I don't think I have the words to do this book justice. I'm just going to say that I don't give out 5 stars lightly but this one deserves every last o I don't think I have the words to do this book justice. I'm just going to say that I don't give out 5 stars lightly but this one deserves every last one of them.
Everything in this story felt so real and alive. The characters, the environment and atmosphere, it all sucked me into a world I didn't want to be in, but at the same time, I just couldn't leave it. I needed Alex and Seb to be safe and happy.
This was a raw and emotional read. I was rooting and praying for Alex and Seb until the very end. It made me angry and brought me to tears, but there was always some hope and I clung to it with everything I had. It was amazing because even through the sadness, the author managed to make me smile. It was beautifully written. Alex is just a child who had to struggle for everything, love, acceptance, the basic necessities of life, like a pair of shoes. Both Alex and Seb showed so much courage and strength but under all that they were both scared children who wanted someone to love them and take care of them. Their relationship was a true friendship and even in this cruel and devastating world they had to live in, there was still an innocence about them.
This was a journey of friendship and love where two people found pure happiness in a dollar meal burger, a ride on a Ferris wheel, playing in the sand, or in one of Seb's smirks. They didn't always make the right decisions, but how could they? They were abused children living in poverty, who had no one to hold them and tell them everything would be alright, but somehow they found a will and desire for more.
This was a journey of two boys who were able to find safety and peace within each other. ...more
Everything takes off in this volume of Captive Price. There's political intrigue, suspense, intense battle scenes, and crazy sexual tension. Everythin Everything takes off in this volume of Captive Price. There's political intrigue, suspense, intense battle scenes, and crazy sexual tension. Everything I love. Oh and Laurent! We finally get to see some cracks in his cold exterior and a slip or two in his control. What can I say. I was instantly fascinated and drawn to him in volume 1 and now I love, love, love him. I've also grown to like Damen's character more. His loyalty and honor ooze from every pore. In this volume, the characters and plot become wore intricate and everything comes together.
This gave me chills:
The truth was marching towards him. His past was coming to Ravenel, a steady, unstoppable approach. Damen and Damianos. And Jord was right. There had only ever been one of him.
Part of me is terrified for Laurent to find out who Damen really is but part of me believes that he already knows. My bet is that he does. Please, please let him know. ...more
This book, this series, deserves nothing less than 10 stars. Pure brilliance! I really can't believe it's over. But there's hope, for MORE! Although, This book, this series, deserves nothing less than 10 stars. Pure brilliance! I really can't believe it's over. But there's hope, for MORE! Although, this series is one of my favorites, Fade had a bit of an imbalance to it. (view spoiler)[ I was dissappointed we didn't get to see Sin's POV until late in the book. (hide spoiler)] I went through so many different emotions reading this series and I wouldn't trade a minute of it. What a ride. Thanks to all my GR friends for the support and laughs.
*Sigh* Hsin and Boyd's journey will never end for me.
**spoiler alert** Even better than the first. The writing got better, still a bit wordy and lots of inner dialog but nowhere near as bad as Evenfall. **spoiler alert** Even better than the first. The writing got better, still a bit wordy and lots of inner dialog but nowhere near as bad as Evenfall. However, the plot did get stronger. Sin continues to steal my heart. What he goes through in this book is heart-breaking. The downward spiral of these two men and their relationship is never ending but somehow it all works.
One of the things that put me off was how quickly Boyd realizes how unstable and co-dependent their relationship is. I understand and accept the mistakes he made but the fact that he could distance himself from Sin and not flinch at his decision seems very unlike the Boyd we know from Evenfall. Don't get me wrong, I totally can see Boyd coming to this conclusion but I wish I saw a little more of his self-doubt and maybe a crack in his "let's be friends" attitude. I wish I felt more of his pain like I felt Sin's.
Their relationship also fell apart so suddenly. I wanted to see more of them together before it all went to hell.
Anyway, I love the dynamics of the story. There are still some unanswered questions but hopefully we'll get answers to those soon. We got to see Sin and Boyd as individuals as they both dealt with extreme and life altering situations. Great character and story development.
Control - 5 Stars Wait For It - 4 Stars Caged - 5 Stars Unaccustomed As I Am - 3 Stars Helen - 5 Stars Shopping, No Fucking - 3.5 SRe-read 02/2015; 04/2017
Control - 5 Stars Wait For It - 4 Stars Caged - 5 Stars Unaccustomed As I Am - 3 Stars Helen - 5 Stars Shopping, No Fucking - 3.5 Stars Losing It - 4.5 Stars Coming From America (paperback only) - 4 Stars...more
This book was simply Brilliant. I loved every moment of it. There’s so many things I enjoyed, I don’t even know where to start.
Let's see......characteThis book was simply Brilliant. I loved every moment of it. There’s so many things I enjoyed, I don’t even know where to start.
Let's see......character development - check, intriguing plot - check, action - check, flawless dialogue - check, sexual tension (off the charts) - double check, suspense - check, humor - check. You get the picture. Everything came together perfectly in this book.
There are some characters that just stick with you, they're unforgettable. For me, in Shattered Glass, all the characters are like that. They all feel real. This felt more like an ensemble, no character is left out. Austin, Peter, Cai, Darryl, Luis, Angelica, Dave, even the parents.
I enjoyed the plot and all the twists and turns. There's a lot going on in this book and I did get a bit concerned that it may not come together but in the end it all made sense. I do think the crime/mystery aspects could have been scaled down. I had to think back and try to connect the dots because it got a bit complicated at times. But what's great is that this wasn't just a crime or a romance story. It was so much more. The complexity of the character's and their road to self-discovery propelled this book.
What I loved most was the author's use of humor. There were so many laugh out loud moments, I can't even begin to count. This however, did not deter from the serious issues that arose in the book. The author created a balance that worked. It allowed you to think about the issues yourself without smacking you in the face with them.
Geez, what else can I rave about? I can't forget to mention the hilarious chapter headings and above all the Bunny Slippers! I really hope we see them again, even if it's just in passing.
**spoiler alert** Re-read March 2015; April 2017 - Still loved every minute of it!
First Against the Wall is the sixth book in The Administration ser**spoiler alert** Re-read March 2015; April 2017 - Still loved every minute of it!
First Against the Wall is the sixth book in The Administration series and IMO the BEST so far. Manna Francis has written a brilliant, kick ass book with a fascinating plot while continuing to delve deeper into her character's psyche. There's non-stop suspense from the first page up until the very end.
The story begins with Toreth beaten and held captive in a cell at I&I. The Administration, including I&I have been taken over by the resisters. The Revolution to stop The Administration's oppression has begun, with Toreth smack in the middle of it all. There's complete chaos at I&I and killing the para-investigators is at the top of the resister's list. Ironically, the resisters and civilians become everything they despise about I&I.
The man currently in charge at I&I for the "new" Administration is none other than Toreth's nemesis, Carnac. This was an "Oh Fuck" moment. The games have now begun and I loved every minute of it. The head games these two played were so compelling that it had me completely enthralled the entire time. They both played dirty and used whoever and whatever they could to win, but Carnac had the advantage, he knows Toreth's biggest weakness - Warrick. Carnac hits below the belt and hurts Toreth in ways that I never saw coming and leaves scars behind that I'm afraid will never go away.
No matter who Toreth hurts along the way, I always find myself rooting for him. This is a testament of what an outstanding author Manna Francis truly is. Toreth tortures people for a living, he uses people for whatever he needs and doesn't give them a second thought. In the end, his pain was so heart-breaking I couldn't feel anything but sympathy and love for him.
One thing I did miss was seeing more of Warrick's POV. I would have liked to have heard more about his struggle with Toreth's plans and his feelings toward the "new" Administration. However, it didn't take away from the book.
This was a crazy roller coaster ride packed with psychological head games, betrayal, pain, and love. There are non-stop twists and turns with an unexpected ending that left me speechless.
I can't wait to see what's in store for Toreth and Warrick next....more
Another phenomenal Dark Soul installment! There's so much going on in these 3 short stories, I don't know where to*****Review Contains Spoilers******
Another phenomenal Dark Soul installment! There's so much going on in these 3 short stories, I don't know where to begin. I loved every minute of it. Aleksandr Voinov has such a beautiful way with words which leaves me utterly captivated and always wanting more.
In Dark Soul 4, each story is told from Stefano's POV. Stefano is a complete mess. He's struggling with his feelings and doesn't know how to deal with any of them.
In Dark Rival I, we see the beginning of Stefano's world crumbling. His capos are questioning him and his decision to have Silvio "help" with the Russians. Stefano not only has to deal with his men but Silvio and Franco are away and all he can think about is his need for Silvio. His fantasies aren't ending with just Silvio though. Nope, now Stefano is thinking about both Spadaro brothers. HA, he can't even come to terms with how he feels for Silvio, how the hell can he deal with wanting both of them?
In Dark Rival II, Silvio and Franco return from having successfully gotten rid of the Russians. Stefano finally gives in to Silvio's advances and Stefano realizes how much he enjoys being the one to fulfill Slivio's needs. Stefano, however once again finds himself in trouble. This time with his wife Donata. She suspects Stefano is having an affair and confronts him. Stefano denies it but in the end he admits he doesn't want to lose her, thereby telling Donata all she needs to know.
An important part of this story is a conversation that Stefano and Franco have. Franco is preparing to leave and he knows he can't give Silvio what he wants. He tells Stefano exactly what Silvio needs and makes it known that Stefano is in deep with Silvio. Franco gets right to the point with Stefano by telling him: "Silvio wants to belong. Make him". God I love this line. It just give me chills. Franco leaving sets up an emotional collision between Silvio and Stefano. Silvio deals with it the only way he knows how, by looking for sex and Stefano isn't liking it one bit.
In Dark Temptation, Stefano faces the repercussions of Franco leaving head on. Stefano makes his decision to go after Silvio. I love Stefano's possessiveness and raw emotions. He wants Silvio and no one is standing in his way. When he sees Silvio at the bar picking up 2 cops, I could feel the tension and jealously pouring out from him. This leads to a hot hotel scene and now there's no turning back for Stefano.
I loved the ending but now I'm left with a ton of questions. Stefano knows what Silvio needs and of course Stefano wants to be the one to give it to him but can he without his entire world falling apart? Uggg, only one more book left with all these unresolved issues. This makes me very nervous.
Dark Soul, volume 3 really pushed the boundaries for me but in a good way, I think. Silvio just keeps getting more and more complex by the minute. He Dark Soul, volume 3 really pushed the boundaries for me but in a good way, I think. Silvio just keeps getting more and more complex by the minute. He does what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants and be damned with the consequences. I loved all three stories but Dark Lady I was truly amazing. Silvio knew the task at hand and we all saw it coming but to have that level of brutality and still show feeling and tenderness was insanely brilliant and it left me speechless. Whenever Silvio placed his hand on Sergei's face, it was like an understanding passed through them. It was a simple but profound gesture. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it!
Dark Lady II continues and we see how comfortable Silvio is with himself. What I loved was that both Silvio and Stefano give even more of themselves. Stefano realizes how he needs Silvio and wants nothing more than to please him. Once again a great ending.
Ok, now onto Dark Brother. Here we learn about Silvio's childhood and the family dynamics. His relationship with his brother Franco was completely unexpected but now that I've had time to digest it, I've accepted it as another complex facet of Silvio. Albeit one that's severely messed up but nevertheless it's part of who Silvio is. It worries me because Silvio and Franco both need this level of intimacy and understanding and I hope that they're not the only ones that can offer it to one another.
Three great stories that has me wanting more. ...more
Not much to say except that I can't get enough of Silvio and Stefano. The story continues and we see more darkness in both their lives. Both these menNot much to say except that I can't get enough of Silvio and Stefano. The story continues and we see more darkness in both their lives. Both these men are intense but also begin to show vulnerability and tenderness. It's just raw emotions bubbling to the surface. Onto volume three! ...more
**spoiler alert** I don't think I can do a proper review because there's so much I loved about this book and I want to blab and after the last lines o**spoiler alert** I don't think I can do a proper review because there's so much I loved about this book and I want to blab and after the last lines of the book, I also need to vent.
So before the venting comes up, I’ll summaries a bit. Divide & Conquer is the fourth installment in the Cut and Run series. Ty and Zane are together in Baltimore where there’s been a rash of robberies and bombings. Along with the police, the FBI have come under scrutiny by the public and the media to figure out who's been terrorizing the city. By this I mean, Ty and Zane are targets again.
There were so many parts that I loved in this book but I doubt I can name them all. The very top of my list was the dancing scene. OMG, my heart is just melting thinking about it. It was so unexpected, touching, romantic, ok I'm gushing. But what I didn’t get was Ty’s reaction to when Zane told him he loved him. Did he really not believe him? This confused me because Ty's been waiting for this for a while now. All I can think of was that he really thought Zane just got caught up in the moment. Of course isn't that when people say "I Love You?" It's not always a planned thing. It wasn't for Ty.
It was bothersome because when he comes out to his buddies at the bar he tells Nick that Zane didn’t reciprocate his feelings and he’s just waiting for it to happen. Maybe Zane didn’t in the last book but he did when they were dancing. And even Ty thinks to himself that Zane does love him but he just needs time to “analyze it”. He made Zane sound like he’s just in it for the sex. WTF! He said Zane was a good guy but that was it.
This leads me to the kiss. I had a bad feeling about Nick as soon as he arrived. He was too jealous for it to be just a friendship on his part. Now onto Ty and Zane. Ty enjoyed those kisses way too much and contemplating the what if’s with Nick pissed me off. But at least he was honest with Zane. This is where I become disappointed with Zane. Granted he’s somewhat insecure and closes off his emotions but a kiss is a big deal. I mean he basically blew it off like it was nothing. Is he that afraid that he can't even confront him?
Another great part for me was when Zane came out of the fog at the ball field with the wink from Ty. He finally accepted his feelings for Ty. It's something Ty has done so many times but it took that time and moment for it to click for Zane. Simply Beautiful. Oh and I can't forget the jealous and possessive side of Ty. He was so freakin HOT.
There were also so many hilarious parts, I can’t even count. The banter between these two keeps getting better and better.
Ok so now we come to the end. I was worried about this even before I picked up the book. The split in the piggy with the band aide had me extremely nervous. Guess I had reason to be. I’m still not sure what to think about Ty leaving. I actually gave him some slack when he walked out on Zane for not leaving the note earlier in the book. I think it was more than just worrying about Zane. I think his guilt was catching up to him and the doubts Nick put in his head all came together and he blew. I wish Zane had done the same thing when he found out about the kiss. Ty better be in a very dire situation because the only reason he made it out of the mausoleum with any part of his mind left was because Zane was by his side!
I'm going to have a hard time waiting until May for more Ty and Zane....more
**spoiler alert** I kept going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars with this one so I settled with 4.5 stars. Fish and Chip is the third installment **spoiler alert** I kept going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars with this one so I settled with 4.5 stars. Fish and Chip is the third installment of the Cut and Run series.
This book grabbed my attention instantly. Ty and Zane were assigned a case on a cruise ship where they had to portray an openly gay married couple. Ty impersonated Del Porter, who is fun-loving, spirited, and on the submissive side. Not exactly Ty's personality. I kind of thought he could have a smidgen of this in him though. Zane, who impersonated Corbin Porter is a possessive, jealous, hard-nose business man. I loved this story line. It allowed Ty and Zane to be open with each other and also bring their emotions to the forefront.
As usual, there was also a lot of humor. I loved Zane calling Ty "Doll" and when Ty found Del's toys, classic moment. I could go on and on about these two.
Both men struggled to find the line between what they were actually feeling and what were Del/Corbin's feelings. These lines got blurred as they had to come to terms with what they felt. They both had to face their insecurities and fears.
They became extremely intimate during this case. This is by far the most passionate of the books so far. As they begin to realize their feelings for one-another, the sex is not just about a quick fix. It's HOT but also it pulls at your heartstrings because you can feel their emotions up front. Sex has never been a huge part of these books but I found after the opening of this one, I couldn't get enough, which is a first for me. I typically think there's always too much sex but in this series I find myself saying "DAMN why didn't we see that!"
Ty finally admits he loves Zane and for me it came out at the perfect time. I knew Zane has always had a hard time coming to terms with his feelings for Ty even though he does love him. I really thought that once Ty admitted his feelings, Zane would have been able to come to terms with his. My heart went out to Ty when Zane didn't completely reciprocate his feelings. Although, it was frustrating that Ty wasn't able to see through Zane's facade and see how much he really loves him. He usually can read Zane so well. This was one of the issues that bothered me in the book. I was hoping that Ty would at least see that it's Zane's fears that are in the way and that it wasn't that Zane didn't love him.
Also, I think the book ended way too soon. After the big "I Love You", they talk about it briefly, in a jail cell and then just go on with their lives and we see nothing. And why the hell didn't Zane give Ty the necklace he bought him? I really hope it's going to be saved for a "perfect" moment because I was hoping that moment would have been in this book. At least Zane didn't put his wedding ring back on. I wish we saw Ty noticing that.
I did enjoy the mystery for the most part even though some things did bother me about the case. For one, Ty and Zane didn't know who their back team was (makes no sense), they didn't have any way to contact their superiors or anyone on their team and the explanation of the killers at the end seemed a bit anti-climatic after all they went through on the ship. As always the relationship aspect of the book was top notch.
I have to admit I'm a little nervous about the next book, Divide & Conquer which has a cover of a broken piggy with a bandage. This doesn't sound too promising for Ty and Zane. I don't want anything dividing these boys especially after the big step they took in this book. ...more
**spoiler alert** I'm really not sure how to review this because I have so much to say. First off, I loved it! I was drawn in from page one. I don't k**spoiler alert** I'm really not sure how to review this because I have so much to say. First off, I loved it! I was drawn in from page one. I don't know how Mr. Voinov does it with so few pages but his characters are enthralling.
Dark Soul is split into two short stories: Dark Soul and Dark Secret. They are more like pieces of the same story. You don't get many details of the mafioso families but what you do get is the emotional connection to the characters. Oh and I loved the Italian thrown in. Being of an Italian descent, this made me smile every time it came up.
Stefano Marino, a west coast mafia boss, travels to the east coast when the news that the head of a large mafia family is dying. Stefano is a married man that keeps his dark desires well hidden, until he meets Silvio. Silvio "the Barracuda" Spadaro is a killer and the heir to Gianbattista Falchi, who is the head of a well known mafia family. He is also Silvio's Godfather and lover. When Stefano first sees Silvio pulling up on his motorcycle, he's immediately attracted to him. Silvio has dark eyes, dark hair, a dark soul and basically exudes sex and Stefano can feel it.
Stefano can't seem to get Silvio out of him mind. Whenever he sees him, he feels like he can barely breathe and it gets harder and harder to escape Silvio's sensual pull and Silvio knows it. You can clearly feel Stefano's turmoil. One night Stefano's deepest desires are pushed to the limit.
Stefano is not the only one that can't get Silvio out of his head. I can't seem to stop thinking about him. I keep wondering what makes him tick. By the end of the second story you get more background and some of the pieces are laid out but I'm sure we've just skimmed the surface of Silvio "the Barracuda" Spadaro.
One of my favorite parts was when Stefano sees the painting of Silvio in Gianbattista's office. It was so poignant. The description was absolutely vivid. Silvio's lips, his position, his "knowing, full of darkness smile". Gianbattista's tells us it's his Dorian Gray and lets us know how much trouble the painter had capturing Silvio's soul. It gave me chills when Gianbattista says: "That is maybe because he doesn't have one." Even Stefano's reaction, simple but full of impact. "It's....impressive. Beautiful. For some reason this struck a chord with me.
The second story ends when Stefano asks for Gianbattista's help with some trouble he's having with the Russian Mafia. Silvio travels to the States with Stefano at Gianbattista's request. What gripped me at the end, was Silvio's emotions. His heartache tore right through me.
I can tell this is the beginning of an intense ride. ...more
4.5 stars for the book but 5 stars for the series.
I just finished Veterans and what a sad day it is. I can't be*******Review contains spoilers*******
4.5 stars for the book but 5 stars for the series.
I just finished Veterans and what a sad day it is. I can't believe my journey with Vadim and Dan is over. Twenty-five years of passion, anger, violence, loneliness, torture and above all LOVE. I miss them already!
Veterans is the final book in Special Forces and although I did love it, I had a few problems with this book. My expectations were higher mainly because it was the last installment and I wanted everything tied up but it didn't quite reach that point for me.
In the beginning, Veterans gripped me and drew me in. Vadim and Dan had gone through so much over the years but to see them so emotionally disconnected was heart-breaking. They always had something between them even if it was anger but for them to be so estranged and practically accept being this far apart was horrible. Although, Vadim's outdoor excursion was perfect (took him long enough to get off his ass)!
The biggest problem was the ending. I was so happy they got married but I needed more and Vadim and Dan deserved more as well. The wedding was simply beautiful but not being able to see them make love for the first time after getting married really struck me in a bad way especially since this book severely lacked private Vadim and Dan time. Why not show more of Vadim and Dan and leave out some of the non essential people, such as Beauvais?
This leads me to my second complaint. Much of the book was focused on Dan and Jean's relationship. Dan and Jean have always irritated me but when I don't get more of Vadim and Dan and combine that with the ending, it puts me off in a very bad way. To see Dan fucking Jean and then to have Jean tell Dan he loved him was too much to take. Thank God Dan never said it back or elaborated on his feelings because that would have been the end for me.
There were many missed opportunities to see just Dan and Vadim together. Not only on their wedding night but also when Dan had to leave Vadim so he can begin his therapy and he asked Vadim to make love to him but we get nothing. This wasn't acceptable especially for the last book. Sorry, but I felt a bit cheated.
There were however, many beautiful moments: the tent scene, Dan wondering if Vadim will love him after his 3 month therapy, Dan meeting Kisa, Vadim resolving things with Nikolai, Dan telling Maggie he loves her, Vadim's reaction to Duncan calling him brother-in-law, and of course their wedding with the steel rings and Vadim's blue cufflinks.
Best LOL moment hands down goes to Hooch when he asked Jean at their first meeting "Did you cry?" Love Hooch and Matt but I thought it was so out of character for Hooch to make up with Jean.
And I couldn't believe Vadim's run in with Konstantinov. Wow, I really felt for him and never saw that one coming.
I thought the proposal was absolutely perfect. I loved how Dan was genuinely shocked and would only say yes if Vadim was marrying him for love and no other reason. I loved the part when Dan was staring at Vadim, thinking of the past..."Vadim still was the man he'd always wanted. Everyone else, no matter who or where and what, paled in comparison to Vadim. His Russkie. His cunt. Dan smiled at last."
This was quite an intense journey. I cried, laughed out loud, got pissed (more times than I wanted) but as always I loved every moment with Vadim and Dan. Whenever I hear the words, lapis lazuli, the Afghan mountains, energy bars, and Russkie I will always think of Vadim and Dan and smile.
Thank you for one of the best series I've ever read!
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