Day: June 21, 2015

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Rescuing Jack (A Forever Home #1) by Catlin Ricci

Dreamspinner Press, LLC

Blurb:

Werewolves are real. Marius enjoys the irony that everyone calls him a dog whisperer, not just because he’s a werewolf, but for his work at the local animal shelter. He has a unique talent for pairing families with their perfect pets upon first meeting them. But he’s still looking for acceptance and a forever family of his own. Then Jack comes into the rescue looking for a big, mean dog. To prevent Jack from making the wrong choice, Marius convinces him to adopt a needy spaniel mix instead. But when Marius learns Jack is tormented by horrible memories while at his apartment, he opens his home to the sweet, scared man. As their relationship grows, Jack feels comfortable telling Marius about the horrors he suffered. Marius hopes his steady presence, protection, and love can help Jack reclaim the pieces of himself broken on that terrible night. 

  

Review:

I really liked this book and I absolutely adored Marius. Marius is the sexy, sweet, dependable, and kind werewolf who runs an animal rescue shelter. He has a great group of friends, the community (most of them anyway) loves him and he has a gift of making people feel good and pairing them with the perfect pet. 

Jack wanders into his pet store one day looking for a dog. The man is quiet seems odd but all is not what it appears to be with Jack, Marius feels it. Jack doesn’t adopt right then but when he returns, Marius is determined to pair him with the pet that is best for him, a traumatized spaniel. Something about Marius allows Jack to trust him enough to open up a little to get to know him. 

Marius knows that something is wrong, terribly wrong with Jack but he just can’t figure out what it is. Marius inadvertently discovers the horror that Jack endured in his apartment. He finally understands and does everything in his power to heal Jack, rescue him from the pain and terror of what happened to him. 

This book was heartbreaking in to read. You’re able to piece together what happened to Jack with the pieces of information provided. I think that the author’s made a wise decision not to describe what happened to Jack in detail. Marius was patient and sweet and kind and understanding with Jack and that made me love Marius’s character that much more.

This book has a low heat index but was appropriate due to the circumstances surrounding what happened to Jack. These men are right for each other, no doubt about that but I really would’ve liked to read about Jack seeking outside help as well in the form of therapy. Jack has come a long way but still has quite a way to go and I think that outside professional help would help him heal even more.

The best thing about this story is that the author didn’t give the readers a HEA ending that would’ve felt forced and unrealistic considering what happened to Jack. The HFN ending she left us with was quite appropriate and you were left with a sense of hope for them both. 

Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press, LLC


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Because of Roses by Richard May


Daily Dose Short Story
Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6561

BecauseofRosesBlurb
After the death of his longtime partner, American attorney Dan Evans is reassigned to his firm’s London office. It’s a change his life sorely needs. While admiring roses in a small village in the Cotswolds, Dan meets Martin Saint John. Martin, still fit and attractive at seventy, has also lost his partner, and now spends his time growing roses, meeting friends in the pub, and going to church on Sundays, content with his quiet life. Roses and tea progress to spending weekends together exploring the countryside, but the differences between Dan and Martin go beyond the fifteen year age gap. If they can open their hearts and accept love—instead of accepting its absence—they might find a second chance at happiness. All because of roses.

Review

In this very short story a 50ish year old man moves to England from America after having lost his partner to a heart attack. He meets his neighbor, a 70is year old man, who has lost his partner to cancer.

Over the course of the next 6 months they develop a friendship that turns to more.

It is a very sweet, simple story about finding love at any age. There is no angst, really no hurdle and in a way, the story needed it. I loved it’s simplicity and the message that you are never “too old” but I wasn’t quite sure it was enough…

The writing was lovely and I applaud the author for giving us MCs of that age.

3.5 of 5 hearts

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Falling by Suki Fleet

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6457

FallingSukiFleetBlurb

Josh’s idea of a romance is curling up alone and reading a novel with a happily ever after. He’s made his flat a safe haven where the wall are covered with beautiful words, and his living room ceiling is a map of the universe.

Angus may be shy and inexperienced, but he’s incapable of hiding anything, especially his attraction to his older neighbor.

When Josh admits to Angus that he’s gay, he doesn’t expect Angus’s reaction. Angus’s obvious interest terrifies Josh. For years he’s managed to keep the world at arm’s length and avoid getting too close to anyone. Well, anyone except Elenor, Angus’s mother, who helped Josh rebuild his life after he was hospitalized for depression. But Josh still thinks he’s broken. His past has left scars he thinks are too deep to heal. Despite Josh’s defenses, Angus begins to mean more to him than just the cute boy next door. If Josh can take a risk and let someone into his isolated world, he might have a chance for a real life happy ending.

Review

Josh has severe depression, and has been hospitalized for it in the past. He is estranged from his biological family but has built himself a support system of people where he lives now. One of those is Eleanor, his neighbor, the mother of Angus.

Eleanor has anxiety issues that are slowly making her life unbearable. Angus turns to Josh for help and more.

Josh feels like he isn’t stable enough to help either Eleanor or Angus but Eleanor was there for him when he needed her and he can’t help but be infatuated with the adorable and innocent Angus (who clearly has a crush on Josh.)

Together, Angus and Josh navigate the health system to find the right solution for Eleanor and along the way the right solution for themselves, as well.

**

This was a very, very, very dark read. The issues these guys face are real, and heavy and not likely to ever go away.

The romance is very slow burn – sometimes painfully slow.

I was glad that having a “boyfriend” wasn’t offered up as a solution to Josh’s depression, Josh was very clear with Angus about the future and it does seem hopeful. However, I wasn’t given a lot of page time with him and Angus to know if their coupledom will be successful long term – Angus is so young and Josh’s illness is severe.

The writing is excellent as is the editing. If you are in the mood for a dark, yet hopeful romance, with a very positive ending about a difficult subject – this is the book for you.

For me – I’d have liked to see more of the romance and less of the internal dialog. I would shift the balance of the book to at least 50/50 build up and coupledom because I really think they have their work cut out for them and that it doesn’t end just because they say the magic three words.

I really didn’t feel that connected to Angus (this is told from Josh’s POV) and as a result I just don’t know what compels him as well as I’d like.

3.5 of 5 hearts

Love the cover!

3.5

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