Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted the audio version of this book. I came across this pair of authors when asked to read the Owatonna U Hockey series. THIS series is before that series, and so I know some of what happens here ahead of time. Tennant is the youngest brother of three, and they are all hockey players. Tennant wants to do his own thing, so bucks against what his brothers want him to do and joins the Harrisburg Railers. Jared is one of the coaches to the team and Ten’s big brother’s best friend. Jared also pushes all of Ten’s buttons and is 9 years his senior. Jared can’t touch Ten, can he? For the most part, I did enjoy this book. Like I said, I knew there was a happy ever after and I knew what would happen to Jared’s son, Ryker (book one, Owatonna U Hockey, who is 17 here) so it was more a matter of HOW they got there, rather than if. I liked that Jared made Ten wait, and that boy did struggle in the beginning with that, but once he saw WHY Jared wanted to make him wait, he saw, he really did, the beauty of that. Both Jared and Ten have a say, in the first person. Each voice is distinctive enough to know who is speaking if left mid chapter, but I have something to say about the narration in a little bit. I would have liked more conflict, I think! Ten is in the closet and NO one knows, not even his parents. Coming out to Jared changes things for Jared, cos he thought Ten straight. The conflict I think I wanted was with the team, and the aftermath of his coming out and what that meant to ten and Jared. There is SOME fall out, with the team’s bosses and what they do after, but when Ten was musing over things I was expecting MORE, you know?? Sean Crisden narrates. I have listened to his work a couple of times before, and I think I prefer his work when only a single character has a voice. Here’s why. Doing two voices alternately has to be difficult. Ten is far younger than Jared and has a higher voice that I had no trouble with. Switching then to Jared’s voice, which is low and deep? HIS voice is the one I struggled with. Crisden dips his voice when Jared is thinking, and is emotional, and I struggled, with my dodgy hearing to keep up. I missed some of Jared’s musings because of that. There was also some long drawn out, detailed descriptions of hockey matches and I kinda tuned out at those points. Had I been reading, I would have skipped ahead, but you can’t do that when listening. Sorry, but great details about sports is really not my thing, even if stories about the sports players is. 4 solid stars for the book 3.5 for the narration Rounded up to 4 stars overall **same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Title: Held Hostage (Sin City Uniforms #4) Author: Morticia Knight Publisher: Totally Bound Genre: Action, Contemporary Length: 199 pages Other: Spanking, Anal, Masturbation, M/M Rating: 4 stars Review by: Paperwhite REVIEW A very welcome addition to this series! This is book 4 in the Sin City Uniforms series, and you don’t NEED to have read the other books, but I would recommend you at least read book 2, Copping an Attitude. There are some things that happen in THAT book that have a direct impact on Brett in THIS book. They are all rather good though! Cole’s reaction to Brett is deep and powerful and vice versa and I loved that Brett fought a great deal against his feelings for Cole. They shared one night, just a “be there for each other” type thing, after a particularly difficult day for them both but very VERY quickly, it turns into more. They have crazy hot chemistry, right from the beginning. Cole brings some things into Brett’s bed that he never tried or thought to try before, and I did enjoy Brett learning as much as Cole did showing him. There is a scene in this book, that I did not enjoy. I didn’t want to read it, but I understand that is really is part of Cole’s life BEFORE Brett. I just didn’t like, is all! Both guys have a say, in the third person. Previous characters pop up, but not all of them. And I was glad that Brett could be friends with his ex, even after what he did in book 2. There is some overlap towards the end of this book and book 5, Negotiating Love and having read that book already, I knew what was going on, but it was great to read said bits from Cole’s point of view. I am enjoying this series, of 4 and 5 star ratings from me, but to be honest, this was probably my least favourite of the bunch. Still, I read it in one sitting, and I DID enjoy it for the most part. 4 solid stars **a similar worded review will appear elsewhere**

I was gifted my copy of this book. Dashiell saves Billy from an attack and then is offered a job as his driver. Dashiell wants to say no, but one look at Billy and Dashiell knows he can't. When the full picture becomes clear to Dashiell, and he grows closer to Billy, they begin to think that maybe, just maybe they can get away. But there is more at stake than just Dashiell and Billy, and the noose grows ever tighter around Billy. Can they really be free? So! This is the first book I've listened to by AE Ryecart (although I do have signed copies of The Barista Boys books!) and this was one hell of a ride! I *try* to seperate the narration from the story and write two bits of a review, but when a book is first person, multi point of view, I find it so much harder! So, not gonna! Dan Calley narrates this book and this is the first of his work I've managed to finish (totally another story, quite literally!) and I bloody loved the way he tells Dashiell and Billy's story! Calley get over every single feeling that Ryecart writes, and in such a way, I HAD to stay up late to finish it! Dashiell has an immediate attraction to Billy, but knows he can't have him, not while Billy is so tied to the situation, but they can't keep away from each other. Calley gets over the whole range of emotions that Dashiell, and indeed Billy, go through when dealing with the situation, and how they can be together, while figuring it all out! I loved that Dashiell's need to look after Billy, to feed him, soothe him, all those sorts of things, come out of nowhere for Dashiell. They really do hit him upside the head! Billy? Oh, I felt, deeply, for Billy, I realy did. He knows he can never be free, not while he has responsibilites to take of, but he can hope, right?? You do feel it, deep in your soul, when Billy stops hoping, and it made me cry! The way it all goes down comes out of left field, I thought I had more book left, it totally took me by surprise! Oh, I KNEW it was coming, but still. There is another character here who is not all he sems, and his book is next, I so wanna listen to that too! Be warned though, this book is dark, with reference to abuse that is described in some detail, but not every detail, if that makes sense. And the situation Billy is mixed up in has hints to underground activities. Some readers may have triggers. BUT for me?? 5 star read 5 star narration **same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. Meeting Emi 13 months ago had a profound effect on Spider. Not least because he saved her from her ex. Crossing paths again showed Spider how much he wanted to be with Emi. But Emi has her demons, and her secrets. Can she close the door on her past, and let Spider in? This is book 2 in the Rough Ink series, but it’s not necessary to read Zed, book one, before this one. Zed and Vivi pop up, but not very much. I enjoyed THAT book, though and it gave me a feel for Ms Ellis’ work. THIS book?? I LOVED this book! Spider thinks something is wrong with him, because there are no problems in his life, no skeletons in his closet. Until one day, his world comes crashing down around him and he turns to the newly reacquainted with Emi for support. But Emi is dealing with her world crashing down, and needs Spider for support too. Spider keeps messing up though and I loved the advice Zed gives him, basically throwing his own words back at him. Emi is determined NOT to fall into her previous mistakes, and when Spider messes up, he MESSES up. He does, quite beautifully redeem himself a time a two though! It’s dark though, be warned and readers with triggers for domestic violence will need to be careful. It’s quite violent in places, with Emi’s ex doing his thing and we do get some of that in detail. It’s not overly explicit, but the heat level for Emi and Chris (which is Spider’s real name, and I loved that she kept the two names separate!) is hot off the page! I read this book on one sitting, and I bloody loved it! The bit that wrenched the most emotion from me, though, was NOT Spider and Emi, but that really was heart breaking. No, the bit that had me SOBBING was the epilogue! A certain person has his say, in just that one chapter, and Lord does he have a lot to say! So well played there, Ms Ellis, very well played! 5 gut wrenching, emotional, extremely well written stars **same worded review will appear elsewhere**