L.E. Franks (1)Besprekingen

Short, fun and full of snark!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

As much as Nick drove me a little batty in [b:6 Days to Valentine|20612615|6 Days to Valentine|L.E. Franks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390327100s/20612615.jpg|49936136], I was excited to see how Nick and Davis ("Fatboy") finally got together. Unfortunately, this book takes place a month later and they are still not really together. It sounds like mostly circumstance keeps them apart, but they haven't quite solidified themselves as a couple. Davis doesn't want to come out, but I don't really know why. His family knows, which makes me think it isn't a hiding in the closet thing. I wonder if he is waiting for Nick to grow up and take the bull by the horns and try to figure out if they are together, but it seemed more like he wanted to hide and Nick didn't. I typically like longer books, but being that this book takes place over 6 days, it seemed much longer with the amount of angsty wishy-washy. There were parts that were funny (Nick is ridiculous at times and I did laugh), but then there were times when I was confused. Perhaps it is real life and would really happen, but I was annoyed that Nick (while working and trying to stop things from happening) gets caught in a bar fight between patrons, but HE is arrested and no one would talk to him, even though they knew he was the bar manager. That made me mad. But, that is just me.
If there is another book (and I really hope there is because I want to see them actually get together!), then I would absolutely read it. I like the characters overall (despite Nick's cocky, arrogant, clueless attitude) and want to see them have a happy time.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Nick is a bartender who seems cocky, arrogant, and self-absorbed. "Fatboy" (whose real name is Davis) is a bouncer who tries to be friends with Nick and eventually has the hots for him, but Nick doesn't give him the time of day. The story starts out with learning about Nick, and frankly I wasn't in love with him. His cocky attitude turned me off a little. I much preferred reading about Davis. When they finally got together, though, it was nice to see Nick become a bit more human. I'm interested in seeing more of them together in the next book with the hope that Nick gets his head on straight.

Typically I like longer books, but I think this book was the perfect length. The intent was to spread it
over 6 days, and this was a good length without getting to be too much.

This had an interesting premise and a squirrel shifter, but it was not long enough to answer all of the questions I had. Sawyer is hiking and comes across a mountain lion. To get away, he climbs up a tree and gets stuck. Jamie is a squirrel shifter who finds him and helps him. I liked the interaction between Sawyer and Jamie in the tree. Jamie had to come out as a shifter, and it was cool seeing Sawyer learn about it all. I liked the rescue, and I thought they had a lot of promise as a stronger couple. For a short story, this was good.

What did bother me, though, was that this was a really short story and there were a lot of details packed in about Jamie’s background and family, but nothing was explained. We were left wondering about a lot of that, but a ton of page time was spent watching Jamie hunt for nuts and looking at trees and trying to find his cache. It was a little unbalanced in this way. I also wish we had more than one hook up scene with the guys and had a little more to go on to figure out if this was a one time thing or if these guys end up together.. With all of the family detail drop, I expected this to build up to more of a relationship, but it dropped off.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by Booksprout.

Well done! This had me on the edge of my seat (so to speak) on several fronts!

This is a story of a young man on the brink of adulthood, learning the lessons of life and love - as we all must do. Not every "first" is forever.

A squirrel shifter adopted by mountain lions is intriguing enough, but to find him having to help a human descend from a tree makes this story’s premise somewhat funny as well. With the lion shifters being more than mean and a real threat from hypothermia added to the mix, there is just a tad of suspense and some very sexy warming-up to be done once the main characters are safe. Simply delightful all around!

Jamie is a squirrel shifter, and it shows in so may little mannerisms even when he is human. But the real treat was watching him in “full squirrel” mode – the speed of his thoughts, his attention jumping from one thing to the next faster than I could blink, and his absolute, total, and complete focus on nuts – was exactly what I imagine a squirrel’s thoughts to be. Jamie’s disgust when he figures out why “the human” is on the tree was palpable, and his dedication to getting him down safely, never mind Jamie’s own safety, was admirable.

Sawyer has a lot to deal with. Not just has he been chased up a tree by a mountain lion, destroying any chance of getting back down by breaking off too many branches in his haste. No, he is also beginning to see things when a cute little squirrel suddenly changes into a gorgeous naked man. Sawyer has to deal with the fact that shifters are real while clinging to a tree as the sun is beginning to set. It’s a test of his courage, but the reward, once they get back to his tent, makes it all worthwhile.

If you like quirky stories about unusual shifters, if you have always wondered what being a squirrel shifter would be like, and if you’re looking for a read that is as funny as it is hot, then you will probably like this short story. I certainly wouldn’t mind finding out more about Jamie and Sawyer.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Who doesn’t like hot military men? And I liked the guys in this collection of stories a lot because they were struggling with their emotions—not something you get to see very often in reality unless you are close to a man in uniform. And while military PR people all over the planet would probably cringe at seeing their elite’s innermost secrets revealed like this, the undeniable truth is that they are human, like the rest of it, and deserve to be loved for who they are.

The story settings range from the frontlines, be they a storm at sea or a desert full of hostiles, to the home front, where some men go through heavy adjustments when returning to civilian life. They cover the kinds of issues military men face, including having to deal with loss, PTSD, and leaving loved ones behind for long periods of painful separation. Above all, they show the kind of courage and determination needed to become a member of the very elite of the military: Marines, members of the Coast Guard, or Naval officers. All of the men in this anthology love deeply, and are ready to fight for that love. So, if you are so inclined, sit back and enjoy what the authors have come up with for you.

Anomaly by S.A. McAuley
In a somewhat amusing confrontation of “man against machine”, this story focuses on Galen, a Marine known for his ability to detect drones, and Zach, a man determined to design a drone offense system that can beat any human. Galen is pretty sure about his abilities on a professional level, but he is equally insecure about his skill for attracting the kind of man he is interested in. Zach isn’t exactly a man magnet either, or so he thinks, and I found the resulting “dance” between two men who are normally awkward and somewhat nerdy very entertaining. Their antics, be they chats or interactions in real life, went from cute to hot, and the developing relationship gave me hope for more.

Always Ready by T.A. Chase
Suspense on the high seas is the focus of this story, and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dean is out to save lives while exploring the possibilities of sharing his life with the man he has fallen in love with. Phil is a fisherman, and makes a living braving the Bering Sea on the family boat. The descriptions of icy waters, people potentially freezing to death almost before they can drown, and the desperate determination of the Coast Guard to save them before it is too late, held my attention. Dean’s reaction to the news of Phil’s ship having capsized was a little too professional and distant for me, but it is entirely possible Dean was just trying to protect himself. Don’t read this unless you’re snug and warm and far from any ocean!

A Ring and a Vow by Devon Rhodes
In this wonderful sequel to ‘A Ring and a Promise’, Marine officer Owen and Naval aviator Cary are back. This time, they intend to bridge the gap between the two arms of the service on a more permanent basis, and I loved watching them go through the necessary steps until they got to the “I do” that has been eluding them for years. Neither Cary’s nightmares nor time restraints imposed by uncertainty about the next posting can stop them from forging the future they have both been waiting for. This is a sweet story without major drama, well, unless you count wedding preparations and dealing with flower arrangements and relatives. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Owen and Cary were doing!

My Marine by L.E. Franks and Sara York
Marine Sean Kelly works in intelligence, so falling for an Afghani translator isn’t exactly something he planned for, nor does he want to succumb to Akim’s charms. Unfortunately he can’t help himself, and even the resulting mental anguish is pretty theoretical in the face of Akim’s attributes. And then the enigmatic man vanishes without a trace, and Sean is left wondering what is going on. It turns out Akim has a well-kept secret, and it leaves both Sean and him needing to deal with some pretty basic “can I trust him” considerations. While this isn’t an intense and emotional thriller, I found it to be a pretty tension-filled short story.

Soul Sick by Kendall McKenna
Marine officer Jamie may have made it back to his lover Tucker in one piece, with only a few physical scars to show for his year-long deployment, but his mental state is a different story. I didn’t understand his reactions at first, but once I realized what was going on, the things he did were as fascinating as they were scary. Nobody who has never been through the kind of hell Jamie had to endure while fighting the Taliban will be able to fully understand what it’s like, but this story gives an excellent, if painful, description of some of the consequences. A lot of the more factual information about PTSD and some important details are missing due to how short this story is, but if you’re looking for an emotional sketch, a somewhat shocking description of some of the consequences of warfare, give this read a go. It isn’t easy reading, but I found it well worth the effort, and one of the best in this collection.

Safe Shores by Morticia Knight
This is a great story about two men who have never really emotionally opened up to each other even though they’ve been together for three years. Partly this is due to the small town Kirk lives in, has always lived in, as a fisherman, it isn’t exactly gay-friendly. But not everyone is a homophobe either, so Kirk is beginning to think about telling Coast Guard officer Shane how he feels about him. Interestingly, Shane is in the same place, and the result is explosive. In a sense the increased intimacy prepares them to better deal with the catastrophe of Kirk’s teenage son getting lost at sea in the midst of an awful storm. Shane is the only qualified rescue swimmer around, and he is determined to save the kid’s life. Emotionally explosive and very hot, these two men will never be the same after going through their fears together. And what a perfect ending!


NOTE: This book was provided by Totally Bound Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Forbidden love is a theme that has been present in literature since humans learned to write. The two main characters in this story face many ways in which their being together is “forbidden" even in today’s world. They are gay, which the military isn’t exactly supportive of, even after the repeal of DADT; and in the Afghan culture that is even less accepted. They are also on opposing sides of a war that may be officially over, but that does not mean members of both cultures now embrace each other with open arms. But with both men being as determined as they are, I had to keep hoping they would make it work—somehow.

Marine Sean Kelly works in intelligence, so falling for an Afghani translator isn’t exactly something he planned for, nor does he want to succumb to Akim’s charms. Unfortunately he can’t help himself, and even the resulting mental anguish is pretty theoretical in the face of Akim’s attributes. And then the enigmatic man vanishes without a trace, and Sean is left wondering what is going on. It turns out Akim has a well-kept secret, and it leaves both Sean and him needing to deal with some pretty basic “can I trust him” considerations. While this isn’t an intense and emotional thriller, I found it to be a pretty tension-filled short story.

If you like reading about men who have to struggle to be together, if trying to understand a different culture sounds like an interesting additional hurdle, and if you’re looking for a read with lots of suspense, mystery, and some very hot man-on-man loving, then you will probably enjoy this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

This is an amazingly tender story, and one of those that took me totally by surprise. The way it is told is actually really clever, adding little bits and pieces to the whole picture as time passes, but it did make it more difficult for me to get into what was actually going on. Just like it must have been difficult for Kris, who suffers from Tourette's, to see some of the connections between the people of the small town he has made his new home. But what a rewarding feeling at the end when it all comes together in a truly heartwarming way.

Kris is an artist, and a very talented one who makes snow globes, but he is not exactly a social person. His tendency to spout off strings of words is not one easily understood, and when he and Tyr start being visibly attracted to each other, the small-mindedness of the townspeople takes over and make his life (and Tyr's) a living hell. Because Kris is the stranger they think it's easier for them to get rid of him than dealing with long-time resident Tyr, but they forget that Kris has his own idea of what is right.

Some of the scenes were really beautiful. Tyr's cousin Bun has her own mental issues to battle with, but she is such a loving person, she made me smile. She has an ability to clarify what's really important, and, in the end, plays a key role in helping Tyr see what needs to happen as well as spurring Kris on to doing what’s right. And while the romance between Kris and Tyr develops slowly and mostly off-scene, it is undeniably one of the most moving love stories I have come across.

If you like stores that are undeniably different, both in style and the characters they are about, if you enjoy reading about men who struggle against both internal and external obstacles, and if you're looking for a read that is intense, rewarding, and truly heartwarming, then you will probably enjoy this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Loved the setting for this m/m/m short.

For full disclosure this novel was given to me for review by the authors, LE Franks and Sara York. However, my review is unbiased and based on my opinion only.

Basic Plot:

This book is divided into two parts: Angelo and his struggle to get Carlo back into the pack as the new returning Alpha, and the second part Carlo’s beta’s search for lovin’ on the South Carolina Beach. We are introduced to two humans, Kevin and Grady, friends who might be more, but first they have to realize that each one loves the other. Are they ready to settle down and commit to love?

Background:

Before this book, I had no knowledge of either author, although I did have this book on my Amazon Recommend list, so maybe it was fate. I was in the mood for some for wolfie lovin’, thus the excitement for this book was high! Let’s take a look at what I thought.

Angelo:

On the surface, Angelo is what we could call the stereotypical Alpha werewolf. He is our warrior leader: tough, rough, and practical. He altered his life for the better of the Pack and for Carlo, even if Carlo does not realize it. We see this responsibility from the beginning of the novel:

It would be a relief to walk away from South Carolina and everyone he knew if it also meant leaving this mess behind. The part of his mind hardwired to his inner wolf snarled at that thought. He wasn’t fooling himself. The pack would survive without him but he couldn’t slink away in the night without fixing the current situation.

I loved Angelo! I love a character who fights to make things right and take the hard way, knowing that it is the best route, even if it is not the easiest route.

Carlo Montefiore:

Get ready, when you first meet this character, you’re going to think he is some sort of conceited punk. But we come to understand that how his father died and how Angelo took over the pack deeply scarred young Carlo. Now, he is becoming the man he should become. The time we see him on his own is actually vital to his character development as we can see him journey back to being the Alpha of a pack he was born. I loved the picture that Ted painted of Carlo:

He still wondered if one day he’d see Carlo standing on the front steps, his chin high, telling the world he didn’t give a damn, that he was gay and an Alpha.

Carlo has more depth than we think and I look forward to seeing him grow.

Strong Points:

I enjoyed the back story and the cultural descriptions that we get for this werewolf culture exists. We get to learn about how the Montefiore family came over to America and how the family dealt with being werewolves. I enjoyed the time the authors spent letting us get to know them.

The tradition of speaking Italian within the Montefiore family had been passed down to Carlo and Angelo, along with the other rights and responsibilities of being an Alpha. The Elders objected to Angelo’s lack of Montefiore blood when Con began training Angelo as Alpha. Eventually Carlo joined him in the lessons. Con’s decision proved to be prophetic at his death. Without that foresight, the pack would have been in shambles.

This strength of creativity and complexity is the strength of the novel, the politics of the werewolf culture is what kept me interested. However, in this case, the strength can also lead to the weakness. The entire focus of this book (on the werewolf side) is how the conflicts and misunderstanding of that transition phase has colored both of their future vision. When we got to see Carlo and Angelo together, it was magic and I wanted to find out what happens between them.

The authors spent time developing secondary characters Ted and Joey. What we realize is that Ted and Joey are Carlo’s only true friends and they are the only ones he trusts. Once we understand that, it makes the character development time with Ted and Joey more important. While they were interesting, I really could not have cared less for their sex interest in the two humans.

What could be better?

I have two issues with this book and they connect. The authors spent a great deal of time focusing on the human beach neighbors of Carlo: Kevin and Grady. The only HEA we get is theirs and as far as I know they have no real connection to the two main characters.

To be perfectly honest, while Kevin and Grady’s story might be sweet, I had no urge to find their conclusion. It seemed like the filler sex scenes because the authors knew they would not get to Carlo and Angelo’s love life. Which I guess that would be fine, but I would have rather have had no sex and see more of Carlo and Angelo. What I found interesting though is that I actually found Ted an incredibly interesting character. I hope he gets his own book!

I hope that we get to focus more on our Carlo and Angelo than any other side characters.

While this style is not my favorite, your mileage might vary. In fact, if you like this series, you might like Poppy Dennison’s series, Triad.

Conclusions:

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. While I gave the book a three star rating, most of that is because this was just the beginning of the story and I was not satisfied with the ending. I would have rather just had the story of the werewolves and kept the main story going. But, I did not write this book, did I? So I will just trust that the authors have a plan and their pace is slower than my impatience.

I have a feeling, that as the book(s) continue and we see more of Angelo and Carlo together, I will improve the rating. I think that, if you enjoy reading a story in a serial fashion, you will love this book. We get a great beginning look into the culture and the ending sets us up for the next conflict. I can’t wait for the next book!