I've missed a lot of round ups this year so thought I should post at least a couple before the end of the year.

Just the 10 reads for me this month, but only 1 comic was included so that's a plus.

Yearly Reading Challenge update - 122/140

Read in November - 10

Audio - 0

Novels/novella/short stories - 9

Comics/Graphic novels - 1

5*

4.5*

4*

3.5*

3*

Just gearing up for the end of the year now, I'm pretty much done with my Christmas shopping and only have to post a couple of presents off to Oz for friends. 

I'm working this Christmas which is shit and I've noted in my recent pay that it has STILL not been sorted which now makes it 6 months of management pissing around. 

In all honesty I don't think I can stay there full time anymore, I've really hit my limit and the frustration of several elements is driving me insane. 

Next year will bring a few changes work wise but I'm not quite sure what that will be at the moment. 

I'm off on leave at the moment and tomorrow I'm taking Boo to the vet to have her neutered so I'm feeling a little anxious about her having an anaesthetic. I'm sure Suzy will love this as it will give her several hours of peace and quiet.

Drew Beaumont is a successful actor who's bored with the usual Hollywood fare when it comes to movie roles. So when he gets the chance at something that's different and pushes all of his acting buttons...there's not much that Drew won't do to not only have a role in it but to make sure the movies gets mad.

Steve Sopol is so close to having his dream come true of seeing his first screenplay become a movie...but is he desperate enough to step out from behind the camera when the leading man wants Steve to take on the role of co-star. Is Steve brave enough to speak the words he's written in front of the camera?

I wasn't looking for big, convoluted problems or overly dramatic resolutions and for the most part what I found was that any problems or conflicts seemed too be resolved just a little too easily to the point of bordering on tedious at times.

The steam and sex were fairly low key in this one and that's not an issue, but something somewhere has to happen to make me feel the connection between a couple and while I'm not a fan of over the top excessive amounts of sex. I am a fan of steam and heat and attraction...something that makes me say 'yes, these two are going to melt my e-reader' ...there has to be something that still gives me a sense of their connection, makes me feel a little melty inside but I just never quit felt it with this pair.  I could see where it was possible. On paper they're a good match. But I wanted to feel that connection not see it as a logical forgone conclusion...sorry, I'm a romantic sap about this stuff. 

While both men had their problems to deal with...as well as being a self professed diva Drew's every move is scrutinized because of his fame as an actor and there was of course an ex or two in his past. Steve ironically has a bit more to deal with as well as an ex who thankfully stayed in the past but left his mark on Steve in terms of emotional damage. Steve has reasons why he wants his personal life to remain private but with stepping into the limelight it becomes not a matter of if things will be revealed but when.

Also just a quick mention as far as secondary characters go I really liked Steve's mom, she was one of the only sparkling moments in what turned out to be an ok but rather lackluster story. I truly don't need a lot of over the top drama in a story but I have to admit this one went a bit to far the other way.

It's been a long time since I've read anything by this author and I guess maybe I was looking for something more along the lines of 'Return to Sender' or her 'Lost Boys and Love Letters' series, I loved the hell out of that series...like really loved it...maybe it's time for a re-read? Or maybe if the audio gods are smiling on me these will be on audio one day (yeah, that's totally a hint on my part, but hey, you don't get, if you never ask, right?)

Thankfully, Kenneth Obi was the narrator for this one and while the story may have had some lackluster moments his narration did not and kept me on track with things making for a more enjoyable story experience.

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An audio book of 'His Leading Man' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes it's just really nice to read a book that has a nice romance that while it may not be totally uncomplicated, it's not loaded with a ton of drama and angst and has MCs who are both just adorable and cute.

'A Full Plate' fills the order on this. Bradford 'Tully' Tolliver pretty much has everything that money can buy. He's got a gorgeous home, drives a Tesla, works as a junior lawyer at a prestigious law firm and a non-existent social life, but when you work the hours that he does what else can you expect and Tully's convinced himself that this isn't a problem and quite honestly until his friend and colleague ask  him to take in her brother, Sage for a year and give him a place to live while he works at a nearby diner to earn the money he needs for his obligations back home.

But all that changes when Tully agrees to help Sage Filling...seriously, that's his name I'm not making this stuff up I couldn't if I tried, so Tully agrees to help out and gives Sage a place to live. As Sage and Tully get to know each other they discover that 'opposites attract' is more than an over used turn of phrase. 

Problem is Sage doesn't have time for romance because he's got responsibilities and they have to come first even if he enjoys Tully's company and how they are together...which is abso-freakin-lutely adorable.

I loved these two men together they were cute and sexy and they worked as a couple they fit together so nicely. Sage wanted to make food for Tully and feed him while Tully wanted nothing more than to do whatever he could to make Sage's life better...easier, after all he had the money and what good is it if you can use it to help those you love? Except Sage has his pride and he's not looking for someone to take care of his responsibilities and it's this impasse that makes Tully realize that what he really wants is to be with Sage and love him...to be his partner and honestly I loved the ending for this one. It was sweet and just so perfect for both of these men.

Add in some interesting, likable and maybe a not so likable character and you've got a romance story that's not only sweet with a side of cute but it's also got that little bit of extra to keep it interesting as well.

This is my third audio book narrated by Kenneth Obi and with each book this narrator is earning a spot on my 'narrators I like' list. His voices are consistent, expressive, emotional and overall the voices that he gives the characters just work and listening to an audio book narrated by Mr. Obi has consistently been a true listening pleasure.

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An audio book of 'A Full Plate' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Picked this up for a bit of light reading. I don't know if I put it on Booklikes (or if it was in the dark period), but our family LOVED Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows. It was so dreamlike and ....very English.

Anyway, for an american sorta-anglophile, and definitely a fan of old Disney, I was delighted to find out that the Reluctant Dragon was a Grahame book as well. (the rights were acquired in Disney's bid to get Wind in the Willows' rights)

Anyway, unless you're an old disney freak like I am, you may not have seen Disney's late 40s, not-quite-a-short, not-a-full-length-movie of The Reluctant Dragon.

For better or worse, the film version was what stuck with me as I read. I wish I could have enjoyed Ernest Shephard's illustrations more (He's the guy behind Winnie-ther-Pooh, if you don't remember your early 20th century english kid lit)

Anyway, Grahame's language was droll, and really enjoyable. The details of the story were very different from Disney's version, but the tone was the same. What a silly dragon.

It was a nice short read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it's not as essential as The Wind in the Willows, and I probably won't be reading it out loud to my kids, especially since I've already forced them to watch the movie...

It's been a while since I've read a book by M. J. O'Shea so when the opportunity to review this one came up I was more than happy to give it a go. I'm always enjoyed books by this author and 'Game Point' has turned out to be no different. 

Quinn Valenzuala is a trust fund  baby. He leads the jet set life. Never staying in one place for to long until he jets off with his friends Hunter and Dane to the next party. He's foot loose and fancy free and has no interest in changing this. But when Quinn's mother calls him home with the news that his grandfather has died. Quinn begins to wonder if maybe it's not time for a change.

Porter Davis is the COO of the sporting goods company that Quinn's family owns a company that his grandfather has poured his heart and soul into and one that Porter had assumed would be passed on to Quinn's mother and not the jetsetting playboy that Porter would prefer go back to his carefree lifestyle and leave the running of Sparta Athletics to those more qualified.

When Quinn returns home he realizes that he's missed his mother and his home...that maybe it's time for him to put down some roots and accept that task that his grandfather has charged him with.

'Game Point' is truly an enemies to lovers story. Porter's determined not to like or give Quinn a chance. Quinn becomes equally as determined to make it work and become a business person his grandfather would be proud of and to prove to Porter that he's more than just a playboy with no real purpose in life. 

Little by little Quinn changes Porter's mind showing Porter that not only can he do the job but Porter can count on him when he needs too and not just in the boardroom...nope, Quinn and Porter discover that they like each other and they becomes friends...very, very good friends with benefits. Which is all well and good until Porter realizes that what he feels for Quinn is a whole lot stronger.

This ones a slow burn...very, very slow and that works because these men have to get over the deaths of someone they both care about very much and adjust to the changes that brings to both their lives before they can even begin to get to the process of learning about each other, getting to know each other but get to know each other they do and things progress from friendship to friends with benefits in due course.

I like how Quinn and Porter balance each other. While Quinn wants to learn about his grandfather's company and actually contribute to it's operations he also adds a lighter side to Porter's life getting him to do something besides work when Quinn accepts his offer of friendship and the two men begin to spend time together outside of the office. At the same time Porter brings balance to Quinn allowing him to see that there's more to life than being a playboy and that life can be enjoyed and appreciated even if it's not all just one big party. 

Quinn and Porter are not just good together...they're good for each other and the only thing that I would have changed about this story if I could would have been to make the ending a bit longer...maybe, an epilogue showing them a few months down the road...sharing their first Christmas...but maybe it's just the time of year making me think this.

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An audio book of 'Game Point' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.