âHanahaki: A fictional disease popular in the fanfiction community. According to the lore, a person develops Hanahaki when they fall in love with a person so deeply that they canât live without them.â
Well, this was just adorable. From the cover to the predictably cute HEA ending, Fated was a quick fun fantasy short .
Zile Elliven is a new author for me and immediately introduced me to the fictional disease of Hanahaki. Lovesickness in all its floral glory. Or is it gory? Hmmm.
Anyway. Max and his gamer friends are instantly recognizable, cheerful and funny. Maxâs fated mate? A glorious fantasy that has been waiting for him.
And itâs even got a cute dog too.
Iâm definitely seeking out more from this author and recommending this for all lovers of fantasy fiction.
Me? In love with a fictional character? Of course not! So why was I coughing up flowers every time I thought about the fictional character from my favorite video game?
Areth was a sexy, badass monster and utterly perfect, but none of that mattered because he wasnât real. If I really was in love with him, I was going die, and there was nothing I could do about it.
This story contains:
⢠Unrealistic size difference resolved by magic
⢠Fated mates
⢠A very small dog
⢠Monster love
⢠Dimension hopping
⢠Wanton destruction of furniture
⢠So very many flowers
Fated is a ridiculous 16,000-word novella with super heckin’ gay monster sexy times.
I had real trouble arriving at this rating. Matrimonial Merriment is the last Valor and Doyle book by Nicky James. Itâs a 7 book series that I found incredibly strong and emotionally compelling at the start, only, imo, to chart a very strange path for the characters and their various storylines.
This story has its strengths and its weaknesses, much like its characters.
Quaid Valor was a tragic character. His young sister had been kidnapped while he and his father were âin chargeâ of her during a parade. But he was a child himself and his father was a policeman at the parade occupied with security. It destroyed his family and him emotionally, as his mother left them shortly afterwards, abandoning him. Also the devastating betrayal by a man Quaid thought loved him. These events reverberate throughout the series, including finding out how the events happened and who the kidnappers were.
Then thereâs Anslan Doyle who has his own personal demons to fight. That includes his professional reputation, the on the job abuse of alcohol, his alcoholism, his emotional recovery on and off the job. He is the opposite of Quaid. Where the Doyle clan is loud and boisterous, itâs just Quaid and his now retired father, quietly playing chess in a house thatâs frozen in time.
The journey that takes them through the start of their relationship, the beginnings of understanding of each otherâs faults , severe struggles and strengths , all while solving missing persons cases and murders, thatâs what makes the series and this couple.
But then as the author wove their personal histories and solved their mysteries into the cases each book was featuring, certain things started to unravel. The very strengths and failures that led to them becoming more powerful and complete individuals were starting to be forgotten in parts of their dynamics . In their interactions the forward movement in overcoming certain obstacles or challenges now seems stalled or even moving back towards what they were in the books that were written earlier.
Especially the penultimate book when Aslan actually caused Quaid to have an emotional breakdown over a poorly thought out proposal. In fact most of that book came close to a DNF as it felt like the author had backtracked the relationship between the two characters and their understanding of each other. The astonishing lack of communication and understanding that brought about a crushing emotional breakdown of Quaid should have been unthinkable by this point in their relationship.
Now comes the finale story and a couple of different issues. Both seen here, one of word choice and another again of authorâs characterization. The word is one thatâs shown itself increasingly throughout this series.
Imagine a story where the author uses the term âpurple orbâ every few sentences. Or at least, ten times a page when speaking with regard to a character. Now how distracting would that be?
Sneering is Jamesâs purple orb. Itâs everywhere. Itâs a feature of Quaid. He sneers constantly. He even smiles sneeringly. It should have been retired. The âsneeringâ. The overuse of this word is beyond tired. It starts in the first book as a part of Quaidâs common facial expression.
âCan you bring the binder?â
âWhat binder?â
I stalled and sneered at my phone. âPlease tell me youâre joking. It has been attached to my hip morning, noon, and night for a week.â
âGross. Save it, Valor.â Jordynâs sneer won a solid silver medal on the sneer-scale, but it would never surpass the masterâs.
Quaid sneered backâproving my pointâthen closed his eyes and let me continue to work.â
So many sneers.
Also, although I get why, James turns Quaid from a thoughtful interesting layered character with issues to caricature bridezilla. For the majority of this book heâs beyond frantic over the wedding planning process . All due to the fact that Doyle decided they must be married before Christmas.
Solution? Donât get married before Christmas. No one is forcing them to do this, except a whimsical decision (by Aslan and the author). But no, per the authorâs storyline, it increases the stress on Quaid to the point he lands in the hospital, again.
Yet, itâs never acknowledged that at least some of the issues lie with the fact that the short deadline was his partnerâs choice and could be changed.
Itâs all on Quaid, here. The imbalance is stark. And while the push to have Quaid seek therapy is a good sign, thereâs also another side thatâs being ignored.
From men who fought to get a deep understanding of each other and their relationship dynamics to people who seem to forget they know each other and each otherâs foibles.
Thereâs good elements here. The gardenerâs who marrying them. Quadeâs relationship with Ruiz, something that has greatly evolved over the series has Ruiz will talk about here. Thatâs a remarkable and heartwarming thread.
Itâs also setting up the new sequel series, which will feature Ruizâ cousin and a ex police officer.
So this raises the question. The rating. Itâs a finale book. Yes, the final part of the story with Aslan and Quaid finally getting married was heartwarming and satisfying. I think it was the best part of the story and made me happy to see this come to an end. It was time.
The narrative before was a mix of lovely bits of storytelling that reminded me why I loved this series and couple entwined with sections of scenes and moments that made me want to stop reading, remembering why I thought it had lost its charm.
So read it for all the above. To finish the series, to see the couple off, and, if youâre curious, get an introduction to the new series to come.
Quaid Andrew Valor and Aslan Ronan Doyle cordially invite you to be an honorary guest as they join their lives in matrimony. The ceremony is set to take place at Strongwind Castle on December 23rd. Save the date!
Time is short. Quaid has less than three months to plan the wedding of his dreams. A wedding that happens to land two days before Christmas. Donât be fooled. It is not a Christmas weddingâat least not if Quaid has anything to say about it.
The wedding binder is fat and the list of things that need to be done is long, so when the department decides to implement a mandatory team-building Secret Santa event that will take up every one of Quaidâs available Saturdays, he is livid. There is no time for nonsense on his tight schedule.
When Aslan sees what the stress is doing to his fiancĂŠ, he calls in the cavalry to help plan the wedding. What could possibly go wrong with Ruiz and Torin on their side?
Relationships grow deeper. Friends and family come together to celebrate. And Quaid and Aslan finally tie the knot.
**Matrimonial Merriment is the seventh book in the Valor and Doyle series. Unlike the other books, this one does not contain a mystery and is wholly focused on our two favorite detectives finally getting married. It was meant as a bonus book but somehow came in at over 100k words. Oops. More of them to love.**
One of these days by Ofelia Gränd is going to surprise me and deliver a full length novel and I wonât know what to do. Iâll be overwhelmed and overjoyed, of course, but still. Someone will have to pick me off the floor first.
Until then, Iâll settle for these short tales of whimsical romance or whatever she decides to call them. Her mind is a decidedly different and wonderful place.
Here it has created a bar on an unknown world, The Ruby Tooth, a place where all the species can have a drink and mix, but under the most rigid rules that only the doorkeepers understand.
How I love how weirdly quirky Grandâs imagination is. The Ruby Tooth is divided into two bars, a good side and those that belong on the bad side. The veritas, the doorkeepers, with their intense glaze that see into the soul, say left or right, good or bad. And thatâs where the beings go for their side of the bar, unable to switch for the night. The veritas give no clues or rationale for their actions, just the words. Left or Right.
Which is all the more intriguing when two widely different beings, one human (Iâm assuming) and one a werewolf bounty hunter, each end up on the wrong side of the bar. Thats approximately where the authorâs short story begins.
But itâs full of boundless possibilities, wild elements , fanciful ideas, and great characters. Honestly, why is Ilya Lewis the only one in an Elf costume and why does that bring immediate dislike? I need to know!
And donât get me started on his friend who ends up with two bear shifters. Nope.
But even better is the new fated mateâs romance thatâs a âtake it slowâ road romance. What a great change of pace.
Thereâs even more going on. Fast paced action, heart stopping fights, and a happy ending. All well done in 45 pages.
Sigh. I need a full length book so badly!
Read this quirky, imaginative paranormal romance and enjoy!
I highly recommend this author in all her flights of narrative fancy.
Ilya Lewis is gonna kill his best friend Vera. She not only persuaded him off his couch and into the creepiest nightclub in the city, she also didnât show. When Ilya learns the bar is split into two halves, and heâs been let into the wrong side, it doesnât make things any better. Once the doorman determines which half to let you into, he won’t let you into the other.
Ulric Moon hates the Ruby Tooth. But as a bounty hunter, he must go where the trails lead him, and tonight itâs landed him in the worst nightclub in the universe. All he wants is to catch the vampire heâs hunting, but despite trying to convince the veritas doorman examining his soul that he needs to be let into the good side of the club, heâs shown to the bad. As if that wasnât enough, his destined mate somehow manages to sneak into the bad side where he doesnât belong.Ilya finds a way to the other side of the bar, but one look at the patrons there has him regretting ever leaving his apartment. When he tries to leave, a scary-looking man who does nothing but growl follows him.
Ulric knows heâs freaking Ilya out, but Ilya has inadvertently caught the interest of the vampire Ulric is hunting, and he has to protect him. How will Ulric keep Ilya safe when he doesn’t believe Ulric is a bounty hunter? And how do you tell someone theyâre your mate when they donât believe youâre a werewolf?
When it comes fiction thatâs categorized as vigilante justice thrillers or found family psychopathic vigilantes, author Onley Jamesâ books are at the top of the list. They are there because of the depth of characterization, the complexity of their storylines, the inclusion of therapy when possible, and that the damage and trauma dealt out is met, if possible, by an equally powerful or more violent ending for those monsters involved. Itâs dark fiction for a reason.
It starts with the seven dark fantastic books of the Necessary Evils series and then leads here to Jerichoâs Boys, now on its second successful novel.
Jericho, married to Atticus Mulvaney, who became an adopted guardian to a group of troubled teenagers, now young men. They were a part of Jerichoâs story in Necessary Evils and the subsequent books.
Paladin was Arseny Lebedev and Everâs story. Rogue belongs to Levi Akira, a familiar character, and Shiloh
Mizrahi, who becomes the new addition to the growing found family of Jericho and Atticus.
As with each book, James reveals the deep emotional landscape of Levi Akira in every aspect of his personality and history. From his tortured childhood to his current deeply dysfunctional dynamic with his homeless, alcoholic mother, the authorâs treatment of Levi is an raw painful , constantly evolving portrayal of a young man whoâs never been able to express his complex feelings about himself and what he has been and continues to go through internally.
Add to that, James has created a new monstrous family comprised of a sadistic middle brother, and two other brothers each with their own unique sets of traits and issues. None of which Iâll mention because they are an integral part of the story. But all are so well crafted, cruelly real in one way, and heartbreakingly raw in another. As to the oldest? Iâm hoping we get so much more of him.
It starts with a small surprising situation. And then continues to escalate until eventually the Mulvaneyâs are involved as well,as they should be. After all, itâs one big family.
The epilogue is very satisfying because itâs HFN, as it could be given their ages and length of time together. They are a work in progress. Luckily we will see them again in the next book and whatever action the Mulvaney family gets involved with.
Iâm highly anticipating both. And recommending Rogue (Jericho’s Boys, #2) by Onley James as a must read. But thatâs including Necessary Evils as the foundation series.
Jerichoâs Boys:
â Paladin #1
â Rogue #2
⌠Bard #3 – tbd
*Necessary Evils (7 book series) – this is the foundation series for Jerichoâs Boys. Many ,if not all , of the couples and characters from this series play important roles in Jerichoâs Boy books. So it helps to have read the books first.
Levi Akiraâs existence is far from ideal. His mother’s addiction consumes their lives, his academic standing is crumbling, and the convenience store he works at is a constant target for ruthless robberies. But amidst the chaos, Levi finds solace in only three things: his tight-knit group of friends, protecting his neighborhood as one of Jerichoâs Boys, and streaming his favorite video game, where he assumes the role of Rogueâa hero who will break the rules for the greater good.
Shiloh Mizrahiâs hope has all but dwindled. With one brother unjustly imprisoned, and the other a sadistic puppeteer, he endures daily torment at the hands of the latter. And his latest demand? Get close to Levi at any cost.
In the midst of another ordinary night shift, Levi’s world is upended when a captivating and terrified stranger appears, brandishing a weapon and claiming he has been forced to kill Levi by his own brother. Levi, torn between self-preservation and an instinctive aversion to harming the vulnerable boy, takes a bold leapâhe kisses him. And then, just like that, the boy disappears into the night, leaving Levi haunted by his memory.
Driven by an unshakeable connection, Levi’s path crosses with Shiloh’s once more, igniting a passionate bond that refuses to be extinguished. However, Shiloh harbors a labyrinth of secrets, torn between loyalty and desire. With his brother’s freedom dangling in the balance, can Levi and Shiloh navigate the treacherous path to be together, or will Levi forever remain a hero confined to the online realm?
âFisher Cats’ Hale and Brewer Engaged: College Sweethearts or Fake Relationship?â
Faked engagement, best friends to lovers , bi-sexual awakening, hurt/comfort m/m hockey contemporary romance time! Thatâs a lot of tropes for a novel, and itâs not even close to covering the best elements that Vaughn includes in The Waiting Game.
This is the third in Brigham Vaughnâs Relationship Goals series, and I really enjoyed the two previous stories.
The Waiting Game has some great elements woven into its characters and narrative as well as some things I found a bit problematic.
Letâs dive into the positive aspects of this story first.
Korean Canadian history and culture thatâs been used for the background and creation of Jonah Brewer , a Canadian Korean hockey player with a strong sense of community and a heartwarming grandmother whoâs a great central figure in the novel. From the Korean food his grandmother, Jonah and Felix fix, to the house and gardens that mean home, the Korean culture is well established within the storyline.
Next is the story thread of Felixâs drunk driving, his temporary suspension from the team, and his ongoing treatment for alcoholism. Vaughnâs created in Felix a man still very much in the beginning stages of his recovery. This is Felix dealing with his sobriety and his alcoholism by going to his AA meetings, making those calls to his sponsor, Ismael, when he needs help, and generally within Felixâs storyline, making his journey as realistic as possible. His stress, fears, and doubts are all understandable.
Jonah too has some huge emotional baggage. His parents died in a plane crash when he was young and his life was uprooted from one culture to another. Loss upon loss. That deep seated fear of losing loved ones comes through, especially with his relationship with his remarkable Grandma Ji-min. The authorâs making use of the three of them as the heart of this book is a great decision because as a family unit they are the best aspect of the story.
Now to the next part, the issues. Itâs the romance that I feel wasnât working as well. At least for about 20% of the book. From the 45 percent to about 65 percentage or over, where thereâs almost no communication between them about what is happening between them, the book would have lost me except for Grandma Ji-min.
It was a great framework and friendship up to that point. Then fake engagement which was strange the way it was handled. Then more avoidance about talking. Then finally exploring new bisexuality and going forward at around 70 or so percent. When the romance felt grounded and believable.
There was, naturally, a several dramatic elements towards the end, and then moments to pull everything back together. That was terrific , and some of it was very moving.
But for me, that large passage of non communication almost derailed it. Which was a shame because, as I said, thereâs so much thatâs absolutely wonderful here.
The Waiting Game is a good book in the series, although not my favorite. Iâm recommending it and itâs great to see diverse representations in hockey .
Fisher Cats’ Hale and Brewer Engaged: College Sweethearts or Fake Relationship?
On the eve of their first playoff game this post-season, the Toronto Fisher Cats organization sent out a press release announcing the engagement of their top D-pair.
The release insinuates the childhood friends may have been involved as far back as college and makes it clear the front office supports the relationship. âWe are confident that such a longstanding relationship will be nothing but beneficial to Felix in his recovery.â
Reactions are mixed.
An anonymous inside source stated, âLegit? No way. This whole thingâs a PR stunt to soften the publicâs perception of Hale.â
One fan commented, âHale & Brewer have always been so adorable together! Itâs great they finally feel comfortable being out about their relationship!â
While many fans are similarly supportive, others speculate that the announcement is tied to the Catsâ shaky play of late. âWe all know theyâre not gonna make it past the first round,â one fan stated. âItâs just an attempt to distract from how weak the team is.â
Adding fuel to the controversy, Hale shared an image of the players naked in bed together and captioned, âPre-game nap with Jonah before we take on the Montreal Lynx. Go, Cats!â
PR stunt or happily engaged couple? Only time will tell.
TRIGGER WARNING: Frank discussion of alcoholism, past death of parents, and emotionally neglectful parents.
âWelcome to the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.â
Code Name Jack Rabbit is a book the starts a new chapter in the lives of the couples and characters from Anne Barwell and Elizabeth Nobleâs excellent paranormal series, The Sleepless City.
There, along the banks of Lake Erie in the town of Boggslake, Ohio, there was a haunted mansion called Boggâs Castle. Home to a werewolf, several ancient vampires, a human, a dog, and the ghostly original owner, they solved murders, had many found family dramatic perilous moments, and found their mates.
Code Name Jack Rabbit picks up from the end of tumultuous events in Shifting Chaos. While recovered, each is dealing with the aftermath.
I enjoyed this and was somewhat sorry to see that the intriguing town and full found family is going to be left behind for the trilogy.
Two couples, Jonas Forge and Blair Turner (both vampires) and Henri de Fluer aka Declan and Lucas Coate (vampire and werewolf) are recruited by an ancient agency. And moved, along with Moose the dog, to another location.
Left behind in Boggâs Castle is Simon and Ben (vampire and human). And the ghost of course. And while Nobleâs storyline and the characters discussions themselves have this separation make perfect sense, they are after all extremely long lived, if not eternal species, itâs not as easy for the reader who loves them as family.
So itâs a major adjustment to have a new crew of people and players. They also are a foundation of their own, like those of Boggâs Castle.
The mystery plays well against the type of paranormal creatures and murders they have already faced prior. And Iâm sensing a link that may be forming between the series villains.
Anyway, itâs shaping up to be another exciting new series and a fast paced new group of characters.
Iâm definitely recommending it. And read The Sleepless City too. It a much needed foundation for this.
Itâs a rec for me. It a good lead in to a terrific sequel series. Read them in the order they are written.
The Sleepless City:
â Shades of Sepia #1 by Elizabeth Noble
â Electric Candle #2 by Elizabeth Noble
â Family and Reflection #3 by Anne Barwell
⌠Shifting Chaos #4 by Anne Barwell
Sequel Series:
The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble:
The Vampire Guard:
â Code Name Jack Rabbit #1
⌠Quarry #2
⌠Endosymbiont #3
Buy Link:
Blurb:
Vampires and werewolves live long lives. The Sleepless City saga might have ended but the story continuesâŚ
Welcome to the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.
Vampires make the best spies. Throw a smart-mouthed werewolf in with three vampires, mix well, and The Vampire Guard’s newest team is bound to become one of their greatest assets. Super spies with a full range of skills. Warrior, hacker, thief, and scientist. They get in, do the job, and get out before the bad guys ever know what hit them.
Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas are thrust into the world of high-tech spies and top-secret espionage conspiracies. Recruited into the worldâs most elite and secret organization with one singular mission. Protect those who canât defend themselves from ruin.
Together they must thwart an assassination attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiguanâa weapon which may very well mean death for one of them.
Need a smile? A absolutely feel happy to the , well , bones , reading experience? Look no further than A. J. Sherwoodâs latest serialized book, How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu and Profit : Bone 2 (How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy.
Now on chapter 8, the epic adventure is really about to start, especially since Tan, his necromancer brother Niran, and Devan, have accepted that their tiny charges, the powerful budding sorcerers-in-training, Lesia and Zi Rui, are coming with them.
That together, with a chatty sentient dragon skull, Steve, in search of his bone body. And barbarians everywhere! And itâs fabulous and funny! With fireballs.
And always over way too soon. But thatâs the way of serialized fiction. Itâs a quick, addictive tasty morsel that leaves you happy with the bite you had and wanting more. As this one does.
Bring on chapter 9!!!!
Love these covers.
đĽHow I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villainy-6 books
đĽHow Tan Acquired an Apprentice
đĽHow I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit
Ribs located! Penalty activated if you refuse. Proceed with quest? (YES) (no)
Devan: But the ribs are in the middle of a barbarian village.
Tan: Historically speaking, fireball would fixâ
Niran: Charred bone. No.
Devan: Time to do this the hard way.
Tags: BoooOOOooones, trekking through barbarian lands to find dragon bones is not as fun as it sounds, they marrowly escape, yes all the bad bone puns, Niran canât help himself, dragon ribs are big, Niran has more bones in his workshop than a collector, whole story is just mindless violence and fluff, and fireballs
Prince of Agony ends Tavia Larkâs wonderful Perilous Courts fantasy series. Itâs been a dark journey through several Kingdoms and different characters and couples to arrive at our final dark romance.
The Prince of Agony is House Direâs Prince Kazia. Itâs fitting that Lark is circling back to the beginning, Kingdom of Draskora , the Kingdom that produced the assassin Whisper (Prince and Assassin #1), has Scalestone the necessary mineral upon which their magic and the dragons cannot exist without.
Kazia has been an enigmatic peripheral character in the previous books that featured his family and Kingdom. But even in the smallest of scenes, Kazia, long purple hair, small stature, and with a bitter personality and conversation that matches that of the finest blade, took over.
He was a mysterious figure waiting to be revealed. Which Lark does in the most painful, dark way. This element contains on page parental physical abuse to the point of torture. So if this is a trigger, you will know that leading up should you want to read ahead.
Itâs an important part of his life and character. And his treatment and the reason why he endures it , and circles back to another person and storyline. This was a great aspect of Prince of Agony and I canât help but wish it had been explored further.
I thought that about so many different threads here that there easily could have been two more books in this series instead of this being the finale.
Lucien Vaire, and his own storyline was another one I both wanted more than what we had here. His well developed relationship and role in our understanding of Kaziaâs tormented history is a remarkable part of this book. I wish we had more of his magical abilities than we do. To only bring them in at the dramatic climax is to shortchange his character. The other aspect which could have done more with, especially considering its powerful nature of bonding and the increased intensity to them as a unit, is the dragon herself. She is glorious. Sheâs a novel.
As itâs a finale book, all the couples from the previous books make their appearances. Itâs good to see them together again and interacting with each other. Especially Whisper, whoâs not only my favorite character but his storyline and book have remained my favorite of this series. His complicated, intense backstory with the Hounds , an infamous group of assassins, gets a resolution of sorts here as well.
I also have thought about that element of Whisperâs life as one of the greatest aspects and most compelling things that Lark created for the series. I only wish that it could have been explored more thoroughly. Even through its own series perhaps.
Prince of Agony (Perilous Courts Book 6) by Tavia Lark ties up most of the important storylines and gives all its characters a great ending. The Kingdoms are certainly better off than when we first encountered them.
I definitely enjoyed this series. I have my favorites and Prince of Agony gave it a good send off. Itâs a definite must for fantasy lovers.
Prince Kazia Dire isnât nice. Being nice lets people close. Letting people close risks revealing Kaziaâs greatest secretâthe power that condemns him to a lifetime of abuse.
Until opportunity appears in the form of a captive enemy mage.
Following a dragon across the border lands Lucien Vaire in chains, and matters only get worse from there. Lucien has hated House Dire since the last war. Now, heâs under the notorious brat princeâs direct control.
Painful experience has taught Kazia to fear mages. He needs to keep Lucien at a distance even as he uses Lucienâs talents. But that distance narrows with each careful kindness. Each accidental touch. Lucien acts more like a protector than a prisoner, and Kazia is tempted by the dangerous sweetness of trust.
But Lucien is still a mage, and Kazia is still broken. And Kaziaâs cruel parents may still destroy them both.
Prince of Agony is a high fantasy gay romance, featuring captivity, hurt/comfort, and enemies hiding in a linen closet together. This is the final book in the Perilous Courts series, which is best enjoyed in order.
⢠Publisher: (February 28, 2024)
⢠Publication date: February 28, 2024
⢠Print length: 295 pages
Content Notes: This book includes captivity, coercive magic, physical abuse, and references to past child abuse. The abuse is not between the two protagonists. Thereâs also an age gap, but thatâs really the least of their problems.
Iâm such a fan of Saxon Jamesâ Accidental Love series. Itâs centered around an old Victorian, Big Boned Bertha, and the found family of young men from disparate, often painful backgrounds that call her home.
Each roommate has slowly been finding their partner, either within the house or outside of it, experiencing and finding love with the support of their âadopted familyâ. Itâs been great and certainly different paths for each one.
Now itâs Rushâs turn. Rush who was the first to move into Bertha, Rush who was the first of Aggieâs boys, the woman who stood in for family for Rush, and then the others. Rush whoâs ADHD and how he approaches it is so much a part of both his personality and the storyline.
Jamesâ has written a lengthy Authors note about writing sensitively about a neurodivergent character with diagnosed ADHD and Rushâs approach to medication and ADHD. I think James has done a wonderful job with Rush, especially as an individual making his own choices. Rush always comes across as a believable person, coping, messy, sexy, brave, confident, confused,all the feelings and fears. We connect with him and invest in him. Rush is amazing.
Hunter, the ex-fiancĂŠ whose world,along with Rushâs, is crushed in one night. He is a man of layers. James exceeds my expectations with Hunter. He could have been so easily a formula character. But instead, Hunter is one of a man whose personality opens up, revealing depths of vulnerability, acceptance , and generosity. As their relationship develops, the true nature of Hunterâs character that James has created starts to evolve, weaving powerfully into his and their storyline. I love him and them.
My only quibbles go back to the beginning. Whereas James has a long explanatory note about writing neurodivergent characters, thereâs exactly a four word note on triggers connected to a SA and violence. Thatâs about a on-page event concerning a main character.
I think enough readers will see it coming so they can, if they choose, skip over this part of the story. Itâs short but emotionally, realistically played out. Should an author say more about a plot point in a story when it involves a trigger? This is a question thatâs very relevant and in discussion.
The Revenge Agenda (Accidental Love Book 3) by Saxon James is a fantastic read. Itâs got compelling characters, an engaging story, and a satisfying ending. Big Bones Bertha has given us another great romance.
We still have another novel to come.
Iâm highly recommending this and the series. Please do read the notes. Itâs something I recommend no matter what the authorâs subject, but in this case itâs about one of the characters and TWs.
When I show up to surprise my boyfriend in a barely-there festive outfit, Iâm expecting him to be alone.
Not hosting family.
His fiancĂŠâs family.
Down one boyfriend and up a lot of embarrassment, I flee with my tail between my legs. The broken heart will fade. My humiliation, not so much, but my saving grace is the fact that I never have to see either of them ever, ever again.
Until I walk into work and come face to face with my new boss.
Hunter
I never, in a million years, would have guessed the man hiding under his desk at work would be the one person I hoped to never see again.
My ex-fiancĂŠâs side piece.
Apparently I canât fire the guy because of personal issues, so I try to play nice, which is a whole lot harder to do when I find out my ex is still texting Rush. The same ex I havenât heard from since I walked out on his begging.
Rush tells me he didnât know about me. He tells me there were others. He also tells me our ex still wants him and so, we come up with a plan. To show him what it feels like when you want someone who doesnât want you back.
All we need is a camera. His number. And one shared kiss.
Lane Hayes has written an absolutely engaging, tug at your heart romance with Falling For Raine. Itâs all age gap, opposites attract relationship with a grumbling, closed off older(and very wealthy) man whose life is utterly shattered, by choice, by a sunny, brave hearted, extroverted younger man.
And yes, itâs a popular trope but Hayes takes it and makes it her own with great characterizations, wonderful locations, and a fast paced plot. But itâs really that Hayes gives the reader a sense of the real emotion thatâs occurring here, a feel for the real intimacy and chemistry happening between the men so we get the tug theyâre unable to resist.
And that starts immediately. So sexy and funny. Raine, the younger American, and Graham, the older British businessmen, just run the gamut of emotions here throughout the book and itâs wonderful to be a part of. Hilarious, heart stopping sensual, poignant, heartbreaking memories, and back to slapstick comedy. Itâs a fabulous rollercoaster of romance between two men we will come to care about greatly.
What others might disagree with but I thought was very reasonable and business based, was the storyline with the person who is considered the âvillainâ. There was major character growth and moving forward instead of an unrealistic narrative ending. I appreciate that .
Thereâs some areas I wish the author had explored more fully. That of Juliaâs character and her own elements here. I do have a small hope for this couple to get a couple of sequels shorts. One for a wedding! Viva, Wedding! And one for them to visit Raineâs friends in WeHo. Graham in WeHo would be hilariously wonderful and oddly fitting.
Falling For Raine: MM Age-Gap Romance by Lane Hayes is a romantic journey I loved being on from beginning to the end of this book, and the start of something wonderful for Raine and Graham. I truly hope to see them both again.
Until then Iâm highly recommending this to all lovers of contemporary romance and if youâre not a fan of Lane Hayes, this book is going to make you one.
The gentleman, the hot mess, and a little British adventureâŚ
Raine
Moving to London is scary and daunting, but I desperately need this new jobâand a redo. Okay, so I may have oversold my qualifications. That shouldnât be a big deal, though. I mean, being an assistantâs assistant seems easy enough, and Iâm a fast learner.
ExceptâŚIâm already in over my head with spreadsheets, new pronunciations, and temperamental appliances. And just as Iâm mentally preparing to face going home early, the big boss offers me an opportunity I canât refuse. And I definitely should because Graham Horsham is an infuriating, complicated grumpy bear with a razor-sharp tongue, a wickedly dry sense of humor, andâŚI like him far too much.
Help!
Graham
Iâve been bamboozled. Iâm not quite sure how I ended up with an assistant who spills coffee daily, wears wrinkled shirts, and chatters nonstop. He canât stay, but I donât want him to go either. That isnât like me.
And the timing couldnât be worse. The Horsham Group is about to close one of our biggest deals ever, and I wonât jeopardize it. This one is personal.
Yet so is Raine.
Heâs a breath of fresh airâsilly, impetuous, lighthearted, good-natured, andâŚquite lovely. I like him more than I want to admit.
But not to worryâŚI will not, under any circumstances, fall for Raine.
Falling for Raine is an MM, age-gap romance featuring a British gentleman, a desperate but adorable American, and a UK adventure!
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 