Absolutely perfect if you’re in the mood for a romcom ❤️
And given my current circumstances (broke my arm, had to have it screwed back together) a lighAbsolutely perfect if you’re in the mood for a romcom ❤️
And given my current circumstances (broke my arm, had to have it screwed back together) a lighthearted audiobook narrated by the one and only Nick J. Russo was the perfect choice for me.
You know I love NJR, and while this book wasn’t really a challenge for him (almost all of the characters are from the U.S.) he still managed to give life to each and every one of them, as well as a unique voice that fit their characters.
That being said: it’s the story of Sullivan, who’s not quite a billionaire, and who needs a date for his sister’s wedding (and he didn’t confess to his mum that he broke up with his latest boyfriend). And he asks his brother’s roommate, Drew. Who needs money to repair the storm damage in his shop. And who’s straight.
Good, but not overwhelming. And made a lot better by the audio.
I’ve read some books from this series, and they’re… ok. I remembered mysterious Art whoGood, but not overwhelming. And made a lot better by the audio.
I’ve read some books from this series, and they’re… ok. I remembered mysterious Art who’s some sort of an icon/a fixture amongst the DMC (the Divorced Men Club), and I remembered Joey, and his flirty (straight) barman (Art owns a brewery and a bar), so I’ve been looking forward to their story.
There were things that I absolutely loved, like their banter, their teasing, and their flirting. And they were hot when they got “it” going, and deliciously possessive. I didn’t even mind their secrets and the games they’ve been playing with each other.
What I wasn’t a fan of: Art’s “relationship phobia” and his resolve to keep things casual. Why? His divorce wasn’t messy, he had a happy childhood, no major trauma, no exes in the closet. At his age (and especially seeing his friends finding partners) he should be smart enough to know what (and who) is good for him, at least you’d think so.
But it still takes him around 90% to get his head out of his ass.
Another thing I want a huge fan of: Art’s “niblings”. Don’t we all love precocious kids in books ...more
Omg guys. You were right - this book is absolutely ADORABLE. Who would have thought I’d fall so hard for two guys wAll the feels. Every. Single. One.
Omg guys. You were right - this book is absolutely ADORABLE. Who would have thought I’d fall so hard for two guys who work in the (supernatural) porn industry?
I can’t even begin tell you about all the things I loved about this book. It starts with the names (Richard “Dick” Knotz? Falling for Hunter? And their friends, Max Thrustwell and Hardin Cox? And the guys from the fan forum?).
The unexpected poetic parts. Honestly, I now want a candle that smells of ember fire and starry nights, mixed with the softness of cashmere, hiding wrought iron beneath.
Hunter and Richard’s love story is… perfect. Yes, it starts with transactional sex. And yes, there are cameras. But they always made it feel so… intimate. Hot. Like the rest of the world fades away.
Their banter…. Chef’s kiss.
The way Richard started cooking for Hunter? Let my just melt to a puddle ...more
Before we start - what the heck is this cover? I almost didn’t pick it up because of it. What convinced mWholesome romance with a dash of priest-kink.
Before we start - what the heck is this cover? I almost didn’t pick it up because of it. What convinced me were Kati’s review and the fact that Declan Winters is narrating.
And because you kind of know what you get when you read a book by Kelly Fox: usually there’s some kind of a queer group, usually with one older couple (where one of them might or might not die at some point), a mostly queer friendly small town, low drama and a lot of wholesomeness despite a loosely interwoven crime/human trafficking plot and the occasional homophobic prick.
I’m happy to report that we got all of that - even the darker themes are treated in a way that don’t drag you down as a reader, even if I bawled my eyes out when that one older character died.
As for the romance: it was… ok. “Priest-kink” isn’t really “my” jam, usually everything religion-related leaves me uneasy because of the underlying bigotry that (usually) goes along with it. At least Beckett (the “Skeptic”) didn’t continue on his Catholic path that had been pre-picked for him, and I loved the kind of community he created for himself, and the way he talked to his congregation. But that priest-kink stuff where he left his collar on and had his partners call him “Father”- uh. No. Leaves me with an uneasy feeling.
In the other corner we have Holden, who left his hometown before college after a homophobic attack that almost killed him. He returns to the side of his dying father, and he looks for… idk… a break? repentance?… in Beckets arms right after Beckett picks him up at the airport. For a while, he keeps showing up at Becket’s doorstep claiming that he “needs to be put back together”.
I kind of loved it, and kind of didn’t. Tbh I’ve been more invested in the side characters that are being set up for upcoming books than in the main couple. Declan Winters still made it worth my while, but the romance itself fell a bit short for me.
Still: good start in a new series, I’ll definitely continue listening to the audio books!...more
It’s a very short novella, with a fairytale quality to it. It’s about Tom, who’s has to spend the “Well, miracles do happen.” “They certainly do.”
It’s a very short novella, with a fairytale quality to it. It’s about Tom, who’s has to spend the night at an airport because he missed his plane. And who meets Rafael, who - you guessed correctly - is an angel who lost his wings and is stuck on Earth.
It’s sweet, and I loved the dreamlike quality. It’s difficult to rate because it’s so short, but I’ll go with 4 stars. Thank you, Nicole, for making me pick this one up ❤️...more
There are good daddy/boy novellas. And then there’s this.
I mean- there’s nothing really wrong with it, it’s difficult to point out why it didn’t work There are good daddy/boy novellas. And then there’s this.
I mean- there’s nothing really wrong with it, it’s difficult to point out why it didn’t work for me. I just read a daddy/boy Christmas novella by the same author and I ate it up.
And the premise to this one was perfect: an auction, a meddling grandmother, grumpy/sunshine, daddy/boy - what could go wrong?
Turns out, a lot can.
There’s no chemistry at all between Desmond and Ryder, even though we’re told that they’re very attracted to each other. The daddy-dynamics feel very unnatural, no idea why Ryder felt the urge to have someone take over his decisions, from what we see, he has an easy life, a lot of money, a grandmother who loves him, and the freedom to do whatever he wants (in his case: work on cars and bikes). And Desmond is rich as Croesus (even richer than Ryder). And grumpy. That about all of the characterisation we get.
Dnf at 70% - I honestly don’t care about them. It’s not that I hate the book or the characters, i just wasn’t interested in neither....more
Not really Christmassy, but very cute. And very British.
I honestly can’t stop smiling. Was it perfect? No. Especially the ending was a bit TOO fluffyNot really Christmassy, but very cute. And very British.
I honestly can’t stop smiling. Was it perfect? No. Especially the ending was a bit TOO fluffy and unicorn-ish for me. But it was cute. And surprisingly hot.
It’s the story of Archie, who’s from a “upper class” English family (his father had something to do with finance). Archie is 21, gay, closeted, a virgin. And not really used to standing up to his family.
Cal on the other hand is a tattoo artist who won some money a few years back, and who has invested some of it via the company Archie’s father works at. He’s covered in tattoos, rides a bike, and shows up wearing his leather gear at one of the gatherings for investors.
It’s the classic “opposites attract” trope, and yes, it’s cliché, but it’s so cute and so very British (even when initiating sex), that I couldn’t help but smile almost the entire time while reading it.
And yes, the ending is a bit sweet, even for me. But wouldn’t it be nice if coming out to your family would be so easy? And we all know there’s nothing you can’t solve over a cuppa tea when you’re English. To quote Cal’s mum:
“I’ll go and put the kettle on”
For that alone (and for the smiles) I’ll rate it with 4 happy stars ...more
You either LOVE this one (and yes, I mean LOVE with capital letters) or you won’t like it at all.
If you’re reading this book (or thinking about readinYou either LOVE this one (and yes, I mean LOVE with capital letters) or you won’t like it at all.
If you’re reading this book (or thinking about reading it) you’ve probably read the first six books and you don’t need me to tell you who Valor and Doyle are.
In this book, we don’t have a crime case to solve - it’s focusing entirely on their wedding, giving theses two - and the series - an ending that will leave us all in a happy place.
What I love about these two, who are so real in my head as if I’d known them personally for years: they’re not perfect. But they’re perfect for each other.
Aslan is the more likable of the two - easygoing and flirty, good natured, but with a darker side, still occasionally struggling with his addiction to alcohol. In this book, we don’t get to see these darker parts. Az is the solid rock to Quaid’s spiralling mess, the one person who can ground him when he’s on the verge of a meltdown.
Because yes, I can understand how some of you aren’t happy with Quaid. He’s a mess. He has a wedding to plan, and he’s not the most chill person to be around on his best days - now imagine him trying to organise the event he’s been dreaming about all his life. Because deep down, before meeting Aslan, he’s given up on his own happy ending, convinced that he’s not worthy of happiness, or love, and that - if he’s lucky- he’ll end up settling for a more or less loveless, convenient partnership.
So yes, Quaid is groom-zilla, a hot mess, firing wedding planners and snarling at everyone and everything. He’s on the verge of a breakdown, making himself sick. And it’s just heartmelting to see how Az helps him, all in a way that isn’t cheesy, OTT dramatic. There’s no breakup, and the only tears that are shed are the ones on their (definitely NOT Christmas themed) wedding day.
And shoutout to some of the best side characters ever written- Graham “The Ring Bearer” who finally found somebody who can beat him in chess. And most of all, Ruiz, who’s character development makes me hopeful irl, too: his transformation from a bigoted homophobe to a genuinely good man, who opened his eyes and didn’t like the person he’s become, and who makes amends to people he has wronged in the past - kudos. I really loved him in this book and hope to see glimpses of him in the future spinoff-books.
Is the book perfect? No, because you don’t really have a “plot” - we all know from the start that their wedding will be nothing short of magical. Will I rate it with 5 stars? Absolutely. Because I’m so genuinely happy for them, and I want to believe that even persons who are far from perfect are able to find their soulmate, and live their HEA.
All in all a worthy ending to one of my favorite series ❤️
And now excuse me while I listen to Skillet's "Anchor" and bawl my eyes out......more
You know the books that leave you with a big smile on your face? This is one of them.
For a short novella, this is as perfect as it gets: Charlie returYou know the books that leave you with a big smile on your face? This is one of them.
For a short novella, this is as perfect as it gets: Charlie returns to his (small) home town after losing his Chicago-based journalist job to AI. He moves back in with his parents, and one day, he meets his teen-crush Stu again. Stu works as a Christmas elf, so Charlie doesn't feel like a complete loser next to him, and dares to go on a date.
Ofc things are not always what they seem, and it's all Christmas-sweetness, but it works for this novella - and COME ON, who DOESN’T love a character who loves books, and old bookstores? I even loved the kids in this book, and that’s saying something.
“And what’s your name?” he asked Lizzie, the bells on his hat jingling as he leaned down toward her. “Lizzie,” she said. “What a lovely name! Is it short for anything?” “Lizard,” she said. The elf’s smile froze on his face and he looked at me as though I’d committed unspeakable crimes against humanity. “It’s actually short for Elizabeth,” I said. “Isn’t it, Lizzie?” “Lizard,” she said stubbornly.
It's a short pick-me-up, highly recommended if you need a smile on your face :)...more
Who would have thought it would be Richard’s story that stole the show?
I’ll admit: I didn’t particularly care for Richard in book 1 and book 3. He seeWho would have thought it would be Richard’s story that stole the show?
I’ll admit: I didn’t particularly care for Richard in book 1 and book 3. He seemed to be flighty, even though it did seem there’s a good guy beneath all the bluster.
I can happily say that not only did he redeem himself in this book, he totally made me fall in love with him. Yes, it’s that Lucy Lennox brand of sometimes OTT silliness in some situations (I mean - a shiny, spoiled and sparkly city socialite working as a FARM HAND? Mucking out stables? Some scenes just write themselves…). And there IS that insta thingy again, even though it’s relatively slow paced when compared to the other books (it takes 2 weeks for Boone aka the broody cowboy to give in to the temptation that is Richard).
Thankfully, the third act drama is short and not based on miscommunication, so I’ll rate it with 4.5 stars rounded up.
Looking first to finally reading about Oscar next, whenever the book comes out ...more
I have a weakness for tropes that include (anonymous) texting, so I’m happy to report that I had a blast with this book.
Yes, you have to turn off yourI have a weakness for tropes that include (anonymous) texting, so I’m happy to report that I had a blast with this book.
Yes, you have to turn off your realism-radar for this one, and yes, it’s been a tiny bit predictable, but it’s been so much fun that I didn’t mind.
It’s the story of Conor, a nerdy geek who owns a gaming shop in a small town, who came to NY to sell some patents his mother owns to ”The Asshole” CEO of a huge company of medical supplies.
The evening before the big meeting, he drunkenly texts a number that he believes is the one a flirty bartender gave him. Ofc, it’s not the bartender’s, but belongs to Wells, “The Asshole”.
Who - conveniently - is also gay.
And as these things tend to go, it gets hot pretty quickly, and they end up having a pretty hot sexting-session.
The next day, IRL, Wells recognises Conor because of his nerdy tie, but he keeps it to himself, not wanting to jeopardise the negotiations- and being attracted to real-life-Conor, too.
I know there’s a power-imbalance and catfishing, but I didn’t mind. It’s a hot, and very often very funny fantasy, and I loved to witness Wells falling hard for Conor. Being a bit of a nerd myself, I couldn’t help but LOVE all the geeky bits, too, especially Wells as a spray-tanned, bare chested Kylo Ren ...more
So very sweet, might get cavities and your teeth might end up glued together.
I really love a sweet, wholesome Christmas romance, and I kind of like thSo very sweet, might get cavities and your teeth might end up glued together.
I really love a sweet, wholesome Christmas romance, and I kind of like them following Hallmark-recipe. But I admit, this one was a bit much, even for me.
It’s the streets of Hamish, a thirty something from Australia, who ends up in the middle of nowhere Idaho because of a snowstorm. He rents a car and -surprise, surprise - gets stuck with it in the snow. And gets rescued by Ren, owner of a hardware shop in a quaint little (very accepting) town.
Ren is gay, lonely, lives in a pittoresk cottage and has a dog that immediately loves Hamish.
And then - being snowed if- they start doing literally EVERYTHING cliche you can imagine - they get a tree, put on old decorations, watch Christmas movies, bake cookies, talk about all the differences between Australia and the US (all kind of idioms, and marvelling that Hamish hasn’t ever seen snow before, hasn’t baked cookies, and loves vegemite, while Ren is that silent, kind and lonely bear of a man whom everyone loves but who has given up hopes on ever finding a man to share his life, and who doesn’t know what a pavlova is). Oh and they quote from Schitt’s Creek and Legally Blonde, and listen to Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande singing Christmas songs.
To quote ONE phrase:
“She grinned, Hamish grinned, and all I could do was smile.”
That about sums it up.
Glen Lloyd, the narrator, did a great job with the Australian accent without overdoing it. I didn’t know him before, but he’s certainly one I wouldn’t mind listening to again.
And now excuse me while I rewatch Schitt’s Creek, because all the talk about it and the quotes made me miss it ...more
Slow burn grumpy/sunshine romance between porn stars.
Now that I’ve read it, I can say for sure: I’m not a huge fan of porn star romances. The idea of Slow burn grumpy/sunshine romance between porn stars.
Now that I’ve read it, I can say for sure: I’m not a huge fan of porn star romances. The idea of “my” MCs seeing sex as “business” is weird for my good old fashioned romantic heart.
That being said: ofc I knew beforehand what I was about to read. And the plot is new and fresh: 2 porn stars, both working in the same studio, get paired together to film a “boyfriend series”. And after having sex numerous times for the camera, they fall in in love.
It’s a grumpy/sunshine pairing: Dixon aka Dix, the silent grump, and Niko aka Adonis, the new addition to the Elite8 team, personified sunshine coming from a welcoming, warm and loud Greek family.
I always love seeing how the sunshine wears the grump down, and the relationship build was done really well - both Niko and Dixon have a warmth to them that WILL seep into your heart, too.
Still - that porn star setting isn’t for me, even if it’s portrayed in a way that’s very professional and as far from seedy as it gets.
Bonus points for Mateo and Hawthorne’s cameos, and for all the interesting side characters that are being set up for upcoming books.
Not sure if I’ll be reading Malibu’s book right away, but I will at some point because I really need to see him have his HEA, too....more
Remember me saying that a series with porn star MCs probably isn’t my jam? Well, I was wrong.
This. Was. Beautiful.
Yes, I know, it’s probably not a typRemember me saying that a series with porn star MCs probably isn’t my jam? Well, I was wrong.
This. Was. Beautiful.
Yes, I know, it’s probably not a typical “porn star” plot, but it still counts - Mal/Malibu, the guy with the anxiety disorder, and who has a few side hustles working as a camboy and as an escort, has a new client: Hendrik, a wealthy - and blind - man who hires him as a companion for 6 months. Mal can’t resist so much money, and he moves in with Hendrik, only to realise that this quickly turns out to be the first real relationship he’s ever had.
They fall for each other, and their relationship is beautiful and felt very natural. I loved how Hendrik learned to deal with his blindness, and above all, I loved Malibu, that beautiful, kind man who suffered such a severe trauma as a teenager. And fuck you, Mal’s mum, and every person who thinks this kind of “treatment” is ok.
You don’t need to read book 1 for this, but you should, because that’s where we meet Mal for the first time.
Absolutely recommend this one. Not sure if I’ll go for the next book right away, I have to check Kati’s review first and I don’t think she’s read it yet ...more
Cute Christmas romance that world have been almost perfect if the timing hadn’t been so rushed.
I know that many of you loved it and are gushing about Cute Christmas romance that world have been almost perfect if the timing hadn’t been so rushed.
I know that many of you loved it and are gushing about it. I feel a bit bad to only rate it with 3 stars, but maybe I’m the odd duck.
I mean- yes, it’s a Hallmark Christmas plot, and the book is rather short. But WHY did it only cover 5 days (max) from the first meeting to I’ll burn my world down to be with you???
It’s the story of Spenser, a very rich, closeted gay company tycoon, who is intrigued by the guy who rejects his drink (and the prospect of a quick hookup) at a gay bar. And Ethan, who swore off one-night-stands and who wants a real relationship.
One day Ethan says no to hooking up, and they go to a greasy diner instead, the next day he agrees to visit Spenser’s family over Christmas as his fake boyfriend. And one week later, when the epilogue takes place, they’re already talking about having children together.
If everything would have happened in the span of a few months, or even weeks, I would have loved it. I know the book was short and there wasn’t time for a deep relationship buildup or character development, but… really. A shame.
If you’re looking for a quick holiday fix, you’ll love it, but remember to turn the logical part of your brain off ...more
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