Month: June 2020

Review: Music and Magic by Foster Bridget Cassidy

Took me a bit to warm up to the story, but then it turned out really well.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. 152 pages  Published on April 2, 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb.

Markle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.

Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest — only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess performing evils in the goddess’s name. When he runs into helpless Markle, he feels obligated to show Markle there is some good in the world.

Like it or not, Markle gets caught up in Frye’s game of fox and hare. When the priestess finally catches them, Markle may have a few surprises of his own.

Likes:

  • World building.
  • The way magic was used.
  • I did eventually get invested in the story.
  • The men, together and separately.
  • A surprisingly well rounded novella.
  • Story wrapped up but with a hint of future books to come.

Dislikes:

  • No immediate hook.
  • Took me a while to warm up to the story and characters.
  • No information about the book up on Goodreads.
  • Blatant withholding of information from the reader.
  • Romance was a little clunky.

My biggest problem with a lot of novellas is that they have a hard time hooking me. It feel like they start off mid-story and I’m scrambling to understand what’s going on. It leads to a lot of backstory so the readers can get caught up, and the forward momentum is dampened. That’s what happened at the beginning of this book.

I’ll admit that I was not hooked right away, either by the story or the men. Happily, it didn’t take too long before I was invested. It’s clear from the beginning that something is different about Markle. His resistance to Frye’s magic added a hint of mystery to the plot. There’s also a feeling that a lot is happening around the two men, and that it will be explained later. And it was

I am pleasantly surprised at how fleshed out this story is. For a novella, it contained a lot of information. The world building was interesting, magic system was understandable, and both men’s pasts got explained. There was even time to set up a hint that this is the first book in a series.

As for the romance, it wasn’t as smooth as I’m used to. Markle and Frye spent a good chunk of time unsure if their feelings were real. Then, like a switch being flipped, they got together. I would actually say that their blossoming friendship was my favorite part of the book. Markle starts off weary of Frye. Watching both men open up to each other was heartwarming, and the romance wouldn’t have been nearly as good without that solid foundation of trust and understanding.

One thing I definitely didn’t like was the obvious way certain information was kept from the reader. It was blatant and annoying. Whenever I come across something like this in a book, I feel the heavy hand of the author. It’s like ‘There’s something important here, so you should pay attention, but also I’m not going to tell you what it is yet.’ Ugh. I’m just glad it didn’t get dragged out.

I am honestly surprised at how much I ended up liking this book at the end compared to how unenthusiastic I was at the beginning. I’ve never read anything by Foster Bridget Cassidy before, but I’ll definitely check out some of her other works in the future. The talent is there. And anyone who writes quality high fantasy novellas is my kind of author.

Review: Like a Gentleman (Love in Portsmouth #1) by Eliot Grayson

The first novella but an author I like. Hard not to judge it a bit harshly because Grayson’s more recent books are better.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. Second Edition. 106 pages. Published May 9th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books (first published November 4th 2017)

Blurb:

His revenge couldn’t be more personal…or delicious…

When writer James Rowley discovers his editor has stolen his work, he has only one thought. Revenge. And he’s not above playing dirty (very, very dirty) to get it. By the time James is done toying with the man’s emotions—and body—he’ll be broken and humiliated. It’s the perfect plan…until he actually meets the damnably alluring thief in person, that is.

Leo Wells has spent years pining for the witty, talented man he only knew through letters. So when he finally meets the man of his dreams and discovers he’s a cold, callous rake, Leo’s more than a little disheartened. Too bad he’s also powerless to stay away from—or say no to—the disturbingly attractive James, even if it leads to his personal and professional ruination.

It’s not long before Leo learns there’s more to James than meets the eye, and James begins to wonder if his need for revenge is about to be surpassed by an even more powerful desire…

This approximately 28,000-word novella contains explicit scenes. Although it’s the first book in a series, it does not end on a cliffhanger and can be read as a standalone. Snarky banter and steamy chemistry are included with your purchase, but sadly, James’s hideous pink waistcoat is not. 

Likes:

  • Short, easy read.
  • Low angst.
  • Historical flair.
  • Interesting premise.
  • The way James dressed for his first meeting with Leo.
  • The ending made everything feel very settled.

Dislikes:

  • Not actually a series?
  • Feels like a first book.
  • Some overlong and rambling sentences.
  • Didn’t captivate me.
  • Occasional pronoun confusion.

Right off the bat, I will admit that I am judging this book harsher than it deserves. I have read and enjoyed several of Grayson’s more recent books, and he’s obviously become a more competent author since this novella was written. It’s hard not to find this book lacking when I compare it with his newer works.  

As far as I can tell, this is Grayson’s first book, and it shows. It’s not a bad novella, but it’s not great. It was a solid but unenthusiastic ‘nice.’

The characters are fine and I enjoyed reading about them. I do think the short length suits their romance. I’m not sure they could have been interesting for much longer. There’s a lot of insta-lust and some insta-love.

My favorite thing about the romance was that the men actually hashed out the differences between them. Their experiences and stations in life put them at odds, and Leo’s insecurities were understandable. I wish we’d been shown a little more of their daily lives, but considering how short the novella was, I think a lot was crammed in there. The ending was solid, and gave the impression that the men would be fine in the future.  

I liked the historical flair that was present throughout the book. The premise was interesting and low angst. There was some smut, but again, I think Grayson’s writing has improved in that department. But the humor is there, as evidenced by how James chose to dress for his first meeting with Leo.

I’m not too disappointed that this book doesn’t actually seem to be part of a series. Unlike his Goddess-Blessed series, this novella was a normal historical. I’ll admit I wasn’t captivated. The occasional overlong, rambling sentences didn’t help. I’d get lost halfway through and have to reread.

I think this is a solid first novella. I’m not mad at it, but in a few weeks I won’t remember it at all.

Review: Incident of Magic (Everlight #2) by Kris Michaels and Patricia A. Knight

Not as good, or as long, as the first book. Still, not a bad continuation of the series.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 164 pages. Published March 1st 2017 by Troll River Publications

Blurb:

Sold at the age of twelve to support his mother’s drug habit and rescued from a life on the streets by a cop, thirty-two-year old Tony Locke had had a brutal start in life.

He’d risen to the position of homicide detective in the Everlight Police Department—a testament to his intelligence and driving ambition to help other victims of Everlight’s prolific industry in sex and drugs. With his promotion to the hush-hush Interdimensional Task Force, he could broaden his reach—if he could just get along with his a-hole of a partner.

Leo Fortan labored under a soul-crushing burden of sacrifice, trapped in a lonely and rigid existence. Hand-picked from that existence and assigned to the Interdimensional Task Force, he thought his life had taken a turn for the better—until he met his partner, Tony Locke. Leo thought it probable they would kill each other.

For a man who thought love didn’t exist and a man who’d sacrificed everything for it, finding common ground may require more than an incident of magic.

Likes:

  • The men’s relationship and how it evolved.
  • Character development.
  • A good second book.
  • Hot smut.
  • Good ending.
  • Hooked me and kept me interested.
  • Lots of UST – unresolved sexual tension.
  • The thing stopping them from acting on their desire was unique.
  • Got to see more of Sable and Hiro.
  • Plot carried over from the first book.

Dislikes:

  • It took me a bit to warm up to Tony.
  • Not the romance/mystery/fantasy blend of the first book.
  • I wanted more smut.
  • I wish more of Silk had been shown.
  • It’s been three years since this book came out and no sign of the third book.
  • Feels like some important things were given little page time.
  • Shorter than the last book.

Fresh off the high that came from the previous book, I eagerly downloaded this one, despite the misgivings generated from the blurb. I mean, “Sold at the age of twelve to support his mother’s drug habit” is a heavy way to start a blurb, and I was worried this book would be darker than I was in the mood for. Happily, this book hooked me and kept me interested.

Tony rubbed me the wrong way at the beginning. I thought he was a fucking idiot. That changed when he made the conscious effort to get to know Silk better so they could actually function as a team. After that, Tony quickly grew on me.

Silk was my favorite character, and I wish more of his uniqueness had been explored. He has an interesting past, unique abilities, and a lack of worldly experience. I thought all those things could have been played up more.

It was obvious just from reading that this book was shorter than the first. Even though the romantic plot was wrapped up and the non-romantic plot was moved forward, there were a number of things I felt were shortchanged. The physical relationship between Silk and Tony was one of them. I wanted more smut. Compared to the first book, there was only a bit of smut this time. A lot more was hinted at, but not given time to develop. Tony’s submissiveness wasn’t discussed at all, and the idea of Tony topping Silk was never mentioned. This is especially disappointing because part of what made Sable and Hiro such a great couple was how they navigated their physical relationship. It forced them to open up and talk, and that didn’t happen with Tony and Silk.

Still, I liked how the men’s relationship evolved. They hated each other at the beginning. I definitely liked how their relationship wasn’t the same soul-mates as Sable and Hiro, but something that meant a lot to Silk. Of course, the relationship couldn’t have happened without some serious character growth.

The UST – unresolved sexual tension – was off the charts in this book. The reason they didn’t act on it was really unique. Unfortunately, when that reason disappeared, the men never talked about it again.

Spoiler

The overarching plot from the first one translated well into this book. Sadly, the romance/ mystery/fantasy mix that felt so perfect with the first book wasn’t in this one. The plot is heavily geared towards the romance, especially at the beginning. Silk and Tony did move the task force closer to stopping the drug/sex slave trade, but not as much as I would have liked.

I would love to see a short story or two about Silk and Tony. They deserve more page time, and I think the material is there. Tony could show Silk more things about Everlight and then they could explore the kink that was hinted at.

I would say that this is a satisfying second book. It was nice to see Sable and Hiro again, to see the task force officially set up, and to see the non-romantic plot move forward. However, there is one big problem. This book was published in 2017. It’s now halfway through 2020 and no sign of book 3. Both authors have other ongoing series, and it definitely feels like Everlight got put on the back burner.  

Find the review for the first book in the series, An Evidence of Magic, here.

Review: An Evidence of Magic (Everlight #1) by Kris Michaels and Patricia A. Knight

Fantastic blend of romance, fantasy, and mystery. A great start to a series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 210 pages. Published September 5th 2016 by Troll River Publications

Blurb:

Forty-year-old, hard bitten, foul-mouthed, homicide detective, Hiro Santos, suspects the owner of the art studio committed the gory killing. Too bad. There are other things he’d like to do to the gorgeous young man than book him for murder. Worse, his sexy suspect is certifiable. The nutcase claims he’s some kind of high wizard from an alternate reality and needs Hiro’s help to save their worlds.

While the striking Sable Campion appears a youthful twenty-five, he’s endured over two-hundred lonely years as guardian of the portal between Everlight and Elysium. None of those centuries offered him any experience finding a vicious killer. That’s where Hiro Santos comes in; but convincing the virile detective to trust Sable will take all his persuasive skills…and perhaps a bit of magic.

The magic they find in each other’s arms will rock each of their realities. 

Likes:

  • Person of color main character.
  • Hiro and Sable, together and separately.
  • Hooked me fast and kept my attention.
  • A great mashup of romance, fantasy, and mystery.
  • The character development both men went through.
  • Hot smut.

Dislikes:

  • Too many pronouns on occasion could make things confusing.
  • Was expecting last minute drama.
  • Occasional point of view changes out of nowhere.

My favorite genres are gay romance, fantasy, and mystery. This book had all three, and combined them seamlessly. I’m very impressed. There was a lot going on in this book, but it was balanced nicely. A romance that continued to change and grow up to the end, enough world building to flesh out Elysium, and a mystery that drove the story’s momentum.

I liked Hiro and Sable equally. They’re both smart, talented men. The lives they’ve lived are wildly different, but they fit together perfectly as both a romantic couple and partners trying to solve a crime. Watching their relationship was so much fun. They both undergo drastic changes throughout the book, thanks to one another. The character development was top notch.

I especially love that Hiro is a person of color with a complex ethnic background. Not only that, but his ethnicity plays a part in the story.  I wish there were more character like Hiro in gay romance.

This book hooked me fast. I don’t mind a gruesome murder scene here and there, especially when it sets up the mystery. The mystery was the main driving force behind the story’s momentum. Hiro and Sable are a couple by about the middle of the book, so the romantic drive decreases a bit. Other points of interest come in, which makes you want to hurry and find out all the details.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the smut. So hot, and a lot of it. Plus, the men are verse. The attraction between Hiro and Sable is off the charts, and doesn’t cool down even after they get together.

I was expecting last minute drama when it came time for the killer to be revealed. It was a little disappointing that there was no double cross or anything like that. But I liked the way everything ended. It sets up future books perfectly.

I think there are times when the pronoun ‘him’ was overused, and made things a little confusing. Similarly, there are some random point of view changes. But other than that, I don’t have any complaints about this book. I’m excited to get to the next one. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if Hiro and Sable were the main characters again, I liked them that much.

Find the review for the second book in the series, Incident of Magic, here.

Review: Watch with Glittering Eyes by K.S. Murphy

I feel bad for picking the story apart, but it didn’t work for me at all.

2 out of 5 stars

E-book. 80 pages. Published February 8th 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Travis Grayweaver is a witch with two significant problems.

First, he has a tendency to run toward trouble instead of away from it without the insurance of a Guild to back him. As a freelancing witch taking odd jobs wherever he can, this has landed him in some trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic.

Second, he’s madly in love with his best friend Niko, and is much too afraid to confess his feelings to him.

Niko, born between the corporeal and ethereal worlds, is a familiar — cat one minute, human the next — with a rare, pure source of magick sought after by people all over the world. When contracted, familiars will do whatever they have to in order to protect their human. Although Travis has no contract with Niko, they share an unshakable bond built on friendship, loyalty, and trust.

But their bond is put to the ultimate test when something dark and sinister threatens their community and their lives. If they don’t stop it in time, Travis might lose Niko — and the chance to ever tell him how he really feels — forever. 

Likes:

  • The blurb hooked me.
  • The basic story idea is interesting.
  • That Travis decided not to join a guild.
  • The side characters were all people of color.
  • Short.

Dislikes:

  • The blurb was deceiving.
  • Niko is basically the physical manifestation of a fetish.
  • No character development for either man.
  • Niko and Travis are already lovers.
  • No hook.
  • Slow plot.
  • Heavy exposition.
  • Unnecessary flashback.
  • How they dealt with the threat was cliché.
  • Travis’s excuse for not joining a guild was lame.
  • The lack of magic bond between Travis and Niko was left unresolved.
  • Use of the word ‘magick’
  • Confusion about where the story was taking place.

This book is an excellent example of an idea that failed to live up to its potential. The blurb was exciting and I was looking forward to a good read. I love stories where one friend has fallen in love with the other and is afraid that confessing will change everything between them. I knew that the story was short, only 80 pages, and expected the plot to take off like a rocket in order to fit everything in.

Instead, the story took off like a herd of turtles with bad knees. The beginning was slow, exposition heavy, and lacked a hook. I expected the trouble with the Grand Council of High Magic to be a central plot point, but no. The story starts with Travis bringing groceries home after getting done with the council meeting, since “he really hadn’t been worried” about the outcome.   

I would definitely say the blurb was misleading about the magic council aspect, and only included it to make the story sound more exciting. Thankfully, the other non-romantic aspects mentioned in the blurb were present. Travis is a freelance witch, and spends a good chunk of the story doing or preparing to do odd jobs.

My favorite thing about this book is the fact that Travis declined to join a guild. He mentioned that, since he was freelance, he could charge less for services, which made his magic accessible to an underrepresented population. I love that, and wish it was the main reason he didn’t join a guild. Unfortunately, his real reason was lackluster in the extreme and was literally summed up in a single sentence. It actually made me a little angry, because not being associated with a guild put Travis in a precarious position. Both he and Niko, the man he loves, would be safer in a guild.

Which brings me to the danger Niko is in. As a familiar, Niko’s brand of magic is highly valued. As long as he’s bonded to a witch, who he’d then protect with his life, he’s safe. So of course Travis never bonded with him, because he’s too embarrassed to ask. It’s a plotline I expected to develop during the story, but no. It’s not brought up again and they never magically bond.

But they do make love. That’s right, in a romance where the main problem is that Travis is “much too afraid to confess his feelings” he and Niko are already lovers. Travis simply hasn’t said the words. I almost dropped the story when I got to that point. Like, are you kidding me? Here I was expecting one-sided feelings that finally burst forth and make Travis and Niko go from friends to lovers. Instead, what I got was a confession that didn’t fundamentally change the nature of their relationship.

There are a lot of things I didn’t find satisfying about this book, but Niko is definitely the worst. Not because of his personality or abilities, but for what he represents. I like anime, so I’m familiar with cat girls, or nekomimi. They’re a popular character type, both for their looks – cat ears and tail – and for possessing the hot/cold personality seen in cats. They’re treated as pets, which means they have owners. And that, from what I can tell, is the appeal. They’re not an equal. The romantic/sexual relationship is more like that of a sugar daddy who provides everything in exchange for the cat girl’s eternal love and affection.

Niko felt exactly like a nekomimi. Physically, he was one, complete with ears, tail, and whiskers, but with a human-enough body to have sex. At first, Travis’s relationship with Niko was giving me bestiality vibes, but then I realized that nekomimi was the more apt comparison. And it’s not like it was possible to forget that Niko was part cat. Niko’s actions and behaviors were always cat like, from the way he slept to his dislike of water. Travis constantly called Niko ‘kitten’, especially during sex.

            “Want me to make you feel good again, Niko? Like my good little kitty?”

            Niko meowed and nodded. “Please. Say it. Tell me I’m your good kitty.”

I try not to kink shame, and nekomimi are a popular fantasy. That’s fine. If this was an erotica story, Niko wouldn’t have bothered me. But this novella was presented as a romance. And Niko was nothing more than the physical embodiment of a fetish. His personality was ‘cat’ and he had no character development.

Honestly, there are a lot of other little things that bothered me about this story. I was confused about whether the story was taking place in a fantasy world or the real one. The flashback to how Niko and Travis met was unnecessary and slowed the story down. All the named side characters were people of color but the two main characters were white. The way they dealt with the threat at the end was cliché.

I do feel bad for picking this story apart, especially since it’s been published by a small queer press. But sometimes a book just doesn’t work for me and I have to give a bad review. I would be willing to give the author another shot in the future. The potential is there. It just didn’t come together well.

Review: Yuletide Treasure (Goddess-Blessed #3) By Eliot Grayson

My favorite book of the series.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 130 pages. Published November 8th 2019 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

There’s not enough Yuletide spirit in the world to fix this holiday disaster…

Eben Sypeman’s world is falling apart. It’s two days before Yule and his business partner is dead, leaving behind empty accounts and looming bankruptcy. And if that isn’t bad enough, his patron goddess is irritated with him. It seems she’s tired of his tendency to mince words and avoid conflict. She’s insisting—quite forcefully—that he start being totally honest with everyone, including himself. Divinely enforced honesty couldn’t have come at a less opportune time, especially when his clerk’s tall, dark and distractingly handsome son enters the picture.

The last thing on Tim Pratchett’s mind is romance. All the former soldier wants is to fill in for his sick father at work and recover from his war wounds in peace. But there’s something about the grumpy Eben that confounds and entices him in equal measure. Their timing couldn’t be worse. They’re complete opposites. And yet…none of that matters when he’s with Eben.

But if Eben and Tim have any hope of finding their very own happily ever after, they’ll have to survive a dickens of a truth curse and the machinations of a trickster goddess—all while searching for enough yuletide treasure to save them all.

A joyous, relaxing Yule indeed. Bah, humbug.

This is an M/M romance with explicit scenes, a voyeuristic pagan goddess, and an odious nephew. Despite any other possible similarities to A Christmas Carol, there are neither ghosts nor geese, but readers can expect a happy ending and at least one use of the word “dickens.” 

Likes:

  • My favorite book of the series.
  • A new goddess.
  • Yule instead of Christmas.
  • Hot smut.
  • Eben and Tim, separately and together.
  • The non-romantic plot.
  • The epilogue.
  • Quick, easy read.

Dislikes:

  • Frank.
  • How Eben treated Bob Pratchett in the beginning.

This is hands down my favorite book of the series. Whereas the first two books have a lot of emotional angst surrounding the romance, this one didn’t have much. Instead, Eben’s worry and anxiety was directed towards the threat of bankruptcy, which provided a very entertaining side plot to the romance.

Also in contrast to the two previous books, I liked both main characters equally. Eben starts out worn down by life, which is incredibly relatable. It’s easier for him to give in than cause a fuss, which I also relate to. Tim struggles a lot – with his limp, with taking the family’s troubles on his shoulders, and with being seen as a complete person.

The change both men go through during the book is heartwarming. I genuinely feel like they’re better together than they were separately, and I don’t just mean romantically. Eben sees Tim as a man, not just a cripple. Tim sees that Eben needs someone to lean on when he can’t be strong anymore.

The epilogue shows just how much they’ve both changed. I don’t mind that Althyone, the goddess who marked Eben, is responsible for putting everything in motion. She was right – it was entertaining. And Eben and Tim would never have gotten together without her intervention. Plus, I was happy to see another goddess mentioned.

Grayson’s books always have good smut, and this one is no exception. What was unusual is that I don’t think there was any penetration. Which I actually really like. Sex isn’t all about penetration. Tim and Eben’s feelings were conveyed just fine without it.

I have few complaints about the book. Frank is odious, but he’s meant to be. Eben’s treatment of him in the epilogue made me laugh. I also enjoyed Eben’s treatment of Bob Pratchett in the epilogue, but for the opposite reason. Eben was more than a little classist about Bob in the beginning of the book, and I was glad to see Eben treating Bob with more respect in the end.

Like the other books in the series, this was a quick, easy read. I almost didn’t catch the fact that they were celebrating Yule instead of Christmas. It makes sense, of course – the book is centered around pagan goddesses. I would love if the series continued, perhaps introducing more goddesses and expanding the world building.

Find the reviews for the first two books in the series, The Replacement Husband and The Reluctant Husband.

Review: The Reluctant Husband (Goddess-Blessed #2) by Eliot Grayson

I am so impressed at how Tom was redeemed. Best part of the book.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 168 pages. Published June 7th 2019 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Is their marriage a blessing…or a curse?

Tom Drake wants nothing to do with his patron goddess. Her blessing has always been little more than a cruel curse. But when he finds himself disowned, disgraced, and on the verge of homelessness, he knows he can no longer afford to ignore her demands. He must marry. Sadly, his one marriage prospect is a pragmatic, stubborn man who only seems to value him for his blessing…and his body…

Mal Leighton will stop at nothing to save his beloved cousin’s life, even if it means marrying Tom—and using him for his blessing—to do it. Theirs would be a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. Love was never part of the equation. He’ll just have to somehow learn to ignore his overwhelming attraction to his dangerously charming and seductive new husband.

As weeks pass, Tom and Mal find there’s often a fine line between love and desperation, passion and pride—and what exists between them is infinitely more complicated than their simple marriage of convenience was ever meant to be. Can they set aside their painful pasts and misconceptions to take a chance on the love match they never expected to find?

This is an M/M romance set in an alternate-universe Regency. It contains the ideal number of carriages, duels, and redeemed villains, but beware of pagan goddesses who like to micromanage. It is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. Tom’s previous dastardly deeds can be found in The Replacement Husband. 

Likes:

  • Quick, easy read.
  • Tom was redeemed.
  • Questions from the last book answered.
  • Hot smut.
  • Heartwarming epilogue.
  • Action and excitement at the end.
  • A good end for the Drake brothers.

Dislikes:

  • Mal knew he was acting badly and didn’t change.
  • The story behind the goddess blessing gives me serious pause.
  • The beginning was a little confusing.
  • Both men trying so hard to guard their hearts.
  • Mal wasn’t as fleshed out as Tom.

I was a little worried when I realized this book was about Tom. He was definitely the villain of the last book, and I didn’t think I’d warm up to him. To my surprise and delight, he proved to be very sympathetic. While I still think he was an absolute ass to both Owen and Caroline, knowing what was going on in Tom’s head redeemed him.

The book began on a bit of a confusing note. Marcus and Malcolm Leighton were introduced – one a bully, the other Tom’s former crush. I had to double back and check which was which, one of the reasons I don’t like it when characters have similar names. Heavy reference was given to their time in school together, which was never brought up again.

My confusion didn’t last long. This book relies heavily on the reader remembering what happened in the last book, not a problem for me since I’d just finished reading it. The pace is very quick, with everything happening in rapid-fire succession, so that Tom quickly finds himself remarried.

I liked Tom better than Mal, mostly because Tom felt better fleshed out. More of Tom’s backstory gets told, whereas Mal is so focused on Will that we don’t find out much more about him. The fact that he knows he’d not treating Tom well and doesn’t immediately change his behavior made me a little mad. But there was, eventually, genuine affection between them, and it was fun watching their feelings change and grow. The last few chapters were exciting, and the epilogue was heartwarming and wrapped up this book and the previous one well.

Mal and Tom’s relationship definitely took a while to get going. I got annoyed at the end at how hard Mal was trying to guard his heart. Similar to the last book, the main barrier to a happy ending was the lack of open and honest communication. Though, to be fair, I understood why neither wanted to admit they were in love. At least the smut was hot.

I was pleased to get more information on the goddesses, especially Mirreith’s story. It explained a lot, but it made me wonder if the men who were blessed by her were forced into becoming something they didn’t want to be and wouldn’t have chosen for themselves. Tom had a natural inclination towards men, but was he naturally submissive? Owen definitely was, but I’m not sure about Tom. And don’t even get me started on the way Tom’s father made him feel about being blessed.

Overall, this book was a quick, easy read, same as the last one. Hands down the best part is Tom’s redemption. I am so impressed. I’m looking forward to the next book, and wouldn’t mind if the series continued.

Find the reviews for the other books in the series, The Replacement Husband, and Yuletide Treasure.

Review: The Replacement Husband (Goddess-Blessed #1) by Eliot Grayson

A quick read with hot smut and an interesting premise.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. 160 pages. Published December 28th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

Owen Honeyfield lives a goddess-blessed life. His picture-perfect courtship and engagement to the man of his dreams is proof of that. But when his betrothal takes a disastrous turn, Owen’s only hope to restore his tarnished reputation comes from a most shocking source—the cold, disturbingly sensual brother of the man who just shattered his heart and abandoned him. Perhaps he’s not as blessed as he’d always thought…

Arthur Drake is accustomed to cleaning up after his impulsive and selfish brother. After all, he’s done it his whole life. The latest debacle, though, is much worse than usual. This time, his brother’s actions have threatened not only their family name, but Arthur’s own happiness. The only honorable choice is to marry Owen. But while he knows he can repair the damage to his beautiful new husband’s reputation, mending his broken heart might prove infinitely more difficult.

It’s not long before the lines between duty and passion blur, and Arthur finds himself in the inconvenient position of falling for his new husband. Will his love be enough to convince Owen to let their marriage of convenience become the happily ever after they both deserve?

This is an M/M romance set in an alternate-universe Regency with waistcoats, awkward tea-drinking, and pagan goddesses on the loose. It is the first in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. 

Likes:

  • Hooked me and kept me interested.
  • Unique premise.
  • Hot smut.
  • Short, quick read.
  • Arthur and Owen, together and separately.

Dislikes:

  • The goddess blessings weren’t explained.
  • Some lingering questions.
  • Owen’s constant doubts.
  • Abrupt ending.
  • Wish Arthur and Owen had spent more time together.

I picked up this book after reading The Alpha’s Warlock. I liked Grayson’s writing and was eager to read more from him. Happily, I really enjoyed The Replacement Husband. It was a quick, easy read that hooked me from the very start and kept me interested.

The premise of the story was interesting, what with the goddess blessings, but it could have used a lot more explanation. Owen was obviously treated differently from other young men, and I wish I knew how much of his personality was him and how much of it was how he was raised.

Still, it was easy to like Owen. He was young and a bit sheltered, but his feelings about the way people treated him like he wasn’t fully a man made him sympathetic. I was a bit worried at first, especially with the way Tom treated him, that the book would be filled with many of the things I don’t like about hetero historical romances – i.e. with Owen treated like he’s a delicate, swooning prize to be won. And while Owen was a bit of a damsel in distress at the beginning, he did change over the course of the book. Do I wish he’d changed a bit more and punched Tom at the end? Yes. But that doesn’t feel realistic for his character.

Arthur was my favorite character by far. Older, brooding, but with a desire to care for and love Owen. I loved that he honestly tried to respect Owen in many ways, from not making him go through a purity ritual before their marriage to writing up a marriage contract that left everything to Owen in the case of his death.

Of course, there was a lot of miscommunication between the two men. Honestly, that was where the majority of the tension in the book came from. It got a little annoying at times, especially when it came to Owen’s doubts.

The only thing that worked for them right from the start was the smut, which was incredibly hot. I do wish Owen’s submissive tendencies had been explored a little more. I also wish the men had spent more time outside of the bedroom getting to know each other better. Their relationship felt like it was finally on safe, solid footing when the book ended. Simply put, I wanted more of their relationship.

I do have some lingering questions, especially about Tom. Was he no longer in Arthur and Owen’s lives? I liked the epilogue about Caroline, but wish that Arthur and Owen had been the focus.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I finished it in a single setting, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Find the reviews for the second two books in the series, The Reluctant Husband and Yuletide Treasure.