Review of Spectred Isle (Green Men 1) by KJ Charles

by KJ Charles

4.5 Stars

Archaeologist Saul Lazenby has been all but unemployable since his disgrace during the War. Now he scrapes a living working for a rich eccentric who believes in magic. Saul knows it’s a lot of nonsense...except that he begins to find himself in increasingly strange and frightening situations. And at every turn he runs into the sardonic, mysterious Randolph Glyde.

Randolph is the last of an ancient line of arcanists, commanding deep secrets and extraordinary powers as he struggles to fulfil his family duties in a war-torn world. He knows there's something odd going on with the haunted-looking man who keeps turning up in all the wrong places. The only question for Randolph is whether Saul is victim or villain.

Saul hasn’t trusted anyone in a long time. But as the supernatural threat grows, along with the desire between them, he’ll need to believe in evasive, enraging, devastatingly attractive Randolph. Because he may be the only man who can save Saul’s life—or his soul.

WOW, what a book!  Spectred Island is the first book in in a new paranormal romance series by KJ Charles, and man does it deliver on all promises. 

Saul Lazenby is a disgraced archeologist who finds himself employed by a rich eccentric, who regularly sends Saul on his magical flights of conspiracy theories.  Life has not been easy for Saul, named as a traitor in the War he paid his dues, but lost his family, career and friends for his choices.  Randolph Glyde is a aranist, holding the secrets of his long dead family, struggling with being the last of an ancient line, his obligations to England and why he keeps holding on to his secrets.  When Saul finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time over and over, he starts to wonder if Randolph is following him, or part of the supernatural things that keep happening.

Let us start off by saying that this book is a lot to chew, but if you are into paranormal you will understand.  The first half of Spectred Isle is a steep learning curve, it feels as if you are dropped in this world that you have no reference for, the spirits, magic, wars are all foreign, but so engrossing that you can’t help but read. And once you fall into the story and figure out all the pieces, it was engrossing.   Spectred Isle is a gorgeous book, beautiful words, stunning words, lovely flow, engaging story, so so so so so good! This is a fast paced, intense book with twists and turns.

The relationship between Randolph and Saul takes a while to really develop, yes they find themselves running into each other over and over, but are rather annoyed.  It is a slow burn, but once it catches fire, wooohoo, their chemistry is overwhelming.  They are straight forward lovers and don’t have time to waffle, and one of the beautiful things about their relationship it is angst-free, they genuinely like each other.  They have both been alone for so long, Saul because of the choices he has made and Randolph because of the secrets he keeps and there is a calm that settles over both of them when they finally accept the pull between them.  But don’t be mistaken, like most KJ Charles books, the between-the-sheets time is burning!   

“…. dear God, I’d like to find the places that make you moan. You seem to me a man who could be usefully lavished with attention, and also tongue.”

Spectred Isle also introduces us to the Green Men, a group of friends that “look after the land and borrow its power”.  We meet 3 of this group and a little look into their stories and we are excited to see them again in the next books. There are magical places and evil spirits and so much more that we really want to talk about, but really can’t give away – needless to say the story itself aside from the romance is fantastic on its own.

KJ Charles magically weaves a paranormal story hit – we loved this book; the magic, the romance, the mystery, it all comes together in a concentrated authentic story.  We can’t wait for the rest of this fantastic series!

Review of Lost and Found by Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy

by Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy

4 Stars

 

He promised to never leave me. But when I needed him the most, that was exactly what he did…
Wilderness guide Xander Reed has spent fifteen years trying to forget the night he turned to his best friend in his darkest hour, only to find the young man who’d sworn to always have his back was turning his on Xander instead. Two thousand miles and fifteen years of building a new life in the quiet backcountry of the Rocky Mountains should have been enough to put the memory of Bennett Crawford out of his mind forever, but old wounds run deep and when Bennett suddenly reappears in his life as part of a wilderness expedition Xander is guiding, the scars he thought long healed break wide open.

I’d only ever wanted to protect Xander from getting hurt again. I never considered the one he needed protection from was me…
Bennett Crawford was faced with an impossible choice the night his best friend needed him.

He chose wrong.

As the only son of one of the wealthiest families in New England, he should have had the world at his feet, but losing his best friend at the tender age of fourteen changed everything. And even though Bennett’s managed to hide behind a mask of contentment as he takes his place at his father’s side in the family business, inside he’s searching for the piece of himself that’s been missing ever since Xander Reed walked out of his life. Bennett’s only saving grace is his work with a group of inner city kids, and when he’s given the chance to show the troubled teens that there’s a bigger world out there waiting for them if they just have the courage to reach for it, he takes it.

But when he steps off that bus for what was supposed to be a week of fun and adventure, he’s instantly returned to the past when he discovers their expedition guide is none other than the boy he let go so long ago. Only, the soft-hearted, insecure little boy Bennett once knew is gone, and in his place is a brooding, bitter man who isn’t interested in second chances.

People leave. I know that now and nothing Bennett has to say to me will change anything…
All Bennett wants is another chance to show Xander that friendship was only the beginning. But when a stubborn Xander refuses to even hear him out, Bennett realizes he’s going to need to fight dirty.

Because now that he’s found Xander again, he’s not letting him go a second time…

This is new writing partnership between Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy, and a new series - Twist of Fate, with Lost and Found the much anticipated book 1.  We really liked this book, and were so excited after reading the blurb, but a few issues had us put out.

Xander Reed is an adventure guide in Colorado, and his simple life fits him perfectly.  He grew up around the wealthiest families in New England, and never wants to live in that life again.  He thinks he is happier, staying to himself, losing himself in the mountains and keeping his heart locked away after his best friend Bennett broke it years ago.  But a chance encounter brings Bennett back into his life.  Bennett Crawford grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, and a life path already laid-out by his overbearing father, but he is still waiting for the moment in his life where everything changes, the ‘moment’.  Working for his father’s foundation to support inner city kids has brought him to the wilderness of Colorado and smack back into Xander’s life, even if he isn’t wanted.

There are so many good things happening in Lost and Found. If you have read anything by Lucy Lennox or Sloane Kennedy you know they create fantastic, believable characters, and Xander and Bennett do not disappoint.  Xander is broken and bitter, you can feel his hatred for Bennett and the life that Bennett comes from - he wants no part of it.  Bennett is a softer fellow, although he has lived under the thumb of his father, never being good enough, never living up to expectations, being surrounded by wealth; he sees that he can make a difference in the lives of others, even if it is just one child at a time. 

Bennett is heartbroken to know that his actions all those years ago turned Xander into this hard man, his realization of his role in changing his sweet childhood friend to the man he is today is heartbreaking. And when these two men finally stop circling each other it is flammable; a scorching chemistry, a need that burns up the pages.  There is some serious HEAT in Lost and Found, and it adds so much to Bennett and Xander’s push-pull love story.

Lost and Found also sets us up with lots of secondary characters for the series that we completely fell in love with.  Xander’s Aunt Lolly is funny, witty and a total hoot; a little bit crazy and a whole lotta fun.  Friends that enter the story; Aiden and Jake are swoon worthy – and seriously we need both of their stories STAT!  And the troubled youth in Bennett’s care are poignant, listening to the stories of their lives is shattering, you just want to wrap them all in blankets and hug the crap out of them. 

Now the hard part – where we struggled with Lost and Found.  It is long – like 50 pages too long - it feels a bit like 2 authors both writing the same complete book from 2 different POVs and mashing it together, and I guess it is a bit like that, but the story just became too long.  And honestly, there was just too much, too much - back and forth (I want you, I hate you, I want you, I blame you, I want you, I don’t want you), too many silly misunderstandings, internal angst, and monkey wrenches that had us skimming. 

So where does this leave us, well we really enjoyed Lost and Found, the characters, the romance, the sizzling chemistry all make this a must read, and a good start to what should be a great series.  We know the type of books Lucy Lennox and Sloane Kennedy can write and we can’t wait to read the read of the Twist of Fate series!

Review of Lightening-Struck Heart by TJ Klune

 by TJ Klune

4.5 Stars

Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King's Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam is fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle. Sir Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell through the years when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can't control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan's boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or so he thinks

We haven’t laughed as hard in a book since the last TJ Klune we read.  If you haven’t read Lightening-Struck Heart – go now and pick it up.

There ae some anything things happening in this fantasy m/m romance, but the story is set around wizard Sam of winds, sorry, apprentice wizard!  He is a 20 year old man who is apprenticing under the King’s Wizard Morgan, after him and his family are plucked from the slums to live their new life in the Castle.  Sam is an odd fellow and seems to collect odd friends; Gary the Gay-Unicorn and half-giant Tiggy. But Sam is in love with the great Knight, Sir Ryan Foxheart who is trothed to another, sand poor Sam is left to pick up the pices of his heart.

Honestly, this is one of the funniest books we have read, we laughed so hard we sorted.  There is so much wit, humor, sarcasm and teasing we couldn’t get enough.  We were never bored during the 400 page book.  Sam is a clueless kind of fellow, and he goes through life falling into ridiculous crazy situations. 

This book reads a bit like a fairy tale, but in an alternate reality.  There is a Grand Quest, villains, and an epic love story.  Sam and Ryan are so sweet together, their bashfulness is endearing, their situation is heartbreaking and their chemistry (when the allow themselves to acknowledge each other) is enthralling. 

This is another winner by TJ Klune, and we love these characters.  Lightening-Struck Heart is a winner of a book, and we can’t wait to read the next installment. 

Review of Backfire by David-Mathew Barnes

by David-Matthew Barnes

3 stars

Tired of keeping their love a secret in their small Southern hometown, Evan and Cameron plan to runaway together, unaware that someone is determined to stop them - no matter what it takes.

So so so so so so SO good!  This is our first KM Neuhold book and we can’t quite figure out why! Rescue Me takes the horror of being at the wrong place and the wrong time and shows the reader what it takes to move past a traumatic evet and hopefully fall in love.

29 pages.  That is all this little novella takes to tell the story of Even and Cameron, and living in a bigoted small town.  This is an interesting story, and although we enjoyed the concept, had a few issues, even in 29 pages. 

The POV changes back and forth, over and over, and we were confused who was who.  With such a short story it might have been better to keep to one narrator.  The other is the flashbacks, so many flashbacks. How they met, the first time they kisses, studying together.  I get what David-Mathew Barnes is trying to accomplish with the flashbacks, but it didn’t really work and added to our confusion. 

But it is 29 pages, the best 29 pages we have read?  Maybe not but still has enough story to keep you reading from the first words.