Category: M/M Contemporary Fiction

Review: Second Chance at First Love: Prequel to The Storm Boys Series by N. R. Walker

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Second Chance at First Love is N. R. Walker’s prequel to her upcoming series, The Storm Boys. This is a romantic lover’s reunited, second chance at love novella that gives us an enthralling natural experience through the eyes of the characters on their camping/hiking tour across sections of Kakadu National Park. Their guide and tour owner is Paul Morgan, who for the past five years has run a luxury glamping tour business in this park he now calls home.

But it came at a price. The loss of a man he left behind and never stopped loving.

That tormented man, Derek Grimes, appears suddenly , with telescope in hand, as part of his latest small group of campers heading into the bush for the next five days.

Walker’s men are always so real, so quiet, and vulnerable. None as much as Derek Grimes, a man so quiet as to be incommunicative. All his fears, his hopes, Derek keeps buried inside of himself, something that contributed to their failure 5 years ago. His struggles are both valiant and painful to watch.

Around the men are three women we only know just enough about to enjoy their experiences along the trail. But not much else. They are minor supporting roles. Sweet but not very layered.

The major players here are Paul, Derek, and the indescribable beauty of the Park around them. The richness of the landscape and Walker’s ability to make us feel what her characters are feeling is key here.

Absolute wonder.

Towards the end, the epilogue, two more characters are introduced. They are the men of the next series, The Storm Boys. They make quite the entrance!

I can’t wait for that story to be released.

For now, enjoy the remarkable journey home for Paul and Derek, and the beauty that is their section of Kakadu National Park. Tell me if doesn’t make you want to do a little traveling on your own.

I’m highly recommending this book!

Second Chance at First Love: Prequel to The Storm Boys

The Storm Boys:

◦ Outrun The Rain – June 6, 2023

◦ Into The Tempest – June 27, 2023

◦ Touch The Lightning-July 18, 2023

Buy Link:

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Second-…Second Chance at First Love: Prequel to The Storm Boys Series eBook : Walker, N.R.

Description:

PREQUEL TO THE STORM BOYS SERIES

Paul Morgan has been running his luxury camping tour business in Kakadu National Park for the last five years. Taking small groups glamping, hiking, climbing, and swimming. It’s been a busy five years, a hard five years, as he tried to forget the man he left behind.

Derek Grimes pushes people away—a self-preservation reflex. Because they can’t break his heart if he breaks theirs first, right? Five years on, lost and lonely, he tracks down the one and only love of his life. Maybe seeing how Paul had moved on will help Derek move on too . . .

Paul can’t believe it when a familiar name pops up on his client list, and Derek can’t believe how good Paul looks, or just how happy living his dream job has made him. The spark between them never waned, but five years on, they’ve learned a few things about themselves and what they want.

They could have everything they ever dreamed of—if they’re prepared to trust each other. Because a second chance at first love comes but once in a lifetime.

Review: Paladin (Jericho’s Boys Book One) by Onley James

Rating: 4.5🌈

Onley James writes dark fiction about bad things that have happened to young boys, often sexually abused and traumatized children. Let’s get that out of the way first. That’s not your jam? This is not your book.

However, such triggering subject matter is handled by James in ways I consider respectful to those children and adults who are still struggling with the emotional damage that abuse has inflicted . Also responsibly because of the treatments and doctors those victims in James’ series go on to receive help from. Aside from the murderous revenge, of course.

And the abuses they’ve suffered and endured is off page. Or done/described in such a way that we never see the actual atrocities. Just the rooms or a few items that suggest what they went through.

Sometimes the rooms are just too much to handle. Empty as they are. Read all warnings.

But books like Paladin are also about saving, recovery, healing, learning, and moving forward with a new relationship and found family.

Even if it’s a large and rather unique family of murder muppets and psychopaths.

Jericho’s Boys starts the series of stories about the found family of abused teenagers that Jericho Navarro, a vigilante, gathered together under his protection. They became a family, then part of the billionaire murderous Mulvaney clan, when Jericho married Atticus Mulvaney (Moonstruck (Necessary Evils Book 3).

As with all James books, we start off with violence. A mission to take down a child trafficking ring yields a surprise.

I love we’re really getting a chance to dive deeper into the personalities of people we’ve been seeing for books now.

Arsen “Arseny” Lebedev is one of those. He works in Jericho’s garage with the others during the day, then out on missions at night. He’s passionate, caring, and, unexpectedly, not a psychopath. Arsen’s a wonderful character who gets deeper and more knowable once he meets Ever.

Ever. The glue and focus of this story. The boy in the box. Everything about this character, starting with his name, will pull at your heart. This is his book, the others, including Arsen, however strongly, exist to help Ever step out, discover, learn, explore, experience, love , and find a family.

Be brave to walk by himself.

After enduring untold pain, suffering, and abuse.

There’s plenty of sex. That’s worked in a realistic way, considering his background.

And yes, lots of murderous things. Revenge and death. Bad guys don’t get to go free. I knew it would happen when I picked up a Onley James story.

Paladin (Jericho’s Boys Book One) by Onley James is a fantastic book and great beginning to a new series. I do think a reader should read Necessary Evils as a foundation for the knowledge and relationships that are apparent throughout this series.

I’m highly recommending this!

Jericho’s Boys:

✓ Paladin #1

◦ Rogue #2 – Feb 13, 2024

*Necessary Evils (7 book series) – this is the foundation series for Jericho’s Boys. Many ,if not all , of the couples and characters from this series play important roles in Jericho’s Boy books. So it helps to have read the books first.

Buy Link:

Paladin (Jericho’s Boys Book 1)

Description:

Arseny Lebedev lives a normal life. During the day, he’s a mechanic. At night, he livestreams a fairy tale video game called Paladin. And sometimes—only sometimes—he kills people. But they all deserve it.

Ever doesn’t know his last name. He doesn’t know much of anything. Most of his life has been torture, bought and sold by a woman who calls herself his mother. He’s resigned himself to a life of servitude, until he meets Arsen.

The moment Arsen sees Ever, they’re bonded. Ever is both fragile and feral, willing to defend himself with any tool at his disposal, even teeth. Arsen is color and light, a beacon in Ever’s darkness, as brave as the knight in the game he plays.

Arsen protects Ever fiercely, but just when he feels safe, someone attempts to drag him back to his old life, reminding him that reality isn’t fairy tales or video games. He knows staying puts Arsen in danger. But Arsen insists they’re safer together. Can Ever truly have his happily ever after or is it game over?

Paladin is a hurt-comfort, dark romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a vigilante twitch-streamer and the beautiful but feral gremlin he saves from a life of misery. As with any Onley book, you’ll find dark humor, steamy sexy times, and gratuitous violence against people who totally deserve it. This is book 1 in the Jericho’s Boys series. Each book follows a different couple.

◦

Review: Dealer of Secrets (The Elite Book 6) by Davidson King

Rating: 4.75 🌈

The multi-author series, The Elite contains some really exceptional stories and Davidson King’s Dealer of Secrets is among them.

It’s not surprising that a book titled Dealer of Secrets has layers of hidden agendas, men with multiple identities, criminal goings on, and of course, murder.

King’s murder element is an unusual one for this series because it’s a deeply personal and emotional one. A enigmatic twin calls his traveling nurse brother, Carter Merrill, to drop everything, and meet him at a certain location.

By the time he arrives, his brother is dying, leaving Carter with only enough time to get some keys and information that will change his life forever.

It’s in the invitation addressed to his brother, using his real name, from The Anonymous, the most unsavory club in the city known as Old Defiance.

King paints the perfect image of a naive, pure hearted man, grieving the loss of his twin and realizing he never actually knew who his brother was.

His first impulsive step towards revenge Carrie’s him immediately into

The Menagerie Hotel, home to The Anonymous club, where its clientele are among the Elite of the wealthy, crime, and political worlds.

A favorite place for Zaire Vicarious, secrets broker. The author has written a masterful character, full of great elements and style without sacrificing the depth necessary to make Zaire someone worthy of Carter’s love (and the reader’s). He can have that almost James Bond house but also a backstory that’s brutal and soul damaging.

Put these two together in a complex storyline that’s got multiple interesting secondary characters, great plot lines, and lots of action and suspense?

Then you have a powerful house of a romance and contemporary thriller. That’s Dealer of Secrets (The Elite Book 6) by Davidson King.

Excellent storytelling, fantastic characters, and a wonderful ending.

Another in my top group of this series.

10/10 highly recommend!

The Elite Multi-Author series (9 Books):

✓ Reckless Roulette by Alice Winters

✓ Leave No Trace by Michelle Frost and Sammi Cee

✓ Ace of Maids by K.L. Hiers (DNF)

✓ Poison Hearts by Jennifer Cody❤️

✓ Liar’s Gambit by Kelly Fox❤️

✓ Dealer of Secrets by Davidson King ❤️

◦ Bullets & Butterflies by Maz Maddox

◦ Love for the Reaper by Charlie Cochet

◦ Chance Encounter by Luna David

Buy Link:

Dealer of Secrets (The Elite Book 1)

Description:

If you have a secret you don’t want anyone to know, Zaire Vicario can find it. And if it’s worth something? Well, that’s currency to him. When things get desperate, the shadiest people call him in, and he makes their troubles go away with all the knowledge he’s acquired. He’s confident, powerful, and ready for anything. At least, he thinks he is. All it takes is one evening at The Anonymous and a man cloaked in lies to change Zaire’s whole world.

Carter Merrill enjoys his life healing people. As a traveling nurse, he brings light to a dark and gritty town. Until one phone call changes all he knows and all he is in the blink of an eye. Carter has never used his hands to harm, but when his twin brother is brutally murdered, he makes the decision to uncover who did it and seek revenge. The only problem is, he has no idea how to do that. When a stunning man approaches and offers to help, Carter has no other option but to walk into the lion’s den.

Deep dark lies, unrelenting lust, and dangerous liaisons thrust Zaire and Carter into treacherous territory and unfamiliar circumstances. They find their lives connecting, as well as their bodies, when one secret reveals layers of atrocities neither of them ever expected. Can they survive the savage storm ahead or are they doomed to the same fate as Carter’s brother?

Dealer of Secrets is a part of the multi-author series The Elite. Each book can be read as a standalone and in any order. What links these books together is The Anonymous, a club beneath the gritty city where only the elite are welcome.

Review: Dark Water : A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries Book 2) by Ripley Hayes

Rating: 3🌈

Dark Water is a mystery novel that , upon reading it, engenders as many conflicting feelings as it has elements to its story.

I like the author, Hayes’ ability to bury ,within the narrative, a deep understanding of the Welsh language, culture, and the issues that have arisen throughout the towns and villages.

Tragically, with a dark presence that’s almost poetic, Hayes incorporates the damage that industry and climate change has wrought upon the landscape and the lives. It’s in the near constant rains, flooding that pours over everything, seeping wetly in every section of their lives. You can feel the dampness, and mold, and decay coming off the pages and imagine the despair that some of the people might feel.

The descriptions, the verbiage, the backgrounds, the locations, the mysteries, and the perfection that is the town’s policeman Daniel Owen’s, for which English is his second language, that’s the strengths of the series and this story.

Unfortunately it’s paired with some other aspects that , imo, work against the most connectable and well written parts of this story.

First would be the multiple points of view here that the author has chosen to use . Sometimes this works well for a novel, especially when the voices are incredibly distinct. But here? They tend to muddle the forward momentum of the storytelling, when the reader has to struggle to understand or remember who exactly a narrator is.

There’s too many people talking. They aren’t either defined clearly enough to care about them that they’re memorable, if they’re a sort of main character like Raven, then they’re so chatty in a bad way that instead of making them interesting, they come across as self indulgent drug dealing narcissists. Teenager or not, that’s not a voice I want to spend time with. Raven is a not.

And then we have Veronica. Who’s Veronica? Oh right , after some back reading. That’s not a good thing.

Then there’s Maldwyn Kent . He was the DCI in the last story where he and Daniel started a relationship I didn’t believe in. Then they left to return to their respective careers.

Now in a act that defied every Mal had told Daniel in the past, he arrives In Daniel’s home town, where Daniel’s been acting DCI, takes Daniel’s long awaited promotion for himself, without prior notice to Daniel who he ghosted after the events of the last book. Kent’s been vocal about his dislike of the Welsh language which is the default language of the village he’s now the DCI of. Mal Kent is also been outspoken about his desire to return to London, getting away from Wales as quickly as possible.

Now in this story, he is quick to initiate a push/pull attitude or relationship with Daniel that raises huge flags.

Kent’s dismisses Daniel’s ideas, tells him to speak English (what a clear message to the village and Daniel that amounts to bigotry), then insists Damien not call him “Sir” as though they were still intimate. Flag, flag, flag.

This clear disrespect of Daniel’s police acumen, even though he’s been a police officer a long time and knows this village intimately, is remarkable. Especially in the the author seems to think we should disregard this attitude when it comes to their romance.

We get little in the way of a romantic journey here. Anything that might bring us over is done “off page “. They had lunches or dinners together, that had happy conversations. Oh joy.

Does that help the reader understand what Daniel sees in a non communicative, dismissive, high handed guy whose suits is papered over with flags? No, it does not. Other than how good looking Mal is.

How small is the dating pool over there ? Plus there’s the moment Daniel sleeps with a good friend. That felt more real than anything with Mal, to be honest.

Then there’s his sister who’s all you’re so adorable together. Really? When. Because it’s not here on the page. It makes zero sense.

Most won’t like the mystery either. It wasn’t fully formed, and resolved. Too many holes, too many gaps in the plot threads surrounding this element.

And the ending is a mess.

Dark Water is totally different from Undermined. Different style, different number of personalities and perspectives, muddy plotting. And the relationship between Daniel and Mal just went from mediocre to why is a great guy having a relationship with the man buried under a mountain of red flags.

I’ll continue on if only for Daniel and the locals in his village. Mal Kent? No.

Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries:

✓ Undermined #1

✓ Dark Water #2

◦ Leavings #3

◦ A Man #4

◦ Too Many Fires #5

◦ An Allotment of Time #6

◦ A Teachable Moment #7

Buy Link:

Dark Water: A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries Book 2)

Description:

It’s not a good Monday for DI Daniel Owen.

A body in a wheelie bin. Missing teenagers. His ex turning up as his new boss.

A secretive teenager, a nosy secretary, an idealistic social worker, and a dodgy fruit and veg salesman all have pieces of the jigsaw. If Daniel and Maldwyn can trust each other again, they can put the pieces together.

But time is running out, and at least one child’s life is in danger. It’s been raining for weeks, and the flood waters are rising, threatening to engulf them all.

Review: Liar’s Gambit ( The Elite Universe) by Kelly Fox

Rating: 5🌈

10/10 Fabulously Recommend!

Liar’s Gambit by Kelly Fox is one of the top highlights of The Elite series, nine novels written by different authors. At the heart is The Anonymous, a mysterious club housed in a historic art deco hotel that caters to the needs and whims of the wealthy, who are often of the blackest or at least grey natures. That extends to their businesses, professions, and perhaps proclivities.

Within the boundaries of The Anonymous, all are protected.

Liar’s Gambit begins where a Hitman’s job ends. Nigel , a hitman with a sorta conscience, heads towards a potential new assignment and company that his handler has passed on to him. It’s shortly after his latest job ends, and he’s in need of a hotel room, something to eat , to go along with his meeting.

It’s all about to take place at The Anonymous. His client , Wilhelm, a gorgeous billionaire, with a mission that’s a bit quirky, retrieve a rare coin, maybe hit a couple of people. All sounds very nebulous, and yet he’s still on board with the idea. Must be Wilhelm.

I have to say Kelly Fox must be inundated by now with requests to write further novels about these characters. They definitely deserve it. They are simply sublime.

From their dangerously wry and sometimes disturbing inner commentary, about the events and each other, to the kinky , hot sex, and fast paced games of thrilling suspense and violence, this is an incredible story!

The men, their swift building relationship, and , that stunning “I never saw THAT coming “ twist at the end which made you go immediately back to the beginning and start all over.

Do NOT read anything with spoilers because that ending shouldn’t be given away. It’s that great!

What can I say? Outstanding characters, tightly packed and plotted storylines, an out of this world twist, and fabulous ending.

Liar’s Gambit ( The Elite Universe) by Kelly Fox is top notch entertainment! I wish I could rate it higher!

The Elite Multi-Author series (9 Books):

✓ Reckless Roulette by Alice Winters

✓ Leave No Trace by Michelle Frost and Sammi Cee❤️

✓ Ace of Maids by K.L. Hiers

✓ Poison Hearts by Jennifer Cody❤️

◦ Liar’s Gambit by Kelly Fox❤️

◦ Dealer of Secrets by Davidson King

◦ Bullets & Butterflies by Maz Maddox

◦ Love for the Reaper by Charlie Cochet

◦ Chance Encounter by Luna David

Buy Link:

Liar’s Gambit (The Elite Book 1)

Description:

He’s a liar. I’m a hitman. And there’s a game afoot.

After seeking sanctuary at The Anonymous, an elite club for lawless types, the elegant, beastly Wilhelm invites me to help him with a simple mission: retrieve the priceless artifact that was stolen from one of his billionaire friends.

I’m bored, there’s potential for violence, and his terms are generous, so why not?

I quickly discover, however, that Wilhelm has been slightly mischievous with the details, and there’s nothing simple about this mission. He’s betting I’ll go along with his insane plan; I’m still deciding whether or not to slit his throat.

Could be fun either way.

Liar’s Gambit is a 22k-word novella that is part of the multi-author series The Elite. Each book can be read as a standalone and in any order. What links these books together is The Anonymous, a club beneath the gritty city where only the elite are welcome.

Review: Guys Like Him (Redemption Ridge #1) by Aimee Nicole Walker

Rating: 4.5 🌈

I have to admit I was not ready for Walker to leave behind her characters and series set in Savannah, Georgia. The minute I started into one of those stories, I felt like I was coming home. Just narrative perfection.

But authors must move on. And so too the readers.

Now we end up In Colorado, near Colorado Springs. Land of the Rockies and Pike’s Peak. Places I’m pretty familiar with. And a ranch called Redemption Ridge, a working ranch that offers second chances for humans and animals alike.

Honestly, it didn’t take me long to fall in love with this new series. It had me at the element of horse and dog rescues. The horses and care here is detailed and beautifully done, right down to the need for a clean stall.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate seeing accurate information woven into a storyline, and without feeling like a lecture.

The other aspect of the series and book is the personal recovery/redemption of the men who are the main characters.

Employees have seen their lives changed by incarceration, they are ex convicts, or people who have been convicted of crimes and been sentenced to time in jail. Whether they did the crime or not. There’s a distinction.

Kieran Sullivan arrives at Redemption Ridge fresh out of jail, having served time for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s looking for answers, revenge, and hopes to clear his name.

Finley Ashe runs the equestrian program, training other people’s horses to the horses he rescues and helps to recover. He’s also got the worst choice of boyfriends, each one recently being more horrible than the last.

Walker has created a community of completely different personalities that live on or near the ranch. From Cash, the ex-convict owner of the ranch, to all the ranch hands, to Finley’s mom and dad, sister Harry, and extends to the animals like Nellie, the severely abused horse afraid to trust. This is a great new place to be able to explore and experience through their lives and relationships.

Finley and Kieran have a wonderful, sexy , stumbling journey together that includes an investigation, a mutual understanding and love of their animals, and a new found family.

Walker’s dialogues are funny, lively, engaging, and perfect for each character she’s created. Even the snippet for the next story in the series had me laughing because she’d laid out her characters and relationships in just a paragraph because her characterizations are so great.

This is a book and series to grab up and dive into immediately. They won’t be standalones. So read each one starting from the beginning.

If you’re a fan of Walker’s, of contemporary romance, of broken hearts and broken men getting their HEA, then you’ll will find that this story is a book for you.

It’s one I’m highly recommending.

Redemption Ridge:

✓ Guys Like Him #1

◦ The Fortunate Son #2 – Aug 3, 2023

◦ Saints Like Him #3 – Oct 19, 2023

Buy Link:

Guys Like Him (Redemption Ridge Book One)

Description:

Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, it’s an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.

Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximity’s flame, testing Finley’s resistance in new ways.

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

Review: Defending the House (Watkins Glen Gladiators Book 2) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 4🌈

V.L. Locey’s low angst, contemporary hockey romance series, Watkins Glen Gladiators, continues with Defending the House. It’s a very sweet story, comprised of 30 something Carson Dries, Captain of the Gladiators, a caretaker for his grandfather and owner of a peke a poo , and a younger Criswell Dobbs, waiter and guardian of his high school genderqueer brother .

I’m trying to find a way to describe exactly how low key this story is. Because if you are going to expect a romance with some real obstacles or barriers that appear, or major problems or issues that arise that the main characters have to overcome, this isn’t that story.

Some tales are like small rivers or streams. They have eddies, pools of varying depths, currents that rush over small areas, falling rapidly, only to find a pool and calm itself before moving smartly on .

But Defending the House is more like a canal. One without locks. It’s a smooth, gentle, relaxed ride from start to finish. No obstacles, nothing to get concerned about. A fun, quick, enjoyable experience.

Carson Dries “meets cute” Criswell Dobbs over a spilled bowl of onion soup. A romantic relationship quickly ensues. Criswell has a teenage genderqueer sibling, who’s getting bullied in school. Carson has a grumpy grandfather and a quirky adorable dog.

Locey, who writes both hockey and families so well, has crafted two here in need of each other. And gently, without any drama, lets them be together.

My only quibble is that the story just sort of ends. Spoiler alert. They agreed to move in together and meld families.

And that’s it. No epilogue. No scenes afterwards.

So for me it feels a bit unfinished. A shame because I like the characters. I just needed something more. Maybe a chapter to see how the families were doing together.

But this is sweet, and romantic.

If you’re a fan of the author and the series, grab it up .

Watkins Glen Gladiators:

✓ Between the Pipes #1

✓ Defending the House #2

Buy Link:

Defending the House (Watkins Glen Gladiators #2)44Kindle Edition$4.99

Description:

It’s far from smooth sailing into love for this pair of polar opposites.

Carson Dries is the ultimate team captain. Seasoned, amiable, humble, understanding, outgoing, and good-looking. He’s also really darn lonely, but his searches for Mr. Right have all turned into producing Mr. Wrongs. Having just turned thirty, Carson isn’t sure if dating is even worth the hassle anymore. Maybe he should just devote his time to his team, his grandfather, and his Peke-a-Poo, Penelope. Feeling a little blue, he heads to a Gladiators’ fundraiser to while away another night alone when one of the cutest guys he has ever seen runs into him—literally. Pity the adorable ginger is carrying a bowl of piping hot soup. While the mortified server is trying to dry off Carson’s ruined tux, Carson is getting rather lost in a magical combination of freckles, bright eyes, and kissable pink lips.

Criswell Dobbs is so getting fired. Or beaten up. Or maybe both. One does not dump French onion soup down the front of a behemoth of a man—a hockey player at that—and not get punched in the nose. Losing his job would be terrible. He loves being a member of the waitstaff on the Seneca Starlight paddleboat. The tips are amazing, his coworkers are fabulous, and the free dinners are keeping him fed. Knowing he and his little brother relied on this job, he’s got to do whatever it takes to stay employed, so apologizing profusely while offering to pay for dry cleaning seems the right course. When the hulking hunk of a man in the soaking wet tux unexpectedly asks him out, Criswell is flabbergasted, to say the least. Shocked yes, but not too stunned to write the Gladiator captain’s seemingly sincere request off completely. There is something about a tall, dark, handsome man in a tux. Even if that tuxedo smelled of onions…

Defending the House is a low angst, opposites attract, gay hockey twink/jock romance starring a sexy team captain, a bubbly but clumsy waiter, lots of nautical nonsense, on-ice action, off-boat shenanigans, yo-ho-ho a few bottles of rum, and one fair weather happy ending.

Review: Brackish Water (Angus Green, #4) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 3🌈

Brackish Water is the fourth of the Angus Green novels I’ve read by Neil S. Plakcy, and it’s the one where the series flaws are becoming more apparent.

The strongest aspect of every book has been the mystery and FBI agent Angus Green’s ability to connect with the people involved in the crimes, usually on the hazy end of the spectrum of right and wrong, probably the criminal side, those that may be gay, and need someone to speak for them. That and the crimes are the best part, along with the location of southern Florida in all its messy ways.

That continues here. The art world, the Cuban connection, the plight of the people fleeing Cuba only to find out that they are turning back. It’s dishearteningly sad and believable in this well written storyline.

But what removes the reader from the terrific mystery and its layered narrative is Angus himself and his increasingly wooden relationship with his lover Lester. It started out in the previous stories as just a few lines, then filler paragraphs so a reader could ignore the lack of written chemistry or anything other than a one-dimensional storyline that existed for Lester and Angus.

Only now Plakcy seems resolved to make this a new solid element and it’s feels like an interminable boring couple has entered the building.

Nothing is believable about them. There’s absolutely zero emotion involved. That includes the reader.

Least of all from Angus who is out to save many people and do right by others. Yet when it come to Lester? It’s a flattened version of Angus we hear from.

Oddly mechanical, dispassionate in his approach towards his boyfriend, Lester, viewing him in emotionally distant terms often more suitable for a catalog swimsuit model or hookup rather than someone you’re supposed to love. This element of the Angus Green series has become increasingly problematic as the relationship between Angus and Lester has become more serious, at least on the page.

We hear about Lester’s body, his bedroom skills, his body parts, on and on. Then here, turns out he knows about art. Then Angus doesn’t agree with how Lester handle’s money. But he sure likes his body. I’m very tired of them whenever they get together, honestly. It’s a one-sided perspective and it’s always the same. A one-dimensional relationship with zero dynamics.

And it removes the reader from the mystery.

You start to wish someone would kill off Lester and reinvigorate the series and poor old Angus.

Something needs to. It’s looking pretty dreary.

Plakcy is capable of writing excellent dialogue, seating his characters and storylines deep within his chosen locales. When it all connects, it’s magical. See his Mahu series.

It hasn’t happened here. Not sure it will. But I do see flashes of it in Angus Green and Southern Florida. Just not enough.

Angus Green series:

✓ The Next One Will Kill You #1

✓ Nobody Rides For Free #2

✓ Survival Is A Dying Art #3

✓ Brackish Water #4

Buy Link

Brackish Water: An Angus Green Novel

Description:

FBI Special Agent Angus Green returns to the world of stolen art when a Cuban refugee uses the location of an old master painting to negotiate for his freedom. The perilous waters along Florida’s coastline get easily breached by those smuggling drugs, stolen goods, and human refugees. Angus wades in eagerly, as always, only to discover hidden currents and dangerous obstacles.

At the same time, Angus’s romantic life is heating up as it presents new challenges, and his stepfather’s death gives his mother the opportunity to tell Angus the truth about his parentage in a way that completely rocks his boat.

From gnarled mangrove roots to deadly villains, people and places stand in Angus’s way to keeping his head above water.

Can Angus navigate the brackish waters of the Florida Keys– and political privilege– while staying within the law?

Angus Green [is] the affable hero of this brisk series launch set in South Florida … readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of Angus. Publishers Weekly on The Next One Will Kill You

Review: The Handy Nanny (Nannies of New York Book 3) by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

I love K. Sterling’s contemporary romance series, Nannies of New York. Each story is a moving tale of love found and new families formed among Manhattan’s single parents/guardians of young children.

Sterling’s romances are gently choreographed tales of love and found families, with its characters often being people of different backgrounds with hidden emotional struggles and fears as well as strengths.

No where is all of this showcased so well as in the latest book The Handy Manny. The themes of this book are hard emotionally. Sterling goes right into the heart of some of people’s worst fears and those moments of despair and loss. The death of those we love the most. Whether it’s a twin sister, or beloved father or mother. Whether they have died in the past, recently died, or because of their illnesses, know that they won’t live much longer.

The characters here are in various stages of loss, and grief. For a recent death of a sister who was half of him, and who can’t find his way out of his grief. The one called on to help him and his daughter? Penn has dealt with this in the past but has known it’s coming as his father’s fighting cancer.

Yet for all the darkness of the themes and subject matter, the characters and their journey towards a relationship is one of food, laughter, tears, and compassion. It’s not perfect. Each man has a history and their own personal experiences that makes them struggle with this relationship.

But because of the group we’ve gotten to know from the previous novels, another found family of nannies, and families of the men who share a special connection, the doubts, the challenges each face and deal with, feel believable and satisfying at the end.

For people dealing with loss, especially that of a loved family member, this book might be too raw to read at the moment. Morris Mosby’s deep grief and black hole of loss is so well done that as a reader it’s as though you feel his pain and his rage and his inability to comprehend life without her. And his resentment of Pennsylvania Tucker when he arrives to take over until Morris can finally begin to recover. He doesn’t want to recover.

As I said. A tough book .

Pennsylvania Tucker is a complicated man for someone who seems like a happy hippie who care for everyone, a fixer. He’s also someone haunted by his own losses and a loss yet to come.

How they start to heal each other while forming a family over one adorable baby is a gentle, complicated story about recovery, grief, loss, and love.

Just wonderful. And that the next in the series The Enchanting Nanny features Penn’s sister? I can’t wait. Because it’s also got the corporate older scary sister from the second book as a main character as well. One wild ride.

I highly recommend the entire series and this book too.

Nannies of New York :

✓ The Last Nanny In Manhattan #1

✓ Giles Ashby Needs A Nanny #2

✓ The Handy Nanny #3

◦ The Enchanting Nanny #4 – Aug 17, 2023 (f/f)

Buy Link:

The Handy Nanny: Nannies of New York Book 3

Description:

They call Pennsylvania Tucker the human Band-Aid because he can fix just about anything and make anyone feel better, but can Penn mend a broken heart? Reid Marshall thinks so and sends his master nanny on a very important and sensitive mission. A close friend is grieving and caring for his newborn niece after losing his twin sister.

Shy and quiet outside of the studio, Morris Mosby has been a myth in the music industry since he was sixteen. But his sister was the brains behind the “Mosby Machine” and Morris is tempted to walk away from his career and focus on his family. He’s got to put his life back together and raise a baby without his best friend and half of his heart.

Not if Morris’s parents and Penn have anything to say about it. The three of them team up to help Morris heal and rediscover his passion for music. Things heat up between Penn and Morris, but our handy nanny has some old wounds that need mending as well. Can two broken hearts heal each other or has Penn finally found a problem he can’t fix?


*Paperback includes additional illustrations, playlist, bonus epilogue, recipes, and more!

Review: Poison Hearts (The Elite universe story) by Jennifer Cody

Rating: 5🌈

Poison Hearts by Jennifer Cody was a real winner for me. It’s so entertaining, it’s characters so outrageously out there and engaging that it cries out for more adventures.

Pls pls I desperately need more stories of the merry insanity that is Orlando, Shannon, Minion , and hopefully, Linus.

Do not deprive us of this!

And it all starts so not so innocently with the blow dart murders of some bad guys in the Old Defiance neighborhood being protected by Orlando Ludovici, your neighborhood vigilante ninja assassin .

Cody has created a fabulous character in Orlando, complete with a fascinating family background and creative methodology for dealing with the baddies. There’s several authors that jump immediately to mind with their similarly charismatic assassins and Orlando easily ranks right in there with that crazy murderous fictional group.

Then there’s the fabulously insane scientist Shannon Mayburn, the tool peddler, brilliant inventor of tools of murder and mass destruction . He loves to dance and soon, he loves Orlando.

Plus his Minion. Whose name isn’t really minion and may kill Shannon at any moment because his boss annoys him so. I adore Minion. Who’s full of revelations and a delightful character in his own right.

Did I mention Linus the coroner who gets texts from Orlando about the bodies he’s about to receive? Theirs is a funny complicated anonymous relationship.

Ah, The Anonymous ! The elegant extremely private club where a crème colored invitation ushers you into a world of an utter criminality. The urbane of the world’s rift raft or this section’s of it, all secretly having cocktails and making connections in a lavish atmosphere in an art deco hotel.

It’s the meet cutely dangerous for Orlando and Shannon (as well as being the theme for the series). The characters Cody creates for the reason for Orlando’s entrance are mysterious and so beautifully written they scream for a story of their own. Especially since they come with such a scrumptious companion/bodyguard to boot.

Honestly, there’s no aspect, no element that Cody used in the many storylines that wasn’t a money maker in terms of its narrative use here. Thrills, excitement, more dead bodies, smooches and love talk ala crazy people. Yes! All there along with some explosions. And frogs.

I love this story and all the characters. Well, not the dead ones. The very much alive and deadly ones. And need more of them.

Hopefully Jennifer Cody is listening.

Yes this is a highly recommended read.

The Elite Multi-Author series (9 Books):

✓ Reckless Roulette by Alice Winters

✓ Leave No Trace by Michelle Frost and Sammi Cee❤️

✓ Ace of Maids by K.L. Hiers

✓ Poison Hearts by Jennifer Cody❤️

◦ Liar’s Gambit by Kelly Fox

◦ Dealer of Secrets by Davidson King

◦ Bullets & Butterflies by Maz Maddox

◦ Love for the Reaper by Charlie Cochet

◦ Chance Encounter by Luna David