Silver & Gold
3.5/5.0Silver and Gold had the feel of a May/December story but Geoff is just 40 and Abe is 30. Geoff is a bisexual man that has recently gone through a divorce. His first love, Jesse is also divorced now and has contacted him. It has been decades since they have seen one another. The way the relationship ended when they were young was heartbreaking for Geoff, yet he still want to see Jesse. They agree to meet when they are both home for Christmas. In the mean time Geoff decides to seek out some male company. The first attempt goes terribly wrong and his assistant Kim is witness to it when she is called to pick him up. She then introduces him to Abe, her friend and hairdresser. I really liked Abe. He is a very sweet character. Geoff is awkward and misses a lot of cues from Abe in his turmoil over seeing Jesse again. Even though Kim is a good friend to Abe,I was not comfortable with her telling Abe about what happened to her boss, Geoff, even if it was a lead in to setting them up. Over all, this is a nice holiday story that moves very quickly and I was happy to have read it.
Blame It On The Mistletoe
I can get a bit giddy when it comes to a good holiday story. Eli Easton is one of my favorite authors and this little novella just pushed all the right buttons for me.
I loved that Mick and Fielding are opposite in some ways but so similar in others. Mick is a former jock and ladies man that is taking his education seriously now. He has a double major in Nutrition and Physical therapy, plus is working two jobs. Fielding is a genius graduate student in physics at nineteen. He eats poorly, and needs a bit of a makeover when he meets Mick. Mick gladly helps Fielding. They cook together, exercise together and Mick enjoys taking care of Fielding. Fielding led a pretty sheltered life and Mick loves showing him the fun things he has missed, like Star Wars movies and snowball fights. It is a good housemate, best friend relationship until one day when Fielding witnesses an encounter with a flirty cheerleader and Mick. She says Mick is the best kisser on campus and Fielding - who has never been kissed - decides Mick should teach him how and will not take no for an answer.
I loved the way Mick slowly discovers things about himself that he has denied for a long time. It was sweet and sometimes a little sad watching Fielding bloom during his friendship with Mick. He just did not understand that some of the things he was asking were out of the norm for someone like Mick, but maybe Fielding was seeing things Mick was trying to ignore. Samantha is a wonderful secondary character as Micks best friend and the girl from Fielding's Physics class is a great evil seductress.
The witty humor, quirky characters and beautiful romance made this a very enjoyable holiday read. Highly recommend.
Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf
I just love the holidays, so many lovely books. Some are humorous, some are sweet, some are sad and I find that most leave me feeling happy and hopeful. Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf is all of these things. I look forward to reading more from B.G. Thomas.To read the full review please click the link below:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/grumble-monkey-and-the-department-store-elf/
In Another Life
4.5/5.0The story is told from Shiloh’s point of view and we go with him through the three transitions of this book, feeling his loneliness at eighteen, his happiness at thirty-six, and then what Shiloh does with his second chance. There is a fantasy element to the story and the characters are very accepting of things that some might not find believable, but mostly it is a very sweet love story. It is about the choices we make and the opportunities we might never get to experience, depending on those choices. It is about loving yourself and reaching out.
To read the full review please click the link below.
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/in-another-life/
Fish & Ghosts (Hellsinger, #1)
Fish and Ghost is the first in Rhys Fords new Hellsinger series. I received an arc to read and review. To see what I thought please click the link below. :D (just a hint - <3)<br/>http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/fish-and-ghosts/
Fusion (North Star)
Fusion is the second book in the North Star Trilogy by Posy Roberts. The story picks up where book one, Spark, leaves off. In Spark we were introduced to Hugo Thorson and Kevin Magnus, two young men who met in high school, became best friends and fell in love. We learned about their families, their hopes and fears and watched them grow up. Sometimes growing up leads us down different paths. Spark brought them back together and explored who they had become as adults and how, if possible, they could make a life together.Fusion brings us into the building stage of the relationship and as in real life, this is not always smooth and definitely not always easy.
To read the full review please click the link below:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/fusion/
Needing A Little Christmas
Needing a Little Christmas is a light, fun holiday read. Click here for the full review:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/lylbtb-advent-event-2013-silvia-violet/
The Broken Road Cafe (The Broken Road Cafe #1)
I went into the book with no preconceived ideas, not a clue as to content. I read it because it was T.A. Webb and I love his work. This is the first in a series and saying that, it is what I have now decided are serialized series. I would have,at one time,been upset that the ending was not completely wrapped up, but with this and another series I love, there is a short story arc that is completed and a longer arc that continues in the next book. I can handle that. :-)Dan is a wonderful character and he is having a really bad week at the beginning of the book. Talk about life crashing down around you. This series of events leads him to reevaluate his life and what he really wants. He wants to own a restaurant and after some searching finds one for sale in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Here he meets some wonderful characters, Patsy, the real estate agent/Mayor. (She and Dan's secretary,Charity, are wonderful catty women characters that are very likeable.) He also meets Nick - the Chief of police. Their relationship does not start off well but, well you need to read it to find out how this works out. Plus many other character that I hope to see further developed as the series continues. (cough, Charlie, cough)
Just when Dan thinks things are going to settle down, his past follows him to Blue Ridge. We have several mysteries working in this book and they are some how linked together. I enjoyed the way this book set up the series, built the characters and drew me in. I did not want to put the book down. The authors references to quotes from a familiar movie were fun and endearing. As I said,this is a series and although not all is wrapped up, I did not feel left hanging. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
Open to the Past
Sweet romantic story. I enjoy reading about two people reconnecting and having that second chance at love and happiness. This story gave me that and made me smile. Great short read. :-)
Steamed Up
I used to read steampunk, then kind of moved to other genres. When Steamed Up came out, I thought this should be fun. As with most anthologies I have read, some stories touched me more than others. Some were true gems. For a full review of all eleven stories click the link:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/steamed-up/
Blood Moon (Moon, #1)
For a complete review please click below:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/blood-moon/
You Were Always the One
For a full review please click link below:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/you-were-always-the-one/
More Than Everything (Family, #3)
Ever get a book that is really is fun and makes you feel good? More Than Everything is one of those books for me. It is fun, sweet, sexy, humorous, touching, sassy, playful, at times frustrating, but always entertaining. I laughed out loud, a lot. Charlie (Chase) Rhodes is an awesome character. He is outspoken, witty and he is going to be true to himself, no matter what.To read more about Charlie (and the entire review) Please click the link: http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/more-than-everything/
Serenading Stanley
This is a light, humorous romance, filled with eccentric characters that are over the top but totally loveable. For the complete review please click the link below:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/serenading-stanley/
Safe
Safe is the second book I have read by C.Kennedy. It involves two young men, Nico and Caleb, who have been friends since they were ten years old and that friendship develops over time into more. They are unable to be open about their relationship because Nico's father would never understand. Nico's father is abusive to him and his mother and he and Caleb are just waiting until they graduate to go away to college. This short story is both sweet in it's portrayal of the love that grows between Nico and Caleb, and a sad testament to what many go through with abuse. In this case a young boy and his mother. I had questions regarding why this man wasn't stopped why someone did not protect Nico. The author was very helpful in addressing these questions and here is a link to a blog that addresses this. http://www.shiraanthony.com/2013/10/cody-kennedys-safe-tell-someone-about-child-abuse/ I enjoyed the story and thought it brought up a subject that is sad and troubling while still giving us a tender coming of age story for Caleb and Nico.
It is a good book and the proceeds of the sale of this book are being donated to charity.
For a full review please click here:
http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/safe/
Fun, feel good story.
I love the characters. It is humorous, touching, romantic and sexy. I really liked Johnny and Rich. At times I wanted to thunk Johnny on the head but I understood why he was doing what he did, even if I did not like it. Johnny has a bit of a temper, his nickname is Dragon. Of course I liked him. (grin)
Apart from the romance between the two main characters, I enjoyed the development of the secondary characters. They gave insight to why Rich and Johnny behaved the way they did in certain situations. I was pleased with how the relationship between Rich and his father was resolved. My favorite, though, was Johnny's cousin, Anita. She was awesome. This was my first Max Vos book and I know it will not be the last.