The Meaning of Life by B.A.Tortuga , another of this authorâs cozy cowboy romances, is a sweet contemporary low angst story.
If thatâs what youâre looking for, then this is the book for you.
It has cowboys, babies, a ranch and a HEA, in a quick read.
However, if youâre looking for anything that reminds you why you should be reading a B.A. Tortuga book and not just any other random nice cowboy romance, donât frustrate yourself and read this story.
The Meaning of Life by B.A.Tortuga reads like a formulaic story, imo, so similar in plot lines to many of the cozy cowboy books this author has previously written.
Someoneâs unexpectedly a dad, orphaned babies, throw in a ranch and some dogs, horses, odd animals. A ex boyfriend or man who was a crush or old friend shows up. Has to be a rodeo or rodeo cowboy in there somewhere. A minor drama. HEA.
In a few of those books, we do get a sense of a realistic dynamic and a growing relationship. A great feeling of place and B.A.Tortugaâs unique perspective on local culture and sense of cowboy history. Those are terrific stories.
But here thatâs missing.No real sense of a real relationship of any depth. Instead itâs almost a calendar of steps towards a commitment and family.
All a little too pat. They move in, boom. Instant love, boom instant happiness, boom instant family. Halloween, Thanksgiving. Christmas. Check all the boxes.
Thereâs a drama. Itâs over so everyone can get on with their lives as they want to see them happen. HEA.
Itâs sweet, and non demanding. And utterly forgettable. It nice.
Sometimes thatâs exactly whatâs some people need. I listed the cozy cowboy romances below. If this is your jam, you might want to check it out!
When tragedy strikes in the parking lot of a rodeo event, bullfighter Jasper Dean loses his best friend Kayla, inherits her barrel racing horse, her pack of dogs, and her two babies, who also happen to be his biological kids. He has no idea what to do about any of it, and JD struggles to juggle all of his new responsibilities. So when an old friend makes an unexpected offer of help, he grabs it with both hands.
Nash Remington was right there when the crime happened, and he’s mourning just like the rest of his rodeo family. When he seeks out JD to deliver Kayla’s horse, which he’s been caring for, he makes the offer for JD to come to his ranch to let him and his family help JD figure out what to do next.
The two men have to deal with loss, their old attraction to each other, new love, and a whole new family dynamic, all while balancing work and life and trying to make sense of a terrible loss. Can they find the meaning of life together?
This series just got immeasurably better. Wild Fire, the third in this series about a clutch of dragonshifter brothers finding their fated mates, is my favorite to date.
Itâs not that I find the authors, K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, have just written two really fascinating characters, itâs that I donât remember reading anything that resembles them in another book before. And thatâs even more compelling here.
A dragon whoâs uncaring about assembling his own hoard , and thrives in the cities and masses away from the smothering isolation of his brothers. And a wolfshifter who has a compulsion to amass a hoard , who needs his space away from his pack, whoâs more interested in his own world than his packâs. A yin looking for their yang.
This switch in characteristics is unexpected and so narratively rewarding.
It makes for a sensational journey or hunt when both Arson Drake and Draydon start on their remarkable continental quest for art treasures and find themselves falling into a surprising relationship with each other. One that carries definite overtones of Romeo and Juliet, as dragons and wolves are enemies up to this stage.
The two person perspective works so well as Arson and Draydon fight the attraction that pulls them together from country to country, their inner beasts empowering their decisions as well. The authors writing as Nix have given the reader two powerfully defined beings that are unique and unable to stay apart. And are trying to explain to themselves why, and if it even matters anymore.
Anything outside of that narratively has to come across as being less interesting because of how rich and powerful these two are.
The elements with the vampires are necessary for being the tool to bring the Montagues and Capulets together, I mean , dragons and wolves , but it comes across as just that. A narrative tool.
Could have been anything, unless itâs going to be included in another story.
Which is set up here by bringing in a new character and younger brother from another âclutchâ whoâs in trouble.
Interesting but thereâs still a couple of unmatched brothers from the original group needing mates. Guess Lord and Tino will have to wait.
Anyway, Wild Fire (Drake Security #3) by Mika Nix is a sure fire winner. Fabulous characters, marvelously plotted romance, and twisted personality traits I really appreciated.
It helps to read the series in order to understand the characters, the events, and the relationships. Lake especially. Heâs so over the top divine!
Heâs my nemesis, my rival, and the man I canât get out of my head. We may be star-crossed but thereâs enough heat between us to start a wildfire.
Iâve never been one to follow the rules, but sleeping with a wolf shifter might be over the line, even for me. So, why canât I get him out of my head? Or his scent out of my nose. Even on the other side of the world, I swear I can still smell him.
Everyone has a hobby, mine just happens to be stealing from the rich and powerful to give back to the rightful owners. A native art exhibit in Sydney is the last place I expected to see Draydon again. I canât shake the feeling that heâs here for the same reason I am⊠and here I thought larceny couldnât get any more fun.
Iâm a dragon without a proper hoard and heâs too jaded to even trust his own pack. But weâve already lit a fire thatâs getting out of hand.
Stealing Draydonâs heart might be my most impossible heist yet.
With Uncle Fonzoâs return and an eviction notice on Yuriâs cabin door, things are getting cramped at the Penn house, when Dixon and Yuri move back in.
The extremely tight quarters are exacerbated by Dixonâs sudden arrival and his cousinâs new boyfriend. House hunting is a must.
But as with everything, thatâs when things start getting interesting and going awry. Magically.
Price has so much fun with the awful flats and descriptions thereof that Yuri and Dixon visit in hopes of finding their own place. Sheâs says in her authorâs notes they reflect some actual places that she saw or lived in in her life. Oh my!
The hunt for a place bit here got a bit lost in the shuffle of the story. Unusual for the author. It felt a bit muddled instead of a clear picture of magic going wrong.
But it ends well and with the usual path to the next book.
These are such enjoyable books and the couple just continues to grow in their relationship and surrounding family.
Iâm recommending this and the series as far as Iâve read. Itâs great ride! Binge read for your pleasure!
The ABCâs of Spellcraft series:
â Quill Me Now #1
â Trouble in Taco Town #2
â Something Stinks at the Spa #3
â Dead Manâs Quill #4
â Last But Not Lease #5
⊠Donât Rock The Boardwalk #6
⊠What The Frack? #7
⊠Present Tense: A Spellcraft Christmas short #8
Yuri knew his idyllic beachfront cabin wouldnât last foreverâbut he wasnât expecting to come home to an eviction notice. And with Uncle Fonzo back in town, Dixonâs attic apartment is getting crowded.
Unfortunately, real estate in Pinyin Bay is surprisingly scarce. Good thing thereâs an up-and-coming crowdsourced experience called Hunting Party that really moves the needle on the traditional rental acquisition model.
Okay, it really is as obnoxious as it sounds. But rentals are so few and far between, Dixon and Yuri are willing to give it a shot.
Pitted against a group of apartment hunters, the guys must compete with the other hopefuls to land a new place. Itâs clearly all just a cheesy sales ploy, and the apartments they view are real dumps.
And yetâŠtheyâre also oddly appealing.
Since all the rentals are in the falling-down neighborhood known as Scrivener Village, it stands to reason Spellcraft is involved. But when exposing the magic could leave Dixon and Yuri without a roof over their heads, can they really afford to be so picky?
The ABCs of Spellcraft is a series filled with bad jokes and good magic, where MM Romance meets Paranormal Cozy. A perky hero, a brooding love interest, and delightfully twisty-turny stories that never end up quite where youâd expect. The books are best read in order, so be sure to start at the beginning with Quill Me Now.
If this wasnât such an exciting and exceedingly well written story, Iâd be taking a smidge of rating points away for sheer frustration with Cody over that ending and the fact itâs probably going to be a while before we get around to finding out what happens next.
Yes, no surprise, itâs cliffhanger time again!
This whole universe is so weird and crazy that I have to look back at my notes to remember how things and Codyâs other books fit in with these stories. Itâs like a madhatterâs 10, 000 pieces puzzle but cut out into insane shapes.
Thankfully, Cody gives us a recap why Lex is in a coma but mentally aware as the book opens. I had to dig through my memories about the last book for all the events as they happened, complicated as they were by a immense cast of characters, worlds accessible by portals, gods, dragons, aliens, slavers, you name it. Tied together by murders, mysteries, hellacious plots galore and the agents like Lex that work for The Inter-dimensional Immigration AgencyâIDIA, the government agency that enforces the laws that govern non-humans on Earth.
So we pick up after that nasty explosion and the search is still on for Dominus, the being/person behind all the slave trafficking/inter dimensional world kidnappings and plain old horrifically bizarre goings on. His identity is unknown, as is why heâs able to make himself disappear into obscurity without a trace.
Cody has to address the blood hexes that tie a Geminatus to him so theyâre unable to return to their homeland, as well as Lex being in thrall to Tor, an agent of the IDIA. A huge element itself.
But the author addresses each subject, separating them so they can have the impact and narrative development they deserve, while simultaneously being a fluid piece of the total story fabric. Thatâs quite the gift.
Tor and Lex especially, as itâs not just Lex thatâs feeling the emotional attachment and passions of the bond between them. Itâs the monsters he carries within him. And they have different opinions about Tor and the way he should fit into their lives. What a sexually dynamic and hot area of this book and one that adds to my frustration because the cliffhanger cuts short so much of the relationship follow up here , big stuff thatâs waiting to happen.
Same for the Geminatus aspect. The âtwinâ Geminatus born on Earth get a chance to meet a Geminatus born on the planet, and itâs oddly very different and disturbing for both. This is such a huge element that itâs going to be explored in the second of the Geminatus books in the Hammer and Fist:Geminatus series.
That leaves this story with Lexâs characterâs greater expansion into his background, current status, and interpersonal mingling of the beings within himself. Itâs also the growth of his and Torâs own dynamic as they search out what the curse means emotionally.
And finally, itâs the biggest threat and storyline. Whoâs Dominus? Where are they? What are their plans and how does Lex stop them?
Itâs mind boggling how much is dumped into this book and how well it all fits together.
The ending is shocking. Thereâs a character death, and then a several consecutive dramatic events that lead to one unbelievable cliffhanger.
Then an authorâs note that the next book up is the second in the Geminatus series! Noooooo.
So how one goes about reading a series and they feel about multiple cliffhangers, should let a reader decide what they want to do about reading the series. Read them as then release acknowledging that there will be cliffhangers and a good amount of time between stories or wait and binge.
But one thing is for certain. This is a must read. However itâs resolved, whatever tragedy consequences or happy turns of events, however unlikely, itâs a great convoluted epic tale of worlds, gods, monsters and love.
A fabulous story.
One Iâm highly recommending no matter how frustrating that ending still makes me.
Read each series in order. It wonât make any sense if you donât.
Hammer and Fist Series
â Sledge and Claw (Hammer and Fist: Lextalion Book 1)
â Brick and Brass (Hammer and Fist: Lextalion Book 2)
â Inferno (Hammer and Fist: Geminatus Book 1)
⊠Gale (Hammer and Fist: Geminatus Book 2) July 2023
Of course waking up from a coma wouldnât come easy for me; thankfully I have friends willing to fuck me back to life. Once Iâm on my feet again, playing catch up on the trafficking case makes me want to eviscerate someone. I hate that Iâve lost precious time hunting down Dominus, but Iâm awake now and ready for action.
With weird things happening to the portals, an Ethensian hopping realms when he shouldnât be able to, and trying to figure out how to end the blood hex Iâm under, I feel like Iâm drowning in tasks and making no progress. I want to end Dominus and put Knoxville behind me; instead, I get a one-off accidental prophecy taking me straight to a battlefield I didnât even know existed.
Brick and Brass is a 65k MM Urban Fantasy. This is the second in the series and not a stand alone. Content includes: horror descriptions and gore, public sex and sex magic outside of the romantic subplot.
Into The Tempest moves the story and our characters from the rain drenched lowlands wilderness of Kakadu National Park to the sunny port of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The switch in locations brings us to Tully Larsonâs home, where his family and his familyâs shipping business is situated, giving the reader and Jeremiah another perspective on this seemingly simple, yet complex man.
Itâs also allowing Jeremiah a new opportunity, however unsought at first, for being in charge of Darwinâs Bureau of Meteorology, an antiquated tiny satellite branch of that agency that time seems to have forgotten.
Walkerâs stunning continuation of her Storm Boys series is no less remarkable, suspense filled or adrenaline driven by having removed itself from a naturalistic landscape to that of the port city of Darwin.
The romance between Tully and Jeremiah is firmly intertwined with the meteorological phenomenons central to each bookâs narrative. Here itâs Tropical Cyclone Hazer bearing down on Darwin, with Jeremiahâs small, decrepit station, full of outdated instruments, at ground zero. Itâs the station for all the areaâs emergency data and meteorological information going out to the public and other agencies. And itâs all done manually , by one person.
Iâm not sure if Walker has weathered through a cyclone or how sheâs able to get to the heart of this storm in the manner that she has, because , through her amazing writing, Cyclone Hazer becomes a major narrative catastrophic event that creeps into the literal air , moment by moment, energizing the characters, and then the community.
The sheer power of vivid imagery, the violent nature and intensity that builds throughout the story of the impending disaster is felt, not just by Tully, worried about his family and community, but by Jeremiah, feeling the weight of responsibility for things outside of his control, and for characters like the constantly retiring meteorologist Doreen and her wife, Suri, whose PTSD is being triggered.
Thereâs more fascinating and compelling elements here. That of family, lighting, romantic relationships, and commitments. And a community that will need to be rebuilt at the end. Plus a baby Magpie.
But this story belongs to Tropical Cyclone Hazer, Tully, Jeremiah, Doreen, and Bruce, Doreenâs small ever present dog. That small group that heard the frantic beeping that starts it all, that turns this book into a narrative powerhouse.
I canât imagine it ending at a third story. Tully and Jeremiah are so strong, so complex and moving a couple, that surely it will take more than just one more book to finish their arc. I could spend 10 novels with them and not be done.
Yes Iâm highly recommending this book , but pls read them in the order they are written to understand the characters and relationship growth.
The Storm Boys:
â Outrun The Rain
â Into The Tempest
⊠Touch The Lightning-July 18, 2023
Second Chance at First Love: Prequel to The Storm Boys
Jeremiah Overton is now in charge of Darwinâs Bureau of Meteorology, and his storm chaser boyfriend, Tully Larson, couldnât be happier. For Tully, it means watching summer storms with the love of his life but for Jeremiah, it means relearning everything on equipment thatâs older than he is.
But summer storms also mean itâs cyclone season. While Tullyâs no stranger to tropical storms and the occasional cyclone, for Jeremiah, itâs a first.
As Tropical Cyclone Hazer bears down on the city, Jeremiah and Tully prepare to stay behind. Jeremiah knows what to expect, theoretically, but living through it is a different story.
I rarely read YA books anymore these days as the age time isnât that great an interest for me now. But this book has multiple factors going for it that make it a must read.
The authors (a must) R.J. Scott and V. L. Locey, have collaborated again on a hockey series, a subject they are both knowledgeable and passionate about. Additionally, the Chesterfield Coyotes have familiar characters, starting with Soren Madden-Rowe, adopted son of Jared and Ten Madden-Rowe of the Harrisburg Railers NHL team and series ( if you know , you know ). So already the readers have a firm understanding of one half of the main characters involved, their backgrounds, and the supporting cast.
We have a private school, a school hockey team, with the adoptive son of favorite married hockey player and coach from another popular series, and woven into a great storyline, several serious issues, along with a complicated relationship that turns into a romance.
Felix is a character who is not easy to understand at first, thereâs so many barriers written into him. Which, I think, makes him more realistic as the facts of his life are revealed. His anger and resentment , a main personality trait, become heartbreaking.
I often find it so hard for authors to write a potentially alienating character yet be able to let the reader see whatâs the underlying issue behind the behavior. Yet it happens here with Felix.
A big aspect of this story includes a character, Tyler, whoâs bullied by Felix, as well as others in the school. The next story is his. Tyler is on the Coyotes as well. The fact that Tyler is out, wears makeup and hair dye, makes him a target and up for discussion on bullying.
Elements threaded through the story here include bullying , parental abandonment (through divorce), extreme emotional stress over dysfunctional family parenting/relationships, and coming out. Most of that centered in and reflecting out of the character of Felix.
Soren, his brother Milo, sister Lottie, Ten and Jared, even Ryker briefly, everyone on the Madden-Rowe side that weâve come to love through several series, are present here. Soren, growing up, trying to decide his path, content within his new, loving family, is a joy to read. I loved reconnecting with him and Milo again.
Off The Ice (Chesterfield Coyotes Book 1) by R.J. Scott and V. L. Locey is such a layered, believable coming of age YA story. While it doesnât hurt to not have read the connecting series, knowing the characters that surround Soren gives this an extra layer and happy emotional boost when reading it.
If I had a tiny bit of grumbling, it was that the coming out scenes was a minor aspect here not a big deal. But maybe thatâs a really good idea. That coming out shouldnât be a problem anymore, that it should be more acceptable and less a fear laden situation.
Either way, thatâs my view of the thread and wishful thinking as well.
Iâm looking forward to Tylerâs novel and highly recommending this one to all readers, if they love YA novels or whether they , like me, have relegated YA books to the bottom of the list to read next. Shoot this back to the top!
A coming-of-age love story with high school, hockey rivalry, friendship, family, and coming out.
Sorenâs life changes in an instant when he and his younger brother are adopted by hockey royalty. Making sense of his new life is hard enough, but when heâs enrolled in a private school it means facing a whole new set of problems. Navigating friendship, family, and hockey is one thing, but being attracted to the boy who vexes him is a whole new thing..
Felix has a reputation to protect. He’s the kid who seems to have everything but looks can be deceiving. Spinning lies about his perfect life, heâs created a fantasy world that even he has started to believe. Only, itâs not long before everything crumbles, all of his pretty lies are revealed, and only his closest rival sees through his pain and stands by him.
Fighting is easy, friendship is hard, but love is everything.
âThat is totally spacy! Oh my God, Duri, that is super spacy! Like beam me up, Socrates!â Eli huffed and glared at me. âWhat now?!â
Excerpt From
The Chanteuse and the Bodyguard
Yes, as Gigi/Eli says âwhat now?â What am I going to do without this absolutely magnificent, beautiful, and heartfelt series about drag queens getting their happily ever afters In Mother Sitkaâs Campo Royaleâs drag club in Wilmington, Delaware.
I love so many of Loceyâs other hockey players and series but this? Itâs special. And that narrative magic has grown book by book, couple by couple. It started out strong and itâs ending just as endearing and more deeply satisfying than when we first all met backstage at the club, amidst drag queen chaos.
Locey gives us a mystery, a new perspective on a drag queen whoâs been a part of the series from the beginning, thatâs Jo Jo Jewels! Aka Duri Yoo, a Queen whose makeup and drag appearance is inspired by the Asian BL characters and anime series heâs so crazy about . Jo Jo and Gigi are also the only queens who actually sing their own songs instead of lip-syncing.
Duri is such a beautiful character, whose personality and demeanor are due as much to his family and cultural background and support as it is to his own sweet nature. Concerned about his body , due to harmful bullying, and past relationships, Duri is a darling we can immediately relate to.
As his bodyguard does. Keaton Black Bird, owner of his own security firm, has had his firm hired to guard Gigi when fan letters and gifts turn violent. As Duri is Gigiâs best friend, the duty extends to both.
Locey weaves a wonderful story , one that draws the reader in on many levels. Thereâs the funny, snarky friendship between Gigi and Jojo, two queens sharing wigs and tea backstage, the family Duri has at home, and then the marvelous developing romance between Duri and Keaton .
Itâs almost impossible to choose which aspects of this book I enjoyed most. Gigi is a favorite of mine, able to deal out the bast shade while being all up in everyoneâs business. What a Queen! And to pair her up with Duri, whoâs drag is so different and whoâs personality is just as mesmerizing but in a totally unique way, itâs just works to highlight each of them to the best extent.
The romantic relationship side between Keaton and Duri letâs us into each personâs world, their backstories, their fears, their ârealness â, and the foundation where they connect and relate on a emotional level. Outwardly different, inwardly touching and connecting. Locey makes it so easy for the reader to see into this dynamic and get it!
We love these two characters together immediately and jump right on their journey together.
Itâs a wild one, complete with stalking fan, nasty gifts, and some very scary moments. If the stalking is a trigger for you, please take note.
It all ends on a positive and lovely note back at Campo Royale with all the Queens and their significant others.
Is this the end? Likely. But perhaps, if weâre good, Locey might deliver up a Christmas reunion story or two to help us through our withdrawal.
Iâm so sorry for the series to end, but thrilled I got to know them all. Iâm absolutely recommending all the books, this included.
Read them in order for a fabulous journey through the love lives of the Queens of the Campo Royale!
Itâs going to take all his skills to keep an innocent songbird safe.
Duri Yoo is struggling with life. Maybe the funk thatâs hanging on his shoulders like a soggy sweater has to do with his thirtieth birthday, which is just around the corner. Maybe that blah feeling is due to everyone at the Campo having found their true heartâs desire except for him. Over the past few months, Duri has started questioning everything right down to if he needs to change his stage name from Jo-Jo Jewels toâŠwell, he hasnât a clue. All he knows is that heâs feeling down in the dumps. Heck, even his fellow queen has picked up a new secret admirer/super fan. Heâd stamp a high heel in vexation, but the way things are going the darn heel would snap right off. When heâs sure life couldnât get any worse, heâs proven wrong. And yet horribly rightâŠ
Keaton Black Birdâs job is straightforward. Heâs hired to protect people. Generally, ridiculously rich business tycoons or heads of state. Being hired to keep a drag queen out of harmâs way is a new one for the former Secret Service agent. However, heâs being paid incredibly well to ensure that one of the Campo Royaleâs performers isnât harassed off-stage while the tiny queenâs hockey playing boyfriend is on the road. Itâs while heâs protecting one drag queen he meets another, and the connection to Jo-Jo Jewels is undeniable. Keatonâs never been in such a unique situation before. All the men in his past were more or less like him: austere, professional, athletic. Jo-Jo is none of those things, but the owner of Black Bird Executive Protection is falling hard and fast for the delightful and quirky songbird. Unfortunately, emotions tend to cloud the mind, and Keaton and Duri soon find themselves in a situation thatâs far more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.
The Chanteuse and the Bodyguard is a bodyguard romance with an anime-loving songstress, a rugged guardian, lots of BL adoration, a huge loving family, rainbow-toned wigs, unexpected danger, and a techno-colored happily-ever-after. (This book contains scenes of stalking/violence that some may find upsetting.)
The Puckboys series have been such a great fun sportâs romantic romp from the beginning story! Now with Foolish Puckboy, itâs so wonderfully entertaining and appropriate that authors James and Finley bring the entire Queer Collective into the story at the very beginning, just as Alek Emerson has come out as pansexual, transferring to Seattleâs NHL team, and starting anew!
âThe guys file in, Oskar, Ezra, Ezraâs boyfriend and teammate Anton, Tripp and his husband Dex from the Vegas team, and trailing behind them are Ayri Quinn and Asher Dalton from Buffaloâthe two other newest recruits to the Collective alongside me. Ayriâs been playing for a few seasons already, but Asherâs a rookie this upcoming season. I nod at them. âAsher. Ayri.â Asher wears a stoic scowl,â.
And the party is on.
And wild enough to prompt a call to the local firefighters when the rooftop is set ablaze during the night.
The reaction of a drunken Alek to the gorgeous firefighter Gabe is hilarious and sets the tone for the rest of the book.
âAs soon as I get him to the couch, he flops face forward onto it. I turn to go help Sanden with the others when Aleks grabs my thick work pants. His bicep pops beneath his tattooed skin, and I swallow and drag my eyes away from it and up to his. In the soft light inside, his eyes look ⊠blue? Green? A nice color. He doesnât look away. Just stares. And this shivery sort of awareness runs through me. âZing,â he whispers before passing out.â
â Foolish Puckboy (Puckboys Book 4) by Eden Finley, Saxon James
That comes after a meetup to end all meetups!
Aleksander Emerson, newly divorced and newly out bisexual NHL hockey player has just met gorgeous gay firefighter Gabe Crosby, and the fireworks are exploding.
But both men have a multitude of reasons not to get involved with each other. For Alek, heâs been in a longstanding monogamous relationship that turned into a heterosexual marriage, and only now is he able to explore his bisexuality without having a commitment or need to settle down.
For Gabe, itâs the money, the lifestyle that professional players make and live thatâs contrary to his values and need to have a family and stability.
Eden Finley and Saxon James give us great characters and a dynamic relationship that overcomes both of their personal goals each time they meet up and continue to get to know one another better.
The conversations go from hilarious to deeply sexy to personal to profoundly moving. Especially when each is at their most vulnerable.
My issues with the story and relationship kick in towards the end when that one element seems to always arise, a lack of communication. Thereâs a misunderstanding, and instead of asking questions, or communicating, that lack of talking to one another becomes an issue.
Yes, it makes for a dramatic moment but for me it lessens the adult factor and pulls me out of the storyline. Itâs just didnât work for me.
The authors, of course, turn it around, and thereâs a terrific ending. But that narrative wobble had me asking more questions about the ending than being totally satisfied.
This is still a good couple in a highly entertaining series. One Iâm definitely recommending.
After my divorce, Iâm ready to have fun, date around, and not get into anything serious. Then I meet Gabe Crosby, superhero firefighter and a disgrace to the Crosby name. He doesnât even like hockey!
Yet, thereâs a draw to him I canât denyâsomething I havenât felt since my teens. But thatâs the problem. I have no idea what dating is like, let alone how to do it with another man. He makes me flakey and nervous, and Iâve never been that guy.
Gabe turns me inside out and upside down in the best possible ways. I only recently became single, but if I continue to chase after him, I might not stay that way for long.
GABE
When I meet Aleksander Emerson during an emergency call-out, there are three things that catch my attention: his sexy tattoos, his kind eyes, and his drunken offer to have my babies.
Heâs new to Seattle and recently divorced, so I take him under my wingâand under my sheets. Iâm showing him what the world of hookups is like, only those hookups turn into sleepovers and dates and public displays of jealousy.
Aleks is in his casual era, and Iâm working my way toward settling down and starting a family. What the two of us have is fun, but not a good idea permanently.
âLight Up the Lamp: To score a goal in hockey, and thereby set off the goal lamp behind the netâ
â Light Up the Lamp by Kit Oliver
I love hockey romances so to see this story by Kit Oliver was a welcome surprise. Itâs a terrific contemporary sports romance and addition to this genre. Oliver clearly knows the sport of hockey and team dynamics, which are displayed throughout the game and novel by the locker room behavior and behind the scenes maneuvering of management and players.
I was uncertain at first by the choice of Gil Roussin, NHL center, of the hockey family of a famed NHL player, as the only narrator. Primarily because Gil is so focused on his career that his perspective and his personality comes through as both narrow and oblivious that it makes him hard to connect with at first.
The man we start to see reflected back at the readers from his family doesnât match up with the one in Gilâs head. Not the image of the one brother who doesnât follow the family occupation, or the mother who is reticent about the overbearing idolized hockey fatherâs role in his sonâs life. Thereâs a disconnect between the way Gil is looking at the way heâs behaving and treating people and the reality of the situation.
And that matters because most readers wonât be down on the side of Gil Roussin. Even when his career seems to be tanking, and heâs sent to the worst team in the NHL.
I have to admit, the descriptions of the Sea Lionâs training facility is everything! From the rust to the puddles and dripping water, I mean , Iâd run. Itâs a fabulous bit of work by Oliver here, emotionally laying out a team so in financial shambles that its training facilities is an absolute believable nightmare.
And for the first time, maybe the reader starts to feel something for Gil, even with his awful attitude.
Sebastian Martin who we met earlier In Baltimore has his issues as well. Although both men were close friends and more, now thereâs a huge gap between them that needs sorting out.
Sebastian isnât exactly a stellar character, although Oliver tries hard enough to make it work. Communication isnât great for either man. Not in the past , and apparently not in the present.
Sebastian makes several poor choices when it comes to dealing with Gil as a new player both as his new manager and as his former friend/lover. His refusal to communicate with Gil is as frustrating to read as Gilâs inability to widen his outlook on his team and life.
So Oliver had to work to make this story happen and it does, eventually. Primarily because it starts with Gil finding a new attitude and place with the Sea Lions. Then with Sebastian deciding to invite Gil into his private life and the history of his life after they separated.
Light Up the Lamp by Kit Oliver is a realistic HFN ending, a sweet story that would serve well as the first book in a new series about an upcoming NHL team, the Sea Lions.
As a standalone I feel that the ending is missing another chapter. But as a fan of this genre and hockey, I think Oliver did a good job with giving us a realistic team and characters we come to appreciate. Well worth the read!
Gil missed his first chance with Sebastian. Now, he has one shot to try again.
Gil Roussinâs goals for his hockey career donât involve playing for the worst team in the league, so when heâs sent to the San Francisco Sea Lions, Gil will do whatever it takes to get traded.
But the Sea Lionâs coaching staff has other ideas for him, and among them is the last person Gil expected to see again: Sebastian Martin. Once Gilâs childhood best friend, and his first flame, it’s been a decade since Sebastian drifted out of his life. Now, Gil needs to convince his ex-boyfriend and current coach to help him onâand offâthe ice.
Can Gil and Sebastian work together to get Gil traded? Or will so much time together rekindle the very relationship Gil has spent years trying to forget?
Light up the Lamp is a steamy, m/m romance novel. If you like the hope of second chances and the joy returned passion, then youâll love this exciting hockey romance as Gil and Sebastian banter, bicker, and flirt their way back to each other.
Gateway Catastrophe is the almost finale for Louisa Masters Ghostly Guardians series and it had a lot of ground to cover for a book about the end of the world.
At the end of Conduit Crisis, a higher demon, Marc has arrived from the Otherworld, as they are calling the realm trying to break through to Earth through the portals. Heâs here to save his realmâs species and world from the mad leader, Cato, thatâs coming for Earth.
Marc has a complicated and messy relationship with quite a few of the people at the estate as heâs been back and forth between his world and theirs often trying to figure out how to stop the planned invasion.
Masters has brought in all the couples, including the young brothers of Connor and Gabe, Ian and Matt, whoâre studying at Franklin U (Mr Romance). We have the great ghosts, now including Tomâs Italian grandmother added into the mix, a few new disposable hunter characters, the odd townspeople, and the cast is about at overflow levels.
Sometimes thatâs great here but occasionally itâs a bit too much for the storylines to handle for clarity sake. The main povâs here are Gabe the demon hunter, and Tom, the part-time cab driver with the ghostly Italian grandmother who rides with him . Tom (a childhood friend of Skye) has been unaware until recently of the existence of the paranormal world that now threatens theirs. Tom had a terrific backstory that we donât get enough of, a homophobic Italian family, a childhood deep friendship with Skye that includes Skyeâs fatherâs basically âadoptingâ him into their family. A closeted adolescence for Tom that almost destroyed him. Thatâs a lot of emotional baggage to unpack.
That itâs a end of the world quickly dealt with conversation is understandable but, hmmmm, itâs an example of the types of narrative choices Masters had to make here when looking at the huge amounts of information, storylines sheâd created (sabotage, mysteries, betrayal, paranormal universes, chemistry problems, wars, good vs bad vs grey, portals etc) , the need to complete college degrees if the world might be ending, and romance!
Sometimes itâs successful and other times itâs too many people, too many voices , and situations that are overpowering the very huge theme . The baddies are coming, the world is ending. What are we doing?
The suspense and anxiety should be over the top here towards the end, the reader on the edge of their proverbial seats. But, for me , at least, it starts to head the other direction.
By the time Cato, the high demon whoâs the bigger bad, itâs almost anticlimactic. When the battle is engaged, we see whatâs happening from Gabeâs perspective , which deals with the portals. The actual battle and fighting? The stuff that makes the adrenaline rush and the heart rate spike? Nope, that a âas told toâ afterwards.
Thatâs my biggest issue with this story. Itâs the popped balloon we were hoping to do ourselves only for someone else to get to it before us. The element of anticipation that is never going to happen.
When we get back to the scene itâs over. And the characters fill other characters (and the readers) in on what happened.
From an authorâs standpoint, I can see where writing about this part of the story might have meant that the book went on for several more chapters. But wouldnât that have been worth the payoff? Emotionally?
Or less portal, more the actual physical fighting?
I donât know. The climatic scenario and the revelations felt unbalanced. And unsatisfactory. After all that hefty exposition, all that tons of information and huge cast of characters, thatâs the way it ends? With a battle off the page? A narrative whimper?
There is a sweet payoff for everyone involved but itâs still not grounded enough in the narrative to be an emotional element. To have that kind of reaction you need to have the reader be involved in the actual situations that require a resolution. We werenât.
A plus here is the romantic relationship between Gabe and Tom, with the âend of the world â supplying the necessary energy for them to get themselves together and go for the chance of a life together. And Tom, he was a great surprise and success as a character. I wish we could have seen more of him. Supplying Tom with being a Tendo master and then not utilizing this fully in the climax seems like a waste.
Thatâs this story. Sometimes too much, and sometimes not enough. Often at the wrong times.
And thereâs another book coming because Masters isnât finished yet with these characters and universe. Itâs with Ian and Marc.
So does that make this an almost finale? Or the new book a side story.
Not sure but itâs seems about right for the series and Gateway Catastrophe, a story that doesnât really seem to have an core ending in itself.
So overall, itâs a jammed packed paranormal end of the world story, with a lovely romance. Tons of interesting elements, some great characters (as always adore the ghosts and the insufferable higher demon Marc), but I felt that some of the immense complexity of that theme (nothing bigger than ending the world) got lost in the shuffle.
Perhaps it was who got chosen as the final narrator (Gabe versus Tom) or which field of action the author chose to concentrate on, either way, itâs my personal opinion it was the less interesting path to go down.
Iâm still recommending it for those fans of this series and the author. If you havenât read the series, then this book will probably not make any sense to you. This series must be read in the order that they were written for the events, relationships, and situations to make sense.
I live a simple, small-town life. Helping with the family restaurant, my side gig as a ride-share driver, hanging with my best friend, making the most of the extra time with my ghost grandma. The only exciting thing to happen to me in the past year was when Gabe moved to townâtoo bad Nonna scared him off. Itâs hard to impress a guy when your dead grandmother calls him the devil.
The last thing I expect when I pick up a ride-share client and take him to Mannix Estate is that heâs a demon. An actual, breathing, can-kill-me-with-a-thought demon. That night blows my simple life apart and changes everything. Turns out, ghosts arenât the weirdest things out there, my best friend and Gabe are both part of this alternate world, and thereâs a big bad demon who wants to end us all. Whatâs a small-town boy to do but roll up his sleeves and join the fight to save the world?
Working side by side with Gabe reminds me just how much I liked him when we first met⊠and the feelingâs mutual. As the clock counts down and we both struggle with personal issues, itâs good to know thereâs someone to lean on. But I donât know if our tenuous connection can survive the hell thatâs coming and see us through to the other side.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 