Monique ~ Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

I am not going to recommend this book Someday it Will be from S.A. McAuley… I am going to IMPLORE you to read it… seriously READ THIS BOOK!!! It’s short, a novella and it will take little over an hour of your time but the experience will stay with you… there are probably only three or four other books this year that have had such a huge impact that I want the world and their wife to read it… I will beg if I have to!!!

  

I could never do this book justice, never in a million years, my words are totally inadequate to be able to describe the beauty and emotion that is contained within the 49 pages of this book… quite simply it is the most emotional book I have read… ever!  It touched a place in my heart and it was full, fit to bursting… yet broken at the same time. I know I am a wuss when it comes to emotional reads but this book is, in my humble opinion…phenomenal. The writing is just exquisite, I love this author and although her style is probably not for everyone, to me it creates an atmosphere that kept me engaged, whole heartedly engrossed in the authors voice and the characters that she creates. Her words are fluid on the pages of the book, her prose stunning, it is seductive and enticing with a haunting quality to it at times that brought me to tears. We are treated to snippets of Poe and Isaac’s lives in flashbacks, captivating in their own right, but the final picture, when all those beautiful, heartfelt emotional and engaging pieces come together… the result is stunning and the powerful feelings it evokes… overwhelming! I literally sobbed my heart out, and continued to tear up throughout the evening as my thoughts wondered back to these two characters and even now, writing my review I have a scrunched up soggy tissue in my hand!

 

This isn’t a full novel that gives you their whole in depth life story, but you get the salient points, the points that matter to that moment on the beach …could it have been a full novel rather than a novella?… yes, and it would have been brilliant! But the periods of their lives that we share is what gives this book it’s impact.

In all seriousness I can’t tell you about the in’s and out’s ofSomeday It Will Be as it is most definitely one that needs to be experienced, the scenes and the characters are revealed in layers, their fears, hurt, pain, the desolation of loneliness, the retrospection on a life wasted and that pain ebbing away, replaced by hope, and for the first time happiness only to be snatched away all too soon… At the age of eighteen,  Artie became Poe and Poe’s life was one of self destruction and hopelessness but the love between Artie and Isaac is one that transcends time, there is a thread that binds them and as tenuous as it may be, it will never be broken.

“You’ve never gotten it, Artie. You are the strong one of the two of us. The person I always aspired to be. You were given garbage—“ 

“And I made shit” 

“No” Isaac shook his head. “You survived”

Someday It Will Be gives us a moment of undefined selflessness, the most altruistic act of love and friendship you could bestow on another being and Isaac had given all of himself for the fourteen years they were apart to make sure that temporal shift in time occurred, so that Poe was on that beach at that time to influence a change that would impact both their lives, but it was never about Isaac, he had had the trappings of wealth and everything a privileged life and educated background could give him… but none of that mattered, because all he had ever wanted or cared about in life was… Artie.

This book has a paranormal, science fiction, fantasy tag, but It’s none of those per se, because I know it would immediately put a lot of readers off this book… and I don’t want that to happen. Isaac has a gift, It’s not common knowledge in the contemporary world they live in, and this book is totally character driven, there is no world of wonders and Isaac’s gift is not magic or flashy but he can manipulate objects and minds, it’s a gradual process, understated and one which unfortunately does not work on Poe, and one which also sadly comes at a cost.  It’s like being able to have a wish and putting all your energy and effort into it to make it so, it’s the stuff of dreams, where we would all love to be able to go back and fix that one defining moment in time… impossible, but just imagine how wonderful that moment would feel if we could.

“So if you’re not like Magneto or the Professor—which I’m totally disappointed about, by the way—then is it like a genie in a bottle? Wait. Do you know how to move like Christina Aguilera? If so, you’ve been holding out on me. We could take this show on the road.”

The love Isaac and Poe have for each other is quite profound, the intimacy and passion totally mind blowing and conveys all they feel, the sex… well, Ms McAuley certainly has a way with words especially when it comes to those lust filled moments… I only have to imagine Poe, tattooed and  pierced and Isaac, conventional with his blond hair and I am all a fluster… these two men are hot, smouldering and delicious.

Their journey is not all heart break and sadness there is also a sprinkling of humour which only endeared me to them more… the other thing I would like to stress… it is a HEA, but the road there is a sad, painful and tumultuous one, yet filled with so much love and hope… and I will read this again and again, making sure the tissues are at the ready… and a glass of wine, oh, and comfort food, preferably chocolate… haha, any excuse for chocolate!

Without warning Isaac swallowed him  down to the hilt and Poe arched off the bed, unable to hold back the oaths of worship that fell from his lips. Isaac was everywhere around and in him all at once—his scent, his skin, his breath—and Poe was wholly alive. Free and yet owned completely. Loved.

You know that feeling, when before you even get to the end of the first page of a book and you just know you are reading something special… no, not just special, exquisite, sublime and beautiful, where you can feel your emotions start to stir, compounded by the vice like grip on your heart and the anticipation of more to come, when you just want to absorb and savour every moment… for fear it will all come to an end far too quickly… Well, that is what S.A. McAuley gave me withSomeday It Will Be… and all with words so lovingly blended together to create a read that is a MUST.

What makes this series so AMAZING is Lou Harpers effortless style of writing, captivating yet understated with no clutter and she has a way of endearing us to even the grumpiest of characters… her ever present humour with an element of mystery is just perfect… THIS IS JUST A BLOODY GOOD STORY!!!

Dead in the Desert is the second book in the L.A. Paranormal series, and it is one complete story and not a collection of novellas, which I loved! In all honesty it can be read as a standalone, which was exactly how I intended to read it… however a few pages in and I had fallen in love with the characters and I had to go back and start from the beginning… I wanted more, so I stopped mid flow, downloaded Dead in L.A. and started from the beginning and didn’t stop till I had finished both books… YES! They are that good… I couldn’t put them down!

So we first meet the boys In Dead in L.A where Andy is a ray of sunshine to Jon’s life filled with storm clouds and rain. Andy is a psychic who finds things, cats, dogs, missing jewellery, he is adorable and such an unassuming character, where as Jon on the other hand is grumpy to say the least, racked by guilt over the death of his wife, trying to put his life back together, attending college but unable to drag himself out of the darkness that consumes him, preferring solitude and self imposed isolation. As a pessimist he doesn't allow himself to feel for fear of the unknown, of what might happen if he lets down his guard and allows someone into his heart again… I got the impression he was subconsciously punishing himself, but Andy’s easy manner and self confidence wormed his way into his life and Jon was no longer able to distance himself from the vibrant sparkle that was Andy and it had all happened without him having realised it

Dead in the Desert takes place ten months after they had become room mates and seven months into their friends with benefits relationship.

Detective Lipkin makes another appearance to call on Andy’s psychic services to locate a dead body, but the main story line is locating a missing person. Andy is hired by a lawyer to find Ethan Novak, the son of the serial killer Clive Riddel.  Clive’s Uncle has left a vast fortune in his will to Ethan, a boy he didn’t know, for no other reason than to piss off his family, only Ethan has been missing for seven years and needs to be located before the family have him declared dead.

This is not a detective thriller and neither Jon or Andy are investigators per se, they actually sit on the periphery of the actual investigations…with all the pieces falling into place in the background and the boys just contributing a small part, well actually it is Andy and his psychic abilities that are in demand, but over protective Jon is non too happy about him being involved without being there himself… just in case! I would say this is more of a mystery and Lou Harper keeps us engaged throughout… seeing the boys dipping in and out and the threads all coming together, I was hanging on every little piece of information!

Andy can’t resist helping, it’s who he is… he is just a kind and generous soul, who also happens to be hilarious, his banter with Jon, addiction to food porn and obsession with books had me laughing out loud, he is just a fun and zany character, modest with a casual approach to his gift, learning as he goes along, to him it’s a living and definitely not something to be abused, and Jon is on hand to make sure no harm comes to his man! Jon is possessive and protective of Andy, but not in a suffocating way, he cares about Andy but finds it hard to express his feelings and emotions and his mother hen ways are just his subconscious affections coming to the fore.

“I’d learned the hard way that the only thing you couldn’t lose was what you didn’t have. A fear of Andy flickering out of my life as abruptly as he’s entered it had burrowed into a corner of my heart”

We also see Jon battling with his emotions, coming to terms with the fact that Andy has indeed broken down the barriers that have for so long guarded his heart, looking at Andy as part of his future, but insecure… unsure of what he means to Andy, he wants more than friends with benefits which was Andy’s idea in the first place, and although we don’t get a glimpse as to what is going on in Andy’s head, only having Jon’s POV I got the impression he was holding back not wanting to push Jon or force the issue of a relationship, knowing how emotionally damaged Jon is.

The romance develops at a sedate pace all enhanced by the investigations, it is a subtle blend of romance and mystery and the whole package is combined perfectly… it’s just an excellent read with engaging characters and fascinating plot lines that will have you chuckling all the way through!

There is an epilogue to this… and so very clever, I loved it! I am also wondering if it might be another direction the lovely Ms Harper may be taking us in?!?

This is and EXCELLENT book and I defy you not to love it!

**4.5 STARS**

 

When I was organising my reading list for October, I spotted this book by Garrett Leigh, she is a new author and I loved the cover and the synopsis drew me in straight away, everything about it screamed READ THIS BOOK! And Oh. Boy. Am I glad I did! This is a fabulous book, an excellent read and what a pleasure it is to find a new author… I couldn’t put it down until it was finished, I loved every moment of my journey with Ash and Pete. 

Ash had been living on the streets from the age of 15 surviving by drawing comic book and pavement art, losing himself in his passion and seeking oblivion through alcohol and drugs had been the only things to sustain him, a life he was rescued from by the only person who had actually cared about him his whole life… Ellie. She encouraged him to move into a shelter and then complete a tattoo artist apprenticeship before dragging his arse from Philadelphia to Chicago when she moved back home…  and it is this point that the story really begins, Ash’s life prior to his life in Chicago is drip fed in parts, which I won’t go into, but it all becomes clear at the end of the book.

When I started reading this book, I was hit immediately by Ash’s voice,  there was such a haunted feeling to it, an apathy, as though he was there but not really, kind of dazed and distanced from the tale he was telling, a complete contrast to the optimism of Pete. Garret Leigh’s characterisation of these two characters was excellent and you can’t help but fall in love with these two men, Ash is a boy so badly damaged he doesn’t know how to love, so lost that every day is a struggle and a new experience but Pete envelopes him with loving care and kindness, patiently giving him the room to grow. Their love is soul deep and they are both overwhelmed by an emotion that neither had experienced before… and Garrett Leigh conveyed that perfectly. But it’s not all sadness there is also a camaraderie and and sense of fun that builds as their relationship does that left me smiling and laughing at just how far our boy had come.

 

Ash had survived living on the streets but he was finding it hard to adjust to life, five years of being oblivious to what we all take for grated now meant that everyday was a learning curve in a world he is unfamiliar with, not having had the life experiences that enable us to function as “normal” human beings, and at the same time trying to deal with his insecurities, with no feeling of self worth. So moving into an apartment and dealing with a room mate is a daunting task… even more so when sleep evades him through nightmares, panic attacks and feelings of claustrophobia.

Pete is a paramedic and works long hours which is both physically and mentally exhausting and despite hardly being home, it doesn’t take him long to realise Ash is troubled, not surprising really as Ash, not used to living with someone and seeing himself as a freak, tiptoes around the apartment and a life that for him is an everyday challenge. But somehow Pete see’s his vulnerability, he has an empathy for Ash he doesn’t truly understand but wants nothing more than to comfort him. The connection between them is subtle, yet profound and all of a sudden you are slammed in the chest by just how much Pete’s intuitive understanding of Ash impacts, there were no powerful displays of emotion, or an endless torture of sexual tension it was just a natural progression and the chemistry between them was undeniable, Pete brought a serenity to Ash that was powerful in itself… and I just cried and my heart swelled with how much love and emotion there was between these two characters.

For a moment, I forgot everything I’d ever done before, as if he was the first man I’d ever touched. Pete was so strong, but as I moved down his body with my fingers and tongue, I was more aware than ever that he was just a man, like me, and he was as fragile as I was.

Living with Ash wasn’t easy and his behaviour a significant indicator there was more to his past than he was letting on. I wanted Pete to push him on it, to ask the difficult questions, but knowing Pete’s phobia’s and fears, the one aspect of his job that gave him nightmares I can understand why he let itslide. That reason and their long working hours and Pete’s unsociable working hours had them seeing less of each other, falling into complacency and lost in his own crazy madness at work, with circumstances conspiring against them, Pete took his eye of the ball for a moment and missed the triggers that had sent Ash spiralling out of control… and he handled it badly, which did piss me off!

We get a glimpse of Ash’s terror… not the details but it is intimated enough to understand his fears and anxieties. It’s not a raw and gritty tale that rips your heart out, Garrett Leigh’s style is much more subtle she still manages to convey all the heartache in such a way that you are lulled into a false sense of security and before you know it your chest is aching and your heart bleeding at what a young life has endured and filled with hope at the love that helps heal him and gives him hope for a future.

Without going into detail for fear of spoiling the story, I would personally have liked the end elaborated more, it was tidied up nicely in an epilogue so I was satisfied but there was so much substance to the main part of the book and I would have liked to have seen how the end impacted and pushed the boundaries of their relationship. There are some great secondary characters, namely Ellie the tenacious red head, Ash’s best friend and saviour and Maggie, Pete’s Mother… I loved them!

I am incredibly excited about this author and I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I have some unanswered questions and things not addressed that I am hoping we will see in book two… can’t wait!!!

**4.5 STARS**

When I was organising my reading list for October, I spotted this book by Garrett Leigh, she is a new author and I loved the cover and the synopsis drew me in straight away, everything about it screamed READ THIS BOOK! And Oh. Boy. Am I glad I did! This is a fabulous book, an excellent read and what a pleasure it is to find a new author… I couldn’t put it down until it was finished, I loved every moment of my journey with Ash and Pete.

Ash had been living on the streets from the age of 15 surviving by drawing comic book and pavement art, losing himself in his passion and seeking oblivion through alcohol and drugs had been the only things to sustain him, a life he was rescued from by the only person who had actually cared about him his whole life… Ellie. She encouraged him to move into a shelter and then complete a tattoo artist apprenticeship before dragging his arse from Philadelphia to Chicago when she moved back home… and it is this point that the story really begins, Ash’s life prior to his life in Chicago is drip fed in parts, which I won’t go into, but it all becomes clear at the end of the book.

When I started reading this book, I was hit immediately by Ash’s voice, there was such a haunted feeling to it, an apathy, as though he was there but not really, kind of dazed and distanced from the tale he was telling, a complete contrast to the optimism of Pete. Garret Leigh’s characterisation of these two characters was excellent and you can’t help but fall in love with these two men, Ash is a boy so badly damaged he doesn’t know how to love, so lost that every day is a struggle and a new experience but Pete envelopes him with loving care and kindness, patiently giving him the room to grow. Their love is soul deep and they are both overwhelmed by an emotion that neither had experienced before… and Garrett Leigh conveyed that perfectly. But it’s not all sadness there is also a camaraderie and and sense of fun that builds as their relationship does that left me smiling and laughing at just how far our boy had come.

I didn’t let go of him, and he didn’t move, but after a long moment, he finally sighed. “There’s something about you that makes me forget anything else exists.”

Ash had survived living on the streets but he was finding it hard to adjust to life, five years of being oblivious to what we all take for grated now meant that everyday was a learning curve in a world he is unfamiliar with, not having had the life experiences that enable us to function as “normal” human beings, and at the same time trying to deal with his insecurities, with no feeling of self worth. So moving into an apartment and dealing with a room mate is a daunting task… even more so when sleep evades him through nightmares, panic attacks and feelings of claustrophobia.

Pete is a paramedic and works long hours which is both physically and mentally exhausting and despite hardly being home, it doesn’t take him long to realise Ash is troubled, not surprising really as Ash, not used to living with someone and seeing himself as a freak, tiptoes around the apartment and a life that for him is an everyday challenge. But somehow Pete see’s his vulnerability, he has an empathy for Ash he doesn’t truly understand but wants nothing more than to comfort him. The connection between them is subtle, yet profound and all of a sudden you are slammed in the chest by just how much Pete’s intuitive understanding of Ash impacts, there were no powerful displays of emotion, or an endless torture of sexual tension it was just a natural progression and the chemistry between them was undeniable, Pete brought a serenity to Ash that was powerful in itself… and I just cried and my heart swelled with how much love and emotion there was between these two characters.

For a moment, I forgot everything I’d ever done before, as if he was the first man I’d ever touched. Pete was so strong, but as I moved down his body with my fingers and tongue, I was more aware than ever that he was just a man, like me, and he was as fragile as I was.

Living with Ash wasn’t easy and his behaviour a significant indicator there was more to his past than he was letting on. I wanted Pete to push him on it, to ask the difficult questions, but knowing Pete’s phobia’s and fears, the one aspect of his job that gave him nightmares I can understand why he let it slide. That reason and their long working hours and Pete’s unsociable working hours had them seeing less of each other, falling into complacency and lost in his own crazy madness at work, with circumstances conspiring against them, Pete took his eye of the ball for a moment and missed the triggers that had sent Ash spiralling out of control… and he handled it badly, which did piss me off!

We get a glimpse of Ash’s terror… not the details but it is intimated enough to understand his fears and anxieties. It’s not a raw and gritty tale that rips your heart out, Garrett Leigh’s style is much more subtle she still manages to convey all the heartache in such a way that you are lulled into a false sense of security and before you know it your chest is aching and your heart bleeding at what a young life has endured and filled with hope at the love that helps heal him and gives him hope for a future.

Without going into detail for fear of spoiling the story, I would personally have liked the end elaborated more, it was tidied up nicely in an epilogue so I was satisfied but there was so much substance to the main part of the book and I would have liked to have seen how the end impacted and pushed the boundaries of their relationship. There are some great secondary characters, namely Ellie the tenacious red head, Ash’s best friend and saviour and Maggie, Pete’s Mother… I loved them!

I am incredibly excited about this author and I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I have some unanswered questions and things not addressed that I am hoping we will see in book two… can’t wait!!!

5 HUGE Stars... I totally LOVE this series!!!



SJD Peterson does not write books where it takes you a couple of chapters to start connecting with the characters, what she does so well, and quite frankly excels at is engaging you instantly. I was totally hooked right from the start with the gut wrenching prologue to Tag Team,  I just sat back and thought WOW! Because from the very first page my heart was bleeding… the impact took my breath away and I wasn’t putting my book down for anything. What I love about Jo’s writing is that she not only hits the right note with raw emotion but also gives us a sprinkling of humour and blends them perfectly. Throughout this book I laughed, proper belly laughs, cried ugly tears, felt an inner peace and happiness that all was right in their world with the kind of pride one would normally reserve for family, because my big burly bears Rig and Bobby did right by Mason… such was my connection to these characters.

Mason’s Dom’s are both killed in a tragic car accident and we meet him at the funeral of Charles, ostracised from the family, ignored as the dirty little secret not to be acknowledged, bearing his sorrow alone. Having been disowned by his parents and suffering from panic attacks, Gregory and Charles had been his haven only now he is overwhelmed by grief, a fragile and broken man and needy sub engulfed in the blanket of sorrow the surrounds him.

Meanwhile Bobby and Rig are living the life of retirement, holidaying in the Florida heat and the pair of them had me in hysterics.

“There is a reason Florida doesn’t have bears, Rig. It’s too hot and we have too much fur”

Folsom, the Club and the lifestyle had been Bobby and Rig’s life… it was where they had met and where they had enjoyed their life together with Stephen, their sub, who they also tragically lost to a car accident seven years prior and although they were happy to let the club go, there was still something missing, both Bobby and Rig were Dom’s and as much as they loved each other, they needed a third, a sub to complete them.

Mason’s need to be cared for went soul deep, without his Dom’s he was adrift with no purpose and unable to cope with the grief, he needed to focus, only he was alone with no one to guide him, living in a constant loop of of nightmares, and with his social anxiety disorder he was completely isolated… his only thought was of oblivion, to be with his Dom’s and no longer have the gapping hole in his heart. Unable to function properly without sleep and food he thought he was losing his mind.

My heart was singing that in some way, call it what you may, destiny, fate or other forces at work, had a hand in bringing these men together. (yes, I know it’s only a story, but these characters are living in my head!) Seeing the sadness in Mason’s eyes brought back Bobby and Rigs own memories of their loss and devastation at losing Stephen, only they had had each other for support …and Mason was alone. They had all shared that dark place where you feel you may drown in the burden of grief and sorrow and watching these two men in full Dom mode caring for Mason was beautiful, they maybe two big growly bears, but inside they were teddy bears and Mason was their baby bear and they were going to pull out all the stops to get him the help he needed, something his previous Dom’s had failed him in. Normally I want to jump right in there myself with hugs and comfort, but with Mason, I wanted it to be Bobby and Rig, I wanted them to make it all better… and when Max (OMG! I can’t wait for his book… just delicious!) volunteers to make the flight to Florida, well, damn, good friends are worth their weight in gold and I was happy that Mason was getting the support system he needed.

Mason couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen or felt anything so beautiful. Once again, Mason was struck dumb by how these two men had come into his life, put his needs above all other things, and asked for nothing in return.

For Mason, somehow the trust he had in these two men was there from the start, he felt at ease and for someone with a phobia of being with strangers, it was something he couldn’t quite fathom himself but the care and compassion as well as the knowledge that they understood his grief put him at ease and watching him let go of that emotion and finally sharing in the somewhat unconventional humour and snarky banter, just made my insides smile.

This is only a BDSM novel in that the characters are into the lifestyle and the series revolves around the Folsom BDSM Club, because in Tag Team if you are looking for a kink fix you will get mild spanking and that is it, the sex between them however is just smouldering, my heart was pounding in anticipation and the build up intense… and, oh boy, was it good!

This book is more about the healing process of these three men and watching the characters grow together seeing how Mason had such a profound effect on what had always been an inherent part of Bobby and Rigs nature, Rig the growly papa bear and protector and Bobby the soothing mama bear and nurturer, how they had always been a perfect fit, shifted and changed to accommodate Mason and it brought a different aspect not only to their relationship but to the three of them together. In return they were giving Mason what he needed, not more of what he had shared with Gregory and Charles but something new and that was what I loved, they morphed into this unit that together was beautiful… complimenting each other perfectly.

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. It was peaceful. He had no doubt that whatever barrier or obstacle they had just crossed, Rig and Bobby were feeling it too. Mason could feel it in their touch, had seen it in their eyes, and it was as if none of them wanted to speak and break the delicate bubble that surrounded them in this perfect little world.

I didn’t want this book to end, don’t get me wrong, it came to a satisfying conclusion, but as with Pup I just don’t want to let go of the characters. If only I could tap into the mind of Ms. Peterson so I too could live in their world because already Pony cannot come soon enough!

I could wax lyrical for pages and tell you all about the wonderful writing and how the characters touched me and how Jo Peterson is just one of those authors that I connect with, but it’s all a given… I love this author and she never ceases to amaze me and continues to give me everything I want from a book and… I will quite happily shout it from the roof tops without the slightest apology for my over enthusiastic behaviour.

EXCELLENT!!! Highly recommended and if you haven’t read Pup… get a wriggle on as this series and characters are not to be missed!

Click the link and enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a copy of Tag Team... giveaway open until midnight(GMT) Monday 7th Oct.

Do you know what it feels like to open your presents on Christmas morning... well that's exactly how I feel right now WooHoo!!! SooOoo excited!!!

Patricia Logan has just signed me up for six books that I can see becoming my guilty pleasure!




This book has left me all of a quandary, because I loved it and hated it both at the same time, the concept is great but the content is all wrong! I was totally engaged with the characters, Trick is an adorable innocent and Phoenix the all powerful Dom and I liked him, when really, I should actually hate him… the problem being - was Trick only swapping one evil for another?… see …confused!!

Trick, who’s real name is Wade was thrown out of house and home at the age of 14 for being gay, which led him to living on the streets and selling his body for food… four years later, he is tired and used up, pitiful and lost, huddling in a doorway from the rain with his whole being shouting “help me” so when Phoenix spots him by chance, he stops. Trick is streetwise, he has had to be just to survive, but there was such a vulnerability to him that screamed sub that it pulled at Phoenix's heart strings and knowing full well what it is like to be homeless his empathy kicks in and he is compelled to help him!



Trick is confused, he thinks Phoenix is just a John that wants to fuck him like everyone else, he is a whore after all and a John never spent more than the required time with him, let alone speak to him… and conversations and buying him food… nope that never happened either! Phoenix is all well meaning and cares deeply for Trick and that is what he should have explained to a boy that would obviously hero worship him because of his kindness, a boy that would fall in love with him but not think himself worthy of being loved, so we have a whole lot of communication issues right there to start with!



So you can imagine, my heart is breaking for Trick, he is alone in the world, having survived without love or comfort and the mundane things in life we all take for granted, he himself had never experienced and just being normal was something he wanted to hold onto even if it was only for a short while.



Phoenix works for DOMZ.COM which is an online BDSM site where members can watch live scenes being played out, and when at play he is Master P, There is a whole compound with lots of space and rooms with various Masters that work for Master Z, Zachary Teak the owner and the Dom of local Cop Ryan Cassidy. If my understanding is correct the premise of this series is taking boys who are gay and fallen on hard times and giving them hope and love… there are six books in the series and I can see them all being subs paired with a suitable Dom.



Now, my head is telling me that this is all so wrong, taking boys and offering them a life in the BDSM/Porn scene screams of taking advantage of their vulnerability, and it is also convenient that Trick is a sub but had to be enlightened to the fact and in real life I would be appalled, there are issues regarding trust not discussed and Trick was never really given any choices in his future.  But… this is fiction and I read some pretty dark books that I even shock myself with… and in fiction I want the MC’s to find love and I want Trick to be cherished… because if anyone needs it, it’s him and I also think that Phoenix is that man but alas we have no HEA in this book, we do have some BDSM scenes which were sizzling and HAWT! and Phoenix is droolworthy in his leather and buzzed hair, so if this is your thing and like me you can can see this series as a guilty pleasure and dispel reality then you will enjoy this book. If not, then don’t read this book!



Ms Logan writing, certainly kept me turning the pages and wanting more, I was totally engrossed and compelled to read it, even downloading the next book as soon as I had finished, wanting to know more, I did however feel at times the conversations between the characters were a little stilted and didn’t flow, they just felt uncomfortable somehow, and there were some editing issues, but as you can see I was totally invested in the characters and I want them to find happiness and my heart was just about broken for Trick… onto Jett now!

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JP Baranby’s writing could permeate even the hardest of hearts, this is an excellent story that will stay with you, a journey of two men that have broken hearts for different reasons, finding what had for so long evaded them was really right there all along.

This is the second book in the survivor stories, they are not connected so can be read as stand alones but what they both have in common is the main characters Aaron from book one and Ben from this book are survivors, both having lost someone they love to a heinous crime and how the guilt that comes with that loss and their own survival festers and mentally becomes an unbearable burden.



I will sit and castigate myself yet again, that I have not read all of JP Barnaby’s work… why? Because she is a remarkably gifted writer and her talent lies in her character development and ability to create that emotional connection that binds you to them. I empathised with Jude and Ben, became invested in every minute detail of their lives as though it were my own. Ms. Barnaby feeds information in such a way that my heart was bleeding for these two characters, I laughed, cried, shouted a few profanities along with them and was overwhelmed at her capacity to create such intensity and emotion all through her literary skills… and the sex, well, hose me down now! With Kage, it was fierce, raw and powerful as the BDSM scenes were played and with Jude and Ben, together, there was an intimacy and sensuality that intensified what was already between them… I just love it all!!!

In the prologue, we meet Ben in a scene with his Dom, Kage, enduring the pain his body and mind crave, we see deep into the soul of this man that feels it is a penance, that he deserves the intolerable pain he receives at the hands of his Dom, but the abuse to his body fails to to dissipate the agonising ache, a constant that overwhelms his heart, but for Ben it is a moment of oblivion and a way to control the nightmares that plague him, and his way of dealing with keeping those demons at bay.

Kage is… well, I am lost for words as to how pissed off I was with that man! I wasn’t particularly enamoured from the start, they have a Dom/sub contract, an arrangement based on needs and sexual desire, with a distinct lack of emotion. Ben’s body is a slave to what Kage can give him which is just something else he feels guilt over… the utter disgust with himself for his depravity.

Kage sliced the flogger through the space between them, creating spiralling torrents of light and color like an Olympic gymnast twirling a blazing flame, Kage painted fire on the air.

Ben see’s himself as broken, a failure but to me he was just a frightened boy, scared of letting go of all that emotion, depriving himself of any kind of love and affection as further retribution… with the secret of his lifestyle also weighing heavy on his mind, especially with Jude, his flat mate and best friend, and also a man with his own secret and heart ache.

To Jude, Ben is the confident, fun loving man he has known for four years and loved for almost three of those after a drunken night of sex that was never repeated, fear of losing his best friend and fear of losing Ben FULL STOP, was what was holding him back… only Jude can think of nothing else… unrequited love, I am sure at some point we have all been on the receiving end of that particular torture! It takes a motorcycle accident and the discovery of Bens lifestyle for Jude to finally let out all the pent up sexual frustration and emotion through fear of losing the man he loves… and Oh. My. God! Baton down the hatches and be prepared to be WOWED by the intensity and emotional connection that will leave you breathless!

So Jude lets Ben have it just the way he likes it… only he is left conflicted, he will do anything to keep Ben in his life, but physically harm the man he loves? There was no denying his own reaction, but that came not from inflicting pain but because he was the cause of Bens ecstasy. When Jude finally opens his heart and is honest with Ben, well, I thought my heart would burst it was so full. I felt as though I was also finally free of the heavy weight that had been burdening it.

Seeing a BDSM Club and the lifestyle through the eyes of Jude the geeky accountant was enlightening to say the least and so funny, I chuckled all the way through his initiation... apart from the last bit, that just left me in a puddle of lust!  Initially I wasn’t convinced that Jude, being so selfless and susceptible in his love for Ben, wanting to do anything to keep Ben happy, would make Dom material and I worried he was doing it for the wrong reasons as the whole thing scared the shit out of him thinking he would do more harm than good, and failure to be what Ben needed would mean the end of the spark of hope for a future he was so tenuously clinging to… Ben on the other hand was like a kid who’s Christmas's had come all at once and he will do anything it takes to at least get a compromise from Jude.

“Let’s do a little light bondage, cuffs because they’re better for beginners, use an implement for impact play, and then finish off with a nice hot fuck. What do you think?” A twinkle appeared in Ben’s eye that hadn’t been there, a mischievous look that said he wanted to show Kage what he’d left discarded on the dungeon floor.

“Okay, first, what do you mean about an implement and impact play?” Jude asked. 

After all the initial angst and heart break it was a joy to watch this relationship develop, to see them open up and be truly honest with each other and work through their insecurities, making the dynamics of this relationship very interesting! Ben and Jude melted my heart as they made their own rules… and I liked that Jude could also be needy and vulnerable because that was also who he was. There are no stereotypes here, they worked with what they had because at the end of the day, what was more important was the fact they had each other. Ben needed more than just having his ghosts momentarily forgotten by having his sexual desires sated, and he craved the love that he had denied himself for so long… and Jude, I loved seeing him grow in confidence and step out of his boring accountant shoes and explore a side to him that he never in a million years thought he had in him… and I had tingles down my spine when he got all growly!

With everything he was, he wanted to be collared again; he wanted the collar to belong to Jude. Even if Jude had a problem with pain and inflicting it on Ben, they could work anything out as long as they did it together. Of that, he was almost certain. Almost.

Aaron sits happily on my all time favourites shelf and will soon be accompanied by Painting Fire On The Air… we will sit pretty and wait to see what happens in book #3 Spencer! CAN’T WAIT!!!

If BDSM is a genre you love, with tortured souls, angst and a kaleidoscope of emotions with lots of kinky sex and a bad ass Dom… then you will enjoy this book and I Highly recommend it!

**3.5 Stars**

This is Genna Donaghy’s debut novel and I really enjoyed this book and it certainly had me hooked right from the start, it’s an interesting concept and my depraved mind would really like to see her explore this world more, she certainly has me intrigued!



There is nothing conventional about this book, and Genna Donaghy has created a world, not divided by male and female, but by those that are dominant and submissive, where the doms holds all the power and natural subs are helpless but to obey, and instead of the usual attraction that forms a relationship we instead  have mated pairs and finding your true life partner can only be achieved through touch, not easy, especially when only a handful of the population can be your true mate. This is similar to a shifter story where the pair need to bond, with the whole mating process, mind speak and a connection on a whole other level, but without the shifter part.. I know it sounds a bit vague but this is a whole new concept to me, paranormal meets BDSM and neither are what you think they are but it worked and I loved it!

With a BDSM label and a society where dominants and submissives thrive, you would think… as I did, that this book would be all about the sex and the lifestyle, well it’s not… there is actually very little sex in this book and the D/s part is very subtle, you won’t find any whips, bondage or toys, what this book is really about is power and the dynamics of the relationships between a sub and dom… good and bad!

Jake Alric’s life is turned upside down when Waterstone’s start buying up local properties for the mineral rights and Jake’s ranch is one of their targets and as a submissive Jake has no rights, especially if one of the doms the company keep sending round to see him turn out to be his mate, he would lose everything he holds dear… his free will and his land.

I loved Jake and he pulled on my heart strings right from the start, he is a submissive but not a conventional one as determined by this alternate world. Instead of actively looking for a mate like other subs and wanting to submit, he is constantly battling his own bodies natural urge. In his head he relives the nightmare of seeing his submissive Mother broken by his bullying dom of a Father, it is those memories that fill him with fear of having a dom, hating the thought of helplessness and putting the control of his life in the hands of another.

Playing the good Samaritan and helping a drunk turned out to be Jake’s worst nightmare, because as it turned out, the man was his mate and running out on him before he came to his senses took all his strength as the call to submit was strong. Henry Waterstone is the enemy in Jake’s eyes, the son of the man trying to force him from his ranch and playing every dirty trick in the book to achieve it… Only Henry has no idea about the underhand tactics of the man in charge of operations and this part of the book gets pretty intense, I had my heart in my mouth on more than one occasion!

Henry is a very strong and powerful dom, he hadn’t been looking for his mate but now he had found Jake there was no way he can pull back, but he has no need for a sub to kowtow to him, Jake is everything he wants, a sub but still strong willed and compelling him to submit would only break him. Henry also see’s the fear in Jake, so he fights his natural urge to claim and dominate and instead he uses his charm, restraint and patience to try and get to know the man that already has such a hold over him.

If I’m honest, really I would have liked to have seen the relationship developed more the other side of the mating, they went through so much to finally be together and then we only have a glimpse of them in their true D/s relationship, I just wanted to see them explore the dynamics more. Also the beginning didn’t sit quite right with me, Henry is controlled, powerful and restrained, so after getting to know him in the book, I felt the drunk Henry Jake rescue’s at the beginning was totally out of character with the all powerful dom I came to love.

Personally I prefer my BDSM with a little more bite, but for those that like light the lighter side of the genre then this book is perfect for you. Ms. Donaghy did a great job of keeping me engrossed in the action and the emotional development of our two MC’s… I will definitely be reading more from this author and hope she continues with this world she has created… Great debut novel!!!

BRAVO Ms. Jakes!!! Excellent… an exciting plot full of action with two gun wielding, knife carrying deliciously HOT Alpha males, both damaged souls finding passion and solace in the arms of each other... no love yet, but this is a fabulous start and I am incredibly excited about this series!



There are two authors that are responsible for my addiction, obsession and all consuming passion for M/M Romance, the first being Abigail Roux with the Cut & Run series and the second S.E. Jakes with the Men of Honor series! Can you see the pattern here? Yes… I LOVE me some HOT ALPHA MALES and Ms Jakes can write about those men till the cows come home and I will be chomping at the bit for every single word!

If you have read the Men of Honor series, you will already be familiar with Prophet, who has always been an enigma, the “go to” man in the background that gets things done. He is one of those characters that you are desperate to know more about, a powerful, controlled presence lurking in the shadows but never quite getting a glimpse of, so when I found out  there would be a series based around his character, well, I think you probably heard me squee over on the other side of the pond I was that excited!

Catch a ghost is the first book in the Hell or High Water series, there is no HEA and at the end of this there is also no big love affair… in fact the end is one of those that will have you kicking and screaming and banging on the authors door for the next book NOW!

It starts off with Tom anonymously receiving a video and watching as a young man, battered and bruised is being questioned. This scene sets the tone of the book and is a clue as to which path the story will take… as the man in the video is Prophet, nineteen years old, undergoing a hostile interrogation from one of his own, and now his past is about to come back and haunt him in more ways than one.

Prophet… be still my beating heart… he is a bad boy but I love him! He is former CIA and Special Forces, a fighting machine, fierce and fearless with no consideration for his own safety, the mission, his focus and objective are paramount to achieving his goal. He is confident in his abilities, arrogant, cocky, annoying and impatient, intimidating those around him and unapologetic for each and every annoying trait. In fact he goes out of his way to totally piss everyone off, as if it’s his life’s mission to distance himself from any personal or work relationships, preferring his own company. So when Phil, his boss pairs him up with a partner, well… lets just say he was none too pleased with the decision and was not discrete in verbalising his objection to both his boss and the new boy Tom Boudreaux.

Tom Boudreaux… the poor man doesn’t stand a chance! Having said that he is no pushover and gives as good as he gets. Taking the job as a mercenary at Extreme Escapes is his opportunity at a last ditch attempt to get his life back on track… he see’s himself as a failed FBI Agent and more recently a Sherriff,  believing that he himself is the reason for all his bad luck. He is desperate to get back to a life that gave him a purpose and to do this he needs to make a good impression, which is not an easy task when partnered with Prophet!

“Seriously, I’m going to kill you,” Tom told him, then muttered, “If I can’t hide the body well enough, it will be so worth going to jail.” “I heard that,” Prophet called over his shoulder as he left the room with donuts. “I meant you to”

Both these men are damaged and broken souls, each dealing with their own demons, internalising their fear and pain but on the outside they are the tough hard men they demand of themselves taking on the world head first. The case they are both assigned is personal to Prophet and brings back painful memories from the past he has tried to supress, whilst Tom is learning to deal with all the anger and frustration he has been holding back on that needs it’s own outlet.

Although they are attracted to each other… as yet there is no romance, the sexual chemistry between them however is sizzling and the pure lust and animal attraction is SO HOT! But this is only the first book in the series and although we get some insight into the make up of the men we are still no nearer to really understanding them, especially Prophet. Somehow I feel S.E. Jakes has barely scratched the surface with what makes that man tick, he is so full of anger and rage spurned on by guilt… pushing away those that get too close to him. Fear of being hurt? Fear of bringing harm to the doorstep of anyone he might become involved with? I feel this book has been an introduction to just how fucked up they both are …which means we have the healing to look forward to!

“This isn’t a good idea, Tommy. You’ll get hurt.” “I’d think you’d like to see me get the shit beat out of me.” “No, I’d like to be the one doing it.”

So you are probably wondering why I love this book so much… well that is where SE Jakes has excelled because we had glimpses of the boys behind the facade of the big macho men, where despite the action and uncertainty of their assignment we saw the child within Prophet, where his vulnerability was laid bare for the briefest of moments and with Tom we saw his compassion and genuine kindness, all little teasers for us to hope for more. Plus Prophet is the epitome of a bad boy, damn that man is hot, as in tummy tingling, I want to have your babies hot and that is what SE Jakes does so well and she didn’t just give us one smouldering male, oh no, she gave us two… because oh. my. friggin. God! Tom is a 6ft 5inch tattooed, pierced and Harley riding hottie and between the two of them I was in a complete and utter mess!

I was like an excited school girl reading this book… SE Jakes gave me everything I loved and more. The Men of Honor series is one of my favourites but this book and the promise of more has moved her up another level. Fabulous plot… a real action thriller with cage fighting, guns, torture, bombs… yes, I get excited about torture and bombs!  with the mystery and intrigue keeping me guessing right to the end.  Hot hard and dirty sex between two alpha males that left me in a puddle of lust… I am salivating at the promise of more! Oh, and not forgetting the humour, I do love some snarky banter and Prophet and Tom certainly went at it and had me laughing out loud… just LOVE IT! Also, not forgetting a secret spy that I have a feeling will be making another appearance… just hoping it doesn’t go in the direction it could.

Was there anything about this book I didn’t like? Yes! The End!!!

Thank God it’s not long till the next one.

READ THIS BOOK… It’s excellent!!!



If you love BDSM that is not sugar kink, Lynn Kelling has created two characters that will pull on your emotional heart strings, a big bad ass Dom, and an adorable sweetheart of a slave. Two lost souls, repressed and in denial of what is truly in their hearts and who also happen to be… Off. The. Charts on the hotness scale, as in the panty melting, puddle of lust kind… and Jenner, Oh my God… I WANT HIM!!!

Bound by Lies by Lynn Kelling is my PERFECT BDSM fix… with two MC’s I fell in love with, this was emotional, passionate, erotic and intense… it made me smile and also had me grabbing for the tissues, the characters pissed me off at times and Jenner had me giving him the evil eye on a couple of occasions… but I love that, I love that it made me feel, that I truly cared what happened to them, that I became so emotionally involved and invested in these boys my world practically came to a stand still for the duration… My Kindle informed me this book is 423 pages… that would be the 423 pages that have had to be pried from my hands to perform mundane tasks such as eating! I have devoured and loved every single page, not wanting to put this down for a minute, perfectly paced, with great characterisation… including the secondary characters… this I can only attribute to Ms Kelling’s excellent writing, the style and delivery, all of it, had me engrossed.

Jenner Parrish is a big man, powerful with a confidence that demands attention. He has but two friends, Max and Art with whom he lives and a family he alienates himself from, he is labelled as a cold hearted tough guy, intimidating but this is all a persona he projects, what he wants the world to see… but the real Jenner is hidden, private, keeping everyone at a distance, hiding behind walls and a stoically guarded facade that have kept his secrets hidden.

Brayden Clare, growing up in the small town of Robertsville, Pennsylvania had been both pitied and bullied, always feeling unwanted and alone after his father died and his mother abandoned him, he sees himself as a misfit, weak and worthless, so when he is called back home to the town he had for so many years longed to escape, he could already feel the oppression descending and he is flooded by painful memories from the childhood he thought he had left behind. His responsibilities bear a heavy weight, all at the cost of the freedom and happiness he had lost by returning home and he finds himself withdrawing into the shell of the boy he was, and so hates… once again lost, alone and trapped!

To each other they were the sum of their High school personas, Jenner the jock, Mr Popular… going along with, if not condoning the actions of his peers, something for which he admonishes himself constantly, trying to make amends in his own way as recompense, but he is still haunted by and tied to that past where being in with the “in crowd” was more important than standing up for the weak and vulnerable. Those like Brayden, who is still that boy who lives in fear of the Jenner’s of this world… the boys that took pleasure in tormenting him for his size, for his demeanour… Hell, just for grieving the death of his father!

An anonymous masquerade night at the local Gay Club, Manse see’s both of their lives changed forever… Jenner has been training in the art of domination since the age of eighteen, he is a sadist and in the club scene he can be himself amongst those that understand the lifestyle and he feels safe and comfortable, a way to channel and control his inner demons, but Jenner begins to have doubts about the only thing that has brought him peace… Is he an animal for wanting to hurt the man he loves and wants in his life? Is he taking advantage of Brayden being messed up? Brayden is a masochist, he has no understanding or idea of what it is that he wants or needs, in fact he has very little experience full stop… but his body is yearning for something and in his eyes, Jenner is the only man he wants and the only man who can help him.

“I want to trust you,” Brayden says, a little more loudly. “I want to belong somewhere. I want to be wanted, and not just for sex. I want to be wanted completely and belong… to you.”

I loved the dynamics and the power play of their relationship, it had me tingling from head to toe… how just being near Jenner, Brayden is immediately calmed, all panic and anxiety lost and how Jenner is empowered by having Brayden so selflessly submit because it’s what Brayden needs… Yes, Jenner went a little caveman on him, but Brayden needed to be controlled to finally feel safe and at peace. I also found it quite cute that Jenner is so possessive, his passion for Brayden, intense, erotic… and soooo damn HOT! …and Brayden just absorbs it all, taking it all in as his own, he is consumed by how much Jenner desires and wants him but rather than see him withdraw into his role as a slave, with Jenner he can be strong… but Jenner also allows him to be weak, cry and let out all the pain that has for so long stifled him… and we see him slowly blossom from the timid, shy boy tormented by his past into a man confident, happy, totally at ease and comfortable as Jenner’s slave, it’s what he desires and rather than supress his personality it shines, because he is loved and cherished by a man that is his perfect fit, Brayden finally feels like he belongs and Jenner has found the one thing he thought would never be his, a slave to protect and love.

This is a D/s, S/M, slave/master relationship… one that I can envision as being real, a true to life exploration of each other’s wants and desires, and the difficulties and traumas that I imagine would be part of it, compounded by being gay in a small town community. But it’s also what their personalities dictate they need, that side of the relationship doesn’t overwhelm you in the book either, it is there but it's not the complete focus. This is also an emotional journey for Jenner and Brayden with all their vulnerabilities laid bare and I was captivated by it, watching their relationship grow, seeing the strength they draw from each other to confront their fears, to finally shake off the shackles that had weighed them down… to at last be free. This is not a conventional relationship but it’s theirs and they both embrace it with commitment… to belong, to be seen for who and what they truly are was breath-taking and beautiful to watch… and yes, I was crying!

If you are having One of Those Days and need something to put a smile on your face... Read this free short from Zathyn Priest, Its Excellent!



Sometimes you need a book that is just going to make you smile and this free short from Zathyn Priest does exactly that, it also compounds my initial thoughts of this author… he is just amazing and an incredibly gifted author, I truly love his writing and his sense of humour is portrayed perfectly in his characters, this book is both humorous and poignant and you can read it over your morning coffee and come away with a smile and that warm fuzzy feeling we all love so much when we finish a book.

Alexander Bell is having the mother of all bad days which started with his alarm clock going off an hour early, followed by one calamity after another which is one thing that Alex absolutely cannot deal with, he is organised and his life is planned right down to the last detail with all provisions made for any unplanned incidents, only today his almost OCD existence is certainly being put to the test. By the time he gets to work he is totally frazzled and that feeling of impending doom turns out to be correct when he discovers his first patient of the day is non other than the boy who had made his life a living hell whilst growing up, the boy that had both verbally and physically tormented him… his school bully, the one person in the world he wants to avoid like the plague!

In school, Alex was the fat spotty kid with braces, now at 26 he had lost the weight and was no longer inflicted with the hideous trappings of youth and all Alex can hope for is that Richard Saunders would no longer recognise him.

This story is told completely from Alex’s POV and it was an absolute delight to spent that time in his head, he is funny, if a little neurotic, and full of snide, snarky and scathing comments for his once tormentor. His brain was working overtime trying to comprehend and get past his fear for the school bully to actually liking the kind, caring and considerate person he now sees before him and the dialogue and glorious inner musings of Alex with Ric were just hilarious and had me laughing so hard I was crying.

Needless to say Alex’s bad day ended perfectly with Ric and together they were sweet with their emotions both intense and beautiful, these two very charming characters were brought to life in only 38 pages but they are certainly unforgettable and Alex is just adorable, love him!

Zathyn does mention at the end of the story that there is more to come from these two and I certainly hope so. I also recommend reading the version with the graphics for the story, which are excellent and portray the characters perfectly.

Free to read here ~ One of those days

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Review to come...

Kate Lowell is a new author and with Bite Me Tender, she has drawn me in and has me totally invested in the two very delicious characters she has created in Glyn and Levi... and I just adored them, two men who so obviously love each other. The writing seemed effortless and flowed smoothly with the intensity building slowly. This is a story fraught with inner turmoil, conflict and tension, with an underlying thread of danger and element of mystery that runs throughout, a whole heap of craziness and some laugh out loud snarky banter and humour between our two MC’s that I LOVED!



Glyn is a witch, untrained and with no control over the gift he has inherited, he also has no confidence in himself or his ability. To function on a daily basis he needs order, which borders on OCD, desperately trying to hold onto the tentative grasp he has on his sanity. In his eyes the only way to complete his power as well as being with the man he loves is by Levi changing him to a werewolf, only problem is… it’s not working, and Levi is consumed with guilt over the scars that already cover Glyn’s body from their failed attempts.

Levi should really be Alpha, but he doesn’t fully trust himself and the wolf within and doubts his ability to lead the pack, so when Glyn and Levi returned from New York the decision was made that the pack would benefit from the democracy of a pack council and it is that very council, that now put their love and happiness at risk.

The pack need more male wolves, due to the threat of McCourt, a power hungry Alpha out for blood, encroaching on their territory and with Levi being strong and having previous successes… and unmarried, it seems he is the only choice… in the councils eyes! They also see Levi and Glyn as an infertile couple as Levi has so far been unable to complete the change in Glyn… the fact they love each other and have been together for the last four years is of no consequence to them… they need new blood and they have the ideal candidate… Connor!

Glyn is devastated, witches don’t share, bringing another into their relationship, even for the sake of the pack is more than his heart can bear… all of this compounding Glyn’s insecurities… feeling rejected with no place in the human, wolf or witch world, and I could feel his hurt and pain. The very same emotions mirrored in Levi, and I could also understand his conflict between his love for Glyn and the safety of the pack… he doesn’t want to lose Glyn and neither does his wolf  but he is an honourable man, aware of his responsibilities.

I felt this novella was a chapter in the lives of Glyn and Levi, and what a chapter it was! …as I am left chomping at the bit for more… I want to know their past, how they came to be? How they met? …and the events that transpired to make them into the men we see now, I want to know about Glyn’s crazy family, mostly Gram! …and why he has no control over his gift? OMG …there were so many things touched on but not yet fully explained or developed!

And don’t get me started on what there is to come… I want to know about Glyn and his power, where Conner is going to fit in… as that gate was sure as hell left wide open! Oh… and Bryan, I really want to know about him too, mainly because I want to see him get a punch right on the end of his smarmy nose …he really pissed me off! The Pack Council, not completely convinced with them, firstly they rubbed me up the wrong way with their manipulation of Levi… and also when they needed a show of strength it was Levi they turned to!

I have to say, it’s not clear in the blurb that this is part of a series and had it been a standalone I would have been disappointed with all the unanswered questions, now I know we will be seeing a whole lot more of Glyn and Levi…. that makes me very happy!

There is a lot to like about this book, and plenty to get excited about for the series… Kate Lowell made me care about these characters, get emotional about them and desperate to know more, not only the two MC’s but also secondary characters, both in a good and bad way, and yes that includes Conner… who I have to say I actually felt sorry for by the end. I loved Gram, she brought the pages to life and produced a nice little twist. And… The boys, when not in the grips of conflict, were in the throes of passion which quite frankly had me squirming in my seat, especially Levi when he got all growly and Alpha… that man is HOT!


Highly recommend and a great start to a series!

This is not my normal type of book… yet I found it compelling reading, this is an excellent piece of fiction, the writing sublime and the prose just... So. Damn. Beautiful. I found the whole experience enchanting, I was transported into a fantasy world that is brought to life by the amazing words and characterisation of John Tristan.



The narrator is Etan and this is his story and when we first meet him I felt all of his hopelessness and despair, his narration was perfunctory… void of emotion and feeling, formal and respectful, resigned to his fate as a penniless orphan after the creditors stripped his house bare and threw him out on the streets after the death of his father.

Etan is a country boy, an illness in childhood leaving him small and frail, he is gentle in nature, a true innocent, and certainly not used to the oppression, filth and stench of the city… neither is he street wise, and before long he is beaten, robbed and left bleeding. Saved by Gren, the rickshaw driver of Maxen Udred a bond broker… he at last has a sliver of hope with which to cling to, that is If selling yourself as an indentured servant for five years is hope! Etan is educated and can read and write, a rare talent but not one that is needed in servitude, neither does he have the build for an apprenticeship… he is however beautiful and when Maxen takes him to Roberd Tallisk a tattoo-master he see’s the allure immediately and so Etan becomes a bondservant to Tallisk, an Adorned, a tattooed courtier and a canvas for the living piece of art displaying the intricate designs and talents of his master.

My nerves had carried me for too long. I had lived on an edge, these past few weeks. I had stepped off that edge, now, landing on one side or the other, and marked my choice in a hasty scrawl of ink. That choice, I knew, would be recorded on me forever. Whatever happened here in Tallisk’s household would be indelibly inscribed upon my skin

The cordial acceptance and polite manner of Etan’s narration and his lack of emotion, rather than distance him from me made me yearn to hug him… I just wanted to see his face light up with a smile. Initially we see him silently allow those around him to take advantage, however I wanted him to get mad and wanted him to stand up for himself but he remains acquiescent… as time moves on and the story unfolds we do start to see some of that fire in his belly, that part of him that no longer wants to live in the shadows, but it is Etan's gentle soul and disposition that sets him apart as a character, he is a beautiful person inside and out and that touches the lives of those around him, as well as carving out a huge slice of my own heart!

Suddenly, I found that my face was wet with tears. They dripped down my chin and into the water. I lifted my hand to my face, touching my wet cheek wonderingly. The tears had refused to come when my father had died, when I’d been turned out of the house I was born in. Now they rolled down my cheeks in slow torrents, and I could not quite tell what I was crying for.

The introduction of Tallick had my heart starting to race in anticipation of more… he is a man of very few words and barely acknowledges Etan, there is an underlying current of sexual tension between them, very subtle as this book is not a sex fest and the what sex there is, is short and quickly described and I wasn’t feeling a whole lot of passion from it, but this is more about the romance which is a slow build and actually a small part of this book. Even though Etan is blind to the fact that Tallick likes him, I blame it on his innocence, we can clearly see Tallick’s inner turmoil, his battle with his stubborn pride and the hurt he feels at Etan’s displays and other services. Etan has no idea the affect he has on others, to him it is the art that adorns him that people are drawn to, he also see’s himself as worthless and doesn’t allow himself to touch on what is really in his heart. I get the impression as his mother died when he was young and growing up with his father, their love was based more on respect rather than affection.

We only have Etan’s view of this world we are visiting and having lived his life in the country his knowledge of the wars that have ravaged the land and those fractions involved is limited and sketchy at best, the politics and battles are all fairy tales… So as he is thrown into this world of the blooded, sword nobles, counts, princesses, where beauty is a thing to behold and adored... and as he becomes enlightened, so are we. I was captivated watching this world unfold through the eyes of a nineteen year old boy and I liked that we are not bombarded with facts and lists of information but rather snippets to build a big enough picture to see it as Etan does and in my minds eye I saw it all, the decadence, opulence and grandeur of the Palaces and Manors, the jewels, colour and splendour of it all laid out beautifully by the descriptive prose of John Tristan and his writing is pure gold… but there is also another other side to this tale, and that world is filled with chaos, poverty, filth and the stench of the city inhabited by those fallen victim to the indulgences and disregard of the rich and powerful.

The Adornment, which is really the heart of the book and what it revolves around, the story behind it, the fact it sustains Tallick and breaths life into his very soul and how it becomes a living piece of art... a spectacle and beauty created to be gazed upon and adored by those privileged was all just fascinating… I loved it! But beauty is only skin deep and that part of this book was where the emotion really came into play and what we see is raw, heart-breaking and ugly, yet still so very beautiful.

For the most part this book is outstanding! and I really want to give it 5 stars but the one thing that let it down for me was I wanted more time between Etan and Tallick, more time to see their relationship develop, to really see, feel and hear the emotion between them, I was yearning and desperate for it… pftt, even the lack of sex didn’t bother me, I just wanted an extra couple of chapters where they explore what is in their hearts. Despite that I still loved this book and will definitely be reading more from Mr John Tristan, who’s writing alone should be worshiped!

Will review when I arrive home from my hols!!!