh, sure, they had their moments and misunderstandings, and that had led to near tragedy, but it was nothing more than a catalyst to something that, without help, Teague was almost fated to succumb to at some time or other in his life.

The cellphone texting was a nice touch, and Teague finally wanting to learn sign language a step in the right direction as the two men got closer.  The chemistry between them was sizzling and better for the fact that they had to work so hard to understand each other.  To communicate, not with words all the time, but with touch and thoughtfulness, was enchanting.  The sex was hot, gratifying and I loved that Teague embraced his desire to submit to Hudson’s sexual domination.  The impatience, petulance, childish behaviour when Teague didn’t get what he wanted was offset by his enthusiasm, surrender, determination – he quit drinking for the man, that’s determination in my book when you were previously a dedicated binge-drinker and party animal - and Hudson’s calm, caring, giving, commanding and innovative nature.  Perfection.

This is not the first time Nicole Edwards has touched on the effects of depression, an illness effecting so many in today’s world.  She treated this subject matter with tenderness, caring and understanding of the isolation and hopelessness that can end up being overwhelming.  It was a both a heart-breaking read and an uplifting one.

««««1/2

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Will and Patrick Wake Up Married - Series by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths - Review

I had heard a lot about this MM serial, a collaboration between two authors, one known to me the other a newbie to the indie publishing industry.  The comments had me intrigued.  It was obvious people were waiting with bated-breath between each of the six instalments coming out.  So when the first episode was offered for free I snapped it up and put it onto my TBR list.

I must say, if it hadn’t been for poor old Will’s crazy-arse mafia-related family this little gem of a tale would have ended as soon as Will and Patrick woke up.  Thank goodness it didn’t.  I devoured the first book and then went and purchased the entire series.

Will was a man with many emotional issues, a penchant for drink (well, an all-out alcoholic actually) and driven to the booze by the obnoxious actions and abuse of the only man he had loved to that point in his life.  Dumped by Ryan while he was in Vegas - over the phone no less - Will rebounded literally into the arms of the predatory Patrick and woke up the next morning with a massive hangover and to find he had married what appeared to be an insufferable man.  Now don’t get me wrong, Patrick is the one I actually fell in love with.

Decidedly arrogant - he was after all the preeminent brain surgeon in the world - Patrick was forthright and bald with the truth, condescending to those who worked under him, gaining enemies left, right and centre, but in fact was just a man lacking in certain social skills.  Underneath it all he was just a big softy, and really rather enamoured of the gentle and soul-tortured Will.  He, on the whole, provided all the laughs as he navigated the quirky town of Healing their ill-fated situation had landed him in.

Will’s family were definitely a trial, as they and his friends castigated, manipulated, cajoled, threatened with guns (well his dad was a gangster, after all) him into the box they had fashioned for him – to keep him safe, mind, because he obviously couldn’t do that on his own despite that he was a man running a multi-million dollar charitable organisation.  They knew best and, of course, in their not so humble opinion it wasn’t the arrogant Patrick.  More fool them.  It was a joy to follow Will and Patrick as they proved them wrong, navigating through their life issues, of which they both had many, and drawing closer together along the way.

In the end I had but one quibble, and that being it was of necessity, a little drawn out towards the end - I mourned Owen’s unwanted and unnecessary advice to Will, knowing it came from a place of selfishness and jealousy.  If only Will had talked to Jax first to find out exactly what was ‘normal’ – But it was put out as a serial with all the drama and anticipation of having to wait for each new instalment to come out – the wait makes every word of each episode that much more easily devoured; and I didn’t, I read it in one sitting (well maybe three – there were six books, after all, to the series and I'm not the fastest reader in the world).

It was however, time well spent, and I know it will call to me again because I do like revisiting old friends and this strange and weird bunch definitely wormed their way into that category.

««««1/2

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Puppy by R Phoenix - Review

Last evening I needed a little breather from the mundanity of life and being a person who likes a bit of quirk, a lot of danger (only in a book of course) and a shit ton of kink, I reached for R Phoenix new novella, Puppy.

It is a standalone episode in her Ripples in the Status Quo dark, erotic serial.  And I just lapped it up.

Caleb, what an irrepressible little human, a precious pup.  I just fucking loved him!  And as for big, bad, old vampire Liam, pretty sure he didn’t know what hit him.

If you’re after a Vamp story with a difference, I can definitely recommend you not go past this.  Big belly-roll laugh at the end of chapter… nah! Not going to tell you.  You’ll just have to read it.  Hit all my buttons, just loved it to bits.

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Black Balled by Andrea Smith and Eva LeNoir - Review

I first came across these two characters, Troy (Babu) Babilonia and Larson Blackburn in Andrea Smith’s Hearts Afire anthology – and I absolutely hated them, couldn’t see anything positive or nice to say about them.  But then it wasn’t their story, it was Lloyd Ledbetter (an ex of Larson’s) and Luke Gunner’s, so, naturally my loyalty was to this pair and Larson and Babu just came across as condescending asshats.  Which after reading Black Balled, I realised they truly were. But for two characters that were so completely opinionated, self-absorbed and obnoxious, they were surprisingly enough very appealing in their own right.  I enjoyed just about every moment of their fiery, bitter, scathing and erotic interactions.

Under the pseudonym of L Blackburn, Larson has poured his heart and soul into a story he has self-published – a decision he has made by choice, rather than because he has to in this instance, but by this very action he has brought himself to the attention of Babu, a scathing and career destroying reviewer.

Their resultant interactions were hilarious, horrid, and absorbing.  They began a long distance love/hate relationship, in that they both loved to hate each other.  But in doing so they became totally absorbed.  The back and forth of their email communications was enthralling and filled with an appealing dark humour.

The story offered a fascinating glimpse into the life of an Indi Author on the verge of ‘making it’, and a reviewer, albeit an emotionally scarred one determined to burn him down.  How close to the truth of it, it all is, I don’t know, but it was certainly a fun and entertaining tale, what with the inclusion of Larson’s current lover (see above) and a scheming ex-wife who hadn’t quite got the message that Larson was keen for multiple lovers of both genders and not what they had gone through over the last unhappy years.

Babu on the other hand was just confused, refusing to accept his sexuality for what it was due to traumas happening in his past life.  That and a knife in an elevator, had the guy almost a recluse in his own apartment.  Until the pair met at a convention - in a stalled elevator, of all places – and not recognising exactly who each other were, they shared a life-changing moment.

Honestly I loved the interplay between the two alphas.  When their relationship finally took off it was beyond enjoyable – neither wanting to take the submissive position.  But for the less obnoxious (not by much, may I just say) and more experienced in all things homosexual, Larson, the tentative relationship would have been doomed.  It almost was, thanks to the ex, that and L Blackburn’s faltering career.

I will say though, if you are not a fan of gender comparison, then be aware there is a bit of it going on in this book.  Larson is bisexual and you do get his sexual views on what is best about both sexes, but they can come across as a little disparaging to women, and this is reinforced again with the couple’s punishment of the manipulative and deceiving ex-wife.

That said, I will definitely revisit this imperfect pair again and again because I found them extremely fascinating - faults and all.

««««1/2

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!