Review: Thor (Misfit Shifters #2) by Cheyenne Meadows

This book was different, in some good and some bad ways.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 100 pages. Published June 22nd 2019 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Thor, the winged lion guardian of the Bluebird Valley Preserve, is dying, and too weak now to sustain his powerful magic which protects the land and inhabitants from harm. There’s only one way to save himself and that’s by sacrificing Zach. 

When a gut feeling lures Zach back to the preserve, he answers it. Despite his tragic breakup with Thor a decade earlier, he knows he must step in to help the man save the preserve, even as Thor does his best to deflect him at every turn. But Zach can out stubborn a mule. 

As a winged horse, Zach is more than just a pretty face. His special abilities pale, however, compared to what happens when he and Thor come together. What Thor doesn’t count on are new and old enemies forcing his hand — and Zach’s persistence, not just in saving him and the Preserve, but in stealing his heart, as well. 

Likes:

  • We get Thor’s story.
  • More mythical creatures being introduced.
  • Explanation for how the preserve keeps humans away.
  • Zach’s determination to fight for love and for Thor’s safety.
  • The lynx, Lavender.
  • Zach’s unique tastes in home décor.

Dislikes:

  • Thor’s attitudes.
  • The introduction of gods made the story feel a little wonky.
  • The extra bit of faux drama at the end, when it was obvious nothing bad was going to happen.
  • The side plot and the romantic plot were basically one and the same, and the story lost momentum when the romance angle was finally sorted out.
  • Zach’s lack of response when he found out why Thor pushed him away.

I was really glad to see that Thor was one of the main characters of this book. He’d piqued my interest in the last book, since he was the first non-normal animal shifter we got introduced to. It should have been a dead giveaway that there would be more mythical shifters to come when a unicorn and centaur were also seen living at the preserve.

I liked that Zach’s shifted form was a winged horse, and even though it was weird, his parentage was also interesting. However, I wasn’t sure how I felt having random gods show up in the story. Even after finishing the book, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It’s not the gods themselves that bother me, but rather I feel like the world should somehow be different if there are going to be minor and not-so-minor gods popping up randomly. The fact that most of the residents of the preserve seemed to have no idea that gods existed makes the whole gods angle feel like it was tossed in without much thought to how it impacted everything else.

Zach was definitely my favorite character in the book. He’s funny, especially with how he decorates Thor’s cave. But it’s his determination to save Thor, despite being pushed away without explanation a decade earlier, that really won me over. Thor on the other hand did a lot that annoyed me. The first being that he didn’t talk to Zach about why he refused to continue their relationship. Thor just made unilateral decisions for both of them. And when Zach realized the reason behind Thor’s attitude, there was almost no reaction. I would have at least liked to see a talk between them about how open and honest communication is a must.

There was a little bit of extra, and in my opinion unnecessary, drama near the end of the book. It happened suddenly and felt like someone had decided the book needed one last spurt of excitement. To me, it was obvious that nothing bad was going to happen, and I’m a little annoyed that it took the intervention of outsiders to get Thor to realize he and Zach should be together.

Overall, I had fun reading the book. The last few chapters felt a little slow, since without the push and pull over the romance, there wasn’t much of interest happening. I can’t help but wonder if there will be even more mythical creatures and gods appearing in later books, or if things will return to more ‘normal’ animal shifters. Either way, I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Be sure to check out Mitch, the first book in the series.

Review: Mitch (Misfit Shifters #1) by Cheyenne Meadows

A fun start to a series. Love the concept of the preserve.

4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. Published March 23rd 2019 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Running into a winged lion shifter was never in Mitch’s plans. But Bluebird Valley Preserve has more surprises in store, including wildlife and shifters, most of whom Mitch never knew existed. As a caracal shifter, Mitch is used to oddities. The chaos, he can handle. Calix, the saber-toothed cat, is what knocks him off balance. 

Calix is a vet and a physician. Great in theory … except he can only diagnose, not heal. Still grieving, he vows to protect his heart from another crushing blow. Then, he saves a caracal shifter from the flood waters. When he sees Mitch, he struggles with leaving the past behind and making a future for himself which includes Mitch. 

Raging waters and mudslides threaten, leaving the whole preserve at risk. Mitch puts his life on the line to rescue Calix. But, it’s Calix’s heart Mitch finds the most challenging and worthwhile to win. 

Likes:

  • So many types of shifters.
  • Mitch.
  • The plot.
  • That everyone at Bluebird Valley Preserve is a little weird.
  • Great side characters.

Dislikes:

  • No idea how long the book is. No indication on Goodreads or Amazon.
  • The slow burn felt very slow.
  • The momentum died off near the end.
  • Lots of things left shrouded in mystery or glossed over.

I’ve read shifter stories by Cheyenne Meadows before, specifically her Shifter Hardball series. They had their problems, but I didn’t hesitate to pick this book up, and I’m glad I did. Despite the slow start, loss of momentum, and smut crammed in at the end, it was a good read.

Mitch has never been to the Bluebird Valley Preserve before, and the reader gets to explore it as Mitch does. I loved the variety of shifter species, from squirrel and chipmunk to elephant and moose. There were even a unicorn and a centaur, two creatures that I’ve never seen in relation to shifter books before.

And with the variety of shifters came some great side characters. Especially Cain and Kitt. Best of all for a series, there’s plenty of characters who seem to be perfectly set up to have stories of their own. Looking at you, Nate.

I really liked Mitch. He was relatable – just a guy looking for a place where he could be himself without everyone worrying that he would blow something up. I wish there had been more description of what his caracal form looked like because I wasn’t familiar with those. As for Calix, I liked him fine. He didn’t really leave much of an impression, other than as a man choosing to be alone because of past emotional trauma.

My lack of opinion of Calix was not helped by the fact that he didn’t show up until chapter 7, 27% into the book. Even then, Calix and Mitch didn’t start to develop real, non-lust based feelings for each other, let alone act on them, until chapter 16, 68% into the book. Then there are reasons why they can’t be physical, which quickly became annoying.

Things really slowed down for the last eight chapters because Mitch gets injured and is forced to be idle. It allowed the romance to bloom, but it wasn’t the most interesting part of the book.

I wish more info on the preserve and shifters in general had been provided. I’m hoping more will be in future books, but I’m a nerd for world building. Mitch’s unusual abilities are glossed over, as is who funds the camp and a lot of things about the camp. It’s not too noticeable when reading, but looking back, I have a lot of questions.

My biggest question is how long the book is. There’s no page count on Amazon or Goodreads. It felt like a full length book, but maybe that’s because the ending got slow.

I’ll definitely pick up the other books in the series. So far, I like this book better than the Shifter Hardball series. It seems as though Meadow’s style is getting better, which is nice.

Be sure to check out Thor, the second book in the series.

2020 Blog Changes

The short version:

  • I’ll be reviewing a wider range of gay romance books. Specifically fantasy and science fiction.
  • The name on the blog will change. It’s still me, I’ve just rearranged my pen names.
  • The blog’s web address will change from maylacer.home.blog to LoveIsLoveReviews.com

The long version:

I began this review blog as my 2019 New Year’s resolution. It was the second time I’d tried to start a review blog. The first time, I didn’t go about it the right way. Without a consistent posting schedule, I ended up only posting a handful of reviews.

I learned from my mistakes, and did my best over 2019 to post regularly. I didn’t always succeed, but I’m proud that I kept with the blog for the entire year. I’m looking forward to making the blog even better in 2020. Which means some slight changes.

First, a new domain name. Gone is wordpress.com/maylacer.home.blog. Up now is LoveIsLoveReviews.com. The layout of the site will also change, but the overall content won’t. I’ll still be posting two reviews a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The final change is in the pen name. When I began thinking of writing gay fiction, I knew I wanted multiple pen names. I had this idea, that on hindsight was completely unrealistic, that I would separate my writings and reviews into three categories – contemporary, fantasy/science fiction, and BDSM. That way it would be was for readers to go straight to what they wanted.

There is still a part of me that thinks it’s a good idea. But that part is small. The rest of me has come to the realization that I am not the overachiever I was back in college. Back then, I had no life. I went to class, worked, and slept. I didn’t party, my social life was limited, and I lived with the fear of student loans over my head. Oh, and I was miserable.

I don’t want to go back to the days of feeling trapped by my obligations. Writing and reading are fun for me, and while I would ultimately like to monetize my blog and make a career out of my writing, I never want to lose my passion.

I currently have two pen names for gay romance. I use May Lacer for my short erotica stories, and want to keep that name for that alone. June Jadus is my first pen name, the one that has deep meaning for me, and the one I ultimately want associated with the many books I will one day finish writing.

 I also want June Jadus to be associated with my reviews. So from now on, that’s who is in charge of the blog. It’s nothing but a name change. The person behind the keyboard is still me, no matter the name. May Lacer will get her own, smaller blog, where the focus is on the erotic short stories. That blog will come soon.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of the people who have been following this blog and liking the posts. Knowing that there are people out there who are aware of my blog has given me the confidence I need to keep going for the next year. Thank you all so much, and I hope you enjoy the reviews to come.

Happy 2020!

Review: Scorpio: The Heart To Help (Boys of the Zodiac #8) by Jamie Craig

A slow burn with instant chemistry.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 182 pages. Published October 30th 2010 by Amber Quill Press, LLC.

Blurb:

From the moment Colin Braugher meets millionaire Grady James, he has the other man’s number—spoiled, obnoxious, and worst of all, fake. Every word out of Grady’s mouth is cheesy and insincere to Colin’s ears, which is just as well, since Colin has reason to dislike the other man before he even arrives in Chicago. After years of being ignored by James Foundation, Grady is arriving to take over the small Heart to Help charity where Colin volunteers. Colin sees nothing but unwanted changes and self-aggrandizement in his beloved charity’s future.

For his part, Grady wants only the best for his grandmother’s favorite charity. Confused by his cold reception, alone in a strange city, and fascinated by a man who seems to want nothing to do with him, Grady is at loose ends. Until Colin gives an inch, and Grady knows he can have so much more than that if Colin would only see the man he truly is…

Likes:

  • Lots of sex scenes that move the romance forward.
  • Grady isn’t a typical rich brat.
  • Grady felt very human.
  • Charities that deal with non attention grabbing illnesses.
  • Little bit of drama at the end.
  • Colin and Gwen’s friendship.

Dislikes:

  • Colin, in the beginning.
  • The initial attraction between the men.
  • Colin’s beard.
  • The lack of epilogue about the charity’s fundraiser.

This book is a slow burn on the romance but quick with the sex. Since I enjoy a well-crafted sex scene, I didn’t mind. Especially since all the sex scenes furthered the romance.

It’s the physical chemistry that initially draw the men together. Colin hates Grady before they even meet. I was expecting some sort of big reason for the intense hatred, but it’s basically because 1.) Grady’s dad is a rich asshole and Colin expects Grady to be the same way and 2.) Colin is worried that his best friend will get pushed out of her job now that Grady has shown up to work with the charity.

The second part of that worry is valid. I enjoyed Colin and Gwen’s friendship and it was clear that Gwen was great at her job. But the other part of Colin’s hatred for Grady felt both childish and moronic. Colin expected Grady to be this horrible monster, yet didn’t have any evidence to back it up. He even mentioned seeing a tabloid about Grady being gay, yet there was no mention of Grady getting into any of the kinds of trouble tabloids love to report about. Luckily, Colin grew on me. I would have liked to see him mature a little more by the end, but I was happy with the HFN ending.

Grady was the character I connected to right from the start. Yeah, he was rich, but he was very human. He loved the charity because it was his grandmother’s passion. He was lonely after moving to Chicago because he didn’t have friends there.

Aside from the physical attraction, I’m not sure why Grady continued to pursue Colin when it was clear that Colin hated his guts. Because of how friendless Grady was in Chicago, it felt a little like Colin latched onto the first cute gay guy he ran across. And as for cute, this is just a personal preference thing, but Colin’s beard bugged me. It’s been a while since I was in college, but I don’t remember a lot of guys having beards.

The little bit of drama at the end was nice. It gave Colin a chance to prove that he saw Grady for who he really was. I do wish the story about the charity’s fundraiser/play had been addressed. I assume it went on without a hitch, but I don’t know.

I’m glad I went ahead and read this book even though it’s technically part of a series. The books all seem completely unrelated to each other, and this is the one that caught my eye. Not sure if I’ll read the others, especially since the authors are different. But coming from an imprint I’ve never heard of before, this book was well written and well edited.

Review: In Other Words…Murder (Holmes and Moriarity #4) by Josh Lanyon

While the mystery was weak, I was happy to see the domestic bliss between Kit and J.X.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 215 pages. Published July 13th 2018 by Josh Lanyon

Blurb:

Death reveals all secrets.

Mystery author Christopher Holmes, now comfortably married to sometimes rival, sometimes nemesis J.X. Moriarity, is starting a new career as a true crime writer when threatening anonymous notes start arriving.

Even worse, Christopher’s ex also arrives—asking for help locating the man he left Christopher for!

It’s life—and death—as usual at Chez Holmes. In other words… Murder. 

Likes:

  • Domestic bliss.
  • Kit has changed noticeably for the better.
  • The drama that happens all at once.
  • The good things I’ve come to expect from the series.
  • Kit’s going to write again.

Dislikes:

  • David.
  • The synopsis is misleading.
  • A lot of elements seemed completely piecemeal.
  • The mystery was weak.
  • The ebook ended at 86%

I still love Kit and J.X. Everything about their relationship and personalities that I’ve liked in the previous books is still there. Only better now, because they’ve finally settled into a rhythm of domestic bliss.

There were some really touching moments in the book, as well as examples of how Kit has changed for the better. He’s willing and able to compromise without making a scene first. Will he ever be best friends with Kit’s family, especially his nephew? Probably not. But they can tolerate each other now, which is progress.

However, a point of note. Kit and J.X. are not married yet, despite what the blurb says. Neither is Kit about to start writing true crime novels. He is, however, possibly going to start writing more cozy mysteries again, and that makes me excited for him.

In terms of things going on in this book, there was a lot. Kit’s stalker from the last books shows up, there are creepy clowns, his ex-husband David, a lawsuit, a dead body, a kidnapping, and a deadly game of hide and seek in a field of corn. It made for an entertaining read, but when I finished, I realized how piecemeal everything was.

The mystery itself was weak. This was the first time Kit didn’t find the body himself, which made things feel a little distant. And honestly, the other, non-murder related things easily drew my attention away. Attack clowns? Yeah, that’s where my focus was, in part because it was so strange, but also because it was the most immediate problem.

David also took up a lot of the attention. It was interesting to see him for the first time. He was more sleazy than I expected. But his lack of concern for people, both Kit and Dicky, really showed how callus he is. J.X. is a million times better.

I’m not mad at what mystery there was, but the sleuthing definitely felt like it was on the back burner. The climax of the book was both tense and funny. Only Kit would end up hiding in a field of corn that his would-be murderer then tries to mow down with a tractor.

My last complaint is that the ebook ended at the 86% mark. That’s way too short. It completely caught me off guard. But it lends credence to the idea that the original mystery plot wasn’t enough to carry the book, so other things, like Jerry and the clowns, had to be added to pad the run-time.

Even though the mystery was underwhelming, I still liked this book for the romance between Kit and J.X. I’m looking forward to the next book, which I hope will have a wedding in it.

Be sure to check out the reviews for Somebody Killed His Editor, All She Wrote, and The Boy With the Painful Tattoo.

Review: The Boy With the Painful Tattoo (Holmes and Moriarity #3) by Josh Lanyon

Everything about this book was great, from the mystery to the relationship.

5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 228 pages. Published October 5th 2014 by Just Joshin

Blurb:

It’s moving day at Chez Holmes. Somehow, against Kit’s better instincts, he and J.X. are setting up house together. But while J.X. is off at a writing conference, Kit unpacks a crate that should contain either old books or new china. It doesn’t. Within the mounds of green Styrofoam popcorn is a dead body. A very dead body.

There goes the neighborhood.

Likes:

  • The relationship between Kit and J.X.
  • The fears that still creep up on Kit.
  • Kit dealing with how he feels about sex.
  • The stalker added tension.
  • Great sex scenes.
  • Great mystery.

Dislikes:

  • J.X. being so sure everything will be fine and that Kit is just overreacting.
  • Some TSTL moments.

I jumped right into this book after finishing the last one – one of the perks of coming to the series late since there was a four year publishing gap between books two and three. I loved this book even more than the last ones. All the things I liked had been magnified.

First off, the relationship between Kit and J.X. was stronger than ever. They even moved in together, despite Kit’s fears. And at this point, Kit having fears about the relationship is a given. But all his fears are so understandable and relatable that I don’t mind. J.X. is a rising star while Kit feels like he’s fading.

I wish J.X. had been more accepting of what Kit was feeling instead of trying to tell him it was fine. J.X. didn’t understand, and his constant attempts at bland comfort got annoying. There were times when it felt like J.X. thought Kit was overacting about everything and automatically dismissed his concerns out of hand. Sure, Kit overreacts a lot, but not all the time.

The men definitely have things they need to work out in their relationship, but that’s part of the fun of reading about them. Kit’s discoveries about sex and how he feels he should be were powerful. I’ve never read a book where the couple actually discusses the way sex and the societal images of it can make people feel. It truly was a great moment.

 The mystery was great in this book as well. I think this book had the best combination of romance and mystery so far. Add in Kit’s stalker, the new characters introduced, and the new setting, and this book was full to bursting without being overwhelming.

However, there were moments within the context of the mystery that made me cringe. Bad decisions that made me want to scream at Kit. TSTL – too stupid to live – is harsh, but honest. It’s a good thing J.X. was there.

I am once again looking forward to the next book in the series.

Be sure to check out the reviews for Somebody Killed His Editor, All She Wrote, and In Other Words… Murder.