August 2021 – Love is Love Reviews

Review: Bang On Trend (Moda Nostra Book 1) by Eva Muñoz

I was hooked quickly, but things went downhill about halfway through, and by the end I knew I wouldn’t be continuing with the series.

2 out of 5 stars

E-book. 170 pages. Published June 15th 2021 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Twenty-three-year-old Milo McLaren didn’t expect to find a romantic gesture waiting for him the morning after a drunken one-night stand. Still, he convinces himself that his night with businessman Kazuhiko Yukifumi was a fluke. Kaz is powerful, rich, hot, and… intense. He can’t really be serious about wanting Milo, an executive assistant at fashion magazine Rebel.

But their paths keep crossing, and Milo can’t deny his attraction or his desire to submit to what Kaz wants… until Kaz’s best friend issues an ultimatum that puts Milo’s job in danger.

Milo has dreams he’s not ready to sacrifice, even for Kaz. Unfortunately, the fashion world is small, and even after he breaks things off, Kaz seems to go everywhere he does. Being so close to what he can’t have torments him. Can he find a way to pair his wants and needs in a way that really pops?

Likes:

Hooked me fast.
Milo was likeable.
The fashion world was fast paced and engaging.
That Milo knew the Japanese language and about the culture.
Hot smut.
Kazuhiko was determined not to have sex with Milo unless he was sober.

Dislikes:

Dominant man who doesn’t know how to communicate.
Book went downhill about halfway through.
Lots of toxic relationships.
Lack of confrontation with the person who took Milo into a dangerous situation.
Milo was sexually assaulted.
There was no confrontation with the person who sexually assaulted him.
Anyone who has basic knowledge of Japanese culture can see what’s coming.
Lots of things teased but never paid off.

I have a special dislike for books that I enjoy at the start and hate by the end. It feels like a betrayal.

This book hooked me easily. Milo is likeable and the fashion world he works in was really interesting. ‘Dog eat dog’ competition usually isn’t my thing, but it kept the story exciting and allowed the plot to happen. Milo always had something to do or somewhere to be, which allowed him and Kazuhiko to meet up a lot.

The relationship between Milo and Kazuhiko didn’t have a lot of buildup. It’s insta-lust that turned into almost an addiction. I read a review that compared their relationship to that in a typical yaoi manga, and I have to agree. When the men are together, they’re so lusty that there’s not much deeper connection. And Kazuhiko’s whole ‘dominant man who doesn’t know how to communicate’ thing caused a lot of unnecessary tension and confusion.

I did like that Kazuhiko was determined not to have sex with Milo unless Milo was totally sober. A promise which he kept. However, ‘sex’ in this context meant penetrative anal, so everything else was still fair game. Which I liked less because yes, Milo is either drunk or drugged (not by Kazuhiko) the other times they fooled around.

Which leads me nicely to where the book went downhill for me. About halfway through the book, Milo is taken to a party by someone he trusts. He isn’t told that it’s a private sex party until they arrive, at which point his ‘friend’ completely disappears. Milo is then fed an aphrodisiac by a stranger, without knowing what it is, and basically goes into heat. (As a side note, I do know that aphrodisiacs don’t work like this.) Milo essentially became super horny, to the point of almost being unable to think straight, and it was clear that the person who fed him the aphrodisiac expected him to lose the ability to say no to sex.

This whole scene bothered me so much that I put the book down for a week. Thankfully, Milo is able to leave the club without anything bad happening. Now, I fully expected him to confront the friend who took him to the party and left him alone, but no. It’s not brought up again. Which turned out to be a theme.

Milo is later sexually assaulted by the same ‘friend’ who took him to the party. Once again, there was no confrontation. Milo didn’t even seem bothered. And maybe that’s because his life is full of toxic people. His boss, who he admires and who is practically family, slaps him on the face and he just shrugs it off. His father is likely a mob boss and is merely allowing Milo to live and work as he pleases.

I’m not positive that Milo’s father is a mob boss. It was heavily teased but never paid off. The same with Kazuhiko’s family. I would be so surprised if they’re not yakuza. The hints are there, for anyone with a basic knowledge of Japanese culture. In fact, considering that Milo knows both the language and the culture, I’m surprised he didn’t realize it too. It’s probably supposed to be a big reveal in the next book, but I’ll never know. By the time I finished reading this book, I knew I wouldn’t be continuing with the series.

Review: Bewitched by Bella’s Brother by Amy Lane

A solid story featuring a perfect dad, his cute kid, and a scholar who needs to learn not to be afraid of growing up.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. 192 pages. Published August 11th 2010 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Sebastian Craig and Isabella Bryne have been best friends for five years in the Neverland of academia, and that’s where they’re planning to stay. So when Bella’s brother, Asa, offers them a rent-free summer in his gorgeous home before they move to their next college and degree, they jump at the chance. It looks like a good deal at first… but there’s more to Asa than meets the eye, and Sebastian finds himself suddenly hip-deep in complicated, grown-up problems and the frightening, bemusing prospect of having a family that will miss him when he’s gone.

When the best summer of his life finally ends, Sebastian has to make a difficult decision between staying in perpetual childhood forever, and facing adulthood—with all of its joys and fears. It seems that when Sebastian and Bella came up with a master plan for the future, they didn’t count on Sebastian being bewitched by Bella’s brother.

Likes:

Sebastian and Asa’s first meeting.
Sebastian and Bella’s friendship.
Jordan was a cute kid.
The entire Bryne family.
Almost no homophobia.
In many ways, this was a story about growing up.
Cute and fluffy.
The tougher subjects that were touched on were treated well.
Bella and Asa’s relationship got better.

Dislikes:

Not much tension.
Not much of a hook.
Asa was too perfect.
The original cover.
Deidre.
Jordan should have been in therapy.
Everyone was attractive.

I think of Amy Lane as a solid writer, and this book is another example of that. The characters were fun and engaging, even the side characters. The story was lighthearted even though it touched on some tougher subjects. Overall, it was fun and fluffy and low angst. And almost no homophobia at all.

I loved how Sebastian and Asa initially met. It was both funny and a way for me to finally get invested in the story. There wasn’t a strong hook for me, since the book is basically about Sebastian and Bella’s summer, and at the start they’re moving into Asa’s huge house.

Sebastian was a fun character, and the story is told completely from his point of view. He’s a smart guy, likeable and charming. He got along well with Asa’s son Jordan, who was a cute kid. In fact, Sebastian adores the entire Bryne family, and they love him back. It’s part of why he was so hesitant to start something with Asa. If things went south, Sebastian worried about losing his place in the family.

Asa was a perfect man. Handsome, hardworking, a loving father, a caring brother. The fact that Asa was bi but had practically no experience with men was one of the few downsides Sebastian could find. And even then, it wasn’t much of a problem. There’s not a ton of smut in the book, but Asa didn’t have any internalized homophobia and was ready to go all in with a relationship. It was Sebastian who had the misgivings.

I loved the way that Sebastian finally got over all his issues and decided to get serious about Asa. It sure took him long enough, but it was worth the wait. In many ways, Sebastian had a lot of growing up to do. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he needed to stop being afraid of what becoming an adult would mean.

Sebastian and Bella’s friendship was amazing. They were very different but fit together perfectly. Best of all, Bella got her own mini arc within the story, fixing her relationship with Asa and finally forgiving herself for a mistake she made as a teenager.

In fact, the entire Bryne family was great. Super accepting of Sebastian and Asa. I loved seeing that, but it compounded my feelings that everyone in the book was both super attractive and a perfect person. Seriously, very few people had any flaws, and certainly not the main characters. Even when we finally found out what Bella’s day was about, it wasn’t her fault. Just a mistake made by a teenager that she’d been beating herself up about for years.

I do think Jordan should have been in therapy. The poor kid went through a lot. His mom was easy to dislike, but her issues were handled with care and respect. In fact, all of the harder issues in the book were handled well, even though none were given much page space.

My biggest complaint, and the thing that kept me from reading this book for years, was the original cover. I’m so glad it’s been replaced. No offense to the original artist. I surely couldn’t have done better, but it just didn’t look good, and did a disservice to the story.

Review: Acrobat by Mary Calmes

The professor/mob muscle dynamic wasn’t as stereotypical as I had expected. Both men has a lot of nuance.

4.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 252 pages. Published May 7^th 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Forty-five-year-old English professor Nathan Qells is very good at making people feel important. What he’s not very good at is sticking around afterward. He’s a nice guy; he just doesn’t feel things the way other people do. So even after all the time he’s spent taking care of Michael, the kid across the hall, he doesn’t realize that Michael’s mob muscle uncle and guardian, Andreo Fiore, has slowly been falling in love with him.

Dreo has bigger problems than getting Nate to see him as a potential partner. He’s raising his nephew, trying to leave his unsavory job, and starting his own business, a process made infinitely more difficult when a series of hits takes out some key underworld players. Still, Dreo is determined to build a life he can be proud of—a life with Nate as a cornerstone. A life that is starting to look like exactly what Nate has been looking for. Unfortunately for Dreo—and for Nate—the last hits were just part of a major reorganization, and Dreo’s obvious love for Nate has made him a target too.

Likes:

The story behind the cover art.
Great characters all around.
I ended up deeply invested.
The eventual acceptance of Nate and Dreo’s relationship.
The drama at the end.
Good smut.
Went from slow-burn to hyperdrive.

Dislikes:

I was confused that Dreo wasn’t the guy Nate was flirting with at the start.
Meandering story.
Didn’t have a strong hook.
The homophobia.
Nate was too perfect.
Mel’s freak out didn’t make sense.

I’ve seen this book around for a while, not surprising since it was published in 2012 and I just read it in August 2021. I think it was the English professor/mob muscle dynamic that kept me away. I expected something stereotypical out of the men and their relationship – a wimpy, nerdy professor falling head over heels for the badass alpha male. Which, yes, reflects a lot on me and on the books I’ve read in the past.

Now that I’m really looking at the blurb, I see that it did try to give the men more nuance than I gave it credit for. And the reality of the book was even better.

Nate isn’t some weak little pushover. He might not be the fighter Dreo is, but he’s smart and can stand up for himself. He’s fierce when it comes to looking out for his family, and worked hard to build up good relationships with his colleagues.

In the same way, Dreo isn’t some dumb lackey. He’s got a vision for the kind of future he wants and is working hard to make it a reality. He puts his all into everything he does, without expecting anyone to comfort him when things get tough.

It was Nate’s personality that got me invested in the story. The start of the book didn’t really have much of a hook, and the story felt a little meandering. I was also confused why there was so much focus on Nate setting up a date with someone who wasn’t mentioned in the blurb. Still, I finished the book quickly. Nate had a magnetism to him. He always seemed to know what to do or say in every situation to make it better. He was like an everyday hero, solving problems for his friends, family, and neighbors.

In other words, Nate was perfect. Which did get a little annoying. Even when he got hurt, it wasn’t his fault. Dreo was the same. Physically attractive, caring, monogamous, and the perfect amount of toppy alpha to suit Nate’s tastes. You’d think a guy who was mob muscle would have issues, but nope. Not even nightmares after

Spoiler

Their relationship starts out as a slow burn, with the first half of the book focused on Nate’s life. Then, when Nate finally realizes Dreo likes him, things shift into hyperdrive. The smut is fantastic, they’re super compatible, and the feelings come quick. It definitely wasn’t the slow buildup I prefer, but by the time it happened, I was too invested to care.

The drama at the end, both physical and emotional, was good, if expected. The physical danger had been mentioned in the blurb, so I knew something more was going to happen. The emotional stuff, all centered around who was blatantly homophobic and who accepted their relationship, was a bit of a surprise. Especially with how many people ended up being accepting.

The inspiration for the cover art was a sweet touch to a sweet story. The side characters were all fantastic. There wasn’t much angst, which felt strange for a book where one of the MC’s is part of the mob. Nate had very little hardship, in part because he was so perfect.

Overall, the book was surprisingly fluffy, even if some of the situations felt a little ridiculous. Especially Mel’s freak out about

Spoiler

It didn’t make sense, but it did contribute to the big happy ending, while also giving Nate another chance to save the day.

Review: Hot Head (Head #1) by Damon Suede

Hot firefighters, good smut, and lots of angst.

3.5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 320 pages. Published June 15th 2011 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…

Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181, Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately, Dante is strictly a ladies’ man, and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For ten years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.

Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until a nearly bankrupt Dante proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay porn website where uniformed hunks get down and dirty. And Dante wants them to appear there—together. Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?

Likes:

Dante and Griff were good guys.
Sexy firefighters.
Believable angst.
Good smut.
Dante’s family.
The way people treated Tommy in the end.
Alek turned out to be a decent guy.

Dislikes:

Too much angst.
Some scenes weren’t shown.
The ending left wide open.
No closure with Griff’s dad.
The homophobia.
Not much firefighting.

I’ve seen this book around for years, and was always curious about it. I held off because I figured there would be a bunch of angst. I mean, how could there not be? Griff is secretly pining for his best friend who goes through women like he does underwear.

Was I right about the angst? Yes. That’s most of the book. It’s angst. Even when Griff tries to reveal his true feelings, something inevitably comes up that makes him decide it’s a bad idea. Which happens multiple times.

Now, I’m not going to say anything against the angst. It felt realistic. Considering the low level of homophobia throughout the story, I don’t blame Griff for keeping quiet. There’s a gritty realism to this story. Griff is terrified of what will happen to him if his feelings are discovered. And he’s right to be scared. A side character ends up severely injured because of a hate crime.

Despite his mixed emotions, Griff was easy to like. He was a good guy and a good firefighter, though there wasn’t much firefighting in the book. His relationship with the Anastagio family was heartwarming. I loved the way they essentially adopted him, and the way they supported him and Dante.

Because the book is told completely from Griff’s point of view, I’m still not sure how I feel about Dante. He was a good guy but made some really stupid decisions. The way he got possessive about Griff when they finally got together bothered me to no end. Especially the shitty way he acted towards the photographer Beth, who was just trying to do her job.

As for the whole porn thing, which took up a vast majority of the book, I liked it. It was something I haven’t seen in many other books. The way it acted like a huge temptation to Griff added a lot to the story. Plus, it made for some great smut scenes. I am disappointed that the first scene Griff and Dante did together didn’t happen on-page. When I was reading, I honestly thought I’d somehow skipped a chapter.

In the same way, I’m a little disappointed in the book’s end. Yes, Griff and Dante get together, but so much is left unfinished. They come out to Dante’s family, but no one else. Griff admits that their relationship might cause them to lose their jobs, and acts like it’s no big deal. Which seemed strange because the whole plot of the book revolves around Dante needing money so he can keep his house. Being blasé about losing their job seemed strange. I was also disappointed at the lack of closure with Griff’s dad. The man seemed like he was developing dementia, and it wasn’t addressed at all.

I was happy with how things with Tommy ended. He’s supposed to be the main character of the next book, but since it’s been a decade since Hot Head came out, I assume the next book will never happen.

Review: Peregrine (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #4) by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly

A lot of angst and heartbreak, but a fantastic (and happy) ending.

4.25 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Edition. 347 pages. Published June 3rd 2021

Blurb:

1508
Sebastian Drake, stoic protector of the Drake family, always gets what he wants—and there is nothing he wants more than the half-starved Pedigree omega named Peregrine he comes across on his travels. It doesn’t matter that Peregrine is a Disgrace. Sebastian will do whatever it takes to keep him… and somehow, as impossible as it might be, find a way to be his mate.

Present Day
For hundreds of years, Peregrine has enjoyed life as Sebastian’s mate. Sure, as one of the only bonded omegas in recent history he’s been kidnapped more times than he can count, but with Sebastian there to save him it’s little more than an inconvenience. And attacks from hostile clans? That’s just a typical Tuesday.

But there is one thing Peregrine fears, yet desperately wants.

One thing that has hurt him time and time again.

One thing Sebastian can’t save him from.

And now it’s happening again.

He’s pregnant.

Please use the Look Inside or Download Free Sample feature to read the Content Warning for possible triggers.

Likes:

Trigger warning in the blurb
The right amount of angst.
A good mix of history and present day.
Sebastian was more likeable than I expected.
Got to meet the older clutch.
Super sweet ending.

Dislikes:

Bertram and Raven.
Perry keeping everything to himself.
Sebastian getting called away for months.

I binged this series, but hesitated before reading this book. I very much appreciated the trigger warning in the blurb, even though the contents aren’t triggering to me, because it was a clear indication that the book would contain a fair amount of angst and heartbreak for the characters.

Perry has been likeable since book one, so I knew ahead of time that I’d enjoy his part of the story. What I wasn’t sure of was Sebastian. He’s taciturn and physically strong, but I didn’t have any particular feelings towards him either way. To my surprise, I enjoyed his character just as much as Perry’s. Sebastian acts very instinctively, so he knew Perry was meant to be his right away. But he wasn’t violent or controlling, and didn’t treat Perry like he was lesser.

The alternating timelines worked well, with enough time dedicated to both. It was nice to see how Perry and Sebastian met, and the struggles they went through, all while knowing that everything worked out for them in the end. Yet at the same time, they were still facing struggles with Perry’s new pregnancy.

My heart went out to both men, but especially Perry. Not only did he have to go through the heartbreak and loss again and again, but he did so without telling anyone. He was constantly worried that he’d miscarry again, and on top of all that, he was under attack from Raven.

The end of this book had me absolutely loathing Bertram and Raven. They both hurt characters I liked, and I’m honestly not looking forward to their story. It’s going to take a hell of a lot for me to warm up to them when their story does come out. I’ll definitely read it. Bertram and Raven have been teased for a while, but it seems as though Raven is mentally disturbed and Bertram has his other name/personality thing going on.

I think there was just the right amount of angst in the book. It was paired with some happy moments along the way, and a really fantastic ending. It was the kind of ending where I wouldn’t have been mad if this was the last book in the series. Which is another reason why I’m not looking forward to Bertram and Raven’s book.

I liked that Sebastian and Perry’s first clutch got some page time. They haven’t been mentioned much in the series, but they seemed great, and Perry was so happy to see them. On the other hand, I was disappointed that Sebastian was called away for several months, leaving Perry to deal with the pregnancy on his own.

Overall, I’m glad that Sebastian and Perry got their own story. It was definitely worth the read, though I’m glad I was in the mood for angst when I read it.

Be sure to check out the other books in the series – Clutch (Forbidden Desires #1), Bond (Forbidden Desires #2), Mate (Forbidden Desires #3), Swallow (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #1), Magpie (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #2), Finch (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #3)

Review: Finch (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #3) by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly

My favorite couple of the series so far!

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Edition. 286 pages. Published September 30th 2020 by Self-Published

Blurb:

Hugh Drake, the most whimsical member of the Drake family, wants a clutch badly… and despite his sanctioned period to reproduce nearing its end, he just might get his wish. New information has emerged that suggests Disgraces are dragons and able to bear eggs. All that’s left to do is find one Hugh can tolerate, and who better to help him find his perfect match than his steadfast and faithful secretary, Finch?

If only Finch were a Disgrace, but alas. Some things simply aren’t meant to be.

Sensible and straightforward Finch has served as Hugh Drake’s secretary for over a decade, and secretly loved him for just as long. Hugh is the light of his life, but he’s also entirely too gullible, which is why Finch refuses to believe his claim that Disgraces are dragons. They’re not. Finch would know, since he is one. But that little fact will have to stay a secret, because Finch would rather his love go unnoticed than be the one who breaks his dragon’s heart when he fails to produce a clutch.

Finch is an 80,000 word hilarious omegaverse mpreg-ish romance set following the events of the Forbidden Desires series. It contains an adorably clueless dragon, a faithful secretary whose heart is invested in more than just his job, the best Funfetti cake ever, “slippery” situations, and a single amethyst cufflink. For maximum enjoyment, Finch is best read following the events of Clutch, Bond, Mate, Swallow, and Magpie.

Likes:

Finch and Hugh, together and separately.
Hugh was adorably oblivious.
Just the right amount of angst.
How Hugh doted on his nieces and nephews.
The marijuana incidents.
How things with Finch’s dad turned out.
Finch didn’t believe that Disgraces were dragons.
Chef Funfetti.

Dislikes:

How hurt Hugh was by not having a clutch.
Raven.
Wanted more time with Hugh and Finch as an established couple.

Finch and Hugh were like the spring after a hard winter. I hated Magpie, and was a little worried about this book as a result. I didn’t expect that Finch and Hugh would end up being my favorite couple so far. Harry’s still my favorite character, and Mate still has the best overall ending, but the way Hugh and Finch came together is hands down the best.

Hugh hasn’t been in any of the previous books that I remember, though he’s been mentioned as the brother who most wants a clutch of his own. And he does. He wants to be a dad, and there’s this happy excitement about him that makes me feel like he’ll be a good one. He’s good with his nephews, even if it hurt him not to be chosen for Harry’s experiment. It was easy to root for Hugh, despite the fact that he’s a little simple. Not in a bad way. In fact, it’s part of what makes him so charming.

Finch was raised as a Disgrace to serve dragons sexually. And though he aged out of the Pedigree, he’s determined to continue to serve as the best secretary, no sex needed. Which is a shame since he’s in love with Hugh, a fact he’s determined to keep to himself. He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his job, and it was heartbreaking to watch him help Hugh try to find a mate despite his own feelings.

Finch was easy to like, because he genuinely cared for Hugh and wanted what was best for him. The angst was there, but it was different from Geoffrey, Ian, and Mattheu. Finch didn’t begrudge Hugh or any of the Disgraces. He was determined to serve until the point that it got too emotionally painful for him.

I liked that Finch didn’t believe that Disgraces were dragons. He thought all of the Drake’s mates and children were flukes. It was a nice addition to the series, because it showed that it’s not easy to change everyone’s thoughts, even with scientific data to back you up.

Watching how oblivious Hugh and Finch were about their feelings was adorable. Hugh was the most oblivious, which to my surprise, I really enjoyed. He honestly had no idea his dragon was courting Finch, and Finch thought Hugh was losing it. Their interactions were fun, adorable, incredibly sweet, and sometimes downright hilarious. The marijuana incidents were a blast, especially when it came to Chef Funfetti.

There was just the right amount of angst in the story, coming from both men. It took extraordinary effort on Hugh’s part to convince Finch they should be together. I didn’t like Raven’s part in everything, small though it was. Again, it was something that Bertram promised to take care of, and likely won’t be explained until book eight.

At least Finch’s interactions with his father had a good outcome. It was something unexpected, and a nice, touching way to wrap up Finch and Hugh’s story.

Honestly, I could have read more about Hugh and Finch. While their story is complete, I enjoyed them so much that I want more. Their romance felt like it took longer to really begin in earnest (with both of them aware that their feelings were mutual) than the other books, and then events kept them apart. I wanted more time with them together as an established couple.

Review: Magpie (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #2) by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly

Didn’t like either character.

2 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Edition. 250 pages. Published March 9th 2020

Blurb:

Reynard Drake, solitary cybersecurity expert and curator of the Drake family fortune, would rather be chucked in the midden than forced to bed an omega, but as the selected Amethyst candidate for the mating experiment, he has no other choice. Resigned to his unhappy fate, he takes solace in the fact that one thing will never change—his virtual rival, Magpie, will always be there to keep him on his toes, even if he has been strangely absent from the internet lately…

Diamond Disgrace Misha Vasiliev has a secret. By day he learns what it takes to warm a dragon’s bed, but at night he’s Magpie, renowned hacker and dark web service provider who steals from dragons in his spare time. His favorite target? Reynard Drake, whom he’s only ever seen in pictures, but whom Misha wants more than anyone else.

And now, with a faceless threat closing in on his cloister, quite possibly the only one capable of saving his life.

Magpie is a 64,000 word steamy omegaverse mpreg-ish romance set during the events of the Forbidden Desires series. It contains pretty things hidden where the sun don’t shine; a scandalous screenshot or two; plenty of laughs; its fair share of tense moments; and, of course, “Beagle!” For maximum enjoyment, Magpie is best read as a companion piece to the Forbidden Desires series.

Likes:

Misha did research on BDSM.
Reynard accepted the submissive side of himself.
Good start.

Dislikes:

Misha was a brat.
Reynard was just a meh character.
Both men needed constant help from the Drake family.
Both men showed constant dislike of the Drake family.
Misha ignoring Reynard’s safe word.
Soggy middle.
Neither Misha nor Reynard had much going on in their lives.
Neither man was as well fleshed out as previous couples.
Too much sex.
Didn’t get to find out what was going on with the bad guys.

With book series, much like clutches of dragon eggs, there’s always the risk of a dud. And this is it.

I’m not surprised that one book in this series didn’t work for me. That can happen with longer series. I just didn’t expect to dislike this book so much.

I initially liked Misha. Despite being a Disgrace, he learned how to hack and specifically targeted dragons. It showed ingenuity, skill, and determination. His focus on Reynard, and his decision to meet him in person, made me curious to see how things would turn out.

But my feelings toward Misha quickly soured. Yes, he’s a skilled hacker. Yes, he wanted to top a dragon, and knew ahead of time that Reynard was submissive. And Misha absolutely gets points for doing research on BDSM. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a brat. He’s selfish and dismissive and never felt like a capitol D Dom.

Reynard needed a Dom. Not just someone to top him, but someone to care and comfort and nurture him. Misha showed up and began issuing orders, expecting Reynard to jump to it. Misha did nothing to earn Reynard’s trust. It really felt like Reynard was so desperate for someone to accept him as a submissive dragon, that he fell for the first person to come along.

There was nothing about Misha that felt like what I think a Dom should be. There was no mention of aftercare. Reynard didn’t even feel like he was given much choice in the matter. Misha just showed up and expected to be treated like a pampered prince. But the thing that completely ruined my opinion of Misha was when he didn’t honor Reynard’s safe word. A safe word means everything stops. Misha left Reynard tied up and made Reynard say, “It’s serious, Misha. When I said beagle, I meant it.” And even then, Misha didn’t untie Reynard! In that moment, it became clear that Misha wasn’t a Dom, he just liked playing one.

I don’t have much to say about Reynard. He was just kind of bland. There wasn’t much going on in his life. I did feel bad that he was made to feel bad because he was submissive. More stupid dragon machismo at work. At least he accepted his submissive side and ended up happy with Misha, even if that did include too much on page sex.

Over the past four books, I’ve come to like the Drake family. So the constant dismissiveness and disdain that both Misha and Reynard showed for the family rankled. Especially since Everard took time away from his own family to help Reynard learn how to channel his magic, and Bertram, Everard, and Sebastian put themselves in harms way to deal with the bad guys. Honestly, aside from the sex, Reynard and Misha couldn’t seem to do much for themselves.

I didn’t like that the problem with the bad guys wasn’t explained. Bertram said he’d take care of it, but there are two other books between this one and his story. I also didn’t like that Misha got himself into trouble and had to be bailed out. He didn’t do anything. It wasn’t a good look for him, character-wise. He felt really impotent, unable to do anything other than spend other people’s money.

Overall, this book was just lesser than the previous ones. There was so much focus on the sex because neither man had nothing else going on in their life. Yet there’s not much in the way of character development either. There’s a soggy middle, where the plot slows and my interest waned. By the 80% mark, I already knew the book would be low scored and I considered giving up. But I pushed through, which actually lowered my final rating even farther. I hope Misha and Reynard don’t show up in future books, because I really don’t like either of them.

Be sure to check out the other books in the series – Clutch (Forbidden Desires #1), Bond (Forbidden Desires #2), Mate (Forbidden Desires #3), Swallow (Forbidden Desires Spin-off #1)