My least favourite book, and couple of the series. 700+ pages, which I did skim through some parts. I liked seeing couples from the previous books, anMy least favourite book, and couple of the series. 700+ pages, which I did skim through some parts. I liked seeing couples from the previous books, and different perspectives on their stories, and I REALLY liked seeing the MCs from one of Nyla’s other books, Double Edged.
I’ll still read the remaining books of the series, mostly because I want to see what happens with the guards & The Ivory.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Merged review:
My least favourite book, and couple of the series. 700+ pages, which I did skim through some parts. I liked seeing couples from the previous books, and different perspectives on their stories, and I REALLY liked seeing the MCs from one of Nyla’s other books, Double Edged.
I’ll still read the remaining books of the series, mostly because I want to see what happens with the guards & The Ivory.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review....more
The diversity of the cast, the deaf & autistic representation is a standout in this book. I learnt so much about the deaf community and ASL as I read,The diversity of the cast, the deaf & autistic representation is a standout in this book. I learnt so much about the deaf community and ASL as I read, a lot of things that will stay with me and transform the way I interact with deaf people.
As someone who loves an autistic person, I found it really emotional to read Bodhi’s experiences, because I could heavily relate to the ways he was treated. I’m not sure whether it was because of that, but I just didn’t feel the connection between Bodhi & Caleb. I found the switch from Caleb being abrupt & intolerant to being attracted to Bodhi too sudden. Anyway, that’s just me. I gradually warmed up to them towards the end, and enjoyed seeing the positive impact of the relationship on Bodhi, but I didn’t fully connect with Caleb…...more
This book is really hard going. I love MMM+ books, but usually the story is about the poly relationship coming together. In this story, it’s breaking This book is really hard going. I love MMM+ books, but usually the story is about the poly relationship coming together. In this story, it’s breaking apart at the beginning after being together for many years, and they stay broken until around 85%. The conflict & lack of communication is really heavy, and constitutes the majority of the book. And when the happy reunion is right at the end, the angst outweighed the enjoyment for me. It was just too much of a heavy read…...more
I received an ARC and this is my honest review. This is the third book of the series, and I didn’t read the first two. There was no prompt th2.5 stars.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review. This is the third book of the series, and I didn’t read the first two. There was no prompt that I needed to read them for context, but I felt like I was missing something from the beginning, like I should have known who all the characters were. So that wasn’t a great start. Maybe if I had read the first two my perspective would be different.
When it came to the characters themselves, I couldn’t really connect to any of them. They were all very similar in temperament, annoyingly mercurial, where within a couple of sentences they could vacillate between annoyed, happy & horny in a minute. It kinda made my head spin. The banter was awkward, and often repetitive. They all communicated poorly with each other, and the friendships, and even the relationships between the MCs seemed to be constantly questioned and doubted. And the sex scenes just made me uncomfortable. And I love all the sexy scenes usually. For me, I felt no real passion or connection between Atticus and Joshua. It didn’t help that they separated for long periods, just as their relationship was starting. It was variously described as necessary because of the mystery plot, but then later seemed to be more about the ethics of a professor and a current student being together. They didn’t seem at all concerned about that ethically at the beginning. Actually, the professional ethics of the characters in this are annoyingly loose. The police detective’s heavy-handed and sexually explicit flirting while on the case? Not great.
The main thread to the plot was the mystery surrounding a stalker. Suspecting every single character in the book, and throwing little hints as to why they could be the stalker just ended up creating a tangential & overly complicated case, and seemed to make all the friendships more fractious & difficult.
I hate writing negative feedback. It’s the worst bit about reviewing. Please remember that this is my perspective, and you, as a different reader, may really enjoy it. So give it a go. But if you do, I suggest starting from Book 1 in the series....more
Rounded down to 3.75 stars. I understand why there are mixed reviews on this one. In the first few chapters, I nearly quit reading. Whit is a repressedRounded down to 3.75 stars. I understand why there are mixed reviews on this one. In the first few chapters, I nearly quit reading. Whit is a repressed, self-hating, intelligent college boy with a multitude of secrets. He decided to advertise for a roommate, and picks Caleb. From the outset, Caleb is just GROSS. I know that the author wanted to highlight their vast differences, but it was a bit heavy handed, and I think she lost some readers as a result. Too many comments about hideous personal hygiene & general sloppiness when it came to self care.
The other thing that makes Caleb particularly unlikeable is his constant assertion that he’s straight. It’s written in dual POV, which works from this perspective. Despite the quick development of a sexual relationship with Whit, and his annoyingly frequent assertions that he’s not gay. The plot line that brings the boys together sexually has so many holes it’s like Swiss cheese. It’s just totally unbelievable. At times I felt like the author was ramming these differences between the MCs down our throat, to the point where it was annoying. Neither MCs we’re particularly likeable at the start.
“They say I have a crush. Nah, it’s an obsession. Because straight guys don’t have crushes on other dudes. Nope. It's just that…look, I’m not the brightest bulb, but I do have strong emotional intelligence. Usually, I can read people like a book, but I can’t get a read on this guy for the life of me. He’s like a sealed vault. No one in or out.”
See what I mean? Look, I’m all for the fact that no one should label others, particularly about where they sit on the Kinsey scale. But also don’t make a mockery of a marginalised group by falling into the cliché that someone can wake up one day & decide out of the blue that they are going to try gay sex when they’ve been homophobic before that. Yes, I know it happens. But this was clumsy.
Anyway, I kept reading even though it made me uncomfortable, because at the same time, the author made you get invested in seeing how the hell these two could end up together. Which of course they do. And I was surprised that you find yourself invested in seeing these guys work out. Two damaged souls coming together. Despite huge obstacles, and despite Whit’s huge secrets nearly destroying them. And I actually cried, because that initially detestable character Caleb has become sweet & loving & we want to see him get his man. I suddenly realised I had become totally invested in the HEA.
So, my advice? Give it a go. Get past the first 25% before you decide. Plenty of people love it, and I can see why. I enjoyed it a lot....more
3.5 stars. After loving “Finding Finley”, and usually really loving MMM books, I was looking forward to this. However, I’ll be honest… I got bored at a3.5 stars. After loving “Finding Finley”, and usually really loving MMM books, I was looking forward to this. However, I’ll be honest… I got bored at around 70% and had to drag myself to the finishing line. What I loved: Jordan is a little twinky ray of sunshine Seeing Ian get past his abandonment issues The equality of the relationships in the triad What I didn’t love: The promises of “forever” early in the book that were just unrealistic (maybe I’m a cynical old divorced woman..) The plethora of sickly sweet nicknames The repetition within the s3x scenes, with what seemed like a shopping list of kinks that needed to be ticked off… TOOOOOO much (beating, smacking, whipping, paddling, spitting, c*m eating, water sports, domination, submission, switching, enemas, DP,m and on and on)
I’m so disappointed. I love Riley Hart’s books. And I hate giving negative feedback of favourite authors. But I also have to be honest. Better luck with the next one…...more
DNF at 28%. Just not feeling it. I felt the same about the first book, but I dragged myself to the finish. I really loved “Axios” by this author, but DNF at 28%. Just not feeling it. I felt the same about the first book, but I dragged myself to the finish. I really loved “Axios” by this author, but nothing else has matched up to it for me. I can see how people might find this entertaining, but the writing style is a bit too YA for me, and the s3x is perfunctory & kinda unsexy…. Just me....more
Too confusing for me, DNF @ 12%. When they swapped bodies in the first few chapters, the character voice hadn’t been consolidated for long enough for Too confusing for me, DNF @ 12%. When they swapped bodies in the first few chapters, the character voice hadn’t been consolidated for long enough for it to be easy to tell who was who when they spoke. And then when they became sexually attracted to their own bodies?!?…. sorry, I tapped out. Too weird & confusing for me. A shame, because I’ve really liked some of K.A.Merikan’s stuff before....more
Unpopular opinion coming up…. This is the last book I’m going to read from K.M.Neuhold. I keep trying their books, getting sucked up in all the hype & Unpopular opinion coming up…. This is the last book I’m going to read from K.M.Neuhold. I keep trying their books, getting sucked up in all the hype & rave reviews from the majority. With this one, I think I read the first 2 chapters and then skimmed the rest. Does that count as a DNF because I skimmed most of it? I think so.
The good: I love me some polyamory, and we get a bit of it in this, and also a few decent sex scenes with hot dirty talk. There’s some funny banter, and no angst. Also, if you like Insta-love & a light & fluffy read, you’ll love this book.
The bad: A lot of the sex scenes were implied & off page! WHY???? Usually at least the first few intimate scenes are on page for story development, but this was so inconsistent. In the context of the development of a polyamorous relationship, the variety of ways the connections between 3 people progresses is one of the main selling points. This was a huge miss.
The ugly: These characters are annoyingly immature. They still speak like college age bros, with so many “dude”s thrown in I wanted to tear my hair out....more
Big, sweet, lingerie-wearing bottom meets cute twinky, kinky top. Lots of sexy times, a bit predictable, but a fun read (although I did skim a lot towBig, sweet, lingerie-wearing bottom meets cute twinky, kinky top. Lots of sexy times, a bit predictable, but a fun read (although I did skim a lot towards the end). I like me a bit of angst & a bit of complexity to the characters, which was lacking here....more
DNF at 30 pages. I’ve never done a review like this before. But I’m sorry, this was just ridiculous. In the space of 2 hrs, these guys meet, they wereDNF at 30 pages. I’ve never done a review like this before. But I’m sorry, this was just ridiculous. In the space of 2 hrs, these guys meet, they were “in heaven” by page 8, “couldn’t remember having such an intense physical reaction” by page 9, staring at him “like an all-knowing messiah” by page 11, “not wanting to let him out of sight” by page 13, having coffee an hour later & getting “insanely” turned on by sipping coffee, and telling him “I’d rather eat you than this muffin” by page 26. And I’m afraid, folks, I had to tap out by page 30 when he was groin-groping in the middle of a coffee shop, because he “just couldn’t control himself”. Nope… I’m done. And I’m sorry to say I won’t be venturing this way again. Too many cliches, too much Insta-love. If that’s your jam, you’ll love this.
Addit: I skimmed further forward, mostly because I was concerned about something many other reviewers had mentioned - about Ryder being too persistent, and not listening to “no” from Ash. And they were absolutely right. And that REALLY pisses me off. I never read dubcon or noncon. And I think it’s particularly egregious when female writers do this. There are enough instances in real life where people have non-consensual sexual experiences forced on them, with (mostly men) not respecting their choices. DO NOT REINFORCE THIS IN FICTION....more
3.5 stars. Started skimming a bit at around 70%. This is my second book in a row with emotionally stunted men who run away rather than share their fee3.5 stars. Started skimming a bit at around 70%. This is my second book in a row with emotionally stunted men who run away rather than share their feelings, causing unnecessary drama from poor communication, so I was a bit weary. Just didn’t really feel the spark with these two. Maybe it’s just me?…Didn’t enjoy it enough to bother with the next one to follow it....more
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