"You can’t sell people. Oh, but you can by them." Well, well, well, I’ve taken my first ride aboard the Tiffany Reisz express, and I do not want to get off. Luckily, she has another series out there that I’ve heard is insanely good, and I’ll get to it, but first let me bask in the afterglow of this inebriating read. Let’s talk about The Bourbon Thief. “Boubon’s like the truth, you know.” “How’s that?” “The first taste burns, but once you get used to it, it’s the only thing you want in your mouth.” I absolutely love everything about this … [Read more...]
Review: His Royal Secret + His Royal Favorite by Lilah Pace
“How much longer can you live a lie?” A modern fairy tale. A charming, sweet, and sexy love story about a prince wanting to live a life in the light, without lies and secrets; and the boy he falls in love with. In this tale we have James, the Prince of England, next in line for the thrown -- a well-loved figure who fits the role of Prince Charming in every way possible but one: he’s gay. We also have Ben, a well-traveled journalist who lives out of a backpack, is reluctant to settle down, and always ends his relationships before any … [Read more...]
Review: For Real by Alexis Hall
"All these still places in his soul that he disturbs for me." Alexis Hall has more than a way with words. With For Real, he brought me to my knees with his impassioned prose, his fierce and vibrant characters, and his intensely sensual yet moving love story. This story captured me from the first few paragraphs. Truly, I knew I was in for a good one after only a couple of paragraphs when I experienced Laurie’s bleak, sarcastic, and utterly lovable personality. Then when I met Toby… forget it. Insta-love -- on my part, not on the part of the … [Read more...]
Review: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
All The Light We Cannot See is an illuminating work of fiction. Set against the darkest and harshest time, during, possibly, history’s bleakest moment, Anthony Doerr creates a work so astounding and powerful, and I guarantee that his words and characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. My brain hurts. That dark maze has been overused these past days that I’ve read this book. I’ve sorted puzzles, visualized greatly beautiful scenes, endured atrocious ones, withstood emotional turmoil, and I’m now left a scrambled mess, … [Read more...]
Review: The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh
Recommendation: The Rose and the Dagger is a sumptuous follow-up to the beguiling The Wrath and the Dawn, and an enjoyable end to a deeply romantic tale, but in some ways I don't think its potential is fully realized. I recommend it to readers who fell in love with Shazi and Khalid in The Wrath and the Dawn, because you’ll want to know how their turbulent love story closes, and I think most will be satisfied, but as a lover of stories and entertainment I felt that this could’ve been more. Circumstances: The Wrath and the Dawn spoilers … [Read more...]
Glitterland by Alexis Hall
I first read this book two years ago when one of my favorite authors (of all time) recommended it. I remember loving it the first time I read it, thinking it insightful, humorous, touching, and real. I left with the impression that Alexis Hall was a talented writer who knew how to quickly engage a reader, impressing with his smartly crafted prose and memorable characters. Yesterday, when I decided to reread this (after recommending it to a friend), all my initial impressions still stood. Today, I think they’re a paltry description of … [Read more...]
Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
This is what they mean when they say a love story is epic. This is what they mean when they say writing is lyrical and poetic. This is what they mean when they say that a world comes alive. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh is luxurious and beautiful story that's as poetic as a song. I fell in love with this book after reading the synopsis, and because the cover is gorgeous, of course. But, then hype killed all my motivation and I was distracted by other books. Then I pushed it even farther back because it's a series and I didn't want … [Read more...]
Review: Leveled by Jay Crownover
I have been waiting for Orlando and Dom's story! Really, I've been waiting for Orlando's story since I found out about him in Rule and more so after he devastated me in Rome. Then once Dom was introduced in Asa, my fantasy of their HEA took flight. Though Lando's story was a significant one, he was always a very minor background character, and since I never heard any mention of a book for him in the blogosphere, I never expected his story. Also, since his creator is traditionally published, and well, the number of trad published m/m romances is … [Read more...]
Review: Black Iris by Leah Raeder
“We’re all bad, she’d said. The only thing we’re good at is hiding it.” This psychological thriller is a twisted mind fuck about love. Or is it about addiction? Maybe both. Laney, the protagonist warns you early on that she's an unsympathetic heroine, and that there won't be any lessons learned in this quest for revenge. She was wrong. I did sympathize with her, even though I think I hated her. And I learned that some people - most people - love most the things that hurt them. They can't let go of the things that destroy them. Black Iris is … [Read more...]
Review: There You Stand by Christina Lee
I was so looking forward to this book. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd have liked, I still give props to the author for taking a risk and writing a M/M romance. In fact, the romance was the best part of this book. I truly enjoyed Jude and Cory's love story, but I had issues with the plot and pacing. This romance had the potential to be something I loved, but it just fell short in my eyes. There You Stand tells the story of Cory, a twenty something tattoo artist, who puts on a happy face as he tries to work through the grief and … [Read more...]