Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

5 stars

On Davis Row by N.R. Walker; Narration by Joel Leslie: New Release Audio Book Review

by

Nearing the end of a suspended jail sentence should unlock a brighter future for CJ Davis, only the chip on his shoulder is as hard to shift as his bad reputation. Born into a family of career criminals who live down Davis Road, an address the cops have dubbed Davis Row, his name alone is like a rap sheet that makes optimism impossible.

Brand-new parole officer Noah Huxley is determined to see the good in men like CJ. After all, he knows firsthand that bad things can happen to good people. His colleagues mock his doe-eyed optimism, but Noah soon sees CJ’s bad attitude and bravado are weapons he uses to keep people at a distance.

Both men know one simple mistake can change a life forever. At first glance, they might seem to be polar opposites. Yet underneath, they’re not that different at all.

Contains mature themes.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Audible

I don’t give out 5 pieces of eye candy ratings often. I think I have given 2 this year so far. It has to be a book I absolutely loved AND one I would read again. That is hard to do, because even books I absolutely LOVE, some I wouldn’t read again (I hate ugly crying…). But this one received the 5 pieces of eye candy rating for just that reason. I loved this book, and I definitely want to read it again.

I’m not sure where I even can start. This was a tough book to read, not because it wasn’t well written, or even because I didn’t like any of the book. What was tough was that I kept feeling like the other shoe was going to drop and CJ was going to have something happen, end up back in prison, or in the hospital or something equally appalling. But, of course, with any book by Walker, there is always an HEA, so why I was concerned, I don’t know. She wrote these characters so well, with just the right amount of personality for each of them, that I couldn’t help but be concerned for them. I would hurt for CJ when his father was awful to him. I would hurt for Noah who knew he could only do so much for a man as independent as CJ, but wanted to do all he could anyway. I even hurt for Pops every single time he was breathing heavy (Thanks to Joel for making sure that was the case as he narrated the book!) I felt the pain, concern and even impatience that these men felt as I listened to this book.

**side note** I can’t listen to audiobooks before bed, but I was at the very end of the book, and had to know what happened, so I pulled out my ebook and finished it up by reading. Then went and listened to the narration of the end the next day. lol

One of the things I enjoyed so much about this book was the fact that the author didn’t just make it a book about the pain of all that CJ and Noah were dealing with. It was about every day life. And even when you are in pain, and fearful for what’s coming next, there are moments in days where humor comes in, where you just have to laugh.

He took his license from his wallet and showed it to me. “This is a crap photo.”

I took it and inspected it, trying not to smile, then, trying not to laugh. “Jesus, did you pay the homeless man to stand in for ya?”

Joel Leslie is so very talented, able to create the accents needed for all the books he narrates, this one being set in Australia. He even did a great Italian accent for Noah’s boss at the mechanic shop. He laughs when it’s needed, and slows down his breathing for emphasis when the intensity of the book demands it. What he does best, though? It is obvious he is not just reading the book, he is narrating from the place of someone who is enjoying the book, and wants to ensure that others do as well.

Story: 5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 5 pieces of eye candy

 

*** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review – nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ***

Discovery (Kinky in the City Book 3) by Quinn Ward: Exclusive Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Sex is a lot like pizza. It’s good, but you won’t die without it…

Matteo’s always known he was different. Seeing his older brothers falling in love shines a spotlight on his own lack of desire. Modeling age play gear was a way to prove he could make his own decisions, nothing more.

Levi didn’t realize what a challenge it’d be directing the photo shoot for a new website. When he sees Matteo struggling, he instinctively falls into the role he’d given up years earlier: Daddy.

When Matteo discovers a side of himself he never expected, will Levi be able to show him that not all love begins with sexual attraction?

Discovery is the third book in the Kinky in the City series, but can be read as a standalone novel.

Amazon

Exploration (Book 1

Challenge (Book 2

“Don’t lie to me, boy,” Levi reprimanded, his voice rumbling. My eyes darted to the other side of the open area to see if John and Denny were watching us, but they were oblivious. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can help you.”

I got the impression Levi wasn’t going to give up, so I weighed my options. Yes, it’d be embarrassing to admit my budding fantasies to him, but after the shoot finished, I wouldn’t have to see him again. That made him safe. But this was a job to him. There was a chance he was turned off by everything we were doing here.

“Nothing you can say will make me think less of you,” he promised, reaching up to graze his fingers over my cheek. I leaned into his touch, chasing his hand when he pulled away. “Does it have to do with what we did last week?”

I nodded.

“You seemed put off at first,” he continued, explaining what he’d observed. “Something changed as the day went on, didn’t it?”

I nodded again, unable to find my voice. I stared at the floor, wringing my hands in my lap as I curled my toes in the plush area rug at my feet. I startled when Levi stood, lifting me out of my seat as if I weighed nothing. I should’ve been annoyed by him sitting down in the chair he’d evicted me from, put off when he pulled me into his lap. But I wasn’t. The way Levi wrapped me in his arms, encouraging me to rest my head on his shoulder settled me, quieted my thoughts.

“It’s okay to admit you liked it,” he whispered. I felt his dick pressing against the side of my ass. Did I like it? Hell yes, I did, and that was part of the problem. For so long, I’d thought I was broken because I didn’t feel the slightest sexual attraction to anyone, but having Levi tell me to sit on the floor and play brought me to life. It wasn’t even the promise of anything sexual that got to me; it was the tender way he issued his commands. Or like now, when he sensed my unease and wrapped me tightly in his arms the way my brothers did when I was upset.

Another hot cover…. Shew!

I feel like I’ve been waiting on this book forever, when in reality, it’s been less than a week since I was introduced to this series….. but wow, did I love them all. In saying that, I was most excited for Matteo, mostly because I love the underdog. I like the venerable boys that need someone to take a little different care of them. Is that weird? Probably….

Anyway, so Matteo is Freddie and Calvin’s baby brother; we got a glimpse in the others in this series, that in my opinion looked like he had some sort of anxiety disorder, or something where he just got in his head too much and sometimes needed to take a time out to deal with everything coming at him at once. He was asexual for the most part, or at least he thought he was, in reality he just hadn’t found what he needed yet.

When his good friend asked him to do him a favor and model some things for his website, he was a little concerned when it had him dressing up in “little’s” clothing and give the allusion that he was an adult baby or toddler. Now, I’ve never delved into age play before, but I’ve found with this one, not only did I really like the idea, I also enjoyed getting to read about it, learning something that I hadn’t known about before. I could see where it would help someone like Matteo, help him feel grounded and his mind to feel quiet.

Levi, was his daddy….. and what a hot daddy he was. Not in the typical sense that I usually like my daddy’s, but meh….. I adjusted, and I’m glad I did. Levi was patient and so understanding with Matteo. He made him feel normal and not broken, which he’d felt for so long.

I can’t imagine what life was life for Matteo, he says he was content, but he couldn’t have been happy. He didn’t know what he needed until Levi came along and showed him what he’d needed…. Sigh….
Telling his brothers, (though not all of it) was easy, but I hated that his mom made such a fuss at first. It made it believable to me though, like real life, because I know I’m going to be about a metric ton more psycho when either of my babies think of leaving me and start their own lives with whomever they choose.  So relatable mom.

I could probably wax poetic about this book and the love between Matteo and Levi until the cows come home, but I’ll stop here for now. I will say that I highly recommend this book, even if the kink isn’t quite your thing and you’re thinking about skipping it….. don’t. You won’t be sorry.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Quinn Ward is a non-binary author of LGBT romance. Throughout everything, the one constant in their life has been writing. It’s the piece of them they’ve never questioned. It’s their safe harbor, sometimes their escape when the real world gets to be too much.

Website: http://quinnwardwrites.com

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Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Exploration or Challenge, Books 1 and 2 in the Kinky in the City series.

Blaze (Unbreakable Bonds #5) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott: EXCLUSIVE Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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The rings have been selected.
The champagne placed on ice.
The cake decorated.

And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts…

Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. There’s just one small problem.

A ghost from Lucas’s past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help. Against his better judgement, Lucas and his best friend, Ashton Frost, plan a fast trip back to the one place they swore they’d never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.

Now, they’re in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, “I do.”

Title:  Blaze

Series: Unbreakable Bonds #5

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake and Elliott Publishing LLC

Release Date: June 22, 2018

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 75,000

Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense

Add to Goodreads

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Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1

Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 2

Torch (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 3

Devour (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 4

Blaze (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 5

 

Lucas rolled his head on the headrest, his smile disappearing as he took in his best friend. Snow’s hands lay in fists on his lap and through his jeans, Lucas could see muscles taut with tension. He should never have agreed to let him come here. While Lucas’s childhood had been neglect and trash, Ashton Frost’s had been so much worse. It had been easy for Lucas to leave this world—but it had been necessary for Snow.

Problem was, Lucas needed him here, too. With him.

“Twenty-one years,” Lucas said softly.

Snow cleared his throat, but his voice came out raspy. “The town hasn’t changed in places.”

“And in others, it has.”

Snow stared through the windshield. “Feels the same, though.” He gritted his teeth so hard, Lucas heard the crunch. “I knew it would be difficult to come here, but I didn’t know the memories would swoop back in so fast.”

Lucas laid his hand on Snow’s leg, reassured by the warmth and strength under his palm. Snow had always been frank and open with him when he guarded his heart against most everyone else. It had been amazing to watch him soften and bloom in his relationship with Jude Torres. Lucas had worried something like that would never happen for Snow. Hell, he hadn’t expected to find that kind of connection himself.

But they both had.

They had grown past this place, and the sooner they took care of business and left, the better.

Snow sighed and closed his eyes. Lucas’s heart ached for him. His memories weren’t great, but Snow had been treated like something less than garbage, and Lucas had spent the majority of his first eighteen years doing what he could to offer him something good. His love for Ashton Frost was fierce—there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the man, and it had been that way since the first day they’d met when Snow had been a dirt-covered, angry boy facing a group of bullies.

Theirs was a connection he’d never been able to explain. It wasn’t sexual, but it was something deeper than friends and brothers. He just flat-out loved the man. Always had.

He was reminded that Snow felt the same when his light blue eyes opened and focused on Lucas. They stared at each other for a few moments before a small smile pulled up one corner of Snow’s lips. “You’re gonna be a married man.”

“Shocking, isn’t it?”

“A few years ago, it would have been but not now. Not after watching the two of you together the past couple of years.”

“Are you going to take that step yourself?”

“Marry Jude?” Snow shrugged. Some of the tension seemed to drain out of him, but that usually happened when Snow thought of Jude. “We already are, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not like you—I don’t need the ceremony. We drew up legal papers making each other beneficiaries and more. All I need is that man in my life. For the rest of it.”

“I never said I needed a ceremony,” Lucas half growled. “I’d prefer if we met in front of a Justice of Peace.”

Snow snorted, his grin growing. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You want to parade that beautiful man down the aisle and show him off in some lavish ceremony. And don’t tell me you’re doing all this for Ian, either.”

“You don’t think I did?” He lifted an eyebrow. “That boy loves planning these sorts of things.”

“No doubt there, so yeah, maybe this is for Ian some. But be honest. You want to show Andrei off and thumb your nose at all those business associates who only tolerate you because of money. The ones who don’t think men should marry each other.”

He smirked. “Yeah, maybe. But don’t think you’re off the damn hook. Ian will turn his sights to you next.”

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi7t94kgYTA

Siiiiiiigh…

Can you really grasp all the emotions that I meant to convey in that sigh? You will, you will if you read this book. Of course, if you’ve gotten this far in the series, surely you’ve gone and fell in love with this group of guys like I have…and even though Noah and Rowe are such a hard couple to top, because they’re so amazing and dangerous, and every bad boy fantasy come to life. No one will ever top Andrei and Lucas for me. And in this one, it’s mostly about them…though you know where there is one, there is all; so we get them all too…

BUT, it’s finally wedding time. 10 days until Andrei and Lucas finally say “I do”…I dunno about y’all, but I have been WAITING for this…Not so patiently, I might add. There is no one sweeter than Andrei, and I absolutely adore the way he is with Lucas…and Lucas, how everyone’s health, happiness and well-being comes before his, his love for Andrei is…otherworldly. There is no topping it. You can feel it, anytime they so much as look at each other…and as an avid reader that’s quite obsessed with her book boys…feeling it myself about fictional characters is ridiculous… yet, somehow…I do with these two.

Okay, so you get I’m a fan-girl…Moving on.

So, it’s ten days til wedding day, and Ian has been planning his little heart out, everything is going to be perfect…until Snow brings home a visitor from their past, in the form of Lucas’s sister. The same sister that said horrible, nasty things to him and sided with his family when he came out…. It was hard for him to hear her out, but because he’s Lucas, and Lucas has Andrei… he did.

Her daughter, Lucas’ niece is in trouble… a niece he’s never met.. and he’s skeptical and hesitant, but they’re family, and you know how Andrei is about family. Lucas I think just hopes to swoop in like he does, fix things and get on with his life, maybe finding a little bit of closure back in his home town while he’s at it. Of course, he doesn’t go alone, he takes Snow…Little did they know, the little bit of trouble was actually quite a bit of trouble, and it’s a big ol’ whirlwind of danger and death… exactly what fuels guys like Snow, and especially Rowe and Noah…(they are serious BA in this one….again)

It’s hard for the guys to be there and there’s a lot of chasing their tails at first, but they get to the bottom of it. Of course they do… especially w hen the whole gang shows up. But, everything gets worked out in the end, and I think Snow and Lucas get the closure they needed. Maybe not the way they wanted, but, enough. I wish we wouldn’t got a little more Snow and Jude, but, that’s may just be me being selfish lol…And, last but not least…we meet a couple of new people that I hope stick around…oh, and of course, we get our wedding.

This is just another perfect addition to an already amazing series, and I find myself wishing that this series could last forever, because I’m not sure I’ll ever be done with them. For now though, I’ll patiently… or somewhat patiently wait for the next one.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

I love the Unbreakable Bonds series. One of the reasons is that it wasn’t stretched out. Each guy got a book and a novella. Their stories were complete. So I thought that this book would be stretching Lucas and Andrei’s story with their wedding. But who can resist a wedding? Not me.
But we got so much more!!!
Lucas and Snow went back to their hometown. Seeing both men as anything less than the confident successful men they were was heart breaking. But, they are there to help Lucas’s niece-which isn’t as simple as they thought.
Through the story we get all of the main guys. And of course there is aission, hilarious code names and explosion.
And we still get a wedding. Swoon.
This installment did not disappoint and was a fun, exciting read.
4 pieces of eye candy

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

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Challenge (Kinky in the City Book Two) by Quinn Ward: Exclusive Excerpt, Quick Review and Giveaway

by

When two men reveal the secrets they tried keeping, even from each other, sparks will fly…

Freddie’s life changed forever when he walked in on his best friend dancing around the room in women’s lingerie. A lifetime of friendship was buried in the same box as Peter’s lingerie and makeup. The single father isn’t ready to face the man who made him question his sexuality when they were teens.

He may not have a choice.

Peter refuses to call himself the black sheep of the family, because his life has been nothing but color since he left home rather than face a future he didn’t want. The death of his mother brings him home, and he can’t leave until he knows his sister’s okay. When Freddie offers him a place to stay, he’s not certain his heart will survive.

Can Freddie make Peter believe he’s not turned off by a bit of satin and lace while finally exploring his bisexuality?

Amazon

 

“And what would you do if I slacked off on my chores?” I asked playfully, grindinig my stiffening erection against him. He wasn’t hard, necessarily, but he was definitely perking up to the idea. “Would you… punish me.”

“Oh fuck,” Freddie moaned. He buried his face against my neck. “You can’t say shit like that when we’re not alone.”

“Why’s that?” I goaded, shoving my hand between our bodies to stroke him. “You thinking about all the ways you could punish me? Have you ever done that before?”

“Nuh uh,” he grunted, canting his hips, chasing my touch as I pulled away.

“Is it something you’ve thought about doing?” His only response was a muffled moan against my shoulder. I knew it wouldn’t take much to get him off at that point, but I’d much rather show him how torturously sweet anticipation could be. Freddie struck me as the type of man who’d, until this point, viewed sex as a perfunctory act. For as long as I was here, I planned to show him how it could also be hours of blissful entertainment, even when he was at work and I was at home.

“Tonight,” I promised him. “After Sophia’s in bed and I take Maria home, we’ll spend some time together.”

“Please tell me that’s a euphemism for I’ll finally get to see you in nothing but those lace underwear,” he pleaded.

“That can probably be accomplished. Anything else you want?”

“Wanna taste you.” His response surprised me, but that was definitely a request I’d happily accommodate. “Want everything with you.”

Oh, hello hot cover…. And hello single hot dad. Is there anything better? I think not.

In this one, we have Freddie, which surprised me…. Pleasantly. After his soon to be ex-wife took off and left him and his adorable five-year-old daughter, Sophia, I wasn’t sure he would trust anyone easily, especially a guy! Even more than that, a guy that had up and ran away years ago when a misunderstanding and a unaccepting family was all he had in the small town he’d grown up in.

Peter is back home after the death of his mother. My heart broke for him, because his father was awful, his sister treated him terrible and nobody seemed to accept him for the makeup wearing, sexy panty loving amazing man that he is. Nobody but his baby sister, though I’m sure she didn’t know the panty part lol the misunderstanding that had jaded a big part of his teenage years had him and Freddie not seeing eye to eye at first…. Both men had had feelings for each other, but in a small conservative town with Catholic parents….. it wouldn’t be easy for them to navigate those feelings in a healthy way…. Now, Freddie had Sophia and the restaurant and Peter had a sister he was trying to be there and no career options and essentially no place to stay…

Fortunately for Peter, Freddie wanted a chance to explain and Peter became fast friends with little Sophia. I loved their relationship…not only was Freddie an excellent dad, but Peter gave her the stability and care that she’d never had from a secondary parent. Her mom was terrible too and I wished a little bit that we’d seen her get her karmic smackdown that she deserved. Everyone was better off without her selfishness and I’m glad that she didn’t cause trouble with the small family that worked so hard to find a new normal that was comfortable for everyone.

I loved Freddie and Peter together and I loved watching them figure out how it was going to work. Peter fell so effortlessly into their lives and they needed him more than they all realized. And Peter needed them just as much, because he’d finally found someone to love him for all the ways he was amazing. I was so happy with the ending, and so happy with the way it all came together.

I cannot wait for Matteo’s story, I have a feeling it’s going to another heartbreaker.

And though I loved Cal and Frankie, I think it’ll be hard to top these two….

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Comment on this post and be entered to win a set of all three books in the Kinky in the City series. (Book 3, winner will receive on release day).

Something About You by Riley Hart: EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT, Release Day Review, and Giveaway

by

Lucky Tyler Holloway has never felt particularly lucky. Frankly, he’s about as regular as can be. He works construction with his brothers, loves his small-town life, and shares a close bond with his family—especially his grandmother. Okay, so maybe he has a few secrets in his closet, like his bisexuality…and that other thing he doesn’t talk about… Maybe that’s why he’s always felt a little like an outsider.

Grayson St. Claire has it all: a dream job in LA, money, freedom. Saint has no attachments, which is just the way he likes it. Still, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he missed his deceased parents who were the only family he had… Until he gets an e-mail from some guy named Tyler revealing the existence of a grandmother he’s never met, and prompting Saint to drop everything to drive across the country.

Saint and Tyler couldn’t be more different. Tyler hates the guy on sight, but there’s something about Tyler that gets under Saint’s skin. It’s not until they get to know one another that everything begins to change. But the Holloways and St. Claire’s have secrets, and their pasts are tied together in tragic ways they don’t know about. The odds are stacked against them and between their distance and their differences, Lucky and Saint have to admit that love alone might not be enough.

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU

RILEY HART

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 06.19.18

COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Wilson Models

Goodreads – Something About You

Amazon

 

Christ, Lucky had been incredible. He’d been so damn hungry for Saint, like he’d been on the ragged edge simply from giving head. He’d felt it in each lick, each suck, seen it as he’d lavished Saint’s cock. He hadn’t expected Lucky to go for it as he had, to nearly vibrate with need, but that had been exactly what had happened.

And the way he’d tasted, the untethered, wild abandon in each breath, each thrust of his hips as Saint had blown him had been amazing.

It was…more than he’d thought it would be, and Saint wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Now they lay there, Lucky beside him, on his stomach. His sexy, round ass within reach. Would he try to stay the whole night? The thought made Saint’s skin feel too tight. Lucky’s bed was only upstairs. He didn’t need to stay. Saint wouldn’t, if the situation were reversed. Most of the people he slept with at home wouldn’t.

“I kind of wish I swallowed,” Lucky broke the silence, making a loud, unexpected laugh jump from Saint’s mouth.

“Well, that can be arranged for next time. I promise you, swallowing is something I’ll never complain about.” A smile still curved his lips. The man was full of surprises. He had a feeling Lucky was a little kinkier than he let on, or maybe than he knew.

He watched as Lucky shifted, scooted down the bed. Saint frowned as he maneuvered himself between Saint’s spread legs again. His expression wasn’t one of distaste, just…confusion. What was Lucky doing?

Saint opened his legs wider to give Lucky room.

“God, the sound you made when you came…the whole time, really, but especially when you came. I damn near had an orgasm myself. It was so raw, so primal. Made me feel…powerful, if that makes sense.”

Saint was surprised when Lucky reached out, ran his forefinger through the drying come on Saint’s hip, then lifted it to his tongue, touching just the tip and allowing himself to taste it.

Whoa, hey, hot cover!

So, I’m in love with Lucky and Saint. Let’s discuss, why.

Lucky is the epitome of the boy next door. Small town, Mayberry type town, where everyone knows you and has since birth. He’s the baby of his family, and even though his family is very protective of him, he’s the one who doesn’t know a stranger, and helps everyone when he can. Always. He’s his Grandma’s favorite, and how can he not be? He’s so polite and respectful and helpful. He’s just a sweet guy. All around handyman and helper of his brother’s construction company, he’s content in his little town. Content, but not really able to be himself. That is, until Lucky’s grandma confesses that her best friend/roommate/honest soul mate, if you believe in that sort of thing…. Has a grandson out there that she’s never met. And in their aging years, I thinks he knew that Lucky would do something about it…It’s what he does. He lives to make people happy. So, he looks the guy up and contacts him.

Lucky lost his mom and dad in a plan crash that his dad was piloting, leaving him with no other blood relative and alone in California. Or so he thought, he was mighty surprised when he gets the email from Lucky, telling him that he has a grandma who’d love to meet him. It takes him a month to gather the nerve, but when he eventually does, I don’t think either man was ready for the other one. Or maybe they were, they were just fighting in.

Lucky didn’t like the arrogant out of towner at first; in my opinion, he envied the life he had, he just didn’t realize it at the time. Saint was everything that Lucky didn’t allow himself to be and Saint didn’t care who knew it. It was hard on them, but agreeing to live together to fix up Saint’s grandma’s house, they realize their jabs at each other and banter, is really attraction. Saint offers up himself for Lucky’s experimentation and they both jump on it. It’s hot too, shew!

At first, Saint gets to know his grandma and he learns so much about his dad and his family that he didn’t know before. I loved their relationship, I loved Alice and way she supported the people she loved. She was outspoken and crude and just..amazing. I wanted to wish her real so I could know her. And she had more in common with the boys than they could ever realize. Between getting to know his only living family and helping Lucky fix up the house that was destined to be his one day… he also taught Lucky some things in owning who you are as a person and not to be ashamed of the things you like and the way you like them. I loved watching Lucky come into himself, and I loved watching Saint help him get there.

Unfortunately, the more time they spent together, the more the experimenting turned into feelings and pretty soon, the feelings turned into love…. How would it work though? Saint lives in California and Lucky is halfway across the country? And Saint has to go back, his whole life is there…So, what do we do?

It’s a humbling, sometimes heartbreaking story to read, but it was beautiful. I don’t say that often, and I know it’s cheesy, but I loved it. It’s about growing up and finding yourself and in finding yourself you find love. A great one.

I would most definitely recommend this one; there’s little angst, no cheating, no unnecessary junk. Just goodness and a very satisfying happy for now. I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two, but if not…I’m happy where they ended up…together.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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The Consumption of Magic by TJ Klune, Narrated by Michael Lesley: Audio Book Review * 2

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Sam of Wilds faced the Dark wizard Myrin and lived to tell the tale. Granted, the battle left him scarred, but things could be a hell of a lot worse.

It’s not until he reunites with Morgan of Shadows and Randall that he realizes just how much worse things could be.

Because the scars have meaning and hint at Myrin’s true plans for Sam and the Kingdom of Verania.

With time running out, Sam and his band of merry misfits—the unicorn Gary, the half-giant Tiggy, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart, and the dragon known as Kevin—must travel to the snowy mountains in the North and the heart of the Dark Woods to convince the remaining dragons to stand against Myrin. Along the way, Sam learns secrets of the past that will forever change the course of the future.

A reckoning is coming for Sam of Wilds, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.

Title: The Consumption of Magic
Series: Tales From Verania: Book Three
Author: TJ Klune
Narrator: Michael Lesley
Release Date: April 30, 2018
Category: High Fantasy
Length: 18 hours, 18 minutes

Amazon

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Dreamspinner Press

 

The Consumption of Magic is the 3rd third book in Klune’s The Lightening Struck Heart series. I can gush all day about how much I loved this series. It’s crazy, funny, endearing, thoughtful, and at times heartbreaking. Book 1 is really a stand alone, where we sample the delightful characters of Verania, and watch as our hero Sam of Wilds grows as a wizard (all right, apprentice) falls in love, protects his friends and generally shows us why he’s our hero. Finish that and you don’t have to read further and you’ll be so happy. But books 2, 3 and 4 tell the rest of Sam’s story, specifically how he fits into an ancient prophecy and what he can do to stop an evil force from taking over the world. So, you start book 2, you have to finish.

This time around, Sam goes on a few adventures, rounding up the remaining dragons he needs to help him win in his fight against Myrin, the dark wizard threatening Sam’s friends and Verania itself. Naturally, there are shenanigans which are as important as any plot points. You will laugh. But I’ma warn you now, you may also cry. Sam’s been warned for a long time that he will suffer a great loss, and he does. And it sucks. But this only strengthens Sam’s resolve, which sets us up for the 4th and final book in the series.

Book 3 is fantastic and I didn’t think I could love it more. Until I listened to the audio. I won’t lie. At first I was like “Wait… what? Not at all what I pictured Sam to sound like.” Not disappointing, just different from what I had in my mind. That goes for all the voices, except Gary and Ryan, I think. Anyway, Michael Lesley does an amazing job and after not a long time, I realized that’s totally what Sam sounds like. I even listened to him through all the credits. Go figure. When I saw the audio was 18 hours (18!) I couldn’t believe it but after the first few of Sam’s dramatic, pause filled inner monologues, the length started to make sense. Lesley animates the crazy/hilarious text with however many characters, all distinct, but he can also bring on the serious when Sam has his moments of introspection and analysis, whether he’s in some absurd situation or faced with heartbreak. The only downside is that I think I miss these books even more after hearing their wonderful voices.

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration:  4.5 pieces of eye candy

I started this series after last year’s GRL, when I heard Michael Lesley’s excerpt from book 2, and fell in love with the series immediately. I listened to all three books as soon as I was able (and am now waiting anxiously for book 4). This series is so well-written, has so many characters that don’t just touch your heart, but sneak in and steal it, as if these are real people and not characters that come to life from TJ Klune’s imagination. In some cases, it rips your heart out a little, and in this book, it truly breaks your heart, but is so well done, you know that what is ahead will bring Sam his happy ending, and restore Verania to its glory. Other times, you laugh so hard, you wonder where the heck he comes up with this stuff. Seriously, the scenes where Sam is captured, and somehow talks himself out of it, as Gary argues away are some of the funniest stuff I have read in a very long time.

However, when you add in Michael Lesley’s narration, these books just become something more. You truly feel like you are IN Verania, that you can see Ryan Foxheart’s blush when Sam says something completely inappropriate, that you can see Gary’s glitter being sprayed everywhere as he goes into a unicorn rage, and that Sam’s blue and green magic is swirling around you as he considers whether to turn someone’s nose into a penis. Michael Lesley truly takes these books to the next level, and I am so glad that I could spend the time with this book, listening to it.

That being said…book 4 isn’t out on audio yet, although I know Michael Lesley is working on it. I could not wait, though, I needed to see how Sam saves Verania and gets his happy ending, and I was not disappointed. What a great finish to this part of the series. And the best part! I heard Michael Lesley’s voice in my head the entire time I read that book. I can’t wait to hear how he makes it even better than what I heard in my head.

Amazing work to both TJ Klune and Michael Lesley.

Story: 5 pieces of eye candy

Narration:  5 pieces of eye candy