3 stars

Review: Wireless

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Wireless
Wireless by L.A. Witt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I do enjoy a great sci-fi story and this one hit the spot. It’s not a story I’d read again but the characters are likeable, the setting is interesting, and the storyline is engaging, if predictable. The pages flew by for me and I was satisfied with the ending. This isn’t perfect, but it’s easy to recommend for sci-fi/futuristic genre fans that like a little m/m romance and sex mixed in. It’s light, almost fluff reading, but entertaining. Continue reading →

Review: Werecat: The Rearing

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Werecat: The Rearing
Werecat: The Rearing by Andrew J. Peters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m not really sure what to think of this introductory novella into a new series and author. It’s intriguing and caught my attention, but I didn’t exactly enjoy it. It’s different and in a genre saturated with more of the same, that alone recommends this short story. There is also no happy ending – for those that require such things – but the ending is easy to see coming so I wasn’t bothered by it. The story is also the first in an obvious series so the happy ending may be much further down the road. I’m intrigued enough to want to continue if the stories are also novellas. I’m not sure I’m invested enough to sink the time into a full-length novel. Continue reading →

Review: Dark Around the Edges Find Me

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Dark Around the Edges Find Me
Dark Around the Edges Find Me by Cari Z.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Endings are so sad. It’s tough to get to the final chapter in a serial and know it’s over. At least Cambion ends with a bang and hopefully a glimpse into the future of the series. This installment is action packed and well written, as I’ve come to expect from this series. However, once all put together I wonder if the story would really hold up in one reading. I worry that the characterizations are sacrificed episode after episode in favor of action. Not a bad concept to entice readers each month, but I’m not sold on the main characters. Oh I love them make no mistake, but I’m not sure they’re fully fleshed out. That said, it doesn’t take away too much enjoyment from this fun and highly entertaining urban fantasy series. It’s an easy one to recommend. Continue reading →

Review: Birds of a Feather

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Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather by Nicole Kimberling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although Birds of a Feather, book 5 in the series, is the longest book in the series, it’s the least interesting. It feels incomplete and almost like a throw away or unimportant entry, which doesn’t seem to fit with the main characters actually getting married in this installment. It’s hard to describe, but the story feels like more fluff and less actual story. Even the wedding scenes, very few and hurriedly rushed over, feel like filler. There’s no weight to their connection and the mystery is weak at best. It’s nicely written and the characters are as charming as always with several scene stealing newbies, but you could skip this one entirely and not miss anything in the series. Continue reading →

Review: In the After + Giveaway

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In the After
In the After by Demitria Lunetta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read quite a few YA post-apocalyptic, dystopian books and I’d say this is about average. It fits within the genre without redefining or contributing in any meaningful way. The writing is clean, almost too clean and sparse, with a lack of exposition that I almost missed. The story is told in three parts and the first part is the best. It grabbed me right from the start and I sped through the first half. The second and third parts definitely slowed and while it’s an easy book to read, and very quick despite the 400-page length, I didn’t love the second and third parts as much. I’ll probably continue with the series if the next book comes out pretty soon but if too much time passes I’ll forget about the series and probably not even cares what happens. Continue reading →

Review: The Door Into Spring

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The Door Into Spring
The Door Into Spring by Missy Welsh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

These short stories, in between longer novels in a series, are fun additions but tend to be fluff for loyal fans. The Door into Spring is no difficult. It shows Wes and Mal from the original book, My Summer of Wes, but the story is too brief to offer any real additional depth or interest. It’s a glimpse into the characters’ continued happy lives but not much else. In fact writing a review will take longer than reading the short story. The quick bite did help me remember why I liked the first book and want to read any sequel that happens. Continue reading →

Review: From the Ashes

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From the Ashes
From the Ashes by Daisy Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daisy Harris is a new author for me and I was happy to try out her upcoming book from Samhain. Usually Samhain has good instincts and solid editing and I certainly can’t resist firefighters. I had high hopes when I opened this to read and I was happy by the time I got to the end. I enjoyed reading for the most part and although I didn’t always like the main characters, I did appreciate their complexity and ability to grow. This is a nice novel with a few roadblocks to love, but honestly very few. Instead it focuses on sweet romance and a happy ending. Continue reading →

Review: Hell’s End

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Hell's End
Hell’s End by Ally Blue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hell’s End is a roller coaster and one that I can only imagine is the start of a series. The majority of loose ends, plot wise, are wrapped up but there feels like so much more story left to tell that I’d be surprised if it’s a one-off. In any case the writing is fresh, the science fiction brutal and gritty, and the characters intriguing. I liked reading this quite a bit, but at the same time I never forget the story’s limitations. I never fully bought into the main couple, they’re well matched but instead of being invested in their romance I was often distracted by supporting cast members. I liked the two main protagonists on their own and even together during action scenes but their true love felt more forced than natural to me. Continue reading →

Review: Pink Fizz

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Pink Fizz
Pink Fizz by Thom Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thom Lane’s writing is always a breath of fresh air for me. It’s light, easy, and romantic. There’s an effortless feeling to the prose and narration, one that can either sweep you away or leave you wanting more. I tend to sit back and enjoy the journey without critiquing too much as the imagery and crisp emotions flow from the characters. In this third installment of the French Wine series, I liked the main couple and as always adored the Romaines. The trust problems presented are a bit melodramatic and overwrought, an excuse to prolong the story more than anything. However, I didn’t mind this, as I like revisiting Lane’s contemporary stories a lot. They’re a palate cleanser and the perfect thing for a nice spring night. Continue reading →