Corruption is a short story that begins a new series by Kim Fielding.
Itâs supernatural with what hints to be the beginning of a complicated hurt/comfort relationship with one clearly in the Master side of a D/s Angel/demon relationship.
The characters, only loosely set here but enormously fascinating with tremendous chemistry, have most of their background still to fill in.
So does the nebulous Bureau we only see or hear pieces of.
Corruption is like receiving the tantalizing first chapter of a new novelâŠ. And now you want more. More foundation, more of the characters history and current predicament. And future going forward.
Iâll follow the promise set down here and look forward to all the stories to come.
The Bureau series:
Corruption #1
Clay White #2
Creature #3
Chained #4
Convicted #5
Connect #6
Caroled#7
Camouflaged #8 out now
Synopsis:
Once a proud demon of the night sky who carried nightmares to humans, Tenrael has spent decades in captivity as the star attraction of a traveling carnival. He exists in miserable servitude to men who plunk down ten dollars to fulfill their dark desires.
Charles Grimes is half human, half⊠something else. For fifteen years heâs worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures itâs just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael
Extraordinary Things is the series finale for Star Shadow, Beth Boldenâs rock band romance.
While all five musicians got their HEA, the heart of the band and much of its drama centered around the couple Leo Humphries and Caleb Chance. It was the disappearance of Caleb that caused Star Shadow to disband and Leo to shatter. And it was his reappearance that eventually put them all back togetherâŠ4 books later.
In Terrible Things, we got the background of the band, the groupâs long friendship and the coupleâs relationship. It was completely Leoâs perspective, including watching and being unable to help a Caleb whoâs addiction to alcohol was spiraling out of his and everyoneâs control.
It was raw, angry, and painful.
And I wondered about Calebâs viewpoint in that book.
In Extraordinary Things Bolden gives us Calebâs story and missing voice. A perfect way to come full circle and wrap up the series.
Weâre able to go back into the past with Caleb, his addiction, his feelings about what drove him away from Leo and his friends. As well as whatâs still driving him today. Itâs a complicated and complex internal picture of a man still struggling with forgiveness and the destruction he caused to those around him.
The other side of which is Leo who also is trying to adjust his life to Calebâs needs as well as his own.
Boldenâs story, the bandâs new dynamics, and ongoing trust issues are beautifully defined and well written. I love that communication works out to be key to forward movement here. Frank discussions and finally a leap of faith in each otherâs feelings and strength.
This is an emotional story whoâs journey starts with Terrible Things. For me books one and four are the jewels here but the others are the necessary pathways to get there.
Read them all in the order they were written with pleasure. Iâm highly recommending them.
Leo and Caleb have been through hellâaddiction, destruction, and even a five year separationâbut theyâve come through on the other side with their love stronger than ever.
Caleb knows heâs earned Leoâs forgiveness. He wants to believe he deserves it, but just when Leo needs him more than ever, a voice in his head insists that maybe he doesn’t. Itâs so loud, he can’t block it out. So loud, heâd do anything to silence it.
Including risking everything he and Leo, and the rest of Star Shadow, have built together.
Extraordinary Things is a continuation of Leo and Caleb’s love story from Terrible Things. It should not be read as a standalone.
Colors of Love has quickly become one of my favorite series and one I highly recommend when people ask me for a contemporary romance novel to read.
Beautifully written, well crafted characters of depth that immediately grab at heart and mind, the stories all have certain fascinating elements.
One main element is a hockey player who is at a pivotal stage in his life. It could be that heâs facing a decision to retire, or a debilitating injury, perhaps the player is rehabbing a image or being traded. Even questioning their sexual identity. But the man is at a moment in his life where change is needed, whether heâs aware of it or not.
In Pines & Violets, that element is filled by Greg Mattar, D-man for the Surge NHL hockey team. Heâs still mourning the loss of his beloved wife to breast cancer while adjusting to single parenthood to twin daughters. Itâs not going well as he hasnât been able to move forward, emotionally.
From the gut wrenching Prologue where we meet Larissa, his wife as she and Greg feel the lump in her breast to Chapter 1, where they are dealing with her death,we are as devastated as this small family. And 100 percent invested in Gregâs recovery and the familyâs future.
When Gregâs sister talks him into spending summer in the Catskills in a cabin near their new summer house, the anticipation is huge and heartfelt that changes are coming.
And it doesâŠamazingly accompanied by a flock of honking geese, a pair of adorable fainting goats and wearing a old straw hat.
Which brings me to another strong and reoccurring element to Loceyâs series. That of the fascinating, unexpected, usually complicated second main character. They have truly run the gamut here, from cross dressing gorgeous jazz singers to yoga teachers and everyone imaginable in between. Often they might have never been mates you would have expected the author to pair the hockey player up with until itâs absolutely magical.
Like it is here.
Aiden Burke is a walking scar, his past trauma and painful history literally written in the tears across his skin. Heâs a powerful character yet gentle and oh so moving one.
The way in which the men, and girls connect over the summer is so heartwarming and emotionally satisfying. Youâll need to break out the tissues in more than one moment here.
Their story is hilarious, especially where the girls are concerned, realistic, painful, and incredibly moving.
Pines & Violets made me so happy that I know Iâll be rereading it sometime soon. Iâm just not ready to let these people, this small family go yet. I adore and have taken them to heart so.
I believe you will too.
Make this the top of your TBR list. Itâs such a great story and perfect for the holidays.
And if you havenât read the other books in the series, I recommend them too. Marvelous!
Colors of Love series:
Lost in Indigo
Touch of a Yellow Sun #2
The Good Green Earth #3
Slow Dances Under an Orange Moon #4
A Brush of Blue #5
Songs of a Red Currant Wine #6
Pines & Violets #7
Synopsis:
He never thought heâd find love again, but one summer changes his entire life.
Greg Mattar always had a clear path in life. The son of wealthy professionals, he and his sister wanted for nothing growing up in Montreal. His skills playing hockey led him to be picked first in the draft and a successful career as one of the premier defensemen in the league. He married his college sweetheart and within a year, theyâd been blessed with twin girls. Then the unthinkable happened, and Gregâs life was turned inside out.
After losing his wife to cancer, heâs left alone to raise his daughters and at the same time balance his career. After a rough two years of mourning coupled with a dismal season, Greg and his girls travel to a small vacation community deep in the Catskills. There he meets Aiden Burke, a local artisan with a past who enchants not only Gregâs daughters but Greg as well. During a vacation filled with laughter, acceptance, and morning goose parades, the two men fall for each other, which begins a journey down a winding road of revelations and romance.
Gingerbread Mistletoe is a story whoâs events and romance runs concurrently with those of the first book in the series, Christmas Lane. So yes, they really need to be read together and in the order they were written to understand the relationships and personal dynamics.
Ah, Christmas tales and loves stories! Honestly, I think they go together better than at Valentineâs Day, a holiday if Iâm truthful Iâve never been on board with.
But Christmas? White snow? If youâre not Australian that is, holiday tunes to sing, candy canes, icicles, sleigh rides⊠magic! Fireplaces blazing and hot chocolate even. Yup. Romance.
While this story may have its earliest beginnings in LA, itâs heart and romance lies in the Christmas ready and heavily decorated town of Lighthouse Bay, Maine where both men have returned to. One , Mika Jones, seeking comfort, his family and a place to recover.after his diagnosis and treatment for cancer.
The other is lonely, and unsure what heâs seeking, and has returned to a town that used to be home after years of absence. Divorced, amazingly successful, his grown children spending the holidays elsewhere, loss and loneliness are driving Jeff Bellmoor, to return to his dadâs favorite place to discover why.
Mika Jones, hugely successful actor in LA was diagnosed with cancer and returned to the only place he knew he had love, family, and support⊠Lighthouse Bay.
There was enormous drama behind Mikaâs return, a broken romance and two men left unable to trust, including himself.
Here Mikaâs dealing with the aftermath of recovery, chemo after effects and the physical alterations to his system which are now permanent. Heâs doing that while running Christmas events for the town and the shops.
Aislin does a beautiful job of realistically showing how undergoing chemotherapy and other cancer treatments has permanently affected Mikaâs life and body, from issues with memory to joint pain. Itâs not overly dramatic but with a plain acceptance of his new state. It made me love him all the more . Especially as Mika never refuses to take a hard look at the issues that have happened in the past to make him arrive at the state heâs at now.
The author has truly done a outstanding job with this character.
Jeff Bellmoor, CEO, lonely and seeking⊠his father whoâs recently died âŠis equally complicated. Angry , isolated at firstâŠ.and then as the town and Mika works their charm on Jeff, the man changes. The memories start to flow as well as feelings for Mika.
We get a swirling rush of romance among the Christmas pageantry of a town putting together its holiday list of events, a new hockey tournament, a parade, and an overall sense of homecoming. For Mika, for Jeff âŠwell , Iâll say no more.
The Magic of Family, of Love and of Christmas is alive and well here in Gingerbread Mistletoe.
This series and story is the perfect holiday reads! Grab up a Snickerdoodle or three, a cup of hot cocoa and settle in for a wonderful magical Christmas read!
Synopsis:The last thing Jeff wants is to spend time with the man who totaled his carâthe one he spent years restoring with his late father. But if he wants to resurrect his childhood townâs annual outdoor hockey tournament, heâs got no choice.
The last thing Mika wants is to work with the guy who took off right after the accident, without ensuring he was okay. And working together on organizing Jeffâs proposed tournament sounds like a complete nightmare. Heâs got enough on his plate after surviving cancer.
Sparks fly as theyâre forced to work together, but is that enough for them to set their differences aside and pull off the tournament in only two weeks? Or will they prove to be
Itâs been about a little over a year since the events of Valentineâs Hearts, the preceding book in the Owatonna U Hockey series. In that story we saw two momentous events, a sexual assault on Jacob and finally Ryker and Jacobâs wedding.
As the series finale opens, Jacobâs dreams have been realized and Mountain Vista Ranch is a reality. And ready to receive its first occupants, at risk LGBTQ youth and their families.
I love this story. Desert Dreams feels not so much like a final chapter but a novel full of new beginnings. Honestly by the end I was even surprised to find Ryker still a Raptor because so many new paths had been opened up here for so many new outstanding new characters.
R.J.Scott and V.L. Locey are great at crossovers when it comes to their various series and characters so I wasnât surprised to see a prime character from Scottâs Texas series (and others) make a important appearance here. Seeing him sets the foundation for the ranch and potential storylines. Again with my assumptions.
Can I say my heart embraces the ranch and itâs environment, animals and people immediately? It did. Jacob is itâs heart with Ryker providing needed support but all the staff, including a Russian security guy whoâs found his inner Clint Eastwood, itâs accumulating, and the animals (horses, goats, dog⊠each and every one with huge personalities) are also part of the chemistry and narrative magic that makes Mountain Vista Ranch work.
Then thereâs the family that arrives needing shelter and so much more. They will grab at your heart. Iâm hoping the son will be making more appearances in stories to come. I need to know what happens to him.
Desert Dreams isnât about endings but new beginnings.
Iâm hoping that means a series called Mountain Vista Ranch because never has a place cried out for a series than this place.
If youâre a Owatonna U Hockey fan, this book is a fantastic way to see the series out.
But if youâre like me, youâre hopeful that this a bright, beautiful start to something wonderfulâŠ.a way to not only usher out a certain stage in Ryker and Jacobâs lives but to see them into a new journey and series.
Iâm most definitely recommending this book, and series.
Note. Thereâs a element of physical domestic abuse , already happened,as well as threats here so for those who might see these as triggers, please take note.
Owatonna U Hockey Series: 6 books
Ryker #1
Scott #2
Benoit #3
Christmas Lights #4
Valentineâs Hearts #5
Desert Dreams – #6
Synopsis:
When danger stalks their new home, itâs only their strength as a couple that keeps them safe.
Ryker misses Jacob every day heâs away. At the start of a new Raptors season with everything to play for, Jacob, the desert ranch, and their small menagerie of animals have become an oasis of peace in a turbulent world. Heâs never ridden a horse, heâs never considered how much this place would mean to him, but suddenly heâs forming a connection with a mare called Tops and loving every moment of this new life. Balancing hockey with his love for Jacob, he feels that nothing can ever go wrong.
With his life finally on track, Jacob is pouring all of himself into the dream he shares with Ryker. Putting the final touches on Mountain Vista Ranch, a halfway home for troubled LGBTQ youth and their families, fills his heart with pride. When their first clients arrive, he finds himself drawn to the small family and their plight. Little does he or Ryker know that the darkness the newcomers have fled from is following them.
Hazardous Things is the third story in the Star Shadow series and the review Iâm having the most problems writing.
One one hand I genuinely love the characters of Felix Humphries and Max McCloud, Star Shadowâs drummer. Felix has been a snarky bundle of intelligent judgment and wry humor from the beginning with the unusual perspective that heâs both known everyone since the band formed as teenagers, heâs the younger brother of one, but also as a non musician has remained on the edge of it all. A sort of edgy, brilliant Greek chorus of one.
Max whoâs always been the quiet one of the band, writing but without drama. Heâs the been the one who, after Caleb disappeared, Felix became the closest to, as they both watched Leo shatter.
Over the two preceding books, the Max and Felix we started to get to know were great people, and it was hinted at the long time crush Felix has had on the âstraightâ Max.
Hazardous Things takes Max on a sexual awakening as he becomes aware of his attraction to Felix during an enforced period of physical closeness due to surgery.
Itâs a realistic one in which Max doesnât assign a name to his new sexuality but more realizes that what heâs calling ânewâ feelings are emotions that have deep roots that heâs never identified before.
The thought processes, the fear, the insecurity⊠everything that Max goes through feels exceptionally believable.
As does Felixâs reaction and inability to trust Maxâs judgement and new sexuality. Especially when trust or the ability to trust is such a huge issue with Felix to begin with.
All that? Yep awesome. Because thatâs got obstacles and misunderstandings stamped all over it and I get that. Well done.
Whatâs less credible in the storyline is Maxâs (and others) inability to trust Felixâs judgement. Granted heâs younger than all of them but throughout all the novels, Felix is the one who pulls everything and everyone together. From the tours, bandâs accounts, payrolls⊠everything. Itâs Felix. Again and again, they tell each other how brilliant he is etc. They trust him with every aspect of their lives, professionally speaking and even personally.
However, here Max brings up that he doesnât trust Felix to know whatâs best for his own future?
Thatâs so illogical from the standpoint of a man who was as close as heâs been to Felix. Especially given their past and present history. It seems only like a ploy narratively speaking.
It and some of the other plot âbarriersâ feel forced and unnecessary, because thereâs enough real issues to work through between them before a satisfying relationship can occur.
While thereâs a age gap between them itâs not a issue here. No, a matter of Maxâs previous sexuality or perceived sexual identity. And Felix overcoming his fears.
That the heart and center here. And I wish some of the âextra dramaâ had been trimmed away to focus on that.
Still Felix and Max are a terrific couple, they have enormous chemistry, and I enjoyed their story.
And Iâm recommending it. Read all the stories in the order they were written. Now onto book 4.
Felix Humphries canât even remember the first time he crushed on Star Shadowâs drummer, Max McCloud.
Itâs been an embarrassingly long time, but heâs still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brotherâs best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.
But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix canât leave his friend in the lurch. Heâs all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.
Max isnât straight after all, and what Max wants is Felixâbut only in his bed, not in his heart.
Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.
After the emotionally traumatic, narratively heavy first story (Terrible Things), I had wondered how the author was going to top that. It was a great story and had a charismatic couple at its heart.
Did I find that with Impossible Things? Not exactly.
This story has one of the issues that I see in other reviews and stories. A character that is both so well written that he feels believable and isnât very likable. At least in my opinion. That would be Benji
Heâs my grandmotherâs Erica Kane, aka the actor Susan Lucci , who my grandmother talked about as though that character was absolutely real and shouldnât be doing all those awful things.
Characters like Benji have ,unfortunately, caused some poor books to get low ratings because, again, the reviewer just âhatedâ the character.
Never mind that the writer had done such a superb job crafting that character that the reviewer had become emotionally wrapped up in them. SMH.
Anyway, Benji is that one character here Iâm not connecting with. Well done, with motivations you can understand if not agree with. Sigh.
But while Iâm not connecting with Benji, my biggest issue here is the central friends to lover romance between Benji and Diego.
What I liked about the first story, the chemistry, the communication, as well as the depth to the couple, seems to be missing here.
Yes, these men face a separate set of circumstances and barriers. Itâs how they approach each other, after years of friendship, and supposed knowledge of one another thatâs disappointing. Itâs fraught with miscommunication, stalling, if not outright lies. Add on to that self promotion, Benjiâs hugely ambitious outlook that in itself isnât inherently bad but how the person handles it, plus Benji never explains to Diego , not once, where his insecurities and need to succeed come from. Nor does Diego ever ask.
That lack of curiosity bothers me. Partners, lovers donât ask about such major issues?
Elements like that kept me from connecting with them, especially when I had an additional hurdle of not being able to really like Benji to begin with. That could have been overcome if Diego had convinced me to see what he loved about Benji.
Did I ever feel I saw into that? Not really. After all those years, it still felt⊠unfinished. Unlike Leo and Caleb.
Perhaps they set too high a bar for the other couples to follow. Iâve seen that happen in series too.
So what did I find in Impossible Things? A good well written story with well constructed characters. But with a romance that I thought needed something more. Maybe more layers, more satisfying personal âworkâ to make it feel as believable as the men.
A Epilogue with them off on vacation together with Diegoâs daughter just doesnât fill in those emotional blanks. At least for me.
Still recommending it because I recognize that not everyone will feel about Benji the way I do.. And if youâre reading the series, you should read all the books in the order they were written.
Now onto Hazardous Things which is Maxâs story along with a certain younger brother. Iâm looking forward to this.
When Benji saw Diego for the first time, he never expected to fall irrevocably and painfully in love with him.
It wasn’t something either of them could face, so he buried it. For ten long years.
Ten years during which he survived the pain of his own disastrous marriage and the heartbreak of watching Diego raise a child with another woman.
Through the heights of rock stardom and the depths of their band breaking up, Benji’s heart always came back to Diego. To his best friend. His bandmate. His secret desire.
Now, enough is enough.
He knows Diego loves him too. He knows they could have it all, no holds barred, with every string attached — if only they can find the courage to bring their feelings into the spotlight.
It’s time to tackle the impossible: life-altering, world-shaking, totally inevitable love.
Impossible Things is the second book in the Star Shadow series and should be read in order.
Terrible Things is another terrific start to a contemporary rock band romance series by Beth Bolden.
Set in southern California, the location allows the author to fold in characters from her other series (Kitchen Gods, Food Truck Warriors) into making guest appearances where needed. Or even serving up as locations ala Terrior Restaurant and Chef Aquino.
Star Shadow is a defunct teenage rock band that disbanded when one of its members disappeared at the height of its world tour. Unable to continue, the band crumbled under the pain and betrayal.
The remaining four members keeping in contact personally while going different directions professionally.
Thatâll the surface facts that the story opens up with.
The truth behind that traumatic breakup and the repercussions that are still hammering at the band members presently begin with the return of that missing musician and friend. Caleb Chance. He wants to resume that ill fated tour
Where heâs been, what happened all those years ago, and the deeply held pain and torn relationships is the beginning here.
The format the author employs includes the use of Interludes, important chapters from the past that highlights a pivotal moment in this coupleâs and the bandâs journey. Whether itâs from the moment they met or the moment it all imploded, the Interludes work better here then any flashback because the contrast emotionally between past and present if often stark and telling.
Told from the perspective of Leo Humphries, the man Caleb Chance left behind and whoâs leaving shattered him almost completely, a one person pov makes this a strong story. Itâs an unusual choice because I think most writers would have included Calebâs as well given his own personal demons and battles. But to do that justice would have doubled this story easily.
Their romance, their tortuous journey back to each other, to forgiveness and love is hard and raw. And honestly as it deals with Calebâs addiction to alcohol and how Leo had to deal with the everyday ramifications of having a alcoholic lover, maybe be hard to read if this is a trigger.
For me it also left some parts feeling less than fleshed out here too with regards to Calebâs rehabilitation. He used aversion therapy at the end but thereâs no real explanation here of that. Just that all other type of rehab clinics hadnât been effective.
I would have expected something more definitive here. Especially considering that the men are honest about other stages and parts of their feelings and expectations for their new relationship.
Iâve come to relish and prefer stories where the relationships are emotionally adult. They talk, communicating their feelings, thoughts, and share elements with their partners those aspects of their lives that bring them closer together . Or learn how to do thatâŠitâs a process.
Thatâs shown here in all its pain, truth, recovery, and love.
Itâs quite the journey.
I wonder where all the books will take us and them. I intend to find out. I recommend you start here.
When Caleb Chance walked out in Detroit five years ago, leaving his band, millions of his fans and his lover behind, Leo knew he could never forgive.
Some things, no matter what the cause, are unforgivable.
But Leo never expected Caleb to show up again, clean and sober and wanting to get their band, Star Shadow, back together. He definitely never expected to agree to Calebâs plan.
He never expected to confront the love of his life againâor the disaster of his past, the hopelessness of his future, and every terrible thing heâs been carrying inside him.
But maybe some things arenât so terrible after all.
Gentle, sweet , lovingly well crafted story of acceptance and love, Geoffrey the Very Strange is certainly a Angel Martinez tale!
By that I mean it contains all the signature elements I have learned to expect and frankly hope to see in one of her stories. Quixotic humor, recognizable fantasy beings with that Martinez twist to them, like a necromancer whoâs not exactly what youâd bring to mind when conjuring up said necromancers.
And situations that speak of hilarity as well as horror, poignancy as well as soft joy.
Geoffrey the Very Strangeâs journey towards acceptable, community, and love is lovely and sweet. And funny.
Well, really my only issue here is with the title. It should be called Keeping Brant because Kellen? Heâs a done deal here. Has been for years since he realized he saw Brant as more than his BFFâs younger brother.
So the question here? Thatâs Brant not Kellen. So yep, a definite change up in title needed.
Otherwise, this is a splendid story that sees us catching up on the lives of the group of men from Keeping Casey. Itâs been a while, theyâve graduated from Glen Hill College and moved forward with their partners and future plans.
As with Brant, those years has been ones of growth and now he sees himself ready to move forward again, this time in a familiar direction⊠home and new opportunities.
Aislin opens a path into Brantâs world with this story, one barely hinted at in the first novel. Now Brantâs past, present, and , his potential future is laid out in all its pain, love, familial dysfunction , and emotional distress. It also includes his boyhood crush which has never faded. And who now has returned as well. Aislinâs writes this all so superbly that you are pulled into Brantâs world and situation, feeling easily a part of it.
Yes, I googled that region even. I could go there, indeed I could.
Then thereâs Kellen, the crush. Kellen, an immediately likable and connectable character, is one with a few painful layers himself. Although not as many as Brant.
The story and the menâs relationship begins immediately as they reconnect over a drive home from the airport and bond over Ollie, a âshared dogâ and just great chemistry.
Through obstacles and new challenges raised by career changes, this pair grows together by using communication and love to get stronger and solidify their partnership. I just loved that.
No failure to talk things out, no childish misunderstandings. Just two adults working together towards a loving, mutually respectful relationship. Sigh. More pls.
And they treat others in the same manner. Be still my heart.
Ok, yes. Iâm so happily on board here.
Even if Keeping Him series stays at two novels , which I expect it wonât become there are others unattached, this is absolutely a book and series I recommend.
Brant Harkrader is done living by other peoplesâ rules. He may not know exactly what he wants out of life, but heâs perfectly happy letting that question figure itself out while starting a new job as a tour guide.
Too bad the one thing he does wantâhis sisterâs BFFâonly sees him as a little brother.
Or so he thinksâŠ
Kellan Shelby-Briggs has never shied away from going after what he wants. And what he wants is the important contract that will put his brand new company on the mapâand Brant.
Too bad Kellanâs career keeps yanking him away just as things heat up between them.
Now that Brant is back in townâup close and personal in Kell’s living spaceâcan they finally get the timing right to go after the love that has eluded them both for too long?
