I absolutely loved this book and while I have to admit there are a lot of books that I can say this about for many reasons. I mean let's face it, I'm probably not the hardest sell around when it comes to books. So chances are...if you give me characters that I can truly love or even hate with a passion, good dialogue, settings that are richly described, a story that holds my interest...well, chances are your books are going to be in the 'I loved it' category and if it's an audio book add in a well delivered narration and that makes you golden in my world. 

 

Before I begin I'd also just like to ask that you please forgive any spelling mistakes I may make as this is the one downside of audio books you can't check your spelling on words specific to a story.

 

Much to my surprise and delight "To See the Sun" has fallen very solidly into the 'I love it' category for me. Kelly Jensen has given us a complex and interesting world first in the planet Zimosen, a planet where much of the population lives below the surface never able to see the sun, just to dream of it as they struggle to survive. We first meet Gael as he in caught in a situation that no matter how it ends...won't end well for him and could possibly be even more disastrous than he's able to anticipate and when things go sideways Gael does what any reasonably intelligent person would do...he runs and he runs for his life.

 

It's as these events transpire and we are following Gael on his flight through the lower levels of Zimosen that the author also creates the world Gael survives in. Things are frantic and terrifying for Gael as he struggles to stay ahead of the law and find a way out. It's during this struggle to survive that Gael is offered the chance to escape to another planet via what is essentially a mail-order-bride program and with little to no hesitation he takes the opportunity and this is how he meets Abraham (Bram) Bauer and finds himself on an journey to an outer colony on the planet Alkirak to become Bram's companion.

 

I loved Gael and Bram together. They so easily filled the spaces in each other that had been empty, although this was not done without some hesitation, effort and a bit of miscommunication on the part of both men and I honestly would have been surprised if there'd been none considering they started out literally thousands and then some miles apart. These men weren't different worlds, they were from worlds that were vastly different. 

 

While there were a number of secondary characters that we saw glimpses of. There were really only 4 other characters who played prominent roles in this story and they were Price who turned out to be a better friend than Gael had realized, Aavi a sweet and precocious young girl with secrets that could be dangerous for everyone, Maia who a close friend of Bram's and ultimately Gael's as well and Maia's brother Orfeo, mayor of Alkirak and Bram's use to be friend with benefits. While I really enjoyed the depth and extra that other characters added to this story it was these four who helped to support the foundation of events that transpired and to keep things flowing at an enjoyable pace.

 

As for the steam and sex in this one it was  slow burn that felt right and worked well with both the character of these two men and the circumstances of their meeting and coming together. 

 

TJ Clark was the narrator for this story and while he's not quite a new to me author this was only my second audio book narrated by him and so far TJ's a definite win for me. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him as he took me on this amazing adventure with Gael, Bram and their friends. 

 

Putting this one off like I did was definitely not one of my better ideas but finally getting down to it has proven to be a decision that I'm really glad I made. I'm planning a return trip to Zimosen and Alkirak in the near future because as with any good story...this one's worth enjoying again and possibly again.  Definitely recommended.

 

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An audio book of "To See the Sun" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

War has been over for about 6 months. Felix (AKA Fix) is part owner of a ship that takes jobs. He is the mechanic and can fix anything. He was also a POW and declared dead. Zander (aka Zed) was "let go" by the military after the end of the war. He is at a crossroads and doesn't know what to do with his life; also in part d/t an experiment to make him a super soldier. Felix and Zander have known each other since they were kids, having gown up together and gone to academy together. Best friends, former lovers. Zander though Felix was dead.
This was a sweet 2nd chance story with good action and world building. The secondary characters are intriguing too- Qek, Nessa, and Elias. I would have liked more information on the Stin, that maybe forthcoming in a future installment. I'm betting the experimentation that Zed was exposed to will play into future books since they are only learning about the short term effects (and long term are completely unknown).

Jacob Kendricks is three months out of prison, estranged from his daughter, and ready to get his life on track. Taking care of the bum curled up on his doorstep isn’t part of the plan. When he realizes the man has been assaulted, Jake takes him to the hospital, where he learns that Max is his downstairs neighbor… and that he could really use a friend. Keeping Max in the friend-zone would be easier if he wasn’t so damned cute.

Maxwell Wilson has been bullied for years, and the only person who ever cared lives too far away to come to his rescue. Now his upstairs neighbor is offering support. Max remains cautious, suspecting he is little more than a project for the handsome Jake. When he learns Jake has had boyfriends as well as girlfriends, Max has to reevaluate his priorities—and muster the courage to take a chance at love.

Just when a happy future is within their grasp, life knocks them back down. A devastating blow leaves Max lower than ever and Jake wrestling with regret. They both have to find the strength to stand on their own before they can stand together.

 

Review

 

Jacob and Max. I love the complexity of this romance. I love how much each hero has going on internally and externally when they meet. 

All the conflicts press in on them and they fall in love anyway and we want them too. 

This is a well written love story with so many fine details: internalized homophobia, martial arts, bi phobia, anger management. Despite the dark themes, this is a hopeful and healing romance overall with a great cast and wonderful arc for each hero. 

Jacob delays telling Max somethings too long in ways that don't make sense but they are both flawed, lovely and lovable characters that I adored.

Uncommon Ground - Kelly Jensen This book was just the right mix of science fiction and sexy gay romance. I had not read anything by this author before so did not know what to expect. What I got was an awesome read with really interesting characters, plenty of suspense, action and some realy hot sex. It was definitely not what I was expecting as it is listed as being part of the "Kindle Worlds - Memories from the Breakfast Club" series. Since I knew it was based in the universe created by Felice Stevens I certainly never expected actual aliens to be in it, despite its other series title being "Aliens in New York". However , I have to say despite its ground in the Breakfast Club universe being pretty thin, the book was very well-written and a very enjoyable read. Dillon and Lang are pretty awesome and fit together like a lock and key. There were a few nice surprises by the end that I will let you discover for yourself. This book left me in the place of wishing book 2 was already available cuz I just need to know more!

This book made me angry. Why on earth would the abuser be forgiven and the person coming to the rescue be punished, and considered a person with anger management issues???

 

Jake arrives at his apartment when he sees a young man lying bleeding on his doorstep. It turn out to be his downstairs neighbor, Max. He takes Max to the hospital, even though Max doesn’t want to go.

After Max is released the two strike up a friendship and Jake takes Max to his self-defense class to help him.

Jake knows he wants Max, but isn’t sure how Max feels. Of course Jake is not really in a position to start a relationship, with him just being released from prison for beating up someone. But he can’t deny his feeling for Max any longer..

Max was such a hot mess, it was a bit tiring at times. Whenever something got a little rough, he closed off or ran away. But I was glad Jake didn’t give up and I liked it when the two finally got together.

And I kind of liked the story up until the point where I got tired of everyone blaming Jake for being a bad guy and putting the man in the hospital who was abusing his ex-wife. If I read one more sentence about Jake having anger management issues I was going to scream.

Defending your ex-wife and your daughter who lived with them, IS NOT A BAD THING, people!

He even did his time, went to prison for a year. And in the entire book it’s mentioned that Jake made a mistake. Well, I do not consider this a mistake at all. And anger management issues my ass. Everyone was constantly treating him like he was a bomb about to go off, while he wasn’t anything like that at all. Even his best friend treated him like that.

Oh, and I’m supposed to believe that the boyfriend of the ex-wife, Dominick, is now all good, and lives happily ever after with the ex-wife, the daughter, and a new baby, hoorah.

And Dominick’s buddies were the ones that beat Max so severely he almost died. Yeah, good man, that Dominick. Even though Dominick denied having anything to do with it. Didn’t buy that at all.

If the writer wanted Jake to be an angry guy, she should have written him a little angrier, I just read him as a kind and considerate guy. So the whole plot of blaming him for beating up the other guy…. that just felt like an overdramatized plot line that didn’t make sense.



Can't really recommend this.