So, this one is about a vampire who is best buddies with a werewolfMy run of 2-star reads continues...
[image] Where's my fainting couch when I need it?
So, this one is about a vampire who is best buddies with a werewolf pack - defying the tradition of hatred between the two kinds. It is the equivalent of the Roadrunner and Coyote getting married. An insult to God and all of mankind.
[image] It was always a game. A sexy role-play game. The Roadrunner looks happy to be caught and is about to say "Choke me, Daddy."
Our vampire, Alex, buys a piece of crap "fixer-upper" of a house with a bunch of land so his puppy pals have lots of room to romp and kill every full moon. But, one pup gets hurt so he ends up bringing his new neighbor, a veterinarian, in to help. And, well, you know, he must have been rocking that set of scrubs and comfy shoes because things get sexy... as things are wont to do when crocs are matched with socks....
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There are some very tame issues that seem too easily resolved, and a bad guy who never really felt as threatening as the author wanted. The characters seemed likable enough, but none of them were developed. I think that by trying to give all of the secondary characters dimension, there just wasn't enough page-time for the main couple's personalities and chemistry to come through. It was all just a mild, surface look at a lot of people that I didn't connect strongly with.
Merged review:
My run of 2-star reads continues...
[image] Where's my fainting couch when I need it?
So, this one is about a vampire who is best buddies with a werewolf pack - defying the tradition of hatred between the two kinds. It is the equivalent of the Roadrunner and Coyote getting married. An insult to God and all of mankind.
[image] It was always a game. A sexy role-play game. The Roadrunner looks happy to be caught and is about to say "Choke me, Daddy."
Our vampire, Alex, buys a piece of crap "fixer-upper" of a house with a bunch of land so his puppy pals have lots of room to romp and kill every full moon. But, one pup gets hurt so he ends up bringing his new neighbor, a veterinarian, in to help. And, well, you know, he must have been rocking that set of scrubs and comfy shoes because things get sexy... as things are wont to do when crocs are matched with socks....
[image]
There are some very tame issues that seem too easily resolved, and a bad guy who never really felt as threatening as the author wanted. The characters seemed likable enough, but none of them were developed. I think that by trying to give all of the secondary characters dimension, there just wasn't enough page-time for the main couple's personalities and chemistry to come through. It was all just a mild, surface look at a lot of people that I didn't connect strongly with....more
This is one of those true-mates books where they smell their mate's scent, go batshit crazy, and then need to bite and claim each other. It seems likeThis is one of those true-mates books where they smell their mate's scent, go batshit crazy, and then need to bite and claim each other. It seems like a much easier way to find your Mister or Miss Right than trolling bars or Tinder, so I think it would be a great plan if we humans could have this feature built in. Can someone get on this?
Of course, it might make things a little weird when you're sitting in IHOP with the kids and some guy chases down your waiter, holding your smiley face pancakes, and tackles him to the ground to bite and mate him. But, I think it might be entertaining. Plus, things have been so weird for the past year or so that we probably wouldn't even flinch at this point. I mean, did you notice that nobody gave a crap when the government announced that UFO's are real?
[image] We are truly getting hard to impress.
So, our heroes are the king of vampires and alpha of werewolves. They are brought together because their people are misbehaving and putting the supes in danger from the government. They are immediately driven crazy/horny by the mating bond thingy and have to be together. Which means, too bad, suckers, their sex takes priority over petty problems like government policing and a possible race war. Bone first - Politics later.
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Probably the best thing about this book was how the couple dealt with each other. They were immediately loyal and worked together as a team. They were considerate of their differences and each other's needs. I really liked them as a couple.
The downside of the story was that it felt a little more like a book that was setting up a world and introducing characters for the series, so things stayed more surfacey. Still, I like where the whole thing is going....more
This book was being in the head of someone who is really fucked up, and I get enough of that in my own head. I read for a break from that, dammit! I mThis book was being in the head of someone who is really fucked up, and I get enough of that in my own head. I read for a break from that, dammit! I mean, I'm not trying to thought-life-shame anyone, but... geez, I need a drink after dealing with this guy's shit.
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Our main guy is Alex and he is a vet with severe PTSD. He lives with his twin brother after being released from the Army, going completely crazy and living on the streets for a year, and then ending up in a mental hospital. This guy is more broken than a McDonald's ice cream machine.
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Alex gets a job working with an occult shop and ghost tour group in New Orleans because what could be better for a crazy person who thinks evil ghosts are chasing him than doing ghost tours? I guess he's qualified, but is this really the best way to treat his PTSD? I feel like there are better ideas out there.
[image] Not all ideas are good.
The guy he ends up working for, Micah, is also fucked up - so they have a lot in common. Micah has some paranormal PTSD of his own, so the two of them end up helping each other. Kinda. I guess the whole thing is a hurt/comfort trope, but it just isn't my thing.
The other problem I had with the story is that we never really found out what the "big bad" was. As a matter of fact nothing was resolved and questions were never answered. You have to read the next book for answers, I guess. But honestly? I will see you in hell before that happens. And, this book will be required reading there.
Okay, so this book wasn't bad per say, just underdeveloped and immature in writing. Everything went a li*sigh* Another two star read for Jilly!
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Okay, so this book wasn't bad per say, just underdeveloped and immature in writing. Everything went a little too easy for the most part and the solutions to the "problems" felt a little too simplistic.
I think if they took the sex out of this book (not much), then it would make a better YA novel....more
All the OG's remember the tragedy that was the Sookie Stackhouse series. Remember how the last book or so was obviously a contract obligation on the aAll the OG's remember the tragedy that was the Sookie Stackhouse series. Remember how the last book or so was obviously a contract obligation on the author's part and no longer a passion project? I mean, Sam? WTF?
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Well, this book struggled with the same problem. Everything that was great about the series died here. We should have a moment of silence for the humor, chemistry, and excitement first.
[image] okay, a little dramatic, but I'll allow it.
David is a human sorcerer who has been in the book since the beginning. He had an elf fall in love with him at first sight for ... reasons...? We are assured that David doesn't want to be thought of as the boring and predictable pencil pusher that he is and that the elf will bring him out of that role. Um. No. The elf just tried to become more boring and predictable to match up with David. Plus, here's a big problem - not once in the book are we told what elf-dude looks like. I know he was described in the last book, but hey, I only have so many slots on my KU books. I have to delete a lot. Just tell me again, dammit!
[image] Cuz, this is where my mind goes. A lot of things, but sexy ain't one of them.
Another huge missing element was the humor. Where did it go? David is so boring that humor just isn't a thing here? That is absolutely NOT acceptable in JillyLand.
The final nail in the coffin was how much of the action happened "off page". There were weird time jumps that would have explanations of what had happened in that time - but they were big events. We should have seen it, not read a recap about it. In this we get that rare first-person account of the guy who was at the wrong bank while the rest of his gang did the heist. Why?
I truly think this book was written just to wrap up the series and leave a trail for the next one. It never engaged me like the previous books did. It was just as exciting and fun as going to the wrong bank.
This book was a problem for me. Do I love the MC's enough to make up for this shitty shitty trope?
[image] Maybe.
It's set in our world, which makes probThis book was a problem for me. Do I love the MC's enough to make up for this shitty shitty trope?
[image] Maybe.
It's set in our world, which makes problems for the story because there has to be some realism mixed in with the fantasy. So, when there is this race of elves divided into two families that work together to fight monsters all over the world... you just know the internet is going to be onto it. I mean, come on.
[image] Thy name is Google. Bow down peasants. (But make sure to take a break every once in a while for your posture or you'll get a hump.)
Our MC's are from the two families and are supposed to be mortal enemies forever. For reasons. The fact that the reasons aren't reasons at all is a problem. A problem that no normal person in this century would accept. And, let's face it, if your parents tell you to stay away from a certain person that you like, doesn't that make them just a bit more interesting?
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Also, the job of monster-fighting is not explained well at all. How the monsters come to earth was pretty weak, and the "why" of it was nonexistent.
The saving grace of the book was the main character, Jude, who was raised human so he does do some questioning. Then he opens his mouth and is a funny smartass. *hallelujah!* Jude completely makes this book. He is smart, funny, and totally shakes things up. (The fact that he falls in love with our other MC within two meetings and is less than a week past his break-up with a cheating ex.... is something we will ignore for the sake of the gloriousness of Jude.)
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Then, to give even more goodness to a story that I might have hated, we get a troll named Royal. He loves bunnies and I loved him. He is everything good and pure. *heart emoji*
Overall it evened out for me. I rolled my eyes several times but then laughed at Jude or awed at Royal. So.....more
I found this one pretty funny because it kind of reminded me of Shrek with a bunch of fairy tale characters acting like jerks.
[image]
So we have a guy I found this one pretty funny because it kind of reminded me of Shrek with a bunch of fairy tale characters acting like jerks.
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So we have a guy who is a "broken" incubus because he makes people fall in love instead of lust. Not good for business. So, he decides to get a job with the little cherubs who are cupids... you know, with the arrow that makes you fall in love.
Unfortunately, these little cherubs are not as sweet as they look. A bunch of little assholes actually. And, our incubus is a sweetie-pie.
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Sweetie-Pie ends up getting stuck with (literally) a Phoenix with a bad temper who is also the local cop. oh, this whole thing is set in fairyland, not here. Which I liked. Nothing even slightly realistic here.
I got several laughs out of this book and loved the incubus, so I guess his spell worked on me....more
My favorite book of the series! This was a LOT of fun! It is set in our modern pandemic time here, but has an alternate fairy-tale world story going onMy favorite book of the series! This was a LOT of fun! It is set in our modern pandemic time here, but has an alternate fairy-tale world story going on as well.
And then worlds collide!
[image] No singing in a pandemic, but still. Same vibe.
So first we get fairy-tale land guy coming to our world, then we get real-world guy going to fairy tale land. I love how many fairy-tales were referenced, usually with funny little twists on the stories.
[image] Okay, maybe not this dark. Fun, though!
And, I loved even more when real-world guy used modern solutions to fairy tale problems. Like marketing. It's all about marketing...
*fans self* Okay, so this is part of a big fantasy series written by dAn MC who looks like The Witcher?
[image] Whatever the question, my answer is yes!
*fans self* Okay, so this is part of a big fantasy series written by different authors for each book. The thing that shows up in each book is a Magic Emporium that gives the customer just what they will need at the right time. In this case a human gets a magical chicken foot.
[image] I know, right, Henry? I can call you Henry now, right?
His chicken foot is important, but he keeps trying to throw it away. Only for it to come back again and again. Annoying. Right, Henry? That would be annoying, wouldn't it? We're so in sync.
Henry, I mean Samuel, shows up in our mundane world because he needs the chicken foot. But, then he gets stuck here. Luckily, our hero understands the hotness of Henry, uh Samuel predicament and decides to bone help Hen..Sam.
[image] I really think he should. Please hop on!
It's very cute. And hot. Both. I love you, Superman!
I've been in the mood for fluffy magic and fantasy lately, so when I found this series with a bunch of books by different authors set in the same worlI've been in the mood for fluffy magic and fantasy lately, so when I found this series with a bunch of books by different authors set in the same world for free on KU??
[image] Consider me intrigued...
This one was better than the last few I've read. Meaning, there was character development and a decent storyline. Believe me, that can be rarer than a unicorn sometimes. But not this time! The unicorn is totally here!
[image] Ain't no party like a unicorn party...
So we have Ryan, a goth witch with an evil family. He goes to the Ren Fest because he wants to wear his floral crown on his head and dance the Fairy Dance with people in bad cosplay outfits.
Then we have Leo, a hot shifter who is a ray of goodness and sunshine and everything magical. He's not wearing a floral crown, but has a moonshine business at the festival along with his bff Death.
[image] You're not the boss of me.... Or of this author!
It's lust at first sight, but there are secrets between them. And I say, so what? Who doesn't have a few secrets from the hubs? He doesn't need to know everything. Sheesh! So what if I spend more on Amazon purchases than he knows about? So what if I have a secret stash of chocolate? So what if I have a giant ranch in a secret location with all of my book-boyfriend lovers? A little mystery and intrigue keep a marriage fresh. That's what my book boyfriends told me. They give remarkably good advice.
Anyway, this book was fun and I adored Leo. He's totally going to the ranch after I kidnap him. Ryan was a bit of a Debbie Downer, so he can stay behind. Go cry alone, Goth Boy!
One guy is a powerful druid mage with a spiritual connection to the trees and land in his isolated cabin in the woods. He also is a bearded red-head wOne guy is a powerful druid mage with a spiritual connection to the trees and land in his isolated cabin in the woods. He also is a bearded red-head who wears a kilt and is grumpy. Maybe it's the constant breeze...
[image] Or maybe it's something else.
The other guy is a delivery driver. It's a match made in porn-heaven!
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Also, they have a magical baby to take care of. Let the sexy times begin! Yeah, I know. Not very realistic. Babies are the biggest cock-blockers since Crocs. But, it's fantasy....more
Well, I wanted something weird, fluffy, and short... Be careful what you ask for. So, a love story between a dragon and bunny shifter? Why not. That souWell, I wanted something weird, fluffy, and short... Be careful what you ask for. So, a love story between a dragon and bunny shifter? Why not. That sounds cute. I can be all about that mix #TeamBungon
[image] NO! Team Bungon, not Gungan. You are the worst thing that has ever existed Jar Jar! Go jump in a sarlacc!
Anyway... This book was funny at times and weird all the time. I don't know why certain decisions were made... And, I'm not sure I want to. I definitely need to just
This instalove was so instant that if you skip a sentence you will miss an integral part of the relationship. And, oh my gosh, who doesn't love OTT chThis instalove was so instant that if you skip a sentence you will miss an integral part of the relationship. And, oh my gosh, who doesn't love OTT cheesy lovesick crooning within an hour of meeting? No, it's not creepy at all....
[image] *backs away slowly*
The good side of the book: there is no thinking required. No problem that isn't immediately solved. No angst or separation. No misunderstandings to get over.
Just hearts, flowers, unicorns, and porn. You know, cuz those things totally go together.
This was so lame that I totally expect it to be turned into a Hallmark Christmas Movie targeted to the LGBT community. Hey, it's only fair. The cis-heThis was so lame that I totally expect it to be turned into a Hallmark Christmas Movie targeted to the LGBT community. Hey, it's only fair. The cis-hetero's have been suffering through their cheesy movies alone for too long. So...
[image] You're welcome!
I only read this book because I'm doing a reading challenge and needed something set in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming, and I sure as fuck ain't reading a gay cowboy book.
[image] *narrator voice* but she was indeed quitting them. Quitting the hell out of them.
So, ghost stuck in a snowglobe it is. The deal is that a has-been actor buys a secluded house in Idaho and finds a ghost. Not just any ghost, but a hot gay ghost that he's attracted to. What are the odds? I mean, if I ever find a ghost it will probably be some racist old man who talks about the great war night and day. But, our actor boy is lucky. A hot little twink from the 1800's who is so adorable that your teeth will ache.
[image] The view from inside the snow globe.
They fall in love. And, you know it's only a matter of time until the "curse" is lifted or whatever because Hallmark doesn't do an exorcism that bans ghosts to hell. Like they should. I might actually consider watching it if they did.
The only thing missing in this was the adorable and highly-intelligent child who gets a puppy and a real family for Christmas....more
Oh book, where have you been all my life? I'm so giddy with excitement and fan-girling that I don't even know where to start!
Okay, deep breath. This is Oh book, where have you been all my life? I'm so giddy with excitement and fan-girling that I don't even know where to start!
Okay, deep breath. This is a fantasy book where some unsuspecting average guy, Nix, gets accosted at McDonalds by a magic-man named Bjorn Tisticle who informs him that he is the savior of the world. You know, your typical McDonald's experience.
[image] That gun came in his Happy Meal. 'murica!
Then, to make things worse, he gets stabbed in the cheeseburger by his mailman and then magically sent off to a magic realm to find his magical "guardian" to help him save the world.
Now, I don't know what was in that milkshake but I'll have one of what he had.
[image] Wait, the ice cream machine was working? This really is a magical story!
The guardian he meets, Alastair, is the most OTT ridiculously unaware narcissist to ever grace the pages of a book. And I love him with all my heart. He is comedy gold, Jerry!
The two of them end up going between worlds as they run for their lives, fuck shit up, and maybe try to defeat the evil that is Nix's grandmother.
I stare at Alastair in disbelief. "Were you just trying to send my grandma off to magic jail?" Why didn't I think of that? Shit, I mean.... how dare he!
The side-characters, and even the people they meet are equally hilarious in their own ways. There wasn't a single character in this book that wasn't highly entertaining.
"What about you? What can you do?"
"I'm half centaur and half minotaur... I just got the human parts of both halves. My feet are really hairy though."
Uhhh... "That's... really neat," I say, not sure if it is or not.
Meh, didn't like this one as much as the second. The human was the alpha in the relationship. So, he was ridiculously over the top all of the time to Meh, didn't like this one as much as the second. The human was the alpha in the relationship. So, he was ridiculously over the top all of the time to make it seem like he was capable of being the alpha over a fucking wolf. That's right. He's tougher than a werewolf.
[image] yeah, right.
Gimme a break!
Plus, the whole series has been building up to a big war against a hidden enemy and this book brought us no closer.
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Gimme another break!
Then, the kinks that I'm kinda ickish about and were mentioned in the first book showed up in this one. Ew. I'm sorry I'm kink-shaming, but ....
[image] ew.
I seriously need that break now.
[image] Now, this is a kink I can get behind!...more
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