Day: June 11, 2015

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Love Has No Expiration by C.S. Poe


Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6563

Daily Dose Short Story

LoveHasNoExpirationBlurb

There’s more to life than work, and love has no expiration, even for those approaching their forty- fifth birthday.
There’s more to life than work, and love has no expiration, even for those approaching their forty-fifth birthday.
Daniel Richards is a private chef in New York City who has committed over a decade to his skills and passion. He has carved out a name for himself in the industry and has bookings for parties and dinners months in advance. Now that he’s in his midforties, however, he’s come to the realization that he’s lonely and desperate for companionship. Two days before Valentine’s Day, he meets Keith Maxwell at a farmer’s market and can’t keep the much younger man out of his thoughts. Keith is eager and willing to take a chance with someone older, but Daniel’s reluctance stops Keith’s every attempt. Worried his career will suffer if he dedicates time to a serious romance, or that Keith won’t be satisfied with someone so much older, Daniel nearly thwarts his own attempts at finding happiness.

Review

This is a short story that does a nice job of setting up our MCs, showing us a lot about how lonely and cynical Daniel has become and then introducing him to an intriguing younger man.

We don’t really get to know much about Keith, other than he likes older guys, he’s also really busy and he loves animals.

I liked the MCs, and felt their HFN but I’m not sure I felt there was a HEA in their future. Neither seemed willing to address the fact that both were so busy and really in different places in their lives.

That being said, like Keith says, if it’s important you make time for it and both were definitely willing to try.

The writing was nice and well paced given the length of the story.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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Spellbound (The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge book 1) by Jacob Z Flores

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6425

SpellBoundBlurb
Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.

When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.

Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.

If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spellbound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.

Review

Wow – this is an amazing new genre (I think) for Jacob Flores! He did a terrific job with this new series (Yay – a new SERIES!).

Mason and Drake are both high school seniors (over 18) when they meet. Mason is the leading “bad boy”, a warlock of black magic (not bad, just a different energy). Drake is the new guy, Southern drawl sticking out in the North East town in Massachusetts.

They have an instant attraction and as the book suggests, they may in fact be Spell Bound, or soul mates.

There is some dancing around their attraction but they pretty much hit it off right away. What keeps them separate is the fact that humans can’t know about Warlocks and there is something about Drake that strikes Mason as “otherworldly”.

Between making googly eyes at one another, both boys are involved in the mysterious deaths that keep popping up around town.

When push comes to shove and the danger arrives at Drake’s door, secrets get revealed and some really hard decisions have to be made.

One other big wrinkle – Mason doesn’t actually have control over his magic – though being around Drake seems to make it easier – the question is why? What will happen when Drake finds out? Will the two even be allowed to be together? What will happen to his magic if Drake and he can’t be together?

**
Though this at times feels like a YA book, it is filled with adult issues and the smexy times are pretty “adult” though not very numerous.

I think I’d call it New Adult and feel comfortable with that as a category.

The paranormal stuff is outstanding in this book – magic everywhere! I love it when the author actually USES magic in their storylines rather than having the magic only be important as regards a “mate” or significant other.

The dramatic murders and that mystery move the story along quickly but don’t overshadow the romance.

I was very impressed by this book and look forward to reading the next book SOON!

5 of 5 hearts

 

PS LOVE the cover!

5

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