Review: I’m Saying Yes

I’m Saying Yes by E.N. Holland
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I’m Saying Yes is definitely a take on Brokeback Mountain but with a happy ending instead of death and tears. The premise is based on the scene between Ennis and Jack after Ennis’ divorce and Jack wants the two to finally be together. If Ennis had said yes instead of no, then I’m Saying Yes is what could have happened in a utopian world. The writing is very good with an engaging appeal that keeps you interested. Unfortunately though the challenges the characters face are very weak and the story is always giving easy solutions and neatly wrapped up circumstances. The novel lacks the intensity of the original couple and book but it’s a nice pleasant read for those that always wanted the happy ending from BBM.

Author Fan Letter Blog Crawl Kicks Off Tomorrow!

It’s finally that time!

We have a packed schedule with over a month of blogs. You won’t want to miss this! Tomorrow the first blog kicks off the crawl with a letter to… well you’ll have to pop over and find out who. With Kris that answer could be anyone. So start over at Kris ‘n Good Books blog tomorrow.

The complete list of participants and dates can be found HERE.

Review: He Completes Me

He Completes Me by Cardeno C.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

He Completes Me is the second book in the Home series. The first, Home Again, I pretty much hated entirely (1 star), but thankfully you don’t have to read Home Again to understand He Completes Me. In fact just pick up this one if it sounds interesting to you. HCM is a better book by far but it still suffers from second half malaise as the tension drains from the book to be replaced by sex scene after sex scene with no real purpose. It’s romantic to be sure and a very strong HEA with some adorable characters so that may be enough for some readers.

Review: Camwolf

Camwolf by J.L. Merrow
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The more I read Merrow’s work the more I quite like her voice. Her latest, Camwolf, is an entertaining and enjoyable werewolf romance. The story takes a chance with a prominent female narrator but for the most part this works very well. The typical werewolf fight for dominance and animalistic behavior is handled well, contrasted beautifully against a mild mannered college of intelligent but reserved occupants. Some of this shift feels jarring and never quite hits an easy pace but the writing and deft characterization help overcome any qualms. I think most readers will find the story engaging and enjoyable to read.

Review: Shying Away

Shying Away by Kate Sherwood
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I’ve come to expect a lot of internal conflict and a slower pace from Sherwood’s stories and Shying Away fits that description very well. The characters spend most of the time with little to no reason for being apart other than emotional fear and chaos. The pace is pretty slow as the characters have no external conflict and the internal source drags out. This isn’t bad usually but since the characters can’t rely on sex scenes or sadly much sexual tension the story starts to drag. Once they get together things aren’t actually much better and eventually I became pretty bored as the story just kept going without any real interest.

Review: Blame It on the Raging Hormones

Blame It on the Raging Hormones by Nathan Goh
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Blame it on the Raging Hormones is a fun to read, engaging coming of age tale. The format is epistolary and blogs are used entirely. This can be both good and bad for a novel as the narrator is inherently biased and the story is always told to you versus shown. There are a couple of technical mistakes such as tense changing and the language used is conversational with numerous emotes rather than a more polished, sophisticated style. However for those that enjoy reading blogs and like a casual style may find this particular story endearing.

Disappointed…insult in disguise?

One of the best things about this little community is that everything is so immediate and close. This is also one of the double edged swords. Since the genre is so incestuous – authors mingling with readers and reviewers to an almost obscene degree – but it also lets readers’ in on how authors think and act. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes baffling.

This latest category happened to me the other day on twitter. A couple authors were talking about how much they hated to hear a reader say they were “disappointed.” They felt it was almost a slap in the face to the author. I was pretty shocked to hear that since to me, being disappointed in a book is well yes bad but it shows a level of commitment to the author and book you don’t always see. Usually readers only have expectations to get disappointed if they like the author to begin with or the book is being hyped (and thereby beloved already by many).

So is being disappointed in a book the worst criticism it can get?
I think it’s actually a compliment (ok maybe backhanded) in that the reader was more invested than usual. But perhaps it’s really the worst thing a reader can say.

What do you think?

Review: The Locker Room

The Locker Room by Amy Lane
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about Locker Room. The premise honestly works for me as I adore angst driven men –it’s a weakness of mine- but the ending really disappoints me. I know not all readers will feel the same but I personally feel cheated. The book also tends to exaggerate and the emotions are wild and outrageous, always the depths of despair and the height of happiness. That doesn’t bother me as I like Lane’s writing and the story works regardless but not all readers may appreciate the exaggeration. I also don’t think this the best Lane’s done and the writing especially misses some of the polish and effortlessness of earlier titles. It’s worth reading though if you’re a fan or like angsty men as it certainly delivers on that score.

Review: Cherry Pie

Cherry Pie by Samantha Kane
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I like Samantha Kane’s writing so when this m/m book came out I couldn’t wait to read it. One of the defining aspects of Kane’s books is how hot and sexy they are. Unfortunately Cherry Pie feels like a complete departure from any previous writing and comes across a little cold and unfeeling. There’s a noticeable lack of chemistry between the two men while money seems to solve most problems. I’m not entirely sure why these two men got together and just couldn’t really believe they were that compatible. This is an ok book but a disappointing one when compared to some of Kane’s more exceptional stories.

Review: Bob the Book

Bob the Book by David Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bob the Book is simply wonderful. I’m definitely buying a paperback version of this book and cherishing it (whatever it’s name and maybe it’ll find love on my shelves). The book plays on familiar grounds but in inventively new and fresh ways. There are a few moments of overt preaching though. I didn’t mind this too much since the book is simply delightful and entertaining, which makes up for the obvious hammering home of how difficult life can be for those different. While readers may not appreciate the lecturing, the story more than makes up for those few moments with touching lessons, heart felt sentiment, and an adorable love story for books of all kinds and sexualities.