logo
Wrong email address or username
Wrong email address or username
Incorrect verification code
back to top
Search tags: series-sequels
Load new posts () and activity
Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
review 2014-10-04 18:11
Dead men and the army of frogs. Gotta love that title.
Dead Man and the Army of Frogs (Volume 2) - Lou Harper

First I have to say this can be read as a standalone I didn't read the first book in this series and it wasn't a problem at all to follow along, although now that I've read this one, I feel the urge to go back and read book 1.


Bran and Denton are navigating a lot of things in this book. It's divided in to shorter stories that are connected and flow in to each other.
Now, I have a thing for men in kilts *drools* and I have a huge thing for Gerard Butler.
This book has men in kilts...
“It looks like a skirt to me." Denton eagerly clarified the situation. "Nah, it only would be a skirt if I wore underpants.”

These two are nothing alike, but maybe that's why it works. Bran and Denton have some unresolved issues, jealousy, kilts and not to mention the army of frogs.
I enjoyed the stories, mysteries and the relationship between them. I've discovered a new series for me and I think this book has one of my favorite quotes ever in a book : “I bet Gerard Butler in a kilt is ten times sexier than Gerard Butler naked.”


Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
review 2014-04-24 11:17
A Gay Romance
A Gay Romance - 'Gina A. Rogers', 'Kyle Adams'

This book takes taking nothing seriously very serious. ( yeah, I had to read it twice to understand what I meant too)
It's a spooftastic, caricature laden, chocked-full of every trope under the sun, a hilarious parody that pokes good natured fun at all the things m/m books seem to love to incorporate over and over again in all the books.
In a friendly way it exaggerates everything from growling with a capital G by an Alpha with a capital A to the “Homosapia County police. The fact that, miraculously and very conspicuously, every single officer who worked there was gay made the Hall of Head a double entendre and funny as hell.”
Ram Rage and his partner Blake are the cops that are going to try and solve the murder that was perpetrated at the Sew What and Kory is the prime suspect.
Which brings Kory in to Ram's life and the Alpha (with a capital growly A) doesn't know what hit him.
Murder, mayhem, inept cops, lube, unicorns, applesauce, never ending hot water heaters, and a green-eyed man everyone ( and I mean everyone ) loves and puntastic craziness ensues. Oh and not to forget a freaky plant with his own POV.
To enjoy this story you have to just let go and take nothing seriously and love a jammed packed story of jokey silliness. It was fun seeing what OTT satire was coming next, every trope was covered, sometimes to an extreme. And the book doesn't just make fun of all the ever present and much loved 'typical' and 'stereotypical' things in the m/m genre and in the books I've read and loved, it also makes fun of itself.
“I’m in charge here,” Ram growled. “We’re going to do this by the book. You can’t just skip pages of the gay manual, we do all the steps, in order, so we get the full experience.”

I found myself nodding and smiling, thinking oh yes, that in every other book I've read and then I'd read on and nod and say OH YES riiight that is also a must-have in an m/m story. A lot of the things I complain about or bemoan in books were so cleverly exaggerated that I had to laugh at myself a little for usually being annoyed by them. I've also never read any of it quite like these authors portrait it, I can say despite reading a lot, but the way this was done is definitely unique. At times it was a bit overwhelming and it took me a chapter or two to really get what it was all about, but certain things were just so well done and impressively ridiculous that I just had to be amused. Plus there was one of my favorite things EVER in this book, I don't want to say what, but it's no wonder everyone loves Kory. I also have to add my vocabulary for the word 'butthole' has been expanded ( pun intended) by leaps and bounds..so many different ways of saying it. I'm in awe.
I really don't want to give anything away, this book has to be read to be believed.

 

Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
review SPOILER ALERT! 2014-03-19 09:49
This was a crash for me
Crashing the Comicon (Wolves of Stone Ridge) - Charlie Richards
need an intervention. Seriously, I can not stop reading these books even though I end up grumping about certain aspects.
I mean, it's not like I read vampire/shifter stories for the realism. I LIKE the mate/mine trope. The instant attraction and undeniability of the pairing in these kind of stories.
But *I spoiler here so go away if you don't want to know what's going to happen*

Dirk was abducted and sexually and physically assaulted by a group of shifters. I can totally get he's freaking the fuck out about this new guy saying pretty much the same lines to him as kidnapping/rapist asshole did, but Seb ( the vampire who lurves him) breaks in to his room and explains it all, he's just all, oh yeah, I trust you, awesome, I am totally over that and let's get on with the sexing. *sigh*
Then ( totally irrelevant, I know) how did all these other people/wolf shifters/ vampires etc manage to get rooms in the hotel a convention is being held at? LAST MINUTE. I know, I know, Mandy, let it go, but you know, it's in my brain the whole time.
Then how many homophobes does a short book really need? How many people need to get threatening or muttering fag? I don't know, but I guess you need quite a few of them. ( not to forget the bimbo chicks hitting on hot vamp) I don't mind per-names too much but cutie got old really fast.
Oh and did Dirk really refer to his abductor and rapist and abuser ( whiles he you know, trying to re-kidnapp him) as hisEX??!'
I know we all have ex's that were assholes, but referring to thisguy as an ex? Well..NOT ok. He's not an ex, they met had dinner, 4 days later he's in a cage being passed around as a sex toy and beaten. Although that does make all my ex's look really good in comparison. Who knew? 
Just for those of you who are worried, all the abuse is in the past on only fleetingly referred to, since you know, all Dirk needed was the magical Vamp and his bites and dick to totally get over any of that trauma. 
*sigh* I'm grumpy and I shouldn't be. I know this is how these books sometimes are and yet I can't stop, because when there aren't stupid characters in them acting, you know, stupid. I LIKE the mate-mine-growl-sex. Rinse and repeat. 
Just for the pure brainless fluff of it, but then sometimes my brain won't take a hike like I want it too and I end up grumpy.
Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
review 2014-03-09 13:22
Threshold
Threshold - Jordan L. Hawk
4.5*

Ok, first things first, I will never be a fan of m/m historicals for the reasons I mentioned in my review of Widdershins, but, and this is a big but ( NOT that kind of butt) this series is the exception and definitely worth reading and I can absolutely recommend it! ( even to historical haters like me)

I am loving these guys more and more each book and the freaky scary cases they so bravely and cleverly solve are creative and fun ( in a freaky and scary kind of way, of course).
I felt their relationship really took a turn for the better in this book, they had a crisis of faith, so to speak and some of Griffin's doubts and worries were brought up.
Whyborne is still as cute as could be. No wonder Griffin loves him and Christine ( the awesomely kickass chick that she is) is his friend.
“Forgive me, I hate to suggest it, but is it possible she came to harm at the hands of the man she went to meet?” I asked. “Threshold is no Whitechapel, but…”
“Well, ain’t you sweet!” exclaimed Miss Hatford.
How could pointing out their profession carried with it the danger of death and dismemberment possibly be “sweet?” But they all leveled fond looks at me, so I refrained from asking. Griffin would be proud.”

Gotta love him! 
This book was a little bloodier than the first and whereas in book 1 Whyborne's past was brought to the front, here it is Griffin's past.
Anyway, I LOVE this couple and I love Christine and I love seeing them fighting the baddies and falling even more for each other and now I'm off to buy book 3.


Like Reblog Comment
show activity (+)
review 2014-02-28 16:37
Widdershins
Widdershins - Jordan L. Hawk
4.25*


I am not a fan of historical stories, mostly because I get grumpy at the treatment of woman, who are very little more than adornments and possessions and daughters are a burden.
But also because of the even more prominent social inequality, financial inequality and of course in m/m the very real threat of prison or worse as punishment for being gay.
This book covers all of those points, portrait them, but also thumbed its nose at them. 

We have clumsy, brilliant, repressed, wonderful and brave Dr. Percival Endicott Whyborne, a comparative philologist. He has a deeply ingrained picture of himself, bullied into him from an early age by his father and brother and continually put down by an asshat coworker.
Here I have to give a shout-out to Christine, I love her. Woman are often not portrait positively in m/m books and she not only bucks that trend but is a true pioneer of her time and an awesome friend. 

Whyborne berates himself constantly, he is so accomplished and smart, but he just can't see it, he believes all those jealous and petty people instead. 
“I was too gawky, too shy, too strange.”
“I didn’t want to be looked at. I wanted to be left alone, in my little apartment and my lonely bed, which remained cold even after I’d crawled beneath the covers.”


But he isn't like they tell him he is, it just takes him a long time to see that.
He's also still mourning his best friend, feels survivors guilt and guilt for not being able to save him, the boy he loved. He is ashamed and afraid of being gay. Always worried that he will end up in prison for his sexuality and constantly thinking he doesn't measure up despite all his brilliance and accomplishments he feels inferior.

“The full weight of his scrutiny fell upon me: judging, considering. I looked down and away, because any such judgment would inevitably find me lacking.”


But then private detective Mr. Griffin Flaherty comes into his life, or rather forces himself with gentle persistence into Whyborne's life. 
He has his own demons and fears, although I wish I could have had a peek in his head too. But this story is told only from Whyborne's POV.
I could see that Griffin is smitten with Whyborne but of course the poor man can't believe it, he doesn't think he's worthy.


“I barely swallowed back a bitter laugh. Deserve me? Of course he didn’t—he deserved someone a thousand times better. Someone who wasn’t gawky and awkward and strange. Who could hold a normal conversation without stuttering, who didn’t constantly weigh every action, paralyzed by fear until it was too late to do anything.”


And as if the poor man's non-existent self worth wasn't enough there is a pretty interesting, creative , creepy and actually also very sad mystery they need to solve. 


So I have to say, despite my reluctance to read an historical horror story, I am so glad I did and I am definitely getting the other books in this series. 
I loved watching these two men compliment and complete each other. They are exactly what the other needs and deserves. 
So if anyone is reluctant to read this because of the same issues I had, I say go ahead and give this book a chance, I am very glad I did.






More posts
Your Dashboard view:
Need help?