Gianni HolmesBesprekingen

Perhaps because I'd shared Book #1 and #2 with Declan and Owen, I was loved spending more time with them, like a good TV soap opera.

And I've said it before, I love the cover on this "Us" book - these models are a great representation of our MCs.

I knew this book would be the road to Declan and Owen's marriage. There wasn't one big story line, but a series of involving happenings that knitted together well to lead us to the denouement. I found these "chapters" - the resolution with Summer, the visit to the dungeon, recognition for Declan's philanthropy, the adoption of the abandoned dog, and so on - plenty interesting enough to make a novel.

John Solo gives each of the MCs there own easily distinguished voice - Owen's deep warm tender voice, and Declan's staccato more strident, nasal tone, are just right for each of them.½

Read book #1 in the series about a month ago and found it startling. Ditto book #2. Weird and wonderful as Declan and Owen are, the dynamic between the two is fabulous, and a revelation to me.

Makes this series hugely interesting. So much so that I found the continuing "sidebar" of Owen's family a slightly boring distraction from Owen and Declan's story.

As in book #1, there's something magnetic about Gianni Holmes' romantic leads, Owen and Declan, with the inimitable aid of narrator John Solo.

John Solo does such a brilliant, brilliant job of Declan and Owen, as I mentioned in my review of book #1. In John Solo's hands, the guys are both accessible and gorgeous - such different life experiences, yet so complementary, so rawly honest and accepting of who they are and what they bring to each other.

I agree with the commentator below (Carol420), that it's hard to believe that society would be very accepting of them. Yet, somehow, what each brings to the relationship, Declan the dom, and Owen the submissive, provides a cocoon for the other. Despite all, we know they will be themselves and survive and thrive.

About the roles they play, ie dom and submissive, while I don't doubt they are authentic mantles for them both, they are also roles they play - and it is a kind of play ie playfulness, as much as role-playing. Owen, in particular, seems to hold on to his true self, and willingly play the role he is given, initially by Declan, and later inhabited at his own initiative.

The two are deeply in love by book #2, though Owen has to cross the rubicon and accept the idea they are forever - this isn't a temporary indulgence. It sounds so humdrum in commenting on a romance novel to say that they both have a huge capacity to love and care for each other - but it's like the living breathing third character in the story.

The contrast between Owen's first life, and his second life with Declan, is the stuff of romantic fiction - oh, that's right! that's what this is!

I love the depiction of Owen on the cover. Unfortunately, Declan was too much in shadow to recognise on the book #1 cover. However, I see them both clearly on the cover of book #3, where they stand together, and you do see the publisher's idea of Declan, and wow! that works!

Fortunately, Holmes has written 8 series and 58+ books, according to Library Thing. I'm curious to meet more of her characters.½

OMG! what an interesting book. And I bow to John Solo - his voice, his narration, his empathy for his material - what a superlative job he did with this book and added enormously I'm sure to my own response to the story.

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Mark Twain

Age difference is one of many themes in the novel - but Gianni Holmes brings home Mark Twain's message in a stellar way. She convinced me of the point like I've never experienced before.

There are 21 years between chauffeur Owen and business tycoon Declan. Owen has 3 kids, and a childhood sweetheart wife, Jenna, who has left him 15 years before he meets Declan. In those years, he has devoted his all to raising his children in the complete absence of Jenna, though we do learn what happened to her before the end of the novel.

These events are sidebars to the relationship that develops between the mature self-sacrificing giver, Owen, and the dominating "daddy" that the 25-year-old Declan craves acting out.

Declan is also a giver - he lives to look after his "boy", Owen.

These words are crazy, but Owen comes to understand them and Declan, and when he decides to use them, it seems to be a product of his empathetic character, as much as realising it is also a way to get his needs met, while gifting fulfilment and care to Declan.

There's a richness to the story which I appreciated - the trip to the mardi gras in Brazil and to the kids in Columbus, and meeting Jenna again - and Declan's friend Ridge is a great supporting character.

I've never heard of this author but I'll definitely be reading part two of the story, and any other books I can find by her.

Austin Villiers can’t believe that, not only was he dumped, but that Bryce, (which I hated just on general principals), had been with him only to use him to get recognition, popularity points, and praise for sticking with him throughout his cancer and treatments. Now he realizes it’s for the best that they never consummated their seven-year relationship. Something never felt totally right and now he knew why. Do you think!!!? When his long-time oncologist, Dr. Malcolm Greer, questions Austin he breaks down and tells him the whole sad, Bryce story. Austin soon realizes it was really always Dr. Greer that he'd fallen head over heels for and proceeds to pursue him endlessly. Malcolm resists for a short time, after all he knew what could happen to his career if he should ever give in to his own secret desires for Austin...his patient. I understand there being rules in place to protect vulnerable patients and doctors alike... but when two people are meant for each other and they follow all the proper protocol... Malcolm had already turned Austin’s care over to a fellow colleague...so he was no longer his doctor and should have been free to follow his heart. Then there was Austin's Mom, who he still lived with. What would she think? Austin is 23 years old, so I thought "Who gives a rip?" Austin & Malcolm haven’t broken any of the "forbidden" rules. You can’t control who you fall in love with or where you meet them...and they did follow the proper channels. Malcolm’s peers & colleagues were overbearing and judgmental as soon as they found out and I spent some time hating them also but since his job wasn’t in jeopardy at the Cancer Center, I figured hating was a waste of reading time and the ending wasn't going to change. Then there was the dying old man at the center that Austin visited regularly even though the old guy's family seemed to have some long-held grudge and only visited him to have him change his will. Austin and Malcom attended his funeral, but the family was unwelcoming thinking that Austin had only paid him attention hoping to inherit something. We never did find out what that deal was with them. Good things were in the picture for both Malcom & Austin as well as Austin's Mom, who I didn't have to spend time hating:)... so I guess all's well that ends well...but I just felt that a lot was left unexplained.

I'm going middle of the road for this with 3 stars as I would 5 star some but tbh some I would 2 star.

I do not want to name names so will leave this as a general review. I have read every story in this anthology and I loved the concept, but some stories seemed edited, polished and finished and some didn't. They felt rushed, unedited and incomplete.

The concept and idea of Taking a Chance on love, drew me in and given the opportunity to arc read and overall I did enjoy the book.

These 17 authors all came together to raise funds for AIDS healthcare, so grab this as you might find a gem or a new author to read.

This is a sweet low angst read with Peter and Jeff. I loved the prologue cos it really helps us understand why Jeff is so protective.

Loved the cameos from other Gianni characters ..seeing them in different context is awesome.

Although Peter and Jeff get there HEA it's not without some minor angst and frustration.

A great read in the destination daddies series.

I loved it in the anthology but its even better now!!

The extra words added for this release make the story even better!

Noah and Sawyer, Daddy and brat turned sweet boy, is a wonderful read.

The drama is unexpected and in some parts sad but is needed

And ooh books 2 and 3 ..i cant wait!!

This book came out on Amazon today (2/7/2023) and I literally finished it within hours so here we go:

**MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**

15 years after Teddy put his abductor behind bars, he gets a call that Duncan is being released on parole due to good behavior. His flashbacks to being kidnapped, tortured, and mentally tested come back full force which leads to a number of panic attacks throughout the story. He decides that in order for him to be rid of his issues, he will eliminate the problem. He becomes the stalker but Duncan is aware of his every move as he's doing it.

Their relationship post-prison is unconventional and truly twisted but does have it's sweet moments. Teddy doesn't want to want Duncan but can't seem to move forward without him even if he doesn't want to admit it to himself. I really hated Teddy's dad and how he treated him.

The spicy moments were insanely hot! The plot twist involving Cassie and Jo threw me a bit. While I feel for her for her "medical" situation, I don't feel bad for her lies.

This was an excellent start to the Corrupt Cupid series and looking forward to more.

**Please read the trigger warnings for this!**

This 3-part series has had its ups and downs for me. I liked the characters of Declan and Owen, but I hated how they, especially Owen, let Owen's adult children, especially the daughter, and in this one his ex-wife who left them 20 odd years ago and suddenly shows back up expecting all to be forgiven and mostly it is. Really??? Leave a man with 3 small children and then waltz back in with open arms??? The conflict in this one is way over the top and seems a little contrived. It was good that the entire story didn't revolve around this mess and that Owen and Declan worked around it and remained a solid couple. Owen is even going to get a dream of his recognized. Overall, I did enjoy the character development and the relationship between the two main characters.

This is a different themed story and series...one that many people will find the entire theme various degrees of offensive. Declan is a multi-billionaire younger "Daddy Dom "and Owen is an older "Boy". They are both mature adults, that years ago, life events shaped who they are today. Owen and Declan’s story evolves over 3 books, and this is the second. The books really can't be read out of order since one continues from the last without much backstory. Owen has experienced the "empty nest feeling" ever since his 3 kids moved out to start their own lives. His wife...who is almost a story unto herself... left when the twins were babies, so he raised the children alone. To say that Owen and Declan don't run in the same circles of life, would be a major understatement, yet their paths crossed, when Declan knew from the first time he met him, that he wanted him. As with any relationship, they were tested. It had nothing to do with their sexual preferences, but more with how the world and those around them perceived them and their relationship. I believe they were accepted much more in the story than they would have been in the "real world", but it made for a much better story. I had several problems with Owens adult children. The daughter was rude and judgmental without any cause whatsoever...not from Owen or from Declan. Her lifestyle was with a woman that she was going to marry, so that her Dad was with a man shouldn't have been a problem for her...and she had nothing but total support from her dad and Declan. The twins had been sneaking around and contacting and meeting their absent mother who had been out of their lives for 20 years with no attempts to contact them. When one of the twins first met Declan, he accused him of taking advantage of Owen...even though he was assured by Owen that that wasn't true. I just hate stories where adult children try to run the lives of their adult parents. I already get an idea of what will be part of the issue in the next book, but I have full confidence in Declan and his way of dealing with things. I'm sure that Declan, and Owen will continue to share their love, joy, and fears...and that remember that age is truly "just a number".

This anthology was amazing. If I didn’t know that the authors had written outside their normal genres from the blurb, I never would’ve guessed. Each story is unique with captivating characters and rich worlds. The plots were engaging and well paced. I loved that each story had a little intro, which gave you an idea of what to expect in the following pages, making it easy to pick and choose what to read. There’s a little something for everyone in this, so don’t let the chance to grab this anthology pass you by!

I liked this one. It's still a short story though, so I don't want to rate it.
But It's worth downloading it from Profilic Works.
Steamy enemies to lovers story. Deaf main character who had bad experiences with his ex (we don't see the ex, don't worry). Eli just wants to be treated like any other person, that's why he secretly likes Dawson, and vice versa. But on the front they are total dicks to each other.
I even teared up. Eli made me cry.

This will be a newsletter serial. Not sure how the story will continue, since it ended with a solid HFN. But I would definitely like to see more.

So cute!

Ainsley is really just a breath of fresh air and a delight. He gives me a serious happy. Willy was a lovely, good man, and I liked him a lot. These guys were very cute.

I really liked Grim and Jamie. Grim really did try to resist, but Jamie just wouldn't let him. I thought that they made a great couple, and I'm looking forward to more of this series.

Fun!

I loved Fable, Jamie, and Cass spending time with each other and being friends. Their field trip is hysterically funny! I can't wait for Cass' stiry.

Oh man. This is a HFN, and it's a very, very hard won HFN. I honestly wasn't sure if Callum and Ashton were going to make it to that point.

I think that so many people in Ashton's life failed him. I mean, he tried to do what he needed to, but then things would happen, and he'd fall right back into bad things. His mom was a right witch who just didn't do good things for him, even if she thought she did. I felt like the only person who liked him for a lot of the time was his driver, who definitely took care of Ashton a lot.

Callum isn't bad, but I think that he has his blind spots, and Ashton kinda falls into one of those sometimes.

I can't wait for the next book.

Fable is such a sweet, wonderful, and loving boy. He definitely needs to have someone who can love him and love all of him so much. I mean, I just wanted to walk into the book and cuddle him and take care of him because he was just so sweet.

Booker was a good guy and very protective, but he's also got a really, really hard shell that it can be hard to get through. I disliked how he treated Fable at the very beginning. I'm not entirely sure that he was meaning to be so hateful toward Fable, as much as he was trying to protect himself.

Zak was a good man too. He was a little naive, I think, but mostly good. I get why he was doing the undercover stuff. But, he's really good with Booker and even better with Fable.

I want like 1000000000 more stories with these guys.

I really enjoyed this book, loved both Emmet and Julius' characters. There is a lot going on in this story, I liked the suspense mixed in with the romance.

Daddy

There’s a lot going on in this story. I do like both Owen and Declan, but there is still much to be learned in their relationship. Can’t wait to read part two.

I really liked the continuation of Owen and Declan's story. There is so much happening and both men prove that they are there for each other, no matter what. It was great to see Owen's family be so accepting of their relationship.

I really enjoyed the conclusion to Owen and Declan's story. There was so much going on and the final book cleared everything up nicely and gave me the ending I wanted. I enjoyed the relationship between the two men and their families. Maybe we will get more?

The book was difficult to read because the character names were interposed so often.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to think. The more I read, I was pulled in by the ups and downs of the story, and before I knew it, it was over. I don’t really read holiday romances but this one was beautifully done.

In the beginning of the book, I felt bad for Ainsley because it was clear that his life hadn’t been an easy one. He had been used, neglected, and all he wanted was to find love. He went through a huge character growth going from that type of character to someone strong and in control of his life.

When Will eavesdrops on Ainsley’s conversation home, there is so much chemistry between the two characters, and I love how the author only managed to make this more so throughout the book.

Fantastic read for fans of M/M romance!

It started out good and then it got so bad I couldn't finish the book.

So-so.