Tag: A Stella Review

A Stella Review: What Remains by Garrett Leigh

RATING  4 out of 5 stars

What RemainsWeb designer Jodi Peters is a solitary creature. Lunch twice a week with his ex-girlfriend-turned-BFF and the occasional messy venture to a dodgy gay bar is all the company he needs, right? 

Then one night he stumbles across newly divorced firefighter Rupert O’Neil. Rupert is lost and lonely, but just about the sweetest bloke Jodi has ever known. Add in the heady current between them, and Jodi can’t help falling hard in love. He offers Rupert a home within the walls of his cosy Tottenham flat—a sanctuary to nurture their own brand of family—and for four blissful years, life is never sweeter. 

Until a cruel twist of fate snatches it all away. A moment of distraction leaves Jodi fighting for a life he can’t remember and shatters Rupert’s heart. Jodi doesn’t know him—or want to. With little left of the man he adores, Rupert must cling to what remains of his shaky faith and pray that Jodi can learn to love him again.

Jody and Rupert met on a December night four years ago. Since then they shared a flat and the love for the little Indie, Rupert’s daughter. Everything changed in their lives when a car hit Jody as he was crossing the road and sent him in hospital with a damaged brain and a new life to rebuild cause he can’t remember his whole time with Rupert.

Yep the plot could be summarized in these few words but there is so much going on into the book. I very  much liked this story cause it gave me a lot of emotions and made me feel the characters emotions, all of them, fear, love, happiness, despair and braveness. While waiting for Jody to wake up from the coma he is in for weeks, the author brought me through a painful journey of the discovery of the MCs’ story, how they met, how they fell in love.  And following them when Jody finally wakes up and needs to relearn who he is and who are the people who wants to take care of him. Although in general I’m not a fan of flashbacks or switching from present to past in the writing, the author had the ability to never bore me, on the contrary the writing style in this case worked perfectly for me.

I particularly loved Rupert, I never doubted  his courage and spirit, always so patient and caring, hoping for his lover to learn how to love Rupert again isn’t easy at all, but I cheered him on in his determination to get Jody back. Both of them never giving up on what could be called their second chance at love and exactly that had me glued to the book till the end.

Garrett Leigh never disappointed me in the past, What Remains was another winner, engaging and powerful, well written and developed, with some interesting second characters too. It was emotional and real. I feel to simply recommend it.

I found the cover art by Garrett Leigh perfect for the story, fitting and amazingly done.

Sales Link: Pre order at Riptide Publishing | other links to come closer to release date

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 278 pages
Expected publication: July 4th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN 1626493979 (ISBN13: 9781626493971)
Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Black Dust by Lynn Charles

RATING 4,25  out of 5 stars

Black DustNo matter how busy he keeps himself, successful Broadway musician Tobias Spence can’t outrun the memory of a tragic car crash from his past that claimed a friend’s life and permanently injured his former boyfriend, Emmett.

Even after losing Tobias, Emmett Henderson made peace with that awful night, living in his Indiana hometown where he has become a revered choral director. When his students are asked to perform in New York City, he decides to chance reconnecting with his former love, if for no other reason than to get a proper goodbye.

When Emmett and Tobias finally meet 15 years after parting ways, it is clear to both of them that their feelings for each other have not changed. As they explore their renewed relationship, the two men face old hurts and the new challenges of a long-distance romance. Will Tobias lose his second chance at love to the ghosts he can’t seem to put to rest?

“If the past comes back to visit you, maybe you should invite it to tea.”

Black Dust is my frst book by Lynn Charles, I was curious and excited to read it. Now I can say I’m surely going to read her debut novel, Chef’s Table, in the coming weeks.

What I soon appreciated was the prologue. I adore authors who give me the basical facts at the start and don’t let me beg for crumbs of past events. In the prologue set in the 2000 Emmett and Toby are a young but solid couple, they met two years ago during the auditions at the local theater when they were just 16 and 18 years old. It’s the night before Emmett prom and they are going out with their best friend, Scott when they have a terrible car accident and Scott dies.

Fifteen years later Tobias is a Broadway musician, he plays piano all over the world. He left Indiana and Emmett behind. He came back to his life, but the struggle to forget what happened and the dreams shared with his lover forgotten, is still strong and the youthful, broken promises hard to forget. Now his home base is NY and his best friend Malik, a sculptor.

Emmett is living in Indiana, working now as a choral director. As soon as the chance of  a couple of days in NY come out, he hopeful and calls Toby, asking for a reconnection.

Among the two, Emmett was my favorite character, he’s strong, real, loyal and beautiful in his heart. I soon felt a connection with his attitude, in his everyday life, his relationships with his parents or with his students. Yes I fell for him.

Point is I haven’t fallen for Toby, at all. And this is the only reason I’m not giving the story five stars. I couldn’t feel his emotions, I found him to be cold-hearted and stiff in everything he does. To me he didn’t stand out as a good person and was almost impossible to me to see him with Emmett. I said almost because at the end, thanks to the author abilities, I was finally able to understand his loss, his guilt and the tragedy he is still trying to overcome. Hats off to Lynn for this and for giving Scott an importance and lovable portrait, I missed him like Emmett and Toby did.

The author put in the story her whole musical knowledge and beyond. The MCs’ passion and work had a huge role in the book, but it never overwhelmed my reading, on the contrary, with the help of a well developed and interesting secondary characters cast, gave the plot a foundation and realism needed. I liked the style and the writing a lot, I think she did really great. The “second chance at love” stories are one of my favorite trope in the mm genre and Black Dust greatly delivered. The book was definitely worth my time and I recommend it.

The book and cover design by CB Messer is a winner. I like it a lot, an amazing style. It’s one of the reason why I picked the novel.

Sales Links:  Interlude Press |  ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 312 pages
Published April 7th 2016 by Interlude Press
ASIN B01DR4USSO
Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Neon White Episode 5 by Wulf Francu Godgluck

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars   ★★★★★

Neon White 5“To gain something substantial, you need to sacrifice something of equal worth.”

As Bla’Gar rushes to save his beloved pet, the possibility of a grim future might be waiting for him. Will he be forced to repeat the mistakes of the past…again, or will he be allowed to make another choice… Exchange one eternity for another Hell?

Jessy can’t foresee a world without Raven. In a time when enforcers like him are the very fibers that hold together the future of this new world, she will do everything in her power to help save him. But there will be a cost… There is always a cost.

As Seth struggles within his own personal Hades, the mate he always wanted, but felt he never truly deserves, comes to save him. But the darkness is vacuous and beautiful at the same time, and it might just be the end of all of them… If the Beast doesn’t get what he came for.

Raven is lost to all now, fading out of existence, yet Death may be his only salvation.

Some actions speak louder than words, and some will be immortalized forever. Some wars are never won, they are simply…forgotten.

What if you had one chance? One opportunity to change the past? What would you be willing to sacrifice for it?

I can think of one word for this season finale: unexpected. Of course I should have known better and don’t be surprised, cause the author is one of the few able to make me love stories so dark and full of twist. Stories I would have never enjoyed if he didn’t write characters who are impossible to not like.

As I already said in the reviews of  the A Tooth Claw and Horns Chronicle series, the series is not for everyone, it’s violent and often too hard to take. Plus it needs to be read in order, so if you haven’t done yet, pick the first one, it’s still free.

Back to Neon White Episode 5, I have to admit I divoured this book in a couple of hours and I had to start it again the day after, cause I was so overwhelmed by everything happened, I was a little confused and wanted to give it a second try. And it was better then the first time.

I really don’t feel to talk about the plot cause I don’t want to spoil a series so rich in characters, events and unbelievable endings. And in my opinion the book ended in the perfect way ever because it gave the series a very deserved closure, exactly where everything started, back at the origins with my loved Raven and Chetlér. I was on the edge through all the book and the ending was balm for my soul. At the same time it saddened me, knowing I won’t meet them again but the author left open so many routes to follow in a coming (soon I hope) new season. I can’t wait for more.

I want to highly recommend the whole series, if you’re looking for something different, quick and startling you want to read Neon White Episodes by Wulf Francu Godgluck. To me it was a huge success. Really well done, Wulf!

The cover art by Wulf Francu Godgluck follows the style of the whole series and it’s well done and different from the usual.

Sales Links:   ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 75 pages
Published April 22nd 2016
ASINB01EG4BE50
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesA Tooth Claw and Horns Chronicle #5

A Stella Review: Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh

RATING:  3.75 out of 5 stars

BetweenGhosts_600x900In 2003, journalist Connor Regan marched through London to add his voice to a million others, decrying the imminent invasion of Iraq. Eight months later, his brother, James, was killed in action in Mosul.

Three years on, Connor finds himself bound for Iraq to embed with an elite SAS team. He sets his boots on the ground looking for closure and solace—anything to ease the pain of his brother’s death. Instead he finds Sergeant Nathan Thompson.

Nat Thompson is a veteran commander, hardened by years of combat and haunted by the loss of his best friend. Being lumbered with a civilian is a hassle Nat doesn’t need, and he vows to do nothing more than keep the hapless hack from harm’s way.

But Connor proves far from hapless, and too compelling to ignore for long. He walks straight through the steel wall Nat’s built around his heart, and when their mission puts him in mortal danger, Nat must lay old ghosts to rest and fight to the death for the only man he’s ever truly loved.

I’m a fan of Garrett Leigh, she is a great author who writes beautiful and heartbroken characters, just how I like my boys to be. I had enormous expectations on her new release, Between Ghosts, and in some ways they were greatly satisfied, because the author can write and pick the right cast, main and secondary too. As you can read and imagine from the blurb, the story is pretty hard and the setting is hurtful, still I wasn’t scared and I was wrong. Now I can admit I can’t read these kind of books. Between Ghosts is well done and deeply emotional, but the sadness I felt, highly distracted me.

I was left dubious and not so into the book since the start, I felt a detachment from the words I was reading and although I was enjoying Nat and Connor, I couldn’t connect with them. And to me the reason was pretty simple: I was too overwhelmed by the setting. I was able to feel a chemistry and a connection, because it was clear from the first sight Nat and Connor are meant to be together and heal each other hearts. Still the mission  they were on played a huge role on the plot and was more important than the beginning of something (physical) between the guys.

I was a little disappointed by the last third of the story, some parts were predictable, others a little unrealistic but the ending was what I wanted, a sense of closure and a peace hard to find throughout the story, but so well deserved. What the MCs felt and did in their lives earned them the right to try and get all the happiness they can have together. And right there at the end I was really hoping for a sequel where I could follow them in a new life and enjoy them in another way.

The cover art by Garrett Leigh is well done as anything she designs. The cleaness and the colors were a success for me.

Sales Links:   Riptide Publishing | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook,226 pages
Published March 14th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN 1626493510(ISBN13:9781626493513)
Edition Language English

A Stella Review: Spencer Cohen, Book Three (Spencer Cohen #3) by N.R. Walker

RATING   5 out of 5 stars          ★★★★★

Spencer Cohen #3Learning to be in a committed relationship has been easy for Spencer. In fact, too easy. Andrew has fit into his life seamlessly. Spencer’s let go of his insecurities and hang-ups, and he and Andrew are enjoying where things are headed.

For the first time in years, Spencer’s life is unbelievably perfect. Andrew overthinks everything. So when Spencer gets a phone call from Australia, he’s certain Spencer will push him away.

But instead of driving them apart, maybe it will solidify what they already have. Maybe Spencer will depend on Andrew more than ever. Maybe the Spencer Cohen story will come full circle, and maybe, just maybe, Spencer will have the happily ever after he never thought possible.

Spencer Cohen Book Three is the perfect ending for the awesome new series by NR Walker. I really am in awe of this author ability of write books like these, each one perfect, easy and with unexpected depth.

The third book is adorable and sweet till the last words. Spencer and Andrew are more perfect then ever, still crazy in love and hot together. The chemistry and the feelings among them crystal clear. It is never a shallow story, there is a lot of relationship devolpment, not just the one between the MCs but the ones with their closer friends/families. There is a lot of past hurt to overcome, some angst and tears to cry. Although some very heavy moments, sad and painful, I still found the story easy to read, maybe the first time the MCs didn’t have to get over misunderstandings or little issues to solve, they went smoothly to the most perfect epilogue I’ve ever read.

I loved each word, each scene, each character. I smiled through out all of the story (except for some ugly crying) and I couldn’t stop reading it for a minute. I particularly enjoyed the tempo and the writing of course was great. Plus the choice of release the three books in a short time frame was a huge bonus. I can’t recommend the series and the author enough.

Now can Yanni and Peter have their own story, please?

As I already said in the reviews of the previous books, I adore the style of these covers by Sara York. It’s new and so welcome in an ocean of often too similar covers in the mm world.

Sales Link:  Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 189 pages
Published April 21st 2016 by BlueHeart Press
Original TitleSpencer Cohen, Book Three
ASINB01EDDUAMM
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesSpencer Cohen #3

Trilogy with links to Stella’s reviews:

A Stella Review: Spencer Cohen Book two by NR Walker

RATING  4,5 out of 5 stars

Spencer Cohen 2Finally going from fake-boyfriends to the real thing, Spencer Cohen and Andrew Landon are trying to take things slow. They know what they have could be something special and despite the flammable sexual tension, they don’t want to crash and burn.

Spencer is learning to open up, sharing the secrets of his past with Andrew. Afraid to put his heart on the line, yet seemingly unable to stop it, Spencer knows he’s falling in love with him. Andrew is petrified of leaping in blindly, yet it seems the slower they go, the faster they fall.

As they navigate their new relationship, Spencer worries Andrew will freak out when he takes on a new client. But it’s not a normal case and Spencer soon realises things are not what they seem. When things take a downward turn and they work together to help the client, Spencer and Andrew need to decide if they’re ready for the next step.

I devoured this second installment in the Spencer Cohen series, I know it could be no surprise to people who already know NR Walker but the book was well written and so easy to read. A freaking sweet, quick and enjoyable story. It was a pleasure to see Spencer and Andrew crazy in love and to meet again the great secondary characters, which I soon learnt to love.  They are awesome. plus I liked the little mystery to solve and the few words I had on Yanni. I hope to see him later, he deserves his HEA.

What I love the most was the development of the MCs’ new relationship, discovering more about their pasts and their backgrounds, the deep connection with Spencer’s friends and Andrew’s parents.

The dynamics between them were perfect, for example when Andrew was bossy during the hot steamy sex scenes, Spencer’s struggles with the understanding of his new and fast feelings. Every detail, every dialogue, every scene was right and at the right time. I got a lot of emotions, they warmed my heart.

So  I want to highly recommend this book and the first one to all of you, the author is a guarantee, you can’t miss her and the series is adorable.

The cover art by Sara York is simply fantastic! I like this specific style a lot and really hope to see it around soon.

Sales Link: Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 168 pages
Published March 17th 2016 by BlueHeart Press
Original TitleSpencer Cohen, Book Two
ASINB01CX3TP6G
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesSpencer Cohen #2

Series with links to Stella’s review:

A Stella Review: Ravel: A Ripples in the Status Quo Story by R. Phoenix

RATING  4,5 out of 5 stars


RAvelFor the past few years, Reese has hidden away in his home, refusing to venture out where he might have to face what reminds him of all that he’s lost. When Ashton, a human thief, breaks into his home one night, he doesn’t have a choice but to face the harsh truths of the world he’s turned his back on. He knows he supports the society monsters of myth and lore built upon the backs of humans through his silence, but the new leaders don’t tolerate sympathizers.

If a werewolf can’t act against the status quo without facing severe consequences, a human with Ashton’s cunning and experience circumventing supernatural predators certainly can’t risk drawing their attention. Their chance encounter leaves them both shaken and questioning whether they are living life as they were intended—or if surviving is really living at all.

I’m always curious about new authors and I read some great things about this series so I wanted to give it a try and soon jumped at the change to have it.

I have to say I was pleasurably surprised by this book, the story between Reese and Ash was engaging and well done. I was caught by the blurb but the MCs took my attention from the start and I cheered on them till the end.

Reese is a werewolf, he has an outstanding account with the past;  although their first meeting isn’t the greatest, with Ash sneaking in Reese’s home to steal from him,  Reese decides to help the young human, trusting him and his good faith. Living in the slums with his sick  best friend Leo is not easy and safe but in some ways Ash has never totally lost the hope for more, for some pale shine of good to find. Then at first sight, something switches on with Reese, a deep connection hard to ignore. Will they be able to trust each other and try to be happy in a world so dark?

This is a story about needs. About finding a salvation and maybe love in a world that left the human kind with nothing to live for. That was the first element that intrigued me, the choice of the author to create a world ruled by shifters, surely a different approach to the paranormal genre where shifters  are usually in the closet or at best, outcast by humans. This difference was really welcomed.

I liked the pace of the writing, a good tempo never boring. And the dialogues, more banters actually, between the two MCs were great, funny and most of all gave the story a brightness so needed in a world so sad.

Just a note I want to make, I was waiting till the end for a little more to happen, some action, some evil characters to come out. Save a disagreement/misunderstanding between Ash and Reese, the story flew pretty easily and it was okay because I enjoyed very much but I was waiting, for no reason, for that little more and when I didn’t get it, I was just a tiny disappointed.

If you are looking for a quick story and you are fan of paranormal genre, I feel to recommend Ravel. I think the author did really great and I am looking forward the other books in this new series. I’m sure I’m going to discover more characters to love. Although Ravel is the second book, in my opinion it works pretty well as standalone. But if you like to read the series in order, you can get the first book, Bought, for free on Amazon and Are.

I like the cover art cause it’s different and simple, and the black is very fitting.

Sales Links:  Smashwords | ARe | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, Revised/2nd, 74 pages
Published April 1st 2016 by R. Phoenix (first published December 23rd 2015)
Original Title Ravel: A Ripples in the Status Quo Story
ASIN B01DBAV324
Edition Language English

About the series

The Ripples in the Status Quo works are set within a world where supernatural beings seized control from humans and relegated them to the bottom of the food chain. Used for food, entertainment, and worse, nothing protects them from the hands of those who claim them as slaves. But not everyone adheres to the status quo the world at large has accepted…

Please note that the RISQ world has little place for humanity–and the author’s idea of romance may not match yours. As such, there are no guarantees of happily ever afters, and content may be offensive to some readers.

The suggested reading order is below, though these works can be read as standalones.

1. Bought. [Dark Erotica]
2. Ravel. [Romance]
3. Recoil. [Dark Erotic Romance]
4. Owned. [Dark Erotic Romance. Follows events in Bought and Recoil.]