Tag Archives: M/M

bitterwood

Book Review of Bitterwood, by Rowan Speedwell

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BitterwoodI received a copy of Bitterwood, by Rowan Speedwell from Netgalley.

Description from Goodreads:
Outrunning a winter storm in the north, Captain Faran of the King’s Guard leads his men and a young mage named Meric to shelter at Bitterwood Manor, the ancestral home of the Daenes. Faran and his troops have been searching for weeks for a mysterious, lion-like beast that reportedly haunts the uncharted northern woods. For Meric, finding that prophesied cat is a matter of life and death.

Though Faran is deeply focused on their mission, the enigmatic Joss Daene, Lord of Bitterwood, fascinates him. Strong and proud, Joss is everything Faran wants in a lover. More, if he were honest. But Joss belongs to Bitterwood, and Faran to his duty.

Together they will need to brave the oldest, darkest part of the Bitterwood in the coldest, deepest snows of winter to find the legendary cat. But time is running out—for Meric, for the kingdom, and for Faran and Joss’s fledgling love.

Review:
This was a cute, sweet story of little depth but plenty of ‘aww’ moments. For flat out feel-goods this is worth picking up. If you’re looking for fleshed out characters or significant plotting, maybe not so much. I thought everyone was just a little too goody-goody to be taken seriously. Everyone was kind, considerate, generous, and instantly in love. Again, it was sweet and I enjoyed it, but it’s not to be taken seriously.

I was however thrilled to see that the mystery of the Daene cat didn’t work out the way I expected and a surprise is always a nice thing to find. Similarly, I liked that the mature, softer around the middle people got a love story too. That is a rare thing. So, for those who like prioritize heart and flowers over twisty plots, this will likely be a winner.

Lineage

Book Review of Lineage (Masters of the Lines #1), by Angela Fiddler

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LineageI downloaded Lineage, by Angela Fiddler (aka Barbara Geiger) from Amazon. It was, and still is, free.

Description from Goodreads:
Love didn’t just kick you when it were down; it staked you out and turned you into a vampire. Not that Vision was bitter. His ex-lover taught him nothing lasts forever, while his ex-master taught him to submit and the fine art of not resisting silk restraints. In exchange, Vision let both of them keep their heads. He considered it a fair trade-off. 

Now Vision is a master, but still finds himself wanting to be on his knees. 

Enter Hanz. He’s just a driver, but he knows what Vision wants and how to make it sting the way Vision likes most. 

Vision won’t be fooled again. Sure, Hanz is sweet. The respect feels genuine, and, what’s worse, he honestly seems to love Vision. Older, wiser masters counsel Vision against Hanz. And, of course, they’re right. Hanz does have something to hide.And, as if on cue, along comes Vision’s ex-lover, the cause of and solution to being kicked, staked, and vamped. Vision is caught again, and this time not with ropes and silk. Now if he can only keep his neck and his heart intact…

Review:
Did I read a different book than everyone else? Because this has pretty good reviews, but I thought it was a bloomin’ hot mess! Half of it is in flashbacks, which honestly is better written than the scenes in the present, but better isn’t good. There is no interaction between Vision and Hanz before a single aborted sex scene and them deciding they were in love forever. None you guys! There was far too much sex. It cluttered up the already choppy narrative, but more than that it was utterly random. Like people standing in a hallway and one suddenly dropping to his knees to blow the other. What? Why?

The book is labeled #1, but there is obviously history somewhere and I REALLY felt the lack of it. The world isn’t explained. Vampires tapping ley lines, cool, but why? How? Is that what makes you a Master? Why don’t male and female vampires interact? Are they all gay? Why did Bethany need Hanz’s sister’s blood to turn him? What is a talent and how do you get one? No idea.

There are plot holes. Vampires need to be released from their previous masters, but Vision was never released from his. So, how’s that work? Plot points aren’t explained. Vision is the only master with two territories. I know where one came from. Where did he get the second? No idea. Vision is supposed to have betrayed all his masters. How? No idea.

Then, the whole thing ended by introducing a new character and a cliffhanger. Really? Yeah, I wasn’t happy with this one.

The Sorcerers Betrayal

Book Review of The Sorcerer’s Betrayal (Juxtan #1), by Tricia Owens

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The Sorcerer's BetrayalI picked up a copy of Tricia Owens’ The Sorcerer’s Betrayal from Amazon, when it was free.

Description from Goodreads:
When the mercenary Caledon meets a young man named Hadrian he falls instantly, hopeless in love with him. But Hadrian is a mystery: shy and secretive, hailing from an island supposedly inhabited by sorcerers; he has come to Caledon’s city to recruit the mercenaries for a well-paying job offered by Hadrian’s father… but it is a lie. Hadrian is far more dangerous than his gentle disposition would suggest, and what he wants with Caledon and the mercenaries of Rhiad will change the land of Juxtan forever and set in motion a prophecy that will bind two men together in love and hatred until death.

A note on why I read it now:
When I downloaded the book it had a different cover. I was reordering my To-Read shelf recently and noticed this new one. It gave me pause because last year I conducted what I called the Annoying Close Up Guy Challenge, in which I read four books with this same stock photo on the front. Mostly because it annoyed me to keep scrolling past it; thus the challenge title.
Annoying closeup guy

So, I was surprised to come across yet another one. (Actually, I came across three; this and A Vampire’s Rise, by Vanessa Fewings, and The Shadows Birth, by Ryan T. Delson.)

annoying close up guy part II

It’s like this must be the only stock photo of a mysterious man available on the internet ,or something. And how do they all seem to find themselves on the my To-Read shelf? I25678532n the end, I thought I’d do an Annoying Close Up Guy Part 2 challenge.

Edit: You guys, I just found another one, The Phoenix Prince by Kristen Gupton!

Review:
This is essentially two books, neither of them good. The first half is insta-love and lots and lots of cheesy, naive, instructional virgin sex. There is no character development or plot progression. Just two people meet, are instantly attracted, rut like animals and declare their ever-lasting love for one another (based on what, who knows).

The second half is almost unreadable for all the flashbacks. It does provide you some background information though. Unfortunately, it’s so full of plot holes it’s painful to read. I’ve read self-fulfilling prophecies before, but never one where someone seemed to so obviously be setting one up.

The writing is often fine, but it’s poorly edited and there are frequently no transition between scenes, such that two people are having sex in forest and then in the next sentence they are in a bed (on another occasion apparently) and then suddenly one is on a horse. To top it all off, one of the main characters doesn’t follow into the second half, he just disappears, and the book doesn’t conclude.