Loved, just loved this.

Loved the language, loved the story, and loved the way life goes on, only differently.

So happy to see that there were no quick fixes, and no miraculous come backs, only a hard-earned struggle to make life work again.

Kudos, author, you did a great job.

We need more books like this one.

Simply loved it.

*** Bought this book with my own monies ***

Oh my, I never thought I’d enjoy a vampire book again in my life, and here Mancy goes and steals my heart.

This storyline was fresh, as I’ve never read one about a Rroma man before. I have met many Rroma men and women in my travels, especially in The Camargue, in southern France, and what little they let me understand of their culture, rang true in this book. Of course, theirs is a very secluded culture, so it can be difficult to know what is and what isn’t. Here? It sang loudly of sincere truth.

I must admit, I haven’t met many vampires, though, so my viewpoint may be biased on that one, as I simply loved the lore in this story.

AND THERE’S A DRAGON. Just putting that out there, for future reference, and for some people I know who are interested in these things.

Mancy is the king of purple prose. He makes it fun to read again, and I also had to look up fourteen words in the dictionary while reading this, so that must be considered extra-bonus brownie points.

Personally, there was too much sexy times in this book, but if that’s what you like, here’s where you find it. Instead, I find that the true strength in this story lies in the chapters between the intimate moments, when there is running, and jumping, and fixing, and hoping, and thinking, and pining, and flying, and…and…and…

Whew. What a ride!

And then I realize this is Book 1 in a future series.

YAY!

There will be more!!!

*happy dance*

***

I was given a review copy of this book from the publisher, Cool Dudes Publishing.

A positive review wasn’t promised in return.

Release date: March 14, 2016

This book resonated with me. Not because I’m into hot lawyers lawyering in their lawyer office. No, because I’m into people who actually change, who sit down and think, and then make the necessary adjustments in their lives.

It’s kind of corny, as the setup of this story is cliché with a hot and steamy Friday-night-hook-up that turns into your new intern showing up at your workplace on Monday morning, but that’s where the cliché ends.

Because what we end up with is a story where integrity and standing up for who you are is central. Ed is out and proud. Alec is not. And without pushing or forcing, Ed simply does not want to be shoved back into the closet.

So Alec has some thinking to do. And, I am happy to say, he doesn’t take all that long to get his head screwed on right.

In the meantime, there’s a lot of work and a lot of steamy hotness happening. Like, a lot.

What never ceases to amaze me is that Northcote's storylines, at first glance, may seem cliché, but the books themselves are never boring, never trite, and they always manage to make me feel good. (Also, they are both well written and well edited, a rare thing these days of self-publishing).

Thank you for that, Northcote, it is endlessly appreciated.

Thank you for writing stories for us. They do light up my dreary winter’s day.

***

I was given a free copy of this self-published book from the author. A positive review wasn’t promised in return.

This was a story I needed to read. A story I haven’t read before. A story that resonated in that part inside me that still feels like it’s missing a piece.

I’m not sure I could ever personally live in a sexual commune like the one described, but it was liberating and beautiful to read about the intricacy of the feelings between the members. This is open relationships to the umpteenth degree. With love and commitment. Friendship and companions. Sex and happiness. All over the place, literally.

I truly loved this unusual story, and the backdrop of an organic farm up on a hill made it all the better. It is quite low on the usual angst, and plenty sexy.

If you cannot fathom a relationship outside of the ordinary couple, this might put you in a situation where you feel a bit lost. But listen! It is well worth reading to the end; come explore something outside your comfort zone?

A final note: even though this is a first book in a series, it feels both fully rounded and finished. There are certainly some things left to explore, so I, for one, will be on the look out for the next installment in the series.

***

I was given a free copy of this self-published book from the author. A positive review wasn’t promised in return.

A shortie with a look-see into a Christmas setting for the two boys of A Casual Thing. Absolutely charming. Go get it!

Thank you, Jacobs, for this.

Made my day. 

***

I was given a free copy of this self-published book from the author. A positive review wasn’t promised in return.