Loose Id

Review: Don’t Look Back by Josh Lanyon .. seriously, don’t look. Don’t bother.

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Don't Look BackDon’t Look Back by Josh Lanyon

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of this because someone had asked me about my 2 star rating (sans review) and I had no idea why I’d rated it that way. Funny enough listening to the book I remembered absolutely nothing about it so it was like reading for the first time. I still didn’t like it, so apparently my tastes haven’t changed that much. I found the story plodding, silly, and disliked the main character a lot. I liked the concept of the story quite a bit and think written in a different way it would have been a real hit. Unfortunately I found JL’s handling of the idea clunky, obvious, and not entertaining sadly. I know other people who loved it so ymmv. Continue reading →

Review: Noble by Jet Mykles – finally all the rocker stories are done. Ended well but it’s definitely tapped out.

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Noble (Indigo Knights, #4)Noble by Jet Mykles

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was kind of surprised by this book. I liked the previous books in the series but it hasn’t lived up to the greatness that is the Heaven Sent series. I was hoping for a mildly bland book to round out the Indigo Knights without anything really objectionable. I definitely got that with Noble but I also found the book more entertaining and interesting than the two previous books. It was an easy couple to end on with no real drama and only a half hearted attempt to throw some tension in so the story didn’t end halfway through. Ultimately though I liked the story and couple and was glad to have the series end on a relatively high note. I actually read this entire story extremely quickly and found it engaging enough to want to finish fast. That rarely happens anymore. For fans of the series and Mykles, they won’t want to miss this one but it’s probably not the best one to start out with. Although it can be read as a stand alone, tons of names are thrown around from the previous books that will be confusing unless readers have a flow chart about each character, their band position, and relationship. Continue reading →

Review: Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala .. tail sex continues to be hot while humans generally are not

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Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities (Claimings #2)Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities returns to the alien world of Ondry and human Liam as they have settled into their relationship. The second book in the series by Lyn Gala entertains just as much as the previous book, but in a different way. The first book was more about personal relationships and relied on Ondry and Liam, two different species, figuring out their wants and needs without common language and mannerisms. Now the two are together and doing well but face a threat from a human officer with a hidden agenda. Continue reading →

Review: Gemini by Clancy Nacht and Thursday Euclid… sex next to a dead body never tasted as sweet

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GeminiGemini by Clancy Nacht

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is kind of a weird book that I’m not sure how to characterize. It’s a shoot ‘em up action style story with a lot of hot sex but the actual plot is convoluted and totally unbelievable. I can get behind a book that needs considerable suspension of disbelief, but Gemini stretches it too far. To accept the sequence of actions and villains in the plot, the good guys don’t come across so well. It’s certainly an attention grabber and I think for those readers that are instantly engaged and absorbed, the flaws may not matter. But as soon as the flaws are noticed, I think it’s a downhill ride to an unsatisfying finish unfortunately. Continue reading →

Review: Flux Orbit

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Flux Orbit
Flux Orbit by Emily Veinglory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s really rare that I can’t put a book down and it’s even rarer that I stay up late to finish a book. That hasn’t happened in over a year but I literally would not put this book down until I finished. I basically read it in a day and while I didn’t love the ending, or every part of the book, I think it’s fair to say I really loved reading this one. It’s not what I consider a five star/incredible but it’s 4.5 stars that I’ll round up since it’s that good. Although it started slow, once Kell was in contact with the Coil, the book took off like a shot. I knew Veinglory was a good writer but this book made me really appreciate her imagination and sense of adventure. I really respect an author that isn’t afraid to make daring choices. Continue reading →

Review: Only You

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Only You
Only You by Katrina Strauss

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So apparently I’m going through a phase where all I read are series books out of order. I kind of hate doing that, by the way, and try hard to avoid it when I can. With Blue Ruin, I actually thought I’d read the series since I like the author and the books sounded familiar. Well apparently I’d read only the first book in the series but none of the subsequent books. I’m ok with that because I definitely did not like the characters enough to want to read more but I seriously lacked some considerable context for the cast and situations mentioned. I would not recommend reading this one if you haven’t been following the series. That said, I also don’t think it’s a series I want to catch up on but it’s an easy enough read with a happy ending that seems final for the series. Continue reading →

Review: Best Kept Secrets

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Best Kept Secrets
Best Kept Secrets by Evangeline Anderson
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

It’s been years since I read an Evangeline Anderson book but I remember her writing being hot, erotic, and decent reads. In fact I remember quite liking several of her m/m books. So I took a chance on her m/f book, Best Kept Secrets. I thought it was an incest book, but it actually the brother and sister are only “step” and not actually related. That’s ok because the two have enough angst that you would think they were blood related fifteen times over and the worst sin in the entire universe was two step siblings getting it on when they live alone on a ship and hop from planet to planet with only minimal interaction with anyone else. So the drama is manufactured in numerous ways that made me roll my eyes several times, especially when the alien tells the female that they have to fuck to solve all problems. You pretty much have to read it to believe it… Continue reading →

Review: Lance

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Lance
Lance by Jet Mykles
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I had a really weird reaction to this book. It’s classic Mykles rock star book but oddly I didn’t believe any of it. I mean I know it’s fiction and all but I never bought into the main couple together and I thought they were better off apart the entire book. So when they finally got together I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a huge mistake. I like these easy to read and fun books by the author but the IK series pales in comparison to the HS series and it shows in just about all the books. That’s not to say this one in particular isn’t enjoyable to read. The angst is light, if even there, and the characters very easy to take. They’re fun and not too serious while they fall in love and in committed relationships. My main hang up is that I never thought the main guys should be together and I agreed they were better off apart so the final resolution of them happy in love rang very hollow for me. But fans of the author will easily like this one. Continue reading →

Review: Missed Connections: I Swear to You

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Missed Connections: I Swear to You
Missed Connections: I Swear to You by Sloan Parker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really liked this little novella and tore through it right up until the end. It ended so poorly that it affected how I viewed the story as a whole. Other than that blip, the writing is good with solid characters and some seriously hot sex scenes. I also say that as a reader who has become somewhat inured to sex scenes since they are so ubiquitous within the genre. The premise has enough innate tension to hold my interest without the addition of the crazy ex-boyfriend, which was by far the weakest aspect of the novella. Prior to that ending I was thinking this was a story I kind of loved and would rate at least 4 stars. With the sad ending that had me rolling my eyes and saying “really?!” out loud the rating dropped unfortunately. I’d still recommend this though as I think it’s a really good and engaging story, just know the ending sucks but it’s quick so try to get by it. Continue reading →

Review: Nice Tie

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Nice Tie
Nice Tie by Jules Jones
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My recollection of Jules Jones’ work is sweet romances with a distinctly British flair. In that respect, I suppose Nice Tie delivers but I really struggled with it. I find the concept could have been good but it feels so mechanical and without passion. The two men act considerably older than their age and there isn’t really a relationship to speak of. I found the story kind of silly, not in a humorous way, and the end resolution cringe inducing. The writing is perfunctory but I never connected with the story and by the end I was sorry I’d picked it up. I’ve liked previous books of this author but I think I’m going to stay away in the future. Continue reading →