What and awesome story this was as it was so emotional that it brought me to tears.The love triangle was awesome we loved the characters all of them broken in some way yet, perfect for their poly-relationship giving the men the best of both worlds and Jazz she got something that she was needing from both of them that lend-ed to her healing.

I always loved Jazz she was already and interesting character but, once reading her story my heart just broke for everything she endured and not knowing how she survived it all emotionally. Props to Jazz for being so strong as she was always strong and beautiful and we loved that the men in her life saw that and no matter the horror that scars left on the inside as well as out.

Screw was one messed up dude emotional scarred and scared and once threatened emotionally in anyway he struck out against those in the only way he new to defend himself.We loved the broken man to pieces as we saw through all his bs but, with Jazz in his life as well as Gumby he too was healing as both had something to give him that no just one person could provide what he needed physically as well as emotionally.What we loved most about Screw was how open he was with his own sexuality and his f***-off attitude he had for others who didn't approve but, we loved that his brothers couldn't care less and even teased him about his conquests but, for Jazz things were working to her advantage as she had feelings for to men and was unable to choose between them.

Gumby was a love-able character just like the rest of them but, between the three he was the most emotionally scarred and his hangups could be his undoing you understand why this man feels the way he does considering his upbringing but, unless he deals with his personal demons he might lose the loves of his life.My heart went out to this man time and time again but, I wanted to smack him more often than not to wake up and see whats right it front of you before its to late.

Overall we loved it and we would could go on and on for sometime telling you about all the things we loved about this story it was just that amazing!Lilly never disappoints us and she makes it so easy for us to fall in love with her characters and even though we love the characters of this entire series and my heart broke and melted for Jigsaw and Izzy's story but, Screw & Jazzy & Gumby's story moved into the top number one spot for my favorite in this series .We loved that the No Prisoners MC and its character's graced the pages of this current tale as we love those guys as well and that Ms. Atlas created a bit of a dilemma with Gumby belonging to another MC but, lucky for us they are one cool club and love nothing more then seeing their brothers find the love and happiness they all deserve.

Final thoughts we be that this tri worked for all parties involved and if push came to shove and a decision to choose could have between made but, in the long run something would always be missing from ones life to make that one person truly happy and fulfilled in all ways possible.This author has done it yet again!What and amazing emotional tale with a whole lot of complications and more than a few twists and turns along the way.For us we think each and every time this author puts a pen to page her stories just get better and better and each and every time manages to bring me to tears.

This story and its character's will not be easily forgotten and we can tell you right now this one will be a constant re-read we have in our library.

Although you could potentially start the series with this book and manage okay, I'd recommend that folks at least read A Princess in Theory, which introduces Nya Jerami, the main character of this book, and shows readers the events that resulted in Nya's father being put in prison. I skipped A Duke by Default, Book 2, which, from what I could tell, resulted in me missing out on the introduction of Johan von Braustein, the hero of this book, but didn't otherwise interfere with my ability to understand what was going on.

Okay, so this book stars Nya, a shy royal who's trying to break away from her father's lingering toxic influence. Living in New York City for a while hasn't really accomplished much - she dated a bit but still feels like her same awkward self. She's now heading back to Thesolo for Ledi and Prince Thabiso's wedding, only to find herself face-to-face with Johan von Braustein, the sexy, womanizing step-prince of Liechtienbourg, the same guy that the character in the royalty-themed otome game she's currently playing in based on. As she spends time with him, she gradually realizes that the person the media sees is very different from the person he actually is in private.

I'm trying to review this after having finished it a couple months ago, and it's dawning on me how much of the story was focused on Nya and Johan just getting to know each other and become comfortable with each other, because I'm looking over my notes I can't figure out what else, if anything to add to my summary. I mean, Johan was also dealing with a Liechtienbourgian referendum to abolish the monarchy, and there was a fake engagement between him and Nya. And also some stuff related to Johan's suddenly strained relationship with his younger sibling, who was the reason why he constantly got himself into the tabloids - if they were speculating about him and who he was with, they weren't focused on Lukas.

I'm a big fan of "shy heroine" romances, as well as flirty heroes who are secretly vulnerable and insecure. This book definitely worked for me on that level. It also helped that some of my own geekiness overlapped with Nya's. I loved the brief reference to a game that sounded very much like Hatoful Boyfriend, the best joke dating sim in existence. And the game Nya was currently playing, One True Prince, had gameplay that was very similar to one of my top favorite otome games, Mystic Messenger. Both games have real-time gameplay that requires players to answer phone calls, texts, and chats from the game characters at various times throughout the day and night - which resulted in some misunderstandings on Johan's part, as he mistook her frequent phone checking for signs that she had a secret lover (meanwhile, I cringed in anticipated embarrassment at the thought of how Johan might react once he found out she was actually "dating" a fictional version of himself).

I preferred the romance aspects of this book more than in the first book in the series, although I wish there hadn't been quite as much sex (the sex at the opera just made me roll my eyes). Johan and Nya were usually a pretty sweet couple. The book's nonromantic stuff, like the referendum, was dealt with more happily and easily than I could quite bring myself to believe, however.

If there was anything that might have prompted me to quit reading, it was the linguistic aspects. Johan occasionally used Liechtienbourgian words and phrases. It was clear that Liechtienbourgian was at least somewhat related to French and German, and some words and phrases, when plugged into Google Translate, registered as Luxembourgish. However, it used French and German words in ways that didn't fit or make sense, seemed to be doing weird things with Luxembourgish (I don't know that particular language myself, so I'm basing this off of Google Translate), and wasn't even always internally consistent. Some examples:

On page 30, Johan sends this message to Lukas: "Ça va, petite bruder?"

So we have something that looks like a mishmash of French and German and treats what looks like the German word for brother as though it were a feminine word.

Also, there were a couple instances of a phrase that looked like it was supposed to mean "good day" and seemed to mean that in context as well. However, this phrase was inconsistently written:

"Gudde jour" (46)

"Gutten jour" (117)

Unless they looked similar but meant different things - but again, the context indicated that they both likely meant something like "good day." When I tried plugging them into Google Translate out of curiosity, I was amused to learn that, in Luxembourgish, the first phrase apparently meant something like "good news," while the second one meant something like "boys are on duty."

Thankfully, I eventually either adjusted to the linguistic stuff enough to ignore it, or Cole gradually cut back on it.

The book included some LGBTQIA+ rep I wasn't expecting but thought was nice to see in a mainstream romance: Johan was bisexual, something I caught hints of early on in the book and that was unambiguously confirmed later on, and another character was nonbinary. Johan's bisexuality was worked into the text so smoothly that I found myself wondering whether homophobia and biphobia just didn't exist in this world. The stuff with the nonbinary character was a lot more heavy-handed, like when books introduce asexual characters with a chunk of unnatural-sounding "Asexuality 101" dialogue.

All in all, this was a nice entry in the Reluctant Royals series. I liked Johan and Nya as a couple more than Thabiso and Ledi, although this book's story was a lot weaker than the overall story in A Princess in Theory. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series, but I still have zero desire to go back and read A Duke by Default. I'm guessing that Sanyu and Shanti will be getting a book soon. They seemed miserable in this book, so it'd be nice to see them either fix their marriage or end up happily married to other people, if that's what Cole has planned instead.

 

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

This isn't really an in-depth review so there won't be any spoilers involved, just me spraying feels after freshly finishing this book!

 

When I first heard about this book and read the overall premise I was instantly sold. To the point that I immediately purchased it off Amazon. Like I do I tend to hoard books that I'm excited to read so it sat on my shelf for a few months. But recently I've gotten into the habit of just reading what I want to read when I want to read it. I was not at all sorry for picking up Sawkill Girls when I did. Because it is Pride month I definitely wanted to read more books with queer representation. Not only was their Bisexual representation that actually used the word bisexual; there is also Ace representation which I've been seeing more and more lately. So already it got major props in that department add in spooky elements and multiple perspectives and you have me sold!

 

Having never read one of Claire Legrand's works before I was thoroughly impressed with her writing style. There was just enough purple prose without going over the top. It was very clear to me that she knew each character and showed how they differed from the next. But what most impressed me was the opening scene dealing with grief and the phrases people say to the grieving. I instantly latched onto Marion as a character, because I saw myself in her. Being someone who could relate to what she was going through.

 

As a reader that highly impressed me, plus it was very touching. The lore within this story had me thoroughly intrigued and had me wanting more! It was very interesting to learn about what the creature was and the generational tidbits here and there. I would say I wish more had been expanded on, but that's mostly the lore geek in me. I hope maybe we might see a sequel, even if it's not involving these characters directly. Because there's definitely more to be explored there. All in all, though there was never a dull moment for me while reading Sawkill Girls. If I hadn't been busy it would have been eaten up sooner, lol.

Add to Goodreads

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Justin Cuevas is going through a rough patch. A broken relationship, a scandal, and the demise of his band have shaken the aspiring rock star’s confidence. Working two jobs and sleeping on his friend’s sofa isn’t ideal, but Justin isn’t ready to give up yet. With a little luck, he’s hoping to re-launch his music career in LA with his new band, Zero. The key is to stay focused, and not get distracted by his past…or the sexy songwriter he can’t get out of his head.

Gray Robertson has written dozens of hits and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. But he’s never met anyone like Justin. The younger man is fiery, passionate, and smart. A powerful voice for a new generation. Other than an unforgettable one-night stand and a passion for music, the two men have nothing in common. Or do they? Justin knows the out-of-the-blue challenge to write a quintessential love song is a huge opportunity. And it’s the ultimate test for someone who’s doesn’t believe in happily ever after. When sparks fly, Justin and Gray realize they have a shot something special if they start from zero together. Maybe even love.

 

 

Excerpt:

 

<!-- [if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <![endif]-->

Justin turned to me with a fiery expression and gestured toward the glittering lights below. “Everyone here wants more than what they have. And I guess I’m the same. I don’t need recognition and I sure as fuck don’t want love, but I wouldn’t say no to a few bucks,” he commented with a laugh. “What about you?”

I did a double take. I was two steps behind, struggling to keep up, and if possible, memorize every word he’d said. I hadn’t been around anyone so raw or so honest in a long time. He made rules and broke them with at whim, letting me in and then shutting me out. He had a way of revealing himself that made me feel as though he was holding a mirror to me, daring me to acknowledge my broken pieces too. He was either slightly insane or incredibly gifted. I suspected it was the latter. The cadence of his speech lured me in...and made me want more. I’d tell him anything he wanted to know, just to be near him and this intense spark of...newness, creativity, and wonder.

“What about me?” I asked in a low raspy voice.

“What do you want to accomplish before you leave the planet?”

“I want to write the perfect song,” I replied unthinking.

“There’s no such thing.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But it would be nice to leave something that felt special.”

Justin held my gaze then inclined his head in agreement. “Yeah. I want that too.”

We stared at each other. Whispers of conversation floated from the far corners of the rooftop deck. We weren’t alone, but we might as well be. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so intimately connected to someone I’d never really touched. It was puzzling and enchanting at the same time.

He shivered when the breeze kicked up. I took it as a sign from above and pulled him against me. I had to feel him. I studied the sexy indentation in his bottom lip before giving into impulse and resting my hands on his hip. Justin gave me a funny look but he didn’t push me away.

“You shouldn’t be anonymous. You have too much to share. Too much to say,” I said.

“What are you doing?”

“I...I’m not sure. Is this okay?”

“Yeah. It’s good.” Justin nodded and snaked his arms around my waist.

We were still for a while. He was so close I could feel his breath on my lips. The lingering quiet was deceptive. A casual observer might have mistaken us for old lovers engaged in a tender moment. Or maybe they’d guess we were tentative strangers anxious to make the right moves. Not too fast, not too slow. Neither was correct. There was no quiet here. An electric current sizzled and hissed between us. Intense sexual awareness and something more. Something fiery and passionate. He was wild and rough with jagged edges and a sharp mind. Instinctively, I knew I should proceed with caution because walking away wasn’t an option.

“I want to kiss you,” I whispered, inching closer so our noses brushed.

Justin gave me a crooked smile and tugged at my belt loop. “Then do it.”

I tilted my chin slightly and pressed my lips to his. He was deceptively tender at first. He closed his eyes and hummed into the connection. When I licked at the corner of his mouth, he let me in without hesitation. I couldn’t get enough. He tasted like gin and nicotine with a hint of peppermint. All the things I apparently couldn’t do without.

I pulled him closer, cupping the back of his neck to kiss him harder and deeper. Our tongues twisted in a growing frenzy until everything and everyone around us dissolved into white noise. Justin lulled me into complacency and let me think I was in control. I pushed him back slightly and wrapped my fingers around his neck to keep him in place when he leaned forward to nip my bottom lip. He grinned like a madman and then lowered his eyelashes in a show of faux subservience. I didn’t trust him to stay still or obey for a second. Justin was wild and headstrong. He wasn’t going to do anything that wasn’t either his idea or a bad idea.

I should have known then that I’d met my match.

 

Purchase at Amazon

 

Starting from Zero by Lane Hayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Justin has a lot on his plate right now. Yet he meets someone interesting that he wants to spend time with. He figures he can do that for himself. Little does he know this path will lead to so much more.

Gray just wants to enjoy his time with his new guy. He has no idea he will be sucked in by his best friend and a possible scheme by his Godson. Either way, he will make time for the new man in his life. So they can possibly find more.......

This was a great start for a new series. The characters feel very compelling and seriously dedicated to their music. Both have found themselves in a new situation. I like that it feels very real and sincere right from the start. The sexy times are also quite hot!


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

View all my reviews

Meet the Author:

  

Lane Hayes is finally doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. She is the bestselling author of the Better Than, Right and Wrong, A Kind of Stories and Leaning Into Series and the Out in College series. Lane’s novels placed first in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an empty nest.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Bookbub

 

Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, Readers! Today, I am visiting a new sci-fi world by Shona Husk! Enjoy and don't forget to add the first book in the Precinct One series - Severed to your shelves!

 

 

 

 

 

Halle Ish, one of Velli’s elite police Arrows, is shot down during a Precinct One riot. Wounded and unable to fly, she tries to hide and avoid capture, knowing that if she is found by the razor gangs or Clipper Sect they will sever her wings. She needs to get out of Precinct One.

 

Avin Lent was once a promising medical student, but he started sniffing Mumble to beat the stress and is now the doctor to one of the biggest gangs in Precinct One—while not part of the Clipper Sect, they are just as dangerous. He knows he is only as useful as his next surgery and they would have no qualms about killing him. Only Jarro is keeping him safe.

 

Jarro Coblic is deep under cover and has been for a year. Immersed in the gang, he suspects his hands will never be clean again. When he finds the wounded Arrow, he knows he can’t turn her over even though everyone is looking for her. With his lover’s help, they hide her and heal her wing. All the while, falling for her. He prays Avin will not crumble and reveal their secret as Jarro tries to figure out a way to get them all out of Precinct One before the Sect and the gangs bring the full wrath of Velli on Precinct One. Tearing the place down can’t come soon enough, but there will be blood before the slate can be washed clean.

 

 

Wounded and able to fly, Halle Ish is an elite police arrow in enemy territory, knowing that if she is found by the gangs her wings will be severed. Avin Lenit was once a promising med student, but now he’s the doctor to one of the biggest gangs in Precinct One. He’s been deep under cover for over year, Jarro Cobli has to find a way to get them all out of Precinct One before the Sect and the gangs bring the full wrath of the Veilli on Precinct One.

 

The characters are strong, compelling and easily pull readers into their story as they try to survive in some grueling circumstances. The relationship between Avin and Jarro is well established, sweet and super-hot, but the relationship between the two men and Halle ups the chemistry level to explosive but the romance is slow growing due to trust issues and secrets which keeps the outcome of the ménage romance in suspense until the very end.

 

The plot is fast paced and while thrilling and full of excitement, it also is full of violence and drug use which makes the story a bit on the dark side adds a bit of dangerous appeal to readers. The author adds these dark elements to the story in a way that gets the point across without going into graphic details that could potentially be off-putting. Although, the story could have been a bit more informative in regards to the culture, the world is fascinating with some unique elements that have a kind of cross between a post-apocalyptic world and futuristic world and readers can’t help but become completely caught up its thrilling debut story.

 

 

 

Author's Book Page -
http://www.shonahusk.com/science-fiction-romance/severed/

 

 

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43881174-severed

 

BookLikes - http://booklikes.com/severed-shona-husk/book,14002963

 

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/severed-precinct-one-book-1-by-shona-husk

 

Riffle - https://www.rifflebooks.com/books/1044175

 

Romance.io - https://www.romance.io/books/5c72438801dbc864fb9a9f19/severed-shona-husk

 

GBooks - https://books.google.com/books?id=U8J2wgEACAAJ&dq=shona+husk+severed&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit3LfF_r_hAhUPO60KHTEQCCcQ6AEwAHoECAMQAg

 

 

 

 

Severed is the 1st book in the Precinct One series

 

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/series/256521-precinct-one

 

 

 

AVAILABLE in print or ebook

 

NineStar Press - https://ninestarpress.com/product/severed/

 

Amazon (P) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1950412261/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p3_i3

 

Amazon (e) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NYTWYGP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i1

 

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130660196?ean=9781950412266

 

iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/severed/id1453774304?_bbid=11790972&mt=11

 

GPlay - https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Shona_Husk_Severed?id=V3yKDwAAQBAJ

 

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/severed-15

 

 

Romance author Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.

With over forty published stories, ranging from sensual to scorching, she writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.

 

Sign up to receive my newsletter and some free stories.

 

Website - http://www.shonahusk.com/

 

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3464665.Shona_Husk

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/shonahusk

 

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/ShonaHusk

 

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shona-husk