Truth or Dare finishes the Dare To Try trilogy and itās a wonderful book. Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine have our couple, Kieran and Bash, take a realistic look at their jobs, evaluate whatās truly important to each of them, take into consideration the opportunities for each of them to make the move to each otherās state, and then make a decision thatās right for them both.
How I love an adult story with adult perspectives! No huge drama, just real life issues (even though one here is fabulously wealthy), and typical ways (pro and cons list) to help solve them.
Itās beautifully written, great characters, has a road trip I wish weād gotten more of and a sexy red hot costume party ā¦ fans self.
I love these men and this trilogy will have me seeking out the series from each author that some of the other characters came from. Iām now a big fan of both.
Yes to recommending this trilogy, and yes to the authors!
Truth or Dare is the final book in the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You and Dare Me.
Lieutenant Kieran Bailey never saw his life anywhere but the bustling streets of Chicagoābut then again, he never saw his life with a boyfriend, either. That all changed when he fell in love with bombshell CEO Sebastian āBashā Vogel.
But itās one thing to fall in love. Itās another to try to build a life together when you live hundreds of miles apart.
How do you choose between everything youāve ever known and everything youāve ever dreamed of?
This series must be read in the following order: Dare You (book one) Dare Me (book two) Truth or Dare (book three)
Dare Me , the second book in the Dare To Try trilogy by
Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine picks up a few weeks after the tumultuous events in the first story, Dare To.
That ended with a miscommunication or perhaps a misunderstanding between Kieran and Bash that sent Bash flying back to his home on South Haven Island, a bridge away from Savannah, Georgia.
Dare Me picks up with Kieran alone in Chicago, devastated by Bashās departure and unsure of his next step. And with Bash miserable in Georgia, doubting his decisions to leave and missing Kieran like crazy.
Kieran takes the necessary time here to unpack his complicated emotions over everything thatās happened recently. His awakening sexuality in his feelings in all ways for Bash, the misconceptions over a scene in the firehouse, and the fears each is facing over the future.
Then heās off to confront his man in a wonderful scene in South Haven.
This story is high on love, communication, searing hot sexy scenes, and reconciliation!
Thereās not much angst or drama. Instead you get a couple working through very relatable issues in a new relationship, trying to see how how they can mesh their work and romance when they live in two different places.
It all feels real and while they come to a conclusion at the end of the book, the how of it all will spill over to the last novel in the trilogy for a great HEA.
Kieran and Bash are a fantastic engaging couple, sexy and romantic. And the people around them are just as strong as their support.
Itās been a while since I read the last book in this series, so it took a bit to get back into this extremely complicated universe with its ever expanding cast of supernatural and mythological characters. This of course includes those characters challenging, complex relationships with each other which is made even more convoluted and clouded because none of The Fallen remember their past lives due to a curse.
Salinger has written not just characters but characters that have characters layered over top of them, with each character layer having a distinct history complete with memories separate from one another. One preFallen and the person theyāve become sans memories after The Fall. Does this make them completely different beings now?
I suspect thatās going to be a question the author will be addressing in her storylines.
Edge Lines sees a return of some of those memories to our characters with haunting ramifications.
The memories have been returning in bits and pieces as Cassius Black and Morgan King find themselves with new powers and titles. In the last book, it became apparent that Morgan had Fae blood and powers that now manifested in a Wind Sword and a Crown of greens. Cassius too remembered names and took on a powerful heavenly shine when he used his powers to blast demons out of the city.
Their new Demi status is only the beginning.
The author is ramping up her series plot and it seems to be a wow of a series arc!
It happens over the course of the book. As Morgan and Cassius seek answers to who they were before The Fall , their enemy is making huge maneuvers to end the world order.
Salinger starts enlarging the cast of characters by bringing on more ā players ā who will have to help bring down the ābig badā. So we see the enlarging corp of fighters being assembled.
Itās more Gods and itās fascinating as well as imaginative.
All Iāll say is I adore the Reapers!
And the author must have a huge wall of pinned cards to keep everyone and everything straight in the narrative because this is one labyrinthine series arc!
Itās just keeps getting better with each revelation.
I will say Iām not as heavily invested in Morgan and Cassiusās relationship as I am in the entire plot. Perhaps itās a lack of chemistry for me that I find in other couples the author has created in this book.
Either way, the fantastic storylines keep me hugely entertained and engaged in the events going forward!
I need to know more! What happens next!
Thatās Oathbreaker! Iāll be waiting for that to be released. Itās the series finale!
Until then, get ready. Read all the books in the order they were written and meet me at Oathbreaker!
Cassius Black and Morgan Kingās trip to Ivory Peaks to uncover clues about their past takes an unexpected turn when a rift materializes and war demons attack the capital. Having saved one world by the skin of their teeth, they return to Earth, only to find it has been rocked by ominous quakes bearing a close resemblance to the phenomenon that nearly destroyed the Dryad kingdom.
After defeating demons that emerge from a crevasse in San Francisco, Cassius and Morgan rescue the Wild God Pan from the bottom of a rift with the help of Victor Sloan and the cityās otherwordly. But instead of thanking them, Pan makes a startling demand: rescue his lover and prevent the Spirit Realm from being destroyed, and he will reveal the truth about who Cassius and Morgan are.
Help comes from an unexpected source when a pair of Reapers visit the city and Cassius, Morgan, and Victor soon go hunting for a missing deity who may hold the key to saving all the realms. Can they free the immortals from their prisons and find the powerful artefact that can bend the mind and will of even a God? Or will the enemy who has long manipulated them from the shadows win this war and destroy everything they have come to care for?
Edge Lines is the third novel in the gay urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers. If you like your paranormal adventures full of action, magic, snark, and a host of steamy angels and demons, then youāre not going to want to miss this enthralling, fun-filled ride!
Several elements drew me to this story. The dramatic cover, a new to me author, and the attraction of seeing how another writer would handle the popular supernatural mate/bonding coupling of a vampire and werewolf. Throw in a historical aspect and a mystery? The book seems ideal.
I enjoyed Mongrel. Lee Colgrin has so many great ideas and terrific story themes here.
Starting with Mongrel whoās name is Andreas. Heās a member of a pack that views him as a freak due to his genetic makeup and treats him accordingly. Except for a wonderful character named Ava, who stands in as a grandmother to him. The scenes between the two are done with heart and real warmth. In fact most scenes involving any family members are believable and heartwarming. This is a wonderful element for this writer.
The brief scenes with the Alpha reinforce the packās view of the inferior status the Mongrel plays there. Yet the Alpha insists that he be returned to the Pack after the mission is completed. More on this later.
The time period chosen is 1610 Hungary. Or what that area approximates. Colgin nicely included the political factions and wars into the narrative along with a fantastic literary/historical surprise that I absolutely adored.
I wonāt spoil that, but major shout out here to her for that inclusion. It fit in so well here.
The main characters of Andreas and Bowie were well defined, their well crafted personalities and past histories helping to connect us to them and their relationship.
I liked their romance, thought they fit together well , especially as Andreas needed a pack, but the deep āloveā as opposed to a mate bond felt a little quick here, given the timeframe.
The mystery of the missing girls , adding in Bowieās emotional tie in, was a terrific one that I felt wasnāt quite played out to all its promises. The author missed a nice chance at the end to give her readers and several of her characters a cathartic moment of happiness because she forgot to deliver a promised character back home. It was an important part of the story.
And Colgin did this twice. Once for a child who started the mission. And lastly to finish off on any repercussions by not delivering Andreas back to his pack . An entire element about the Mongrel is never satisfied here but left dangling. The Alpha is determined to keep the Mongrel hidden, yet Andreas comes back, leaves again. Never confronts his Alpha about his status. However, the story seems to be finished.
Without actually finishing up some important storylines.
So Iām glad I read this book but Iām not giving it as high a rating as it could have had.
Thereās at least two more novels. Iām onto the second about a incubus we meet in this story. Iāll let you know what I find.
If you like supernatural romances with an historical bent and a mystery to boot, this is the one for you.
Mongrel, a creature more wolf than man, leads a lonely life on the fringes of pack societyāuntil the night a handsome vampire shows up with a mysterious request.
Bowie, a vampire cursed to a life of endless nights, maintains close ties with his human family. When young girls in their village go missing, he must act quickly. But to find them, heāll need to convince the local werewolf pack to loan him their best trackerāa wolf known as the Mongrel.
Though he hates the slur, Andras is used to being called Mongrel. When Bowie refuses to refer to him by anything but his given name, Andras canāt help a flicker of unexpected trust toward the stranger. He volunteers to help Bowie, risking banishment.
Can two tenderhearted men overcome their traumatic pasts and work together to rescue the girls before itās too late? Or will the worldās most prolific killer snuff the flames of their passion along with the lives of the captives?
***
This steamy love story spans the country of Hungary as Andras and Bowie journey through cities and wilderness on their quest to right a villainās wicked wrongs. Mongrel features a sweetly possessive werewolf, a cinnamon roll of a vampire, and the worst killer in history. A surprisingly fluffy MM Paranormal/Historical Romance considering the subject matter.
HEA guaranteed with loads of laughs along the way and no cliffhanger ending!
Charlie Sunshine is the second in the Close Proximity trilogy and I probably didnāt do it any favors by skipping it and reading the infinitely better story After Felix next. It just plain suffers by comparison.
Several things worked against this I think. The author immediately linked books one and three together by the characters and couples themselves. Felix works in Zeb Evansā employment agency and turns into a great friend of Jesse Reed, Zebās boyfriend. The quartet of men was a natural flow of wit, drama, and romance.
But Misha and Charlie? They are associated with the others but mentioned only briefly prior so where the reader felt a real connection to the couples in books one and three, Charlie Sunshine is already flat on the ground, or a bit behind.
Why that last? Unfortunately I think it has to do with the characters themselves. Charlie is almost too perfect. Heās an adorable , highly intelligent librarian whoās runway gorgeous. People walk into poles because theyāre looking at him. Thatās not exactly relatable. The author needed do something to make him fallible. The answer? Charlie has epilepsy.
This element is well done and well researched. Morton folded this aspect of the story into Charlieās character realistically. How it effects Charlie and his life is believable. I think it did make me feel that I understood Charlie more. But I felt that I wish I had more of Charlieās life pre accident so the fact that he had epilepsy now wasnāt just something to make him and the disease, idk , a way of inserting a vulnerability instead of letting readers see a character function beautifully within his diagnosis.
Let me know how you all feel about this. Iām curious.
Misha , the hedge fund banker, is the best friend who suddenly realizes the man he loves is right beside him. Itās a great trope and Iām not sure why again I didnāt get 100 percent into this romance and couple.
Thereās the usual lack of understanding, lack of communication until there isnāt.
The characters around them are superb. Charlieās family especially are tremendous, both dads and mother. So too are Mishaās family of a terrific mom and twin sisters. Plus his cousin Felix.
Mortonās ability to write characters that grab at your heart are scattered throughout this story, Iām just not sure the biggest is Charlie for me. Or Misha. They are good but Iām not sure they are great.
The end is very satisfying, youāll be happy for the couple. Itās a great place to end for them.
Iām highly recommending the Close Proximity trilogy. Charlie Sunshine is a good way to fill in your knowledge of this group between the first and fantastic last novels.
Sometimes love is a lot closer to home than you think.
Charlie Burroughs canāt keep a man. All he wants is a good relationship like the ones he sees his friends having, but none of the men he picks ever work out. Despite him trying to be the perfect boyfriend, the men are either threatened by his looks or his epilepsy or a combination of the two. Itās lucky that he has his best friend Misha to turn to. The two of them are closer than peas in a pod and fiercely loyal to each other. He canāt imagine his life without Misha in it.
Misha Lebedinsky is the complete opposite of his best friend. Being the support system for his mum and twin sisters leaves Misha with neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship. Quick and frequent hook-ups are his favourite means of communication and any other pesky emotional needs he has are met by Charlie, who heās devoted to. He lives a life of happy compartmentalization with no intention of ever changing.
All of this changes when the two best friends move in together. Being in close proximity means that they suddenly start to see each other in a very different light. But Charlie struggles when his drive to be the perfect partner clashes with the fact that heās in love with a man who knows every little thing about him. And even if he can get past that, can a relationship ever work with a man whoād need a dictionary to tell him what love means?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a love story about a sunny librarian who has relationship written all over him and a cynical banker who doesnāt even have it in his blurb.
Wyrmwood is a short story in the Poisonwood & Lyric series by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes. Itās romance between Augustine, a dragon whoās sure heās finally found his mate and Declan Lynch, son of a incubus and a sea nymph , whoās equally sure he hasnāt.
A kidnapping, a starving incubus, a totally confused dragon, and a crisis to come makes for a tightly told fantasy romance.
Jasper from Poisonwood just so happens to be the younger brother to Declan, so we have one of several links that help we with the series overall theme.
But itās the chemistry between August and Declan that makes this story. Itās just lovely. We get the arguments, the hesitation to believe that Declan is actually THE mate , and August isnāt just driven by the incubusās beauty and magic.
The dramatic climax is scary, thereās a potential rape scene if thatās a trigger. But itās a HEA story. And I hope to see this couple make an appearance somewhere in the series down the line. They are that adorable.
A dragon searching for a crowning jewel for his fabulous hoard.
A misanthropic incubus who just wants to swim.
Declan might be the worldās only shut-in incubus, but with a father like Elrith, itās little wonder his faith in people is nonexistent. He skates through life as a computer programmer, closed into his tiny apartment, only feeding by ordering sex workers to his door. But his mother was a water nymph, and occasionally, Declan canāt resist the need to sneak out and swim. This time, heās in for a surprise.
Augustine is a water dragon who has spent years building the perfect hoard, and now thereās just one thing missing: someone to share it with. When he spots the stunning creature swimming just outside his home, he realizes the jewel he sought has come to him. But after centuries of little human contact, heās out of touch with the meaning of the word consent. When the tempting nymph chafes his control, August canāt figure out how to win him over.
But word of Augustās treasure has reached greedy ears, and all he cares for is under threat. Can a dyed-in-the-wool misanthrope teach August the true value of possession before he loses everything?
After Felix is the third book in Lily Mortonās Close Proximity series. I skipped over Charlieās story because the characters of Felix and Max so spoke to me in Best Man that I needed their own story and to see how their romance played out.
Iām so happy I did because this is an amazing story. I have just continued to think over all its many storylines and elements, including the trips the characters make to various locations, and it all comes together in such an amazing romance.
We are with Felix Jackson Max Travers from the beginning of their journey when they meet at the bookstore, through their tumultuous romantic history and finally through the process of working their way back towards each other. Every scene , whether itās funny or heartbreaking, shows such dimension to their personalities. We fall in love with them and their relationship. Weāre invested in their happiness.
Then we get more. As the years pass, through excellent descriptions, we watch the characters undergoing change and growth as they figure out who matters to them, or especially if they can trust again.
Morton builds a heartwarming, believable, at times so painful story of two men who find each other, lose, then need to find a path back to each other again.
Itās truly a remarkable romance with incredible characters and a journey thatās staying with me.
I feel like Iāve found a story Iāll reread when I want a romance to curl up with. Itās in that pile of stories.
Sometimes the best love stories come in two parts.
When Felix met handsome journalist Max Travers, it was lust at first sight. It was just his luck that he then had to develop a terrible case of feelings and got his heart broken.
However, two and a half years later, heās over all of that. His job is going well, he has good friends, and he doesnāt lack for male company. Which, of course, is when Max has to come bursting back into his life.
Felix Jackson will always be the one who got away to Max. Heās spent their time apart regretting his actions and hoping for a second chance. When an accident lands him in Felixās less than tender care, Max is determined to grab this opportunity. The only problem is that Felix is equally determined that he doesnāt.
From bestselling author, Lily Morton comes a story of missed opportunities, second chances, and two very stubborn men.
This is the third book in the Close Proximity series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Security Detail is one of Tortugaās Cozy Romances and a side story to her last book, Trial By Fire.
That was a romance between a Texas rodeo cowboy and an Australian one, both from rich families with a stake in a child left a orphan when the parents, siblings of the main characters, died.
This book involves two men from the security team from the now married couple, who divide their time between the two countries and their two large holdings. Again oneās a Texan and oneās an Aussie.
The romance isnāt bad, in fact itās sweet and hot. However, thereās other issues here that carry over from that first novel.
If youāre writing about characters from another country, especially one like Australian, then those characters need to behave and sound like they come from Australia. Even the certain part of Australia.
However, here thereās absolutely nothing to distinguish Ryan (Texan) from Dez (Aussie). Not Dezās dialog, nothing in his casual chatter, or even the way a Aussie shortens certain words. Thereās pages and pages, then a āOiā gets thrown in the beginning of a sentence. And thatās it .
From a author whoās unbelievable talent lies in establishing the very heart and soul of a character as well as the culture of the land they walk on by just a regional throw away line, the lack of any color to the people here via the verbiage is disappointing.
Nothing especially says Texas either.
Could be anywhere West.
Then thereās the drama which is just , if Iām being kind, uncomplicated. Itās almost exactly the same as before. These are supposed to be extremely smart security professionals. Nothing here says that. So itās very hard for a reader to engage in the storylines and main characters. Plus thereās no real resolution to the mystery behind the kidnapping. Thatās left forgotten, and the reader unsatisfied with this aspect of the story. At least this reader.
Still, people like the intriguing Chrissie the tech guy make the book. You want more of him. And his background.
The conclusion is just odd. They basically decide to start a side office in Costa Rica because Ryan likes a beach and they needed a vacation. While thatās understandable, given past events, they hit their bosses and best friends with this out of the blue with no notice and with everything new , such as untried security just starting.
So again, no. A big SMH for this ending and really the entire story.
I like the cover .
To understand this book, you might want to read Trial By Fire beforehand.
Security experts Dez and Ryan teamed up to form a business after they worked together on the kidnapping of a friend’s daughter. Australian Dez and former Marine Ryan have amazing chemistry together, and for one amazing night they acted on it. But then Des got cold feet, and the two of them have never connected again in that way.
Ryan thinks Dez just isn’t that into him. Dez doesn’t want to mess up his friendship with Ryan over something that may or may not ever come to pass. In the midst of all this frustration, they also have to deal with a security crisis with their respective best friends, Holden and Lachlan. When they have to band together to get their friends back, Ryan and Dez are reminded why they work so well together. But can they solve their own problems, and find their way back to each other, as well as save the day?
A Touch of Fever is the first story in the Arcane Hearts series by Nazri Noor. Heās a new author for me and Iām definitely going to look forward to more from him in the future.
I enjoyed my time with these characters and this universe. Noor does an excellent job creating a world we want to know more about, especially the Black Market. Itās a place that moves itself, itās new destination known only to itself. What a exciting concept.
Our main characters, which I think will grow over the next couple of books to include a sort of found family, is especially fascinating. We have a mage with a haunting future, Xander Wright. Our main hero, the artificer Jackson Pryde, who just might be something more. We have a witch Beatrice and a Guardian who Iāll let you read about. Thatās part of the story.
Thereās a small quest, a bigger mystery, some murders, and finally a larger adventure looming on the horizon.
If there wasnāt some on the page sex, very hot btw, Iād say this was the perfect YA series.
Noor has written terrific relatable characters, oneās dealing with issues of self worth, family responsibilities, the burden of duty, the pain of loss, and inadequacy. Itās tough being young sometimes. And Noor captures that.
Which is why I think that itās a YA novel is everything but that it has sex scenes . Itās a terrific story either way.
Iām definitely on my way to the next in the series. And recommending this book now.
What do you do when you canāt cast spells? You make your own magic.
Jackson Pryde was never great at wielding magic. Instead, he works as an artificer, crafting enchanted devices in the Black Market, a shadowy bazaar of wonders. But Xander Wright, the mouthy, pretentious mage next door, hates all the hammering in Jacksonās workshop.
When a chance assignment forces them to team up, they discover a terrifying predicament. Something is driving members of the magical community into murderous rages. Jackson and Xander must combine might and magic to find the source of the Fever and stop it. Can they put aside their differences long enough to end the Fever, or will they succumb to its bloodthirsty curse?
A Touch of Fever is a 70,000-word M/M urban fantasy romance with a HFN ending. Join a fast-talking artificer and a snarky sorcerer, best friends turned bitter enemies, as they navigate an adventure filled with strange flora, mythical fauna, and magical murders. If you like your urban fantasy with humor, horror, and a whole lot of heart, youāve come to the right place. Experience A Touch of Fever today.
I was so sry when I finished the absolutely marvelous Sinister in Savannah series by Aimee Nicole Walker. That stunner of a trio of storylines pulled together complicated, well defined characters, with equally complex romances, a murder mystery or three, a magnificent Drag Queen to center everyone as well as to bring greater emotional realness. The location of Savannah, Georgia adds a richness of culture and history unlike anything outside of New Orleanās.
Yes, indeed. This author does dwell most emphatically so well down south in Savannah.
The only reason I didnāt completely lose it after the last story was the authorās promise to visit this universe again. With certain secondary characters everyone adored getting their story.
And here we go! First up with my favorite too!
Bad at Love is Kendall Blakemoreās story. Heās Jonahās roommate, often seen tossing some gorgeous man out the door in the morning , often his stepbrother, Trevor, after a late late night at The Cockpit, a club he works at. Kendall is beautiful, sassy, and in so many ways you canāt even name, heartbreaking. And this was before he even got his own book. But he was definitely memorable.
Walker brings Kendall even more into focus here as he decides that itās more than time for him to give the new loving couple, Jonah and Avery, their space and home, and move out on his own.
Thatās when it becomes apparent just how scary such a move might be and how dark Kendallās history has contributed to making this a fragile step. Thereās a discussion of Kendallās eating disorder. Itās well done but should be noted if thatās a trigger for anyone.
As we meet and are diving into the emotional maze thatās Kendall, the author gives us US Deputy Marshal Kurt Dandridge. Weāve tentatively met him before, when he was trying to deny his need for Asherās chili. Here we see the consequences of that battle and the rest of the Marshals from that night.
Itās a great time for a new group of criminals, a regrouping of some terrific secondary characters, and a wonderful romance between two men who arenāt even looking for love.
Walker is amazing at writing people who feel so believable. Their vulnerabilities, their walls they raise to shield themselves, and even the lies they tell themselves. The author layers them all into the characters personalities and actions as they work their way through the barriers that separates them from each other.
Let us not forget the high action sequences, and humor! Thatās all here too! It makes the story. Iām sure the different law enforcement agencies all have their favorites to tell.
But in the end, this is a love story and a outstanding one. I adore this couple, and i needed to see them happy. I absolutely got that. Sigh.
Iām highly recommending this and the connecting series listed below. Read them all.
Note. Not sure of that cover though. Looks a bit like a demented Siamese kittieā¦hmmmm.
Bad at making decisions or bad at love? Either way, Kendall Blakemore doesnāt trust his judgment. He falls too hard, too fast, and always for the wrong guy. Needing a major shakeup, Kendall moves into his own place for the first time and seizes a new career opportunity. But everything he thought he wanted turns out to be the last thing he needs. When loneliness threatens to derail Kendallās good behavior, he decides to rent out his spare bedroom. What could go wrong? Try a tenant whoās temptation incarnate.
Hurts so good. Chemistry burns between themāhot, consuming, and impossible to ignore. And why should they? Kendall and Ridge are consenting adults who know the score. Being bad has never felt so good, but itās a slippery slope to navigate. One misstep could have disastrous consequences for both men.
Bad at Love is a standalone novel within the Sinister in Savannah universe where both characters first appeared. It is not necessary to read that series first. Bad at Love is a romantic suspense thatās heavier on the romance than the suspense.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 