Tag: author H.L. Day

A MelanieM Review: A Dance Too Far (Too Far #1) by H.L. Day

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Love can be dangerous!

Valentin Bychkov, rising star of contemporary Russian ballet, appears to have everything: wealth, talent, success, and a face and body to match. Not that anyone can get close. Bypass the entourage and there’s still Valentin’s sharp tongue and acerbic wit to deal with. He may give his body freely, but his emotions are kept tightly locked away.

Max Farley’s life is a simple one. All he’s interested in is work, drinking, and picking up the latest in a long line of one-night stands. The way he chooses to live may not be to everyone’s taste but it suits him down to the ground. He’s never met anyone who’s made him want to confront the demons from his past. Until now.

A show in London brings the two together. Lust brings them closer still. But if rumors of Bratva connections turn out to be true, then dangerous men wait in the wings. One dangerous man in particular, who’s used to people following his orders without question.

Difficult choices need to be made on both sides. Valentin and Max need to stop playing with fire and let each other go, or face the consequences. But letting go isn’t that easy where love is concerned.

And some things are worth the risk.

Warning: This book contains a snarky ballet dancer with an aversion to clothes, a little too much wall sex and an overabundance of Russian heavies.

Well, this is a first, but I’m starting my review with that cover.  It’s extraordinary!  From that gorgeous, arrogant, and yes, mysterious visage, you are  pulled towards him and his story.  That lace covered forehead and matching collar!  Those lips, that metallic blue eyeshadow and that side glance!  Tell me you aren’t hooked?  Well, author H.L. Day was.  From the moment they saw that photograph, a  character was born and then a story created, and then a series.

That unforgettable picture launched Valentin Bychkov  and the name suites perfectly.

The story?  Let’s get to that.

I just loved both characters. Author Day has two complex men who could  each fill a novel with their back histories alone.  Valentin’s, when it is revealed, is steeped in his parents romance and then mysterious death that left him an orphan of easy prey, especially since he was a boy a great talents and ambitions.  Valentin remains someone who keeps evolving, as layer after layer is lifted, showing new aspects to his personality and story.

Max Farley’s life has also been one of pain and disillusionment, betrayal actually.  Something that will emerge later in the story.  I thought this element was dealt with far too quickly and easily for the topic which accounts for the 4 instead of 5 star rating.  I realize that there were other issues at hand here for the characters to deal with but to throw this in here at this stage of the story and in this manner and not bring it up again just struck me as a less than responsible treatment.  Especially given that underage boys, sexual slavery, and pederophilia is a business for the Russian mafia and has had its effect on Valentin.

The story was well written, full of suspense, lots of action, hot sex, and finally love and romance.  If it feels like the love flows between Valentin and Max too quickly I think it’s because we forget how the time flew over the course of the story.  Still the chemistry rocked between the pair.

Did I buy that Valentin was a diva ballet dancer?  Absolutely!  The ballet seemed to pour out of this character, it was a part of him, and it grounded him even further in my mind.   Did I get that Max was a sound engineer?  Not so much.  We only saw him briefly in that role. Once in the sound booth and then it was only one more time after that.  He’s supposed to be so great at what he does that he can swagger into his booth late, smelling of sex and in dirty clothes and not get fired.  He’s as much a diva in his profession as Valentin is in his.   That’s the way the music world works yet I never got that from him.  Nor from the lack of repercussions from the events that happen later on.  So that never rang true.  While we had a entire foundation of work and passion from Valentin, we were missing that from Max and it made him a little less substantial.

Of course, I’m thinking of this after all the fast moving events are over, the drama is done, and the boys are now safely together.  For a while there, the author had us questioning everything!

Which made this a wonderfully exciting, sexy, and romantic read.

Valentin poses some questions for himself and us at the end of the story.  The next book will answer them.  I’m already on it.  And loving it.

But for now I’m recommending you stare at that cover…a long, long, time.  Then go pick up the story and get acquainted with Valentin and Max.  What a ride awaits you!

Cover art: H.L. Day.  One of my favorite covers this year.  See my opening statements above.

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 245 pages
Published February 15th 2019
ASINB07NTTRXR2
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesToo Far #1

An Alisa Review: Kept in the Dark by H.L Day

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Struggling actor Dean, only escorts occasionally to pay the bills. So, his first instinct on being offered a job with a strange set of conditions is to turn it down. No date. Don’t switch the lights on. Don’t touch him. I mean, what’s that all about? What’s the man trying to hide? Dean certainly doesn’t expect sex with a faceless stranger to spark so much passion inside him. It’s just business though, right? He can put a stop to it whenever he wants.

When Dean meets Justin—a scarred, ex-army soldier unlucky in love. Dean’s given a chance at a proper relationship. He can see past the scars to the man underneath. He’s everything Dean could possibly wish for in a boyfriend: kind, caring and sweet. All Dean needs to do is be honest. Easy, right? But, Justin’s holding back and Dean can’t work out why. But whatever it is, it’s enough to give him second thoughts.

They both have secrets which could shatter their fledgling relationship. After all, secrets have a nasty habit of coming out eventually. The question is when they do, will they be able to piece their relationship back together? Or will they be left with nothing but memories of bad decisions and the promise of the love they could have had, if only they’d both been honest and fought harder.

I put off reading this book and I’m not sure why because I really enjoyed it.  Dean is struggling to get by and when the opportunity to make the extra cash he needs he cautiously takes it but it turns out to be more than he bargained for.  Justin has been hurt by a lot of people since he got out of the army but Dean is one of the first to not treat him differently.

Dean and Justin get along well from the first time they meet but Dean can feel that Justin his holding something back and knowing he is hiding something too doesn’t help.  Both men try to give the other a chance to come clean but neither of them know how and when it happens it blow up in both of their faces.

This story was told from Dean’s point of view so we didn’t see Justin’s thoughts but with his reactions to many of the things Dean said or did I was able to see what he was thinking and figure out what was going on prior to the big reveal.  I could see how torn Dean was about his regular Tuesday client and his feelings for Justin, both make him feel alive in different ways but he just needs something to give but when it does he isn’t ready for it.  I felt bad for Justin with how hard Dean pushed him away and knew he was hurting both of them with his actions.  I was glad when Dean finally gave in for them to talk and loved when they cleared the air to be able to move forward and truly Justin has to be one of the most patient men out there.

I like the cover art by HL Day love the picture it gives of Dean.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 254 pages

Published: February 11, 2018 by HL Day

Edition Language: English