Category: Hurt/Abuse

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Beast Audiobook by Allison Cassatta and Tracey Michael Narrated by KC Kelly

Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5874

beastBlurb

Ara Costas has it all—riches, power, and the kind of beauty that attracts all the right people. He’s flying high and loves his life, until a serious car accident leaves him horribly scarred. Ara becomes an angry recluse, hiding away in his Chicago high-rise apartment, running his multimillion-dollar business from behind a computer screen.

Ilias Adams is a quiet farm boy who keeps his nose buried in books. A great education and stellar resume land him a job as Ara’s assistant and liaison to the board of directors. Little did he know when he signed up for this dream job that he’d end up working for the world’s moodiest, most uptight boss.

Ilias is scared of Ara at times, but he recognizes the challenge he faces when he meets Ara and sees the reason for the man’s anger. Ara is guarded and suspicious, since he can’t believe anyone can bear to look at him. Despite all this, Ilias is determined to turn the beast into a beauty again, at least on the inside, and tear down the walls Ara has so carefully constructed around him.

 

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Review

So, everyone knows the story of Beauty and the Beast, right? Well, imagine that in modern times, with two men and you have the essential storyline for Beast.

Ara was a vain, douche-bag. Mean, cocky, self-centered. He gets mutilated in a car accident and now can’t stand the sight of himself. He’s still so vain and self-centered that he’s kept himself locked away in his apartment for the last seven years running his father’s company.

Ilias is a farm boy who just graduated from business school. He’s trying to prove to his father that he can make it in the city and that his education was worth leaving the farm for. He applies for and is accepted as Ara’s assistant and “front man”. The face that will be presented to the board in Ara’s stead.

Ara is known to go through assistant’s like water due to his strict rules and contrary nature, but something clicks between him and Ilias and before they know it, they have moved from employee/employer to friend and then to lover.

**

The story actually moves the couple together in a relatively short time, but it takes many pages for them to even touch. We get to see both POVs in most circumstances so we really get an in depth appreciation of what each is feeling.

Ara is deeply scarred by his experience and needs so much personal growth to get to the point where he can appreciate that beauty is only skin deep.

Ilias has his own insecurities, but for the most part he is our savior in this story, dragging Ara along into the light of self awareness.

The authors have done an excellent job of following the old fairy tale but modernizing it and making it gay. I really enjoyed the care and depth of the characters, including the secondary characters that was taken.

Though Ara’s weaknesses proved tiring, especially toward the end, Ilias really pulled the story together and kept me invested in the couple.  I adored his character and really felt that he and Ara made a great couple.

The narration by KC Kelly is practically perfect. He does such an excellent job with changing characters voices and giving real emotion to the story. I felt his accent for Ara was more Russian than Greek, but I’m no linguist! In any case it felt “erupoean” and absolutely worked!

I would absolutely recommend listening to this more than reading simply because KC Kelly does so much for the story.

I highly recommend this story and audiobook and give both 5 of 5 hearts.

5

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Fighting instincts by Mary Calmes

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5769

FightingInstinct

Blurb

L’Ange: Book Two

Only a privileged few know L’Ange’s head of security Arman de Soto is a shifter, and even fewer know he’s been systematically killing off a pack of werewolves. The reason for this vengeance is a secret Arman trusts with no one, quite the opposite of his obvious longtime pursuit of the château’s overseer, Linus Hobbes. Despite Arman’s reputation as a loner, the only thing he needs to complete his life is Linus. Predator and prey just don’t mix—but Arman won’t give him up.

Linus has lived alone for more than seven years, sheltered at L’Ange under an assumed name and hiding secrets of his own, including his terrifying attraction to the most dangerous man he’s ever met. Arman knows Linus should be afraid of the predator stalking him, but Linus is still drawn to him like a moth to a flame, no matter how much he tries to deny his instincts. It’s not until Linus’s past and Arman’s crusade exposes their secrets and opens L’Ange to attack that Arman realizes waiting any longer is a risk he just can’t take. So he’ll have to take his quest to the source of the threat in a gamble to protect L’Ange, Linus, and any future they might have together.

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Review
We met Arman in Old Loyalty, New Love. He was the mysterious bodyguard who helped protect Roman and Quade. Though we were led to believe he was interested in a certain jackal named Tucker, we find out quickly that this was a red-herring, serving to stir jealousy in the heart of Linus.

Linus is the fastidious and cold caretaker of L’Ange. It’s clear he’s been abused in his past and we learn early on just how terrible that abuse was. Arman has been Linus’ protector and often his touchstone for years, but the time has come for that relationship to develop to its full potential and Arman isn’t waiting any longer.

Arman is a man of mystery. We don’t know what he is, though we all think he must be a shifter – it isn’t until quite a bit into the story that we figure out just what he is. (I think everyone will be surprised by the reveal!)

In addition to hiding who he is, he also hides what he does. We find out that he has an agenda- a vendetta really – of epic proportions. This vendetta makes him almost an anti-hero. He’s definitely not the typical perfect Alpha we have seen in other Mary Calmes’ stories. He’s got a dark side that he’s embraced fully.

Surprisingly, Linus is perfectly okay with this dark side and in fact, he too embraces the vendetta and we see some pretty significant changes in his personality as a result of this.

One of the things I really liked about this story was that Linus and Arman get together pretty early on. They work as a team for most of the story and it was imminently satisfying to watch their relationship grow and deepen while they worked together.

Though it might seem a bit blood-thirsty, the vendetta is explained really well and at no time did I feel that there was any other possible course of action than that which Arman took.

I really felt that in this “universe” the animal natures of the shifters were really well developed and “authentic”. These aren’t people who just happen to have the occasional “furry power” thrown in to explain insta-love and mating. They are truly unique beings with a different set of rules and personalities.

I loved that Roman wasn’t quite on board with the vendetta. Sure, he loves Linus and despised what happened to him, but he wasn’t born a shifter and he still sees things through a human lens and judges by a different rule-book.

Mary Calmes is amazing at world building and her shifter universe is unique, creative and very well developed. She isn’t afraid to stray from typical “shifter” lore and she draws us in with her own clever style.

The chemistry between Arman and Linus is scorching hot. Mary writes excellent sex scenes and the sexual tension and it’s subsequent release is phenomenal in Fighting Instinct.

I can’t wait to see what happens between Jon and Kelvin and hope to see book three in the very near future!

Though it isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time I say it – I love Mary Calmes’ books and I highly recommend them all.

I give this 6 of 5 hearts

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There Is No Fear (The Knight Cycle #3) by Michael J. Bowler

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The most famous boy in the world is a prisoner. He’s been charged with a crime he didn’t commit, a crime that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. Languishing within The Compound, the most secure juvenile facility in California, while the district attorney vows to make an example of him because of his celebrity status, Lance must endure the daily indignities of the incarcerated.

New Camelot is fractured without him. Ricky and Chris are bereft, living for the weekly phone call that becomes their only lifeline to the brother they so desperately love, while Arthur and Jenny feel the loss of their son with a sadness that can’t be quelled. And what about Michael, the highly volatile teen who helped write the proposition that will change California forever? Could he really be the monster he says he is? His hatred of Ricky is palpable, and his instability may well threaten the lives of everyone at New Camelot.

As the election looms closer, Proposition 51 takes on an even greater significance in light of the pending trial of the century. The more harshly fifteen-year-old Lance is treated within the broken justice system, the more he contemplates the wisdom of his idea that children need more adult rights. If The Child Voter Act becomes law, won’t it simply allow adults to throw more kids into prison with impunity?

Whichever way the voters decide, his greatest fear remains the same: will he ever again be with the people he loves?

The Knight Cycle Continues…

Kimi’s thoughts:

While working hard to secure children’s rights, with the choice before state voters to either always treat kids 14 and up as adults or always as children, Lance finds himself becoming an unwitting poster child for the criminal justice system. Once again Bowler casts a frank eye at the unpleasant side of what reality is like for too many of today’s youth and makes us look it square in the face. Lance’s experience shows the good with the bad, making for a balanced look that challenges the reader to consider how things can be improved, benefitting society at large as well as the individual.

Lance continues with his struggle for identity and the situation he finds himself in doesn’t help matters. It does however give him a lot of time to think. What makes a person a monster? Does a person doing something horrible make them irredeemable? And what about doing one thing to redress one wrong, while unintentionally opening the door for more possible abuse? Lance’s very incarceration is thanks to such an occurrence, from laws designed to keep dangerously violent offenders off the streets trickling down to children who only MAY have committed a violent crime. It’s a study in the very nature of checks and balances and the need to look at the individual and the facts before to rushing to judgements, whether personal or legal. It’s also a good hard look at the nature of love and of self acceptance. Kimi deems it another must read for both youths and adults.

Rating: 4.5

kimisig

Buy from Amazon UK     Amazon US 

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Body Magic Audiobook by Poppy Dennsion Narrated by Robert G Davis

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3219

body magic

Blurb

Sequel to Mind Magic, Triad: Book Two
A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted.

Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming.

Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction.

Morgan’s Review

This is the sequel to Body Magic and we see a lot of Simon and Gray in this story – maybe even more than Rocky and Cade, the supposed MCs.

Simon and Gray are really hammering out their relationship and it was great to see them and to be able to follow them from their tenuous HFN to a more day to day relationship, watching their mating really solidify.  Simon waffles back and forth between wanting to trust his love for Gray but also wanting to be a good and independent wizard, separate from the pack and Gray.

Simon is also preparing for his final mage test with his uncle and this occupies a fair amount of time.  His uncle helps also him work through his emotional issues in addition to  his magickal issues as they prepare for his test.

The pack rescues an adorable little lion shifter after his family is decimated by the malevolent being from book one and integrating him into the pack proves to be more tricky than anyone thought.

There is discord when it is found that someone has infiltrated the pack – spying on the forbidden mating between shifter and wizard and the integration of a lion shifter into a wolf pack. When war breaks out there are people going to be hurt and loyalties will be tested.

Meanwhile, as almost a side note, Cade lusts after Rocky for a while and then they tentatively begin a relationship just before the pack is invaded.  Rocky is a very conflicted character and he needs someone solid, like Cade to help him get over his issues (the pack hates omegas and gays, both of which Rocky is.)  The budding relationship is almost lost when Cade realizes that Rocky was sent to the pack as a spy.  Cade is shocked at first but with a minimum of fuss the two work out that Rocky is loyal to his new pack (he’s willing to be a double agent for the pack) and the pair take tentative steps forward in their own relationship.

**

Overall, this was a great second book in that we get to see Gray and Simon develop more fully as a couple. I would have loved to see more of Rocky and Cade as they were equally engaging characters (Rocky in particular is very complex) but they didn’t get much page time.  Hopefully we will see more of them in future installments.

I’m looking forward to Book Three, since this left us with a sort of cliff hanger!

Audio:

Robert Davis does a really nice job with this narration, as well. Nothing too over the top but very clear and  differentiates all the different characters’ voices.  I really liked Simon’s Uncle Cormac genteel voice and Rocky’s Southern drawl.

I’m looking forward to his narrations in the upcoming books as well.

I give both the book and the audiobook 4 of 5 hearts

4

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Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain

Dreamspinner Presents:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5832

IlyaandtheWolf

Blurb

Accepting shapeshifter Volyk’s Christmas offer will change Ilya’s life forever.
Ilya, the youngest son of a Moscow oligarch, is so deep in the closet he’d find Narnia if that weren’t a decadent Western story. On Christmas Eve, his brothers lure him into the forest, intending to murder him and erase the shame he inflicts on their family by existing. However, the attempt is interrupted by Volyk, a wolf who carries the blood of the ancient oboroten’ —shapeshifters. Ilya never imagined a Christmas gift like the handsome wolf, but accepting what Volyk offers will have consequences that change both of their lives forever.

 

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Review

In this tremendously sweet shifter story, a gay man of Russian Royalty (Ilya) is tricked by homophobes into going out in the snow to gather wood. They end up attacking him and nearly kill him.

Ilya is saved by a “wolf” with a fascinating story to share and a life of mated perfection to save him forever from those that would call him an abomination.

**
The writing is beautiful and fluid and has a fairytale like quality to it.

I hope/wish there are more stories from this “world” as it was beautifully created and wonderful to read.

I give it 5 of 5 hearts

5

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Mind Magic Audiobook by Poppy Dennison Narrated by Robert G Davis

Dreamspinner Presents:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2887

mind magicBlurb

Triad: Book One

Magical species must never mix. According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic.

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend.

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

Morgan’s Review

Simon is a mage, and mages don’t mix with Others (vampires, shifters, demons) but when Simon “hears” some shifter children crying for help, he runs to their rescue despite this “rule”.

Gray is the father of one of the children Simon rescues and he is immediately indebted and attracted to Simon.

Together they work to find the demon who kidnapped the children and also unravel a mystery that involves Simon’s own powers.

Gray reveals that Simon is his Mate and though it should be impossible for two from different “groups” to mate, the chemistry is undeniable and very hot. They fight the attraction for a while, but it turns out to be necessary to save Simon’s life so they both joyfully and somewhat cautiously mate, unsure what the future will hold.

This was a sweet romance, most of the angst was about the “mystery” and the romance was pretty straight -forward. However, their relationship is far from solid and we will see it evolve in future stories as they experience being a couple on a day to day basis.

I liked this book a lot and am happy to keep reading the series.

Poppy’s world building is exceptional and her characters are fun and engaging.  I enjoy exploring her world further with book two.

Audiobook:

Robert G Davis narrates the entire series and does a pretty great job.  I really love his dialog.  He’s good with the unique voices, uses some great accents and does a fantastic job voicing the children.

The sound quality is good and the pacing is excellent.

My only peeve is that while reading straight descriptive text (no dialog or specific action sequence) he tends to lilt his voice in such a way that every sentence ends with a higher inflection, like everything is a question or vaguely exciting.

If you put that out of your mind, the rest far out ways that gripe and it’s a great way to experience this series.

I recommend this book and the audiobook and give both  a 4 of 5 hearts

4

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Bowl of Cherries by Raine O’Tierney

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5799

bowl

Blurb

Porker, Fatty, Tons-of-Fun: Crowley Fredericks has heard it all. He’s dropped a lot of weight since his high school days, but he’s still a big guy, and the painful words and bullying follow him. Rejected—again—because of his size, Crowley is starting to think that maybe love just isn’t meant for huskier men.

Averell Lang and his twin are so different they might as well not even be related. So when Rell’s brother brings his roommate home to snowy Susset for the holidays, Rell expects the worst—another uptight, pretentious hipster. What he discovers instead is Crowley. Nerdy, fascinating, attractive, Crowley. Rell never expected to look at a man this way, and what he sees in Crowley Fredericks is something he didn’t even know he was looking for. If both men can overcome their hang-ups, they might unwrap more than presents this holiday season.

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Review

Crowley just wants to have a nice Christmas with his family. But, after recently coming out to them, he’s told not to come home – no one will be there to pick him up from the airport.

He’s crushed, but he’s got a great friend in the form of his roommate, Tyler Lang. Tyler invites him to share Christmas with his big family upstate and even buys him the train ticket. The problem is the only available seat will actually put Crowley there one entire day before Tyler. No worries, Tyler tells him, just hang with his dumb twin Avrell and try not to be too bored.

Though he’s a little shell-shocked, he makes it to the train station and to Tyler’s hometown of Sutten. He’s a bit dismayed when someone vaguely resembling Tyler comes crashing over the curb – late – ready to pick him up, and sparking his romantic interest.

Crowley “knows” that there’s no way someone as good looking as Averell could be interested in a “fatty” like him, and Tyler never said he was gay so… he just quietly crushes on him… but is amazed by how easy they get along. Crowley’s pretty shy, especially in the face of someone he’s attracted to, but the conversation flows and the two end up having a ball!

Averell (Rell) is “in between jobs”. More or less permanently. He’s never found that “perfect” job and stumbles aimlessly looking for it. He’s currently living at home again and doing chores for room and board. He can’t believe his hipster-snob of a brother actually has a cool friend and he’s psyched to be actually “forced” to room with him while he’s here.

As the story progresses we see Crowley (nicknamed Owl by Rell) falling for Rell and surpisingly, Rell (who identifies as straight) falling too. Tyler tries to keep them separated – knowing how Crowley has been deeply hurt in the past and unwilling to see his “loser” brother “use” Crowley for either experimentation or worse.

But — the attraction can’t be denied and on Christmas, Owl and Rell exchange a mind-blowing kiss that shakes them both up a bit. When it looks like they might want to do more than kiss, Owl freaks out at being naked and we begin to learn just how deep his body issues go. (Both boys are “virgins” in this case – making things doubly difficult.)

Fortunately, Sondra, the boys’ cousin, is there and she has an absolutely amazing idea for helping Owl to love his body – and it works!

Now the only obstacle left to overcome is Rell and his feeling of unworthiness due to his lack of direction. Again – the best ideas come from loving family members and we leave Owl and Rell with a decidedly HFN that will completely have you sobbing tears of joy.

**
There are those of us who will so closely identify with this story, it’s not even funny. The horrible, horrible things society can do to young people – making them hate themselves – is not just for girls anymore.

This story handles the issue with loving care. It’s realistic, touching, sentimental, heart-breaking, tender, sweet… just amazing.
Even if you never had body “issues” you can clearly identify with childhood trauma and the feelings of isolation caused at the hands of a bully. When Crowley shares his experience and how it not only happened to him but was then broadcast on Facebook – I couldn’t help but think – Thank God I was a kid before Facebook! What an evil tool that little social program can be in the wrong hands!

My heart absolutely broke when Owl confessed that his guidance counselor was of no help and he didn’t dare tell his family about the incident because it would “out” him as well as show him as a weakling. So there he was, 15, feeling all alone, and having to face his bullies every day with no sense of power or any ability to feel good about himself. (It makes me tear up just thinking about it!)

I wanted to hug Rell and Sondra. God – what amazing healers these two people were. They were able to reach in a see what needed to be done and were brave enough to do it. (Sure the time frame was a little quick, but I don’t think it was out of the realm of possibility. Let’s face it – the chance for sex is a great motivating factor!)

The other thing that I appreciated from this story was that Owl went through a probably fairly normal “slimming” down as he went through puberty and grew up some. Sure, he did have some crazy diet ideas (and those were handled so very well in the story) but at no point did anyone suggest they’d help him “look better” or be his “work out buddy” in order for him to feel good about himself. The message was – you are beautiful As. You. Are.

Isn’t that a freeing thought?! (I fear corporate America will never let us (as a society) truly accept this as a concept – but one can hope!)

There are not enough hearts available to me to tell you how wonderful this book is.
Everyone who has ever thought “I am worthy not enough unless I …” should read this. The message is universal.

My applause to Raine O’Tierney and my appreication for tackling this issue so well.

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His Omega by AC Katt

MLR Presents:http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ACKOMEGA

his omega

Blurb

On his way home from a meeting of the North American werewolf council, Armand La Marche is stopped in his limousine by a boy who is hurt by an unknown assailant who murdered his friend. After decades of searching, Armand has found his mate. There is one problem, someone is trying to kill Sean.

Sean Quinn’s friend Leroy was gutted trying to protect him. He runs for help and stops the first car he sees.

Armand LaMarche is head Alpha of the North American werewolf council and was in his limousine on his way home to his Manhattan brownstone. When the wounded boy stops his car, Armand recognizes two things:the boy is part wolf, an Omega with a great gift, and he’s Armand’s mate. Now all Armand has to do is claim his mate and keep him safe from the murderer.

Morgan’s Review

Sean is an art student who comes out to his dad and is thrown out into the streets. He has no money, no job and is about to become a rent boy when he is attacked. He’s “rescued” by Leonard, but his would-be friend/pimp gets killed trying to protect him and Sean gets injured, but is rescued again by Armand.

Both the attacker and Armand are werewolves. It turns out Sean is a werewolf too, only he doesn’t know it. But that isn’t all.  Sean is no ordinary werewolf, he has special powers. Armand wants Sean because he is his mate. The attacker wants Sean’s special powers.

Armand nurses Sean back to health, tells him about the supernatural and they “fall in love”.

The rest of the story is preparing Sean to be a special Omega wolf and working on capturing the other werewolf after Sean.  Sean comes into his powers at 25, Armand wants to be married before mating him, if Sean is taken before he’s mated his powers can be easily stripped from him, so there is some time pressure, as well.

**

Overall, this was an okay shifter story. Insta-love. Medium-hot sex. Semi-believable conflict. Lots of “I love yous”, “babys” and “honeys”.

If you’re a sucker for a sentimental, traditional “mates” type shifter story (like me) this is a book for you. There is next to nothing about being a wolf in this story other than as a plot device to explain the insta-love.

If you want a story with a more meaty storyline, more “shifting”, more “realism”…you might want to skip this.

I enjoyed it for what it is and give it 3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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The Candy Man by Amy Lane

Dreamspinner Presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5780

candymanBlurb

Adam Macias has been thrown a few curve balls in his life, but losing his VA grant because his car broke down and he missed a class was the one that struck him out. One relative away from homelessness, he’s taking the bus to Sacramento, where his cousin has offered a house-sitting job and a new start. He has one goal, and that’s to get his life back on track. Friends, pets, lovers? Need not apply.

Finn Stewart takes one look at Adam as he’s applying to Candy Heaven and decides he’s much too fascinating to leave alone. Finn is bright and shiny—and has never been hurt. Adam is wary of his attention from the very beginning—Finn is dangerous to every sort of peace Adam is forging, and Adam may just be too damaged to let him in at all.

But Finn is tenacious, and Adam’s new boss, Darrin, doesn’t take bullshit for an answer. Adam is going to have to ask himself which is harder—letting Finn in or living without him? With the holidays approaching it seems like an easy question, but Adam knows from experience that life is seldom simple, and the world seldom cooperates with hope, faith, or the plans of cats and men.

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Review

Adam is having a rough life. His mother and grandmother treated him like pond scum growing up, so he joined the military to prove he was “worthy”. He fell in love with one of his fellow soldiers, only to be left high and dry when his lover didn’t want to come out of the closet. He returned to the states to go back to school, but lost his grant when his car died and he could no longer attend classes. With his last gasp, he heads up to his cousin’s apartment for 6 months of free rent to try to get his life in order.

With what feels like divine intervention, Adam stumbles into Candy Heaven following the Help Wanted sign and is immediately set to work. His boss also plays the role of his fairy godfather and matchmaker by hooking him up with Finn, the sandwich delivery guy.

Finn is young, idealistic, freshly single, and unstoppable. He sees the darkness in Adam and knows he can bring in the light. By pairing his cheery disposition with offerings of free food, he slowly breaks through the walls surrounding Adam’s heart.

Adam, who fully believes he isn’t worthy of someone like Finn, does what he can to stave off the romance, but when he really needs help, Finn is there and it’s Finn who helps him see that he does have value and most importantly – hope.

**
This is one of Amy’s relatively “low angst” stories. Of course she will make you cry (for me it was at least twice because I had a white Boxer and a cat named Jake!) but most of the story is full of “awwww”. I was reminded of her story Christmas Kitsch in that Oliver – little Oliver – was the force of nature – blowing in and taking charge. In The Candy Man – that’s Finn. He won’t take no for an answer and he’s fearless.

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters and I really hope Joni gets her girl one day and that we get to read more about Rico’s romance. (Fingers crossed!). The vaguely paranormal part of the story left me with a new respect for Pixie Stix, as well!

Amy can describe a scene so thoroughly that I could picture Adam’s drawings, Finn’s hair, Gonzo’s fight against the medicine – everything. Adam’s sketch book journal was a particularly wonderful vehicle for showing both us and Finn the inside workings of his brain and past and I thought it was a tremendously clever tool.

I am thankful for this sweet story with little angst she has given us to brighten up our holiday season.

I give it 5 of 5 hearts

5

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Shifting Hearts-Silvia Violet

Publisher: Silvia Violet Books/Create Space (Independent Publishing Platform)

After experiencing what happens when someone you love walks away and never looks back, Brandon decided love was for fools. Then he spent a summer with Zach. He struggled against feelings that grew every time he and Zach were together, telling himself they were just having a fling. When Zach confessed his love one hot summer night, Brandon panicked. He scoffed at Zach and made sure he walked away first.

Three years later, their paths cross again when Zach becomes the vet at Wild R Farm where Brandon works. Brandon realizes his feelings haven’t changed, but Zach treats Brandon with scorn despite Brandon’s every attempt to show Zach he’s no longer the self-centered man he used to be. When a night out ends with Brandon driving Zach home, confessions are made on both sides, and hope begins to build in Brandon’s heart.

2014-10-27 23.10.07This is book # 6 in the Wild R Farm series and the first book I’ve read from this series.  I went in reading thinking that I was going to be confused because I started with the sixth book.  Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.  The author did a great job of providing a back story so I didn’t run into any of the plot holes I expected to run into when starting in the middle of series. The characters were well written which is what I have come to expect from a Silvia Violet book. Her characters are men who are tough but not so much that they can’t admit their true feelings towards each other. Brandon isn’t a bad man, just a man that’s been hurt before and as often with people who have been hurt, they bring that past baggage into current relationships. This made Brandon out to be somewhat of a jerk but that wasn’t the case.  Brandon felt that he had to protect his heart and by doing that he ended up hurting the man he loved. Zach and Brandon come into contact with each other again after a couple years and they find that the love is still there buried under layers of anger and hurt. Yes, Brandon was a jerk and time hasn’t exactly put Zach in a forgive and forget mood.  I especially loved how the author allows you to observe how the characters in the previous books interact with each other and with the two main characters. Their personalities intrigued me quite a bit and I will definitely read the rest of the series to find out more about them.  As always, Silvia does a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life. You care about them and makes you want to get to know them more.  They linger with you after you finish reading.  This book was a delightful read and I definitely recommend it.

 

5

 

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Silvia Violet