Garrett Leigh ”Redemption”

Honestly, thank God for Garrett Leigh, because i’ve been struggling with reading for months. Covid, isolation and so many things that came with that, made my depression even worse than it is on daily basis. I lost interest in everything, that includes reading too. But she is my favorite writer and after months of not reading anything, i finally wanted to read this. So, today – let’s talk about Redemption by Garrett Leigh.

I think… if i’m wrong, correct me, but as far as i remember all her books that i’ve read, she haven’t written any other main charcter like Luis. Luis is ex gangster who spent 6 years in prison. Now he is out and he has nothing. He has to start his life again and it’s not easy. It has been 6 years… Paolo owns little cafe and one choice leads to another and Luis starts working for Paolo, who remembers Luis from time before prison. But as days go by, he also sees that Luis is not as he was before and that he is also someone special that Paolo is starting to have feelings for. But sometimes past just doesn’t want to leave you alone as much as you want that…

I fell in love with Luis fast and it happened because GL made him so believable. I mean – he is out of prison where he spent 6 years. He lost 6 years there. Imagine yourself 6 years ago and imagine, that you loose those 6 years and have to start living again today. So many things have changed. He is confused, sad and lonely. And this is not the case where he was holly angel and people just wrongly put him away. No. But he is also not that man anymore. And this kinda touches a reality(which doesn’t surprise me, because – hello, It’s GL. She always writes about problems which are real, feel real.) – Paolo doesn’t trust Luis at the beginning and i get that. Because honestly – how many of us would just trust someone who was in prison? It’s like first reaction – do not trust this person. He was in prison. What if he did not learn anything and will go back to his old ways??? But at the same time – we should give that person a chance because… maybe he is not the same person anymore. All ex cons are not the same. There are bad ones, who haven’t changed, but there are good ones too, who are not going back to old ways. Second chances are important. And Paolo gives Luis this chance. Prison changed Luis mentally and phisically.

I loved Luis’s and Paolo’s relationship story and development. They started as work colleagues and it developed from there. It was like Paolo gave Luis peace he was craving for so long. I can’t explain my feelings so they make sense. So i will just say, that i loved them and their story. I have my few all time favorite GL couples and Luis and Paolo now joins them. I will not spoil the big drama moment because i want you to be on edge just as i was. I don’t want you to already know what to expect and what will happen. Because i was on edge all the time – scared for Luis’s past to come and destroy everything in his new present. I was reading about nice moments between Paolo and Luis, and at the same time i was scared of the moment when something or someone(like Luis’s brother or old gang, or something) will come and destroy everything. Because i knew that something will happen. This is not book about pink unicorns and wonderland, where nothing bad happens.

Also, there is food in this book. Again. GL sooo neeeds to come out with cookbook with her characer’s favorite recipies and foods :D. Everytime i read about food in any of her books, i want to eat :D. Another little thing – i try not to judge books by their covers, but cover of this book is so good. I read this book as ebook, but i want to buy a paperback not just because i loved main couple and their story, and i want to support my favorite writer, but also because this cover will look so good on my bookshelf :).

Overall – there is nothing new i can tell you. This book is about second chance. Main characters felt believable and it made me think about trust and also family, and loyality. If you like GL style and her other books, i think you will like this one too. I fell in love with Luis and i wanted him and Paolo to be happy together.

Garrett Leigh ”Falling for my roommate”

Yes, another Garrett Leigh book. I am not in a mood for experiments right now and am kinda lost, so i chose to read(and re-read) my favorite books or new books from my favorite authors. That makes me feel better. So – yes, another Garrett Leigh book. Not a re-read. A new book – Falling for my roommate.

Micah is ex-football player with with a bum leg and PTSD. His career went up in flames so he moved in with Sam, who works in a bar and loves reading. Time went on and they became best friends. And then… fell for each other. And you know how those stories go – both are in love with each other but thins that the other one doesn’t feel the same. And then when they confess their feelings, you would think that finally – there is that happy ending. Yeah… not so much, because for them… that’s the moment when real problems begins. Will they be strong enough to get through everything and stay together?

I feel so bad writing this, because i love Garrett Leigh, but this book… was not my favourite. Last time i felt similar, was when i read ”Cash”. That one was a miss for me. But for different reasons than this one. I know that i didn’t connect with this one, because i was annoyed with the lack of communication between main characters. Half of their dramas and problems could have been avoided if they just talked to each other. No one said that those talks wold be easy. No. But they could avoid dramas just by talking. I felt bad for Sam at some moments because of Micah’s attitude and how he didn’t say anything to Sam. Sam is not a mind reader. Also, and this thing is something that annoys me in real life too – i hate when people ignore messages. And by that i don’t mean – read and don’t answer. No. I mean – just deleting e-mails, whatsapp messages, voicemails without even reading/hearing them. It is so disrespectful in my opinion and just, sorry – stupid. Maybe that e-mail contained important information. No one forces you to write back, but you should at least read it. But no… Micah doesn’t give a rats ass. He just deletes it. Come on.

I really liked that small bit with Dom. I just loved Dom and Lucky in their book, so i’m always happy to ”meet” them again. And i really liked Sam. He was a nice guy with good heart. Also there was something so nice about his family. I just liked it all. And i googled how to make feijoada :).

”I sunk into the mattress like cat piss on a brand-new couch.”

This is the best quote i’ve read for a while. Just… the best :D:D:D

Anyway, i didn’t connect with this book as much as i’ve connected with other GL books in the past… but it doesn’t mean that you should skip it. Specially if you are a fan of Garrett, or you like this ”falling for roommate” trope. Read it. Maybe you will really love it. It still has Garrett’s signature writing style and it’s not a boring book. So – check it out and see what you think about it :).

Garrett Leigh: Blue Boys. The Boxed set.

As i understand, three stories which we can find in this boxed set, were published in the past already. Years ago. I’ve read only one of them. The first one – Bullet. So, i definitely wanted to use this chance and read other two too. Also – i needed a break after i read a book which broke my soul(it was not written by GL.) and three short stories about porn company were just what i needed.

What is the thing that is common to characters from all three stories? It’s porn. They all work in porn company called Blue Boy.

Bullet is a story about Levi and Sonny who are brought together by a plan for threesome scene. In his movies Levi always is a top, but this scene would make him a lot of money because he would bottom for the first time. He is hesitant and on top of that – Levi can’t stand Sonny and the feeling is mutual. But then they get to know each other and a personal tragedy strikes Levi and it all gets kinda messy. Because feelings are rarely without a mess. Levi is forced to think about his future and make decisions…

Story #2 is Bones and it is a story about Cam and Sasha. Cam is a veteran in Blue Boy. He is a nice top. Also he is wrapped up in a fling… if you can call it that(it’s not a relationship) with his boss Jon. But then he meets Sasha who is not from porn industry. He is a nice guy. They share interests and are attracted to each other. But then everything changes. Before Cam even can blink and understand what is happening, his life changes and will never be the same. Question is – will Sasha be in his new future?

And Bold is about Kai and Matthew. Blue boy studio has new owners(how that happened you can read in Bones. I will not spoil it.). And for them Kai seems… bored. So, hello Matthew. Kai is not impressed and he is not sure if he can do what thy want him to do, but… sometimes you have to risk it.

So… it’s porn about porn. I don’t know anything about how porn industry actually works behind the scenes and how actors are treated etc. But some moments here felt too… nice and not like it would work in real company? I don’t know how to explain it. Like boss(not Jon, the other one) is too friendly and too understanding to be an actual business man who wants to make a money with these films and studio. Because i think that industry is very money driven and bosses of porn companies really doesn’t care about actors that much. If someone gets too old or can’t do(doesn’t want to do) something – they will just find a fresh face and keep on going. No emotions involved. But then again – i really don’t know how that industry works. Probably not all studios in real life are the same and work the same style. Anyway, i just imagined that this is a nice studio and pretty fast stopped to try to find reality in this.

From all three stories, Bones hit me the hardest, because Cam is diagnosed with cancer. And about 2 years ago my husband was diagnosed with the same cancer as Cam. So this story hit home so damn hard. It reminded me of thing we had to get through. It reminded me of his surgery, of his chemo, his emotions etc. Everything ended well for Cam and for my husband too. But yeah… that was a kinda emotional. But in a weird way i’m glad that there was a character dealing with this cancer, because it is important to talk about it and maybe someone will read it and go to the doctor for health check up.

I have weird thing for character names. It takes me a second to love or hate the name of the character. Names are important for me. And from all three stories – my favorite name was Kai. I love how that name sounded when i read it.

Maybe because these were short stories and not full on 300 page books each, i did not feel deep emotional involvement. It was just interesting to read. Except story #2 and i already said why. Other stories were too short and not detailed enough for me to get emotionally attached to characters. But these were good read to get myself out of the dark place i was stuck after reading different book. Also maybe it’s just me, but i feel like Garrett Leigh has progressed in her writing. These stories were first published in 2013./2014. if i’m not mistaken. And now reading them and comparing to her latest books… i feel like there is a bit of a difference and a progress. Like more confidence, deeper characters and when she writes about real problems that characters are facing… it feels more connected to reality(like she has done more research to make it all as real as possible) etc.

So, in conclusion – this is porn about porn. And it’s fast read which takes you into porn world. What else can i say :). If you like Garrett Leigh and her books, and you haven’t read these – it’s time to finally do it :).

Garrett Leigh ”The Edge of the world”

My First book of 2020 and i read it in one day :D. I was excited to read this one. At this point, everyone who knows me, knows about how much i love GL books. There is maybe only 2 books of hers that i did not enjoy that much. But this one is not one of them. So, today let’s talk about ”The edge of the world” by Garrett Leigh. 

Shay and his pirate rockband is going on tour. Music and concerts are the most important thing on tour. But on free time… it’s time for Shay to find out where he is coming from. There is a contract about making a documentary about him and his roots(he is adopted and doesn’t know what was his ancestors) and that’s how Ollie gets on that tour buss. When Shay and Ollie meet… Ollie knows more about Shay and his blood relatives  than Shay himself. But Shay is not bothered. He actually gets pretty interested to know stories about his ancestors and what they did in their lives. Slowly romance is building but Ollie has his own past and dark moments from that, which still haunts him and has left scars. Are they strong enough to face the past and stay together?

I love that Garrett tries to always give characters different backgrounds and professions. I mean – i would be extremely bored if all her books would be about i don’t know… army dude and coffee shop owner. Nothing wrong with that combo, but… if that would be the main one in all books, then… it would get boring soon. I love that she always thinks about something different, gives her characters different lives and are not making them all the same. It’s cool. This time, story is about a musician from pirate-folk-rockband and genealogist/film maker. First time i read a combo like this on her books. Interesting. That combo was the first thing that got me excited when i saw that Garrett will publish a new book.

”I see you because i want to. It’s up to you how much you show me.”

Touring is your typical touring – buss, alco, sexy times, music etc. But then again – if i’m being honest, that’s how i picture it(touring, i mean) too. I didn’t have problem with that. I just can’t imagine pirate rock band going on tour and… in free time acting like they are first graders who don’t know what is partying. Touring in this books, for me, was like i imagine it. It was not over the top parties(when they are not capable to do shows, because drunk all the time etc.). Just… normal amount. Like rock band.

As a historian, i loved how Ollie approached his task and how he told Shay about his past. He started with old info from yeaaaars ago and then worked up to… newest info about Shay’s family. For me, it was a good choice, because it somehow built Shay’s character up better than if Ollie would just tell all the newest info and then just some stuff about old days. Yes, he kinda told Shay his real name in first day, but after that… he choosed to go from oldest info to newest.

I liked both characters. They were good guys. I did not like how… fast Ollie’s therapy thing happened and went on(at the end). I think it takes a long time to get over things, to start thinking different. It’s a matter of months and maybe even years. Not days… but for Ollie it felt like it took few days and he was half healed already. For me it just didn’t go with how he acted before. The thing i liked tho, was how Ollie(and his mother too) mentioned in few sentences, that if Ollie wants to change things… he has to do it for him. Not for Shay or because he wants to be with him. He has to do it because he wants it for himself. I think it’s a very important thing to remember – if you want to change something in you, in your life, do it because you want it. Do it for you. Not to be better for someone else. Remind yourself, that – yes, you want to be with that person, but you are changing things for you. That’s your main reason. You. Not others. I liked that there was this message. It’s a detail but important one.

Alsooooo, i just can’t not mention this – there is Lithuania mentioned(not just one time) in this book. Why i’m excited? Because i’m from Latvia, which is next to Lithuania and it was so cool to see a Baltic country mentioned and connected to story. Because in books it’s always just France, or UK, or Sweden, USA, Germany…. or any other big country. It was cool to see Lithuania :).

In my opinion, this is pretty good book. It is written in her typical style, which i like and which is really easy and fast to read. Characters deal with real health problems which a lot of people could relate to(specially to Shay). It’s also in a way a book about how interesting and important it is to know your own, personal history, where you came from etc. I liked the story and really liked main character combo.

Garrett Leigh ”Hometown Christmas”

It’s that time of the year again…. I mean – that time, when i’m in a mood to read wintery/Christmasy books again :). This year my first is Hometown Christmas by Garrett Leigh. And it was a very nice start of this season 🙂

Yani works in a food stall in market. After his bad break up he left London and sworn off love. One night stands – ok, bet nothing more. Ex-Army Gavin has no time for big love story. He is managing homeless shelter and recovering from injury. He is single and doesn’t feel unhappy or depressed about that fact. But then they both meet and everything changes. And it’s festive season, so even more work(which takes more time) for both of them. So, can they not just  fall for each other, but also hold on and stay together?

This book is calm. It doesn’t have big, dramatic moments or dark past secrets like some other GL books. It’s wintery and it has Christmas vibes, but not over the top, like in movies or other books. We see some characters from other books(because Gavin is not a new character. He is friends with… some others. Which ones, i will not say, but people who read GL books, i think already knows.). Yani and Gavin, both are good guys who deserve love, so rooting for them and their happiness was not hard. Gavin doesn’t talk a lot about his army days, which at first…gave me that unfinished story vibes. Like – i kinda know him…. but not really. Like, i should know more, to understand more. But then, i got to the afterword from Garrett Leigh. And then i thought about it and reality more and it made sense. In real life, i think people who work in special army forces or even FBI , doesn’t talk about their job a lot. Because it’s not easy topic and also they probably can’t, because it’s confidential(even after they are not involved anymore).

Bex laughed.”Yani, honey, you’re so trapped in your own head, you wouldn’t know relationship vibes if they punched you in the face.”

This book is calmer and maybe in a way lighter than some other GL books, where she touches very serious and dark themes(i will never ever forget Heart… that book broke something in me and i think part of me is still not over darkness that was there…). But at the same time, it’s not like holiday fun book, because it still touches reality. This time – reality of big city and homeless people and shelters(which are not enough for everyone). Also, how in shelter where Gavin works, are rules and signing up etc, so it all is not just a big chaos. Also – it shows character living with OCD and character living with PTSD.

Of course, food is part of the story :D. And i will say this again – i’m so waiting for Garrett Leigh to come out with a cook book, with recipes from all her books. I would buy that in a second :D.

Overall – for me it was a good book to start my winter/Christmas book reading season. Will this be my new all time favorite GL book? No. Roads series still stays as my all time favorites. But i liked this. It was hopefull, not very dark, still was rooted in reality(characters had problems that other people have in real life too). I was not disappointed. It was a holiday story, with a touch of reality. Also – i liked the cover :D.

Clare London ”Romancing the Rough Diamond”

”Romancing the Rough Diamond” by Clare London is part of the series(”Romancing the…” series), but it’s a standalone(so you don’t have to read previous books just to understand this one. But you can definitely read previous books just because they interest you 🙂 ). This book caught my attention because of the professions of the main characters. That sounded interesting.

Joel and the company he works in, Starsmith stones wins commission for royal gay wedding. Their job now is to make amazing rings for the grooms, and also gifts for guests. Everything has to be special. That’s why designer Matt joins their team. Matt has great ideas, but he hasn’t been working as desinger for a while because he doesn’t like the commercial side of all that. He likes beauty and making it, but not selling and business. Also – he hates Starsmith stones, because they bought his father’s company. But anyway, he ends up in a team and soon sparks fly between him and Joel. Everything seems to be great – he actually likes the project, making unique and beautiful things for this special day… But when everything goes too well… something has to happen. Something that threatens to destroy not just this whole deal with royal family, but also Joel’s and Matt’s new relationship. Do they trust each other enough to get past that? Do royal family trust them enough to ignore what happened?? There is only one way to find out.

I kinda liked main characters. They were different but had the same passion for beautiful jewelery. Okay, i liked Joel more, but that’s because i didn’t like Matt’s attitude in some moments. Yes, Joel’s company bought Matt’s family’s business, but… it seemed like Matt’s father and family didn’t hate Joel for that. That they were okay and didn’t think that Starsmith stones is the Devil itself.  But Matt seemed obsessed with idea, that Joel just came to his father and took the business with force, that father didn’t want to sell but Starsmith stones just did something shady and evil to get him to sell and that they are so evil. And he didn’t listen when father or anyone tried to tell that… that was not the case. I get stubborn characters but this was just stupid at some points.

I liked the process of making rings and wedding presents. I mean – how they got the deal and then started to think about designs etc., all that process. That was interesting. I liked Teresa and Addam from Joel’s team too. Good characters.

The biggest problem for me with this book was the fact that not existing characters were connected to real persons. I mean – i never like when authors take real people(specially if they are still alive) and then make up not existent relatives to those people, like they are real etc. There are a lot of books about royals and in most of them – author makes up fake royal family for the country they want to write about. And that is the approach i like. It’s a made up story with made up royal family. Not a made up story about real Diana’s not existent daughter who now is the bestie with Kate. Here – royal gay character was William’s and Harry’s relative. Megan was also mentioned etc. And i don’t like that. I don’t understand why author didn’t just made up fake royal family for England and then run with it. Why make this all related to real people? Just like when other authors write about famous singers – they make up those famous bands for those singers. Not make that not real character a part of very real One direction and best friend of Harry Styles or brother to Lady Gaga. Of course authors can do what they want and i bet there are a lot of people who don’t have a problem with this. And that’s fine. I just… didn’t get it why that choice was made. But that’s me.

Overall – it was not a bad read. I read it pretty fast. As i said – i was interested to read about how they got from getting that royal project to actual end result and rings. I bet this would be visually a nice movie – gold, sparkling diamonds, making amazing rings. Very pleasing to an eye. And i liked Joel a lot. I didn’t hate Matt… there were fun moments with him, but his attitude in some other moments were not logical and annoying. What can i say – it’s a nice read for this autumn. Just tea, blanket and a book about diamonds and love, with happy ending :).

 

Garrett Leigh ”Fated Hearts”

Not my first year or month reading m/m books. But that time finally came – my first shifters m/m. I was not sure i’m interested in that kind of book, so i stayed away from shifters. And werewolves. And also from aliens or some stuff like that. Until now. But – it’s Garrett Leigh. If she will write about aliens – i will read it. I will read everything she will write, because i love her style and her books. Her characters have souls. So, today about my first shifters/paranormal m/m book – ”Fated hearts” by Garrett Leigh.

Main characters of this book are Zio and Devan. Zio is a warrior who just lost his best friend in this big, paranormal war. He wants revenge. Devan is Zio’s pack’s new healer. And Zio is not happy. First – Devan is shifter of different species. Not a wolf. And also – they met before… and did things… that Zio can’t forget anymore. But Devan is sent here to help, to be a healer and he is not going to just give up and go back, just because Zio is not happy to see him. And there is also more than one bond that can form between shifters. Unfortunately, the one which forms between Zio and Devan can bring big consequences in war. So they try to stay away, not to form that bond completely… but you can’t ignore something that true and that strong for a long…

So, no aliens – only shifters. Not werewolves. Shape shifters. So, still pack, but no full moon etc. And a war. I read this book in one day. And i was at work. I was half reading, half working. That was not the plan, but i don’t work with clients eye to eye or something(i do a lot of paperwork), so no one could complain. I started to read this book on my way to work and couldn’t stop. I had to know how this story ends and i fell in love with Devan. It doesn’t mean that i didn’t like Zio. I liked him. But Devan… i fell in love with him, his soul and how he was written as a healer. He had that… calm vibe. I can’t explain it. When i read books sometimes characters just have specific… vibe. It’s not just one thing, but the way how that character is written as a whole.

I was rooting for these characters so much. And for that bond. Believe me, i was half in the book and was like – if they will not end up together and bonded, i will riot. Paranormal war be damned – they love each other so much, they deserve to be happy and together. One of the details i liked a lot, was Devon’s and Zio’s different opinion about what to do with injured enemy wolves who were left behind. Their opinions about that were opposite but suited their characters. It wouldn’t be realistic, if at that point Zio would think the same as Devon. Or if Devon, as healer, would think as Zio… Devon had that warm and calming presence and his opinion went perfectly with his character.

War and fighting stuff was intense. As it should be. But in this book Garrett Leigh got that good balance between war and fight and also bond and relationship. There it was in balance. I’m saying this because she also has a book ”Cash”. It is a different type of book, plot etc but in that book i felt that fighting and planning fights got way too much time and relationship development – much less, so i personally didn’t click with characters and their relationship. I could talk about fight plans, but didn’t felt their connection forming that much. But in this one – yes, war, fights, plans, deaths… but also i felt that connection between main characters forming, i saw them falling for each other, i got to see that progress in a relationship. It was in a very good balance and i liked it a lot.

I liked other characters from the pack too. Like Danielo, Bomber, Michael and Gale. They were good background characters and also a bit grew on me(i didn’t want any of them to die or to get hurt.). And i kinda hope to see more of them. Like Danielo and that doctor… i would like to read that story(okay, i don’t even know if there is a story, i’m just letting my imagination run wild after last chapter :D). I liked that in ebook i got, there was a link to short story ”Shadow bound” where i read about Dash and Luca. They are in this book too, so i wanted to know more about them.

Overall – loved this book. I read it as ebook, but i already bought myself a paper copy(now i just have to wait, to get it), because i wanted this on my actual bookshelf. Also – cover is so beautiful. This is my first paranormal m/m book, so i don’t have anything to compare this with, but… i really liked it. Shifting was not weird or kinky as i thought it maybe can be(that was one of the reasons why i stayed away from these books for so long – i was a bit afraid that it will somehow go… the weird way…and that i’m not ready for that). It was good, a bit intense. It had great main characters and a big love. I recommend this 🙂

Eli Easton ”Puzzle me this”

When i’m checking books and deciding what to read, i’m searching for interesting stories and interesting characters. If i chose to read romantic book, i don’t care to read about millionaire and plain, clumsy ”not like other girls” snowflake for the 100th time. I want something i haven’t seen 10 times in other books. So – of course i will take the book where characters meet because of crossword puzzles :). So – Eli Easton ”Puzzle me this”.

Luke designs computer games. He works from home and walks his dog every day. He has no idea that someone is watching him and crushing on him. He has no idea until he finds a newspaper on his doorstep. That newspaper contains usual crossword puzzle – it’s nothing surprising… until Luke understands that there is message for him in the answers. Alex is also working from home. He makes crossword puzzles for newspapers and has been watching Luke for a while. Alex is too shy to actually talk to Luke eye to eye. He is also in wheelchair, so he can’t go into the woods where Luke walks his dog, to meet him there. So, he choses crossword puzzle…. when Luke decodes it and they finally meet eye to eye… a beautiful story begins. It’s nice, romantic until reality reminds about itself and then the only question that remains, is – is this love real and for forever?

This was a cute story. Easy and fast read. Both guys were likable, nice, good guys. When Luke started to doubt their future and think about what it actually means, to be with someone in chair, for a minute i thought that he is a dick. Sorry. But then again – he wasn’t. All those things he thought about – they were not born in thin air, without any reason. It was all rooted in their real situation and i think i would think about the same things in his situation. It all feels a bit dickish at the beginning, but as it goes on – i understood him. A lot of moments were pretty realistic. Like i kinda agree with Alex when he said, that a lot of people doesn’t see guys(and girls too) in wheelchairs as sexual beings who also want to have sex, to be intimate, touched, desired. Like that chair automatically takes away desires and they don’t think about sex etc. But they want the same things as people who can walk and that is normal. Chair doesn’t mean anything. I also liked how Alex was showed supportive to Luke when Luke wanted to do something that Alex couldn’t because of his chair. He said to Luke that he can go and do it. I liked that he was not trying to hold back Luke just because he can’t go. The fact that Luke later didn’t want to be anywhere Alex can’t be too, is a different story and his choice. I just liked the fact that there was a choice. It wasn’t made like – if Alex can’t go, he makes Luke not go too. No. Luke could go if he wanted. Alex supported him and just did his own things at that time.

I personally think, that this book would have been really, really good if it would have been classical 250 pages and not just 90 pages. Just because 250 pages would give more time for relationship to bloom a bit slower, maybe few more crossword puzzles before they meet face to face. Also – it would mean more time and pages for character development and more time to show serious themes(like Luke’s family situation which impacted him and his feelings so much too) and how characters deal with them. I mean – this story was overall nice and i really liked both guys and main idea of how they met. This was nice read but 250 pages… it would have been even better.

I’m obsessing over details, so… for me personally… i didn’t understand why there was that ”sucking my own dick” talk. I mean – it was weird and the thing was, he didn’t even end up sucking it. There was no scene with him doing it. It was just like a weird, unnecessary fact to know about Alex. I could have lived without that moment. And also(and this is no just about this book but so many others) – why authors don’t just say that he had a big dick? Why that dick has to be called Godzilla, Empire state building, leaking faucet(this was not in this book. It’s from other book i read a while ago but i’m still weirded out, that someone though calling dick that is sexy… all it was – it made me think about toilet and peeing.)? And in Alex’s case it felt like his dick was was to his knees – that’s how godzillish it was. For me all these anacondas, godzillas, gigantic lollipops, light sabers sounds weird… But as i said – i obsess over details. Good and bad. So – i guess a lot of people would not even notice these things.

V.L.Locey ”Shake the stars”

This was my first V.L.Locey book outside of Harrisbourg railers series. I was interested, because i liked HR series and i wanted to see what she writes outside it and sports romances. This time it’s a story about summer which changed lifes…

Spending his summer with family was not Dane’s plan. His plan would be to tour the Europe and maybe even find first love in Paris. Or Italy. But here he was – with his family and thinking that his dreams of romance will not come true. But then he meets lifeguard Khalid. And just like that – summer is not as hopeless and not-romantic as Dane thought it will be. But summer can’t go forever. It’s followed by autumn. Can this summer romance survive autumn and time? Or will it be just one beautiful summer that ends with heartbreak and no future? Or maybe even after ending… there will be a new beginning and a second chance?

This is a story about first love and everything that comes with that. That includes heartbreak. And leads to second chances. So, if you are a person who likes stories about first love and second chances – try this book. And this story is wrapped up in that nostalgic feeling. Maybe it was just me, but it made me think about my first love, about past, about summers… and things that are over for a long time. I was not in love with this book from the first page. I can’t explain why but it took a bit time for me to read into it… but when i did – i was rooting for main couple. There was that beautiful vibe of falling in love for the first time. And also there was a sad part, which is also, unfortunately a pretty real part for a lot of teens in real life – what happens when you come out to your parents. There are those amazing cases when nothing changes and they are supportive(in my opinion, this should be not ”amazing case” but just the normal one). But then there are those cases when they both(or one of the parents) are not supportive.

For me, personally, references to Dirty dancing are annoying. It’s nothing personal against this author or any other author who uses these references. I just am tired of that movie always mentioned everywhere. Yes, it’s classic or whatever but sometimes it makes me feel like that is the only movie made in the history of the cinema and the world. Nothing else exist. Also there were some details which were kinda not believable for me or made me question some things, but i decided to not go too much into it and not pick it apart. Because… for me this was not the book where i felt like i need to pick everything apart and write essay about my questions. In the end – those questions were just in my mind and were not changing the plot or something.

Anyway, it’s summer and this book belongs in summer reads. For me it didn’t feel very fast paced(specially at the beginning), but not all books need to be fast paced. It was a nice read. Made me remember my own first love and made me root for these two young men and their journey from summer romance to real, deep love and second chance. It shows mistakes and how first love isn’t always just rainbows and everything easy. Characters made mistakes and grew… Anyway – i liked this book 🙂

 

Victoria Milne ”Purple Method”

I’m always drawn to interesting plot ideas or characters. This time – when i read that this is a book about MMA trainer and heavy metal band musician, i knew that i want to read this. Combination was very interesting. And i was not disappointed. Purple Method, which is also a name of Max’s band, turned out to be good read.

Max is the lead singer of heavy metal band Purple Method. He is firmly in the closet and doesn’t think about coming out of it He fears that coming out could lead to him loosing his brother and friends, and his band. Rick is MMA trainer and he is out if the closet. They meet when Purple Method has a concert and attraction goes both ways. But for them to actually be together… it would mean – secret relationship. But sooner of later all secrets come out. Only thing that you can choose, is the way it happens. So there is a point where Max has to choose… his future. Will he be brave? Is this relationship worth the risk? How will their lives change after?

I liked both main characters. I was sad about Max because he couldn’t be honest and just live freely being himself. He was hiding and sometimes behaving not great, because he was afraid. For me – love is love. And i’m so sad that we live in modern era and still people can’t just be themselves and love freely whoever they want, because others can react badly and ruin lives, and hurt them. I felt so sad about Max, but at the same time… i understood his reasons. Fear of loosing everything… I mean – in his place, i would probably be even more scared and totally not brave. Max was believable. I think there are a lot of people who really know how he felt because they have felt the same. I liked Rick too, but i was rooting for Max a little bit more. He deserved to be happy.

Character which i really disliked was Max’s brother Tony. Yes, he was ok with Max being gay and didn’t hate him. But at the same time… he was such a, pardon, dick. How he treated Max in band, and other in band. Reader knows, before Max knows, that Tony wouldn’t leave Max because Max is gay and that he doesn’t hate him for that. So at least that was good. But other than that…his behavior was, in my opinion, horrible. But from writing point, i kinda get the writer – if all characters in the book would be nice and good.. it would be boring. But yeah – i didn’t like him.

I was a bit surprised, in a good way, that there was detailed MMA chapters(like when Rick was training Max) and info about music too. I guess, i thought that it will be mentioned, that Rick is MMA trainer, but they will not go in big details. Some books does that. Like, says that character A is an artist, but doesn’t go in much details about his art or how he makes it. Here – when Max went to training group which Rick was teaching – there was a lot about it: what he did, what was the exercises, how Max did and Rick was teaching etc. And when it came to Purple method or Max being a musician – it was detailed too. I liked it. It made all things more real and much easier to imagine these characters in real life.

Overall – it was a good book. Not a wowowow 10/10 for me personally, but interesting anyway. I liked the combination – heavy metal and MMA. It was fast read, written well. I liked it. Also it made me want to open youtube and just put some heavy metal music in background just for mood :). This was a coming out story and i was rooting for Max and for them both to be happy together :). At the end part(before happy end), there were some moments which… i didn’t fully connected with. I can’t explain it… they just felt… weird? I don’t know… But that’s probably just me.