His Client by Ava March

I have read numerous works by Ava March so I jumped at the chance to read and review another through NetGalley. Here is the Goodreads blurb and the cover:

Love wasn't supposed to be part of the bargain…

On every visit to Madame Delacroix’s brothel, Nathaniel Travers requests the same man. Stunningly handsome and highly skilled, Jasper not only shares Nate’s fondness for wickedly erotic games and black leather corsets, but he has become a trusted confidant. And Jasper’s the only person who knows Nate longs for a committed relationship with his childhood friend, Peter Edmonton.

Unrequited love hurts, but it hurts even more when the object of affection is in love with another. Jasper Reed has been working at Delacroix’s for a decade. He’s saved enough to retire, yet he remains at the decadent London brothel. Leaving would mean leaving Nate and the hope someday the rugged gentleman would stop pining for his best friend and realize he loves Jasper, just as Jasper loves him.

Edmonton’s impending marriage looms before them, causing Jasper to take another look at his stubborn heart. Yet Jasper’s a bastard whore, and Nate’s the nephew of a viscount. Surely there can’t be any hope for them…

Note: This is a previously published work. This second edition has been edited with minor changes. For readers who purchased the original edition, this second edition is not substantially different.

I will start with the trigger warning- this book includes frank discussion of life as a male prostitute. It could be triggering to some readers. I found this book to be darling. There is a fair amount of adult content but it is not the entirety of the story. Nate and Jasper bumble along but they eventually work everything out. Poor Nate is just so dense. It takes nearly losing Jasper for good to make him see what he has had right in front of him for so very long. Poor Jasper pines with the best of them. He loves Nate so dearly but he doesn't believe that it will come to anything. What a sweet and spicy story!

Click here to find His Client on Goodreads. Author Ava March can be found on her website, her blog, Twitter and Facebook. I give His Client 3 Fairies for a sweet and spicy story of two men bumbling towards love.

Yogi and the Bear by Nix Knox

I was intrigued when I saw this book pop up on NetGalley. I love yoga, it is the best part of my day so I wanted to see what this book was all about. I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Here is the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

If the fall is inevitable, might as well enjoy the tumble.

Months after a scaffolding accident leaves him in chronic agony, construction worker Ryan Powell has exhausted all that Western medicine has to offer. He’s willing to try anything, even yoga, to get some relief.

He expected to feel out of place at the New Age Center, but he never expected a power-outage bathroom encounter to magically erase his pain. When he discovers the man with the magic hands is his drop-dead-sexy yoga teacher, Ryan decides that there might just be something to this metaphysical thing, after all.

Yogi Niklas Baumgartner has found it remarkably easy to keep his shiny vow of chastity untarnished—until now. Still, a bathroom hand job doesn’t really count as sex, right? But his footing on the no-nooky wagon slips when he realizes the big, blond bear at the back of the class is his man in the dark.

Their unlikely attraction brings out sides of themselves they never knew lurked beneath the surface, sides it takes courage to accept. But when trust is broken, repairing the damage might just tear them apart.

Warning: Contains a gentle giant, a dominant orgo-bunny, a pair of weighty manacles, too many movie references, accidental porn, overcoming stereotypes, and deliciously kinky sex.

I want to get the trigger warnings out of the way for you all. This book contains scenes of a dominant nearly ignoring their submissive's safe word, there is talk of what could be seen as child abuse, there is talk of abortion and adoption and there are scenes of therapy with a counselor. If these things bother you- you may want to steer clear of this story. I loved the begininng of this story for sure! I loved the line about how Ryan is going to "learn the hell out of some Yoga". There are many funny moments but also some that were scary or sad. The romance is sweet but also sad as the boys don't always handle their issues very well. I think this story is worth reading though because it shows so much about choosing love over the mistakes and the nonsense. What a great and emotional read!

You can click here to add Yogi and the Bear to your Goodreads. Author Nix Knox can be found on her blog, Twitter and Pinterest. I give Yogi and the Bear 3 Fairies for an emotional and funny read that hurt my heart.

Uncovering Ray (Ellery College #1) by Edie Danford

I recently received a copy of Uncovering Ray from Samhain Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  I was intrigued by the blurb and cover but found it to be well worth the read.  Here's the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

When the right love uncovers the wrong secrets...

Hey, man--you a chick or a dude? Dealing with the same old boring question is a downer for college drop-out Ray Fayette, especially when it's asked by the low-tipping, over-privileged students at the Ellery Diner.

When six-foot-five, muscle-bound straight arrow Wyatt Kelly publicly smacks down a fellow frat bother for caveman behavior, Ray's interest is sparked. Wyatt's not-so-subtle attraction sparks a few other things too.

But getting to know Wyatt proves dangerous. His sexy smiles and smart questions slide under even Ray’s prickliest defenses. Worse, his academic mentor happens to be Ray’s ex-stepfather, the dictatorial jerk who just kicked Ray out of his house. Again.

Wyatt suggests a housing arrangement that has surprising appeal—there’s space available at his frat house—but he’s unaware just how complicated Ray’s “identity issues” are. Ellery College kicked out Ray for a reason—a reason that could deep-six Wyatt’s academic career and Ray’s newly hopeful heart.

I found this story to be both emotional and sweet. The reader does not know what biological gender Ray is or what gender they identify with. Wyatt is not totally savvy when it comes to gender and identities but he is terribly sweet. He is a good person who wants to make things better for others and is hopeful that he can change the world. Ray doesn't really believe in trusting others or family or making the world a better place. I think that Ray needed Wyatt in their life to be able to get moving again after their life had stalled. Ray lives a life that a number of trans folks that I have known live. They are professional couch surfers and are used to the world treating them as other. It makes me so sad that so many families drop the ball when it comes to being there for their trans kids. I loved that in the end, Ray did have things work out for them. It wasn't an easy happily ever after but it was happily moving forward with the family that they had chosen. I found the ending to be incredibly hopeful.

Click here to add Uncovering Ray to your Goodreads. You can find author Edie Danford on her website and on Twitter. I give Uncovering Ray 3 Fairies for a great story about love, family and making the right choices in life.

Tame a Wild Human by Kari Gregg

I recently was given a copy of Tame a Wild Human from Riptide Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  Here is the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Drugged, bound, and left as bait on the cusp of the lunar cycle, Wyatt Redding is faced with a terrifying set of no-win scenarios. Best case: he survives the coming days as a werewolf pack’s plaything and returns to the city as a second-class citizen with the mark—and protection—of the pack. Worst case: the wolves sate their lusts with Wyatt’s body, then send him home without their protection, condemning him to live out the rest of his short life as a slave to the worst of humanity’s scorn and abuse.

Wyatt’s only chance is to swallow every ounce of pride, bury his fear, and meekly comply with every wicked desire and carnal demand the wolf pack makes of him. He expects three days of sex and humiliation. What he doesn’t expect is to start enjoying it. Or to grow attached to his captor and pack Alpha, Cole.

As the lunar cycle ends, Wyatt begins to realize that the only thing to fear more than being sent home without the pack’s protection is being sent home at all.

I don't understand the draw of stories like this. I'm sorry but I don't see how we, as a people, can continue to glorify rape culture like this. There is no romance or feelings of any kind to redeem this story. I did finish the story but I found that it just generally was not for me. I respect that this story may be someone else's cup of tea but I can not wrap my mind around this. I want to be clear that there are explicit mentions of rape, gang rape and general disregard for consent. Steer clear if those are triggers for you. This book was not for me but I highly suggest that you make up your own mind on it.

You can click here to find this story on Goodreads. You can also find author Kari Gregg on her website.

Long Macchiatos and Monsters by Alison Evans

I received a copy of Long Macchiatos and Monsters by Alison Evans from Less Than Three Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  Here;s the cover and Goodreads blurb:

Jalen, lover of B-grade sci-fi movies, meets the far-too-handsome P in a cafe while deciding whether or not to skip uni again. When P invites them along to a double feature of Robot Monster and Cat Women of the Moon, Jalen can hardly believe that hot boys like bad sci-fi, too. But as their relationship progresses, Jalen realizes P leaves him wondering if they're on the same page about what dating means, and if that's what they're doing.

I want to get the trigger warnings out of the way first. I want to say that there is talk in this story of parents refusing to deal with their child's gender correctly. There are also moments when trans characters are treated hatefully. Be aware of these possible triggers. I found that this story was an interesting look at the sometimes tricky world of a transgendered person. I learned about the use of pronouns and names. I found it absolutely heartrending that the emotional turmoil of P's life has the ability to tear down Jalen as well. It makes so much sense that a life that can be so emotionally tough already can lead to those emotions leaking out all over your loved ones. I know it is true in my life and it is definitely true in P and Jalen's lives. I found this story to be sweet, nerdy and emotional.

This story can be found as a part of the Geek Out Bundle from Less Than Three Press. You can click here to find the story on Goodreads. I give Long Macchiatos and Monsters 3 Fairies for a truly interesting story of romance and friendship.

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber

My husband and I love to listen to NPR in the car with our kids. We subscribe to Living on Earth and On Being as podcasts so that we can listen with the kids while we drive to doctor appointments or while geocaching. We were recently caching up on an episode where Krista Tippet interviews Nadia Bolz-Weber. After listening to Pastorix Bolz-Weber's interview, I had to read her book. Here's the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Foul-mouthed and heavily tattooed, former standup comic-turned-Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber weaves hilarious rants and stunning theological insight into her personal narrative of a flawed, beautiful, and unlikely life of faith.

Bizarre, rich, and remarkable, PASTRIX turns spiritual memoir on its ear in a sardonically irreverent and beautifully honest page-turner that readers will never forget. Nadia Bolz-Weber takes no prisoners as she reclaims the term pastrix (a negative term used by some Christians who refuse to recognize women as pastors) in this wildly entertaining and deeply resonant memoir about an outrageous, unlikely life of faith. From a commune of haggard-but-hopeful slackers to the wobbly chairs and war stories of Alcoholic Anonymous, from a funeral in a smoky downtown comedy club to an unexpected revelation during the Haitian stations of the cross, PASTRIX is a journey of cranky spirituality that intersects religion with real life, weaving incredible narrative, hilarious rants, and poignant honesty to portray a life deeply flawed and deeply faithful-giving hope to the rest of us.

I found this book to be amazing and life changing. Oddly, the most important message that I received from this book was not about faith but about health. Pastrix Bolz-Weber talks about her four year battle with Grave's Disease. When I was 14, I began eating like crazy, acting insane, feeling insane, and I ended up only ever getting any kind of diagnosis after I ended up with a goiter. Thankfully, the goiter was the worst of my visible symptoms. The pastrix actually ended up with bulging eyes that kept her from sleeping comfortably. But I was never told what Graves Disease could (and DID) do to me. Pastrix Nadia's story of her illness made me realize just how much of my teenage years while I suffered with Graves Disease were not "just teenage nonsense" as my mom and the legion of psychologists that she hired described it. I always wondered why I never again had any signs of Bipolar Depression after I was cured of the Graves Disease. It was liberating to learn that most of the emotional and mental symptoms that I exhibited in my early teens were all symptoms of Graves Disease. It has been life changing, learning that. But to the meat of Pastrix Nadia's book, I loved her message that even she has trouble listening to God and being all that she thinks she should be AND THAT IS OKAY! I disagree with her on the need to include the traditional to keep the modern practice honest. My trouble with the traditional is that it always feels like we're just checking off a list. Liturgy. Check. Gloria Patri. Check. Lord's Prayer. Check. I am in a weird place because I liked the uplifting music and short "checklist" format of the church that my husband grew up in but their narrow minded behaviors don't mesh with our understanding of God and faith. (Also, I hated that they did their communion by intinction. Lots of bread crumbs floating in a cup of grape juice- so gross!) But our current church, the one that I was raised in, is more in line with our beliefs but the service is the same traditional service that I first experienced in the 1980's. I think that the best take away from Pastrix Nadia's book is that she is not perfect so we shouldn't be worried about being perfect either BECAUSE WE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE! What an epiphany! I think that anyone could benefit from reading this book if they can just listen to her words and take them to heart. I tore through this book in one day because I just felt like she was speaking just to me. I loved this book! Thank you Krista Tippett for sharing it with us!

You can find Pastrix Nadia Bolz-Weber on her website, Facebook and on Twitter. You can also click here to add this book to your Goodreads. You can click here to find the episode of On Being that inspired me to read this book. I give Pastrix 5 Fairies for a book that was life changing for me.

Imaginary by Jamie Sullivan

I received a copy of Imaginary by Jamie Sullivan from Less Than Three Press through NetGalley.  I really enjoyed it and found it to be unique.  Here's the Goodreads blurb and the cover:

Aaron is a lonely, unloved boy when he first meets James. Their friendship seems like a dream come true—or perhaps just a dream, because no one else can see or hear James. Aaron stubbornly clings to his new friend, however, even when the friendship makes him an object of scorn and ridicule. No matter the years that pass, or the challenges they face, Aaron refuses to give up on his best friend—but life might just find a way to take James from him anyway.

This book was adorable. Absolutely adorable. I loved almost every moment of this book!  I will let you know that there are moments of child neglect, child abuse and talk of being let down by the foster care system.  If those are triggers for you, be warned.  I found the idea of James to be interesting.  It took so long for Aaron and I to figure out what and who James really was.  I don't want to spoil it for you though so I am going to try not to say much more.  But what a story!  Highly recommended!

You can click here to add Imaginary to your Goodreads. You can find author Jamie Sullivan on her website and on Twitter. I give Imaginary 4 Fairies for a lovely story of friendship, love and the impossible.

Stand by You (Belonging #3) by A. M. Arthur

I loved A. M. Arthur's writing.  I really do.  It is so visceral and so real.  Every one of the stories in the Belonging Series has made me emotional.  When I was given the chance to review the newest book in the series through NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.  Check out the the cover and Goodreads blurb:

Three months after his rescue from an abusive boyfriend, twenty-two-year-old Romy Myers has landed his first legitimate job—bussing tables at his friend's new coffee shop. The job has brought him some stability after years of abuse have left him feeling damaged and broken. He's working hard on his panic and social anxiety, and those things are often tempered by the big, burly presence of Brendan Walker.

From the moment ex-football player Brendan helped rescue Romy from his ex's abuse, he's wanted to protect him. And he does, from a distance, with joking text messages, a new gym routine to toughen him up and a genuine friendship. So far it's been easy—but Brendan's feelings aren't just friendly anymore…

When an argument spirals out of control, a hot and heavy make-out session causes Romy's friendship with supposedly straight Brendan to reach a new level. The last thing Romy wants is to fall for another guy who could potentially shatter him, but Brendan also wakes up a part of him he thought had been destroyed by violence—his heart.

I enjoyed this book. I loved getting to see Romy begin to heal. He has been through so much. No one should ever have to go through what he has been through. But Romy is making it through his ordeal and his healing. Brendan is just such a sweet and strong man. I loved how he could be what Romy needed. I think that sometimes it is hard for us to find the one for us because we aren't properly paying attention. Brendan has his own demons and his own issues to over come but he and Romy help each other through. This is just such a sweet and heart warming story of love, friendship and family. I will remind you that this is an adult romance so it is not suitable for those who have issues with explicit works. Also there is some talk of Romy's previous abusive situation, including descriptions of rape so be aware if these are triggers for you.

You can click here to find Stand By You on Goodreads. A. M. Arthur can be found on her blog, Twitter, Tumblr, and on Facebook.  I gave Stand By You 4 Fairies for a lovely story of friendship, love and opening up to those who love you.

The King of Dublin by Heidi Belleau and Lisa Henry

I recently received a copy of The King of Dublin through NatGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.  Here is the cover and Goodreads blurb:

Twenty years after a deadly pandemic ravaged the world, Darragh Fergus Anluan and the people of his village have carved out a hard but simple life in the Irish countryside. But with winter comes sickness, and Darragh must travel to Dublin in search of medicine. What he finds there is a ruined city ruled by a madman, where scavenging is punishable by death . . . or conscription.

Ciaran Daly came to Ireland with aid and optimism, but instead was enslaved by the so-called King of Dublin. After months of abuse from the king and his men, he has no reason to believe this newcomer will be any different. Except Ciaran finds himself increasingly drawn to Darragh, whose brutish looks mask how sweet and gentle he really is.

The tenderness Darragh feels for the king’s treasured pet is treason, but it’s hardly the only betrayal brewing in this rotten kingdom. Rebellions and rival gangs threaten the king’s power, but not nearly as much as Darragh and Ciaran—whose only hope for freedom is the fall of the king.

This book was kind of a quandary for me. It is really well written but the subject matter was what kind of ruined the book for me. I feel like the more books we see out there with non-consent, dubious consent, rape, torture and sexual slavery, the more we are promoting rape culture as a whole. I believe that everyone has the right to the kinks that they like but there was little positive in this book. I came away from reading it wishing for more positive. I wanted to believe that something good could come out of all the pages I had just read. It felt very... off putting. There is so much rape culture in the story that it really ruined the little romance that was to be had. The other works from Heidi Belleau that I have read have been edgy and not always what I would call romance. I loved her book "Wallflower" but there were elements of rape in that as well. (It was brief and no where near as awful as the scenes you will have in King of Dublin.) I know- to each their own, but this book was just not for me. The long wait until the very very end for any positive after pages and pages of rape and torture was a bit much for me. I think that the things we read should leave us in a better place than we were in when we started. If you are into the dark and the angsty, this might be a good fit for you. I just caution that anyone reading pay attention to the Trigger Warnings on this one.

You can check out other reviews for this book on Goodreads.  The King of Dublin will be published on February 24th and can be preordered from Riptide Publishing now.You can find Heidi Belleau can be found on her website, Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. Lisa Henry can be found on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.  I had to give this book 2 Fairies because it just was not for me.  There was too much that made me nauseous for not enough of a Happily Ever After reward, no matter how well written it was.